EX-99.H.3 9 ta.htm TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT ta.htm

 
 
KINETICS MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
 
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 18th day of December, 2009, by and between KINETICS MUTUAL FUNDS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), and U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company (“USBFS”).
 
 
WHEREAS, the Corporation is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
 
WHEREAS, USBFS is, among other things, in the business of administering transfer and dividend disbursing agent functions for the benefit of its customers; and
 
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to retain USBFS to provide transfer and dividend disbursing agent services to each series of the Corporation listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
 
1.
Appointment of USBFS as Transfer Agent
 
The Corporation hereby appoints USBFS as transfer agent of the Corporation on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and USBFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.  The services and duties of USBFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against USBFS hereunder.
 
2.
Services and Duties of USBFS
 
USBFS shall provide the following transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent services to the Fund:
 
 
A.
Receive and process all orders for the purchase, exchange, and/or redemption of shares in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act.

 
B.
Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate, of payment and supporting documentation to the Corporation’s custodian, and issue the appropriate number of uncertificated shares with such uncertificated shares being held in the appropriate shareholder account.
 
 
 

 
 
C.
Arrange for the issuance of shares obtained through transfers of funds from Fund shareholders’ accounts at financial institutions and arrange for the exchange of shares for shares of other eligible investment companies, when permitted by the Fund’s prospectus (the “Prospectus”).

 
D.
Process redemption requests received in good order and, where relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Corporation’s custodian.

 
E.
Pay monies upon receipt from the Corporation’s custodian, where relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming shareholders.

 
F.
Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions, after receipt of appropriate documentation from the shareholder as specified in the Prospectus.

 
G.
Process exchanges between Funds and/or classes of shares of Funds both within the same family of funds and with a First American Money Market Fund, if applicable.

 
H.
Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Corporation with respect to the Fund, after deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder instructions.

 
I.
Serve as the Fund’s agent in connection with accumulation, open account or similar plans (e.g., periodic investment plans and periodic withdrawal plans).

 
J.
Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not limited to, address changes in plans (e.g., systematic withdrawal, automatic investment, dividend reinvestment).
 
 
K.
Handle load and multi-class processing, including rights of accumulation and purchases by letters of intent.

 
L.
Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), a record of the total number of shares of the Fund which are authorized, issued and outstanding.

 
M.
Prepare shareholder meeting lists and, as necessary, mail, receive and tabulate proxies.

 
N.
Mail shareholder reports and Prospectuses to current shareholders.
 
 
 
 
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O.
Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate information returns required with respect to dividends and distributions for all shareholders.

 
P.
Provide shareholder account information upon request and prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Corporation.

 
Q.
Mail requests for shareholders’ certifications under penalties of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate federal authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and distributions paid by the Corporation, all as required by applicable federal tax laws and regulations.

 
R.
Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and others relating to USBFS’s duties hereunder.
 
 
S.
Reimburse the Fund each month for all material losses resulting from “as of” processing errors for which USBFS is responsible in accordance with the “as of” processing guidelines set forth on Exhibit B hereto.
 
3.
Additional Services to be Provided by USBFS
 
 
A.
If the Corporation so elects, by including the service it wishes to receive in its fee schedule, USBFS shall provide the following services that are further described and that may be subject to additional terms and conditions specified in their respective exhibits, as such may be amended from time to time:
 
Internet Access, Fan Web, Vision Mutual Fund Gateway (Exhibit C)

MARS TM  (Exhibit D)

The Corporation hereby acknowledges that exhibits are an integral part of this Agreement and, to the extent services included in Exhibit C and/or Exhibit D are selected by the Corporation, such services shall also be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  To the extent the terms and conditions of this Agreement conflict with the terms and conditions included in Exhibit C and/or Exhibit D, as applicable, the exhibits shall control.  The provisions of Exhibit C and/or Exhibit D, as applicable, shall continue in effect for as long as this Agreement remains in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 13 hereof.

The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in Section 8 of the Agreement and in Exhibit D, if applicable, shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of the Agreement.


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B.
USBFS shall allow the Corporation access to various fund data, systems, industry information and processes as the parties may agree to from time to time, through Mutual Fund eXchange (“MFx”), subject to the terms of this Agreement and the additional terms and conditions contained in the on-line MFx access agreement to be entered into upon accessing MFx for the first time.  USBFS shall enable the Corporation to access MFx services by supplying the Corporation with necessary software, training, information and connectivity support as mutually agreed upon, all of which shall constitute confidential knowledge and information of USBFS and shall be used by the Corporation only as necessary to access MFx services pursuant to this Agreement.  The Corporation shall provide for the security of all codes and system access mechanisms relating to MFx provided to it by USBFS and implement such security procedures and/or devices to ensure the integrity of MFx.  The Corporation hereby understands that USBFS will perform periodic maintenance to the MFx hardware and software being accessed, which may cause temporary service interruptions.  USBFS shall notify the Corporation of all planned outages and, to the extent possible, will perform any necessary maintenance during non-business hours.

 
The Corporation hereby acknowledges that all programs, software, manuals and other written information relating to MFx access provided by USBFS pursuant to this Agreement shall remain the exclusive property of USBFS at all times.

The Corporation acknowledges that it is responsible for determining the suitability and accuracy of the information obtained through its access to MFx.  USBFS MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SUITABILITY AND ACCURACY OF FUND DATA, SYSTEMS, INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND PROCESSES ACCESSED THROUGH MFx.  However, USBFS will assist the Corporation in verifying the accuracy of any of the information made available to the Corporation through MFx and covered by this Agreement.

In the event of termination of this Agreement, in addition to the requirements set forth in Section 14 hereof, the Corporation shall immediately end its access to MFx and return all codes, system access mechanisms, programs, manuals and other written information to USBFS, and shall destroy or erase all such information on any diskettes or other storage medium, unless such access continues to be permitted pursuant to a separate agreement.
 
 
 
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4.
Lost Shareholder Due Diligence Searches and Servicing
 
The Corporation hereby acknowledges that USBFS has an arrangement with an outside vendor to conduct lost shareholder searches required by Rule 17Ad-17 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Costs associated with such searches will be passed through to the Corporation as an out-of-pocket expense in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in Exhibit E hereto.  If a shareholder remains lost and the shareholder’s account unresolved after completion of the mandatory Rule 17Ad-17 search, the Corporation hereby authorizes vendor to enter, at its discretion, into fee sharing arrangements with the lost shareholder (or such lost shareholder’s representative or executor) to conduct a more in-depth search in order to locate the lost shareholder before the shareholder’s assets escheat to the applicable state.  The Corporation hereby acknowledges that USBFS is not a party to these arrangements and does not receive any revenue sharing or other fees relating to these arrangements.  Furthermore, the Corporation hereby acknowledges that vendor may receive up to 35% of the lost shareholder’s assets as compensation for its efforts in locating the lost shareholder.
 
5.
Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flag Identity Theft Programs
 
The Corporation acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to review, consider and comment upon the written procedures provided by USBFS describing various tools used by USBFS which are designed to promote the detection and reporting of potential money laundering activity by monitoring certain aspects of shareholder activity as well as written procedures for verifying a customer’s identity (collectively, the “Procedures”).  Further, the Corporation has determined that the Procedures, as part of the Corporation’s overall anti-money laundering program and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention program, are reasonably designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities and to achieve compliance with the applicable provisions of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the implementing regulations thereunder.
 
Based on this determination, the Corporation hereby instructs and directs USBFS to implement the Procedures on the Corporation’s behalf, as such may be amended or revised from time to time.  It is contemplated that these Procedures will be amended from time to time by the parties as additional regulations are adopted and/or regulatory guidance is provided relating to the Corporation’s anti-money laundering and identity theft responsibilities.
 
USBFS agrees to provide to the Corporation:
 
 
A.
Prompt written notification of any transaction or combination of transactions that USBFS believes, based on the Procedures, evidence money laundering or identity theft activities in connection with the Corporation or any shareholder of the Fund;
 
 
 
 
 
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B.
Prompt written notification of any customer(s) that USBFS reasonably believes, based upon the Procedures, to be engaged in money laundering or identity theft activities, provided that the Corporation agrees not to communicate this information to the customer;
 
 
C.
Any reports received by USBFS from any government agency or applicable industry self-regulatory organization pertaining to USBFS’s anti-money laundering monitoring or the Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program on behalf of the Corporation;
 
 
D.
Prompt written notification of any action taken in response to anti-money laundering violations or identity theft activity as described in (a), (b) or (c); and
 
 
E.
Certified annual and quarterly reports of its monitoring and customer identification activities on behalf of the Corporation.
 
The Corporation hereby directs, and USBFS acknowledges, that USBFS shall (i) permit federal regulators access to such information and records maintained by USBFS and relating to USBFS’s implementation of the Procedures, on behalf of the Corporation, as they may request, and (ii) permit such federal regulators to inspect USBFS’s implementation of the Procedures on behalf of the Corporation..
 
6.
Compensation
 
Other than for services, if any, to be provided pursuant to Section 3(A) of this Agreement, USBFS shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit E hereto (as amended from time to time).  For services to be provided pursuant to Section 3(A) of this Agreement, if applicable, USBFS shall be compensated in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in the appendix to the exhibit that relates to the services selected by the Corporation.  USBFS shall also be compensated for such out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by USBFS in performing its duties hereunder.  The Corporation shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute.  The Corporation shall notify USBFS in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Corporation is disputing any amounts in good faith.  The Corporation shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid.  With the exception of any fee or expense the Corporation is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Corporation to USBFS shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
 
 
 
 

 
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7.
Representations and Warranties
 
 
A.
The Corporation hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(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;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Corporation, 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;

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and

 
(4)
A registration statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, will be made effective prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will remain effective during the term of this Agreement, and appropriate state securities law filings will be made prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will continue to be made during the term of this Agreement as necessary to enable the Corporation to make a continuous public offering of its shares.

 
B.
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(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;

 
(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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(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and
 
 
(4)
It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act.
 
8.
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
 
 
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 Corporation in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’s control, except a loss arising out of or relating to USBFS’s 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 Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Corporation, as approved by the Board of  Directors  of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”), except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’s 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 Corporation, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’s directors, officers and employees.

USBFS shall indemnify and hold the Corporation harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Corporation may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Corporation by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by USBFS as a result of USBFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.  This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of USBFS, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the term “Corporation” shall include the Corporation’s directors, 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.
 
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its control, USBFS shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues.  USBFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of USBFS.  USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.  Representatives of the Corporation shall be entitled to inspect USBFS’s premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS.  Moreover, USBFS shall provide the Corporation, at such times as the Corporation may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and procedures of USBFS relating to the services provided by USBFS under this Agreement.
 
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense.
 
 
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 likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification.  The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this Section.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
 
 
 
 
 
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C.
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 8, and in Exhibit C, Exhibit D and Exhibit E, if applicable, shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.

 
D.
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Corporation pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.
 
9.
Data Necessary to Perform Services
 
The Corporation or its agent shall furnish to USBFS the data necessary to perform the services described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.

10.
Proprietary and Confidential Information
 
USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Corporation, all records and other information relative to the Corporation and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Corporation (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or (iii) when so requested by the Corporation.  Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the Corporation or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
 
Further, USBFS will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Corporation pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time.  In this regard, USBFS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Corporation and its shareholders.
 
11.
Records
 
USBFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Corporation, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.  USBFS agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by USBFS relating to the services to be performed by USBFS hereunder are the property of the Corporation and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Corporation or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
 
 
 
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12.
Compliance with Laws
 
The Corporation has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information.  USBFS’s services hereunder shall not relieve the Corporation of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Directors oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
 
13.
Term of Agreement; Amendment
 
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.  This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by USBFS and the Corporation and authorized or approved by the Board of Directors.  The provisions of this Section 13 shall also apply to Exhibit C, Exhibit D and Exhibit E.
 
14.
Duties in the Event of Termination
 
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of USBFS’s duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Corporation by written notice to USBFS, USBFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense of the Corporation, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by USBFS under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Corporation (if such form differs from the form in which USBFS has maintained the same, the Corporation shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from USBFS’s personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor.  If no such successor is designated, then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the Corporation.
 
16.
Assignment
 
This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Corporation without the written consent of USBFS, or by USBFS without the written consent of the Corporation, accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Corporation’s Board of  Directors.
 
 
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17.
Governing Law
 
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to conflicts of law principles.  To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Wisconsin, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
 
18.
No Agency Relationship
 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
 
19.
Services Not Exclusive
 
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict USBFS from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.

20.
Invalidity
 
Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.
 
21.
Notices
 
Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:
 
Notice to USBFS shall be sent to:
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
 
 
 
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and notice to the Corporation shall be sent to:
 
Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc.
555 Taxter Road, Suite 175
Elmsford, NY 10523

 
22.
Multiple Originals
 
This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
 
23.
Entire Agreement
 
This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, appendices or schedules expressly referenced herein, sets forth the sole and complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral, between the parties.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.
 


KINETICS MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
 
U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
     
By:  /s/ Jay Kesslen            
 
By:   /s/ Michael McVoy            
     
Name: Jay Kesslen
 
Name: Michael R. McVoy
     
Title: Vice President
 
Title: Executive Vice President

 
 
 
 
 
 

 



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Exhibit A
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. at December, 2009

Name of Series
The Internet Fund – No Load Class
The Internet Fund – Advisor Class A
The Internet Fund – Advisor Class C
The Internet Fund – Institutional Class
The Internet Emerging Growth Fund – No Load Class
The Internet Emerging Growth Fund – Advisor Class A
The Internet Emerging Growth Fund – Advisor Class C
The Internet Emerging Growth Fund – Institutional Class
The Paradigm Fund – No Load Class
The Paradigm Fund – Advisor Class A
The Paradigm Fund – Advisor Class C
The Paradigm Fund – Institutional Class
The Tactical Paradigm Fund – No Load Class
The Tactical Paradigm Fund – Advisor Class A
The Tactical Paradigm Fund – Advisor Class C
The Tactical Paradigm Fund – Institutional Class
The Medical Fund – No Load Class
The Medical Fund – Advisor Class A
The Medical Fund – Advisor Class C
The Medical Fund – Institutional Class
The Small Cap Opportunities Fund – No Load Class
The Small Cap Opportunities Fund – Advisor Class A
The Small Cap Opportunities Fund – Advisor Class C
The Small Cap Opportunities Fund – Institutional Class
The Kinetics Government Money Market Fund – No Load Class
The Market Opportunities Fund – No Load Class
The Market Opportunities Fund – Advisor Class A
The Market Opportunities Fund – Advisor Class C
The Market Opportunities Fund – Institutional Class
The Water Infrastructure Fund -- No Load Class
The Water Infrastructure Fund – Advisor Class A
The Water Infrastructure Fund – Advisor Class C
The Water Infrastructure Fund – Institutional Class
The Multi-Disciplinary Fund – No Load Class
The Multi-Disciplinary Fund – Advisor Class A
The Multi-Disciplinary Fund – Advisor Class C
The Multi-Disciplinary Fund – Institutional Class


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Exhibit B
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement


As Of Processing Policy

USBFS will reimburse each Fund for any Net Material Loss that may exist on the Fund’s books and for which USBFS is responsible, at the end of each calendar month.  “Net Material Loss” shall be defined as any remaining loss, after netting losses against any gains, which impacts a Fund’s net asset value per share by more than ½ cent.  Gains and losses will be reflected on the Fund’s daily share sheet, and the Fund will be reimbursed for any net material loss on a monthly basis.  USBFS will reset the as of ledger each calendar month so that any losses which do not exceed the materiality threshold of ½ cent will not be carried forward to the next succeeding month.  USBFS will notify the advisor to the Fund on the daily share sheet of any losses for which the advisor may be held accountable.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Exhibit C
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES

1.
Services Covered

USBFS shall make the following electronic, interactive and processing services (“Electronic Services”) available to the Corporation in accordance with the terms of this Exhibit C:

 
A.
Fan Web – Provides for internet access by shareholders to their account information and investment transaction capabilities.  Internet service is connected directly to the Corporation’s website(s) through a transparent hyperlink.  Shareholders can access, among other information, account information and portfolio listings within the Corporation’s funds, view their transaction history, and purchase additional shares through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”).

 
B.
Vision Mutual Fund Gateway – Permits broker/dealers, financial planners, and registered investment advisors to use a web-based system to perform order and account inquiry, execute trades, print applications, review prospectuses, and establish new accounts.

2.
Duties and Responsibilities of USBFS

 
USBFS shall:

 
A.
Make Electronic Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subject to scheduled maintenance and events outside of USBFS’s reasonable control.  Unless an emergency is encountered, no routine maintenance will occur during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
 
 
B.
Provide installation services, which shall include review and approval of the Corporation’s network requirements, recommending method of establishing (and, as applicable, cooperate with the Corporation to implement and maintain) a hypertext link between the Electronic Services site and the Corporation’s web site(s) and testing the network connectivity and performance.
 
 
C.
Maintain and support the Electronic Services, which shall include providing error corrections, minor enhancements and interim upgrades to the Electronic Services that are made generally available to the Electronic Services customers and providing help desk support to provide assistance to the Corporation’s employees and agents with their use of the Electronic Services.  Maintenance and support, as used herein, shall not include (i) access to or use of any substantial added functionality, new interfaces, new architecture, new platforms, new versions or major development efforts, unless made generally available by USBFS to the Electronic Services customers, as determined solely by USBFS or (ii) maintenance of customized features.
 
 
 

 
 
D.
Establish systems to guide, assist and permit End Users (as defined below) who access the Electronic Services site from the Corporation’s web site(s) to electronically perform inquiries and create and transmit transaction requests to USBFS.
 
 
E.
Address and mail, at the Corporation’s expense, notification and promotional mailings and other communications provided by the Corporation to shareholders regarding the availability of the Electronic Services.
 
 
F.
Issue to each shareholder, financial adviser or other person or entity who desires to make inquiries concerning the Corporation or perform transactions in accounts with the Corporation using any of the Electronic Services (the “End User”) a unique personal identification number (“PIN”) for authentication purposes, which may be changed upon an End User’s reasonable request in accordance with policies to be determined by USBFS and the Corporation.  USBFS will require the End User to provide his/her PIN in order to access the Electronic Services.
 
 
G.
Prepare and process new account applications received through the Electronic Services from shareholders determined by the Corporation to be eligible for such services and in connection with such, the Corporation agrees as follows:
 
 
(1)
to permit the establishment of shareholder bank account information over the Internet in order to facilitate purchase activity through ACH; and
 
 
(2)
the Corporation shall be responsible for any resulting gain/loss liability associated with the ACH process.
 
 
H.
Provide the End User with a transaction confirmation number for each completed purchase, redemption, or exchange of the Corporation’s shares upon completion of the transaction.

 
I.
Utilize encryption and secure transport protocols intended to prevent fraud and ensure confidentiality of End User accounts and transactions.  In no event shall USBFS use encryption weaker than 128 – bit.  USBFS will take reasonable actions, including periodic scans of Internet interfaces and the Electronic Services, to protect the Internet web site that provides the Electronic Services and related network, against viruses, worms and other data corruption or disabling devices, and unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal use, by using appropriate anti-virus and intrusion detection software and by adopting such other security procedures as may be necessary.

 
J.
Inform the Corporation promptly of any malfunctions, problems, errors or service interruptions with respect to the Electronic Services of which USBFS becomes aware.
 
 
 
2

 
 
K.
Exercise reasonable efforts to maintain all on-screen disclaimers and copyright, trademark and service mark notifications, if any, provided by the Corporation to USBFS in writing from time to time, and all “point and click” features of the Electronic Services relating to shareholder acknowledgment and acceptance of such disclaimers and notifications.

 
L.
Establish and provide to the Corporation written procedures, which may be amended from time to time by USBFS with the written consent of the Corporation, regarding End User access to the Electronic Services.  Such written procedures shall establish security standards for the Electronic Services, including, without limitation:

 
(1)
Encryption/secure transport protocols.

 
(2)
End User lockout standards (e.g., lockout after three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the Electronic Services).

 
(3)
PIN issuance and reissuance standards.

 
(4)
Access standards, including limits on access to End Users whose accounts are coded for privilege.

 
(5)
Automatic logoff standards (e.g., if the session is inactive for longer than 15 minutes).

 
M.
Provide the Corporation with daily reports of transactions listing all purchases or transfers made by each End User separately.  USBFS shall also furnish the Corporation with monthly reports summarizing shareholder inquiry and transaction activity without listing all transactions.

 
N.
Annually engage a third party to audit its internal controls for the Electronic Services and compliance with all guidelines for the Electronic Services included herein and provide the Corporation with a copy of the auditor’s report promptly.

3.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Corporation

The Corporation assumes exclusive responsibility for the consequences of any instructions it may give to USBFS, for the Corporation’s or End Users’ failure to properly access the Electronic Services in the manner prescribed by USBFS, and for the Corporation’s failure to supply accurate information to USBFS.

 
Also, the Corporation shall:

 
A.
Revise and update the applicable prospectus(es) and other pertinent materials, such as user agreements with End Users, to include the appropriate consents, notices and disclosures for Electronic Services, including disclaimers and information reasonably requested by USBFS.
 
 
 
3

 
 
B.
Be responsible for designing, developing and maintaining one or more web sites for the Corporation through which End Users may access the Electronic Services, including provision of software necessary for access to the Internet, which must be acquired from a third-party vendor.  Such web sites shall have the functionality necessary to facilitate, implement and maintain the hypertext links to the Electronic Services and the various inquiry and transaction web pages.  The Corporation shall provide USBFS with the name of the host of the Corporation’s web site server and shall notify USBFS of any change to the Corporation’s web site server host.
 
 
C.
Provide USBFS with such information and/or access to the Corporation’s web site(s) as is necessary for USBFS to provide the Electronic Services to End Users.
 
 
D.
Promptly notify USBFS of any problems or errors with the applicable Electronic Services of which the Corporation becomes aware or any changes in policies or procedures of the Corporation requiring changes to the Electronic Services.
 
4.
Additional Representation and Warranty

The parties hereby warrant that no party shall knowingly insert into any interface, other software, or other program provided by a party to any other party any “back door,” “time bomb,” “Trojan Horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” “virus” or other computer software code or routines or hardware components designed to disable, damage or impair the operation of any system, program or operation hereunder.  For failure to comply with this warranty, the non-complying party shall immediately replace all copies of the affected work product, system or software.  All costs incurred with replacement including, but not limited to, cost of media, shipping, deliveries and installation, shall be borne by such non-complying party.

5.
Proprietary Rights

 
A.
Each party acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no rights in or to any of the software, hardware, processes, trade secrets, proprietary information or distribution and communication networks of the other hereunder.  Any software, interfaces or other programs a party provides to the other hereunder shall be used by such receiving party only in accordance with the provisions of this Exhibit C.  Any interfaces, other software or other programs developed by one party shall not be used directly or indirectly by or for the other party or any of its affiliates to connect such receiving party or any affiliate to any other person, without the first party’s prior written approval, which it may give or withhold in its sole discretion.  Except in the normal course of business and in conformity with Federal copyright law or with the other party’s consent, neither party nor any of its affiliates shall disclose, use, copy, decompile or reverse engineer any software or other programs provided to such party by the other in connection herewith.
 
 
 
4

 
 
B.
The Corporation’s web site(s) and the Electronic Services site may contain certain intellectual property, including, but not limited to, rights in copyrighted works, trademarks and trade dress that is the property of the other party.  Each party retains all rights in such intellectual property that may reside on the other party’s web site, not including any intellectual property provided by or otherwise obtained from such other party.  To the extent the intellectual property of one party is cached to expedite communication, such party grants to the other a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for a period of time no longer than that reasonably necessary for the communication.  To the extent that the intellectual property of one party is duplicated within the other party’s web site to replicate the “look and feel,” “trade dress” or other aspect of the appearance or functionality of the first site, that party grants to the other a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for the period during which this Exhibit C is in effect.  This license is limited to the intellectual property needed to replicate the appearance of the first site and does not extend to any other intellectual property owned by the owner of the first site.  Each party warrants that it has sufficient right, title and interest in and to its web site and its intellectual property to enter into these obligations, and that to its knowledge, the license hereby granted to the other party does not and will not infringe on any U.S. patent, copyright or other proprietary right of a third party.
 
 
C.
Each party agrees that the nonbreaching party would not have an adequate remedy at law in the event of the other party’s breach or threatened breach of its obligations under this Section 5 of this Exhibit C and that the nonbreaching party would suffer irreparable injury and damage as a result of any such breach.  Accordingly, in the event either party breaches or threatens to breach the obligations set forth in this Section 5 of this Exhibit C, in addition to and not in lieu of any legal or other remedies a party may pursue hereunder or under applicable law, each party hereby consents to the granting of equitable relief (including the issuance of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or permanent injunction) against it by a court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting any bond or other security therefor, prohibiting any such breach or threatened breach.  In any proceeding upon a motion for such equitable relief, a party’s ability to answer in damages shall not be interposed as a defense to the granting of such equitable relief.  The provisions of this Section relating to equitable relief shall survive termination of the provision of services set forth in this Exhibit C.
 
6.
Compensation

The Corporation shall compensate USBFS for providing the Electronic Services to the Corporation in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in Appendix 1 to this Exhibit C (as the same may be amended in writing from time to time).
 
 
5

 
7.
Additional Indemnification; Limitation of Liability

 
A.
Subject to Section 2(A), USBFS CANNOT AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES.  Accordingly, USBFS’s sole liability to the Corporation or any third party (including End Users) for any claims, notwithstanding the form of such claims (e.g., contract, negligence, or otherwise), arising out of the delay of or interruption in the Electronic Services to be provided by USBFS hereunder shall be to use its best efforts to commence or resume the Electronic Services as promptly as is reasonably possible.

 
B.
USBFS shall, at its sole cost and expense, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Corporation and its directors, officers and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to (a) any infringement, or claim of infringement, of any United States patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights based on the use or potential use of the Electronic Services and (b) the provision of the Corporation Files (as defined below) or Confidential Information (as defined below) to a person other than a person to whom such information may be properly disclosed hereunder.

 
C.
If an injunction is issued against the Corporation’s use of the Electronic Services by reason of infringement of a patent, copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of a third party, USBFS shall, at its own option and expense, either (i) procure for the Corporation the right to continue to use the Electronic Services on substantially the same terms and conditions as specified hereunder, or (ii) after notification to the Corporation, replace or modify the Electronic Services so that they become non-infringing, provided that, in the Corporation’s judgment, such replacement or modification does not materially and adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Corporation.  If in the Corporation’s judgment, such replacement or modification does materially adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Corporation, the Corporation may terminate all rights and responsibilities under this Exhibit C immediately on written notice to USBFS.

 
D.
Because the ability of USBFS to deliver Electronic Services is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various telecommunications carriers, equipment manufacturers, firewall providers and encryption system developers and other vendors and third parties, USBFS shall not be liable for delays or failures to perform its obligations hereunder to the extent that such delays or failures are attributable to circumstances beyond its reasonable control which interfere with the delivery of the Electronic Services by means of the Internet or any of the equipment, software and services which support the Internet provided by such third parties.  USBFS shall also not be liable for the actions or omissions of any third party wrongdoers (i.e., hackers not employed by USBFS or its affiliates) or of any third parties involved in the Electronic Services and shall not be liable for the selection of any such third party, unless USBFS selected the third party in bad faith or in a grossly negligent manner.
 
 
 
6

 
 
E.
USBFS shall not be responsible for the accuracy of input material from End Users nor the resultant output derived from inaccurate input.  The accuracy of input and output shall be judged as received at USBFS’s data center as determined by the records maintained by USBFS.

 
F.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, USBFS shall not be obligated to ensure or verify the accuracy or actual receipt, or the transmission, of any data or information contained in any transaction via the Electronic Services or the consummation of any inquiry or transaction request not actually reviewed by USBFS.

8.
File Security and Retention; Confidentiality

 
A.
USBFS and its agents will provide reasonable security provisions to ensure that unauthorized third parties do not have access to the Corporation’s data bases, files, and other information provided by the Corporation to USBFS for use with the Electronic Services, the names of End Users or End User transaction or account data (collectively, “Corporation Files”).  USBFS’s security provisions with respect to the Electronic Services, the Corporation’s web site(s) and the Corporation Files will be no less protected than USBFS’s security provisions with respect to its own proprietary information.  USBFS agrees that any and all Corporation Files maintained by USBFS for the Corporation hereunder shall be available for inspection by the Corporation’s regulatory authorities during regular business hours, upon reasonable prior written notice to USBFS, and will be maintained and retained in accordance with applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.  USBFS will take such actions as are necessary to protect the intellectual property contained within the Corporation’s web site(s) or any software, written materials, or pictorial materials describing or creating the Corporation’s web site(s), including all interface designs or specifications.  USBFS will take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect all rights to the source code and interface of the Corporation’s web site(s).  In addition, USBFS will not use, or permit the use of, names of End Users for the purpose of soliciting any business, product, or service whatsoever except where the communication is necessary and appropriate for USBFS’s delivery of the Electronic Services.

 
B.
USBFS shall treat as confidential and not disclose or otherwise make available any of the Corporation’s lists, information, trade secrets, processes, proprietary data, information or documentation (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), in any form, to any person other than agents, employees or consultants of USBFS.  USBFS will instruct its agents, employees and consultants who have access to the Confidential Information to keep such information confidential by using the same care and discretion that USBFS uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets.  Upon termination of the rights and responsibilities described in this Exhibit C for any reason and upon the Corporation’s request, USBFS shall return to the Corporation, or destroy and certify that it has destroyed, any and all copies of the Confidential Information which are in its possession.
 
 
7

 
 
C.
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS will not have an obligation of confidentiality under this Section with regard to information that (1) was known to it prior to disclosure hereunder, (2) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach hereof, (3) is disclosed to it by a third party not subject to a duty of confidentiality, or (4) is required to be disclosed under law or by order of court or governmental agency.

9.
Warranties

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS EXHIBIT, THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY USBFS “AS IS” ON AN “AS-AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND USBFS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE.


10.
Termination of Electronic Services

Except as otherwise specifically noted in this Exhibit C, the Electronic Services may be terminated by either party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other party.  The Electronic Services will not be interrupted during the 90 day period and USBFS will cooperate in the reasonable transfer of duties to another provider.

10.
Duties in the Event of Termination

In the event of termination of the services provided pursuant to this Exhibit C, (i) End Users will no longer be able to access the Electronic Services and (ii) the Corporation will return all codes, system access mechanisms, programs, manuals and other written information provided to it by USBFS in connection with the Electronic Services provided hereunder, and shall destroy or erase all such information on any diskettes or other storage medium.
 
 
 
 
8

 
Appendix 1 to Exhibit C
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement
See Electronic Services Fees on Exhibit E


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9

 
Exhibit D
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

DATA WAREHOUSE SERVICES

1.
Certain Definitions

Whenever used in this Exhibit D, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below:

 
A.
MARSTM” means the system made available through Sales Focus Solutions, a subsidiary of Phoenix American Incorporated, which allows for analysis of sales data from the transfer agent or intermediaries by providing details with respect to omnibus account trades, identifying or reporting suspicious trading activity and managing compliance related activities and reporting.


 
B.
Data Warehouse Services” means the services which are made available to consenting end-users (“User,” as defined below) whereby certain Electronic Reports (as defined below) may be searched, viewed, downloaded and printed.

 
C.
User(s)” means the Corporation and its authorized agents.

 
D.
Electronic Reports” means an Electronic Report created with investor transaction data housed by DST (USBFS’s record keeping system) and includes but is not limited to: 22c-2 Compliance Reports, Omnibus Account Reconciliation, Sales Reporting, Platform Reporting and Campaign Management and Tracking.

2.
Services Covered

USBFS shall allow access to “MARSTM” and Data Warehouse Services by authorized Users in accordance with the terms of this Exhibit D.

3.
Duties and Responsibilities of USBFS

USBFS will provide the following implementation support:

(1)  Project Management Assistance
(2)  Setup and Testing of System Interfaces
(3)  Conversion of Historical Data from the Corporation
(4)  Assist with Sales Channel and Sales Territory Setup
(5)  Assist with Clearing/Executing Firm Relationships
(6)  Assist with Compliance Rule Setup
(7)  Database Setup (User Defined Fields)
(8)  Training (additional fee)


10


USBFS provide the following support services after implementation:

(1)  Assistance with Project Management
(2)  Dedicated Client Service team
(3)  Weekly status calls (if needed)
(4)  Setup and testing of requests from the Corporation
(5)  Duplicate Data Identification
(6)  Assistance with System File Imports
(7)  Custom Report Programming (at Programming rates)
(8) Enhanced support at a designated fee (such as database query reports, compliance report review and analysis, compliance workflow assistance)


4.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Corporation

 
The Corporation shall:

 
A.
Assume exclusive responsibility for the Corporation’s or the Users’ failure to properly access the Data Warehouse Services in the manner prescribed by USBFS, and for the Corporation’s failure to supply accurate information to USBFS.

 
B.
Comply and instruct Users to comply with all the User enrollment instructions and authorization procedures.

5.
System Maintenance

The Corporation understands that USBFS will have to perform periodic maintenance to the hardware and software used to provide “MARSTMand Data Warehouse Services, which may cause temporary service interruptions.  USBFS shall notify the Corporation of all planned outages of its own hardware and software and, to the extent possible, will perform any necessary maintenance during non-business hours.

6.
Additional Representation and Warranty

The parties hereby warrant that neither party shall knowingly insert into any interface, software, or other program provided by a party to any other party, any “back door,” “time bomb,” “Trojan Horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” “virus” or other computer software code or routines or hardware components designed to disable, damage or impair the operation of any system, program or operation hereunder.  For failure to comply with this warranty, the non-complying party shall immediately replace all copies of the affected work product, system or software.  All costs incurred with replacement including, but not limited to, cost of media, shipping, deliveries and installation, shall be borne by such non-complying party.

 
7.
Proprietary Rights
 
 
A.
The Corporation acknowledges and agrees that by virtue of subscribing to “MARSTMand Data Warehouse Services through USBFS, it shall not obtain any rights in or to any of the software, templates, screen and file formats, interface protocols, formats and development tools and instructions, hardware, processes, trade secrets, instruction manuals, enrollment authorization, authentication and other business processes, proprietary information or distribution and communication networks used to provide MARSTM  and Data Warehouse Services owned by Sales Focus Solutions and licensed to USBFS.  Any interfaces and software provided to the Corporation in order to provide connectivity to MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services through USBFS shall be used by the Corporation and Users only for the period during which this Exhibit D is in effect and only in accordance with the terms of this Exhibit D, and shall not be used by the Corporation to provide connectivity to or through any other system or person without USBFS’s prior written approval.  The Corporation shall not copy, decompile or reverse engineer any software or programs provided to the Corporation hereunder.  The Corporation also agrees not to take any action which would mask, delete or otherwise alter any on-screen disclaimers and copyright, trademark and service mark notifications, or any “point and click” features relating to User acknowledgment and acceptance of such disclaimers and notifications.
 
 
11

 
 
B.
The MARSTM or DATA WAREHOUSE Services site may contain certain intellectual property, including, but not limited to, rights in copyrighted works, trademarks and trade dress that is the property of the Corporation.  The Corporation retains all rights in such intellectual property that may reside on the MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services site, not including any intellectual property provided by USBFS.  To the extent the intellectual property of the Corporation is cached to expedite communication, the Corporation grants to USBFS a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for a period of time no longer than that reasonably necessary for the communication.  To the extent that the intellectual property of the Corporation is duplicated within the MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services site to replicate the “look and feel,” “trade dress” or other aspect of the appearance or functionality of the Corporation’s web site(s), the Corporation grants to USBFS a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for the period during which this Exhibit D is in effect.  This license is limited to the intellectual property needed to replicate the appearance of the Corporation’s web site(s) and does not extend to any other intellectual property owned by the Corporation.  The Corporation warrants that it has sufficient right, title and interest in and to its web site(s) and its intellectual property to enter into these obligations, and that to its knowledge, the license hereby granted to USBFS does not and will not infringe on any U.S. patent, copyright or other proprietary right of a third party.

 
C.
Each party agrees that the nonbreaching party would not have an adequate remedy at law in the event of the other party’s breach or threatened breach of its obligations under this Section 7 of this Exhibit D and that the nonbreaching party would suffer irreparable injury and damage as a result of any such breach.  Accordingly, in the event either party breaches or threatens to breach the obligations set forth in this Section of this Exhibit D, in addition to and not in lieu of any legal or other remedies a party may pursue hereunder or under applicable law, each party hereby consents to the granting of equitable relief (including the issuance of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or permanent injunction) against it by a court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting any bond or other security therefor, prohibiting any such breach or threatened breach.  In any proceeding upon a motion for such equitable relief, a party’s ability to answer in damages shall not be interposed as a defense to the granting of such equitable relief.  The provisions of this Section 7 relating to equitable relief shall survive termination of the provision of services set forth in this Exhibit D.
 
 
 
12

 
8.
Compensation

The Corporation shall compensate USBFS  for providing MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services to the Corporation  and their authorized agents in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in Appendix I to this Exhibit D (as the same may be amended from time to time).

9.
Additional Indemnification; Limitation of Liability

 
A.
USBFS CANNOT AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY OF MARSTM AND DATA WAREHOUSE SERVICES.  Accordingly, USBFS’s sole liability to the Corporation or any third party (including Users) for any claims, notwithstanding the form of such claims (e.g., contract, negligence, or otherwise), arising out of the delay of or interruption in MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services to be provided by USBFS hereunder shall be to use its best efforts to commence or resume MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services as promptly as is reasonably possible.

 
B.
USBFS shall, at its sole cost and expense, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Corporation and its directors, officers and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, damages or liabilities of any and every nature, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or relating to (a) any infringement, or claim of infringement, of any United States patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights based on the use or potential use of MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services and (b) the provision of the Corporation Files (as defined below) or Confidential Information (as defined below) to a person other than a person to whom such information may be properly disclosed hereunder.

 
C.
If an injunction is issued against the Corporation’s and Users’ use of MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services by reason of infringement of a patent, copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of a third party, USBFS shall, at its own option and expense, either (i) procure for the Corporation and Users the right to continue to use MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services on substantially the same terms and conditions as specified hereunder, or (ii) after notification to the Corporation, replace or modify MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services so that they become non-infringing, provided that, in the Corporation’s judgment, such replacement or modification does not materially and adversely affect the performance of MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Corporation and Users.  If in the Corporation’s judgment, such replacement or modification does materially adversely affect the performance of MARSTM or Data Warehouse Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Corporation and/or Users, the Corporation may terminate all rights and responsibilities under this Exhibit D immediately on written notice to USBFS.
 
 
 
13

 
 
D.
Because the ability of USBFS to deliver MARSTM and Data Warehouse  Services is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various telecommunications carriers, equipment manufacturers, firewall providers and encryption system developers and other vendors and third parties, including Sales Focus Solutions, USBFS shall not be liable for delays or failures to perform its obligations hereunder to the extent such delays or failures are attributable to circumstances beyond its reasonable control which interfere with the delivery of MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services by means of the Internet or any of the equipment, software and services which support the Internet provided by such third parties.  USBFS shall also not be liable for the actions or omissions of any third party wrongdoers (i.e., hackers not employed by USBFS or its affiliates) or of any third parties involved with MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services as long as USBFS and its agents comply with the data security policy described in Section 10 A. of this Exhibit D.  This Exhibit D may be terminated by any party of any material term of this Exhibit D if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party.

 
E.
The Corporation and Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy and receipt of all data or information made available via MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services.  The Corporation is responsible for advising Users of their responsibilities to promptly notify USBFS of any errors or inaccuracies relating to data or other information made available via MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services with respect to the Corporation’s shareholders.

 
F.
USBFS shall not be responsible for the accuracy of input material from Users and the Corporation’s record-keeping systems maintained by third parties nor the resultant output derived from inaccurate input.  The accuracy of input and output shall be judged as received at USBFS’s data center as determined by the records maintained by USBFS.

10.
File Security and Retention; Confidentiality

 
A.
USBFS and its agents will provide reasonable security provisions to ensure that unauthorized third parties do not have access to the Corporation’s data bases, files, and other information provided by the Corporation to USBFS for use with MARS and Data Warehouse Services, (collectively, “Corporation Files”).  USBFS’s security provisions with respect to MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services and the Corporation Files will be no less protected than USBFS’s security provisions with respect to its own proprietary information.  USBFS agrees that any and all Corporation Files maintained by USBFS for the Corporation hereunder shall be available for inspection by the Corporation’s regulatory authorities during regular business hours, upon reasonable prior written notice to USBFS, and will be maintained and retained in accordance with applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.  In addition, USBFS will not use, or permit the use of, names of Users for the purpose of soliciting any business, product, or service whatsoever except where the communication is necessary and appropriate for USBFS’s delivery of MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services.
 
 
14

 
 
B.
USBFS shall treat as confidential and not disclose or otherwise make available any of the Corporation’s lists, information, trade secrets, processes, proprietary data, information or documentation (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), in any form, to any person other than agents, employees or consultants of USBFS.  USBFS will instruct its agents, employees and consultants who have access to the Confidential Information to keep such information confidential by using the same care and discretion that USBFS uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets.  Upon termination of the rights and responsibilities described in this Exhibit D for any reason and upon the Corporation’s request, USBFS shall return to the Corporation, or destroy and certify that it has destroyed, any and all copies of the Confidential Information which are in its possession.

 
C.
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS will not have an obligation of confidentiality under this Section with regard to information that (1) was known to it prior to disclosure hereunder, (2) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach hereof, (3) is disclosed to it by a third party not subject to a duty of confidentiality, or (4) is required to be disclosed under law or by order of court or governmental agency.

11.
Warranties

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS EXHIBIT, MARSTM AND DATA WAREHOUSE SERVICES AND ALL EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND SYSTEMS DESCRIBED IN THIS EXHIBIT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” ON AN “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, AND USBFS HEREBY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING MARS OR DATA WAREHOUSE SERVICES PROVIDED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE.

12.
Termination of MARSTM

Except as otherwise specifically noted in this Exhibit D, the MARSTM System may be terminated by either party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other party.   The MARSTM System will not be interrupted during the 90 day period and USBFS will cooperate in the reasonable transfer of duties to another provider.

 

15

 
13.
Duties in the Event of Termination

In the event of termination of the services provided pursuant to this Exhibit D, (i) the Corporation and Users will immediately end their access to MARSTM and Data Warehouse Services and (ii) the Corporation will return all codes, system access mechanisms, programs, manuals, confidential or proprietary information and other written information provided to it by USBFS in connection with the services provided hereunder, and shall destroy or erase all such information on any diskettes or other storage medium.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16

 
Appendix I
to Exhibit D of the
 Transfer Agent Agreement – Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc.

Pricing Schedule at December, 2009 for MARSTM

 
Chart for TA Agreement
 
 
Modules are priced ala carte



 




17


Exhibit E to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc.
Fee Schedule at December, 2009
 
 
Extraordinary Services
 
New Fund Programming
 
Fund Group Setup
$_____ per fund group
Fund Addition to Existing Group
$____   per fund
Additional Classes of Existing Fund
$_____ per class
   

Plus Out-of-Pocket Expenses, including but not limited to:
 
Telephone – tollfree lines
Retention of records
Postage
Microfilm/fiche of records
Programming
Special reports
Stationary/envelopes
ACH fees
Mailing
NSCC charges
Insurance
All other out-of-pocket expenses
Proxies
 

ACH Shareholder Services
 
$_____ per month per fund group
 
$_____ per account setup and/or change
 
$_____ per item for AIP purchases
 
$_____ per item for EFT payments and purchases
 
$_____ per correction, reversal, return item
 
File Transfer - $160/month and $.01/record
 

Service Charges to Investors
 
Qualified Plan Fees (Billed to Investors) *
 
Annual maintenance fee per account
$_____ / acct. (Cap at $25.00 per SSN)
Education IRA
$_____ / acct. (Cap at $25.00 / per SSN)
Transfer to successor trustee
$_____ / trans.
Distribution to participant
$_____  / trans. (Exclusive of SWP)
Refund of excess contribution
$_____ / trans.

Additional Shareholder Fees (Billed to Investors)
 
Any outgoing wire transfer
$_____ / wire
Telephone exchange
$_____ / exch.
Return check fee
$_____ / item
Stop payment
$_____ / stop
Additional Programming
$_____ / hour
(Liquidation, dividend, draft check)
 
Research fee
$_____/ item
(For requested items of the second calendar year [or previous] to the request)(Cap at $____)




 

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Exhibit E (continued) to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc.
Fee Schedule at December, 2009



Literature Fulfillment Services
State registration compliance edits
Literature database
Record prospect request and profile
Prospect servicing 8:00 am to 7:00 pm CT
Recording and transcription of requests received off-hours
Periodic reporting of leads to client
Service Fee:    $_____ / minute
$____/Month Minimum
$____ one-time set-up


Assembly and Distribution of Literature Requests
Generate customized prospect letters
Assembly and insertion of literature items
Inventory tracking
Inventory storage, reporting
Periodic reporting of leads by state, items requested, market source

Service Fee:                                                      $____/ lead - insertion of up to 4 items/lead
$___/ additional inserts

Lead Conversion Reporting
Accounting Management                                              $_____ / month (waived)
Database Installation                                                      $_____ / Fund group
Closed Loop Reporting – Telephone Leads               $____ / Record
Closed Loop Reporting –Internet Leads                     No Charge
Customized Reporting                                                    $___/ hour

Follow-Up Services
Fees to be determined when service is requested.

Fees and out-of-pocket expenses are billed to the fund monthly, include, but are not limited to:
Postage, stationery
Programming, special reports
Retention of records
File transmission charges
Legal expenses and other expenses





Fees and out-of-pocket expenses are billed to the fund monthly
 
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