EXHIBIT 9.1
FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on this ____ day of
_________, 1997, by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, INC., presently consisting
of one portfolio, THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROWTH FUND (hereinafter referred to as the
"Fund"), and FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Wisconsin (hereinafter referred to as "FTC").
WHEREAS, The Fund is an open-ended management investment company
which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, FTC is a trust company and, among other things, is in
the business of providing fund administration services for the benefit of
its customers;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund and FTC do mutually promise and agree
as follows:
I. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR
The Fund hereby appoints FTC as Administrator of the Fund on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and FTC hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth
in this Agreement in consideration of the compensation provided for
herein.
II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FTC
A. General Fund Management
1. Act as liaison among all fund service providers
2. Coordinate board communication by:
a. Assisting fund counsel in establishing meeting agendas
b. Preparing board reports based on financial and
administrative data
c. Evaluating independent auditor
d. Securing and monitoring fidelity bond and director and
officers liability coverage, and making the necessary
SEC filings relating thereto
3. Audits
a. Prepare appropriate schedules and assist independent
auditors
b. Provide information to SEC and facilitate audit
process
c. Provide office facilities
4. Assist in overall operations of the Fund
B. Compliance
1. Regulatory Compliance
a. Periodically monitor compliance with Investment
Company Act of 1940 requirements
1) Asset diversification tests
2) Total return and SEC yield calculations
3) Maintenance of books and records under Rule 31a-3
4) Code of ethics
b. Periodically monitor Fund's compliance with the
policies and investment limitations of the Fund as set
forth in its prospectus and statement of additional
information
2. Blue Sky Compliance
a. Prepare and file with the appropriate state securities
authorities any and all required compliance filings
relating to the registration of the securities of the
Fund so as to enable the Fund to make a continuous
offering of its shares
b. Monitor status and maintain registrations in each
state
3. SEC Registration and Reporting
a. Assisting Fund's counsel in updating prospectus and
statement of additional information; and in preparing
proxy statements, and Rule 24f-2 notice,
b. Annual and semiannual reports
4. IRS Compliance
a. Periodically monitor Fund's status as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M through review
of the following:
1) Asset diversification requirements
2) Qualifying income requirements
3) Distribution requirements
b. Monitor short short testing
c. Calculate required distributions (including excise tax
distributions)
C. Financial Reporting
1. Provide financial data required by fund prospectus and
statement of additional information
2. Prepare financial reports for shareholders, the board, the
SEC, and independent auditors
3. Supervise the Fund's Custodian and Fund Accountants in the
maintenance of the Fund's general ledger and in the
preparation of the Fund's financial statements including
oversight of expense accruals and payments, of the
determination of net asset value of the Fund's net assets
and of the Fund's shares, and of the declaration and
payment of dividends and other distributions to
shareholders
D. Tax Reporting
1. Prepare and file on a timely basis appropriate federal and
state tax returns including forms 1120/8610 with any
necessary schedules
2. Prepare state income breakdowns where relevant
3. File 1099 Miscellaneous for payments to directors and other
service providers
4. Monitor wash losses
5. Calculate eligible dividend income for corporate
shareholders
III. COMPENSATION
The Fund agrees to pay FTC for performance of the duties listed in
this Agreement and the fees and out-of-pocket expenses as set forth
in the attached Schedule A.
These fees may be changed from time to time, subject to mutual
written Agreement between the Fund and FTC.
The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten
(10) business days following the mailing of the billing notice.
IV. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
A. FTC shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its
duties under this Agreement. FTC shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in
connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, including losses
resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or
power supplies beyond FTC's control, except a loss resulting from FTC's
refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from bad
faith, negligence, or willful misconduct on its part in the performance of
its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless FTC from and
against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities
(whether with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) which FTC may sustain or incur or
which may be asserted against FTC 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 FTC by any duly authorized
officer of the Fund, such duly authorized officer to be included in a list
of authorized officers furnished to FTC and as amended from time to time
in writing by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Fund.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or
power supplies beyond its control, FTC shall take all reasonable steps to
minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption
continues beyond FTC's control. FTC 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 FTC. FTC 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 Fund shall be entitled to inspect FTC's premises
and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of
FTC, upon reasonable notice to FTC.
Regardless of the above, FTC 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 Fund may be
asked to indemnify or hold FTC harmless, the Fund shall be fully and
promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in
question, and it is further understood that FTC will use all reasonable
care to notify the Fund promptly concerning any situation which presents
or appears likely to present the probability of such a claim for
indemnification against the Fund. The Fund shall have the option to
defend FTC against any claim which may be the subject of this
indemnification. In the event that the Fund so elects, it will so notify
FTC and thereupon the Fund shall take over complete defense of the claim,
and FTC shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other
expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section. FTC
shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in
which the Fund will be asked to indemnify FTC except with the Fund's prior
written consent.
C. FTC shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from and against
any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether
with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature (including
reasonable attorneys' fees) which may be asserted against the Fund by any
person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by FTC as a
result of FTC's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct.
V. CONFIDENTIALITY
FTC shall handle, in confidence, all information relating to the
Fund's business which is received by FTC during the course of rendering
any service hereunder.
VI. DATA NECESSARY TO PERFORM SERVICE
The Fund or its agent, which may be FTC, shall furnish to FTC the
data necessary to perform the services described herein at times and in
such form as mutually agreed upon.
VII. TERMS OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue automatically
in effect for successive annual periods. The Agreement may be terminated
by either party upon giving ninety (90) days prior written notice to the
other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the
parties.
VIII. DUTIES IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any
of FTC's duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Fund by
written notice to FTC, FTC will promptly, upon such termination and at the
expense of the Fund, transfer to such successor all relevant books,
records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by FTC
under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Fund (if such
form differs from the form in which FTC has maintained, the Fund 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 FTC's personnel in the establishment of
books, records, and other data by such successor.
IX. CHOICE OF LAW
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Wisconsin.
X. NOTICES
Notices of any kind to be given by either party to the other party
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered as
follows: Notice to FTC shall be sent to ▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and notice to Fund shall be sent to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
XI. RECORDS
FTC 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 Fund but not inconsistent with the rules
and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular,
Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the
"Investment Company Act"), and the rules thereunder. FTC agrees that all
such records prepared or maintained by FTC relating to the services to be
performed by FTC hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be
preserved, maintained, and made available with such section and rules of
the Investment Company Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Fund on
and in accordance with its request.
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, INC. FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
By: ______________________________ By:_______________________
Attest: ____________________________ Attest:___________________
