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1.
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Appointment of USBFS as Administrator
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2.
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Services and Duties of USBFS
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A.
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General Fund Management:
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(1)
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Act as liaison among Fund service providers.
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(2)
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Supply:
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a.
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Office facilities (which may be in USBFS’, or an affiliate’s, or Fund’s own offices).
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b.
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Non-investment-related statistical and research data as requested.
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(3)
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Coordinate the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Directors”) communications, if and as requested, such as:
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a.
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Prepare meeting agendas and resolutions, with the assistance of Fund counsel.
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b.
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Prepare reports for the Board of Directors based on financial and administrative data.
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c.
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Assist with the selection of the independent auditor.
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d.
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Secure and monitor fidelity bond and director and officer liability coverage, and make the necessary Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
filings relating thereto.
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e.
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Prepare minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and Fund shareholders.
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f.
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Recommend dividend declarations to the Board of Directors and prepare and distribute to appropriate parties notices announcing declaration of
dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
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g.
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Attend Board of Directors meetings and present materials for the Board of Directors’ review at such meetings.
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(4)
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Audits:
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a.
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For the annual Fund audit, prepare appropriate schedules and materials. Provide requested information to the independent auditors, and facilitate
the audit process.
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b.
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For SEC or other regulatory audits, provide requested information to the SEC or other regulatory agencies and facilitate the audit process.
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c.
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For all audits, provide office facilities, as needed.
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(5)
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Assist with overall operations of the Fund.
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(6)
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Pay Fund expenses upon written authorization from the Company.
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(7)
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Keep the Company’s governing documents, including its charter, bylaws and minute books, but only to the extent such documents are provided to USBFS
by the Company or its representatives for safe keeping.
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B.
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Compliance:
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(1)
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Regulatory Compliance:
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a.
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Monitor compliance with the 1940 Act requirements, including:
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| (i) |
Calculation of asset and diversification tests on a quarterly basis..
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| (ii) |
Total return and SEC yield calculations.
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| (iii) |
Maintenance of books and records under Rule 31a-3.
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| (iv) |
Code of ethics requirements under Rule 17j-1 for the disinterested Directors, if requested to provide such service by the Company.
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b.
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After each quarter-end and on a post-trade basis, monitor each Fund's compliance with the policies and investment limitations as set forth in its
prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (the “SAI”) included in its registration statement on Form N-1A (or similar documents) filed with the SEC (“Registration Statement”).
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c.
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Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with (i) any certification required of the Company pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, and (ii) the operation of USBFS’ compliance
program as it relates to the Company, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’ standard of care as set forth herein.
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d.
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Monitor applicable regulatory and operational service issues, and update Board of Directors periodically.
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e.
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In order to assist the Company in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), USBFS will provide the Company’s Chief
Compliance Officer with reasonable access to USBFS’ fund records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter
(as defined in the Rule) involving USBFS that affect or could affect the Company.
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f.
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Monitor compliance with regulatory exemptive relief (as applicable) for ETFs.
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(2)
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SEC Registration and Reporting:
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a.
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Assist Fund counsel in annual update of the Registration Statement.
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b.
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Prepare and file annual and semiannual shareholder reports, and other filings, such as Form N-CEN, Form N-CSR, Form N-PORT, and Rule 24f-2 notices.
As requested by the Fund, prepare and file Form N-PX and Form N-LIQUID.
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c.
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Coordinate the printing, filing and mailing of Prospectuses and shareholder reports, and amendments and supplements thereto.
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d.
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File fidelity bond under Rule 17g-1.
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e.
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Monitor sales of Fund shares and ensure that such shares are properly registered or qualified, as applicable, with the SEC and the appropriate state
authorities.
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f.
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Assist Fund counsel in preparation of proxy statements and information statements, as requested by the Company.
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g.
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Assist Fund counsel with application for exemptive relief, when applicable.
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(3)
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IRS Compliance:
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a.
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Monitor the Company’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
including without limitation, review of the following:
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| (i) |
Diversification requirements.
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| (ii) |
Qualifying income requirements.
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| (iii) |
Distribution requirements.
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b.
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Calculate required annual distributions (including excise distribution amounts) for the review and approval of Fund management and/or its
independent accountant.
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C.
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Financial Reporting:
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(1)
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Provide financial data required by the Prospectus and SAI.
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(2)
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Prepare financial reports for officers, shareholders, tax authorities, performance reporting companies, the Board of Directors, the SEC, and the
independent auditor.
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(3)
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Supervise the Fund’s custodian and fund accountants in the maintenance of the Fund’s general ledger and in the preparation of the Fund’s financial
statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments, the determination of net asset value and the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
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(4)
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Compute the yield, total return, expense ratio and portfolio turnover rate of each class of the Fund.
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(5)
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Monitor expense accruals and make adjustments as necessary; notify the Company’s management of adjustments expected to materially affect the Fund’s
expense ratio.
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(6)
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Prepare financial statements, which include, without limitation, the following items:
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a.
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Schedule of Investments.
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b.
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
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c.
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Statement of Operations.
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d.
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Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
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e.
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Statement of Cash Flows (if applicable).
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f.
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Financial Highlights.
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(7)
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Pursuant to Rule 31a-1(b)(9) of the 1940 Act, prepare quarterly broker security transaction summaries.
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D.
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Tax Reporting:
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(1)
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Prepare for the review of the independent accountants and/or Fund management the federal and state tax returns including without limitation, Form 1120 RIC and applicable state returns including any necessary schedules. USBFS will prepare annual Fund federal and state income tax return filings as
authorized by and based on the instructions received by Fund management and/or its independent accountant. File on a timely basis appropriate federal and state tax returns including, without limitation, Forms 1120/8613, with any
necessary schedules.
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(2)
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Provide the Fund’s management and Fund’s independent accountant with tax reporting information pertaining to the Fund and available to USBFS as
required in a timely manner.
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(3)
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Prepare Fund financial statement tax footnote disclosures for the review and approval of Fund management and/or the Fund’s independent accountant.
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(4)
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Prepare and file on behalf of Fund management Form 1099 MISC for
payments to disinterested Directors and other qualifying service providers.
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(5)
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Monitor wash sale losses.
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(6)
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Calculate Qualified Dividend Income (“QDI”) for qualifying Fund shareholders.
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3.
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License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights
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| A. |
USBFS has entered into agreements with various data service providers (each, a “Data Provider”), including, without limitation, MSCI index data services (“MSCI”),
Standard & Poor Financial Services LLC (“S&P”), Morningstar, Broadridge, FTSE, and ICE to provide data services that may include, without limitation, index returns and pricing information (collectively, the “Data”) to facilitate the
services provided by USBFS to each Fund. These Data Providers have required USBFS to include certain provisions regarding the use of the Data in this Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Data is being licensed, not sold, to the Fund. The Company acknowledges and agrees that certain Data Providers may also require the Company or one or more Funds to enter into an agreement
directly with the Data Provider for the use of that Data Provider’s Data. The provisions in Exhibit B shall not have any effect upon the standard of
care and liability USBFS has set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
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| B. |
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless USBFS, its information providers, and any other third party involved in or related to the making or compiling of the
Data, their affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, as incurred,
arising in and any manner out of the Company’s or any third party’s use of, or inability to use, the Data or any breach by the Company of any provision contained in this Agreement regarding the Data. The immediately preceding sentence shall
not have any effect upon the standard of care and liability of USBFS as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
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| C. |
USBFS has entered into agreements with Bloomberg Finance L.P. (“Bloomberg”) to provide data (the “N-PORT Data”) for use in or in connection with the reporting
requirements under the Rule, including preparation and filing of Form N-PORT. In connection with the provision of the N-PORT Data, Bloomberg requires certain provisions to be included in the Agreement.
The Company agrees that it shall (a) comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to accessing and using the N-PORT Data, (b) not extract the N-PORT Data
from the view-only portal, (c) not use the N-PORT Data for any purpose independent of complying with the requirements of Rule 30b1-9 (which prohibition shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, use in risk reporting or other systems or
processes (e.g., systems or processes made available enterprise-wide for the Company’s internal use)), (d) permit audits of its use of the N-PORT Data by Bloomberg, its affiliates or, at the Company’s request, a mutually agreed upon third
party auditor (provided that the costs of an audit by a third party shall be borne by the Company), (e) exculpate Bloomberg, its affiliates and their respective suppliers from any liability or responsibility of any kind relating to the
Company’s receipt or use of the N-PORT Data (including expressly disclaiming all warranties). The Company further agrees that Bloomberg shall be a third party beneficiary of the Agreement solely with respect to the foregoing provisions (a) –
(e).
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1.
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Compensation
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2.
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Representations and Warranties
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A.
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The Company hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of
this Agreement, that:
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| (1) |
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
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| (2) |
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
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| (3) |
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory
approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would
prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
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All records of the Company provided to USBFS by the Company or by a prior service provider of the Company are accurate and complete and USBFS is entitled to rely on all
such records in the form provided.
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B.
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USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Company, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of
this Agreement, that:
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| (1) |
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
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| (2) |
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation
of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
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It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory
approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would
prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
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3.
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Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
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A.
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USBFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. USBFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Company in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’ control, except
a loss arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all claims, demands, losses,
expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Company, as approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence or
willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Company, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this
paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees.
USBFS shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and
every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Company may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Company by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by USBFS as a result of USBFS’
refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of USBFS, its
successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Company” shall include the Company’s directors, officers and employees.
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In no case shall either party be liable to the other for (i) any special, indirect or consequential damages, loss of profits or goodwill (even if
advised of the possibility of such); or (ii) any delay, despite using reasonable efforts to perform under the circumstances, by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies,
labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its control of transportation or power supply.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its control, USBFS shall take all reasonable steps to
minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues. USBFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of USBFS.
USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.
Representatives of the Company shall be entitled to inspect USBFS’ premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS. Moreover, USBFS shall provide the Company, at such
times as the Company may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and procedures of USBFS relating to the services provided by USBFS under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense.
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B.
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In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked
to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to
notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be
the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation
initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify
the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
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C.
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The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 6 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
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D.
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If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Company pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of
its obligations in such other capacity.
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E.
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In conjunction with the tax services provided to each Fund by USBFS hereunder, USBFS shall not be deemed to act as an income tax return preparer for any purpose including as such term is defined under Section 7701(a)(36) of the IRC, or any successor thereof. Any information provided by USBFS to a Fund for
income tax reporting purposes with respect to any item of income, gain, loss, or credit will be performed solely in USBFS’ administrative capacity. USBFS shall not be required to determine, and shall not take any position with respect to
whether, the reasonable belief standard described in Section 6694 of the IRC has been satisfied with respect to any income tax item. Each Fund, and any appointees thereof, shall have the right to inspect the transaction summaries
produced and aggregated by USBFS, and any supporting documents thereto, in connection with the tax reporting services provided to each Fund by USBFS. USBFS shall not be liable for the provision or omission of any tax advice with respect
to any information provided by USBFS to a Fund. The tax information provided by USBFS shall be pertinent to the data and information made available to USBFS, and is neither derived from nor construed as tax advice.
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4.
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Data Necessary to Perform Services
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The Company or its agent shall furnish to USBFS the data necessary to perform the services
described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.
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5.
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Proprietary and Confidential Information
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USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially
and as proprietary information of the Company, all records and other information relative to the Company and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Company (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and
information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may
not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or (iii) when so requested by the Company. Records
and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the
Company or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
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6.
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Records
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7.
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Compliance with Laws
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8.
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Terms of Agreement; Amendment
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9.
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Duties in the Event of Termination
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10.
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Assignment
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11.
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Governing Law
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12.
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No Agency Relationship
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13.
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Services Not Exclusive
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14.
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Invalidity
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15.
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Legal-Related Services
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16.
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Notices
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17.
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Multiple Originals
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18.
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Cybersecurity and Business Continuity
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19.
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No Third Party Rights
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