Exhibit (5)(c)
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is made as of February 22, 1995 by and between THE BEAR
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, a Massachusetts business trust (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 portfolios listed on Exhibit A attached hereto, as
amended from time to time (each a "Portfolio"), and PFPC wishes to furnish such
services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS AGREEMENT:
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(a) "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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(b) "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
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amended.
(c) "Authorized Person" means any officer of the Fund and any
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other person duly authorized by the Fund's Board of Trustees to give Oral and
Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund and listed on 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" mean the Commodities Exchange Act, as amended.
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(e) "Oral Instructions" mean oral instructions received by PFPC
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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.
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(g) "Securities Laws" mean the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940
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Act and the CEA.
(h) "Shares" mean the shares of beneficial interest of any series
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or class of the Fund.
(i) "Written Instructions" mean written instructions signed by an
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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
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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,
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will provide PFPC with the following:
(a) Certified or authenticated copies of the resolutions of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, approving the appointment of PFPC or
its affiliates to provide services to each Portfolio and
approving this Agreement;
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(b) A copy of the Fund's most recent effective regis-
tration statement;
(c) A copy of each Portfolio's advisory agreement or agreements;
(d) A copy of the distribution agreement 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.
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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.
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(a) Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, PFPC shall act only
upon Oral and Written Instructions.
(b) PFPC shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral 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 that any Oral or Written Instruction received hereunder is not in any
way inconsistent with the provisions of organizational documents or this
Agreement
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or of any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Fund's Board of Trustees or of
the Fund's shareholders, unless and until PFPC receives 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 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 or Written Instructions
provided that PFPC's actions comply with the other provisions of this Agreement.
6. RIGHT TO RECEIVE ADVICE.
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(a) Advice of the Fund. If PFPC is in doubt as to any
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action it should or should not take, PFPC may request directions or advice,
including Oral or Written Instructions, from the Fund.
(b) Advice of Counsel. If PFPC shall be in doubt as to any question
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of law pertaining to any action it should or should 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
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between directions, advice or Oral or Written Instructions PFPC
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receives from the Fund and the advice PFPC receives from counsel, 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. PFPC shall be protected in any action it
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takes or does not take in reliance upon directions, advice or Oral or Written
Instructions it receives from the Fund or from counsel and which PFPC believes,
in good faith, to be consistent with those directions, advice or Oral 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 or Written
Instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with such directions, advice or Oral
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. 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.
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(a) The books and records pertaining to the Fund and the Portfolios
which are in the possession or under the control of PFPC
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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
reasonable 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; and
(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 on its own behalf and that of its
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employees to keep confidential all records of the Fund and information relating
to the Fund and its shareholders (past, present and future), 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 PFPC may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings or when required to divulge such information or records to duly
constituted authorities.
9. LIAISON WITH ACCOUNTANTS. PFPC shall act as liaison with the Fund's
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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
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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
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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
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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 from time to time in writing by the Fund
and PFPC.
12. INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund, on behalf of each Portfolio, agrees to
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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 and foreign
securities and blue sky laws, and amendments thereto), and expenses, including
(without limitation) attorneys' fees and disbursements arising directly or
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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 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.
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(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 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
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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 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 its
affiliate's performance of the services provided hereunder, whether or not the
likelihood of such losses or damages was known by PFPC or its affiliates.
14. DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.
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PFPC will perform the following accounting services with respect to each
Portfolio:
(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;
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(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);
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(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 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
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(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
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CONTINUOUS BASIS.
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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;
(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; and
(x) Monitor the Fund's compliance with the amounts and
conditions of each state qualification.
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16. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall continue until
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terminated by either party on sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the other
party.
17. NOTICES. All notices and other communications, including Written
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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 has been mailed. If notice is sent by messenger,
it shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is 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 changed or
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waived only by a 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
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duties hereunder to any wholly-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of PNC Bank,
National Association 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
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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
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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
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execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof.
22. MISCELLANEOUS.
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(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement
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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.
(b) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for
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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
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made in Delaware and governed by Delaware law, without regard to principles of
conflicts of law.
(d) Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
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held or made invalid by a court decision,
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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
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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
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this Agreement shall constitute the valid and binding execution hereof by such
party.
(g) Capacity. This Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund
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by the undersigned officer of the Fund in his capacity as an officer of the
Fund. The obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the assets
and property of the relevant Portfolio and shall not be binding upon any Board
member, officer or shareholder of the Fund individually.
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: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Executive Vice President
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THE BEAR ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President and Treasurer
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EXHIBIT A
* This Exhibit A is dated May 4, 1995 and adds The Insiders Select Portfolio to
the Administrative Services Agreement.
PORTFOLIOS
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Large Cap Value Portfolio
Small Cap Value Portfolio
Total Return Bond Portfolio
S&P STARS Portfolio
The Insiders Select Portfolio
AUTHORIZED PERSONS APPENDIX
Set forth below are the names of the persons, whose specimen signatures are
on file with PFPC, that are authorized to give Oral and Written Instructions on
behalf of the Fund.
Name
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
The Bear ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
PFPC Inc.
Bellevue Corporate Center
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
Reference is made to the Administrative Services Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of February 22, 1995 between The Bear ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds and PFPC Inc. We
wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
1. Exhibit A hereby is amended by adding to the end thereof: "The Insiders
Select Portfolio."
2. In all other respects, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
in accordance with its terms.
Kindly sign and return the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter
agreement shall be binding between us in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
THE BEAR ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Accepted and Agreed to as
of the date first written above:
PFPC INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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