AGENCY AGREEMENT
(Trust Form)
AGREEMENT dated the __ day of April, 1998, by and between Value Fund, a series
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ EQUITY TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust ("Fund"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
SERVICE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Service Company").
WHEREAS, Fund wants to appoint Service Company as Transfer Agent and
Dividend Disbursing Agent, on behalf of the Class A shares, Class B shares and
Class C shares of the Fund, and Service Company wants to accept such
appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Documents to be Filed with Appointment.
In connection with the appointment of Service Company as
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent for Fund, there
will be filed with Service Company the following documents:
A. A certified copy of the resolutions of the Board of
Trustees of Fund appointing Service Company as
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent,
approving the form of this Agreement, and designating
certain persons to give written instructions and
requests on behalf of Fund.
B. A certified copy of the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust of Fund and any amendments thereto.
C. A certified copy of the Bylaws of Fund.
D. Copies of Registration Statements filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
E. Specimens of all forms of outstanding share
certificates as approved by the Board of Trustees of
Fund, with a certificate of the Secretary of Fund as
to such approval.
F. Specimens of the signatures of the officers of the
Fund authorized to sign share certificates and
individuals authorized to sign written instructions
and requests on behalf of the Fund.
G. An opinion of counsel for Fund:
(1) With respect to Fund's organization and
existence under the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
(2) With respect to the status of all shares of
Fund covered by this appointment under the
Securities Act of 1933, and any other
applicable federal or state statute.
(3) To the effect that all issued shares are,
and all unissued shares will be when issued,
validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
2. Certain Representations and Warranties of Service Company.
Service Company represents and warrants to Fund that:
A. It is a corporation duly organized and existing and
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
B. It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the
State of Missouri.
C. It is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to enter into
and perform the services contemplated in this
Agreement.
D. All requisite corporate action has been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
E. It has and will continue to have and maintain the
necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to
perform its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
F. It is, and will continue to be, registered as a
transfer agent under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
3. Certain Representations and Warranties of Fund. Fund
represents and warrants to Service Company that:
A. It is a business trust duly organized and existing
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B. It is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
C. A registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 has been filed and will be effective with
respect to all shares of Fund being offered for sale
at any time and from time to time.
D. All requisite steps have been or will be taken to
register Fund's shares for sale in all applicable
states, including the District of Columbia.
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E. Fund and its Trustees are empowered under applicable
laws and by the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of
Trust and Bylaws to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
4. Scope of Appointment.
A. Subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, Fund hereby employs and appoints Service
Company as Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing
Agent, on behalf of the Class A, Class B and Class C
shares of the Fund, effective the date hereof.
B. Service Company hereby accepts such employment and
appointment and agrees that it will act as Fund's
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent. Service
Company agrees that it will also act as agent in
connection with Fund's periodic withdrawal payment
accounts and other open-account or similar plans for
shareholders, if any.
C. Service Company agrees to provide the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its
duties and obligations hereunder in accordance with
industry practice.
D. Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to deliver
to Service Company in Kansas City, Missouri, as soon
as they are available, all its shareholder account
records.
E. Subject to the provisions of Sections 20 and 21
hereof, Service Company agrees that it will perform
all the usual and ordinary services of Transfer Agent
and Dividend Disbursing Agent and as agent for the
various shareholder accounts, including, without
limitation, the following: issuing, transferring and
canceling share certificates, maintaining all
shareholder accounts, preparing shareholder meeting
lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating
proxies, mailing shareholder reports and
prospectuses, withholding federal income taxes,
preparing and mailing checks for disbursement of
income and capital gains dividends, preparing and
filing all required U.S. Treasury Department
information returns for all shareholders, preparing
and mailing confirmation forms to shareholders and
dealers with respect to all purchases and
liquidations of Fund shares and other transactions in
shareholder accounts for which confirmations are
required, recording reinvestments of dividends and
distributions in Fund shares, recording redemptions
of Fund shares and preparing and mailing checks for
payments upon redemption and for disbursements to
systematic withdrawal plan shareholders.
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5. Compensation and Expenses.
A. In consideration for the services provided hereunder
by Service Company as Transfer Agent and Dividend
Disbursing Agent, Fund will pay to Service Company
from time to time compensation as agreed upon for all
services rendered as Agent, and also, all its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and other
disbursements incurred in connection with the agency.
Such compensation will be set forth in a separate
schedule to be agreed to by Fund and Service Company.
The initial agreement regarding compensation is
attached as Exhibit A.
B. Fund agrees to promptly reimburse Service Company for
all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or advances
incurred by Service Company in connection with the
performance of services under this Agreement
including, but not limited to, postage (and first
class mail insurance in connection with mailing share
certificates), envelopes, check forms, continuous
forms, forms for reports and statements, stationery,
and other similar items, telephone and telegraph
charges incurred in answering inquiries from dealers
or shareholders, microfilm used each year to record
the previous year's transactions in shareholder
accounts and computer tapes used for permanent
storage of records and cost of insertion of materials
in mailing envelopes by outside firms. Service
Company may, at its option, arrange to have various
service providers submit invoices directly to the
Fund for payment of out-of-pocket expenses
reimbursable hereunder.
6. Efficient Operation of Service Company System.
A. In connection with the performance of its services
under this Agreement, Service Company is responsible
for the accurate and efficient functioning of its
system at all times, including:
(1) The accuracy of the entries in Service
Company's records reflecting purchase and
redemption orders and other instructions
received by Service Company from dealers,
shareholders, Fund or its principal
underwriter.
(2) The timely availability and the accuracy of
shareholder lists, shareholder account
verifications, confirmations and other
shareholder account information to be
produced from Service Company's records or
data.
(3) The accurate and timely issuance of dividend
and distribution checks in accordance with
instructions received from Fund.
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(4) The accuracy of redemption transactions and
payments in accordance with redemption
instructions received from dealers,
shareholders or Fund or other authorized
persons.
(5) The deposit daily in Fund's appropriate
special bank account of all checks and
payments received from dealers or
shareholders for investment in shares.
(6) The requiring of proper forms of
instructions, signatures and signature
guarantees and any necessary documents
supporting the rightfulness of transfers,
redemptions and other shareholder account
transactions, all in conformance with
Service Company's present procedures with
such changes as may be deemed reasonably
appropriate by Service Company or as may be
reasonably approved by or on behalf of Fund.
(7) The maintenance of a current duplicate set
of Fund's essential or required records, as
agreed upon from time to time by Fund and
Service Company, at a secure distant
location, in form available and usable
forthwith in the event of any breakdown or
disaster disrupting its main operation.
7. Indemnification.
A. Fund shall indemnify and hold Service Company
harmless from and against any and all claims,
actions, suits, losses, damages, costs, charges,
counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities
arising out of or attributable to any action or
omission by Service Company pursuant to this
Agreement or in connection with the agency
relationship created by this Agreement, provided that
Service Company has acted in good faith, without
negligence and without willful misconduct.
B. Service Company shall indemnify and hold Fund
harmless from and against any and all claims,
actions, suits, losses, damages, costs, charges,
counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities
arising out of or attributable to any action or
omission by Service Company pursuant to this
Agreement or in connection with the agency
relationship created by this Agreement, provided that
Service Company has not acted in good faith, without
negligence and without willful misconduct.
C. In order that the indemnification provisions
contained in this Section 7 shall apply, upon the
assertion of a claim for which either party (the
"Indemnifying Party") may be required to provide
indemnification hereunder, the party seeking
indemnification (the "Indemnitee") shall promptly
notify the Indemnifying Party of such assertion, and
shall keep
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such party advised with respect to all developments
concerning such claim. The Indemnifying Party shall
be entitled to assume control of the defense and the
negotiations, if any, regarding settlement of the
claim. If the Indemnifying Party assumes control, the
Indemnitee shall have the option to participate in
the defense and negotiations of such claim at its own
expense. The Indemnitee shall in no event confess,
admit to, compromise, or settle any claim for which
the Indemnifying Party may be required to indemnify
it except with the prior written consent of the
Indemnifying Party, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
8. Certain Covenants of Service Company and Fund.
A. All requisite steps will be taken by Fund from time
to time when and as necessary to register the Fund's
shares for sale in all states in which Fund's shares
shall at the time be offered for sale and require
registration. If at any time Fund receives notice of
any stop order or other proceeding in any such state
affecting such registration or the sale of Fund's
shares, or of any stop order or other proceeding
under the Federal securities laws affecting the sale
of Fund's shares, Fund will give prompt notice
thereof to Service Company.
B. Service Company hereby agrees to establish and
maintain facilities and procedures reasonably
acceptable to Fund for safekeeping of share
certificates, check forms, and facsimile signature
imprinting devices, if any; and for the preparation
or use, and for keeping account of, such
certificates, forms and devices. Further, Service
Company agrees to carry insurance, as specified in
Exhibit B hereto, with insurers reasonably acceptable
to Fund and in minimum amounts that are reasonably
acceptable to Fund, which will not be changed without
the consent of Fund, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, and which will be expanded in
coverage or increased in amounts from time to time if
and when reasonably requested by Fund. If Service
Company determines that it is unable to obtain any
such insurance upon commercially reasonable terms, it
shall promptly so advise Fund in writing. In such
event, Fund shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement upon 30 days notice.
C. To the extent required by Section 31 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules thereunder,
Service Company agrees that all records maintained by
Service Company relating to the services to be
performed by Service Company under this Agreement are
the property of Fund and will be preserved and will
be surrendered promptly to Fund on request.
D. Service Company agrees to furnish Fund semi-annual
reports of its financial condition, consisting of a
balance sheet, earnings statement and any other
reasonably available financial information reasonably
requested
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by Fund. The annual financial statements will be
certified by Service Company's certified public
accountants.
E. Service Company represents and agrees that it will
use all reasonable efforts to keep current on the
trends of the investment company industry relating to
shareholder services and will use all reasonable
efforts to continue to modernize and improve its
system without additional cost to Fund.
F. Service Company will permit Fund and its authorized
representatives to make periodic inspections of its
operations at reasonable times during business hours.
G. If Service Company is prevented from complying,
either totally or in part, with any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement, by reason of fire,
flood, storm, strike, lockout or other labor trouble,
riot, war, rebellion, accidents, acts of God,
equipment, utility or transmission failure or damage,
and/or any other cause or casualty beyond the
reasonable control of Service Company, whether
similar to the foregoing matters or not, then upon
written notice to Fund, the requirements of this
Agreement that are affected by such disability, to
the extent so affected, shall be suspended during the
period of such disability; provided, however, that
Service Company shall make reasonable effort to
remove such disability as soon as possible. During
such period, Fund may seek alternate sources of
service without liability hereunder; and Service
Company will use all reasonable efforts to assist
Fund to obtain alternate sources of service. Service
Company shall have no liability to Fund for
nonperformance because of the reasons set forth in
this Section 8.G; but if a disability that, in Fund's
reasonable belief, materially affects Service
Company's ability to perform its obligations under
this Agreement continues for a period of 30 days,
then Fund shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement upon 10 days written notice to Service
Company.
9. Adjustment.
In case of any recapitalization, readjustment or other change
in the structure of Fund requiring a change in the form of
share certificates, Service Company will issue or register
certificates in the new form in exchange for, or in transfer
of, the outstanding certificates in the old form, upon
receiving the following:
A. Written instructions from an officer of Fund.
B. Certified copy of any amendment to the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust or other document effecting the
change.
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C. Certified copy of any order or consent of each
governmental or regulatory authority required by law
for the issuance of the shares in the new form, and
an opinion of counsel that no order or consent of any
other government or regulatory authority is required.
D. Specimens of the new certificates in the form
approved by the Board of Trustees of Fund, with a
certificate of the Secretary of Fund as to such
approval.
E. Opinion of counsel for Fund:
(1) With respect to the status of the shares of
Fund in the new form under the Securities
Act of 1933, and any other applicable
federal or state laws.
(2) To the effect that the issued shares in the
new form are, and all unissued shares will
be when issued, validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
10. Share Certificates.
Fund will furnish Service Company with a sufficient supply of
blank share certificates and from time to time will renew such
supply upon the request of Service Company. Such certificates
will be signed manually or by facsimile signatures of the
officers of Fund authorized by law and Fund's Bylaws to sign
share certificates and, if required, will bear the trust seal
or facsimile thereof.
11. Death, Resignation or Removal of Signing Officer.
Fund will file promptly with Service Company written notice of
any change in the officers authorized to sign share
certificates, written instructions or requests, together with
two signature cards bearing the specimen signature of each
newly authorized officer, all as certified by an appropriate
officer of the Fund. In case any officer of Fund who will have
signed manually or whose facsimile signature will have been
affixed to blank share certificates will die, resign, or be
removed prior to the issuance of such certificates, Service
Company may issue or register such share certificates as the
share certificates of Fund notwithstanding such death,
resignation, or removal, until specifically directed to the
contrary by Fund in writing. In the absence of such direction,
Fund will file promptly with Service Company such approval,
adoption, or ratification as may be required by law.
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12. Future Amendments of Agreement and Declaration of Trust
and Bylaws.
Fund will promptly file with Service Company copies of all
material amendments to its Agreement and Declaration of Trust
and Bylaws and Registration Statement made after the date of
this Agreement.
13. Instructions, Opinion of Counsel and Signatures.
At any time Service Company may apply to any officer of Fund
for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel for Fund
at the expense of Fund, or with its own legal counsel at its
own expense, with respect to any matter arising in connection
with the agency; and it will not be liable for any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon such
instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. Service
Company is authorized to act on the orders, directions or
instructions of such persons as the Board of Trustees of Fund
shall from time to time designate by resolution. Service
Company will be protected in acting upon any paper or
document, including any orders, directions or instructions,
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed by the proper person or persons; and Service Company
will not be held to have notice of any change of authority of
any person so authorized by Fund until receipt of written
notice thereof from Fund. Service Company will also be
protected in recognizing share certificates that it reasonably
believes to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of
the officers of Fund, and the proper countersignature of any
former Transfer Agent or Registrar, or of a Co-Transfer Agent
or Co-Registrar.
14. Papers Subject to Approval of Counsel.
The acceptance by Service Company of its appointment as
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, and all
documents filed in connection with such appointment and
thereafter in connection with the agencies, will be subject to
the approval of legal counsel for Service Company, which
approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
15. Certification of Documents.
The required copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of
Fund and copies of all amendments thereto will be certified by
the appropriate official of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
and if such Agreement and Declaration of Trust and amendments
are required by law to be also filed with a county, city or
other officer or official body, a certificate of such filing
will appear on the certified copy submitted to Service
Company. A copy of the order or consent of each governmental
or regulatory authority required by law for the issuance of
Fund shares will be certified by the Secretary or Clerk of
such governmental or regulatory authority, under proper seal
of such authority. The copy of the Bylaws and copies of all
amendments thereto and copies of resolutions of the Board of
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Trustees of Fund will be certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of Fund.
16. Records.
Service Company will maintain customary records in connection
with its agency, and particularly will maintain those records
required to be maintained pursuant to sub-paragraph (2)(iv) of
paragraph (b) of Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, if any.
17. Disposition of Books, Records and Canceled Certificates.
Service Company will send periodically to Fund, or to where
designated by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Fund,
all books, documents, and all records no longer deemed needed
for current purposes and share certificates which have been
canceled in transfer or in exchange, upon the understanding
that such books, documents, records, and share certificates
will not be destroyed by Fund without the consent of Service
Company (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), but
will be safely stored for possible future reference.
18. Provisions Relating to Service Company as Transfer Agent.
A. Service Company will make original issues of share
certificates upon written request of an officer of
Fund and upon being furnished with a certified copy
of a resolution of the Board of Trustees authorizing
such original issue, an opinion of counsel as
outlined in Section 1.G or 9.E of this Agreement, the
certificates required by Section 10 of this Agreement
and any other documents required by Section 1 or 9 of
this Agreement.
B. Before making any original issue of certificates,
Fund will furnish Service Company with sufficient
funds to pay any taxes required on the original issue
of the shares. Fund will furnish Service Company such
evidence as may be required by Service Company to
show the actual value of the shares. If no taxes are
payable, Service Company will upon request be
furnished with an opinion of outside counsel to that
effect.
C. Shares will be transferred and new certificates
issued in transfer, or shares accepted for redemption
and funds remitted therefor, upon surrender of the
old certificates in form deemed by Service Company
properly endorsed for transfer or redemption
accompanied by such documents as Service Company may
deem necessary to evidence the authority of the
person making the transfer or redemption, and bearing
satisfactory evidence of the payment of any
applicable share transfer taxes. Service Company
reserves the right to refuse to transfer or redeem
shares until it is satisfied that the endorsement or
signature on the certificate or any other document is
valid
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and genuine, and for that purpose it may require a
guarantee of signature by such persons as may from
time to time be specified in the prospectus related
to such shares or otherwise authorized by Fund.
Service Company also reserves the right to refuse to
transfer or redeem shares until it is satisfied that
the requested transfer or redemption is legally
authorized, and it will incur no liability for the
refusal in good faith to make transfers or
redemptions which, in its judgment, are improper,
unauthorized, or otherwise not rightful. Service
Company may, in effecting transfers or redemptions,
rely upon Simplification Acts or other statutes which
protect it and Fund in not requiring complete
fiduciary documentation.
D. When mail is used for delivery of share certificates,
Service Company will forward share certificates in
"nonnegotiable" form as provided by Fund by first
class mail, all such mail deliveries to be covered
while in transit to the addressee by insurance
arranged for by Service Company.
E. Service Company will issue and mail subscription
warrants and certificates provided by Fund and
representing share dividends, exchanges or split-ups,
or act as Conversion Agent upon receiving written
instructions from any officer of Fund and such other
documents as Service Company deems necessary.
F. Service Company will issue, transfer, and split-up
certificates upon receiving written instructions from
an officer of Fund and such other documents as
Service Company may deem necessary.
G. Service Company may issue new certificates in place
of certificates represented to have been lost,
destroyed, stolen or otherwise wrongfully taken, upon
receiving indemnity satisfactory to Service Company,
and may issue new certificates in exchange for, and
upon surrender of, mutilated certificates. Any such
issuance shall be in accordance with the provisions
of law governing such matter and any procedures
adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund of which
Service Company has notice.
H. Service Company will supply a shareholder's list to
Fund properly certified by an officer of Service
Company for any shareholder meeting upon receiving a
request from an officer of Fund. It will also supply
lists at such other times as may be reasonably
requested by an officer of Fund.
I. Upon receipt of written instructions of an officer of
Fund, Service Company will address and mail notices
to shareholders.
J. In case of any request or demand for the inspection
of the share books of Fund or any other books of Fund
in the possession of Service Company, Service Company
will endeavor to notify Fund and to secure
instructions
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as to permitting or refusing such inspection. Service
Company reserves the right, however, to exhibit the
share books or other books to any person in case it
is advised by its counsel that it may be held
responsible for the failure to exhibit the share
books or other books to such person.
19. Provisions Relating to Dividend Disbursing Agency.
A. Service Company will, at the expense of Fund, provide
a special form of check containing the imprint of any
device or other matter desired by Fund. Said checks
must, however, be of a form and size convenient for
use by Service Company.
B. If Fund wants to include additional printed matter,
financial statements, etc., with the dividend checks,
the same will be furnished to Service Company within
a reasonable time prior to the date of mailing of the
dividend checks, at the expense of Fund.
C. If Fund wants its distributions mailed in any special
form of envelopes, sufficient supply of the same will
be furnished to Service Company but the size and form
of said envelopes will be subject to the approval of
Service Company. If stamped envelopes are used, they
must be furnished by Fund; or, if postage stamps are
to be affixed to the envelopes, the stamps or the
cash necessary for such stamps must be furnished by
Fund.
D. Service Company will maintain one or more deposit
accounts as Agent for Fund, into which the funds for
payment of dividends, distributions, redemptions or
other disbursements provided for hereunder will be
deposited, and against which checks will be drawn.
20. Termination of Agreement.
A. This Agreement may be terminated by either party
upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the
other party.
B. Fund, in addition to any other rights and remedies,
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
forthwith upon the occurrence at any time of any of
the following events:
(1) Any interruption or cessation of operations
by Service Company or its assigns which
materially interferes with the business
operation of Fund.
(2) The bankruptcy of Service Company or its
assigns or the appointment of a receiver for
Service Company or its assigns.
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(3) Any merger, consolidation or sale of
substantially all the assets of Service
Company or its assigns.
(4) The acquisition of a controlling interest in
Service Company or its assigns, by any
broker, dealer, investment adviser or
investment company except as may presently
exist.
(5) Failure by Service Company or its assigns to
perform its duties in accordance with this
Agreement, which failure materially
adversely affects the business operations of
Fund and which failure continues for thirty
(30) days after written notice from Fund.
(6) The registration of Service Company or its
assigns as a transfer agent under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is revoked,
terminated or suspended for any reason.
C. In the event of termination, Fund will promptly pay
Service Company all amounts due to Service Company
hereunder. Upon termination of this Agreement,
Service Company shall deliver all shareholder and
account records pertaining to Fund either to Fund or
as directed in writing by Fund.
21. Assignment.
A. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
hereunder may be assigned by Service Company without
the written consent of Fund; provided, however, no
assignment will relieve Service Company of any of its
obligations hereunder.
B. This Agreement including, without limitation, the
provisions of Section 7 will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
C. Service Company is authorized by Fund to use the
system services of DST Systems, Inc. and the system
and other services, including data entry, of
Administrative Management Group, Inc.
22. Confidentiality.
A. Except as provided in the last sentence of Section
18.J hereof, or as otherwise required by law, Service
Company will keep confidential all records of and
information in its possession relating to Fund or its
shareholders or shareholder accounts and will not
disclose the same to any person except at the request
or with the consent of Fund.
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B. Except as otherwise required by law, Fund will keep
confidential all financial statements and other
financial records (other than statements and records
relating solely to Fund's business dealings with
Service Company) and all manuals, systems and other
technical information and data, not publicly
disclosed, relating to Service Company's operations
and programs furnished to it by Service Company
pursuant to this Agreement and will not disclose the
same to any person except at the request or with the
consent of Service Company. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Section 22.B, if an attempt
is made pursuant to subpoena or other legal process
to require Fund to disclose or produce any of the
aforementioned manuals, systems or other technical
information and data, Fund shall give Service Company
prompt notice thereof prior to disclosure or
production so that Service Company may, at its
expense, resist such attempt.
23. Survival of Representations and Warranties.
All representations and warranties by either party herein
contained will survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
24. Miscellaneous.
A. This Agreement is executed and delivered in the State
of Illinois and shall be governed by the laws of said
state (except as to Section 24.G hereof which shall
be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts).
B. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or
modified in any manner except by a written agreement
properly authorized and executed by both parties
hereto.
C. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only, and in no way define
or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.
D. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date
hereof.
E. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
F. If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is
held by the courts to be illegal, in conflict with
any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion
or portions shall be considered severable and not be
affected, and the rights and obligations of the
parties shall be construed and enforced as if the
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Agreement did not contain the particular part, term
or provision held to be illegal or invalid.
G. All parties hereto are expressly put on notice of
Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust which is on
file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and the limitation of shareholder and
trustee liability contained therein. This Agreement
has been executed by and on behalf of Fund by its
representatives as such representatives and not
individually, and the obligations of Fund hereunder
are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or
shareholders of the Fund individually but are binding
upon only the assets and property of Fund. With
respect to any claim by Service Company for recovery
of that portion of the compensation and expenses (or
any other liability of Fund arising hereunder)
allocated to a particular Portfolio or class thereof,
whether in accordance with the express terms hereof
or otherwise, Service Company shall have recourse
solely against the assets of that Portfolio or class
thereof to satisfy such claim and shall have no
recourse against the assets of any other Portfolio or
class for such purpose.
H. This Agreement, together with the Fee Schedule, is
the entire contract between the parties relating to
the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements between the parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective duly authorized officer as of the day and year
first set forth above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ EQUITY TRUST, on behalf of
Value Fund
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------
Title: President
ATTEST:
/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ SERVICE COMPANY
By /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
ATTEST:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Title:
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EXHIBIT A
FEE SCHEDULE (MULTIPLE CLASSES OF SHARES)
FEE PAYABLE BY FUND
TRANSFER AGENCY FUNCTION CLASS A and C CLASS B
1. Annual open shareholder account fee (per year per
account):
a. Non-daily dividend series. $6.00 $6.00
b. CDSC account fee. Not Applicable $2.25
c. Non-monetary transaction fee. $2.00 $2.00
2. Annual closed shareholder account fee (per year per
account). $6.00 $6.00
3. Establishment of new shareholder account (per new
account).* $4.00 $4.00
4. Transaction Based Fees (per transaction):
a. Dividend transaction fee (per dividend per
account). $ .40 $ .40
b. Automated transaction fee (per transaction).** $ .50 $ .50
c. Purchase or redemption of shares transaction
fee. $1.25 $1.25
d. Audio Response fee. $0.15 $0.15
The out-of-pocket expenses of Service Company will be reimbursed by Fund in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the Agency Agreement.
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* The new shareholder account fee is not applicable to Class A Share
accounts established in connection with a conversion from Class B
Shares.
** Automated transaction includes, without limitation, money market series
purchases and redemptions, ACH purchases, systematic exchanges and
conversions from Class B Shares to Class A Shares.
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EXHIBIT B
INSURANCE COVERAGE
DESCRIPTION OF POLICY:
Brokers Blanket Bond, Standard Form 14
Covering losses caused by dishonesty of employees, physical loss of securities
on or outside of premises while in possession of authorized person, loss caused
by forgery or alteration of checks or similar instruments.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Covering replacement of destroyed records and computer errors and omissions.
Special Forgery Bond
Covering losses through forgery or alteration of checks or drafts of customers
processed by insured but drawn on or against them.
Mail Insurance (applies to all full service operations)
Provides indemnity for the following types of securities lost in the mails:
o Non-negotiable securities mailed to domestic locations via registered
mail.
o Non-negotiable securities mailed to domestic locations via first-class
or certified mail.
o Non-negotiable securities mailed to foreign locations via registered
mail.
o Negotiable securities mailed to all locations via registered mail.
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