EXHIBIT 99.B9(a)
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 29th day of April, 1996, by and between
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and SEI Financial
Management Corporation (the "Administrator"), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end diversified management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), consisting of several series of shares of Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires the Administrator to provide, and the
Administrator is willing to provide, management and administrative services to
such portfolios of the Trust as the Trust and the Administrator may agree on
("Portfolios") and as listed on the schedules attached hereto ("Schedules") and
made a part of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
hereinafter contained, the Trust and the Administrator hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. Retention of the Administrator. The Trust hereby retains the
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Administrator to act as the administrator of the Portfolios and to furnish the
Portfolios with the management and administrative services as set forth in
Article 2 below. The Administrator hereby accepts such employment to perform the
duties set forth below.
The Administrator shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an
independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized,
shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way and shall
not be deemed an agent of the Trust.
ARTICLE 2. Administrative and Accounting Services. The Administrator
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shall perform or supervise the performance by others of other administrative
services in connection with the operations of the Portfolios, and, on behalf of
the Trust, will investigate, assist in the selection of and conduct relations
with custodians, depositories, accountants, legal counsel, underwriters, brokers
and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and persons in any other
capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable for the Portfolios' operations. The
Administrator shall provide the Trustees of the Trust with such reports
regarding investment performance and compliance with investment policies and
applicable laws, rules and regulations as they may reasonably request but shall
have no responsibility for supervising the performance by any investment adviser
or sub-adviser of its responsibilities. The Administrator may appoint a sub-
administrator to perform certain of the services to be performed by the
Administrator hereunder.
The Administrator shall provide the Trust with administrative services,
regulatory reporting, fund accounting and related portfolio accounting services,
all necessary office space, equipment, personnel, compensation and facilities
(including facilities for Shareholders' and Trustees' meetings) for handling the
affairs of the Portfolios and such other services as the Trustees may, from time
to time, reasonably request and the Administrator shall, from time to time,
reasonably determine to be necessary to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. In addition, at the request of the Trust's
Board of Trustees (the "Trustees"), the Administrator shall make reports to the
Trustees concerning the performance of its obligations hereunder.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall:
(A) calculate contractual Trust expenses and control all disbursements
for the Trust, and as appropriate compute the Trust's yields, total
return, expense ratios, portfolio turnover rate and, if required,
portfolio average dollar-weighed maturity;
(B) assist Trust counsel with the preparation of prospectuses,
statements of additional information, registration statements, and
proxy materials;
(C) prepare such reports, applications and documents (including
reports regarding the sale and redemption of Shares as may be required
in order to comply with Federal and state securities law) as may be
necessary or desirable to register the Trust's shares with state
securities authorities, monitor sale of Trust shares for compliance
with state securities laws, and file with the appropriate state
securities authorities the registration statements and reports for the
Trust and the Trust's shares and all amendments thereto, as may be
necessary or convenient to register and keep effective the Trust and
the Trust's shares with state securities authorities to enable the
Trust to make a continuous offering of its shares;
(D) develop and prepare communications to shareholders, including
the annual report to shareholders, coordinate mailing prospectuses,
notices, proxy statements, proxies and other reports to Trust
shareholders, and supervise and facilitate the solicitation of proxies
solicited by the Trust for all shareholder meetings, including
tabulation process for shareholder meetings;
(E) coordinate with Trust counsel the preparation and negotiation
of, and administer contracts on behalf of the Trust with, among
others, the Trust's investment adviser, distributor, custodian, and
transfer agent;
(F) maintain the Trust's general ledger and prepare the Trust's
financial statements, including expense accruals and payments,
determine the net asset value of the Trust's assets and of the Trust's
shares, and supervise the Trust's transfer agent with respect to the
payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders;
(G) calculate performance data of the Trust and its portfolios
for dissemination to information services covering the investment
company industry;
(H) coordinate and supervise the preparation and filing of the
Trust's tax returns;
(I) examine and review the operations and performance of the
various organizations providing services to the Trust or any Portfolio
of the Trust, including, without limitation,
the Trust's investment adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer
agent, outside legal counsel and independent public accountants, and
at the request of the Trustees, report to the Trustees on the
performance of organizations;
(J) assist with the layout and printing of publicly disseminated
prospectuses and assist with and coordinate layout and printing of the
Trust's semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders;
(K) provide internal legal and administrative services as
requested by the Trust from time to time;
(L) assist with the design, development, and operation of the
Trust, including new portfolio and class investment objectives,
policies and structure;
(M) provide individuals acceptable to the Trustees for
nomination, appointment, or election as officers of the Trust, who
will be responsible for the management of certain of the Trust's
affairs as determined by the Trustees;
(N) advise the Trust and its Trustees on matters concerning the
Trust and its affairs;
(O) obtain and keep in effect fidelity bonds and directors and
officers/errors and omissions insurance policies for the Trust in
accordance with the requirements of Rules 17g-1 and 17d-1(7) under the
1940 Act as such bonds and policies are approved by the Trust's Board
of Trustees;
(P) monitor and advise the Trust and its Portfolios on their
registered investment company status under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended;
(Q) perform all administrative services and functions of the
Trust and each Portfolio to the extent administrative services and
functions are not provided to the Trust or such Portfolio pursuant to
the Trust's or such Portfolio's investment advisory agreement,
distribution agreement, custodian agreement and transfer agent
agreement;
(R) furnish advice and recommendations with respect to other
aspects of the business and affairs of the Portfolios as the Trust and
the Administrator shall determine desirable; and
(S) prepare and file with the SEC the semi-annual report for the
Trust on Form N-SAR and all required notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2.
Also, the Administrator will perform other services for the Trust as agreed from
time to time, including, but not limited to performing internal audit
examinations; mailing the annual reports of the Portfolios; preparing an annual
list of shareholders; and mailing notices of shareholders' meetings, proxies and
proxy statements, for all of which the Trust will pay the Administrator's out-
of-pocket expenses.
ARTICLE 3. Allocation of Charges and Expenses.
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(A) The Administrator. The Administrator shall furnish at its own
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expense the executive, supervisory and clerical personnel necessary to perform
its obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall also provide the
items which it is obligated to provide under this Agreement, and shall pay all
compensation, if any, of officers of the Trust as well as all Trustees of the
Trust who are affiliated persons of the Administrator or any affiliated
corporation of the Administrator; provided, however, that unless otherwise
specifically provided, the Administrator shall not be obligated to pay the
compensation of any employee of the Trust retained by the Trustees of the Trust
to perform services on behalf of the Trust.
(B) The Trust. The Trust assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid
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all other expenses of the Trust not otherwise allocated herein, including,
without limitation, organizational costs, taxes, expenses for legal and auditing
services, the expenses of preparing (including typesetting), printing and
mailing reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy
solicitation material and notices to existing Shareholders, all expenses
incurred in connection with issuing and redeeming Shares, the costs of pricing
services, the costs of custodial services, the cost of initial and ongoing
registration of the Shares under Federal and state securities laws, fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the
Administrator or the investment adviser to the Trust or any affiliated
corporation of the Administrator or the investment Adviser, the costs of
Trustees' meetings, insurance, interest, brokerage costs, litigation and other
extraordinary or nonrecurring expenses, and all fees and charges of investment
advisers to the Trust.
ARTICLE 4. Compensation of the Administrator.
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(A) Administration Fee. For the services to be rendered, the
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facilities furnished and the expenses assumed by the Administrator pursuant to
this Agreement, the Trust shall pay to the Administrator compensation at an
annual rate specified in the Schedules. Such compensation shall be calculated
and accrued daily, and paid to the Administrator monthly. The Trust shall also
reimburse the Administrator for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including
the travel and lodging expenses incurred by its officers and employees in
connection with attendance at meetings of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a
month or terminates before the last day of a month, the Administrator's
compensation for that part of the month in which this Agreement is in effect
shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the fees as set
forth above. Payment of the Administrator's compensation for the preceding month
shall be made promptly.
(B) Compensation from Transactions. The Trust hereby authorizes any
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entity or person associated with the Administrator which is a member of a
national securities exchange to effect any transaction on the exchange for the
account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11 (a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby
consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance
with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
(C) Survival of Compensation Rates. All rights of compensation under
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this Agreement for
services performed as of the termination date shall survive the termination of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5. Limitation of Liability of the Administrator. The
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duties of the Administrator shall be confined to those expressly set forth
herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the
Administrator hereunder. The Administrator 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 gross 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
Article 5, the term "Administrator" shall include directors, officers, employees
and other agents of the Administrator as well as that corporation itself.)
So long as the Administrator, or its agents, acts in good faith and
with due diligence and without negligence, the Trust assumes full responsibility
and shall indemnify the Administrator 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 said
administration, transfer agency, and dividend disbursing relationships to the
Trust or any other service rendered to the Trust hereunder. The indemnity and
defense provisions set forth herein shall indefinitely survive the termination
of this Agreement.
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 provision contained herein shall apply, however, it is
understood that if in any case the Trust may be asked to indemnify or hold the
Administrator harmless, the Trust shall be fully and promptly advised of all
pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further
understood that the Administrator will use all reasonable care to identify and
notify the Trust promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears
likely to present the probability of such a claim for indemnification against
the Trust, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect the rights
hereunder.
The Trust 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 Trust elects to assume the defense
of any such claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust
and satisfactory to the Administrator, whose approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event that the Trust elects to assume the defense of any suit
and retain counsel, the Administrator shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it. If the Trust does not elect to assume the
defense of a suit, it will reimburse the Administrator for the reasonable fees
and expenses of any counsel retained by the Administrator.
The Administrator may apply to the Trust at any time for instructions
and may consult counsel for the Trust or its own counsel and with accountants
and other experts with respect to any matter arising in connection with the
Administrator's duties, and the Administrator 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, the Administrator 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. Nor shall the Administrator be held to have
notice of any change of authority of any officers, employee or agent of the
Trust until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.
ARTICLE 6. Activities of the Administrator. The services of
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the Administrator rendered to the Trust are not to be deemed to be exclusive.
The Administrator is free to render such services to others and to have other
businesses and interests. It is understood that Trustees, officers, employees
and Shareholders of the Trust are or may be or become interested in the
Administrator, as directors, officers, employees and shareholders or otherwise
and that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Administrator
and its counsel are or may be or become similarly interested in the Trust, and
that the Administrator may be or become interested in the Trust as a Shareholder
or otherwise.
ARTICLE 7. Confidentiality. The Administrator agrees on
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behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially all records and other
information relative to the Trust and its prior, present or potential
Shareholders and relative to the Adviser and its prior, present or potential
customers, except, after prior notification to and approval in writing by the
Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld
where the Administrator may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings
for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
ARTICLE 8. Equipment Failures. In the event of equipment
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failures beyond the Administrator's control, the Administrator shall, at no
additional expense to the Trust, take reasonable steps to minimize service
interruptions but shall have no liability with respect thereto. The
Administrator shall develop and maintain a plan for recovery from equipment
failures which may include contractual arrangements with appropriate parties
making reasonable provision for emergency use of electronic data processing
equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.
ARTICLE 9. Compliance With Governmental Rules and
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Regulations. The Administrator undertakes to comply with all applicable
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requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and any laws, rules and
regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction with respect to the
duties to be performed by the Administrator hereunder.
ARTICLE 10. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This
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Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth in the Schedules and
shall remain in effect for the initial term of the Agreement (the "Initial
Term") and each renewal term thereof (each, a "Renewal Term"), each as set forth
in the Schedules, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Article 10. This Agreement may be terminated only: (a) by the mutual written
agreement of the parties; (b) by either party hereto on 90 days' written notice,
as of the end of the Initial Term or the end of any Renewal Term; (c) by either
party hereto on such date as is specified in written notice given by the
terminating party, in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by the
other party, provided the terminating party has notified the other party of such
breach at least 45 days prior to the specified date of termination and the
breaching party has not remedied such breach by the specified date; (d)
effective upon the liquidation of the Administrator; or (e) as to any Portfolio
or the Trust, effective upon the liquidation of such Portfolio or the Trust, as
the case may be. For purposes of this Article 10, the term "liquidation" shall
mean a
transaction in which the assets of the Administrator, the Trust or a Portfolio
are sold or otherwise disposed of and proceeds therefrom are distributed in cash
to the shareholders in complete liquidation of the interests of such
shareholders in the entity.
This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Administrator, without
the prior written consent of the Trust, except to an entity that is controlled
by, or under common control, with, the Administrator.
ARTICLE 11. Amendments. This Agreement or any part hereof may be
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changed or waived only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against
which enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
ARTICLE 12. Certain Records. The Administrator shall maintain
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customary records in connection with its duties as specified in this Agreement.
Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to Rules 31a-1 and
31a-2 under the 1940 Act which are prepared or maintained by the Administrator
on behalf of the Trust shall be prepared and maintained at the expense of the
Administrator, but shall be the property of the Trust and will be made available
to or surrendered promptly to the Trust on request.
In case of any request or demand for the inspection of such records by
another party, the Administrator shall notify the Trust and follow the Trust's
instructions as to permitting or refusing such inspection; provided that the
Administrator 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 the Administrator against such liability.
ARTICLE 13. Definitions of Certain Terms. The terms "interested
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person" and "affiliated person," when used in this Agreement, shall have the
respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
ARTICLE 14. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be given by
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either party to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving notice to the
other party at the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving
notice: if to the Trust, at c/o ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, General Counsel, SEI Financial
Management Corporation, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇; and if to the
Administrator at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
ARTICLE 15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in
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accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with
the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
ARTICLE 16. Multiple Originals. This Agreement may be executed in two
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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.
ARTICLE 17. Limitation of Liability. The Administrator is hereby
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expressly put on notice of the limitation of liability as set forth in Article
XI of the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations pursuant
to this Agreement of a particular Portfolio and of the Trust with respect to
that Portfolio shall be limited solely to the assets of that Portfolio, and the
Administrator shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from any other
Portfolio, the shareholders of any Portfolio, the Trustees, officers, employees
or agents of the Trust, or any of them.
ARTICLE 18. Binding Agreement. This Agreement, and the rights and
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obligations of the parties and the Portfolios hereunder, shall be binding on,
and inure to the benefit of, the parties and the Portfolios and the respective
successors and assigns of each of them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered
this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Attest: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
SEI FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Attest: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
SCHEDULE A
DATED NOVEMBER 15, 1996
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TO THE ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
DATED APRIL 28, 1996
BETWEEN
▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
AND
SEI FUND RESOURCES
Portfolios: This Agreement shall apply to all Portfolios of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds,
either now in existence or in the future created. The following
is a listing of the current portfolios of the Trust,
(collectively, the "Portfolios"):
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Growth Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Fixed Income Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Small Cap Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Midcap Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ultra Large Cap Fund
Fees: Pursuant to Article 4, Section A, the Trust shall pay the
Administrator compensation for services rendered to the
Portfolios at an annual rate, which is calculated daily and paid
monthly according to the following schedule:
Fee (on average annual assets) Assets in Fund
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.12% to $75 Million
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.10% Next $75 Million
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.09% Next $150 Million
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.08% Next $300 Million
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.075% Over $600 Million
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The annual minimum fee for each Portfolio will be $75,000, payable
monthly. For new portfolios the minimum fee will be phased in over a two year
period (25% within 6 months, 50% within 12 months, 75% within 18 months, 100%
within 24 months).
Term: This Agreement shall become effective on the date of
coversion of assets (from the Advisers' Inner Circle to the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust), and shall remain in effect for an Initial Term of
three (3) years from such date and, thereafter, for successive
Renewal Terms of two (2) years each, unless and until this
Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of
Article 10 hereof.