EX-99.(H)(1) 10 d740401dex99h1.htm TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Exhibit (h)(1)

 

 

 

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

NORTHERN FUNDS

AND

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       

Page

  
1.    Terms of Appointment and Duties      1   
2.    Third Party Administrators for Defined Contribution Plans      5   
3.    Fees and Expenses      5   
4.    Representations and Warranties of the Transfer Agent      6   
5.    Representations and Warranties of the Trust      7   
6.    Wire Transfer Operating Guidelines/Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code      7   
7.    Data Access and Proprietary Information      8   
8.    Standard of Care      10   
9.    Confidentiality      10   
10.    Covenants of the Trust and the Transfer Agent      10   
11.    Termination of Agreement      11   
12.    Assignment and Third Party Beneficiaries      12   
13.    Subcontractors      13   
14.    Miscellaneous      13   
15.    Additional Funds      15   
16.    Release      15   
17.    Unitholder Liability      15   

 

Schedule A

   Fund List

Schedule B

   Fees and Expenses

Schedule C

   AML Delegation

Schedule D

   Third Party Administrator Procedures

 

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TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of this 30th day of June, 2014, by and between NORTHERN FUNDS, a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal place of business at 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois (the “Trust”), acting on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its series listed in Schedule A, and THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, a Illinois State Bank having its principal office and place of business at 801 South Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois (the “Transfer Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;

WHEREAS, each series of the Trust named in the attached Schedule A, which may be amended by the parties from time to time (each such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 15 being herein referred to as a “Fund,” and collectively as the “Funds”); and

WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, desires to appoint the Transfer Agent as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, registrar and agent in connection with certain other activities, and the Transfer Agent desires to accept such appointment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.

Terms of Appointment and Duties

1.1 Transfer Agency Services. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the Transfer Agent agrees to act as its transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”), dividend disbursing agent, registrar and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plan provided to the shareholders of each of the respective Funds of the Trust (“Shareholders”) and set out in the currently effective prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information (“prospectus”) of the Trust on behalf of the Funds, including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program. In accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Funds, as applicable, and the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent agrees that it will perform the following services:

(a) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares;

(b) Impose and collect any redemption fees in accordance with the Funds’ prospectuses;

(c) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;

(d) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption directions and effect redemptions. Deliver the appropriate instructions thereof to the custodian.


(e) In respect to the transactions in items (a), (c) and (d) above, the Transfer Agent shall execute transactions directly only with those broker-dealers approved in advance in writing by the Trust;

(f) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it from the custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;

(g) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon receipt of appropriate instructions;

(h) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund;

(i) Issue replacement checks and place stop orders on original checks based on a Shareholder’s representation that a check was not received or was lost. Such stop orders and replacements will be deemed to have been made at the request of the Trust, and Trust shall be responsible for all losses or claims resulting from such replacement, provided that the Transfer Agent acted in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct;

(j) Maintain records of account for and advise the Trust and its Shareholders as to the foregoing;

(k) Record the issuance of Shares of the Trust and maintain pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”) a record of the total number of Shares of the Trust which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and issued and outstanding. The Transfer Agent shall also provide the Trust on a regular basis with the total number of Shares which are authorized and issued and outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust;

(l) Accept any information, records, documents, data, certificates, transaction requests by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions, including e-mail communications, which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust or from broker-dealers of record or third-party administrators on behalf of individual Shareholders. With respect to transaction requests, the Transfer Agent may rely on the Trust to ensure that the original source documentation is in good order, which includes compliance with Rule 22c-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), and the Trust will require the broker-dealers or third party administrators to retain such documentation. E-mail exchanges on routine matters may be made directly with the Trust’s contact at the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will not act on any e-mail communications coming to it directly from Shareholders requesting transactions, including, but not limited to, monetary transactions, change of ownership, or beneficiary changes;

(m) Maintain such bank accounts as the Transfer Agent shall deem necessary to the performance of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to, the processing of Share purchases and redemptions and the payment of the Trust dividends;

 

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(n) Report abandoned property to state authorities as authorized by the Trust in accordance with the policies and procedures agreed upon by the Trust and the Transfer Agent; provided that the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with such services;

(o) Research and provide Shareholders with their account information through various means, including but not limited to, telephone calls and correspondence;

(p) Account for and administer the redemption fees if applicable on the redemption and exchange of Shares in accordance with written procedures agreed upon with the Trust; and

(q) Answer telephone inquiries on such dates and times as the parties shall mutually agree. Such inquiries may include requests for information on account set-up and other general questions regarding operation of the Funds.

1.2 Additional Services. In addition to, and neither in lieu nor in contravention of, the services set forth in the above Section 1.1, the Transfer Agent shall perform the following services:

(a) Other Services. Perform the other services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, registrar and, as relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plan (including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including: maintaining all Shareholder accounts, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by federal authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, providing Shareholder account information, cooperating with the Trust’s independent accountants in connection with reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and providing the Trust with all such reports as the Trust or its agents may reasonably require as the Transfer Agency system may support.

(b) Control Book (also known as “Super Sheet”). Maintain a daily record and produce a daily report for the Trust of all transactions and receipts and disbursements of money and securities and deliver a copy of such report for the Trust for each business day to the Trust no later than 9:00 AM Central Time on the next business day;

(c) National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”). (i) accept and effectuate the registration and maintenance of accounts through Networking and the purchase, redemption, transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through Fund/SERV (Networking and Fund/SERV being programs operated by the NSCC on behalf of NSCC’s participants, including the Trust), in accordance with, instructions transmitted to and received by the Transfer Agent by transmission from NSCC on behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been established by, or in accordance with instructions of authorized persons, as hereinafter defined on the dealer file maintained by the Transfer Agent; (ii) issue instructions to the Trust’s banks for the settlement of transactions between the Trust and NSCC (acting on behalf of its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iii) provide account and transaction information from the Trust’s records on the Transfer Agency system in accordance with NSCC’s Networking and Fund/SERV rules for those broker-dealers; and (iv) maintain Shareholder accounts on such system through Networking;

 

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(d) Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Delegation. If the Trust elects to delegate to the Transfer Agent certain AML duties under this Agreement, the parties will agree to such duties and terms as stated in the attached schedule (Schedule C entitled “AML Delegation”), which may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the parties; and

(e) Laws and Regulation. The Transfer Agent will take reasonable steps to stay informed of new securities and tax laws and regulations that apply to the Transfer Agent’s products and services hereunder and will take reasonable steps to update its products and/or services to comply with new securities and tax laws and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business in the time and manner as required by such laws and regulations.

(f) “As Of” Transactions. The Transfer Agent shall process, handle and account for all “as of” transactions in accordance with policies adopted by the Trust from time to time. For purposes of this paragraph, “as of” transactions are the adjustments made on the Funds’ accounting records to correct certain actions, such as (i) the failure by the Transfer Agent to timely process orders, enter an order as requested, or enter an order in error; and/or (ii) the failure by financial intermediaries or institutional investors to transmit an order properly, or the cancellation of orders by such financial intermediaries or institutional investors.

(g) Market Timing and Excessive Trading. The Transfer Agent will with respect to Rule 22c-2 under the 40 Act (i) conduct daily reviews of management reports related to late trading and escalate issues to management as appropriate and (ii) conduct daily trade reviews with respect to, and will assist other Trust service providers in connection with the Trust’s excessive trading policies and procedures adopted by the Board, as described in the prospectus.

(h) Identity Theft Prevention Program. The Transfer Agent has processes designed to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft consistent with the Identity Theft Protection Program adopted by the Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time.

(i) New Procedures. New procedures as to who shall provide certain of these services in Section 1 may be established in writing from time to time by agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent may at times perform only a portion of these services and the Trust or its agent may perform these services on such Trust’s behalf;

1.3 Fiduciary Accounts. With respect to certain retirement plans or accounts (such as individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), Roth IRAs and Coverdell IRAs, such accounts, “Fiduciary Accounts”), the Transfer Agent, at the request of the Trust, shall arrange for the provision of appropriate prototype plans as well as provide for or arrange for the provision of various services to such plans and/or accounts, which services may include custodial services, account set-up maintenance, and disbursements as well as such other services as the parties hereto shall mutually agree.

1.4 Service Quality. The Transfer Agent shall maintain a quality control process designed to provide a consistent level of quality and timeliness for its call center, correspondence services and transaction processing.

 

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2.

Third Party Administrators for Defined Contribution Plans

2.1 The Trust may decide to make available to certain of its customers, a qualified plan program (the “Program”) pursuant to which the customers (“Employers”) may adopt certain plans of deferred compensation (“Plan or Plans”) for the benefit of the individual Plan participant (the “Plan Participant”), such Plan(s) being qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) and administered by third party administrators which may be plan administrators as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (the “TPA(s)”).

2.2 In accordance with the procedures established in the initial Schedule D entitled “Third Party Administrator Procedures”, as may be amended by the Transfer Agent and the Trust from time to time (“Schedule D”), the Transfer Agent shall:

(a) Treat Shareholder accounts established by the Plans in the name of the Plan trustees, Plans or TPAs as the case may be as omnibus accounts;

(b) Maintain omnibus accounts on its records in the name of the TPA or its designee as the Plan trustee for the benefit of the Plan; and

(c) Perform all services under Section 1 as transfer agent of the Trust and not as a record-keeper for the Plans.

2.3 Transactions identified under Section 2 of this Agreement shall be deemed exception services (“Exception Services”) when such transactions:

(a) Require the Transfer Agent to use methods and procedures other than those usually employed by the Transfer Agent to perform services under Section 1 of this Agreement.

(b) Involve the provision of information to the Transfer Agent after the commencement of the nightly processing cycle of the Transfer Agency system; or

(c) Require more manual intervention by the Transfer Agent, either in the entry of data or in the modification or amendment of reports generated by the Transfer Agency system than is usually required by non-retirement plan and pre-nightly transactions.

 

3.

Fees and Expenses

3.1 Fee Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust agrees to pay the Transfer Agent the fees and expenses set forth in the attached fee schedule (“Schedule B”).

3.2 Out-of-Pocket Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under Section 3.1 above, the Trust agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent for out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to audio response, check writing, NSCC, CIP-related database searches, data communications equipment, disaster recovery, escheatment, express mail and delivery services, federal wire charges, forms and production, freight, household tape processing, lost shareholder searches, lost shareholder tracking, manual check pulls, microfiche, network products, postage, offsite storage, P.O. box rental, print/mail services, programming hours, regulatory compliance

 

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fee per CUSIP, returned checks, special mailing, statements, confirmations, supplies, tax reporting (federal and state), telephone (telephone and fax lines), transcripts, travel, and year-end processing, unless otherwise agreed between the Trust and the Transfer Agent.

3.3 Postage. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Trust reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Transfer Agent by the applicable Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such materials.

3.4 Cash Balances. The Transfer Agent may hold cash balances (“Cash Balances”) in connection with subscription, redemption and related transactions in the Funds. The Transfer Agent and its affiliates will bear all expenses related to the maintenance of any Cash Balances account, and will not be required to make payments to the Trust with respect to the income or other benefits received by them on the Cash Balances, if any. Such income and benefits will be reported periodically to the Board of the Trust.

3.5 Opinion and Reports of Trust’s Independent Accountants.

(a) The Transfer Agent shall provide the Trust or its Administrator, at such times as the Trust or its Administrator may request, with the most recent report by independent public accountants on the accounting system and internal accounting controls relating to the services provided by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement (the SSAE 16 report).

 

4.

Representations and Warranties of the Transfer Agent

The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Trust that:

4.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois and shall remain so as long as this Agreement is in effect.

4.2 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which it does business where its activities would require such qualification.

4.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.

4.4 It is, and will be at all times under this Agreement, a transfer agent fully registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Exchange Act and shall remain so during the term of this Agreement.

4.5 All requisite corporate actions have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

4.6 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

4.7 It shall comply in all material respects with all laws, rules and regulations, including all provisions of the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and all state laws, rules and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business.

 

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4.8 Disaster Recovery Plan

(a) The Transfer Agent shall maintain a commercially reasonably designed disaster recovery plan, and that upon request of the Trust, it shall provide evidence of its disaster recovery plan.

(b) The Transfer Agent shall continuously maintain and periodically test such commercially reasonably designed disaster recovery plans, including all back-up systems related thereto, and, upon request, shall report to the Trust and the Board concerning the aspects of its disaster recovery and business continuity plan that are relevant to the services provided hereunder.

 

5.

Representations and Warranties of the Trust

The Trust represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:

5.1 It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

5.2 It is empowered under applicable law and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform this Agreement.

5.3 All corporate actions required by said organizational documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

5.4 It is an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act, as amended.

5.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or 1940 Act, each as amended, is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Funds being offered for sale.

 

6.

Wire Transfer Operating Guidelines/Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code

6.1 Obligation of Sender. The Transfer Agent is authorized to promptly debit the appropriate Trust account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the designated security procedure (the “Security Procedure”) chosen for Funds transfer and in the amount of money that the Transfer Agent has been instructed to transfer. The Transfer Agent shall execute payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Trust’s instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received after the customary deadline will be deemed to have been received the next business day.

6.2 Account Numbers. The Transfer Agent shall process all payment orders on the basis of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account number, the account number shall take precedence and govern.

6.3 Rejection. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to decline to process or delay the processing of a payment which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in the account to be

 

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charged at the time of the Transfer Agent’s receipt of such payment order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause the Transfer Agent, in the Transfer Agent’s sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network time, credit or similar limits which are applicable to the Transfer Agent; or (c) if the Transfer Agent, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly authorized.

6.4 Cancellation Amendment. The Transfer Agent shall use reasonable efforts to act on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received in a timely manner affording the Transfer Agent reasonable opportunity to act. However, the Transfer Agent assumes no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot be satisfied, provided that it has used reasonable efforts as set forth above.

6.5 Errors. The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any erroneous payment order provided that the Transfer Agent complies with the payment order instructions as received and the Transfer Agent complies with the Security Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in payment orders.

6.6 Interest. The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment order, unless the Transfer Agent is notified of the unauthorized payment order within thirty (30) days of notification by the Transfer Agent of the acceptance of such payment order.

6.7 ACH Credit Entries/Provisional Payments. When the Trust initiates or receives Automated Clearing House credit and debit entries pursuant to these guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association, the Transfer Agent will act as an Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository Financial Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by the Transfer Agent with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until the Transfer Agent receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank. If the Transfer Agent does not receive such final settlement, the Trust agrees that the Transfer Agent shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Trust in connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Trust via such entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.

6.8 Confirmation. Confirmation of Transfer Agent’s execution of payment orders shall be provided in accordance with Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

7.

Data Access and Proprietary Information

7.1 The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals furnished to the Trust by the Transfer Agent as part of the Trust’s ability to access certain Trust-related data (“Customer Data”) maintained by the Transfer Agent on databases under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent or other third party (“Data Access Services”) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or other third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed Customer Data. The Trust agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent or other third party and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust agrees for itself and its employees and agents to:

(a) Use such programs and databases (i) solely on the Trust’s or the Trust’s service providers’ computers, or (ii) solely from equipment at the location agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent; and (iii) solely in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s applicable user documentation;

 

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(b) Refrain from copying or duplicating in any way (other than in the normal course of performing processing on the Trust’s computer(s)), the Proprietary Information;

(c) Refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform the Transfer Agent in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions; and

(d) Access only those authorized transactions as agreed to between the Trust and the Transfer Agent.

7.2 Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any of the foregoing items that: (i) are or become publicly available without breach of this Agreement; (ii) are released for general disclosure by a written release by the Transfer Agent; or (iii) are already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this Agreement.

7.3 The Trust acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Transfer Agent’s or other third party’s Proprietary Information is essential to the business interest of the Transfer Agent or other third party’s and that the disclosure of such Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement would cause the Transfer Agent immediate, substantial and irreparable harm, the value of which would be extremely difficult to determine. Accordingly, the parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies that may be available in law, equity, or otherwise for the disclosure or use of the Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or other equitable relief against the continuance of such breach.

7.4 If the Trust notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to correct such failure. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data and the Trust agrees to make no claim against the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof.

7.5 If the transactions available to the Trust include the ability to originate any electronic instructions including in order to (but without limitation): (i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares; (ii) transmit Shareholder information or other information; or (iii) establish new Shareholder accounts, then in such event the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry provided that it reasonably believes such instructions to be genuine, the Trust in all cases shall be required to follow all security procedures reasonably established by the Transfer Agent from time to time, and Transfer Agent shall have no liability to the Trust or any Shareholder on account of any such action.

 

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7.6 The Transfer Agent shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section 7. The obligations of this Section shall survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.

 

8.

Standard of Care

The Transfer Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors, including encoding and payment processing errors, unless said errors are caused by its negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents. The parties agree that any encoding or payment processing errors shall be governed by this standard of care, and Section 4-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code is superseded by Section 8 of this Agreement. This standard of care also shall apply to Exception Services, as defined in Section 2.3 herein, but such application shall take into consideration the manual processing involved in, and time sensitive nature of, Exception Services.

 

9.

Confidentiality

9.1 The Transfer Agent and the Trust agree that they will not, at any time during the term of this Agreement or after its termination, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person, firm, corporation or other business organization, any customers’ lists, trade secrets, cost figures and projections, profit figures and projections, or any other secret or confidential information whatsoever, whether of the Transfer Agent or of the Trust, used or gained by the Transfer Agent or the Trust during performance under this Agreement. The Trust and the Transfer Agent further covenant and agree to retain all such knowledge and information acquired during and after the term of this Agreement respecting such lists, trade secrets, or any secret or confidential information whatsoever in trust for the sole benefit of the Transfer Agent or the Trust and their successors and assigns. In the event of breach of the foregoing by either party, the remedies provided by Section 7.3 shall be available to the party whose confidential information is disclosed. The above prohibition of disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent must disclose such data to its subcontractors or a Trust agent for purposes of providing services under this Agreement.

9.2 In the event that any requests or demands are made for the inspection of the Shareholder records of the Trust other than request for records of Shareholders pursuant to standard subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (i.e., divorce and criminal actions), the Transfer Agent will endeavor to notify the Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such inspection. The Transfer Agent expressly reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is advised by counsel that it may be held liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person or if required by law or court order.

9.3 Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that, subject to the reuse and re-disclosure provisions of Regulation S-P, 17 CFR Part 248.11, it shall not disclose the non-public personal information of Shareholders obtained under this Agreement, except as necessary to carry out the services set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by law or regulation.

 

10.

Covenants of the Trust and the Transfer Agent

10.1 The Trust shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the following:

(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and

 

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(b) A copy of the written AML Program of the Trust.

10.2 The Transfer Agent shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable, provided that the Transfer Agent shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business with respect to the maintenance of such records. To the extent required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the Rules thereunder, the Transfer Agent agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by the Transfer Agent relating to the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust on and in accordance with its request.

10.3 The Transfer Agent agrees to provide periodic reports and reasonable documentation to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, with respect to services provided by the Transfer Agent and the Transfer Agent’s compliance with its operating policies and procedures.

 

11.

Termination of Agreement

11.1 Term. This Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by the Trust by not less than ninety days written notice by the Trust to the Transfer Agent, or by six months written notice given by the Transfer Agent to the Trust.

11.2 Deconversion. In the event that this Agreement is terminated or not renewed for any reason, the Transfer Agent agrees that, in order to provide for uninterrupted service to the Trust, the Transfer Agent, at the Trust’s request, shall offer reasonable assistance to the Trust’s in converting the Trust’s records from the Transfer Agent’s systems to whatever services or systems are designated by the Trust (the “Deconversion”), subject to the reasonable recompense of the Transfer Agent for such assistance at its standard rates and fees in effect at the time. As used herein “reasonable assistance” shall not include requiring the Transfer Agent (i) to assist any new service or system provider to modify, to alter, to enhance, or to improve such provider’s system, or to provide any new functionality to such provider’s system, (ii) to disclose any protected information of the Transfer Agent, or (iii) to develop Deconversion software, to modify any of the Transfer Agent’s software, or to otherwise alter the format of the data as maintained on any provider’s system.

11.3 Termination or Non- Renewal.

(a) Outstanding Fees and Charges. In the event of termination or non-renewal of this Agreement, the Trust will promptly pay the Transfer Agent all fees and charges for the services provided under this Agreement which (i) have been accrued and remain unpaid as of the date of such notice of termination or non-renewal and (ii) which thereafter accrue for the period through and including the date of the Trust’s Deconversion.

(b) Deconversion Costs and Post-Deconversion Support Fees. In the event of termination or non-renewal of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay the Transfer Agent the

 

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Deconversion costs as noted in Section 11.2 and all reasonable fees and expenses for providing any support services that the Trust requests the Transfer Agent to provide post Deconversion, including, but not limited to tax reporting and open issue resolution.

11.4 Confidential Information. Upon termination of this Agreement, each party shall return to the other party all copies of confidential or proprietary materials or information received from such other party hereunder, other than materials or information required to be retained by such party under applicable laws or regulation.

11.5 Bankruptcy. Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement by notice to the other party, effective at any time specified therein, in the event that (a) the other party ceases to carry on its business or (b) an action is commenced by or against the other party under Title 11 of the United States Code or a receiver, conservator or similar officer is appointed for the other party and such suit, conservatorship or receivership is not discharged within thirty (30) days.

11.6 Cause. If either of the parties hereto (a) breaches any material provision of this Agreement, or (b) is in default in the performance of its duties or obligations hereunder and such default has a material adverse effect on the other party, (c) in the event the Transfer Agent is no longer permitted to perform its duties, obligations or responsibilities hereunder pursuant to applicable law, or regulatory or administrative or judicial proceedings against the Transfer Agent which result in a determination that the Transfer Agent has violated, or has caused the Trust to violate, in any material respect any applicable law, rules, regulation, or order. In each case the non-defaulting party may give notice to the defaulting party specifying the nature of the default in sufficient detail to permit the defaulting party to identify and cure such default. If the defaulting party fails to cure such default within sixty (60) days of receipt of such notice or within such other period of time as the parties may agree is necessary for such cure, then the non-defaulting Party may terminate this Agreement upon notice of not less than five (5) business days to the defaulting Party.

 

12.

Assignment and Third Party Beneficiaries

12.1 Except as provided in Section 13.1 below, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party. Any attempt to do so in violation of this Section shall be void. Unless specifically stated to the contrary in any written consent to an assignment, no assignment will release or discharge the assignor from any duty or responsibility under this Agreement.

12.2 Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent and the Trust, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Transfer Agent and the Trust. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

12.3 This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture between the Transfer Agent and the Trust. Neither party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on the other party without the other party’s prior written consent.

 

12


13.

Subcontractors

13.1 The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the Trust, subcontract for the performance hereof with an affiliate of the Transfer Agent as long as the affiliate is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Exchange Act, or, with regard to print/mail services, with another affiliated or unaffiliated third party; provided, however that the Transfer Agent shall be fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of its affiliates as it is for its own acts and omissions. With regard to print/mail services or other services that are provided by a vendor not affiliated with the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent will use all reasonable commercial efforts to coordinate with such outside vendor and to timely and accurately provide all information requested by such vendor; provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall not be held liable to the Trust or any affiliated party of the Trust for any act or failure to act by such outside vendor except where the Transfer Agent’s negligent acts or omissions were the proximate cause of such vendor’s non-performance.

13.2 For purposes of this Agreement, unaffiliated third parties include, by way of example and not limitation, Federal Express, United Parcel Services, Airborne Services, the U.S. Mails, DTCC and telecommunication companies, shall not be deemed to be subcontractors of the Transfer Agent.

 

14.

Miscellaneous

14.1 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

14.2 Illinois Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, except with respect to Section 17 hereof, which shall be construed according to Delaware law.

14.3 Force Majeure. In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control (“Force Majeure Events”), such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes provided that the Transfer Agent has implemented and maintains a business continuity plan that complies with applicable laws, rules and regulations. In the event of a Force Majeure Event, the Transfer Agent shall follow applicable procedures in its business continuity plan and use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize any service interruption.

14.4 Consequential Damages. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for special, indirect or consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any special, indirect or consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.

14.5 Survival. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality and/or protections of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

13


14.6 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

14.7 Priorities Clause. In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any Schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall take precedence.

14.8 Waiver. No waiver by either party or any breach or default of any of the covenants or conditions herein contained and performed by the other party shall be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or of any other covenant or condition.

14.9 Merger of Agreement. 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 including but not limited to the Transfer Agency Agreement between the Trust and the Transfer Agent dated April 1, 1994, as amended.

14.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

14.11 Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

14.12 Notices. All notices and other communications as required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or to such other address or addresses of which the respective party shall have notified the other.

 

  (a)

If to the Transfer Agent, to:

John Mele

The Northern Trust Company

801 Canal Street

Chicago, IL

 

  (b)

If to the Trust, to:

Northern Funds

c/o Craig Carberry, Secretary

60 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60606

 

14


15.

Additional Funds

In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares, in addition to those listed on the attached Schedule A, with respect to which it desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as Transfer Agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Fund hereunder.

 

16.

Release

All parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any and all liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement will be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Trust and that no Trustee or officer or shareholder of the Trust shall be personally liable for any such liabilities. All persons dealing with any Fund must look solely to the property belonging to the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust.

 

17.

Unitholder Liability.

This Agreement is executed by or on behalf of the Trust and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or holders of Units of the Trust individually but are binding only upon the Trust and its assets and property. All obligations of the Trust under this Agreement shall apply only on class by class basis, and the assets of one class shall not be liable for the obligations of another class.

The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

 

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

By:

 

/s/ Randal Rein

Name:   Randal Rein
Title:   Senior Vice President
NORTHERN FUNDS
By:  

/s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund

Name:   Lloyd A. Wennlund
Title:   President

 

15


SCHEDULE A

FUND LIST

Dated: June 30, 2014

Large Cap Core Fund

Income Equity Fund

International Equity Fund

Large Cap Equity Fund

Large Cap Growth Fund

Large Cap Value Fund

Small Cap Core Fund

Small Cap Value Fund

Technology Fund

Arizona Tax-Exempt Fund

Bond Index Fund

California Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

California Tax-Exempt Fund

Fixed Income Fund

High Yield Fixed Income Fund

High Yield Municipal Fund

Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

Short-Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

Short-Intermediate U.S. Government Fund

Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund

Tax-Exempt Fund

Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund

U.S. Government Fund

California Municipal Money Market Fund

Money Market Fund

Municipal Money Market Fund

U.S. Government Money Market Fund

U.S. Government Select Money Market Fund

Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

Global Real Estate Index Fund

Global Sustainability Index Fund

International Equity Index Fund

Mid Cap Index Fund

Small Cap Index Fund

Stock Index Fund

Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund

Core Bond Fund

Short Bond Fund

U.S. Treasury Index Fund

Multi-Manager Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Multi-Manager Global Listed Infrastructure Fund

Multi-Manager Global Real Estate Fund

Multi-Manager International Equity Fund

Multi-Manager Large Cap Fund

Multi-Manager Mid Cap Fund

Multi-Manager Small Cap Fund

Multi-Manager High Yield Opportunity Fund

 

A-1


Multi-Manager Emerging Markets Debt Opportunity Fund

Investors Variable NAV Money Market Fund

Investors Variable NAV AMT-Free Municipal Money Market Fund

Investors Variable NAV U.S. Government Money Market Fund

Investors Variable NAV Treasury Money Market Fund

 

NORTHERN FUNDS      THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY   
By:    /s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund      By:   

/s/ Randal Rein

  
Name:    Lloyd A. Wennlund        Name:    Randal Rein   
Title:    President      Title:    Senior Vice President   

 

A-2


SCHEDULE B

FEES

 

     FEE RATE (%)

Large Cap Core Fund

   0.015%

Income Equity Fund

   0.015%

International Equity Fund

   0.015%

Large Cap Equity Fund

   0.015%

Large Cap Growth Fund

   0.015%

Large Cap Value Fund

   0.015%

Small Cap Core Fund

   0.015%

Small Cap Value Fund

   0.015%

Technology Fund

   0.015%

Arizona Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

Bond Index Fund

   0.015%

California Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

California Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

Fixed Income Fund

   0.015%

High Yield Fixed Income Fund

   0.015%

High Yield Municipal Fund

   0.015%

Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

Short-Intermediate Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

Short-Intermediate U.S. Government Fund

   0.015%

Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund

   0.015%

Tax-Exempt Fund

   0.015%

Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund

   0.015%

U.S. Government Fund

   0.015%

California Municipal Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Municipal Money Market Fund

   0.015%

U.S. Government Money Market Fund

   0.015%

U.S. Government Select Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund

   0.015%

Global Real Estate Index Fund

   0.015%

Global Sustainability Index Fund

   0.015%

International Equity Index Fund

   0.015%

Mid Cap Index Fund

   0.015%

Small Cap Index Fund

   0.015%

Stock Index Fund

   0.015%

Global Tactical Asset Allocation Fund

   0.015%

Core Bond Fund

   0.015%

Short Bond Fund

   0.015%

U.S. Treasury Index Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Global Listed Infrastructure Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Global Real Estate Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager International Equity Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Large Cap Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Mid Cap Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Small Cap Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager High Yield Opportunity Fund

   0.015%

Multi-Manager Emerging Markets Debt Opportunity Fund

   0.015%

Investors Variable NAV Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Investors Variable NAV AMT-Free Municipal Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Investors Variable NAV U.S. Government Money Market Fund

   0.015%

Investors Variable NAV Treasury Money Market Fund

   0.015%

 

B-1


NORTHERN FUNDS       THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY   
By:   /s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund       By:  

/s/ Randal Rein

  
Name:   Lloyd A. Wennlund       Name:   Randal Rein   
Title:   President       Title:   Senior Vice President   

 

 

Transfer Agency Service Agreement    B-2   


SCHEDULE C

AML DELEGATION

Dated: June 30, 2014

 

1. Delegation.

 

  1.1

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust hereby delegates to the Transfer Agent those aspects of the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Program (the “AML Program”) for accounts of the Trust (the “Accounts”) that are set forth in Section 4 below (the “Delegated Duties”). The Delegated Duties set forth in Section 4 may be amended, from time to time, by mutual agreement of the Transfer Agent and Trust upon the execution by such parties of a revised Schedule C bearing a later date than the date hereof.

 

  1.2

The Transfer Agent agrees to perform such Delegated Duties, with respect to the Accounts for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder information, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

2. Consent to Examination. In connection with the performance by the Transfer Agent of the Delegated Duties, the Transfer Agent understands and acknowledges that the Trust remains responsible for assuring compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and its applicable implementing regulations and that the records the Transfer Agent maintains for the Trust relating to the Delegated Duties may be subject, from time to time, to examination and/or inspection by federal regulators in order that the regulators may evaluate such compliance. The Transfer Agent hereby consents to such examination and/or inspection and agrees to cooperate with such federal regulators in connection with their review. For purposes of such examination and/or inspection, the Transfer Agent will use its best efforts to make available, during normal business hours and on reasonable notice all required records and information for review by such regulators.

3. Limitation on Delegation. The Trust acknowledges and agrees that in accepting the delegation hereunder, the Transfer Agent is agreeing to perform only the Delegated Duties, as may be amended from time to time, and is not undertaking and shall not be responsible for any other aspect of the AML Program for the Trust or for the overall compliance by the Trust with the USA PATRIOT Act or for any other matters that have not been delegated hereunder. Additionally, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Transfer Agent shall only be responsible for performing the Delegated Duties with respect to the ownership of, and transactions in, the Accounts for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder information.

 

4.

Delegated Duties.

 

  4.1

Consistent with the services provided by the Transfer Agent and with respect to the ownership of shares in the Trust for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder information, the Transfer Agent shall:

 

  (a)

Perform the following customer identification and identity verification functions:

i. Before establishing a relationship with a shareholder collect all information regarding the shareholder as is necessary to permit the

 

C-1


Trust to comply with laws, rules and regulations regarding customer identification programs applicable to mutual funds, unless the shareholder is of a type where such identification is not required by such applicable law, rule or regulation;

ii. Refuse to open a new account for a business, entity or shareholder that refuses to provide appropriate identification documentation;

iii. Verify shareholder identity through documentary evidence, non-documentary evidence, or both within a reasonable time after each shareholder’s account has been opened; and

iv. If a federal government agency issues a list of known or suspected terrorists, insofar as required by law, rule or regulation applicable to mutual funds, check the list to determine whether a shareholder of the Trust appears thereon and comply with federal directives issued in connection with such lists that are applicable to mutual funds.

 

  (b)

Determine whether any persons or entities engaging in a new account or registration maintenance transaction is listed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list (“OFAC-Listed Entities”) and such other lists or databases as may be required from time to time by law, rule or regulation applicable to mutual funds and take such other action as required by such applicable law, rule and regulation in the event of a match with OFAC-Listed Entities or such lists or databases.

 

  (c)

Review and monitor transactions for suspicious activity in accordance with the Trust’s AML program, using criteria as agreed and defined in service level agreements, including but not limited to monitoring and tracking cash equivalents as required by current regulatory requirements.

 

  (d)

Advise the Trust’s AML Officer of any suspicious activity and provide any information required to facilitate the Trust’s filing of a suspicious activity report (“SAR”). Advise the Trust’s AML Officer of any cash equivalent transactions that would require the filing of IRS Form 8300 to facilitate the Trust’s filing of such form.

 

  (e)

Compare account information to any FinCEN request received by the Trust and provided to the Transfer Agent pursuant to USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a). Provide the Trust with documents/information necessary to respond to requests under USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a) within required time frames.

 

  4.2

In the event that the Transfer Agent detects activity as a result of the foregoing procedures, which necessitates the filing by the Transfer Agent of a SAR, a Form 8300 or other similar report or notice to OFAC, then the Transfer Agent shall also immediately notify the Trust, unless prohibited by applicable law.

 

C-2


NORTHERN FUNDS      THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
By:   /s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund      By:  

/s/ Randal Rein

  
Name:   Lloyd A. Wennlund      Name:   Randal Rein   
Title:   President      Title:   Senior Vice President   

 

C-3


SCHEDULE D

THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR PROCEDURES

Dated: June 30, 2014

 

1.

On each day on which both the New York Stock Exchange and the Trust are open for business (a “Business Day”), the TPA(s) shall receive, on behalf of and as agent of the Trust, Instructions (as hereinafter defined) from the Plan. Instructions shall mean as to the Trust (i) orders by the Plan for the purchases of Shares, and (ii) requests by the Plan for the redemption of Shares; in each case based on the Plan’s receipt of purchase orders and redemption requests by Participants in proper form by the time required by the terms of the Plan, but not later than the time of day at which the net asset value of the Trust is calculated, as described from time to time in the applicable Fund’s prospectus. Each Business Day on which the TPA receives Instructions shall be a “Trade Date.”

 

2.

The TPA(s) shall communicate the TPA(s)’s acceptance of such Instructions to the applicable Plan.

 

3.

On the next succeeding Business Day following the Trade Date on which it accepted Instructions for the purchase and redemption of Shares, (TD+1), the TPA(s) shall notify the Transfer Agent of the net amount of such purchases or redemptions, as the case may be, for each of the Plans. In the case of net purchases by any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Trustees of such Plan to transmit the aggregate purchase price for Shares by wire transfer to the Transfer Agent on (TD+1). In the case of net redemptions by any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Trust’s custodian to transmit the aggregate redemption proceeds for Shares by wire transfer to the Trustees of such Plan on (TD+1). The times at which such notification and transmission shall occur on (TD+1) shall be as mutually agreed upon by the Trust, the TPA(s), and the Transfer Agent.

 

4.

The TPA(s) shall maintain separate records for each Plan, which record shall reflect Shares purchased and redeemed, including the date and price for all transactions, and Share balances. The TPA(s) shall maintain on behalf of each of the Plans a single master account with the Transfer Agent and such account shall be in the name of that Plan, the TPA(s), or the nominee of either thereof as the record owner of Shares owned by such Plan.

 

5.

The TPA(s) shall maintain records of all proceeds of redemptions of Shares and all other distributions not reinvested in Shares.

 

6.

The TPA(s) shall prepare, and transmit to each of the Plans, periodic account statements showing the total number of Shares owned by that Plan as of the statement closing date, purchases and redemptions of Shares by the Plan during the period covered by the statement, and the dividends and other distributions paid to the Plan on Shares during the statement period (whether paid in cash or reinvested in Shares).

 

7.

The TPA(s) shall, at the request and expense of the Trust, transmit to the Plans prospectuses, proxy materials, reports, and other information provided by the Trust for delivery to its shareholders.

 

8.

The TPA(s) shall, at the request of the Trust, prepare and transmit to the Trust or any agent designated by it such periodic reports covering Shares of each Plan as the Trust shall reasonably conclude are necessary to enable the Trust to comply with state Blue Sky requirements.

 

D-1


9.

The TPA(s) shall transmit to the Plans confirmation of purchase orders and redemption requests placed by the Plans.

 

10.

The TPA(s) shall, with respect to Shares, maintain account balance information for the Plan(s) and daily and monthly purchase summaries expressed in Shares and dollar amounts.

 

11.

Plan sponsors may request, or the law may require, that prospectuses, proxy materials, periodic reports and other materials relating to the Trust be furnished to Participants in which event the Transfer Agent or the Trust shall mail or cause to be mailed such materials to Participants. With respect to any such mailing, the TPA(s) shall, at the request of the Transfer Agent or the Trust, provide at the TPA(s)’s expense a complete and accurate set of mailing labels with the name and address of each Participant having an interest through the Plans in Shares.

 

NORTHERN FUNDS      THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
By:    /s/ Lloyd A. Wennlund      By:   

/s/ Randal Rein

  
Name:    Lloyd A. Wennlund        Name:    Randal Rein   
Title:    President      Title:    Senior Vice President   

 

D-2