1. |
Engagement of USBFS as Administrator
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2. |
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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Maintain the Fund’s books and records under Rule 31a-3 of the 1940 Act
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(2)
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Act as liaison among all Fund service providers, including, but not limited to, custodians, depositaries, transfer agents and dividend reinvestment plan administrators.
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(2)
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Supply non-investment related statistical and research data as requested.
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(3)
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Audits:
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a.
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Prepare appropriate schedules and assist independent auditors.
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b.
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Provide information to the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) if requested, and facilitate audit process.
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c.
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Provide office facilities, if necessary, in connection with such audits.
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(4)
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Monitor arrangements under shareholder services or similar plan.
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(5) |
Monitor and communicate activity under share repurchase or tender offer plans.
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(6) |
Keep the Fund’s governing documents, including its charter, bylaws and minute books, but only to the extent such documents are provided to USBFS by the Administrator, the Fund 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 and Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) Compliance:
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a. |
Monitor compliance with the 1940 Act requirements applicable to business development companies and the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M as set forth below, including preparing monthly reports on the Fund’s
status with respect to each test and quarterly reporting for inclusion in the compliance report to the Fund’s Board of Trustees (“Board”):
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(i)
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IRC Section 851 - 90% Qualifying income
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(ii)
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IRC Section 851 – Annual Distribution Requirement
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(iii)
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IRC Section 851 - Fund Diversification
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(iv)
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Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act - 70% Eligible Assets Requirement
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(v)
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Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act - Investment Companies
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(vi)
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Section 12(d)(2) of the 1940 Act – Insurance Companies
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(vii)
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Section 12(d)(3) of the 1940 Act – Securities-Related Businesses
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(viii)
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Section 18 of the 1940 Act, as modified by Section 61 of the 1940 Act – 200% Asset Coverage Requirement
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(ix)
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Section 35(d)(1) of the 1940 Act – Name test
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b. |
Maintain awareness of applicable regulatory and operational service issues.
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c. |
Maintain awareness and proactively notify the fund of applicable changes to regulation governing business development companies, regulated investment companies or SEC reporting standards.
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d. |
Monitor Fund compliance with the policies and investment limitations as set forth in its registration statement.
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e. |
Prepare Blue Sky reporting and other ad-hoc reports, as necessary, at prevailing rates.
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f. |
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Administrator in connection with: (i) any certification required of the Fund 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’s compliance program as it relates to the Fund, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’s
standard of care as set forth herein.
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g. |
In order to assist the Fund in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), USBFS will provide the Fund’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 Fund.
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(2)
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SEC Reporting:
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a. |
Prepare financial statements (including notes) for inclusion in Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 8-K filings, as applicable.
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b. |
Prepare and file fidelity bond under Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act.
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c. |
Prepare and file reports and other documents required by the SEC and any U.S. stock exchanges on which the Fund’s shares may be listed.
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C.
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SEC Inspections:
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(1) |
Assist in producing materials requested by the SEC.
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(2) |
Maintain records of all materials produced as requested by the SEC.
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D.
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Financial Reporting:
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(1) |
Provide financial data for inclusion in the Fund’s registration statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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(2) |
Supervise the maintenance of the Fund’s general ledger and the preparation of the Fund’s financial statements, including oversight of expense payments, of the determination of net asset value of the Fund’s shares, and of the declaration and
payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
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(3) |
Compute the total return (based on both net asset value and market value, to the extent applicable) and expense ratio of the Fund and the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate.
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(4) |
Prepare quarterly and annual 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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Consolidated Balance Sheet.
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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.
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f.
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Notes to the quarterly and annual financial statements.
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g.
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Financial highlights.
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(5) |
Coordinate certification requirements pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”).
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(6) |
Provide supporting financial and portfolio information, as required, to facilitate the Fund’s quarterly earnings releases and associated investor calls.
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(7) |
Provide supporting financial and portfolio information, as required, to facilitate publishing of the Fund’s Monthly Portfolio Review and associated update of portfolio information on the Fund’s investor website.
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(8) |
Assist the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in connection with establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the “1934 Act”)) for the Fund.
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E.
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Tax Reporting:
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(1) |
File Form 1099 Miscellaneous, 1042 or 1042-S for payments to Directors and other service providers.
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(2) |
Prepare tax schedules, which include without limitation the following items:
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a. |
Fiscal Distribution Schedule (including recorded ROSCOP journal entry to general ledger).
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b. |
Excise Distribution Schedule.
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(3) |
To the extent requested, 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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(4) |
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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a. |
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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F.
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Board of Trustees Support
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(1) |
Facilitate creation of quarterly Board reporting package.
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(2) |
Provide resource for all sub-committee and Board meetings to take and prepare the meeting minutes for review.
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3. |
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 the 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 Fund acknowledges and agrees that certain Data
Providers may also require the Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund’s or any third party’s use of,
or inability to use, the Data or any breach by the Fund 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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4. |
Compensation
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5. |
Representations and Warranties
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A. |
The Administrator 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 respective obligations hereunder;
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(2) |
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Administrator in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Administrator, 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 except to the extent such failure to do so does not have a material adverse affect on its business, 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 organizational documents or any contract binding it or
affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
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(4) |
To the best of its knowledge, all records of the Fund provided to USBFS by the Administrator are accurate and complete and USBFS is entitled to rely on all such records in the form provided.
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B. |
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Administrator, 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;
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(2) |
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 organizational documents or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
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(3) |
To the best of its knowledge, no legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impair USBFS’ ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;
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(5) |
Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in a material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of USBFS, or any law or regulation applicable to it; and
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(6) |
It has all the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform the duties and obligations under this Agreement.
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6.
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Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
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A. |
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 Administrator or the Fund 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 Fund 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 and documented
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 instruction provided to USBFS by the Administrator or the Fund’s investment adviser or by any duly authorized officer of the the Fund, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, 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 the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and
agree that this indemnity shall not cover events that occur subsequent to the termination of this Agreement). As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees.
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USBFS shall indemnify and hold the Administrator and the Fund harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’
fees) that the Administrator or the Fund may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Administrator or the Fund by any person arising out of or related to 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 terms the “Administrator” and the “Fund” shall include each entity’s directors, affiliates, officers and employees.
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Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
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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 shall as promptly as possible under the circumstances notify the Administrator in the event of any service interruption that materially impacts USBFS’s services under this Agreement. 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 as soon as practicable. USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable business continuity and
disaster recovery 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 Administrator shall
be entitled to inspect USBFS’ premises and operating capabilities, books and records maintained on behalf of the Fund at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS. Moreover, USBFS shall obtain and
provide the Administrator, at such times as they 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.
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USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors (and shall do so in any case promptly upon request of the Administrator or Fund). Any reprocessing of administrative errors shall be at
its own expense.
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USBFS shall promptly notify the Administrator upon discovery of any material administrative error (or group, pattern or practice of errors that, when taken together could constitute a material administrative
error), and shall consult with the Administrator about the actions it intends to take to correct the error prior to taking such actions. A “material administrative error” means any error which the Administrator or the Fund’s management,
including its Chief Compliance Officer, would reasonably need to know.
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B. |
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 reasonably
likely to result in 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. |
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 5 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
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D. |
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Administrator or the Fund 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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7.
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Proprietary and Confidential Information
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8.
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Term of Agreement; Amendment
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9.
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Records
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10.
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Governing Law
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11.
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Duties in the Event of Termination
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12.
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No Agency Relationship
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13.
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Data Necessary to Perform Services
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14.
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Assignment
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15.
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Compliance with Laws
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16.
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Legal-Related Services
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17.
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Notices
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18.
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Multiple Originals
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19.
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Entire Agreement
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HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
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U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
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By:
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By:
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Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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Date:
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Date:
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HPS CORPORATE LENDING FUND, solely with respect to Sections 6 and 11 hereof
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Date:
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●
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The Administrator shall use the Data solely for internal purposes and will not redistribute the Data in any form or manner to any third party, except as may otherwise be expressly agreed to by the Data
Provider.
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●
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The Administrator will not use or permit anyone else to use the Data in connection with creating, managing, advising, writing, trading, marketing or promoting any securities or financial instruments or
products, including, but not limited to, funds, synthetic or derivative securities (e.g., options, warrants, swaps, and futures), whether listed on an exchange or traded over the counter or on a private-placement basis or otherwise or to
create any indices (custom or otherwise).
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●
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The Administrator shall treat the Data as proprietary to the Data Provider. Further, the Administrator shall acknowledge that the Data Provider is the sole and exclusive owners of the Data and all trade
secrets, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in or to the Data.
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●
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The Administrator will not (i) copy any component of the Data, (ii) alter, modify or adapt any component of the Data, including, but not limited to, translating, decompiling, disassembling, reverse
engineering or creating derivative works, or (iii) make any component of the Data available to any other person or organization (including, without limitation, the Administrator’s present and future parents, subsidiaries or affiliates)
directly or indirectly, for any of the foregoing or for any other use, including, without limitation, by loan, rental, service bureau, external time sharing or similar arrangement.
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●
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The Administrator shall reproduce on all permitted copies of the Data all copyright, proprietary rights and restrictive legends appearing on the Data.
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●
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The Administrator shall assume the entire risk of using the Data and shall agree to hold the Data Providers harmless from any claims that may arise in connection with any use of the Data by the Administrator.
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●
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The Administrator acknowledges that the Data Providers may, in their sole and absolute discretion and at any time, terminate USBGFS’ right to receive and/or use the Data.
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●
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The Administrator acknowledges and agrees that the Data Providers are third party beneficiaries of the agreements between the Data Providers and USBGFS with respect to the provision of the Data, entitled to
enforce all provisions of such agreement relating to the Data.
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●
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THE DATA IS PROVIDED TO THE TRUST ON AN “AS IS” BASIS. USBGFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE DATA (OR THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE USE THEREOF). USBGFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF
THE DATA EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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●
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THE TRUST ASSUMES THE ENTIRE RISK OF ANY USE THE TRUST MAY MAKE OF THE DATA. IN NO EVENT SHALL USBGFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS OR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE
DATA, BE LIABLE TO THE TRUST, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY, FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
INABILITY OF THE TRUST TO USE THE DATA, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, EVEN IF USBGFS, ANY OF ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF OR
OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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