TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of January 1, 1998, between Strategist Tax-Free Income Fund,
Inc. a Minnesota corporation, (the "Company" or "Fund"), and American Express
Client Service Corporation (the "Transfer Agent"), a Minnesota corporation.
In consideration of the mutual promises set forth below, the Company and the
Transfer Agent agree as follows:
1. Appointment of the Transfer Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Transfer Agent, as transfer agent for its shares and as shareholder
servicing agent for the Company, and the Transfer Agent accepts such
appointment and agrees to perform the duties set forth below.
2. Compensation. The Company will compensate the Transfer Agent for the
performance of its obligations as set forth in Schedule A. Schedule A
does not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the Transfer Agent for
which the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to xxxx the Company
separately.
The Transfer Agent will xxxx the Company monthly. The fee provided for
hereunder shall be paid in cash by the Company to the Transfer Agent
within five (5) business days after the last day of each month.
Out-of-pocket disbursements shall include, but shall not be limited to,
the items specified in Schedule B. Reimbursement by the Company for
expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent in any month shall be made as
soon as practicable after the receipt of an itemized xxxx from the
Transfer Agent.
Any compensation jointly agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from time
to time by attaching to this Agreement a revised Schedule A, dated and
signed by an officer of each party.
3. Documents. The Company will furnish from time to time such
certificates, documents or opinions as the Transfer Agent deems to be
appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
4. Representations of the Company and the Transfer Agent.
(a) The Company represents to the Transfer Agent that all
outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable by the Company. When shares are hereafter
issued in accordance with the terms of the Company's Articles
of Incorporation and its By-laws, such shares shall be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company.
(b) The Transfer Agent represents that it is registered under
Section 17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
Transfer Agent agrees to maintain the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations
under this agreement and to comply with all applicable laws.
5. Duties of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall be responsible,
separately and through its subsidiaries or affiliates, for the
following functions:
(a) Sale of Fund Shares.
(1) On receipt of an application and payment, wired
instructions and payment, or payment identified as
being for the account of a shareholder, the Transfer
Agent will deposit the payment, prepare and present
the necessary report to the Custodian and record the
purchase of shares in a timely fashion in accordance
with the terms of the prospectus. All shares shall be
held in book entry form and no certificate shall be
issued unless the Fund is permitted to do so by the
prospectus and the purchaser so requests.
(2) On receipt of notice that payment was dishonored, the
Transfer Agent shall stop redemptions of all shares
owned by the purchaser related to that payment, place
a stop payment on any checks that have been issued to
redeem shares of the purchaser and take such other
action as it deems appropriate.
(b) Redemption of Fund Shares. On receipt of instructions to
redeem shares in accordance with the terms of the Fund's
prospectus, the Transfer Agent will record the redemption of
shares of the Fund, prepare and present the necessary report
to the Custodian and pay the proceeds of the redemption to the
shareholder, an authorized agent or legal representative upon
the receipt of the monies from the Custodian.
(c) Transfer or Other Change Pertaining to Fund Shares. On receipt
of instructions or forms acceptable to the Transfer Agent to
transfer the shares to the name of a new owner, change the
name or address of the present owner or take other legal
action, the Transfer Agent will take such action as is
requested.
(d) Exchange of Fund Shares. On receipt of instructions to
exchange the shares of the Fund for the shares of another fund
in the Strategist Fund Group or other product in accordance
with the terms of the prospectus, the Transfer Agent will
process the exchange in the same manner as a redemption and
sale of shares.
(e) Right to Seek Assurance. The Transfer Agent may refuse to transfer,
exchange or redeem shares of the Fund or take any action requested by a
shareholder until it is satisfied that the requested transaction or action
is legally authorized or until it is satisfied there is no basis for any
claims adverse to the transaction or action. It may rely on the provisions
of the Uniform Act for the Simplification of Fiduciary Security Transfers
or the Uniform Commercial Code. The Company shall indemnify the Transfer
Agent for any act done or omitted to be done in reliance on such laws or
for refusing to transfer, exchange or redeem shares or taking any requested
action if it acts on a good faith belief that the transaction or action is
illegal or unauthorized.
(f) Shareholder Records, Reports and Services.
(1) The Transfer Agent shall maintain all shareholder
accounts, which shall contain all required tax,
legally imposed and regulatory information; shall
provide shareholders, and file with federal and state
agencies, all required tax and other reports
pertaining to shareholder accounts; shall prepare
shareholder mailing lists; shall cause to be printed
and mailed all required prospectuses, annual reports,
semiannual reports, statements of additional
information (upon request), proxies and other
mailings to shareholders; and shall cause proxies to
be tabulated.
(2) The Transfer Agent shall respond to all valid
inquiries related to its duties under this Agreement.
(3) The Transfer Agent shall create and maintain all
records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, including, but not limited to, the
records required by Section 31(a) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(g) Dividends and Distributions. The Transfer Agent shall prepare
and present the necessary report to the Custodian and shall
cause to be prepared and transmitted the payment of income
dividends and capital gains distributions or cause to be
recorded the investment of such dividends and distributions in
additional shares of the Fund or as directed by instructions
or forms acceptable to the Transfer Agent.
(h) Confirmations and Statements. The Transfer Agent shall confirm
each transaction either at the time of the transaction or
through periodic reports as may be legally permitted.
(i) Lost or Stolen Checks. The Transfer Agent will replace lost or
stolen checks issued to shareholders upon receipt of proper
notification and will maintain any stop payment orders against
the lost or stolen checks as it is economically desirable to
do.
(j) Reports to Company. The Transfer Agent will provide reports
pertaining to the services provided under this Agreement as
the Company may request to ascertain the quality and level of
services being provided or as required by law.
(k) Other Duties. The Transfer Agent may perform other duties for
additional compensation if agreed to in writing by the parties
to this Agreement.
6. Ownership and Confidentiality of Records. The Transfer Agent agrees
that all records prepared or maintained by it relating to the services
to be performed by it under the terms of this Agreement are the
property of the Company and may be inspected by the Company or any
person retained by the Company at reasonable times. The Company and
Transfer Agent agree to protect the confidentiality of those records.
7. Action by Board and Opinion of Counsel. The Transfer Agent may rely on
resolutions of the Board of Directors (the "Board") and on opinion of
counsel for the Company.
8. Duty of Care. It is understood and agreed that, in furnishing the Company
with the services as herein provided, neither the Transfer Agent, nor any
officer, director or agent thereof shall be held liable for any loss
arising out of or in connection with their actions under this Agreement so
long as they act in good faith and with due diligence, and are not
negligent or guilty of any willful misconduct. It is further understood and
agreed that the Transfer Agent may rely upon information furnished to it
reasonably believed to be accurate and reliable. In the event the Transfer
Agent is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this
Agreement because of an act of God, strike or equipment or transmission
failure reasonably beyond its control, the Transfer Agent shall not be
liable for any damages resulting from such failure.
9. Term and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective on the date
first set forth above (the "Effective Date") and shall continue in effect
from year to year thereafter as the parties may mutually agree; provided
that either party may terminate this Agreement by giving the other party
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
vote of the Board, certified by the Secretary, electing to terminate this
Agreement and designating a successor transfer agent or transfer agents.
Upon such termination and at the expense of the Company, the Transfer Agent
will deliver to such successor a certified list of shareholders of the Fund
(with name, address and taxpayer identification or Social Security number),
a 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 the Transfer Agent under this Agreement
in the form reasonably acceptable to the Company, and will cooperate in the
transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provisions for
assistance from the Transfer Agent's personnel in the establishment of
books, records and other data by such successor or successors.
10. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner
except by a written agreement executed by both parties.
11. Subcontracting. The Company agrees that the Transfer Agent may
subcontract for certain of the services described under this Agreement
with the understanding that there shall be no diminution in the quality
or level of the services and that the Transfer Agent remains fully
responsible for the services. Except for out-of-pocket expenses
identified in Schedule B, the Transfer Agent shall bear the cost of
subcontracting such services, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) 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.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their respective officers as of the day and year written above.
STRATEGIST TAX-FREE INCOME FUND, INC.
Strategist Tax-Free High Yield Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
AMERICAN EXPRESS CLIENT SERVICE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
Schedule A
STRATEGIST TAX-FREE INCOME FUND, INC.
FEE
The annual per account fee for services under this agreement, accrued daily and
payable monthly, is as follows:
Strategist Tax-Free High Yield Fund $25
Until December 31, 1998, the Transfer Agent has agreed to waive certain fees and
to absorb certain fund expenses under this Agreement. If, at the end of any
month, the fees and expenses of Tax-Free High Yield Fund exceed 0.95%, the Fund
shall not pay fees and expenses under this Agreement to the extent necessary to
keep the Fund's expense ratio from exceeding the limitation.
Schedule B
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Company shall reimburse the Transfer Agent monthly for the following
out-of-pocket expenses:
o typesetting, printing, paper, envelopes, postage and return postage for
proxy soliciting material, and proxy tabulation costs
o printing, paper, envelopes and postage for dividend notices, dividend
checks, records of account, purchase confirmations, exchange confirmations
and exchange prospectuses, redemption confirmations, redemption checks,
confirmations on changes of address and any other communication required to
be sent to shareholders
o typesetting, printing, paper, envelopes and postage for prospectuses,
annual and semiannual reports, statements of additional information,
supplements for prospectuses and statements of additional information and
other required mailings to shareholders
o stop orders
o outgoing wire charges
o other expenses incurred at the request or with the consent of the Company
