TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
XXXXXXXXX FUNDS, INC. AND
FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
AGREEMENT dated as of September 1, 1993, and amended and restated as of
August 10, 1995 and July 1, 1996, between XXXXXXXXX FUNDS, INC., a registered
open-end investment company with offices at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company") on behalf of Xxxxxxxxx World Fund and Xxxxxxxxx
Foreign Fund (collectively, the "Funds") and FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX INVESTOR
SERVICES, INC., a registered transfer agent with offices at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 ("FTIS").
W I T N E S S E T H:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth, the Company and FTIS agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and
phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "Articles of Incorporation" shall mean the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company as the same may be amended from time to time;
(b) "Authorized Person" shall be deemed to include any person,
whether or not such person is an officer or employee of the Company, duly
authorized to give Oral Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of the
Company as indicated in a certificate furnished to FTIS pursuant to Section 4(c)
hereof as may be received by FTIS from time to time;
(c) "Custodian" refers to the custodian and any sub-custodian
of all securities and other property which the Company may from time to time
deposit, or cause to be deposited or held under the name or account of such
custodian pursuant to the Custody Agreement;
(d) "Oral Instructions" shall mean instructions, other than
written instructions, actually received by FTIS from a person reasonably
believed by FTIS to be an Authorized Person;
(e) "Shares" refers to shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company; and
(f) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication
signed by a person reasonably believed by FTIS to be an Authorized Person and
actually received by FTIS.
2. APPOINTMENT OF FTIS. The Company hereby appoints and constitutes
FTIS as transfer agent for Shares of the Company and as shareholder servicing
agent for the Company, and FTIS accepts such appointment and agrees to perform
the duties hereinafter set forth.
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) The Company will compensate or cause FTIS to be
compensated for the performance of its obligations hereunder in accordance with
the fees set forth in the written schedule of fees annexed hereto as Schedule A
and incorporated herein. Schedule A does not include out-of-pocket disbursements
of FTIS for which FTIS shall be entitled to xxxx the Company separately. FTIS
will xxxx the Company as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar
month, and said xxxxxxxx will be detailed in accordance with Schedule A. The
Company will promptly pay to FTIS the amount of such billing.
Out-of-pocket disbursements shall include, but shall not be
limited to, the items specified in the written schedule of out-of-pocket
expenses annexed hereto as Schedule B and incorporated herein. Schedule B may be
modified by FTIS upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to the
Company. Unspecified out-of-pocket expenses shall be limited to those
out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by FTIS in the performance of its
obligations hereunder. Reimbursement by the Company for expenses incurred by
FTIS in any month shall be made as soon as practicable after the receipt of an
itemized xxxx from FTIS.
Out-of-Pocket disbursements may also include payments made by
FTIS to entities including affiliated entities which provide sub-shareholder
services, recordkeeping and/or transfer agency services to beneficial owners of
the Funds, where such services are substantially similar to the services
provided by FTIS to account holders of record. The amount of these disbursements
per benefit plan participant fund account per year shall not exceed the per
account transfer agency fees payable by the Company to FTIS in connection with
maintaining actual shareholder accounts. On an annual basis, FTIS shall provide
a report to the Board showing, with respect to each entity receiving such fees,
the number of beneficial owners serviced by such entity and the value of the
assets in the Funds represented by such accounts.
(b) Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from
time to time by attaching to Schedule A of this Agreement a revised Fee
Schedule.
4. DOCUMENTS. In connection with the appointment of FTIS, the Company
shall, on or before the date this Agreement goes into effect, but in any case,
within a reasonable period of time for FTIS to prepare to perform its duties
hereunder, deliver or cause to be delivered to FTIS the following documents:
(a) If applicable, specimens of the certificates for the Shares;
(b) All account application forms and other documents relating to Shareholder
accounts or to any plan, program or service offered by the Company;
(c) A certificate identifying the Authorized Persons and specimen signatures of
Authorized Persons who will sign Written Instructions; and
(d) All documents and papers necessary under the laws of
Florida, under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, and as may be required
for the due performance of FTIS's duties under this Agreement or for the due
performance of additional duties as may from time to time be agreed upon between
the Company and FTIS.
5. DISTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE IN SHARES. In the event that the Board of
Directors of the Company shall declare a distribution payable in Shares of
either Fund, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to FTIS written
notice of such declaration signed on behalf of the Company by an officer
thereof, upon which FTIS shall be entitled to rely for all purposes, certifying
(i) the number of Shares of each Fund involved, and (ii) that all appropriate
action has been taken.
6. DUTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT. FTIS shall be responsible for
administering and/or performing transfer agent functions; for acting as service
agent in connection with dividend and distribution functions; and for performing
shareholder account and administrative agent functions in connection with the
issuance, transfer and redemption or repurchase (including coordination with the
Custodian) of Shares. The operating standards and procedures to be followed
shall be determined from time to time by agreement between the Company and FTIS.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, FTIS agrees to perform the
specific duties listed on Schedule C.
7. RECORDKEEPING AND OTHER INFORMATION. FTIS shall create and maintain all
necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
8. OTHER DUTIES. In addition, FTIS shall perform such other duties and
functions, and shall be paid such amounts therefor, as may from time to time be
agreed upon in writing between the Company and FTIS. Such other duties and
functions shall be reflected in a written amendment to Schedule C, and the
compensation for such other duties and functions shall be reflected in a written
amendment to Schedule A.
9. RELIANCE BY TRANSFER AGENT; INSTRUCTIONS.
(a) FTIS will be protected in acting upon Written or Oral
Instructions reasonably believed to have been executed or orally communicated by
an Authorized Person and will not be held to have any notice of any change of
authority of any person until receipt of a Written Instruction thereof from an
officer of the Company. FTIS will also be protected in processing Share
certificates which it reasonably believes to bear the proper manual or facsimile
signatures of the officers of the Company and the proper countersignature of
FTIS.
(b) At any time FTIS may apply to any Authorized Person of the
Company for Written Instructions and may seek advice at the Company's expense
from legal counsel for the Company or from its own legal counsel, with respect
to any matter arising in connection with this Agreement, and it shall not be
liable for any action taken or not taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with such Written Instructions or in accordance with the opinion of
counsel for the Company or for FTIS. Written Instructions requested by FTIS will
be provided by the Company within a reasonable period of time. In addition,
FTIS, or its officers, agents or employees, shall accept Oral Instructions or
Written Instructions given to them by any person representing or acting on
behalf of the Company only if said representative is known by FTIS, or its
officers, agents or employees, to be an Authorized Person.
10. ACTS OF GOD, ETC. FTIS will not be liable or responsible for delays
or errors by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil
or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire,
mechanical breakdown beyond its control, flood or catastrophe, acts of God,
insurrection, war, riots or failure beyond its control of transportation,
communication or power supply.
11. DUTY OF CARE AND INDEMNIFICATION. The Company will indemnify FTIS
against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses)
resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit not resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of FTIS, and arising out
of, or in connection with, its duties hereunder. In addition, the Company will
indemnify FTIS against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and
expenses) resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit as a result of: (i)
any action taken in accordance with Written or Oral Instructions, or any other
instructions or Share certificates reasonably believed by FTIS to be genuine and
to be signed, countersigned or executed, or orally communicated by an Authorized
Person; (ii) any action taken in accordance with written or oral advice
reasonably believed by FTIS to have been given by counsel for the Company or by
its own counsel; (iii) any action taken as a result of any error or omission in
any record (including but not limited to magnetic tapes, computer printouts,
hard copies and microfilm copies) delivered, or caused to be delivered by the
Company to FTIS in connection with this Agreement; or (iv) any action taken in
accordance with oral instructions given under the Telephone Exchange and
Redemption Privileges, as described in the applicable Fund's current prospectus,
when believed by FTIS to be genuine.
In any case in which the Company may be asked to indemnify or hold FTIS
harmless, the Company shall be advised of all pertinent facts concerning the
situation in question and FTIS will use reasonable care to identify and notify
the Company promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely
to present a claim for indemnification against the Company. The Company shall
have the option to defend FTIS against any claim which may be the subject of
this indemnification, and, in the event that the Company so elects, such defense
shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Company and satisfactory to FTIS,
and thereupon the Company shall take over complete defense of the claim and FTIS
shall sustain no further legal or other expenses in such situation for which it
seeks indemnification under this Section 11. FTIS will not confess any claim or
make any compromise in any case in which the Company will be asked to provide
indemnification, except with the Company's prior written consent. The
obligations of the parties hereto under this Section shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
12. TERM AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first
written above and shall continue through December 31, 1993 and thereafter shall
continue automatically for successive annual periods ending on December 31 of
each year, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by (i) the Company's Board of Directors or (ii) a vote of a "majority" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act")) of the Company's
outstanding voting securities taken in accordance with applicable provisions of
the 1940 Act, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by
a majority of the Board of Directors who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval;
(b) Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving
to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination,
which shall be not less than 60 days after the date of receipt of such notice.
In the event such notice is given by the Company, it shall be accompanied by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, certified by the Secretary
of the Company, designating a successor transfer agent or transfer agents. Upon
such termination and at the expense of the Company, FTIS will deliver to such
successor a certified list of shareholders of the Company (with names and
addresses), an historical record of the account of each Shareholder and the
status thereof, and all other relevant books, records, correspondence, and other
data established or maintained by FTIS under this Agreement in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Company, and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and
responsibilities, including provisions for assistance from FTIS's personnel in
the establishment of books, records and other data by such successor or
successors.
13. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner
except by a written agreement executed by both parties.
14. SUBCONTRACTING. The Company agrees that FTIS may, in its discretion,
subcontract for certain of the services described under this Agreement or the
Schedules hereto; provided that the appointment of any such agent shall not
relieve FTIS of its responsibilities hereunder.
15. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given in writing to the Company or FTIS shall be
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it at its office
set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to time designate in
writing.
To the Company:
Xxxxxxxxx Funds, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
To FTIS:
Franklin Xxxxxxxxx Investor Services, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
(b) This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon
the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable without the written consent
of the other party.
(c) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of California.
(d) This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original; but such
counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
(e) The captions of this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective corporate officers thereunder duly authorized as of
the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXXXX FUNDS, INC.
BY:/s/XXXX X. XXX
Xxxx X. Xxx
Vice President
FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
BY:/s/XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Senior Vice President
A-1
Schedule A
FEES
Shareholder account maintenance (per $14.54, adjusted as of
annum, prorated payable monthly) February 1 of each year to
reflect changes in the Department
of Labor Consumer Price Index.
Cash Withdrawal Program No charge to the Fund.
Retirement Plans No charge to the Fund.
Wire orders or express mailings of $15.00 fee may be charged for
redemption proceeds each wire order and each express
mailing.
February 1, 1997
B-1
Schedule B
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Company shall reimburse FTIS monthly for the following
out-of-pocket expenses:
o postage and mailing
o forms
o outgoing wire charges
o telephone
o Federal Reserve charges for check clearance
o if applicable, magnetic tape and freight
o retention of records
o microfilm/microfiche
o stationary
o insurance
o if applicable, terminals, transmitting lines and any expenses
incurred in connection with such terminals and lines
o all other miscellaneous expenses reasonably incurred by FTIS
The Company agrees that postage and mailing expenses will be paid on
the day of or prior to mailing as agreed with FTIS. In addition, the Company
will promptly reimburse FTIS for any other expenses incurred by FTIS as to which
the Company and FTIS mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise
properly borne by FTIS as part of its duties and obligations under the
Agreement.
C-4
C-1
Schedule C
DUTIES
AS TRANSFER AGENT FOR INVESTORS IN THE COMPANY, FTIS WILL:
o Record in its transfer record, countersign as transfer agent,
and deliver certificates signed manually or by facsimile, by
the President or a Vice-President and by the Secretary or the
Assistant Secretary of the Company, in such names and for such
number of authorized but hitherto unissued Shares of the
Company as to which FTIS shall receive instructions; and
o Transfer on its records from time to time, when presented to
it for that purpose, certificates of said Shares, whether now
outstanding or hereafter issued, when countersigned by a duly
authorized transfer agent, and upon the cancellation of the
old certificates, record and countersign new certificates for
a corresponding aggregate number of Shares and deliver said
new certificates.
AS SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AGENT FOR INVESTORS IN THE COMPANY, FTIS WILL:
o Receive from the Company, from the Company's Principal
Underwriter or from a Shareholder, on a form acceptable to
FTIS, information necessary to record sales and redemptions
and to generate sale and/or redemption confirmations;
o Mail sale and/or redemption confirmations using standard
forms;
o Accept and process cash payments from investors, clear checks
which represent payments for the purchase of Shares;
o Requisition Shares in accordance with instructions of the
Principal Underwriter of the Shares of the Company;
o Produce periodic reports reflecting the accounts receivable
and the paid pending (free stock) items;
o Open, maintain and close Shareholder accounts;
o Establish registration of ownership of Shares in accordance
with generally accepted form;
o Maintain monthly records of (i) issued Shares and (ii) number
of Shareholders and their aggregate Shareholdings classified
according to their residence in each State of the United
States or foreign country;
o Accept and process telephone exchanges an redemptions for
Shares in accordance with a Fund's Telephone Exchange and
Redemption Privileges as described in the Fund's current
prospectus.
o Maintain and safeguard records for each Shareholder showing
name(s), address, number of any certificates issued, and
number of Shares registered in such name(s), together with
continuous proof of the outstanding Shares, and dealer
identification, and reflecting all current changes. On
request, provide information as to an investor's qualification
for Cumulative Quantity Discount. Provide all accounts with
confirmation statements reflecting the most recent
transaction, and also provide year-end historical confirmation
statements;
o Provide on request a duplicate set of records for file
maintenance in the Company's office in St. Petersburg,
Florida;
o Out of money received in payment for Share sales, pay to the
Company's Custodian Account with the Custodian, the net asset
value per Share and pay to the Principal Underwriter its
commission;
o Redeem Shares and prepare and mail (or wire) liquidation
proceeds;
o Pass upon the adequacy of documents submitted by a
Shareholder or his legal representative to substantiate the
transfer of ownership of Shares from the registered owner
to transferees;
o From time to time, make transfers upon the books of the
Company in accordance with properly executed transfer
instructions furnished to FTIS and make transfers of
certificates for such Shares as may be surrendered for
transfer properly endorsed, and countersign new certificates
issued in lieu thereof;
o Upon receipt of proper documentation, place stop transfers,
obtain necessary insurance forms, and reissue replacement
certificates against lost, stolen or destroyed Share
certificates;
o Check surrendered certificates for stop transfer restrictions.
Although FTIS cannot insure the genuineness of certificates
surrendered for cancellation, it will employ all due
reasonable care in deciding the genuineness of such
certificates and the guarantor of the signature(s) thereon;
o Cancel surrendered certificates and record and countersign
new certificates;
o Certify outstanding Shares to auditors;
o In connection with any meeting of Shareholders, upon receiving
appropriate detailed instructions and written materials
prepared by the Company and proxy proofs checked by the
Company, print proxy cards; deliver to Shareholders all
reports, prospectuses, proxy cards and related proxy materials
of suitable design for enclosing; receive and tabulate
executed proxies; and furnish a list of Shareholders for the
meeting;
o Answer routine correspondence and telephone inquiries about
individual accounts. Prepare monthly reports for
correspondence volume and correspondence data necessary for
the Company's Semi-Annual Report on Form N-SAR;
o Prepare and mail dealer commission statements and checks;
o Maintain and furnish the Company and its Shareholders with
such information as the Company may reasonably request for the
purpose of compliance by the Company with the applicable tax
and securities laws of applicable jurisdictions;
o Mail confirmations of transactions to investors and dealers
in a timely fashion;
o Pay or reinvest income dividends and/or capital gains
distributions to Shareholders of record,in accordance with
the Company's and/or Shareholder's instructions, provided
that:
(a) The Company shall notify FTIS in writing
promptly upon declaration of any such
dividend and/or distribution, and in any
event at least forty-eight (48) hours before
the record date;
(b) Such notification shall include the
declaration date, the record date, the
payable date, the rate, and, if applicable,
the reinvestment date and the reinvestment
price to be used; and
(c) Prior to the payable date, the Company shall
furnish FTIS with sufficient fully and
finally collected funds to make such
distribution;
o Prepare and file annual United States information returns of
dividends and capital gains distributions (Form 1099) and mail
payee copies to Shareholders; report and pay United States
income taxes withheld from distributions made to nonresidents
of the United States, and prepare and mail to Shareholders the
notice required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as to
realized capital gains distributed and/or retained, and their
proportionate share of any foreign taxes paid by the Company;
o Prepare transfer journals;
o Set up wire order trades on file;
o Receive payment for trades and update the trade file;
o Produce delinquency and other trade file reports;
o Provide dealer commission statements and payments thereof for
the Principal Underwriter;
o Sort and print shareholder information by state, social code,
price break, etc.; and
o Mail promptly the Statement of Additional Information of the
Company to each Shareholder who requests it, at no cost to
the Shareholder.
In connection with the Company's Cash Withdrawal Program, FTIS will:
o Make payment of amounts withdrawn periodically by the
Shareholder pursuant to the Program by redeeming Shares, and
confirm such redemptions to the Shareholder; and
o Provide confirmations of all redemptions, reinvestmentof
dividends and distributions, and any additional investments in
the Program, including a summary confirmation at the year-end.
In connection with Tax Deferred Retirement Plans involving the Company,
FTIS will:
o Receive and process applications, accept contributions,
record Shares issued and dividends reinvested;
o Make distributions when properly requested; and
o Furnish reports to regulatory authorities as required.