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Exhibit 99.B(6)(c)
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
MUTUAL FUND MARKETPLACE@
OPERATING AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of October 25, 1996, between Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx &
Co., Inc. ("Schwab"), a California corporation, and each registered investment
company executing this Agreement ("Fund Company"), on its own behalf and on
behalf of each of the series or classes of shares, if any, listed on Schedule I,
as amended from time to time (such series or classes being referred to as the
"Fund(s)"). In the event there are no series or classes of shares listed on
Schedule I, then the term "Fund(s)" shall mean "Fund Company".
WHEREAS Fund Company wishes to have shares of the Fund(s) available for
purchase and redemption by Xxxxxx'x brokerage customers through Xxxxxx'x Mutual
Fund Marketplace ("MFMP");
WHEREAS certain policies, procedures and information are necessary to
enable the fund(s) to participate in the MFMP; and
WHEREAS Schwab is willing to permit the Fund(s) to participate in its
MFMP pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
promises set forth below, the parties agree as follows:
1. Operating Procedures
Schwab will open an omnibus account (the "Account") with each
Fund through which it will purchase and redeem shares, settle transactions,
reconcile transactions, obtain pricing, reinvest distributions and maintain
records in accordance with the Operating Procedures set forth in Exhibit A
hereto. In addition, the parties agree to transfer accounts, communicate with
Fund shareholders and perform other obligations in accordance with the Operating
Procedures.
2. Registration Requirements
x. Xxxxxx will only place purchase orders for shares of a Fund
on behalf of a customer whose account address recorded on Xxxxxx'x books is in a
state or other jurisdiction in which Fund Company has advised Schwab that such
Fund has registered or qualified its shares for sale under applicable law. Fund
Company shall advise Schwab immediately if any such registration or
qualification is terminated or if it wishes Schwab not to place purchase orders
for a Fund on behalf of its customers who reside in a particular state or other
jurisdiction.
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x. Xxxxxx will, upon request, (i) furnish Fund Company with
monthly written statements of the number of shares of each Fund purchased on
behalf of Schwab customers resident in one or more states or other jurisdictions
indicated by Fund Company or (ii) on a daily basis, transmit to an electronic
database provider with whom Schwab has established effective systems interfaces
information regarding the number of shares of each Fund sold in each state for
retrieval by Fund Company. Fund Company shall be responsible for all reasonable
fees and other reasonable charges of such database provider in connection with
Xxxxxx'x transmission of such information to and Fund Company's retrieval of
such information from such database provider.
c. Fund Company agrees that any rescission offer that is made
to shareholders who own shares directly with a Fund will also be made to Schwab
customers who would be entitled to such rescission offer if they owned shares
directly with the Fund. Fund Company will provide Schwab with a letter on Fund
Company letterhead containing the terms of any such rescission offer, and Schwab
may send this writing, or any derivation thereof, to the affected Schwab
customers. To assist Fund Company in effecting any such rescission offer, Schwab
agrees to provide Fund Company with relevant information regarding any affected
Schwab customer, including the account number, the number of shares purchased
and redeemed, if any, the dates of the purchase(s) and redemption(s), if any,
and the dollar amount of such transactions.
3. Compliance Responsibilities
a. Fund Company is responsible for (I) the compliance of each
prospectus, registration statement, annual or other periodic report, proxy
statement and item of advertising or marketing material of or relating to each
Fund with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (except for advertising or
marketing material prepared by Schwab that was not published or provided to
Schwab by or on behalf of Fund Company or any Affiliate (defined below) or
accurately derived from information published or provided by or on behalf of
Fund Company or any Affiliate), (ii) the distribution and tabulation of proxies
in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (except for such
proxy related services provided by Xxxxxx'x mailing agent), (iii) the
registration or qualification of the shares of each Fund under all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, and (iv) the compliance by Fund Company and each
Affiliate of Fund Company, as that term is defined below, with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations (including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended),
and the rules and regulations of each self-regulatory organization with
jurisdiction over Fund Company or Affiliate, except to the extent that the
failure to so comply by Fund Company or any Affiliate is caused by Xxxxxx'x
breach of this Agreement. An "Affiliate" of a person means (i) any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with,
such person, (ii) any officer, director, partner, corporation, or employee of
such person, and (iii) if such person is an investment company, any investment
advisor thereof or any member of the advisory board thereof.
b. In the event that the Account holds five percent (5%) or
more of the
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outstanding Fund shares, Fund Company will be responsible for requesting Schwab
to confirm its status as shareholder of record and to confirm whether any Schwab
customer beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Fund
shares through its Schwab brokerage account. For this purpose, Fund Company
shall indicate in its inquiry the number of Fund shares that equal five percent
(5%) of outstanding Fund shares. Schwab shall promptly reply to any such
inquiries.
x. Xxxxxx is responsible for Xxxxxx'x compliance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations governing Xxxxxx'x performance under this
Agreement, except to the extent that Xxxxxx'x failure to comply with any law,
rule or regulation is caused by Fund Company's breach of this Agreement.
d. Except as set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise
agreed upon in writing by the parties, any communication, instruction or notice
made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made orally, provided that such oral
communication is on a recorded telephone line or is promptly confirmed in
writing by facsimile transmission. Schwab is entitled to rely on any
communications, instructions or notices which it reasonably believes were
provided to it by Fund Company, any Affiliate or their agents authorized to
provide such communications, instructions or notices to Schwab, and on
communications, instructions or notices provided to it by its customers. Fund
Company is entitled to rely on any communications, instructions or notices it
reasonably believes were provided to it by Schwab, or its agents authorized to
provide such communications, instructions or notices to Fund Company.
e. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, neither party assumes any responsibility hereunder, or will be liable
to the other, for any damage, loss of data, delay or any other loss whatsoever
caused by events beyond its reasonable control.
f. Fund Company and each Fund shall indemnify and hold
harmless Schwab and each director, officer, employee and agent of Schwab from
and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including
reasonable attorney's fees) ("Losses") incurred by any of them arising out of
(i) any untrue statement of material fact or any omission of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading in any prospectus, registration
statement, annual or other periodic report or proxy statement of the Fund or in
any advertising or promotional material published or provided to Schwab by or on
behalf of Fund Company or any Affiliate or accurately derived from information
published or provided by or on behalf of Fund Company or any Affiliate, (ii) any
violation of any law, rule or regulation relating to the registration or
qualification of shares of the Fund, (iii) any breach by Fund Company of any
representation, warranty or agreement contained in this Agreement, or (iv) any
willful misconduct or negligence by Fund Company or a Fund in the performance
of, or failure to perform, its obligations under this Agreement, except to the
extent such Losses are caused by Xxxxxx'x breach of this Agreement or its
willful misconduct or negligence in the performance, or failure to perform, its
obligations under this Agreement. This Section 3(f) shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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4. Representations and Warranties
a. Fund Company represents and warrants to Schwab that each
Fund is in compliance with the conditions and qualifications set forth in the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), Article III, Section 26, as amended from time to time ("Section 26"),
which enable an NASD member to offer or sell shares in the Fund. Fund Company
represents and warrants that each Fund marked with an asterisk on Schedule I is
a "no load" or "no sales charge" Fund as defined in Section 26. If a Fund, for
any reason, fails to satisfy the terms and conditions of Section 26, Fund
Company will notify Schwab immediately of the Fund's disqualification and the
reason therefore.
x. Xxxxxx represents and warrants that Schwab is a member of
the NASD.
5. Use of Parties' Names
a. Without Xxxxxx'x prior written consent, Fund Company will
not cause or permit the use, description, or reference to Schwab, or to the
relationship contemplated by this Agreement in any advertisement or promotional
materials or activities.
b. Fund Company authorizes Schwab to use the names or other
identifying marks of Fund Company and Fund in connection with the operation of
the MFMP. Fund Company may withdraw this authorization as to any particular use
of any such name or identifying marks at any time (i) upon Fund Company's
reasonable determination that such use would have a material adverse effect on
the reputation or marketing efforts of Fund Company or such Fund, or (ii) if any
of the Funds cease to be available through the MFMP; provided, however, that
Schwab may, in its discretion, continue to use materials prepared or printed
prior to the withdrawal of such authorization or in the process of being
prepared or printed at the time of such withdrawal.
6. Proprietary Information
Each party hereto acknowledges that the identities of the other party's
customers, information maintained by such other party regarding those customers,
and all computer programs and procedures developed by such other party or such
other party's Affiliates or agents in connection with such other party's
performance of its duties hereunder constitute the valuable property of such
other party. Each party agrees that should it come into possession of any list
or compilation of the identities of or other information about the other party's
customers, or any other property of such party, pursuant to this Agreement or
any other agreement related to services under this Agreement, the party who
acquired such information or property shall use its best efforts to hold such
information or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing, or
distributing any of such information or other property, except (i) with the
other party's prior written consent, or (ii) as required by law or judicial
process. Each party acknowledges that any breach of the foregoing agreements as
to another party would result in immediate and irreparable harm to such other
party for which there would be no adequate remedy at law and agrees that in the
event of such a breach such other party will be entitled to equitable relief by
way of temporary and
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permanent injunctions, as well as such other relief as any court of competent
jurisdiction deems appropriate.
7. Assignability
This Agreement is not assignable by either party without the
other party's prior written consent, and any attempted assignment in
contravention hereof shall be null and void; provided, however, that Schwab may,
without the consent of Fund Company, assign its rights and obligations under
this Agreement to any Affiliate.
8. Exhibits and Schedules, Entire Agreement
All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement, as they may be
amended from time to time, are by this reference incorporated into and made a
part of this Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedule
hereto) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes any and all agreements, representations and
warranties, written or oral, regarding such subject matter made prior to the
time at which this Agreement has been executed and delivered by Schwab and Fund
Company.
9. Amendment
This Agreement may be amended only by a writing executed by
each party hereto that is to be bound by such amendment, except as provided in
this Section 9. Exhibit A may be amended by Schwab on forty (40) days' written
notice to Fund Company or such earlier time as shall be agreed to by the
parties. Exhibits B and C shall be amended by Fund Company in the event of any
change to the information contained therein.
10. Governing Law
This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted under the
laws of the State of California, as applied to contracts entered into and to be
performed entirely within the state.
11. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
12. Effectiveness and Termination
a. Upon Xxxxxx'x acceptance of Schedule I, as amended from
time to time, the effective date of this Agreement as to any Fund shall be the
later of the date on which this Agreement is made or the date set forth opposite
the name of the Fund on Schedule I.
b. This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund by Schwab
immediately upon written notice to Fund Company. This Agreement may be
terminated as to any
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Fund by Fund Company upon thirty (30) days' written notice to Schwab.
c. Upon the termination date for any Fund, Schwab will no
longer make the Fund shares available for purchase by Xxxxxx'x customers through
the MFMP. Schwab reserves the right to transfer the Fund, shares of its
customers out of the Account. If Schwab continues to hold the Fund shares on
behalf of its customers in the Account, the parties agree to be obligated under,
and act in accordance with, the terms and conditions of this Agreement with
respect to such shares.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by a duly authorized
representative of the parties hereto.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Co., Inc. Fairport Funds
--------------------
Name of Fund Company
on its own behalf and on
behalf of each of its
Fundslisted on Schedule I
hereto amended from time to
time.
By: By:
-------------------------------- ---------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Senior Vice President/Mutual Funds Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Operations Administration -------------------------
Title: President
------------------------
Date: Date:
------------------------------ ------------------------
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SCHEDULE I
TO THE OPERATING AGREEMENT
Fund Effective Date
Fairport Midwest Growth Fund * 11/19/96
Fairport Growth and Income Fund * 11/19/96
Fairport Government Securities Fund * 11/19/96
*Indicates that Fund is a "no load" or "no sales charge" Fund as defined in
Section 26 of the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice.
Fairport Funds
----------------------------- ,
Name of Fund Company
On its own behalf and on behalf of each
of the Funds listed on this Schedule I
By:
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------
Title: President
------------------------
Date:
------------------------
Accepted by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Co., Inc.
By:
---------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Senior Vice President/Mutual Funds
Operations Administration
Date:
-------------------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
OPERATING PROCEDURES
1 . The Account
x. Xxxxxx will open an omnibus account with each Fund. The
Account shall be registered:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Co., Inc.,
Special Custody Account for the Exclusive Benefit of
Customers
Attention: Mutual Funds
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
The Account will be set up for the reinvestment of capital gains and dividend
distributions.
b. The Fund shall designate the Account with account numbers.
Account numbers will be the means of identification when the parties are
transacting in the Account.
c. The parties acknowledge that the Account is an omnibus
account in Xxxxxx'x name with shares held by any number of beneficial owners.
Schwab represents that the shares in the Account are customer securities and are
segregated from Xxxxxx'x own assets. Fund Company represents that the shares in
the Account are carried free of any charge, lien or payment of any kind in favor
of the Fund or any person claiming through the Fund.
d. The Account shall be kept open on the Fund's books
regardless of a lack of activity or small position size, except to the extent
that Schwab takes specific action to close the Account, or to the extent the
Fund's prospectus reserves the right to close accounts that are inactive. In the
latter case, Fund Company will give prior notice to Schwab before closing any
Account.
x. Xxxxxx has the right to open additional accounts from time
to time to accommodate other investment options and features, and to consolidate
existing accounts if and when appropriate to meet the needs of the MFMP. In the
event that it is necessary for Schwab to open an account with a Fund for the
payment of distributions in cash, the term "Account" shall mean both the account
for the reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions and the account
for the payment of distributions in cash.
x. Xxxxxx reserves the right to issue instructions to each
Fund to move shares between the Account and any other account Schwab may open.
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2. Purchase and Redemption Orders
For each day on which any Schwab customer places with Schwab a
purchase or redemption order for shares of a Fund, Schwab shall aggregate all
such purchase orders and aggregate all such redemption orders and communicate to
the Fund an aggregate purchase order and an aggregate redemption order. Schwab
will accept orders to purchase and redeem Fund shares from its customers no
later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (market close). Schwab will communicate the
order to the Fund prior to a mutually agreed upon time.
3. Settlement of Transactions
x. Xxxxxx will transmit the purchase price of the aggregate
purchase order to the Fund by wire transfer on the next business day after the
trade date. For purposes of this Agreement, a "business day" is any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
b. For each business day on which Schwab places a redemption
order for a Fund within the time designated by the Fund, Fund Company will cause
the Fund(s) to send to Schwab the aggregate proceeds of all redemption orders
for the Fund(s) placed by Schwab on that day. Such redemption proceeds will be
sent by wire transfer on the next business day following the trade date for the
redemption orders; provided that Fund Company may, in its discretion, send such
proceeds by check if the aggregate amount is less than $250. Wire transfers of
redemption proceeds shall be separate from wire transfers for other purposes.
c. Each wire transfer of redemption proceeds shall indicate,
on the Fed Funds wire system, the amount thereof attributable to each Fund;
provided, however, that if the number of entries would be too great to be
transmitted through the Fed Funds wire system, Fund Company shall, on the day
the wire is sent, notify Schwab of such entries. The cost of the wire transfer
is the responsibility of the party sending the wire. The interest cost
associated with any delayed wire is the responsibility of the party sending the
wire.
d. Should a Fund need to extend settlement on a trade, Fund
Company must contact Schwab on trade date to discuss the extension. For purposes
of determining the length of settlement, Fund Company agrees to treat
shareholders that hold Fund shares through the Account the same as it treats
shareholders that hold Fund shares directly with the Fund.
e. In the event that a Fund cannot verify redemption proceeds,
Fund Company will settle trades and forward redemption proceeds in accordance
with this Agreement based on the information provided by Schwab. Schwab will be
responsible for the accuracy of all trade information provided by it.
f. Fund Company represents that each Fund that has reserved
the right to redeem in kind has filed Form N-1 8F-1 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. For purposes of complying with the Fund's election on Form
N-I 8F-1, Fund Company agrees that it will treat as a "shareholder" each
shareholder that holds Fund shares through the Account, provided that Schwab
provides to Fund Company, upon request, the name or account number,
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number of Fund shares and other relevant information for each such shareholder.
Fund Company acknowledges that treatment of Schwab as the sole shareholder of
Fund shares held in the Account for purposes of applying the limits in Rule
l8f-I under the 1940 Act would be inconsistent with the intent of Rule l8f-I and
the Fund's election on Form N-I 8F-I and could unfairly prejudice shareholders
that hold Fund shares through the Account.
4. Account Reconciliation Requirements
x. Xxxxxx shall verify, on a next day basis, orders placed for
the Account with each Fund. All activity in the Account must be reflected.
Therefore, any "as of" activity must be shown with its corresponding "as of" of'
dates.
x. Xxxxxx must receive statements on or before the eighth
business day of each month, even if there has been no activity in the Account
during the period, unless Schwab can verify transactions by direct or indirect
systems access.
c. The parties agree to notify each other and correct any
error in the Account with any Fund upon discovery. If an error is not corrected
by the day following discovery, each party agrees to make best efforts to avoid
this from hindering any routine daily operational activity.
5. Pricing
Every business day on which there is a transaction in the
Account and for each month-end business day, Fund Company will provide to Schwab
prior to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, each Fund's closing net asset value and public
offering price (if applicable) for that day and/or notification of no price for
that day. Fund Company shall provide such information on a best efforts basis
taking into consideration any extraordinary circumstances arising at the Fund
(e.g. natural disasters, etc.).
6. Distributions
a. Fund Company shall provide distribution information to
Schwab in a timely manner to enable Schwab to pay distributions to its customers
on or as close to payable date as practicable. As to each Fund, Fund Company or
such Fund shall provide Schwab with (i) the record date, ex-dividend date, and
payable date with respect to a Fund as soon as practicable after it is
announced, but no later than three (3) business days prior to record date, (ii)
the record date share balance in the Account and the distribution rate per share
on the first business day after record date, and (iii) the reinvest price per
share as soon as it is available. Other distribution information required by
Schwab from time to time for payment of distributions to its customers shall be
provided by Fund Company on such dates as are agreed upon between Schwab and
Fund Company, but no later than payable date.
b. For purposes of effecting cash distributions for customers
who have elected to receive their capital gains distributions and/or dividends
in cash, prior to 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day following
receipt of the reinvest price per share as
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provided in paragraph 6(a)(iii) above, Schwab shall notify Fund Company of the
aggregate number of Fund shares with respect to which the purchase is required
to be voided. Fund Company agrees that the purchase of such aggregate number of
Fund shares may be voided. Fund Company or such Fund shall wire the proceeds of
such voided transaction from the Fund to the Account on the same business day.
Schwab shall use such voided transaction proceeds to pay the distribution in
cash to Schwab customers who have elected to receive such distributions in cash.
c. For each Fund that pays daily dividends, Fund Company shall
provide on a daily basis, the following record date information: daily rate,
account share balance, account accrual dividend amount (for that day), account
accrual dividend amount (for period to date), and account transfers and
period-to-date accrual amounts.
d. In the event that Schwab maintains an Account with a Fund
for the payment of distributions in cash, Fund Company shall wire, on payable
date, any cash distribution from the Fund to the Account.
e. Each Fund shall accrue dividends, commencing on the
settlement date for the purchase of Fund shares and terminating on the trade
date for the redemption of Fund shares.
f. For annual tax reporting purposes, Fund Company shall
inform Schwab of the portion of each Fund's distributions that include any of
the following: foreign source income, tax exempt income by state of origin or
return of capital.
x. Xxxxxx shall prepare and file with the appropriate
governmental agencies, such information, returns and reports as are required to
be so filed for reporting (I) dividends and other distributions made, (ii)
amounts withheld on dividends and other distributions and payments under
applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and (iii) gross
proceeds of sales transactions as required.
h. Upon notice from Fund Company, Schwab shall effect mergers,
splits and other reorganization activities of a Fund for its customers.
7. Price and Distribution Rate Errors
a. In the event adjustments are required to correct any error
in the computation of the net asset value or public offering price of a Fund's
shares or in the distribution rate for a Fund's shares, Fund Company shall
notify Schwab as soon as possible after discovering the need for such
adjustments. Notification can be made orally, but must be confirmed in writing.
x. Xxxxxx and Fund Company shall agree promptly and in good
faith to a resolution of the error, and no adjustment for the error shall be
taken in the Account until such agreement is reached. Following resolution, upon
request by Schwab, Fund Company shall provide Schwab with written notification
of the resolution. The letter shall be written on Fund Company letterhead and
must state for each day on which an error occurred the incorrect price or
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rate, the correct price or rate, and the reason for the price or rate change.
Fund Company agrees that Schwab may send this writing, or derivation thereof, to
Xxxxxx'x customers whose accounts are affected by the price or rate change.
c. If a Schwab customer has received cash in excess of what he
is entitled, Schwab will, when requested by Fund Company, and to the extent
practicable and permitted by law, debit the customer's brokerage account in the
amount of such excess, but only to the extent of any cash in the account, and
repay it to the Fund. In no event, however, shall Schwab be liable to Fund
Company or the Fund for any such amounts. Upon the request of Fund Company,
Schwab shall provide Fund Company with the name of Xxxxxx'x customer and other
relevant information concerning the customer's brokerage account to assist Fund
Company in the collection from Xxxxxx'x customer of any such excess amount not
repaid to the Fund.
d. If adjustment is necessary to correct an error which has
caused Xxxxxx'x customers to receive dollars or shares less than that to which
they are entitled, the Fund shall, as appropriate and as mutually agreed by the
parties pursuant to 7(b) above, make all necessary adjustments to the number of
shares owned in the Account and/or distribute to Schwab any and all amounts of
the underpayment. Schwab will credit the appropriate amount of such shares or
payment to each Schwab customer.
e. For purposes of making adjustments, including the
collection of overpayments, Fund Company agrees to treat shareholders that hold
Fund shares through the Account the same as it treats shareholders that hold
Fund shares directly with the Fund. When making adjustments for an error, a Fund
shall not net same day transactions in the Account.
8. Record Maintenance
x. Xxxxxx shall maintain records for each of its customers who
holds Fund shares through the Account, which records shall include:
i. Number of shares;
ii. Date, price and amount of purchases and redemptions
(including dividend reinvestments) and date and
amounts of dividends paid for at least the current
year to date;
iii. Name and address of each of its customers, including
zip codes and social security numbers or taxpayer
identification numbers;
iv. Records of distributions and dividend payments;
v. Any transfers of shares; and
vi. Overall control records.
x. Xxxxxx will be responsible for accurately posting
transactions in Fund shares to its customers' brokerage accounts.
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9. Transfer of Accounts
a. Fund Company agrees to transfer shares between accounts for
Schwab customers or other street name brokers held directly with a Fund and the
Account on the Fund's records. For the purpose of expediting direct transfers
from accounts for Schwab customers, Fund Company will accept by facsimile
transmission a summary sheet of information indicating the customers' names,
account numbers, the Fund affected and the number of shares to be re-registered.
For record keeping purposes, actual copies of transfer forms will be forwarded
to a Fund upon its request for such forms.
x. Xxxxxx represents and warrants that for each transfer
indicated in the summary sheet of information, it holds each underlying
instruction for re-registration signed by its customer, and that its customer's
signature on such instruction is signature guaranteed by, Schwab pursuant to the
New York Stock Exchange's Medallion Signature Program.
x. Xxxxxx agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Fund Company,
the Fund and each director, officer, employee and agent of Fund Company
("indemnified person") from and against any and all Losses incurred by any of
them arising out of the impropriety of any transfer effected by the Fund in
reliance on the summary sheet of information, except to the extent such Losses
arise out of the failure of any indemnified person to comply with the
instructions on the summary sheet of information.
d. Fund Company shall process all transfer requests into the
appropriate Account. Schwab as custodian is qualified to accept in the Accounts
shares from Fund XXX, Xxxxx or 401(k) accounts. At no time shall any Fund
establish separate accounts registered to Schwab for the benefit of individual
shareholders. In the event any such account is mistakenly opened, Schwab
reserves the right to instruct such Fund to move Fund shares to the Account.
e. Fund Company must confirm to Schwab the completion of each
transfer on the day it occurs. The confirming information shall include the
number of shares, date ("as of" date if unavoidable delay), transaction date,
account number of the customer and the Account, registration, accrued dividends
and account type (i.e., XXX, Xxxxx, 401(k), etc.).
f. Transfer processing after record date but prior to payable
date will include all accrued dividends. Each Fund is responsible for monitoring
all completed full transfers for "trailing" dividends. Should a "trailing"
dividend appear in an account, a Fund shall send such dividend to Schwab within
five (5) business days, along with a specific written notification thereof.
Notification shall include details of the dividend and customer, including the
customer's social security number or taxpayer identification number, and/or the
account number for the Account to which the transfer was made.
g. If Schwab customers submit share certificates for transfer
into their Schwab brokerage accounts, Schwab will send such certificates,
properly endorsed to the applicable Fund, for transfer into the Account with
such Fund. Upon Xxxxxx'x request, Fund Company agrees to provide the status of
said certificates and book share balances.
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10. Shareholder Communication
a. Fund Company shall arrange with Schwab, or a mailing agent
designated or approved by Schwab, for the distribution of the materials listed
below to all of Xxxxxx'x customers who hold Fund shares, which distribution
shall be so arranged by Fund Company as to occur immediately upon the effective
date of the materials:
i. All proxy or information statements prepared for
circulation to shareholders of record of such Fund;
iii. Annual reports;
iii. Semi-annual reports;
iv. Quarterly reports (if applicable); and
v. All updated prospectuses, supplements and amendments
thereto.
Fund Company shall be responsible for providing the materials and for Schwab or
the mailing agent's fees in connection with this service as well as for timely
distribution. Fund Company agrees to have Schwab or the mailing agent
consolidate mailings of material to shareholders of more than one Fund if the
mailing is identical for all Funds in the Fund Company family.
b. In addition to the materials listed above, Fund Company
agrees to provide directly to Schwab all prospectuses, statements of additional
information and supplements and amendments thereto, and annual and other
periodic reports for each Fund in amounts reasonably requested by Schwab for
distribution to its customers. Fund Company is obligated to supply these
materials to Schwab in a timely manner so as to allow Schwab, at its own
expense, to send current prospectuses and statements of additional information
and periodic reports, immediately upon their effective dates, to customers and
prospective customers requesting them through Schwab. Schwab will also send a
current Fund prospectus with purchase trade confirmations for the initial
purchase of a Fund. Fund Company shall notify Schwab immediately of any change
to a Fund's prospectus.
c. If Schwab acts as clearing broker in an omnibus
relationship with a correspondent bank or broker ("Correspondent"), Fund Company
shall also provide to Schwab, in a timely manner, sufficient supplies of Fund
materials identified in Sections 10(a) and 10(b) for Schwab to give to
Correspondent for the distribution of such materials to Correspondent's
customers who hold Fund shares.
d. Fund Company shall ensure that the foregoing materials
shall be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the 1940 Act,
as amended, all applicable rules and regulations under each such statute, and
any and all laws, rules and regulations that may be adopted and become
applicable in the future.
e. Fund Company shall ensure that the prospectus of each of
its Funds discloses (i) that a broker may charge transaction fees on the
purchase and/or sale of Fund shares,
15
(ii) that the performance of the Fund may be compared in publications to the
performance of various indices and investments for which reliable performance
data is available, (iii) that the performance of the Fund may be compared in
publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by
recognized mutual fund statistical services, and (iv) that the annual report
contains additional performance information and will be made available to
investors upon request and without charge.
x. Xxxxxx shall mail statements to its customers on a monthly
basis (or as to accounts in which there has been no activity in a particular
month, no less frequently than quarterly) showing, among other things, the
number of shares of each Fund owned by such customer and the net asset value of
each such Fund as of a recent date.
x. Xxxxxx shall respond to customer inquiries regarding, among
other things, share prices, account balances, dividend amounts and dividend
payment dates. With respect to Fund shares purchased by customers after the
effective date of this Agreement, Schwab shall provide average cost basis
reporting to assist customers in the preparation of income tax returns.
11. New Processing Systems
Fund Company agrees to cooperate to the extent possible with
Schwab as Schwab develops and seeks to implement new processing systems for the
MFMP.
