FORM OF ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTING
SERVICE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE NORTH COUNTRY FUNDS
AND
AMERICAN DATA SERVICES, INC.
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INDEX
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1. APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS.............................3
2. DUTIES OF ADS.....................................................4
ADMINISTRATION............................................................4
FUND ACCOUNTING...........................................................8
3. COMPENSATION OF ADS...............................................9
4. EXPENSES ASSUMED AS ADMINISTRATOR................................10
5. RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION...............................10
6. REPORTS..........................................................12
7. ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES.....................................12
8. ACTIVITIES OF ADS................................................12
9. RECORDS..........................................................13
10. CONFIDENTIALITY..................................................13
11. EFFECTIVENESS, DURATION, AND TERMINATION.........................14
12. ASSIGNMENT.......................................................15
13. FORCE MAJEURE....................................................15
14. SERVICE DAYS.....................................................15
15. LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY..................16
16. NOTICES..........................................................16
17. MISCELLANEOUS....................................................16
SCHEDULE A...............................................................19
(A)ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FEE:...........................................19
FEE INCREASES............................................................20
(B)EXPENSES..............................................................20
(C)STATE REGISTRATION (BLUE SKY) FEES:...................................20
(D)SPECIAL REPORTS.......................................................20
(E)SERVICE DEPOSIT.......................................................21
SCHEDULE B...............................................................22
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THE NORTH COUNTRY FUNDS
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FORM OF ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTING SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this _____ day of ___________, 2000, by and among The
North Country Funds, a Massachusetts business trust, having its principal office
and place of business at 250 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 (the "Trust")
and American Data Services, Inc., a New York corporation having its principal
office and place of business at the Hauppauge Corporate Center, 150 Motor
Parkway, Suite 109, Hauppauge, New York 11788 ("ADS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company
registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares ("Shares") in
separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate
portfolio of securities and other assets, and is authorized to divide those
series into separate classes; and
WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the series as listed in Schedule
B hereto (each such series, together with all other series subsequently
established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with
Section 7, being herein referred to as a "Fund," and collectively as the
"Funds") and the Trust offers shares of the classes of each Fund as listed in
Appendix A hereto (each such class together with all other classes subsequently
established by the Trust in a Fund being herein referred to as a "Class," and
collectively as the "Classes"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that ADS perform certain administrative
and accounting services for each Fund and Class thereof and ADS is willing to
provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, the Trust and ADS hereby agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS
(a) The Trust hereby appoints ADS, and ADS hereby agrees, to act as
administrator of the Trust for the period and on the terms set forth
in this Agreement.
(b) In connection therewith, the Trust has delivered to ADS copies of
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(i) the Trust's Agreement, Declaration of Trust and Bylaws (collectively,
as amended from time to time, "Organic Documents"),
(ii) the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A and all amendments
thereto filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or the 1940 Act (the "Registration Statement"),
(iii) the Trust's notification of registration under the 1940 Act on Form
N-8A as filed with the SEC;
(iv) the Trust's current Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information for each Fund (collectively, as currently in effect and
as amended or supplemented, the "Prospectus"),
(v) each current plan of distribution or similar document adopted by the
Trust under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act ("Plan") and each current
shareholder service plan or similar document adopted by the Trust
("Service Plan"), and
(vi) all procedures adopted by the Trust with respect to the Trust's
(e.g., procedures relating to rule 17a-7 transactions, repurchase
agreements, etc.), and shall promptly furnish ADS with all amendments
of or supplements to the foregoing. The Trust shall deliver to ADS a
certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust (the "Board") appointing ADS and authorizing the execution and
delivery of this Agreement.
2. DUTIES OF ADS.
ADMINISTRATION
(a) Subject to the direction and control of the Board, ADS shall manage
all aspects of the Trust's operations with respect to the Funds
except those that are the responsibility of any other service
provider hired by the Trust, all in such manner and to such extent as
may be authorized by the Board.
(b) ADS shall provide persons suitable to the Board to serve as officers
of the Trust;
(c) ADS will provide the Trust with the adequate general office space,
communication facilities and personnel to perform the services for
the Trust described in this Section 2.
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(d) Oversee the performance of administrative and professional services
rendered to the Trust by others, including its custodian, transfer
agent and dividend disbursing agent as well as legal, auditing,
shareholder servicing and other services performed for the Trust,
including:
(i) the preparation and maintenance by the Trust's custodian,
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and fund accountant in
such form, for such periods and in such locations as may be
required by applicable United States law, of all documents and
records relating to the operation of the Trust required to be
prepared or maintained by the Trust or its agents pursuant to
applicable law;
(ii) the reconciliation of account information and balances among the
Trust's custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and
fund accountant;
(iii) the transmission of purchase and redemption orders for Shares;
and
(iv) the performance of fund accounting, including the calculation of
the net asset value of the Shares;
(e) Assist each Fund's investment adviser in monitoring Fund holdings for
compliance with Prospectus investment restrictions and assist in
preparation of periodic compliance reports, as applicable;
(f) Prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual
financial statements;
(g) Prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance
analyses agreed upon by the Trust and Administrator from time to
time;
(h) Advise the Trust and the Board on matters concerning the Trust and
its affairs;
(i) With the cooperation of the counsel to the Trust, the investment
advisers, officers of the Trust and other relevant parties, prepare
and disseminate materials for meetings of the Board, including
agendas and selected financial information as agreed upon by the
Trust and ADS from time to time; attend and participate in Board
meetings to the extent requested by the Board; and prepare or cause
to be prepared minutes of the meetings of the Board;
(j) Determine income and capital gains available for distribution and
calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and
excise tax requirements, to be reviewed by the Trust's independent
public accountants;
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(k) Prepare the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns to be
reviewed by the Trust's independent public accountants;
(l) Prepare and maintain the Trust's operating expense budget to
determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund in order
to calculate it's daily net asset value;
(m) In consultation with counsel for the Trust, assist in and oversee the
preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to
shareholders of the following:
(i) amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A;
(ii) periodic reports to the Trustees' shareholders and the
Commission, including but not limited to annual reports and
semi-annual reports;
(iii) notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2;
(iv) proxy materials; and
(v) reports to the SEC on Form N-SAR.
(n) Coordinate the Trust's annual or SEC audit by:
(i) assisting the Trust's independent auditors, or, upon approval of
the Trust, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the
Trust's accounts and records;
(ii) providing appropriate financial schedules (as requested by the
Trust's independent public accountants or SEC examiners); and,
(iii) providing office facilities as may be required.
(o) After consultation with counsel for the Trust and the investment
adviser, determine the jurisdictions in which Shares of the Trust
shall be registered or qualified for sale; register, or prepare
applicable filings with respect to, the Shares with the various state
and other securities commissions, provided that all fees for the
registration of Shares or for qualifying or continuing the
qualification of the Trust shall be paid by the Trust
(p) Monitor sales of Shares, ensure that the Shares are properly and duly
registered with the SEC;
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(q) Oversee the calculation of performance data for dissemination to
information services covering the investment company industry, for
sales literature of the Trust and other appropriate purposes;
(r) Prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports,
including Fund budgets, expense reports, pro-forma financial
statements, expense and profit/loss projections and fee
waiver/expense reimbursement projections on a periodic basis;
(s) Authorize the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets,
all bills of the Trust;
(t) Provide information typically supplied in the investment company
industry to companies that track or report price, performance or
other information with respect to investment companies;
(u) Assist the Trust in the selection of other service providers, such as
independent accountants, law firms and proxy solicitors; and perform
such other recordkeeping, reporting and other tasks as may be
specified from time to time in the procedures adopted by the Board;
provided, that ADS need not begin performing any such task except
upon 65 days' notice and pursuant to mutually acceptable compensation
agreements.
(v) ADS shall provide such other services and assistance relating to the
affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably
request pursuant to mutually acceptable compensation agreements.
(w) Except with respect to ADS's duties as set forth in this Section 2
and except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Trust
assumes all responsibility for ensuring that the Trust complies with
all applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and
any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities with
jurisdiction over the Trust. All references to any law in this
Agreement shall be deemed to include reference to the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under authority of the law and all
official interpretations of such law or rules or regulations.
(x) In order for ADS to perform the services required by this Section 2,
the Trust (i) shall cause all service providers to the Trust to
furnish any and all information to ADS, and assist ADS as may be
required and (ii) shall ensure that ADS has access to all records and
documents maintained by the Trust or any service provider to the
Trust.
ADS shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor
and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority
to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of
the Trust.
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FUND ACCOUNTING
I. SERVICES. ADS may from time to time adopt procedures, or modify its
procedures, to implement the terms of this Section. With respect to each
Fund, ADS shall perform the following services:
(a) Timely calculate the net asset value per share with the
frequency prescribed in each Fund's then-current Prospectus and
transmit the Fund's net asset value to NASDAQ, and communicate
such net asset value to the Trust and its transfer agent;
(b) Calculate each item of income, expense, deduction, credit, gain
and loss, if any, as required by the Trust and in conformance
with generally accepted accounting practice ("GAAP"), the SEC's
Regulation S-X (or any successor regulation) and the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor laws)(the
"Code");
(c) ADS shall prepare and maintain on behalf of the Trust the
following books and records of each Fund, and each Class
thereof, pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, as such rule
or any successor rule may be amended from time to time ("Rule
31a-1"), that are applicable to the fulfillment of ADS's duties
hereunder, as well as any other documents necessary or advisable
for compliance with applicable regulations as may be mutually
agreed to between the Trust and ADS. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, ADS will prepare and maintain the
following records upon receipt of information in proper form
from the Trust or its authorized agents:
- Cash receipts journal
- Cash disbursements journal
- Dividend record
- Purchase and sales - portfolio securities journals
- Subscription and redemption journals
- Security ledgers
- Broker ledger
- General ledger
- Daily expense accruals
- Daily income accruals
- Securities and monies borrowed or loaned and collateral
therefore
- Foreign currency journals
- Trial balances
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(d) Make such adjustments over such periods as the Trust's administrator
deems necessary, and communicates to ADS in writing, to reflect
over-accruals or under-accruals of estimated expenses or income;
(e) Provide the Trust and its investment adviser with daily portfolio
valuation, net asset value calculation and other standard operational
reports as requested from time to time.
(f) Provide all raw data available from its mutual fund accounting system
for management's or the administrators preparation of the following:
1. Semi-annual financial statements;
2. Semi-annual form N-SAR;
3. Annual tax returns;
4. Financial data necessary to update form N-1a;
5. Annual proxy statement.
(g) Provide facilities to accommodate annual audit by the Trust's
independent accountants and, upon approval of the Trust, any audits
or examinations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
or any other governmental or quasi-governmental entities with
jurisdiction.
(h) Transmit to and receive from each Fund's transfer agent appropriate
data to on a daily basis and daily reconcile Shares outstanding and
other data with the transfer agent;
(i) Periodically reconcile all appropriate data with each Fund's
custodian;
(j) Perform such other recordkeeping, reporting and other tasks as may be
specified from time to time in the procedures adopted by the Board;
provided, that ADS need not begin performing any such task except
upon 65 days' notice and pursuant to mutually acceptable compensation
agreements.
3. COMPENSATION OF ADS.
(a) For the services provided by ADS pursuant to this Agreement, the
Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees to pay ADS the fees set forth
in Schedule A. Fees will begin to accrue for each Fund on the latter
of the date of this Agreement or the date of commencement of
operations of the Fund.
(b) In addition to the fees paid under subsection (a), the Trust agrees
to reimburse ADS for out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by
ADS for the items set out in the Schedule A attached hereto. In
addition, the Trust will reimburse any other expenses incurred by ADS
at the request or with the consent of the Trust.
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(c) The fees, out-of pocket expenses and advances identified in the
foregoing subsections (a) and (b) above may be changed from time to
time subject to written agreement between the Trust and ADS, as set
forth in the Schedule A attached.
(d) The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten
days following the receipt of the respective billing notice.
4. EXPENSES ASSUMED AS ADMINISTRATOR.
Except as specifically stated in this Agreement, ADS shall pay all
expenses incurred by it in performing its services and duties as Administrator.
The Trust will bear all other expenses to be incurred in the operation of the
Funds (other than those borne by the Adviser) including taxes, interest,
brokerage fees and commissions, if any, fees of Trustees who are not officers,
directors, partners, employees or holders of five percent or more of the
outstanding voting securities of the Adviser or ADS or any of their affiliates,
Securities and Exchange Commission fees and state blue sky registration or
qualification fees, advisory fees, charges of custodians, transfer and dividend
disbursing agents' fees, payments under the Plans, certain insurance premiums,
outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of maintaining corporate existence,
costs attributable to shareholder services, including without limitation
telephone and personnel expenses, costs of preparing and printing Prospectuses
for regulatory purposes, costs of shareholders' reports and Trust meetings and
any extraordinary expenses
5. RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) ADS shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out
the provisions of the Agreement, but shall be without liability to
the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without
gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or reckless disregard
of its duties hereunder. It shall be entitled to rely upon and may
act upon the accounting records and reports generated by the Trust,
advice of the Trust, or of counsel for the Trust and upon statements
of the Trust's independent accountants, and shall be without
liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such
records and reports or advice, provided that such action is not, to
the knowledge of ADS, in violation of applicable federal or state
laws or regulations, and provided further that such action is taken
without gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or reckless
disregard of its duties.
(b) ADS shall not be liable to the Trust for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any act or omission by
ADS in the performance of its duties hereunder except as hereinafter
set forth. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to protect the
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Administrator against any liability to the Trust or its security
holders to which ADS shall otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its
duties on behalf of the Trust, reckless disregard of ADS's
obligations and duties under this Agreement or the willful violation
of any applicable law.
(c) Except as may otherwise be provided by applicable law, neither ADS
nor its stockholders, officers, directors, employees or agents shall
be subject to, and the Trust shall indemnify and hold such persons
harmless from and against, any liability for and any damages,
expenses or losses incurred by reason of the inaccuracy of
information furnished to ADS by the Trust or its authorized agents or
in connection with any error in judgment or mistake of law or any act
or omission in the course of, connected with or arising out of any
services to be rendered hereunder, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, by reason of reckless disregard of ADS's obligations and
duties under this Agreement or the willful violation of any
applicable law.
(d) ERRORS OF OTHERS. ADS shall not be liable for the errors of other
service providers to the Trust, including the errors of pricing
services (other than to pursue all reasonable claims against the
pricing service based on the pricing services' standard contracts
entered into by ADS) and errors in information provided by an
investment adviser (including prices and pricing formulas and the
untimely transmission of trade information), custodian or transfer
agent to the Trust.
(e) NAV ERRORS. With respect to Funds which do not value their assets in
accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, ADS shall not be liable
to the Trust or any shareholder of the Trust for (i) any loss to the
Trust if an NAV Difference for which ADS would otherwise be liable
under this Agreement is less than or equal to 0.001 (1/10 of 1%) or
if the aggregate dollar amount of the loss to the Trust is less than
0.005 (1/2 of 1%) of the net assets of the Trust or (ii) any loss to
a shareholder of the Trust if the NAV Difference for which ADS would
otherwise be liable under this Agreement is less than or equal to
0.005 (1/2 of 1%) or if the loss in the shareholder's account with
the Trust is less than or equal to $25. Any loss for which ADS is
determined to be liable hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of
gain which inures to shareholders, whether to be collected by the
Trust or not.
(f) DEFINITION OF "NAV DIFFERENCE." For purposes of this Agreement, (i)
the NAV Difference shall mean the difference between the NAV at which
a shareholder purchase or redemption should have been effected
("Recalculated NAV") and the NAV at which the purchase or redemption
is effected, divided by the Recalculated NAV, (ii) NAV Differences
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and any ADS liability therefrom are to be calculated each time a
Fund's (or class's) NAV is calculated, (iii) in calculating any NAV
Difference for which ADS would otherwise be liable under this
Agreement for a particular NAV error, Fund losses and gains shall be
netted and (iv) in calculating any NAV Difference for which ADS would
otherwise be liable under this Agreement for a particular NAV error
that continues for a period covering more than one NAV determination,
Fund losses and gains for the period shall be netted.
6. REPORTS.
(a) The Trust shall provide to ADS on a quarterly basis a report of a
duly authorized officer of the Trust representing that all
information furnished to ADS during the preceding quarter was true,
complete and correct to the best of its knowledge. ADS shall not be
responsible for the accuracy of any information furnished to it by
the Trust, and the Trust shall hold ADS harmless in regard to any
liability incurred by reason of the inaccuracy of such information.
(b) ADS shall provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, on a
quarterly basis, a report, in such a form as ADS and the Trust shall
from time to time agree, representing that, to its knowledge, the
Trust was in compliance with all requirements of applicable federal
and state law, including without limitation, the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Internal Revenue Service, or specifying any instances in which the
Trust was not so in compliance. Whenever, in the course of performing
its duties under this Agreement, ADS determines, on the basis of
information supplied to ADS by the Trust, that a violation of
applicable law has occurred, or that, to its knowledge, a possible
violation of applicable law may have occurred or, with the passage of
time, could occur, ADS shall promptly notify the Trust and its
counsel of such violation.
7. ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES
In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares
or one or more classes of Shares after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such
series of Shares or classes of Shares, as the case may be, shall become Funds
and Classes under this Agreement. ADS or the Trust may elect not to make any
such series or classes subject to this Agreement.
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8. ACTIVITIES OF ADS.
(a) ADS shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its
services hereinunder are not impaired thereby.
(b) ADS may subcontract any or all of its responsibilities pursuant to
this Agreement to one or more corporations, trusts, firms,
individuals or associations, which may be affiliated persons of ADS,
who agree to comply with the terms of this Agreement; provided, that
any such subcontracting shall not relieve ADS of its responsibilities
hereunder. ADS may pay those persons for their services, but no such
payment will increase ADS's compensation from the Trust.
9. RECORDS.
MAINTENANCE OF AND ACCESS TO RECORDS. ADS shall maintain records relating to its
services, such as journals, ledger accounts and other records, as are required
to be maintained under the 1940 Act and Rule 31a-1 thereunder. The books and
records pertaining to the Trust that are in possession of ADS shall be the
property of the Trust. The Trust, or the Trust's authorized representatives,
shall have access to such books and records at all times during ADS's normal
business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such
books and records shall be provided promptly by ADS to the Trust or the Trust's
authorized representatives. In the event the Trust designates a successor that
assumes any of ADS's obligations hereunder, ADS shall, at the expense and
direction of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records
and other data established or maintained by ADS under this Agreement.
INSPECTION OF RECORDS. In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of
the records of the Trust maintained by ADS, ADS will endeavor to notify the
Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to
such inspection. ADS shall abide by the Trust's instructions for granting or
denying the inspection; provided, however, that ADS may grant the inspection
without instructions if ADS is advised by counsel to ADS that failure to do so
will result in liability to ADS.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY.
ADS agrees to treat all records and other information related to the
Trust as proprietary information of the Trust and, on behalf of itself and its
employees, to keep confidential all such information, except that ADS may
(a) prepare or assist in the preparation of periodic reports to
shareholders and regulatory bodies such as the SEC;
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(b) provide information typically supplied in the investment company
industry to companies that track or report price, performance or
other information regarding investment companies; and
(c) release such other information as approved in writing by the Trust,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where ADS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to release the information, when requested to
divulge such information by duly constituted authorities or when so
requested by the Trust.
11. EFFECTIVENESS, DURATION, AND TERMINATION
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above
written.
(b) This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of three (3) years
from the date of its effectiveness and shall continue in effect for
successive twelve-month periods; provided that such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by the Board and by a
majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or
interested persons of any such party.
(c) In the event of a material breach of this Agreement by either party,
the non-breaching part shall notify the breaching party in writing of
such breach and upon receipt of such notice, the breaching party
shall by 45 days to remedy the breach. If said breach is not remedied
to the reasonable satisfaction of the non-breaching party, the
non-breaching party may thereafter terminate this Agreement
immediately.
If after such termination for so long as ADS, with the written
consent of the Trust, in fact continues to perform any one or more of
the services contemplated by this Agreement or any schedule or
exhibit hereto, the provisions of this Agreement, including without
limitation, the provisions dealing with indemnification, shall
continue in full force and effect.
Compensation due ADS and unpaid by the Trust upon such termination
shall be immediately due and payable upon, and notwithstanding, such
termination.
(d) If at any time during the initial or any subsequent term of this
Agreement, ADS is replaced as Administrator for any reason other than
for a material breach of this Agreement which ADS does not cure
within a reasonable time, or the Trust is merged into or sells all
(or substantially all) of its assets to another fund or family of
funds for which ADS does not serve as Administrator, then the Trust
shall, immediately upon demand by ADS, make a one time cash payment
equal to the net present value of the revenues ADS would have earned
during the remainder of the initial or subsequent term of the
Agreement, as the case may be, at the fee rate in effect at the time
of such event (including any applicable minimum).
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For purposes of this paragraph, the asset figured used to calculate
the fee due ADS hereunder shall be the highest monthly average assets
of the Trust at any time during the 12 months immediately preceding
the termination of ADS (or the merger or sale of assets) of the
Trust.
If the Trust terminates this Agreement ADS shall be entitled to
collect from the Trust, in addition to the compensation described
under Section 11 hereof, the amount of all of ADS's reasonable cash
disbursements for services in connection with ADS's' activities in
effecting such termination, including without limitation, the
delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of the Trust's property,
records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof. Subsequent
to such termination, for a reasonable fee, ADS will provide the Trust
with reasonable access to all Trust documents or records, if any,
remaining in its possession. Should the Trust exercise its right to
terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses associated with the movement of
records and material will be borne by the Trust. Additionally, ADS
reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable costs and
expenses associated with such termination.
(e) The obligations of Sections 3, 5 and 10 shall survive any termination
of this Agreement
12. ASSIGNMENT.
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 by the Trust without the prior written consent
of ADS.
13. FORCE MAJEURE
ADS shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance
of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or
indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control including, without
limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor
difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God,
insurrection, war, riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication
or power supply.
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14. SERVICE DAYS
Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall require ADS, in any
capacity under this Agreement, to perform any functions or duties on any day
other than a business day of the Trust or of a Fund. Functions or duties
normally scheduled to be performed on any day which is not a business day of the
Trust or of a Fund shall be performed on, and as of, the next business day,
unless otherwise required by law.
15. LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
The trustees of the Trust and the shareholders of each Fund shall
not be liable for any obligations of the Trust or of the Funds under this
Agreement, and ADS agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under this
Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Trust or the
Fund to which ADS's rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or
claims, and not to the trustees of the Trust or the shareholders of the Funds.
16. NOTICES.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing,
shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by certified
mail, return receipt requested, and shall be given to the following addresses
(or such other addresses as to which notice is given):
TO THE TRUST: TO ADS:
John E. Arsenault Michael Miola
President Chairman & CEO
The North Country Funds American Data Services, Inc.
250 Glen Street 150 Motor Parkway, Suite 900
Glens Falls, NY 12801 Hauppauge, NY 11788
17. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party
for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.
(b) Except for Appendix A, to add new Funds and Classes in accordance
with Section 7, no provisions of this Agreement may be amended or
modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly
authorized and executed by both parties hereto.
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(c) The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York as at the time
in effect and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the
extent that the applicable law of the State of New York or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act, the latter shall control.
(d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
matter hereof, whether oral or written.
(e) The parties may execute this Agreement on any number of counterparts,
and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.
(f) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining
portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be
affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be
construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the
particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.
(g) Section headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only
and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties
agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are
separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other
Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any
debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising
under this Agreement or otherwise.
(i) No affiliated person, employee, agent, director, officer or manager
of ADS shall be liable at law or in equity for ADS's obligations
under this Agreement.
(j) Each of the undersigned warrants and represents that they have full
power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party
indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to
the terms hereof and each party hereto warrants and represents that
this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the party, enforceable against the
party 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons,
as of the day and year first above written.
THE NORTH COUNTRY FUNDS AMERICAN DATA SERVICES, INC.
By: ________________________________ By: _______________________
John E. Arsenault Michael Miola
President Chairman & CEO
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THE NORTH COUNTRY FUNDS
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
FEES AND CHARGES
(A) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE FEE:
For the services rendered by ADS in its capacity as administrator, as
specified in Paragraph 1. DUTIES OF ADS., the Trust shall pay ADS within ten
(10) days after receipt of an invoice from ADS at the beginning of each month, a
fee equal to the greater of:
CALCULATED FEE WILL BE BASED UPON PRIOR MONTH AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
(No prorating partial months)
NOTE: The following administrative service fees are per portfolio serviced plus
out-of-pocket expenses.
MINIMUM FEE:
Under $5 million...........................$ 3,500
From $5 million to $10 Million............. 4,000
From $10 million to $20 million............ 4,500
From $20 million on........................ 5,000
OR,
NET ASSET CHARGE:
- First $75 Million of average monthly net assets of Fund 1/12th of 0.15% (15
basis points), plus
- Next $75 Million of average monthly net assets of Fund 1/12th of 0.10%
(10 basis points), plus
- Over $150 Million of average monthly net assets of Fund 1/12th of 0.07%
(7 basis points).
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FEE INCREASES
On each annual anniversary date of this Agreement, the fees
enumerated above will be increased by the greater of the change in the Consumer
Price Index for the Northeast region (CPI) for the twelve-month period ending
with the month preceding such annual anniversary date, or five percent (5%). In
addition, ADS reserves the right to increase fees on ninety (90) days prior
written notice to the Trust. ADS represents that fees will not be increased
until after the first anniversary date of this agreement.
(B) EXPENSES.
The following expenses will be charged to the Trust as incurred by
ADS in connection with the performance of its duties to include
The Trust shall reimburse ADS for any out-of-pocket expenses ,
exclusive of salaries, advanced by ADS in connection with but not limited to the
printing or filing of documents for the Trust, travel, daily quotation fees
(currently $0.10 for equity & $0.58 for debt positions), capital change
information, telephone toll charges, facsimile transmissions, supplies (related
to fund records), record storage, postage and courier charges, pro-rata portion
of SAS 70 review, and NASDAQ insertion fee ($22 per month).incurred in
connection with the performance of its duties hereunder. ADS shall provide the
Trust with a monthly invoice of such expenses and the Trust shall reimburse ADS
within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.
(C) STATE REGISTRATION (BLUE SKY) FEES:
The fees enumerated in paragraph (a) above do not include the initial
state registration, renewal and maintenance of registrations (as detailed in
Paragraph 1(l) DUTIES OF ADS). Each state registration requested will be subject
to the following fees:
Initial registration .............. $ 295.00
Registration renewal .............. $ 150.00
Sales reports (if required) ....... $ 25.00
(D) SPECIAL REPORTS.
All reports and /or analyses requested by the Trust, its auditors,
legal counsel, portfolio manager, or any regulatory agency having jurisdiction
over the Trust, that are not in the normal course of fund administrative
activities as specified in Section 2 of this Agreement shall be subject to an
additional charge, agreed upon in advance, based upon the following rates:
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Labor:
General Counsel: $300.00/hr.
Senior staff: $150.00/hr.
Junior staff: $ 75.00/hr.
Computer time: $ 45.00/hr.
(E) SERVICE DEPOSIT.
The Trust will remit to ADS upon execution of this Agreement a
service deposit equal to one (1) month's minimum fee under this Agreement,
computed in accordance with the number of portfolios listed in Schedule B of
this Agreement. The Trust will have the option to have the service deposit
applied to the last month's service fee, or applied to any new contract between
the Trust and ADS. The Fund will be charged only once for the service deposit,
upon the execution of the first original Agreement thereafter until the
relationship between ADS and the Fund is terminated.
However, if the Trust elects or is forced to terminate this Agreement
for any reason what-so-ever (including, but not limited to, the voluntary or
involuntary termination of the Trust, liquidation of the Trust's assets, the
sale or merger of the Trust or it's assets to any successor entity) prior to the
termination date of this Agreement as specified in Paragraph 12 of this
Agreement, the Trust will forfeit the service deposit paid to ADS upon execution
of this Agreement
(F) CONVERSION CHARGE: (EXISTING FUNDS ONLY)
There will be a charge to convert the Trust's accounting records on
to the ADS fund accounting system. In addition, ADS will be reimbursed for all
out-of-pocket expenses, enumerated in paragraph (b) above and data media
conversion costs, incurred during the conversion process.
The conversion charge will be estimated and agreed upon in advance by
the Trust and ADS. The charge will be based upon the quantity of records to be
converted and the condition of the previous service agent's records.
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THE NORTH COUNTRY FUNDS
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE B
FUNDS AND CLASSES TO BE SERVICED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
North Country Equity Growth Fund
North Country Intermediate Bond Fund
