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EXHIBIT 9(a)
ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of _____________, 1995 by and between THE
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), and PFPC INC., a
Delaware corporation ("PFPC"), which is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of
PNC Bank Corp.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to retain PFPC to provide administration and
accounting services to its investment portfolios listed on Exhibit A as
attached hereto and made a part hereof, as such Exhibit A may be amended from
time to time (each, a "Portfolio"), and PFPC wishes to furnish such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS AGREEMENT:
(a) "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(b) "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(c) "Authorized Person" means any officer of the Fund and any
other person duly authorized by the Fund's Board of Directors to give Oral
Instructions and Written Instructions (as such terms are defined herein) on
behalf of the Fund and listed on
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the Authorized Persons Appendix attached hereto and made a part hereof or any
amendment thereto as may be received by PFPC. An Authorized Person's scope of
authority may be limited by the Fund by setting forth such limitation in the
Authorized Persons Appendix.
(d) "CEA" means the Commodities Exchange Act, as amended.
(e) "Oral Instructions" mean oral instructions received by
PFPC from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by PFPC to
be an Authorized Person.
(f) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(g) "Securities Laws" means the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
1940 Act and the CEA.
(h) "Shares" mean the shares of beneficial interest of
any series or class of the Fund.
(i) "Written Instructions" mean written instructions
signed by an Authorized Person and received by PFPC. The instructions may be
delivered by hand, mail, tested telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending
device.
2. APPOINTMENT. The Fund hereby appoints PFPC to provide
administration and accounting services to the each of the Portfolios, in
accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement. PFPC accepts such
appointment and agrees to furnish such services.
3. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Fund has provided or, where
applicable, will provide PFPC with the following:
(a) certified or authenticated copies of the resolutions
of the Fund's Board of Directors, approving
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the appointment of PFPC or its affiliates to provide
services to each Portfolio and approving this
Agreement;
(b) a copy of Fund's most recent effective registration
statement;
(c) a copy of each Portfolio's advisory agreement or
agreements;
(d) a copy of the distribution plan with respect to each
class of Shares representing an interest in a
Portfolio;
(e) a copy of any additional administration agreement
with respect to a Portfolio;
(f) a copy of any shareholder servicing agreement made in
respect of the Fund or a Portfolio; and
(f) copies (certified or authenticated, where applicable)
of any and all amendments or supplements to the
foregoing.
4. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS.
PFPC undertakes to comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Laws, and any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities
having jurisdiction with respect to the duties to be performed by PFPC
hereunder. Except as specifically set forth herein, PFPC assumes no
responsibility for such compliance by the Fund or any Portfolio.
5. INSTRUCTIONS.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, PFPC
shall act only upon Oral Instructions and/or Written Instructions.
(b) PFPC shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral
Instructions and Written Instructions it receives from an Authorized Person (or
from a person reasonably believed by PFPC to be an Authorized Person) pursuant
to this Agreement. PFPC may assume
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that any Oral Instructions or Written Instruction received hereunder is not in
any way inconsistent with the provisions of organizational documents or this
Agreement or of any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Fund's Board of
Directors or of the Fund's shareholders, unless and until PFPC receives Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions to the contrary.
(c) The Fund agrees to forward to PFPC Written
Instructions confirming Oral Instructions (except where such Oral Instructions
are given by PFPC or its affiliates) so that PFPC receives the Written
Instructions by the close of business on the same day that such Oral
Instructions are received. The fact that such confirming Written Instructions
are not received by PFPC shall in no way invalidate the transactions or
enforceability of the transactions authorized by the Oral Instructions. Where
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions reasonably appear to have been
received from an Authorized Person, PFPC shall incur no liability to the Fund in
acting upon such Oral Instructions or Written Instructions provided that PFPC's
actions comply with the other provisions of this Agreement.
6. RIGHT TO RECEIVE ADVICE.
(a) Advice of the Fund. If PFPC is in doubt as to any
action it should or should not take, PFPC may request directions or advice,
including Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, from the Fund.
(b) Advice of Counsel. If PFPC shall be in doubt as to
any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should
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not take, PFPC may request advice at its own cost from such counsel of its own
choosing (who may be counsel for the Fund, the Fund's investment adviser or
PFPC, at the option of PFPC).
(c) Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict
between directions, advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions PFPC
receives from the Fund pursuant to subsection (a) and the advice PFPC receives
from counsel pursuant to subsection (b), PFPC may rely upon and follow the
advice of counsel. In the event PFPC so relies on the advice of counsel, PFPC
remains liable for any action or omission on the part of PFPC which constitutes
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard by PFPC
of any duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement.
(d) Protection of PFPC. Subject to subsection (c), PFPC
shall be protected in any action it takes or does not take in reliance upon
directions, advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions it receives
from the Fund or from counsel pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) respectively
and which PFPC believes, in good faith, to be consistent with those directions,
advice and Oral Instructions or Written Instructions. Nothing in this section
shall be construed so as to impose an obligation upon PFPC (i) to seek such
directions, advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, or (ii) to act
in accordance with such directions, advice or Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions unless, under the terms of other provisions of this Agreement, the
same is a condition of PFPC's properly taking or not taking such action.
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Nothing in this subsection shall excuse PFPC when an action or omission on the
part of PFPC constitutes willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard by PFPC of any duties, obligations or responsibilities set
forth in this Agreement.
7. RECORDS; VISITS.
(a) The books and records pertaining to the Fund and the
Portfolios which are in the possession or under the control of PFPC shall be
the property of the Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and
maintained as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws,
rules and regulations. The Fund and Authorized Persons shall have access to
such books and records at all times during PFPC's normal business hours. Upon
the request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided
by PFPC to the Fund or to an Authorized Person, at the Fund's expense.
(b) PFPC shall keep the following records:
(i) all books and records with respect to each
Portfolio's books of account;
(ii) records of each Portfolio's securities
transactions;
(iii) all other books and records as PFPC is
required to maintain pursuant to Rule 31a-1
of the 1940 Act in connection with the
services provided hereunder.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY. PFPC agrees to keep confidential all records
of the Fund and information relating to the Fund and its prior, present and
potential shareholders, unless the release of such records or information is
otherwise consented to, in writing, by the Fund. The Fund agrees that such
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where there
is a
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reasonable likelihood that PFPC will be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings or when required by law to divulge such information or records to
duly constituted authorities.
9. LIAISON WITH ACCOUNTANTS. PFPC shall act as liaison with the
Fund's independent public accountants and shall provide account analyses,
fiscal year summaries, and other audit-related schedules with respect to each
Portfolio. PFPC shall take all reasonable action in the performance of its
duties under this Agreement to assure that the necessary information is made
available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion, as required
by the Fund.
10. DISASTER RECOVERY. PFPC shall enter into and shall maintain
in effect with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable
provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to the
extent appropriate equipment is available. In the event of equipment failures,
PFPC shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take reasonable steps to
minimize service interruptions. PFPC shall have no liability with respect to
the loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment failure, provided
such loss or interruption is not caused by PFPC's own willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations
under this Agreement.
11. COMPENSATION. As compensation for services rendered by PFPC
during the term of this Agreement, the Fund, on behalf of each Portfolio, will
pay to PFPC a fee or fees as may be agreed to in writing by the Fund and PFPC.
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12. INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund, on behalf of each Portfolio,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless PFPC and its affiliates from all taxes,
charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without
limitation, liabilities arising under the Securities Laws and any state or
foreign securities and blue sky laws, and amendments thereto), and expenses,
including (without limitation) attorneys' fees and disbursements arising
directly or indirectly from any action or omission to act which PFPC takes (i)
at the request or on the direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Fund
or (ii) upon Oral Instructions or Written Instructions. Neither PFPC, nor any
of its affiliates', shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses
incident to such liability) arising out of PFPC's or its affiliates' own
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
duties and obligations under this Agreement. Any amounts payable by the Fund
hereunder shall be satisfied only against the relevant Portfolio's assets and
not against the assets of any other investment portfolio of the Fund.
13. RESPONSIBILITY OF PFPC.
(a) PFPC shall be under no duty to take any action on
behalf of the Fund or any Portfolio except as specifically set forth herein or
as may be specifically agreed to by PFPC in writing. PFPC shall be obligated to
exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties hereunder, to act
in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in
performing services provided for under this Agreement. PFPC shall be liable
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for any damages arising out of PFPC's failure to perform its duties under this
Agreement to the extent such damages arise out of PFPC's willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such duties.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or
of any other provision of this Agreement, (i) PFPC shall not be liable for
losses beyond its control, provided that PFPC has acted in accordance with the
standard of care set forth above; and (ii) PFPC shall not be liable for (A) the
validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any Oral Instructions or
Written Instruction, notice or other instrument which conforms to the applicable
requirements of this Agreement, and which PFPC reasonably believes to be
genuine; or (B) subject to Section 10, delays or errors or loss of data
occurring by reason of circumstances beyond PFPC's control, including acts of
civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire,
flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of the
mails, transportation, communication or power supply.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither PFPC nor its affiliates shall be liable to the Fund or to any
Portfolio for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages which
the Fund or any Portfolio may incur or suffer by or as a consequence of PFPC's
or any affiliates' performance of the services provided hereunder, whether or
not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by PFPC or its
affiliates.
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14. DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.
PFPC will perform the following accounting services with respect to
each Portfolio on a continuous basis:
(i) Journalize investment, capital share and
income and expense activities;
(ii) Verify investment buy/sell trade tickets when
received from the investment adviser for a
Portfolio (the "Adviser") and transmit trades
to the Fund's custodian (the "Custodian") for
proper settlement;
(iii) Maintain individual ledgers for investment
securities;
(iv) Maintain historical tax lots for each
security;
(v) Reconcile cash and investment balances of the
Fund with the Custodian, and provide the
Adviser with the beginning cash balance
available for investment purposes;
(vi) Update the cash availability throughout the
day as required by the Adviser;
(vii) Post to and prepare the Statement of Assets
and Liabilities and the Statement of
Operations;
(viii) Calculate various contractual expenses
(e.g., advisory and custody fees);
(ix) Monitor the expense accruals and notify
an officer of the Fund of any proposed
adjustments;
(x) Control all disbursements and authorize such
disbursements upon Written Instructions;
(xi) Calculate capital gains and losses;
(xii) Determine net income;
(xiii) Obtain security market quotes from
independent pricing services approved by the
Adviser, or if such quotes are unavailable,
then obtain such prices from the Adviser, and
in either case calculate the market value of
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each Portfolio's Investments;
(xiv) Transmit or mail a copy of the daily
portfolio valuation to the Adviser;
(xv) Compute net asset value;
(xvi) As appropriate, compute yields, total return,
expense ratios, portfolio turnover rate, and,
if required, portfolio average
dollar-weighted maturity; and
(xvii) Prepare a monthly financial statement, which
will include the following items:
Schedule of Investments
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Statement of Operations
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Cash Statement
Schedule of Capital Gains and Losses.
15. DESCRIPTION OF ADMINISTRATION SERVICES ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.
PFPC will perform the following administration services with
respect to each Portfolio:
(i) Prepare quarterly broker security
transactions summaries;
(ii) Prepare monthly security transaction
listings;
(iii) Supply various normal and customary Portfolio
and Fund statistical data as requested on an
ongoing basis;
(iv) Prepare for execution and file the Fund's
Federal and state tax returns;
(v) Prepare and file the Fund's Semi-Annual
Reports with the SEC on Form N-SAR;
(vi) Prepare and file with the SEC the Fund's
annual, semi-annual, and quarterly
shareholder reports;
(vii) Assist in the preparation of registration
statements and other filings relating to the
registration of Shares;
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(viii) Monitor each Portfolio's status as a
regulated investment company under
Sub-chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended;
(ix) Coordinate contractual relationships and
communications between the Fund and its
contractual service providers;
(x) Monitor the Fund's compliance with the
amounts and conditions of each state
qualification; and
(xi) Assist in obtaining and monitoring the Fund's
fidelity bond and assist in obtaining
directors' and officers' liability insurance.
16. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall continue until
terminated by either party on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the
other party.
17. NOTICES. All notices and other communications, including
Written Instructions, shall be in writing or by confirming telegram, cable,
telex or facsimile sending device. If notice is sent by confirming telegram,
cable, telex or facsimile sending device, it shall be deemed to have been given
immediately. If notice is sent by first-class mail, it shall be deemed to have
been given three days after it was mailed. If notice is sent by messenger, it
shall be deemed to have been given on the day it was delivered. Notices shall
be addressed (a) if to PFPC, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇; (b) if to the Fund, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; or (c) if to neither of the foregoing, at such other address as
shall have been provided by like notice to the sender of any such notice or
other communication by the other party.
18. AMENDMENTS. This Agreement, or any term thereof, may be
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changed or waived only by written amendment, signed by the party against whom
enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
19. DELEGATION; ASSIGNMENT. PFPC may assign its rights and
delegate its duties hereunder to any wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiary
of PNC Bank or PNC Bank Corp., provided that (i) PFPC gives the Fund thirty
(30) days' prior written notice; (ii) the delegate (or assignee) agrees with
PFPC and the Fund to comply with all relevant provisions of the 1940 Act; and
(iii) PFPC and such delegate (or assignee) promptly provide such information as
the Fund may request, and respond to such questions as the Fund may ask,
relative to the delegation (or assignment), including (without limitation) the
capabilities of the delegate (or assignee).
20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
21. FURTHER ACTIONS. Each party agrees to perform such further
acts and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the
purposes hereof.
22. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof, provided
that the parties may embody in one or more separate documents their agreement,
if any, with respect to delegated duties and Oral Instructions.
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(b) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included
for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be
a contract made in Delaware and governed by Delaware law, without regard to its
principles of conflicts of law.
(d) Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or
otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
(f) Facsimile Signatures. The facsimile signature of any
party to this Agreement shall constitute the valid and binding execution hereof
by such party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed as of the day and year first above written.
PFPC INC.
By:
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Title:
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THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, INC.
By:
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Title:Executive Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
THIS EXHIBIT A, dated as of ____________________, 1995, is the Exhibit
A to that certain Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated as of
_________________, 1995 between PFPC Inc. and The ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds, Inc.
PORTFOLIOS
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Growth Fund
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AUTHORIZED PERSONS APPENDIX
NAME (TYPE) SIGNATURE
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________
_____________________ _____________________
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