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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made the 20th day of March, 1995, by and between IDS
High Yield Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Minnesota
corporation, and American Express Financial Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
Part One: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
(1) The Fund hereby retains American Express Financial
Corporation, and American Express Financial Corporation hereby
agrees, for the period of this Agreement and under the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, to furnish the Fund continuously
with suggested investment planning; to determine, consistent with
the Fund's investment objectives and policies, which securities in
American Express Financial Corporation's discretion shall be
purchased, held or sold and to execute or cause the execution of
purchase or sell orders; to prepare and make available to the Fund
all necessary research and statistical data in connection
therewith; to furnish all services of whatever nature required in
connection with the management of the Fund as provided under this
Agreement; and to pay such expenses as may be provided for in Part
Three; subject always to the direction and control of the Board of
Directors (the "Board"), the Executive Committee and the authorized
officers of the Fund. American Express Financial Corporation
agrees to maintain an adequate organization of competent persons to
provide the services and to perform the functions herein mentioned.
American Express Financial Corporation agrees to meet with any
persons at such times as the Board deems appropriate for the
purpose of reviewing American Express Financial Corporation's
performance under this Agreement.
(2) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that the
investment planning and investment decisions will be in accordance
with general investment policies of the Fund as disclosed to
American Express Financial Corporation from time to time by the
Fund and as set forth in its prospectuses and registration
statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
(3) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that it
will maintain all required records, memoranda, instructions or
authorizations relating to the acquisition or disposition of
securities for the Fund.
(4) The Fund agrees that it will furnish to American
Express Financial Corporation any information that the latter may
reasonably request with respect to the services performed or to be
performed by American Express Financial Corporation under this
Agreement.
(5) American Express Financial Corporation is authorized to
select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and
sales of portfolio securities for the Fund and is directed to use
its best efforts to obtain the best available price and most
favorable execution, except as prescribed herein. Subject to prior
authorization by the Fund's Board of appropriate policies and
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procedures, and subject to termination at any time by the Board,
American Express Financial Corporation may also be authorized to
effect individual securities transactions at commission rates in
excess of the minimum commission rates available, to the extent
authorized by law, if American Express Financial Corporation
determines in good faith that such amount of commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research
services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of
either that particular transaction or American Express Financial
Corporation's overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and
other funds for which it acts as investment adviser.
(6) It is understood and agreed that in furnishing the Fund
with the services as herein provided, neither American Express
Financial Corporation, nor any officer, director or agent thereof
shall be held liable to the Fund or its creditors or shareholders
for errors of judgment or for anything except willful misfeasance,
bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the terms of
this Agreement. It is further understood and agreed that American
Express Financial Corporation may rely upon information furnished
to it reasonably believed to be accurate and reliable.
Part Two: COMPENSATION TO INVESTMENT MANAGER
(1) The Fund agrees to pay to American Express Financial
Corporation, and American Express Financial Corporation covenants
and agrees to accept from the Fund in full payment for the services
furnished, a fee for each calendar day of each year equal to the
total of 1/365th (1/366th in each leap year) of the amount computed
as shown below. The computation shall be made for each day on the
basis of net assets as of the close of business of the full
business day two (2) business days prior to the day for which the
computation is being made. In the case of the suspension of the
computation of net asset value, the asset charge for each day
during such suspension shall be computed as of the close of
business on the last full business day on which the net assets were
computed. Net assets as of the close of a full business day shall
include all transactions in shares of the Fund recorded on the
books of the Fund for that day.
The asset charge shall be based on the net assets of the Fund
as set forth in the following table.
Asset Charge
Assets Annual Rate at
(Billions) Each Asset Level
First $1 0.490%
Next $1 0.465
Next $1 0.440
Next $3 0.415
Next $3 0.390
Over $9 0.360
/TABLE
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(2) The fee shall be paid on a monthly basis and, in the
event of the termination of this Agreement, the fee accrued shall
be prorated on the basis of the number of days that this Agreement
is in effect during the month with respect to which such payment is
made.
(3) The fee provided for hereunder shall be paid in cash by
the Fund to American Express Financial Corporation within five
business days after the last day of each month.
Part Three: ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES
(1) The Fund agrees to pay:
(a) Fees payable to American Express Financial Corporation
for its services under the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Taxes.
(c) Brokerage commissions and charges in connection with
the purchase and sale of assets.
(d) Custodian fees and charges.
(e) Fees and charges of its independent certified public
accountants for services the Fund requests.
(f) Premium on the bond required by Rule 17g-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(g) Fees and expenses of attorneys (i) it employs in
matters not involving the assertion of a claim by a third party
against the Fund, its directors and officers, (ii) it employs in
conjunction with a claim asserted by the Board against American
Express Financial Corporation, except that American Express
Financial Corporation shall reimburse the Fund for such fees and
expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction, or American Express Financial Corporation agrees,
that it is liable in whole or in part to the Fund, and (iii) it
employs to assert a claim against a third party.
(h) Fees paid for the qualification and registration for
public sale of the securities of the Fund under the laws of the
United States and of the several states in which such securities
shall be offered for sale.
(i) Fees of consultants employed by the Fund.
(j) Directors, officers and employees expenses which shall
include fees, salaries, memberships, dues, travel, seminars,
pension, profit sharing, and all other benefits paid to or provided
for directors, officers and employees, directors and officers
liability insurance, errors and omissions liability insurance,
worker's compensation insurance and other expenses applicable to
the directors, officers and employees, except the Fund will not pay
any fees or expenses of any person who is an officer or employee of
American Express Financial Corporation or its affiliates.
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(k) Filing fees and charges incurred by the Fund in
connection with filing any amendment to its articles of
incorporation, or incurred in filing any other document with the
State of Minnesota or its political subdivisions.
(l) Organizational expenses of the Fund.
(m) Expenses incurred in connection with lending portfolio
securities of the Fund.
(n) Expenses properly payable by the Fund, approved by the
Board.
(2) American Express Financial Corporation agrees to pay
all expenses associated with the services it provides under the
terms of this Agreement. Further, American Express Financial
Corporation agrees that if, at the end of any month, the expenses
of the Fund under this Agreement and any other agreement between
the Fund and American Express Financial Corporation, but excluding
those expenses set forth in (1)(b) and (1)(c) of this Part Three,
exceed the most restrictive applicable state expenses limitation,
the Fund shall not pay those expenses set forth in (1)(a) and
(d) through (n) of this Part Three to the extent necessary to keep
the Fund's expenses from exceeding the limitation, it being
understood that American Express Financial Corporation will assume
all unpaid expenses and ▇▇▇▇ the Fund for them in subsequent months
but in no event can the accumulation of unpaid expenses or billing
be carried past the end of the Fund's fiscal year.
Part Four: MISCELLANEOUS
(1) American Express Financial Corporation shall be deemed
to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided
or authorized in this Agreement, shall have no authority to act for
or represent the Fund.
(2) A "full business day" shall be as defined in the
By-laws.
(3) The Fund recognizes that American Express Financial
Corporation now renders and may continue to render investment
advice and other services to other investment companies and persons
which may or may not have investment policies and investments
similar to those of the Fund and that American Express Financial
Corporation manages its own investments and/or those of its
subsidiaries. American Express Financial Corporation shall be free
to render such investment advice and other services and the Fund
hereby consents thereto.
(4) Neither this Agreement nor any transaction had pursuant
hereto shall be invalidated or in any way affected by the fact that
directors, officers, agents and/or shareholders of the Fund are or
may be interested in American Express Financial Corporation or any
successor or assignee thereof, as directors, officers, stockholders
or otherwise; that directors, officers, stockholders or agents of
American Express Financial Corporation are or may be interested in
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the Fund as directors, officers, shareholders, or otherwise; or
that American Express Financial Corporation or any successor or
assignee, is or may be interested in the Fund as shareholder or
otherwise, provided, however, that neither American Express
Financial Corporation, nor any officer, director or employee
thereof or of the Fund, shall sell to or buy from the Fund any
property or security other than shares issued by the Fund, except
in accordance with applicable regulations or orders of the SEC.
(5) Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in
writing, addressed, and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the party
to this Agreement entitled to receive such, at such party's
principal place of business in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or to such
other address as either party may designate in writing mailed to
the other.
(6) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that no
officer, director or employee of American Express Financial
Corporation will deal for or on behalf of the Fund with himself as
principal or agent, or with any corporation or partnership in which
he may have a financial interest, except that this shall not
prohibit:
(a) Officers, directors or employees of American Express
Financial Corporation from having a financial interest in the Fund
or in American Express Financial Corporation.
(b) The purchase of securities for the Fund, or the sale of
securities owned by the Fund, through a security broker or dealer,
one or more of whose partners, officers, directors or employees is
an officer, director or employee of American Express Financial
Corporation, provided such transactions are handled in the capacity
of broker only and provided commissions charged do not exceed
customary brokerage charges for such services.
(c) Transactions with the Fund by a broker-dealer affiliate
of American Express Financial Corporation as may be allowed by
rule or order of the SEC, and if made pursuant to procedures
adopted by the Fund's Board.
(7) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that,
except as herein otherwise expressly provided or as may be
permitted consistent with the use of a broker-dealer affiliate of
American Express Financial Corporation under applicable provisions
of the federal securities laws, neither it nor any of its officers,
directors or employees shall at any time during the period of this
Agreement, make, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any
fees, profits or emoluments of any character in connection with the
purchase or sale of securities (except shares issued by the Fund)
or other assets by or for the Fund.
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Part Five: RENEWAL AND TERMINATION
(1) This Agreement shall continue in effect until March 19,
1997, or until a new agreement is approved by a vote of the
majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund and by vote of the
Fund's Board, including the vote required by (b) of this paragraph,
and if no new agreement is so approved, this Agreement shall
continue from year to year thereafter unless and until terminated
by either party as hereinafter provided, except that such
continuance shall be specifically approved at least annually (a) by
the Board of the Fund or by a vote of the majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund and (b) by the vote of a majority of
the directors who are not parties to this Agreement or interested
persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. As used in this paragraph,
the term "interested person" shall have the same meaning as set
forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act").
(2) This Agreement may be terminated by either the Fund or
American Express Financial Corporation at any time by giving the
other party 60 days' written notice of such intention to terminate,
provided that any termination shall be made without the payment of
any penalty, and provided further that termination may be effected
either by the Board of the Fund or by a vote of the majority of the
outstanding voting shares of the Fund. The vote of the majority of
the outstanding voting shares of the Fund for the purpose of this
Part Five shall be the vote at a shareholders' regular meeting, or
a special meeting duly called for the purpose, of 67% or more of
the Fund's shares present at such meeting if the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are present or
represented by proxy, or more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares of the Fund, whichever is less.
(3) This Agreement shall terminate in the event of its
assignment, the term "assignment" for this purpose having the same
meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the
foregoing Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND, INC.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
Vice President
AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President