EXHIBIT 9(b)(1)
REMOTE ACCESS
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AND
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RELATED SERVICES AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT dated as December 23, 1994 between each registered investment
company listed on the signature pages hereof, either for itself or, with respect
to each such company that is a series investment company, on behalf of each of
the series or class named on the signature pages hereof (the "Fund") and THE
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES GROUP, INC. ("TSSG"), a Massachusetts corporation with
principal offices at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
W I T N E S S E T H
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That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth,
the Fund and TSSG agree as follows:
1. Appointment of TSSG. The Fund appoints TSSG as servicing agent to provide
and support remote terminal access through dedicated transmission lines to
its computerized data processing record keeping system for Fund shareholder
accounting more fully described on the attached Schedule A (the "TSSG
System") installed on TSSG computer hardware and using TSSG software ("TSSG
Facilities") to provide and support remote terminal access to the TSSG
System and the TSSG Facilities for the maintenance of Fund shareholder
records, processing of information and generation of information with
respect thereto. TSSG hereby accepts such appointment for the compensation
described below.
2. Oral and Written Instructions. "Written Instructions" shall mean a written
communication signed by a person reasonably believed by TSSG to be a person
named on the list of authorized persons as it may be amended by amendment
provided by the Fund to TSSG from time to time ("Schedule B"). "Oral
Instructions" shall mean instructions, other than Written Instructions,
actually received by TSSG from a person reasonably believed by TSSG to be
an Authorized Person listed on Schedule B. Written communication shall
include manually executed originals and authorized electronic
transmissions, including telefacsimile of a manually executed original or
other process.
3. Compensation.
(a) The Fund will compensate TSSG for the performance of its obligations
hereunder in accordance with the Fee Schedule attached hereto as
Schedule C. Such fees may be adjusted from time to time by attaching
to or substituting for Schedule C a revised Fee Schedule, dated and
signed by an authorized officer of each party hereto.
(b) In addition to the fees payable pursuant to Schedule C, the Fund will
pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by TSSG in performing its
duties hereunder. Out-of-pocket expenses shall include the items
specified in the written schedule of out-of-pocket charges attached
hereto as Schedule D. Upon written approval of the Fund, Schedule D
may be modified by TSSG. The Fund agrees to approve all reasonable
changes in Schedule D. Unscheduled out-of-pocket expenses shall be
limited to those out-of-pocket expenses directly related to TSSG's
performance of its obligations hereunder.
(c) TSSG will provide an invoice as soon as practicable after the end of
each calendar month detailed in accordance with Schedule C and
Schedule D. The Fund will pay to TSSG the amount so billed within
fifteen (15) days after the Fund's receipt of the invoice.
4. Duties of TSSG.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Fund hereby agrees to
use or employ the TSSG System and the TSSG Facilities to maintain
certain Fund shareholder records and generate output with respect to
the Fund's shareholders, and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, TSSG will provide the use of the TSSG System and the TSSG
Facilities to maintain Fund shareholder records and generate such
output with respect to the Fund's shareholders.
(b) TSSG agrees to provide to the Fund at its facility located at Eleven
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or at such other
location as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by TSSG and the
Fund (the "Fund Facility") remote access to the use of information
processing capabilities of the TSSG System as it may be modified from
time to time by TSSG.
5. Changes and Modifications.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, TSSG will make available for Fund
use, without additional costs, all modifications and improvements to
the TSSG System (excluding those modifications and improvements TSSG
views as additional products and/or those developed exclusively for
other TSSG clients) made in the ordinary course of business. In
addition, TSSG will use its best efforts to make reasonable changes to
the TSSG System requested by the Fund, subject to payment of
additional fees as mutually agreed upon in writing and as reflected in
Schedule C.
(b) TSSG shall have the right, at any time, and from time to time, to
alter and modify any systems, programs, procedures or facilities used
or employed in performing its duties and obligations hereunder (a
"System Modification"), provided that no
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System Modification shall, without the consent of the Fund, materially
adversely change or affect the operations and procedures of the Fund
in using or employing the TSSG System or the TSSG Facilities
hereunder. TSSG will use its best efforts to notify the Fund in
writing at least five business days prior to implementing any System
Modification which impacts or effects AFS' day to day operations, and
in any event by 8 a.m. CST the following business day.
(c) TSSG agrees to make any System Modifications necessary to meet
federal, state or local government or self-regulatory organization
requirements ("Regulatory Adherence Enhancements") in a timely
fashion. TSSG agrees to advise the Fund promptly upon notification of
any change in or receipt of any information or advice concerning any
change in the requirements of any federal, state, local or
self-regulatory organization which might require such System
Modifications. The Fund shall obtain any additional software required
to comply with such changes in federal, state, and local government or
self regulatory organization requirements. Regulatory Adherence
Enhancements shall be limited to technically and commercially
practical System modifications which are within the scope of the
functions, capabilities and any database of the TSSG System. TSSG will
provide Regulatory Adherence Enhancements only after final
specification, agreed upon by TSSG, the Fund and affected third
parties, have been established and delivered to TSSG.
(d) During the term of this Agreement TSSG shall expend no less than
$1,000,000 (one million dollars) per calendar year for the enhancement
and maintenance of TSSG's recordkeeping and associated system that are
utilized by TSSG to provide services to the Fund under this Agreement
(or a successor Remote Service Agreement). At least once each calendar
year, TSSG shall provide the Fund with a schedule of the enhancements
planned by the TSSG for the succeeding 12 month period.
6. Duties of the Fund.
(a) The Fund will transmit all information and data required by TSSG
hereunder to the TSSG Facilities in the format and form specified by
TSSG, so that the output produced by the Fund shall be complete and
accurate when it is generated by the TSSG System and the TSSG
Facilities. The Fund shall be responsible and liable for the costs and
expenses of regenerating any output if the Fund provides nonconforming
or erroneous data or shall have failed to transmit any such data or
information or verify any such data and information when it is
generated by the TSSG System and the TSSG Facilities.
(b) In the event the Fund shall erroneously transmit information or shall
transmit incorrect information or data to the TSSG System or the TSSG
Facilities, the Fund
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shall correct such information and data and retransmit the same to the
TSSG System or to the TSSG Facilities. Upon consent of the Fund, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld, TSSG shall take the necessary
steps at Fund expense to correct any files affected by the original
incorrect transmission.
(c) In the event the TSSG System malfunctions or a TSSG programming error
(other than programming changes made pursuant to paragraph 5(a)
above), causes an error or mistake in any of the output generated by
the TSSG System under the terms of this Agreement, TSSG will, at its
expense, correct and retransmit such output so long as the Fund has
notified TSSG of such error or mistake within five (5) business days
of its discovery and the data used to generate such output is
available as set forth in Schedule E attached hereto.
If such data is available as set forth in Schedule E, the Fund shall
take reasonable necessary steps to manually correct any records due to
a TSSG system malfunction or programming error that TSSG is unable to
correct systematically and the parties shall mutually agree upon the
allocation of expenses related to such manual processing.
7. System Access and Training.
(a) TSSG shall provide the Fund on-line access as provided for and set
forth in the attached Schedule F, and agrees to meet the performance
standards set forth therein. Additional access to the TSSG System may
be arranged by mutual agreement of the parties.
(b) The Fund will reimburse TSSG for any reasonable costs and expenses
incurred for training hereunder. All travel and other out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by Fund personnel in connection with and during the
training periods shall be borne by the Fund.
8. Indemnification. TSSG shall not be responsible for and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold TSSG harmless from and against any and all claims,
costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), losses, damages,
charges, payments and liabilities of any sort or kind which may be asserted
against TSSG or for which TSSG may be held to be liable (a "Claim")
arising out of or attributable to any of the following:
(a) Any actions of TSSG required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement
unless such Claim resulted from a negligent act or omission to act or
bad faith by TSSG in the performance of its duties hereunder.
(b) The Fund's failure to use and employ the TSSG System and the TSSG
Facilities in accordance with the procedures set forth in any on-line
documentation made
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available to the Fund, the Fund's failure to utilize the control
procedures set forth and described in the on-line user documentation,
or the Fund's failure to verify promptly reports or output received
through use of the TSSG System and the TSSG Facilities.
(c) The Fund's errors and mistakes in the use of the TSSG System, TSSG
Facilities and control procedures.
(d) TSSG's reasonable reliance on, or reasonable use of information, data,
records and documents received by TSSG from the Fund in the
performance of TSSG's duties and obligations hereunder.
(e) The reliance on, or the implementation of, any Written or Oral
Instructions or any other instructions or requests of the Fund.
(f) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or any Claim which arises out of the Fund's negligence or
misconduct or the breach of any representation or warranty of the Fund
made herein.
(g) Unavailability of communications or utilities facilities or other
equipment failures provided TSSG has maintained such equipment
appropriately, Acts of God, acts of the public enemy,
governmentally-mandated priorities in allocating its services, labor
disputes, fires, floods, strikes, riots or war or other causes beyond
its control.
9. Standard of Care.
(a) TSSG shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best
efforts within commercially reasonable standards to insure the
accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes
no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to
errors unless said errors are caused by its negligence, bad faith, or
willful misconduct or that of its employees.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 9(a) or anything else contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, TSSG's liability hereunder shall,
in no event exceed four million dollars ($4,000,000.00).
The parties agree to review the limitation of liability provision set
forth in this Section 9(b) on an annual basis.
10. Instructions. TSSG may apply at any time to a person listed as an
Authorized Person identified on Schedule B for instructions with respect to
any matter arising in connection with this Agreement. TSSG may also consult
with legal counsel for the Fund or, at
5
TSSG's expense, its own legal counsel with respect to actions to be taken
hereunder. TSSG shall not be liable for, and shall be indemnified by the
Fund against, any Claim arising from any action taken or omitted to be
taken by TSSG in good faith in reliance upon such instruction from the
Fund or upon the advice of such legal counsel.
11. Consequential Damages. In no event and under no circumstances shall either
party under this Agreement be liable to the other party for consequential
or indirect loss of profits, reputation or business or any other special
damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any act or failure to
act hereunder.
12. Covenants of TSSG.
(a) TSSG shall maintain the appropriate computer files of all required
information and data transmitted to the TSSG Facilities by the Fund,
provided, however, that TSSG shall not be responsible or liable for
any damage, alterations, modifications thereto or failure to maintain
the same if the Fund made, or TSSG made at the Fund's request, such
changes, alterations or modifications or if the Fund causes the
failure. It is expressly understood that all such shareholder records
transmitted by the Fund and maintained by TSSG remain the exclusive
property of the Fund.
(b) All information furnished by the Fund to TSSG is confidential and TSSG
agrees that it shall not disclose such information to any third party
except pursuant to Written or Oral Instructions received from the Fund
or to the extent that TSSG is required by law to make such disclosure.
13. Covenants of the Fund. The Fund shall utilize and employ all reasonable
control procedures available under the TSSG System of which the Fund may be
advised. The Fund will promptly advise TSSG of any errors or mistakes in
the data or information transmitted to the TSSG Facilities or in the
records maintained by TSSG or output generated hereunder. The Fund will
verify the accuracy of all output it receives consistent with industry
custom and practice by utilizing proper auditing procedures.
All information furnished to or obtained by the Fund pertaining to the TSSG
Facilities, the TSSG System, or TSSG procedures, data bases and programs is
confidential and proprietary to TSSG. The Fund shall not disclose such
information to any third party except to the extent that the Fund is
required by law to make such disclosures.
14. Term and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth
above and shall continue in effect through December 31, 1997 ("Initial
Term").
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(b) Unless it is the intention of either party for this Agreement to
terminate upon the expiration of the Initial Term, within six (6)
months prior to the end of the Initial Term but no later than such
date, AIM and TSSG will negotiate diligently and in good faith and
either (i) enter into an agreement extending the term of this
Agreement; or (ii) enter into a new agreement for TSSG to provide
remote services substantially similar to those contemplated hereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a party hereto is guilty of a
material failure to perform its duties and obligations hereunder
(a "Defaulting Party") the other party (the "Non-Defaulting Party")
may give written notice thereof to the Defaulting Party, and if such
material breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days
after such written notice is given, then the Non-Defaulting Party may
terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of
such termination to the Defaulting Party. If TSSG is the
Non-Defaulting Party, its termination of this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver of any other rights or remedies of TSSG with
respect to services performed prior to such termination or rights of
TSSG to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. In all cases,
termination by the Non-Defaulting Party shall not constitute a
waiver by the Non-Defaulting Party of any other rights it might have
under this Agreement or otherwise against the Defaulting Party.
15. Post-Termination Procedures. Upon termination for any reason by either
party to this Agreement TSSG shall promptly, at the Fund's expense, provide
immediate and full access to the Fund data files on magnetic tape in
machine readable form and shall cooperate with the Fund in its efforts to
transfer all such data files to another person chosen by the Fund. In
addition, TSSG agrees to return, at the expense of the terminating party,
all backup tapes and other storage media upon which Fund data is then
stored.
16. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended or modified by written
agreement executed by both parties.
17. Assignment. This Agreement and any interest hereunder shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective
successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns including the
successor entity in any merger or reorganization of the Funds. Except as
otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, neither Party may
assign or delegate this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
without the other Party's prior approval which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Upon prior notice to the Fund, TSSG may assign this Agreement to
(i) any person in connection with the merger or consolidation of TSSG into
such person, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of TSSG
to such person or (ii) any direct or indirect subsidiary of First Data
Corporation in connection with any corporate reorganization. Any attempt to
assign, delegate or otherwise transfer this Agreement in violation of this
Section will be voidable by the other party.
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18. Subcontracting. TSSG may subcontract to agents the services required to be
performed pursuant to this Agreement and the Schedules hereto, if any. The
appointment of any such agent shall not relieve TSSG of its
responsibilities hereunder.
19. Use of TSSG's Name. The Fund shall not use TSSG's name in any Prospectus,
Statement of Additional Information, Shareholders's Report, sales
literature or other material relating to the Fund without TSSG's prior
written approval unless such use is required by law or merely refers in
accurate terms to the services rendered hereunder. Any reference to TSSG
shall include a statement to the effect that it is an indirect, wholly
owned subsidiary of First Data Corporation.
20. Use of the Fund's Name. Except as provided herein, TSSG shall not use the
name of the Fund, its Advisor or material relating to any of them on any
documents or forms (other than internal documents) without the Fund's prior
written approval unless such use is required by law or merely refers in
accurate terms to the services rendered hereunder.
21. Security.
(a) TSSG will provide the Fund with a User Identifier (also known as
"User I.D.") and a User Password. TSSG will also assign the initial
Operator Password to each of the Fund's employees who are authorized
to access the TSSG System. The Operator Passwords may be changed at
any time in the discretion of the Fund without any notice to or
knowledge of TSSG by using procedures set forth in the user manual.
(b) The Fund agrees that it is responsible for selection, use and
protection of the confidentiality of passwords; however, TSSG may for
security reasons at any time and from time to time, upon seven days
written notice to the Fund (or immediately upon notice by telephone,
confirmed in writing, in the event of an emergency), deny access to
the TSSG System until one or more User I.D.s is changed by the Fund.
(c) TSSG will provide the Fund with online procedures enabling the Fund to
reset passwords, correct password violations and add/change/delete
User I.D.s within existing security profiles.
(d) TSSG will use its best efforts to ensure that the Fund's data files
which are input into the TSSG System will remain confidential and
protected from unauthorized access by third persons. Specifically,
TSSG will adhere to its normal security procedures for protection of
computer-stored files or programs from unauthorized access. It is
agreed that such procedures will be subject to review by the Fund and
audit by its independent accountants and that TSSG will take under
advisement
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recommendations of such independent accountants concerning changes to
such procedures.
(e) The Fund or duly authorized independent auditors will have the right
upon 5 business days' notice under this Agreement to perform on-site
audits of records and accounts directly pertaining to Fund shareholder
accounts serviced by TSSG facilities in accordance with reasonable
procedures and at reasonable frequencies.
(f) The parties agree that all tapes, books, user manuals, instructions,
records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other
party, the TSSG System and the Fund clients services by the Fund which
are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation of or carrying
out of this Agreement shall remain confidential except to the extent
required by applicable laws, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to
any other person and that all such tapes, books, reference manuals,
instructions, records, information and data in the possession of each
of the parties hereto shall be returned to the party from whom it was
obtained upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
(g) The Fund acknowledges that TSSG has proprietary rights in and to the
TSSG System and any other TSSG programs, data basis, supporting
documentation or procedures ("TSSG Protected Information") of which
the Fund or its employees or agents become aware as a result of the
Fund's access to the TSSG System or TSSG Facilities and that the TSSG
Protected Information constitutes confidential material and trade
secrets of TSSG. The Fund agrees to maintain the confidentiality of
the TSSG Protected Information. The Fund acknowledges that any
unauthorized use, misuse, disclosure or taking of TSSG Protected
Information which is confidential or which is a trade secret, whether
residing or existing internally or externally to a computer, computer
system or computer network, or the knowing and unauthorized accessing
or causing to be accessed of any computer, computer system or computer
network, may be subject to civil liabilities and criminal penalties
under applicable law. The Fund will advise all of its employees and
agents who have access to any TSSG Protected Information or to any
computer equipment capable of accessing TSSG Facilities of the
foregoing.
22. Additional Funds. In the event that additional funds, within the same family
as the Funds, are established ("Additional Funds") and such Additional Funds
desire to avail themselves of the benefits of and become a party to this
Agreement, the Additional Funds shall notify TSSG in writing, and if TSSG agrees
in writing, such Additional Funds shall become a party to this Agreement.
9
23. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or TSSG shall be
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it at
its office set forth below or at such other place as it may from time
to time designate in writing.
To: AIM Family of Funds
c/o ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
AIM Fund Services, Inc.
Eleven ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Secretary
with a copy to:
Fund Legal Department at the same address
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, VP and General Counsel
To: The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, President
with a copy to:
General Counsel at the same address
(b) Successors. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon
the parties hereto, and their respective successors upon the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided,
however, that this Agreement may not be assigned without the written
consent of the other party.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and
interpreted in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts without reference to the choice of the
law provisions thereof.
(d) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
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(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
of which together will constitute only one instrument.
(f) Captions. The captions of 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.
(g) Sole Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
(h) Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto agrees that the other
party would be irreparably damaged by breaches of this Agreement
relating to confidential or proprietary information and accordingly
each agrees that each of them is entitled, without bond or other
security, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement relating to such information.
(i) It is understood and agreed that all services performed hereunder by
TSSG shall be as an independent contractor and not as an employee,
joint venturer, or partner of the Fund. This Agreement is between the
Fund and TSSG, and there are no third party beneficiaries hereto.
(j) Limitation of Shareholder Liability. Notice is hereby given that the
Declaration of Trust of each Fund which is a Delaware business trust,
is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware, and this Agreement
was executed on behalf of each such Trust by a duly authorized officer
thereof acting as such and not individually. The obligations of this
Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or
Shareholders of any such Trust individually but are binding only upon
the assets and property of the respective portfolio of each such Trust
for the benefit of which the Trustees have caused this Agreement to be
executed.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
AIM EQUITY FUNDS, INC.
on behalf of the Retail Classes of its AIM Charter
Fund, AIM Constellation Fund, AIM ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Fund
and AIM Aggressive Growth Fund Portfolios
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------
Title: President
---------------
AIM FUNDS GROUP,
on behalf of the Class A and Class B Shares of its
AIM Balanced Fund, AIM Government Securities Fund,
AIM Growth Fund, AIM High Yield Fund, AIM Income
Fund, AIM Municipal Bond Fund, AIM Utilities Fund
and AIM Value Fund portfolios and on behalf of the
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares of its AIM
Money Market Fund Portfolio
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------
Title: President
---------------
AIM INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.,
on behalf of the Class A and Class B shares of its
AIM International Equity Fund, AIM Global
Aggressive Growth Fund, AIM Global Growth Fund and
AIM Global Income Fund Portfolios
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Title: President
------------------
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AIM INVESTMENT SECURITIES FUNDS,
on behalf of its AIM Adjustable Rate Government
Fund portfolio and the AIM Limited Maturity
Treasury Shares class of its Limited Maturity
Treasury Portfolio
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Title: President
------------------
AIM TAX-EXEMPT FUNDS, INC.,
on behalf of its AIM Tax-Exempt Cash Fund and AIM
Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of Connecticut portfolios and
the AIM Tax-Free Intermediate Shares class of its
Intermediate Portfolio
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Title: President
------------------
THE SHAREHOLDER SERVICES GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------
Title: EVP - COO
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SCHEDULE A
SYSTEM FEATURES AND CAPABILITIES
The FSR System consists of computer hardware, operating system software and
application software which contains functions as defined below. The operating
environment configuration consists of IBM-compatible mainframe computers
running on an MVS operating system. The configuration includes controllers,
direct access storage devices, tape drives, security access software and other
operating system hardware and software that enable TSSG to meet the contractual
commitments herein.
The Transfer Agent Application includes Job Control Language (JCL), Catalog
Procedures (PROCS) and program modules written primarily in COBOL.
The FSR Transfer Agency System supports the following subsystems and third
party systems:
NSCC (National Securities Clearing Corporation) support:
- FundSERV
- Networking
- Commissions
- Exchanges
- ACATS (Automated Customer Account Transfer System)
- TNET
Cost basis accounting
UNISYS Interface
Sales file download
Price Waterhouse Blue Sky download
File downloads to support DDA (Demand Deposit Account) Reconciliation
Year-End Statements and Tax Reporting:
- 1099D
- 1099R
- 1042S
- 5498
- 1099B
Transmission send/receive functionality for broker/dealers and other third
parties
Electronic Funds Transfer processing to move in and out of funds using automated
clearing house facilities
KMS Microfilm Interface
Third part interfaces with:
Applied Mailing Systems for print/mail support
Microdata for checkbook production
Mellon and Texas Commerce for banking services
Other third party software packages i.e. ACE/DISC
SCHEDULE B
AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS - LIST OF AUTHORIZED PERSONS
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
President, A I M Management Group Inc.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (▇▇▇▇)
------------------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President, A I M Fund Services, Inc.
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Secretary and General Counsel,
A I M Management Group Inc.
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Counsel, A I M Management Group Inc.
SCHEDULE C
FEE SCHEDULE
I. SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT FEES. The fund shall pay the following fees
("Shareholder Account Fees"):
For the period beginning on the date of this Agreement, and continuing through
December 31, 1997, the Fund shall pay TSSG an annualized fee of $3.60 per
shareholder account that is open during any monthly period ("Open Account
Fee"). The Fund also shall pay TSSG an annualized fee of $1.80 per shareholder
account that is closed during any monthly period ("Closed Account Fee") (The
Open Account Fees and the Closed Account Fees hereafter collectively referred
to as "Shareholder Account Fees"). The Shareholder Account Fees shall be billed
by TSSG monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of the annualized fee
for all such accounts.
In addition, beginning on the one year anniversary date of this Agreement, and
on each yearly anniversary date thereafter, the Shareholder Account fees may be
increased by TSSG in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the cumulative
percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
U.S. City Average, All Items (unadjusted -- (1982-84 + 100), published by the
U.S. Department of Labor, or (ii) seven percent (7%) of the Shareholder Account
Fees charged by TSSG to the Fund for the preceding twelve (12) month period.
II. FEES FOR DEDICATED PROGRAMMING SUPPORT
TSSG and the Fund will jointly determine the level of dedicated system
resources required to meet the Fund's enhancement priorities. At the Fund's
expense, TSSG agrees to use reasonable efforts to make dedicated programming
support available for all projects required by the Fund. The amount of the
resources required and the projects to be worked on shall be determined jointly
based upon joint periodic review of project requirements; however, the Fund
will decide the priorities which will be assigned to each project and will
determine what projects the dedicated resources are to work on. Such resources
will be charged to the Fund at the rates set forth below. All enhancement,
improvements, modifications or new features added to the TSSG System shall be,
and shall remain, the confidential, exclusive property of, and proprietary to,
TSSG. Request for software changes may be initiated by those representatives of
the Fund identified in Exhibit 1 of this Schedule C. The Fund will use its best
efforts to notify TSSG in writing of requests for software changes within 72
hours of an initial verbal request. TSSG reserves the right to stop work on a
request for which written specifications have not been received.
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a. SUPPORT TO BE PROVIDED TO THE FUND FREE OF CHARGE. TSSG will provide
the following support at no additional cost to the fund:
1. Coding to correct deficiencies in the system, unless such deficiencies
are included in item (II)(b)(9) below in which event the Fund will be
charged for such services. A system deficiency is defined as a system
process which does not operate according to the design of the computer
application or system specifications. To correct system deficiencies,
TSSG will, at its own expense, expend whatever resources are necessary
to analyze the deficiency and apply an appropriate remedy, in the form
of corrected application code as expeditiously as possible. An
alternate process, in the form of a functional work around, may be a
suitable substitute for the actual system fix, if the level of effort
to develop the system fix is deemed to be impractical or the elapsed
time to develop and apply the fix extends beyond the reasonable time
needed. For deficiencies identified by the Fund, the use of a
functional work around as an alternate process shall be mutually agreed
upon by the parties.
TSSG will evaluate all reported referrals, to validate deficiency
status or reclassify as a system enhancement, based on the above
definition.
2. Simple Maintenance determined to be core processing.
3. TSSG generated (i.e., internal) requests to extend system
functionality and ensure industry competitiveness.
4. Enhancements required to comply with regulatory changes; provided,
however, TSSG will only make such changes to the extent that they are
technically and commercially practical and are within the scope of the
software functions, capabilities and database.
b. SUPPORT TO BE PROVIDED TO THE FUND, BUT WHICH WILL BE BILLED AS
"DEDICATED PROGRAMING SUPPORT": The following activities are examples
of "dedicated programming support" which will be billed to the Fund:
1. Customized form output (i.e., statements, confirmation statements,
commission statements).
2. Customized reports.
3. Addition of new features (enhancements) requested by the Fund.
4. Addition of existing features not used by the Fund.
5. Addition of new funds to the fund group.
6. Customized year-end processing.
7. Conversions from other systems to FSR subsequent to initial funds
being live.
(continued on next page)
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8. Clean-up/Recovery project resulting from Fund error or causes beyond
the reasonable control of either party.
9. System "fixes" - coding to correct errors attributable to code
developed, and currently maintained by the dedicated teams.
10. Customization of existing functions specific to the Fund.
11. Program documentation as requested by the Fund.
Software Exclusivity. The Fund may choose to have exclusive use of
enhancement software developed by its dedicated programming staff. Such
exclusivity would extend for a period of nine (9) months from the date the
enhancement is placed into the production libraries. Software exclusivity
would be waived if the Fund accepts either of the following conditions:
a). If prior to implementation, TSSG or other TSSG clients agree to share
in the expense of the enhancements.
b). At any time during the 9 months following implementation, TSSG or
other TSSG clients agree to share the expense for the enhancements.
Access and Capability. The Funds' dedicated programmers will have access
and capability to update any part of the System. However, depending on the
skill set of the programmers, as well as the scope of the requested
enhancement, it may be in the best interest of both the Fund and TSSG to
utilize non-dedicated programmers to address certain enhancements. In
addition, because many programs are shared by multiple clients, some
enhancements may require approval from those clients. These enhancements
should be handled on an item by item basis.
c. FEES FOR DEDICATED PERSONNEL WHICH WILL BE BILLED TO THE FUND. TSSG
will ▇▇▇▇ the Fund monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of
the following annualized charges for each person dedicated to the
following positions:
Manager $100,000
Programmer $ 90,000
Business System Analyst/Tester $ 85,000
Non-dedicated programmer-hourly charge $100 per hour
TSSG may adjust these salaries on the anniversary date of this agreement to
reflect salary increases, provided that they do not exceed seven percent (7%)
of the fees charged to the Fund for the identical positions during the
immediately preceding twelve (12) month period.
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SCHEDULE C
EXHIBIT 1
AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS
AUTHORIZED PERSONS REQUESTING
SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS
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SCHEDULED
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Fund shall reimburse TSSG monthly for applicable out-of-pocket expenses,
including, but not limited to the following items:
- Microfiche/microfilm production
- Magnetic media tapes and freight
- Telephone and telecommunication cost, including all lease, maintenance
and line costs
- NSCC transaction charges at $.15/per financial transaction
- Shipping, Certified and Overnight mail and insurance
- Year-End form production and mailings
- Terminals, communication lines, printers and other equipment and any
expenses incurred in connection with such terminals and lines
- Duplicating services, as per-approved by the Fund
- Courier services
- Due Diligence Mailings
- Rendering fees as billed
- Overtime, as pre-approved by the Fund
- Temporary staff, as pre-approved by the Fund
- Travel and entertainment, as pre-approved by the Fund
- Record retention, retrieval and destruction costs, including, but not
limited to exit fees charged by third party record keeping vendors
- Third party audit review
- All conversion costs: including System start up costs, but excluding
costs associated with conversations between TSSG systems.
- Such other miscellaneous expenses reasonably incurred by TSSG in
performing its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Such
expenses incurred with consent of the Fund, not to be unreasonably
withheld.
- The costs associated with the Year-End Support Services set forth on
the attached Exhibit 1 of this Schedule D.
- The costs associated with the Broker Dealer Support Services set forth
on the attached Exhibit 2 of this Schedule D.
EXHIBIT 1 OF SCHEDULE D
Year-End Support Services: Flat rate of $.12/per shareholder account open as of
December 31, 1994.
The services listed below will be performed by TSSG for the Fund in support of
reporting for tax year 1994 and compliance mailings for calendar year 1994.
TSSG assumes responsibility for performing the services in compliance with
current IRS rules and regulations.
(a) Up-front year-end planning and communication of year-end related system
modifications.
(b) Production of IRS required tax forms and amended/corrected tax forms as
requested by the Fund.
(c) Production of IRS required 1099 magnetic tape filings.
(d) Production of tax forms on microfiche.
(e) Maintenance of year-end data files and the handling of transaction code
updates to those files.
(f) Submission of year-end jobs.
(g) B-notice processing as follows:
- receipt of B-notice listing from IRS or
- AFS upload of data entry of all accounts to B-Notice subsystem
- execution and generation of B-Notice defense reports
- analysis of B-Notice Defense Reports to ensure accurate coding
- coordination of mailings with vendor, including generation of vendor
tapes
- notification to Client Services of anticipated and actual mailing
dates, including volume, sample letters and confirmation of the date
backup withholding will be imposed if no response is received
- systematic upload of W-9 responses as volumes warrant
(h) Correction processing resulting from the monthly review of the year-end
files - "balancing."
(i) Production of cost basis information on 1099B forms.
(j) All required state filings as requested by the Fund.
(k) All IRS required mailings requested by the Fund: B-Notice, Safe Harbor,
W-9, TEFRA election, IRS Penalty Notice, and TIN solicitation.
EXHIBIT 1 OF SCHEDULE D (cont'd)
(1) C-Notice processing as follows:
o receipt of C-Notice; imposition and release letters as received
from Fund or IRS
o performance of search function to identify all accounts associated
with the notice
o provide written instructions to Fund for proper account coding
(m) Initialization of Fund File in support of balancing tax reporting data
EXHIBIT 2 OF SCHEDULE D
Broker/Dealer Support: Annualized fee of $.03/per shareholder account open
during any monthly period.
(a) NSCC Testing
(b) Back-up for NSCC redemption release
(c) Research and Problem Resolution
(d) Compliance and Support
SCHEDULE E
DATA RETENTION AND RECOVERY STANDARDS
Data files included in the System are backed up according to a defined
retention schedule. This ensures availability of data for processing and
application recovery as well as compliance with regulatory requirements.
Critical files that are included in the retention process:
Shareholder Master
Shareholder History
Fund File
Dealer File
Global File
Certificate File
Broker/Client Cross Reference File
Additional Address File
Maintenance History File
Blue Sky Master
Price File
Rate File
Order Clearance File
These files are backed up as follows: daily and retained for six generations;
weekly and retained for 5 generations. The Shareholder Master, Shareholder
History and Fund Files are also backed up annually and retained for 7
generations.
In addition, the Acceptance File containing post-processing daily activity, and
the Daily File containing pre-processing transaction input, are backed up daily
and retained for six generations.
SCHEDULE F
SYSTEM AVAILABILITY STANDARDS
These systems standards shall apply on business days.
o On-line systems availability between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. CST - 95% measured monthly.
o Average response time (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST) of 3 seconds or less, in response to the system
employed by A I M Fund Services, Inc. as of September 1. 1994 - 95% measured monthly.
o Daily report bundles in queue for transmission no later than 7:00 a.m. CST each business day - 95%
measured monthly each bundle measured separately.
o Daily job PFSRXOED containing the Acceptance File download in queue for transmission no later than 4:00
a.m. CST each business day - 95% measured monthly.
o Daily job PFSRXCAD containing the Cap Stock File download in queue for transmission no later than 6:30
a.m. CST each business day - 95% measured monthly.
o Weekly job PFSXOHW containing the Dealer File download in queue for transmission no later than 9:00
a.m. CST each Saturday - 95% measured quarterly.