1
EXHIBIT 9(b)
FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1ST day of April, 1998, between THE COVENTRY GROUP
(the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal place of
business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, and BISYS FUND SERVICES,
OHIO INC. ("Fund Accountant"), a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware and having its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Fund Accountant perform certain fund
accounting services for each investment portfolio of the Trust, all as now or
hereafter may be established from time to time (individually referred to herein
as the "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"); and
WHEREAS, Fund Accountant is willing to perform such services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. Services as Fund Accountant.
----------------------------
(a) MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Fund Accountant
will keep and maintain the following books and
records of each Fund pursuant to Rule 31a- 1 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Rule"):
(i) Journals containing an itemized daily record
in detail of all purchases and sales of
securities, all receipts and disbursements
of cash and all other debits and credits, as
required by subsection (b)(1) of the Rule;
(ii) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all
asset, liability, reserve, capital, income
and expense accounts, including interest
accrued and interest received, as required
by subsection (b)(2)(I) of the Rule;
(iii) Separate ledger accounts required by
subsection (b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of the Rule;
and
(iv) A monthly trial balance of all ledger
accounts (except shareholder accounts) as
required by subsection (b)(8) of the Rule.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF DAILY ACCOUNTING SERVICES. In addition
to the maintenance of the books and records specified
above, Fund Accountant shall perform the following
accounting services daily for each Fund:
2
(i) Calculate the net asset value per share
utilizing prices obtained from the sources
described in subsection 1(b)(ii) below;
(ii) Obtain security prices from independent
pricing services, or if such quotes are
unavailable, then obtain such prices from
each Fund's investment adviser or its
designee, as approved by the Trust's Board
of Trustees;
(iii) Verify and reconcile with the Funds'
custodian all daily trade activity;
(iv) Compute, as appropriate, each Fund's net
income and capital gains, dividend payables,
dividend factors, 7-day yields, 7-day
effective yields, 30-day yields, and
weighted average portfolio maturity;
(v) Review daily the net asset value calculation
and dividend factor (if any) for each Fund
prior to release to shareholders, check and
confirm the net asset values and dividend
factors for reasonableness and deviations,
and distribute net asset values and yields
to NASDAQ;
(vi) Report to the Trust the daily market pricing
of securities in any money market Funds,
with the comparison to the amortized cost
basis;
(vii) Determine unrealized appreciation and
depreciation on securities held in variable
net asset value Funds;
(viii) Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on
securities purchased at a price other than
face value, if requested by the Trust;
(ix) Update fund accounting system to reflect
rate changes, as received from a Fund's
investment adviser, on variable interest
rate instruments;
(x) Post Fund transactions to appropriate
categories;
(xi) Accrue expenses of each Fund according to
instructions received from the Trust's
Administrator;
(xii) Determine the outstanding receivables and
payables for all (1) security trades, (2)
Fund share transactions and (3) income and
expense accounts;
2
3
(xiii) Provide accounting reports in connection
with the Trust's regular annual audit and
other audits and examinations by regulatory
agencies; and
(xiv) Provide such periodic reports as the parties
shall agree upon, as set forth in a separate
schedule.
(c) Special Reports and Services.
-----------------------------
(i) Fund Accountant may provide additional
special reports upon the request of the
Trust or a Fund's investment adviser, which
may result in an additional charge, the
amount of which shall be agreed upon between
the parties.
(ii) Fund Accountant may provide such other
similar services with respect to a Fund as
may be reasonably requested by the Trust,
which may result in an additional charge,
the amount of which shall be agreed upon
between the parties.
(d) ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Fund Accountant shall
also perform the following additional accounting
services for each Fund:
(i) Provide monthly a download (and hard copy
thereof) of the financial statements
described below, upon request of the Trust.
The download will include the following
items:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities,
Statement of Operations,
Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and
Condensed Financial Information;
(ii) Provide accounting information for the
following:
(A) federal and state income tax returns
and federal excise tax returns;
(B) the Trust's semi-annual reports with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") on Form N-SAR;
(C) the Trust's annual, semi-annual and
quarterly (if any) shareholder
reports;
(D) registration statements on Form N-1A
and other filings relating to the
registration of shares;
3
4
(E) the Administrator's monitoring of
the Trust's status as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended;
(F) annual audit by the Trust's
auditors; and
(G) examinations performed by the SEC.
2. Subcontracting.
---------------
Fund Accountant may, at its expense, subcontract with any
entity or person concerning the provision of the services contemplated
hereunder; provided, however, that Fund Accountant shall not be relieved of any
of its obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such subcontractor
and provided further, that Fund Accountant shall be responsible, to the extent
provided in Section 7 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor as if such acts
were its own.
3. Compensation.
-------------
The Trust shall pay Fund Accountant for the services to be
provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement in accordance with, and in the
manner set forth in, Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from
time to time.
4. Reimbursement of Expenses.
--------------------------
In addition to paying Fund Accountant the fees described in
Section 3 hereof, the Trust agrees to reimburse Fund Accountant for its
out-of-pocket expenses in providing services hereunder, including without
limitation the following:
(a) All freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred by
Fund Accountant in delivering materials to and from the Trust;
(b) All direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or
other electronic transmission expenses incurred by Fund
Accountant in communication with the Trust, the Trust's
investment adviser or custodian, dealers or others as required
for Fund Accountant to perform the services to be provided
hereunder;
(c) The cost of obtaining security market quotes pursuant to
Section l(b)(ii) above;
(d) The cost of microfilm or microfiche of records or other
materials;
(e) Any expenses Fund Accountant shall incur at the written
direction of an officer of the Trust thereunto duly
authorized; and
(f) Any additional expenses reasonably incurred by Fund Accountant
in the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
4
5
5. Effective Date.
---------------
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund
as of the date first written above (or, if a particular Fund is not in existence
on that date, on the date such Fund commences operation) (the "Effective Date").
6. Term.
-----
This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to a
Fund, unless earlier terminated by either party hereto as provided hereunder,
until APRIL 1, 2001 and thereafter shall be renewed automatically for successive
three-year terms unless written notice not to renew is given by the non-renewing
party to the other party at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the
then-current term; provided, however, that after such termination for so long as
Fund Accountant, with the written consent of the Trust, in fact continues to
perform any one or more of the services contemplated by this Agreement or any
schedule or exhibit hereto, the provisions of this Agreement, including without
limitation the provisions dealing with indemnification, shall continue in full
force and effect. Compensation due Fund Accountant and unpaid by the Trust upon
such termination shall be immediately due and payable upon and notwithstanding
such termination. Fund Accountant shall be entitled to collect from the Trust,
in addition to the compensation described under Section 3 hereof, the amount of
all of Fund Accountant's cash disbursements for services in connection with Fund
Accountant's activities in effecting such termination, including without
limitation, the delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of the Trust's
property, records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof. Subsequent
to such termination, for a reasonable fee, Fund Accountant will provide the
Trust with reasonable access to any Trust documents or records remaining in its
possession.
If, for any reason, Fund Accountant is replaced as Fund
Accountant, or if a third party is added to perform all or a part of the
services provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement (excluding any
sub-accountant appointed by Fund Accountant as provided in Section 2 hereof),
then the Trust shall make a one-time cash payment, as liquidated damages, to
Fund Accountant equal to the balance due Fund Accountant for the remainder of
the term of this Agreement, assuming for purposes of calculation of the payment
that the asset level of the Trust on the date Fund Accountant is replaced, or a
third party is added, will remain constant for the balance of the contract term.
7. Standard of Care; Reliance on Records and Instructions;
-------------------------------------------------------
Indemnification.
----------------
Fund Accountant shall use its best efforts to insure the
accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but shall not be liable
to the Trust for any action taken or omitted by Fund Accountant in the absence
of bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence or from reckless disregard by it
of its obligations and duties. A Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Fund
Accountant, its employees, agents, directors, officers and nominees from and
against any and all claims, demands, actions and suits, whether groundless or
otherwise, and from and against any and all judgments, liabilities, losses,
damages, costs, charges, counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and
character arising out of or in any way relating to Fund Accountant's actions
taken or
5
6
nonactions with respect to the performance of services under this Agreement with
respect to such Fund or based, if applicable, upon reasonable reliance on
information, records, instructions or requests with respect to such Fund given
or made to Fund Accountant by a duly authorized representative of the Trust;
provided that this indemnification shall not apply to actions or omissions of
Fund Accountant in cases of its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence
or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties, and further
provided that prior to confessing any claim against it which may be the subject
of this indemnification, Fund Accountant shall give the Trust written notice of
and reasonable opportunity to defend against said claim in its own name or in
the name of Fund Accountant.
8. Record Retention and Confidentiality.
-------------------------------------
Fund Accountant shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Trust
all books and records which the Trust and Fund Accountant is, or may be,
required to keep and maintain pursuant to any applicable statutes, rules and
regulations, including without limitation Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), relating to the
maintenance of books and records in connection with the services to be provided
hereunder. Fund Accountant further agrees that all such books and records shall
be the property of the Trust and to make such books and records available for
inspection by the Trust or by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
reasonable times and otherwise to keep confidential all books and records and
other information relative to the Trust and its shareholders; except when
requested to divulge such information by duly-constituted authorities or court
process.
9. Uncontrollable Events.
----------------------
Fund Accountant assumes no responsibility hereunder, and shall
not be liable, for any damage, loss of data, delay or any other loss whatsoever
caused by events beyond its reasonable control.
10. Reports.
--------
Fund Accountant will furnish to the Trust and to its properly
authorized auditors, investment advisers, examiners, distributors, dealers,
underwriters, salesmen, insurance companies and others designated by the Trust
in writing, such reports and at such times as are prescribed pursuant to the
terms and the conditions of this Agreement to be provided or completed by Fund
Accountant, or as subsequently agreed upon by the parties pursuant to an
amendment hereto. The Trust agrees to examine each such report or copy promptly
and will report or cause to be reported any errors or discrepancies therein no
later than three business days from the receipt thereof. In the event that
errors or discrepancies, except such errors and discrepancies as may not
reasonably be expected to be discovered by the recipient within ten days after
conducting a diligent examination, are not so reported within the aforesaid
period of time, a report will for all purposes be accepted by and binding upon
the Trust and any other recipient, and, except as provided in Section 7 hereof,
Fund Accountant shall have no liability for errors or discrepancies therein and
shall have no further
6
7
responsibility with respect to such report except to perform reasonable
corrections of such errors and discrepancies within a reasonable time after
requested to do so by the Trust.
11. Rights of Ownership.
--------------------
All computer programs and procedures developed to perform
services required to be provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement are the
property of Fund Accountant. All records and other data except such computer
programs and procedures are the exclusive property of the Trust and all such
other records and data will be furnished to the Trust in appropriate form as
soon as practicable after termination of this Agreement for any reason.
12. Return of Records.
------------------
Fund Accountant may at its option at any time, and shall
promptly upon the Trust's demand, turn over to the Trust and cease to retain
Fund Accountant's files, records and documents created and maintained by Fund
Accountant pursuant to this Agreement which are no longer needed by Fund
Accountant in the performance of its services or for its legal protection. If
not so turned over to the Trust, such documents and records will be retained by
Fund Accountant for six years from the year of creation. At the end of such
six-year period, such records and documents will be turned over to the Trust
unless the Trust authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and
documents.
13. Representations of the Trust.
-----------------------------
The Trust certifies to Fund Accountant that: (1) as of the
close of business on the Effective Date, each Fund that is in existence as of
the Effective Date has authorized unlimited shares, and (2) this Agreement has
been duly authorized by the Trust and, when executed and delivered by the Trust,
will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable
against the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.
14. Representations of Fund Accountant.
-----------------------------------
Fund Accountant represents and warrants that: (1) the various
procedures and systems which Fund Accountant has implemented with regard to
safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft, or any other cause
the records, and other data of the Trust and Fund Accountant's records, data,
equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its
obligations hereunder are adequate and that it will make such changes therein
from time to time as are required for the secure performance of its obligations
hereunder, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by Fund Accountant
and, when executed and delivered by Fund Accountant, will constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Fund Accountant, enforceable against Fund
Accountant in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization,
7
8
moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors and secured parties.
15. Insurance.
----------
Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust should any of its
insurance coverage be canceled or reduced. Such notification shall include the
date of change and the reasons therefor. Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust
of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this
Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the
Trust from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding claims
made by Fund Accountant under its insurance coverage.
16. Information to be Furnished by the Trust and Funds.
---------------------------------------------------
The Trust has furnished to Fund Accountant the following:
(a) Copies of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and
of any amendments thereto, certified by the proper
official of the state in which such document has been
filed.
(b) Copies of the following documents:
(i) The Trust's Bylaws and any amendments
thereto; and
(ii) Certified copies of resolutions of the Board
of Trustees covering the approval of this
Agreement, authorization of a specified
officer of the Trust to execute and deliver
this Agreement and authorization for
specified officers of the Trust to instruct
Fund Accountant thereunder.
(c) A list of all the officers of the Trust, together
with specimen signatures of those officers who are
authorized to instruct Fund Accountant in all
matters.
(d) Two copies of the Prospectuses and Statements of
Additional Information for each Fund.
17. Information Furnished by Fund Accountant.
-----------------------------------------
(a) Fund Accountant has furnished to the Trust the
following:
(i) Fund Accountant's Articles of Incorporation;
and
(ii) Fund Accountant's Bylaws and any amendments
thereto.
8
9
(b) Fund Accountant shall, upon request, furnish
certified copies of corporate actions covering the
following matters:
(i) Approval of this Agreement, and
authorization of a specified officer of Fund
Accountant to execute and deliver this
Agreement; and
(ii) Authorization of Fund Accountant to act as
fund accountant for the Trust and to provide
accounting services for the Trust.
18. Amendments to Documents.
------------------------
The Trust shall furnish Fund Accountant written copies of any
amendments to, or changes in, any of the items referred to in Section 16 hereof
forthwith upon such amendments or changes becoming effective. In addition, the
Trust agrees that no amendments will be made to the Prospectuses or Statements
of Additional Information of the Trust which might have the effect of changing
the procedures employed by Fund Accountant in providing the services agreed to
hereunder or which amendment might affect the duties of Fund Accountant
hereunder unless the Trust first obtains Fund Accountant's approval of such
amendments or changes.
19. Compliance with Law.
--------------------
Except for the obligations of Fund Accountant set forth in
Section 8 hereof, the Trust assumes full responsibility for the preparation,
contents and distribution of each prospectus of the Trust as to compliance with
all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the 1940 Act and any other laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction. Fund Accountant shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any laws relating to the sale of the Trust's
shares. The Trust represents and warrants that no shares of the Trust will be
offered to the public until the Trust's registration statement under the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act has been declared or becomes effective.
20. Notices.
--------
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when
sent by registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with
such notice, at the following address: 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000,
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party pursuant to this Section.
21. Headings.
---------
Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for
convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
9
10
22. Assignment.
-----------
This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not
be assignable with respect to a Fund by either of the parties hereto except by
the specific written consent of the other party.
23. Governing Law.
--------------
This Agreement shall be governed by and provisions shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
-----------------------------------
By:
--------------------------------
BISYS FUND SERVICES, OHIO INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Dated:
-------------
10
11
SCHEDULE A
TO THE FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE COVENTRY FUNDS
------------------
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES, OHIO INC.
FEES
----
Fund Accountant shall be entitled to receive a fee from the following portfolios
in accordance with the schedule attached as Schedule A to the Administration
Agreement between BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP and THE COVENTRY GROUP
dated APRIL 1, 1998:
Stewardship Aggressive Growth Fund
Stewardship Moderate Growth Fund
Stewardship Conservative Growth Fund
(the "Stewardship Portfolios")
THE COVENTRY FUNDS BISYS FUND SERVICES, OHIO INC.
By: By:
----------------------------- ---------------------------------
A-1
11
