FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of October, 1996, between THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST (the "Trust"), a Delaware business trust, and BISYS FUND
SERVICES, INC. ("Fund Accountant"), a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Fund Accountant perform certain fund
accounting services for each investment portfolio of the Trust, all as now or
hereafter may be established from time to time (individually referred to
herein as the "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"); and
WHEREAS, Fund Accountant is willing to perform such services on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES AS FUND ACCOUNTANT; CONVERSION TO SERVICES.
The Trust hereby engages Fund Accountant to perform fund accounting
services as set forth in this Section 1 (collectively, the "Services"), and,
in connection therewith, the Trust agrees to convert to Fund Accountant's data
processing systems and software (the "BISYS System") as necessary in order to
receive the Services. The Trust shall cooperate with Fund Accountant to
provide Fund Accountant with all necessary information and assistance required
to successfully convert to the BISYS System. Fund Accountant shall provide
the Trust with a schedule relating to such conversion and the parties agree
that the conversion may progress in stages. The date upon which all Services
shall have been converted to the BISYS System shall be referred to herein as
the "Conversion Date." The parties hereby agree that the Conversion Date
shall be no later than January 1, 1997. Fund Accountant hereby accepts such
engagement and agrees to perform the Services commencing, with respect to each
individual Service, on the date that the conversion of such Service to the
BISYS System has been completed. Fund Accountant shall determine in
accordance with its normal acceptance procedures when the applicable Service
has been successfully converted.
(a) MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Fund Accountant will keep
and maintain the following books and records of each Fund
pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the "Rule"):
(i) Journals containing an itemized daily record in
detail of all purchases and sales of securities, all
receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits
and credits, as required by subsection (b)(1) of the Rule;
(ii) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset,
liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts,
including interest accrued and interest received, as
required by subsection (b)(2)(I) of the Rule;
(iii) Separate ledger accounts required by subsection
(b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of the Rule; and
(iv) A monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts
(except shareholder accounts) as required by subsection
(b)(8) of the Rule.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF DAILY ACCOUNTING SERVICES. In addition to the
maintenance of the books and records specified above, Fund
Accountant shall perform the following accounting services
daily for each Fund:
(i) Calculate the net asset value per share utilizing
prices obtained from the sources described in subsection
1(b)(ii) below;
(ii) Obtain security prices from independent pricing
services, or if such quotes are unavailable, then obtain
such prices from each Fund's investment adviser or its
designee, as approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees;
(iii) Verify and reconcile with the Fund's custodian all
daily trade activity;
(iv) Compute, as appropriate, each Fund's net income and
capital gains, dividend payables, dividend factors, 7-day
yields, 7-day effective yields, 30-day yields, and
weighted average portfolio maturity;
(v) Review daily the net asset value calculation and
dividend factor (if any) for each Fund prior to release to
shareholders, check and confirm the net asset values and
dividend factors for reasonableness and deviations, and
distribute net asset values and yields to NASDAQ;
(vi) Report to the Trust the daily market pricing of
securities in any money market Funds, with the comparison
to the amortized cost basis;
(vii) Determine unrealized appreciation and depreciation
on securities held in variable net asset value Funds;
(viii) Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on
securities purchased at a price other than face value, if
requested by the Trust;
(ix) Update fund accounting system to reflect rate
changes, as received from a Fund's investment adviser, on
variable interest rate instruments;
(x) Post Fund transactions to appropriate categories;
(xi) Accrue expenses of each Fund according to
instructions received from the Trust's Administrator;
(xii) Determine the outstanding receivables and payables
for all (1) security trades, (2) Fund share transactions
and (3) income and expense accounts;
(xiii) Provide accounting reports in connection with the
Trust's regular annual audit and other audits and
examinations by regulatory agencies; and
(xiv) Provide such periodic reports as the parties shall
agree upon, as set forth in a separate schedule.
(c) SPECIAL REPORTS AND SERVICES.
(i) Fund Accountant may provide additional special
reports upon the request of the Trust or a Fund's
investment adviser, which may result in an additional
charge, the amount of which shall be agreed upon between
the parties.
(ii) Fund Accountant may provide such other similar
services with respect to a Fund as may be reasonably
requested by the Trust, which may result in an additional
charge, the amount of which shall be agreed upon between
the parties.
(d) ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Fund Accountant shall also
perform the following additional accounting services for each
Fund:
(i) Provide monthly a download (and hard copy thereof)
of the financial statements described below, upon request
of the Trust. The download will include the following
items:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities,
Statement of Operations,
Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and
Condensed Financial Information;
(ii) Provide accounting information for the following:
(A) federal and state income tax returns and federal
excise tax returns;
(B) the Trust's semi-annual reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on
Form N-SAR;
(C) the Trust's annual, semi-annual and quarterly
(if any) shareholder reports;
(D) registration statements on Form N-1A and other
filings relating to the registration of Shares;
(E) the Administrator's monitoring of the Trust's
status as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended;
(F) annual audit by the Trust's auditors; and
(G) examinations performed by the SEC.
2. SUBCONTRACTING.
Fund Accountant may, at its expense, subcontract with any entity or
person concerning the provision of the services contemplated hereunder;
provided, however, that any such subcontractor shall be an affiliate of Fund
Accountant; provided further, that Fund Accountant shall not be relieved of
any of its obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such
subcontractor and provided further, that Fund Accountant shall be responsible,
to the extent provided in Section 6 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor
as if such acts were its own.
3. COMPENSATION.
Commencing on the Conversion Date, the Trust shall pay Fund Accountant
for the services to be provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement in
accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, Schedule A hereto, as such
Schedule may be amended from time to time.
4. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.
In addition to paying Fund Accountant the fees described in Section 3
hereof, the Trust agrees to reimburse Fund Accountant for its out-of-pocket
expenses in providing services hereunder, including without limitation the
following:
(a) All freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred by
Fund Accountant in delivering materials to and from the Trust;
(b) All direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or
other electronic transmission expenses incurred by Fund
Accountant in communication with the Trust, the Trust's
investment advisor or custodian, dealers or others as required
for Fund Accountant to perform the services to be provided
hereunder;
(c) The cost of obtaining security market quotes pursuant to
Section l(b)(ii) above;
(d) The cost of microfilm or microfiche of records or other
materials;
(e) Any expenses Fund Accountant shall incur at the written
direction of an officer of the Trust thereunto duly authorized;
and
(f) Any additional expenses reasonably incurred by Fund Accountant
in the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund as of the
date first written above.
6. TERM.
The initial term of this Agreement (the "Initial Term") shall be for one
year commencing on the date this Agreement is executed by both parties and
ending on the date that is one year after the Conversion Date. This
Agreement shall be renewed automatically for successive one-year terms unless
written notice not to renew is given by the non-renewing party to the other
party at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the then-current term;
provided, however, that after such termination for so long as Fund Accountant,
with the written consent of the Trust, in fact continues to perform any one or
more of the services contemplated by this Agreement or any schedule or exhibit
hereto, the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the
provisions dealing with indemnification, shall continue in full force and
effect. Compensation due Fund Accountant and unpaid by the Trust upon such
termination shall be immediately due and payable upon and notwithstanding such
termination. Fund Accountant shall be entitled to collect from the Trust, in
addition to the compensation described under Section 3 hereof, the amount of
all of Fund Accountant's cash disbursements for services in connection with
Fund Accountant's activities in effecting such termination, including without
limitation, the delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of the Trust's
property, records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof.
Subsequent to such termination, for a reasonable fee, Fund Accountant will
provide the Trust with reasonable access to any Trust documents or records
remaining in its possession.
In the event of a material breach of this Agreement by either party, the
non-breaching party shall notify the breaching party in writing of such breach
and, upon receipt of such notice, the breaching party shall have 45 days to
remedy the breach. In the event the breach is not remedied within such time
period, the nonbreaching party may immediately terminate this Agreement.
7. STANDARD OF CARE; RELIANCE ON RECORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS;
INDEMNIFICATION.
The duties of Fund Accountant shall be confined to those expressly set
forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against
Fund Accountant hereunder. The Fund Accountant shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any
investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties hereunder,
except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in
the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties hereunder, except as may otherwise be provided under
provisions of applicable law which cannot be waived or modified hereby. (As
used in this Section 7, the term "Fund Accountant" shall include officers and
directors of, and persons who control, Fund Accountant as well as Fund
Accountant itself.)
So long as Fund Accountant acts in good faith and with due diligence and
without negligence, the Trust assumes full responsibility and shall indemnify
Fund Accountant and hold it harmless from and against any and all actions,
suits and claims, whether groundless or otherwise, and from and against any
and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements, payments, expenses and liabilities (including reasonable
investigation expenses) arising directly or indirectly out of administration,
transfer agency, and dividend disbursing relationships to the Trust or any
other service rendered to the Trust hereunder. Fund Accountant agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its employees, agents, Trustees,
officers and nominees from and against any and all actions, suits and claims,
whether groundless or otherwise, and from and against any and all judgements,
liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and
other expenses of every nature and character arising out of or in any way
relating to the Fund Accountant's bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence
or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties, with respect
to the performance of services under this Agreement. The indemnity and
defense provisions set forth herein shall indefinitely survive the termination
of this Agreement.
Except for actions, suits or claims brought or threatened against Fund
Accountant by (i) the Trust, or (ii) one or more Shareholders of the Trust,
the rights hereunder shall include the right to reasonable advances of defense
expenses in the event of any pending or threatened litigation with respect to
which indemnification hereunder may ultimately be merited. In order that the
indemnification provisions contained herein shall apply, however, it is
understood that if in any case the indemnifying party may be asked to
indemnify or hold the other party harmless, the indemnifying party shall be
fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in
question, and it is further understood that the indemnified party will use all
reasonable care to identify and notify the indemnifying party promptly
concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present the
probability of such a claim for indemnification against the indemnifying
party, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect the rights
hereunder.
The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate at its own
expense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any claims subject to this indemnity provision. If the indemnifying
party elects to assume the defense of any such claim, the defense shall be
conducted by counsel chosen by the indemnifying party and satisfactory to the
other party, whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event
that the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any suit and
retain counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it. If the indemnifying party does not elect
to assume the defense of a suit, it will reimburse the other party for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the other party.
The Fund Accountant may apply to the Trust at any time for instructions
and may, at its expense, consult counsel for the Trust or its own counsel and
with accountants and other experts with respect to any matter arising in
connection with Fund Accountant's duties, and Fund Accountant shall not be
liable or accountable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in
accordance with such instruction or with the opinion of such counsel,
accountants or other experts.
Also, Fund Accountant shall be protected in acting upon any document
which it reasonably believes to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper person or persons. The Fund Accountant will not be
held to have notice of any change of authority of any officers, employees or
agents of the Trust until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.
8. RECORD RETENTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
Fund Accountant shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Trust all books
and records which the Trust and Fund Accountant are, or may be, required to
keep and maintain pursuant to any applicable statutes, rules and regulations,
including without limitation Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), relating to the maintenance
of books and records in connection with the services to be provided hereunder.
In case of any request or demand for the inspection of such records by another
party, Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust and follow the Trust's
instructions as to permitting or refusing such inspection; provided that, upon
notice to the Trust, Fund Accountant may exhibit such records to any person in
any case where it is advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for
failure to do so, unless (in cases involving potential exposure only to civil
liability) the Trust has agreed to indemnify Fund Accountant against such
liability.
9. MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM AND EQUIPMENT; UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS.
Fund Accountant shall maintain adequate and reliable computer and other
equipment necessary or appropriate to carry out its obligations under this
Agreement. In the event of computer or other equipment failures beyond its
reasonable control, Fund Accountant shall use its best efforts to minimize
service interruptions. Fund Accountant represents and warrants that the
various procedures and systems which it has implemented with regard to
safekeeping from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft or any other cause
of the records, data, equipment, facilities and other property used in the
performance of its obligations hereunder are adequate and that it will make
such changes therein from time to time as are required for the secure
performance of its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Fund
Accountant assumes no responsibility hereunder, and shall not be liable for
any damage, loss of data, delay or any other loss whatsoever caused by events
beyond its reasonable control.
10. REPORTS.
Fund Accountant will furnish to the Trust and to its properly authorized
auditors, investment advisers, examiners, distributors, dealers, underwriters,
salesmen, insurance companies and others designated by the Trust in writing,
such reports and at such times as are prescribed pursuant to the terms and the
conditions of this Agreement to be provided or completed by Fund Accountant,
or as subsequently agreed upon by the parties pursuant to an amendment hereto.
The Trust agrees to examine each such report or copy promptly and will
promptly report or cause to be reported any errors or discrepancies therein.
11. RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP.
All computer programs and procedures developed to perform services
required to be provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement are the
property of Fund Accountant. All records and other data except such computer
programs and procedures are the exclusive property of the Trust and all such
other records and data will be furnished to the Trust in appropriate form as
soon as practicable after termination of this Agreement for any reason.
12. RETURN OF RECORDS.
Fund Accountant may at its option at any time, and shall promptly upon
the Trust's demand, turn over to the Trust and cease to retain Fund
Accountant's files, records and documents created and maintained by Fund
Accountant pursuant to this Agreement which are no longer needed by Fund
Accountant in the performance of its services or for its legal protection. If
not so turned over to the Trust, such documents and records will be retained
by Fund Accountant for six years from the year of creation. At the end of such
six-year period, such records and documents will be turned over to the Trust
unless the Trust authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and
documents.
13. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST.
The Trust certifies to Fund Accountant that: (1) as of the close of
business on each Conversion Date, each Fund that is in existence as of the
Conversion Date has authorized unlimited shares, and (2) this Agreement has
been duly authorized by the Trust and, when executed and delivered by the
Trust, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust,
enforceable against the Trust 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.
14. REPRESENTATIONS OF FUND ACCOUNTANT.
Fund Accountant represents and warrants that: (1) the various procedures
and systems which Fund Accountant has implemented with regard to safeguarding
from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft, or any other cause the
records, and other data of the Trust and Fund Accountant's records, data,
equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its
obligations hereunder are adequate and that it will make such changes therein
from time to time as are required for the secure performance of its
obligations hereunder, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by Fund
Accountant and, when executed and delivered by Fund Accountant, will
constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Fund Accountant,
enforceable against Fund Accountant 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.
15. INSURANCE.
Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust should any of its insurance
coverage be canceled or reduced. Such notification shall include the date of
change and the reasons therefor. Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust of
any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this
Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify
the Trust from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding
claims made by Fund Accountant under its insurance coverage.
16. INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY THE TRUST AND FUNDS.
The Trust has furnished to Fund Accountant the following:
(a) Copies of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and of any
amendments thereto, certified by the proper official of the
state in which such document has been filed.
(b) Copies of the following documents:
(i) The Trust's Bylaws and any amendments thereto; and
(ii) Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of
Trustees covering the approval of this Agreement,
authorization of a specified officer of the Trust to
execute and deliver this Agreement and authorization for
specified officers of the Trust to instruct Fund
Accountant thereunder.
(c) A list of all the officers of the Trust, together with specimen
signatures of those officers who are authorized to instruct
Fund Accountant in all matters.
(d) Two copies of the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information for each Fund.
17. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FUND ACCOUNTANT.
(a) Fund Accountant has furnished to the Trust the following:
(i) Fund Accountant's Articles of Incorporation; and
(ii) Fund Accountant's Bylaws and any amendments
thereto.
(b) Fund Accountant shall, upon request, furnish certified copies
of corporate actions covering the following matters:
(i) Approval of this Agreement, and authorization of a
specified officer of Fund Accountant to execute and
deliver this Agreement; and
(ii) Authorization of Fund Accountant to act as fund
accountant for the Trust and to provide accounting
services for the Trust.
(c) Insurance coverage information and systems backup procedures.
18. AMENDMENTS TO DOCUMENTS.
The Trust shall furnish Fund Accountant written copies of any amendments
to, or changes in, any of the items referred to in Section 16 hereof forthwith
upon such amendments or changes becoming effective. In addition, the Trust
agrees that no amendments will be made to the Prospectuses or Statements of
Additional Information of the Trust which might have the effect of changing
the procedures employed by Fund Accountant in providing the services agreed to
hereunder or which amendment might affect the duties of Fund Accountant
hereunder unless the Trust first obtains Fund Accountant's approval of such
amendments or changes.
19. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.
Except for the obligations of Fund Accountant set forth in Section 8
hereof, the Trust assumes full responsibility for the preparation, contents
and distribution of each prospectus of the Trust as to compliance with all
applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the 1940 Act and any other laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction. Fund Accountant shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any laws relating to the sale of the Trust's
Shares. The Trust represents and warrants that no Shares of the Trust will be
offered to the public until the Trust's registration statement under the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act has been declared or becomes effective.
20. NOTICES.
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by
Federal Express or similar delivery service, by facsimile or by registered or
certified mail to the party required to be served with such notice, at the
following address: if to Fund Accountant, to it at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, if to the Trust, to it at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other
address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other
party pursuant to this Section.
21. HEADINGS.
Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only
and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
22. ASSIGNMENT.
This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not be
assignable with respect to a Fund by either of the parties hereto except by
the specific written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be
binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
23. GOVERNING LAW AND MATTERS RELATING TO THE TRUST.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and its provisions shall be
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. It is
expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or
employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust property of
the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized
by the Trustees, and this Agreement has been signed and delivered by an
authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such
authorization by the Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer
shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any
liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of
the Trust as provided in the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST
By:/s/
Title:______________________________
BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC.
By:/s/
Title:______________________________
Dated: October 1, 1996
SCHEDULE A
TO THE FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC..
FEES
Fund Accountant shall be entitled to receive a fee from each Fund in
accordance with the following schedule:
$30,000 per fund portfolio
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC.
By:/s/ By:/s/
Title:_______________________________ Title:_______________________________