Exhibit 23(h)(3)
FORM OF ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
Agreement dated as of___________, 1998 by and between State Street Bank and
Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the "Administrator"), and Dresdner
RCM Investment Funds, Inc. (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the Company is registered as an open-end, management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Administrator to furnish certain
administrative services to the Company, and the Administrator is willing to
furnish such services, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR
The Company hereby appoints the Administrator to act as administrator with
respect to the Company for purposes of providing certain administrative services
for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Administrator
accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services stated herein.
The Company will initially consist of the portfolio(s) and/or class(es) of
shares (each an "Investment Fund") listed in Schedule A to this Agreement. In
the event that the Company establishes one or more additional Investment Funds
with respect to which it wishes to retain the Administrator to act as
administrator hereunder, the Company shall notify the Administrator in writing.
Upon written acceptance by the Administrator, such Investment Fund shall become
subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as the existing
Investment Funds, except to the extent that such provisions (including those
relating to the compensation and expenses payable by the Company and its
Investment Funds) may be modified with respect to each additional Investment
Fund in writing by the Company and the Administrator at the time of the addition
of the Investment Fund.
2. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS
The Company will promptly deliver to the Administrator copies of each of
the following documents and all future amendments and supplements, if any:
a. The Company's Articles of Incorporation and by-laws;
b. The Company's currently effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the 1940 Act
and the Company's Prospectus(es) and Statement(s) of Additional
Information relating to all Investment Funds and all amendments and
supplements thereto as in effect from time to time;
c. Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board") authorizing (1) the Company to enter into this
Agreement and (2) certain individuals on
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behalf of the Company to (a) give instructions to the Administrator
pursuant to this Agreement and (b) sign checks and pay expenses;
d. A copy of the investment advisory agreement between the Company and
its investment adviser; and
e. Such other certificates, documents or opinions which the Administrator
may, in its reasonable discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in
the proper performance of its duties.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Administrator represents and warrants to the Company that:
a. It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under
the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
b. It has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business in
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
c. All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement;
d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or
threatened which would impair the Administrator's ability to perform
its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and
e. Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or
be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the
Administrator or any law or regulation applicable to it.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Administrator that:
a. It is a corporation, duly organized, existing and in good standing
under the laws of Maryland;
b. It has the corporate power and authority under applicable laws and by
its charter and by-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement;
c. All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter
into and perform this Agreement;
d. It is an investment company properly registered under the 1940 Act;
e. A registration statement under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act has been
filed and will be effective and remain effective during the term of
this Agreement. The Company also warrants to the Administrator that as
of the effective date of this Agreement, all necessary
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filings under the securities laws of the states in which the Company
offers or sells its shares have been made;
f. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or
threatened which would impair the Company's ability to perform its
duties and obligations under this Agreement;
g. Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or
be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the
Company or any law or regulation applicable to it; and
h. As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, the Company
is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest, and it will
initially offer shares, in the authorized amounts as set forth in
Schedule A to this Agreement.
5. ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
The Administrator shall provide the following services, in each case,
subject to the control, supervision and direction of the Company and the review
and comment by the Company's auditors and legal counsel and in accordance with
procedures which may be established from time to time between the Company and
the Administrator:
a. Oversee the determination and publication of the Company's net asset
value in accordance with the Company's policy as adopted from time to
time by the Board;
b. Oversee the maintenance by the Company's custodian of certain books
and records of the Company as required under Rule 31a-l(b) of the 1940
Act;
c. Prepare the Company's federal, state and local income tax returns for
review by the Company's independent accountants and filing by the
Company's treasurer;
d. Review calculation, submit for approval by officers of the Company and
arrange for payment of the Company's expenses;
e. Prepare for review and approval by officers of the Company financial
information for the Company's semi-annual and annual reports, proxy
statements and other communications required or otherwise to be sent
to Company shareholders, and arrange for the printing and
dissemination of such reports and communications to shareholders;
f. Prepare for review by an officer of and legal counsel for the Company
the Company's periodic financial reports required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Form N-SAR and
financial information required by Form N-1A and such other reports,
forms or filings as may be mutually agreed upon;
g. Prepare reports relating to the business and affairs of the Company as
may be mutually agreed upon and not otherwise prepared by the
Company's investment adviser, custodian, legal counsel or independent
accountants;
h. Make such reports and recommendations to the Board concerning the
performance of the independent accountants as the Board may reasonably
request;
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i. Make such reports and recommendations to the Board concerning the
performance and fees of the Company's custodian and transfer and
dividend disbursing agent ("Transfer Agent") as the Board may
reasonably request or deems appropriate;
j. Oversee and review calculations of fees paid to the Company's
investment adviser, custodian and Transfer Agent;
k. Consult with the Company's officers, independent accountants, legal
counsel, custodian and Transfer Agent in establishing the accounting
policies of the Company;
l. Provide periodic testing of portfolios to assist the Company's
investment adviser in complying with Internal Revenue Code mandatory
qualification requirements, the requirements of the 1940 Act and
Company prospectus limitations as may be mutually agreed upon;
m. Coordinate printing of annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and
coordinate the filing with appropriate regulatory agencies; review
text of "President's letters" to shareholders and "Management's
Discussion of Company Performance" (which shall also be subject to
review by the Company's legal counsel); and
n. Prepare SEC Rule 24f-2 notices.
The Administrator shall provide the office facilities and the personnel required
by it to perform the services contemplated herein.
6. FEES; EXPENSES; EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
The Administrator shall receive from the Company such compensation for the
Administrator's services provided pursuant to this Agreement as may be agreed to
from time to time in a written fee schedule approved by the parties and
initially set forth in the Fee Schedule to this Agreement. The fees are accrued
daily and billed monthly and shall be due and payable upon receipt of the
invoice. Upon the termination of this Agreement before the end of any month, the
fee for the part of the month before such termination shall be prorated
according to the proportion which such part bears to the full monthly period and
shall be payable upon the date of termination of this Agreement. In addition,
the Company shall reimburse the Administrator for its out-of-pocket costs
incurred in connection with this Agreement.
The Company agrees promptly to reimburse the Administrator for any
equipment and supplies specially ordered by or for the Company through the
Administrator and for any other expenses not contemplated by this Agreement that
the Administrator may incur on the Company's behalf at the Company's request or
with the Company's consent.
The Company will bear all expenses that are incurred in its operation and
not specifically assumed by the Administrator. Expenses to be borne by the
Company, include, but are not limited to: organizational expenses; cost of
services of independent accountants and outside legal and tax counsel (including
such counsel's review of the Company's federal and state tax qualification as a
regulated investment company and other reports and materials prepared by the
Administrator under this Agreement); cost of any services contracted for by the
Company directly from parties other than the Administrator; cost of trading
operations and brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with
the purchase and sale of securities for the Company; investment advisory fees;
taxes,
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insurance premiums and other fees and expenses applicable to its
operation; costs incidental to any meetings of shareholders including, but not
limited to, legal and accounting fees, proxy filing fees and the costs of
preparation, printing and mailing of any proxy materials; costs incidental to
Board meetings, including fees and expenses of Board members; the salary and
expenses of any officer, director\trustee or employee of the Company; costs
incidental to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Company's
registration statements and any amendments thereto and shareholder reports; cost
of typesetting and printing of prospectuses; cost of preparation and filing of
the Company's tax returns, Form N-1A and Form N-SAR, and all notices,
registrations and amendments associated with applicable federal and state tax
and securities laws; all applicable registration fees and filing fees required
under federal and state securities laws; fidelity bond and directors' and
officers' liability insurance; and cost of independent pricing services used in
computing the Company's net asset value.
The Administrator is authorized to and may employ or associate with such
person or persons as the Administrator may deem desirable to assist it in
performing its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the
compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by the Administrator and
that the Administrator shall be as fully responsible to the Company for the acts
and omissions of any such person or persons as it is for its own acts and
omissions.
7. INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE
At any time, the Administrator may apply to any officer of the Company for
instructions and may consult with its own legal counsel or outside counsel for
the Company or the independent accountants for the Company at the expense of the
Company, with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to
be performed by the Administrator under this Agreement. The Administrator shall
not be liable, and shall be indemnified by the Company, for any action taken or
omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon any such instructions or advice or
upon any paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed
by the proper person or persons. The Administrator shall not be held to have
notice of any change of authority of any person until receipt of written notice
thereof from the Company. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as
imposing upon the Administrator any obligation to seek such instructions or
advice, or to act in accordance with such advice when received.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
The Administrator shall be responsible for the performance of only such
duties as are set forth in this Agreement and, except as otherwise provided
under Section 6, shall have no responsibility for the actions or activities of
any other party, including other service providers. The Administrator shall have
no liability for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or
damage resulting from the performance or nonperformance of its duties hereunder
unless solely caused by or resulting from the negligence or willful misconduct
of the Administrator, its officers or employees. The Administrator shall not be
liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages of any
kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees) under any
provision of this Agreement or for any such damages arising out of any act or
failure to act hereunder. In any event, the Administrator's liability under this
Agreement shall be limited to one times its total annual compensation earned and
fees paid hereunder during the preceding twelve months for all services provided
to the Company under this Agreement for any liability or loss suffered by the
Company including, but not limited to, any liability relating to qualification
of the Company as a regulated investment company or any liability relating to
the Company's compliance with any federal or state tax or securities statute,
regulation or ruling.
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The Administrator shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or
delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or
caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including
without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer
virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.
The Company shall indemnify and hold the Administrator harmless from all
loss, cost, damage and expense, including reasonable fees and expenses for
counsel, incurred by the Administrator resulting from any claim, demand, action
or suit in connection with the Administrator's acceptance of this Agreement, any
action or omission by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, or as a
result of acting upon any instructions reasonably believed by it to have been
duly authorized by the Company, provided that this indemnification shall not
apply to actions or omissions of the Administrator, its officers or employees in
cases of its or their own negligence or willful misconduct.
The indemnification contained herein shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
9. CONFIDENTIALITY
The Administrator agrees that, except as otherwise required by law or in
connection with any required disclosure to a banking or other regulatory
authority, it will keep confidential all records and information in its
possession relating to the Company or its shareholders or shareholder accounts
and will not disclose the same to any person except at the request or with the
written consent of the Company.
10. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS; RECORDS
The Company assumes full responsibility for complying with all securities,
tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to it.
In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the
Administrator agrees that all records which it maintains for the Company shall
at all times remain the property of the Company, shall be readily accessible
during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the
termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request. The Administrator
further agrees that all records which it maintains for the Company pursuant to
Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as
provided above. Records shall be surrendered in usable machine-readable form.
11. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE
The services of the Administrator to the Company are not to be deemed
exclusive, and the Administrator shall be free to render similar services to
others. The Administrator shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and
shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Company
from time to time, have no authority to act or represent the Company in any way
or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Company.
12. TERM, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective on the date of its execution and
shall remain in full force and effect for a period of two years from the
effective date and shall automatically continue in full force and effect after
such initial term unless either party terminates this Agreement by written
notice to the other party at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of
the initial term. Either party may terminate this
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Agreement at any time after the initial term upon at least sixty (60) days'
prior written notice to the other party. Termination of this Agreement with
respect to any given Investment Fund shall in no way affect the continued
validity of this Agreement with respect to any other Investment Fund.
Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the
Administrator such compensation and any reimbursable expenses as may be due
under the terms hereof as of the date of such termination, including reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses associated with such termination. This Agreement may be
modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties
hereto.
13. NOTICES
Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement
to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given
when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, or posted by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a
party may specify by written notice to the other): if to the
Company:_________________, Attn:_____________, fax:______________; if to the
Administrator: State Street Bank and Trust Company, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇-▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: Fund Administration Legal Department,
fax: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
14. NON-ASSIGNABILITY
This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party hereto without the
prior consent in writing of the other party, except that the Administrator may
assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its
business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the Administrator.
15. SUCCESSORS
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the
Company and the Administrator and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous
representations, warranties or commitments regarding the services to be
performed hereunder whether oral or in writing.
17. WAIVER
The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this
Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive
such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term
or any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the
waiving party.
18. SEVERABILITY
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If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the balance
of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to
any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other
persons and circumstances.
19. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
20. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments
hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm,
micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the date first written above.
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President
---------------------------------
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ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
LISTING OF INVESTMENT FUNDS AND AUTHORIZED SHARES
Investment Fund Authorized Shares
Dresdner RCM Europe Fund
Page ▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ AND TRUST COMPANY
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC.
SUB-ADMINISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE
I. SUB-ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
Services to be performed by State Street Fund Administration include
Treasurer's Office Support, Tax Reporting, IRS/SEC/Prospectus Compliance,
Financial Reporting and Audit Coordination, N-SAR Preparation and Filing,
24f-2 Notice Preparation.
ANNUAL FEE
Average Assets Expressed in Basis Points: 1/100 of 1%
-------------- --------------------------------------
First $250 Million/Fund 2.50
Next $250 Million/Fund 1.75
Thereafter 1.00
Minimum/Fund $57,500
FUND FEES:
Fees will be calculated by multiplying each Average Asset Break Point in
the above schedule by the number of Funds in the complexes (Dresdner RCM
Global Funds, Inc., Dresdner RCM Capital Funds, Inc. and Dresdner RCM
Investment Funds Inc.) to determine the break points used in the schedule.
Total net assets of all Funds will be used to calculate the fee by
multiplying the net assets of the Funds by the basis point fees in the
above schedule. The minimum will be calculated by multiplying the minimum
fee by the number of Funds in the complex to arrive at the total minimum
fee. The greater of the basis point fee or the minimum fee will be
allocated equally to each Fund in the complex.
The minimum monthly fee per Fund will be applied at the rate of 1/12th in
month one ($399 per Fund), 2/12th in month two increasing incrementally per
month until the full minimum monthly fee per Fund is in effect in month
twelve ($4,792 per Fund).
II. MULTIPLE CLASSES OF SHARES
An additional $10,000 fee will be applied to each class of shares,
excluding the first two classes of shares, if more than two classes of
shares is operational in a Fund.
III. LEVERAGE CALCULATIONS
An additional $10,000 annual fee will be applied to each Fund for
performance of daily calculations and Statement of Cash Flow reporting to
the extent a Fund engages in leveraging activities, other than temporary
borrowings.
Page ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC.
SUB-ADMINISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE
IV. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES - INCLUDE, BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Printing for shareholder reports and SEC filings
- Legal fees, audit fees and other professional fees
- Supplies related to Fund records
- Travel and lodging for Board and Operations meetings
- Preparation of financials other than Annual, Semi-Annual and
Quarterly Board Reporting, $3,000 per financial report.
V. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Fees for activities of a non-recurring nature such as fund consolidations
or reorganizations, and/or preparation of special reports will be subject
to negotiation.
VI. PAYMENT
The above fees will be charged against each Fund's account fifteen (15)
business days after the date invoices are mailed.
VII. TERM OF THE CONTRACT
The parties agree that this fee schedule shall remain in effect through
December 31, 2000, and from year to year thereafter until it is revised as
a result of negotiations initiated by either party.
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. COMPANY
By: By:
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Title: Title:
------------------------- -------------------------
Date: Date:
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