TRANSFER AGENCY SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of July 26, 2005 by and between PFPC INC., a
Massachusetts corporation ("PFPC"), FIRST TRUST STRATEGIC HIGH INCOME FUND, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as a closed-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 serve as transfer agent,
registrar, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and PFPC
wishes to furnish such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises 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:
(a) "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(b) "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(c) "Authorized Person" means any officer of the Fund and any other
person duly authorized by the Fund to give Oral Instructions and
Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund. An Authorized
Person's scope of authority may be limited by setting forth such
limitation in a written document signed by both parties hereto.
(d) "Oral Instructions" mean oral instructions received by PFPC from
an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by PFPC
to be an Authorized Person. PFPC may, in its sole discretion in
each separate instance, consider and rely upon instructions it
receives from an Authorized Person via electronic mail as Oral
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Instructions.
(e) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. (f)
"Securities Laws" mean the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 0000
Xxx. (g) "Shares" mean the shares of beneficial interest of any
series or class of the Fund.
(h) "Written Instructions" mean (i) written instructions signed by an
Authorized Person and received by PFPC or (ii) trade instructions
transmitted (and received by PFPC) by means of an electronic
transaction reporting system access to which requires use of a
password or other authorized identifier. The instructions may be
delivered electronically (with respect to sub-item (ii) above )
or by hand, mail, tested telegram, cable, telex or facsimile
sending device.
2. Appointment. The Fund hereby appoints PFPC to serve as transfer agent,
registrar, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent to
the Fund in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement. PFPC
accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such services.
3. Compliance with Rules and Regulations. PFPC undertakes to comply with
all applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and any laws, rules
and regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction with
respect to the duties to be performed by PFPC hereunder. Except as
specifically set forth herein, PFPC assumes no responsibility for such
compliance by the Fund or any other entity.
4. Instructions.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, PFPC shall act only
upon Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.
(b) PFPC shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral Instruction or
Written Instruction it receives from an Authorized Person (or
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from a person reasonably believed by PFPC to be an Authorized
Person) pursuant to this Agreement. PFPC may assume that any Oral
Instruction or Written Instruction received hereunder is not in
any way inconsistent with the provisions of organizational
documents or this Agreement or of any vote, resolution or
proceeding of the Fund's board of directors or of the Fund's
shareholders, unless and until PFPC receives Written Instructions
to the contrary.
(c) The Fund agrees to forward to PFPC Written Instructions
confirming Oral Instructions 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 or differ from the
Oral Instructions shall in no way invalidate the transactions or
enforceability of the transactions authorized by the Oral
Instructions or PFPC's ability to rely upon such Oral
Instructions.
5. Right to Receive Advice.
(a) Advice of the Fund. If PFPC is in doubt as to any action it
should or should not take, PFPC may request directions or advice,
including Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, from the
Fund.
(b) Advice of Counsel. If PFPC shall be in doubt as to any question
of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take,
PFPC may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may
be counsel for the Fund, the Fund's investment adviser or PFPC,
at the option of PFPC). The Fund shall pay the reasonable cost of
any counsel retained by PFPC with prior notice to the Fund.
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(c) Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions
or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions PFPC
receives from the Fund, and the advice it receives from counsel,
PFPC may rely upon and follow the advice of counsel.
(d) Protection of PFPC. PFPC shall be indemnified by the Fund and
without liability for any action PFPC takes or does not take in
reliance upon directions or advice or Oral Instructions or
Written Instructions PFPC receives from or on behalf of the Fund
or from counsel and which PFPC believes, in good faith, to be
consistent with those directions or advice or Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions. Nothing in this section shall be
construed so as to impose an obligation upon PFPC (i) to seek
such directions or advice or Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with such directions
or advice or Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.
6. Records; Visits.
(a) The books and records pertaining to the Fund, which are in the
possession or under the control of PFPC, shall be the property of
the Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained
as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws,
rules and regulations provided the Fund provides PFPC with
written notice of such laws, rules and regulations, other than
the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
that are applicable. The Fund and Authorized Persons shall have
access to such books and records at all times during PFPC's
normal business hours upon reasonable advance notice. Upon the
reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and
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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 as are customarily maintained by
the transfer agent for a registered investment company.
7. Confidentiality. Each party shall keep confidential any
information relating to the other party's business ("Confidential
Information"). Confidential Information shall include (a) any
data or information that is competitively sensitive material, and
not generally known to the public, including, but not limited to,
information about product plans, marketing strategies, finances,
operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, customer
lists, sales estimates, business plans, and internal performance
results relating to the past, present or future business
activities of the Fund or PFPC and their respective subsidiaries
and affiliated companies; (b) any scientific or technical
information, design, process, procedure, formula, or improvement
that is commercially valuable and secret in the sense that its
confidentiality affords the Fund or PFPC a competitive advantage
over its competitors; (c) all confidential or proprietary
concepts, documentation, reports, data, specifications, computer
software, source code, object code, flow charts, databases,
inventions, know-how, and trade secrets, whether or not
patentable or copyrightable; and (d) anything designated as
confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information shall
not be Confidential Information and shall not be subject to such
confidentiality obligations if: (a) it is necessary or desirable
for PFPC to release such information in connection with the
provision of services under this Agreement; (b) it is already
known to the receiving party at the time it is obtained; (c) it
is or becomes publicly known or available through no wrongful act
of the receiving party; (d) it is rightfully received from a
third party who, to the best of the receiving party's knowledge,
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is not under a duty of confidentiality; (e) it is released by the
protected party to a third party without restriction; (f) it is
requested or required to be disclosed by the receiving party
pursuant to a court order, subpoena, governmental or regulatory
agency request or law (provided the receiving party will provide
the other party written notice of the same, to the extent such
notice is permitted); (g) it is relevant to the defense of any
claim or cause of action asserted against the receiving party; or
(h) it has been or is independently developed or obtained by the
receiving party. PFPC acknowledges and agrees that in connection
with its services under this Agreement it receives non-public
confidential portfolio holdings information ("Portfolio
Information") with respect to the Fund. PFPC agrees that, subject
to the foregoing provisions of and the exceptions set forth in
this Section 7 (other than the exception set forth above in this
Section 7 as sub-item (a), which exception set forth in sub-item
(a) shall not be applicable to the Fund's Portfolio Information),
PFPC will keep confidential the Fund's Portfolio Information and
will not disclose the Fund's Portfolio Information other than
pursuant to a Written Instruction (which Written Instruction may
be a standing Written Instruction); provided that without the
need for such a Written Instruction and notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 7 to the contrary, the Fund's Portfolio
Information may be disclosed to third party pricing services
which are engaged by PFPC in connection with the provision of
services under this Agreement and which shall be subject to a
duty of confidentiality with respect to such Portfolio
Information.
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8. Cooperation with Accountants. PFPC shall cooperate with the
Fund's independent public accountants and shall take all
reasonable actions in the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made
available to such accountants for the expression of their
opinion, as required by the Fund.
9. PFPC System. PFPC shall retain title to and ownership of any and
all data bases, computer programs, screen formats, report
formats, interactive design techniques, derivative works,
inventions, discoveries, patentable or copyrightable matters,
concepts, expertise, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and
other related legal rights utilized by PFPC in connection with
the services provided by PFPC to the Fund.
10. Disaster Recovery. PFPC shall enter into and shall maintain in
effect with appropriate parties one or more agreements making
reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data
processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is
available. In the event of equipment failures, PFPC shall, at no
additional expense to the Fund, take reasonable steps to minimize
service interruptions. PFPC shall have no liability with respect
to the loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment
failure, provided such loss or interruption is not caused by
PFPC's own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless
disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement.
11. Compensation.
(a) As compensation for services rendered by PFPC during the term of
this Agreement, the Fund will pay to PFPC a fee or fees as may be
agreed to from time to time in writing by the Fund and PFPC. In
addition, the Fund agrees to pay, and will be billed separately
in arrears for, reasonable expenses incurred by PFPC in the
performance of its duties hereunder.
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(b) PFPC shall establish certain cash management accounts ("Service
Accounts") required to provide services under this Agreement. The
Fund acknowledges (i) PFPC may receive investment earnings from
sweeping the funds in such Service Accounts into investment
accounts including, but not limited, investment accounts
maintained at an affiliate or client of PFPC; (ii) balance
credits earned with respect to the amounts in such Service
Accounts ("Balance Credits") will be used to offset the banking
service fees imposed by the cash management service provider (the
"Banking Service Fees"); (iii) PFPC shall retain any excess
Balance Credits for its own use; and (iv) Balance Credits will be
calculated and applied toward the Fund's Banking Service Fees
regardless of the Service Account balance sweep described in
Sub-Section (i).
(c) The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to PFPC that (i)
the terms of this Agreement, (ii) the fees and expenses
associated with this Agreement, and (iii) any benefits accruing
to PFPC or to the adviser or sponsor to the Fund in connection
with this Agreement, including but not limited to any fee
waivers, conversion cost reimbursements, up front payments,
signing payments or periodic payments made or to be made by PFPC
to such adviser or sponsor or any affiliate of the Fund relating
to the Agreement have been fully disclosed to the board of
directors of the Fund and that, if required by applicable law,
such board of directors has approved or will approve the terms of
this Agreement, any such fees and expenses, and any such
benefits.
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12. Indemnification.
(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless PFPC and
its affiliates, including their respective officers, directors,
agents and employees, from all taxes, charges, expenses,
assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and
liabilities arising under the Securities Laws and any state and
foreign securities and blue sky laws) ("Claims") arising directly
or indirectly from any action or omission to act which PFPC takes
in connection with the provision of services to the Fund. Neither
PFPC, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any
liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) caused by
PFPC's or its affiliates' own willful misfeasance, bad faith,
negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of PFPC's
activities under this Agreement, provided that in the absence of
a finding to the contrary the acceptance, processing and/or
negotiation of a fraudulent payment for the purchase of Shares
shall be presumed not to have been the result of PFPC's or its
affiliates own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or
reckless disregard of such duties and obligations. The provisions
of this Section 12 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification of the Fund. PFPC agrees to defend, indemnify and
hold the Fund and its officers, directors and employees harmless
from any and all Claims arising directly or indirectly from the
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance of PFPC in the
performance of its duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Fund shall not be indemnified against any Claim
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caused by the Fund's or the Fund's other service providers'
willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence.
(c) Indemnification Procedure.
(i) Notice of the Action. A party that seeks indemnification
under this Agreement must promptly give the other party
notice of any legal action; provided, however, that a
delay in notice does not relieve an indemnifying party of
any liability to an indemnified party, except to the
extent the indemnifying party shows that the delay
prejudiced the defense of the action.
(ii) Participating in or Assuming the Defense. The indemnifying
party may participate in the defense at any time or it may
assume the defense by giving notice to the other party.
After assuming the defense, the indemnifying party:
(1) must select an attorney that is satisfactory to the
other party;
(2) is not liable to the other party for any later
attorney's fees or for any other later expenses
that the other party incurs, except for reasonable
investigation costs;
(3) must not compromise or settle the action without
the other party's consent (but the other party must
not unreasonably withhold its consent); and
(4) is not liable for any compromise or settlement made
without its consent.
(iii) Failing to Assume the Defense. If the indemnifying party
fails to participate in or assume the defense within 15
days after receiving notice of the action, the
indemnifying party is bound by any determination made in
the action or by any compromise or settlement made by the
other party.
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13. Responsibility of PFPC.
(a) PFPC shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on
behalf of the Fund except as specifically set forth herein or as
may be specifically agreed to by PFPC and the Fund in a written
amendment hereto. PFPC shall be obligated to exercise
commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of
its duties hereunder and to act in good faith in performing
services provided for under this Agreement. PFPC shall be liable
only 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, negligence or reckless
disregard of such duties.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i)
PFPC shall not be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors,
interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by
reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including
without limitation acts of God; action or inaction of civil or
military authority; public enemy; war; terrorism; riot; fire;
flood; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion;
interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation,
computer or communications capabilities; insurrection; elements
of nature; or non-performance by a third party; and (ii) PFPC
shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into and
shall not be liable for the validity or invalidity, authority or
lack thereof, or truthfulness or accuracy or lack thereof, of any
instruction, direction, notice, instrument or other information
which PFPC reasonably believes to be genuine.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither PFPC nor its affiliates shall be liable for any
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consequential, special or indirect losses or damages, whether or
not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by PFPC or
its affiliates.
(d) Each party shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which the
other party may become responsible. (e) The provisions of this
Section 13 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
14. Description of Services.
(a) Services Provided on an Ongoing Basis, If Applicable.
(i) Maintain shareholder registrations;
(ii) Provide toll-free lines for shareholders relating to
shareholder accounts;
(iii) Provide periodic shareholder lists and statistics;
(iv) Mailing of year-end tax information; and
(v) Periodic mailing of shareholder dividend reinvestment plan
account information and Fund financial reports.
(b) Dividends and Distributions. PFPC must receive a resolution of
the Fund's board of directors authorizing the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions. Upon receipt of the
resolution, PFPC shall issue the dividends and distributions in
cash, or, if the resolution so provides, pay such dividends and
distributions in Shares. Such issuance or payment shall be made
after deduction and payment of the required amount of funds to be
withheld in accordance with any applicable tax laws or other
laws, rules or regulations. PFPC shall timely send to the Fund's
shareholders tax forms and other information, or permissible
substitute notice, relating to dividends and distributions, paid
by the Fund as are required to be filed and mailed by applicable
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law, rule or regulation. PFPC shall maintain and file with the
United States Internal Revenue Service and other appropriate
taxing authorities reports relating to all dividends above a
stipulated amount (currently $10.00 accumulated yearly dividends)
paid by the Fund to its shareholders as required by tax or other
law, rule or regulation. In accordance with the Prospectus and
such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from
time to time by and among the Fund, PFPC and the Fund's
Custodian, PFPC shall process applications from Shareholders
relating to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("Dividend
Reinvestment Plan") and will effect purchases of Shares in
connection with the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. As the dividend
disbursing agent, PFPC shall, on or before the payment date of
any such dividend or distribution, notify the fund accounting
agent of the estimated amount required to pay any portion of said
dividend or distribution which is payable in cash, and on or
before the payment date of such distribution, the Fund shall
instruct the custodian to make available to the dividend
disbursing agent sufficient funds for the cash amount to be paid
out. If a shareholder is entitled to receive additional Shares,
by virtue of any distribution or dividend, appropriate credits
will be made to his or her account and/or certificates delivered
where requested, all in accordance with the Dividend Reinvestment
Plan.
(c) Communications to Shareholders. Upon timely written instructions,
PFPC shall mail all communications by the Fund to its
shareholders, including:
(i) Reports to shareholders;
(ii) Monthly or quarterly dividend reinvestment plan
statements;
(iii) Dividend and distribution notices;
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(iv) Proxy material; and
(v) Tax form information.
PFPC will receive and tabulate the proxy cards for the meetings
of the Fund's shareholders.
(d) Records. PFPC shall maintain records of the accounts for each
shareholder showing the following information:
(i) Name, address and United States Tax Identification
or Social Security number;
(ii) Number and class of shares held and number and
class of shares for which certificates, if any,
have been issued, including certificate numbers and
denominations;
(iii) Historical information regarding the account of
each shareholder, including dividends and
distributions paid and the date and price for all
transactions on a shareholder's account;
(iv) Any stop or restraining order placed against a
shareholder's account;
(v) Any correspondence relating to the current
maintenance of a shareholder's account;
(vi) Information with respect to withholdings; and
(vii) Any information required in order for the transfer
agent to perform any calculations contemplated or
required by this Agreement.
(e) Shareholder Inspection of Stock Records. Upon requests from Fund
shareholders to inspect stock records, PFPC will notify the Fund
and require instructions granting or denying each such request.
Unless PFPC has acted contrary to the Fund's instructions, the
Fund agrees to release PFPC from any liability for refusal of
permission for a particular shareholder to inspect the Fund's
shareholder records.
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15. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall be effective on the date first written above
and shall continue until June 12, 2008 (the "Initial Term").
(b) Upon the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall
automatically renew for successive terms of one (1) year
("Renewal Terms") each, unless the Fund or PFPC provides written
notice to the other of its intent not to renew. Such notice must
be received not less than ninety (90) days prior to the
expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Renewal Term.
(c) In the event a termination notice is given by the Fund, all
expenses associated with movement of records and materials and
conversion thereof to a successor transfer agent(s) (and any
other service provider(s)), and all trailing expenses incurred by
PFPC, will be borne by the Fund.
(d) 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. 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.
16. Notices. Notices shall be addressed (a) if to PFPC, at 000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President (or such other
address as the PFPC may inform the fund in writing); (b) if to the Fund,
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at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: W. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
or (c) if to neither of the foregoing, at such other address as shall
have been given by like notice to the sender of any such notice or other
communication by the other party. 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.
17. Amendments. This Agreement, or any term thereof, may be changed or
waived only by a written amendment, signed by the party against whom
enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
18. Delegation; Assignment. PFPC may assign its rights and delegate its
duties hereunder to any majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of
PFPC or of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., provided that PFPC
gives the Fund 30 days prior written notice of such assignment or
delegation. In addition, PFPC may, in its sole discretion, engage
subcontractors to perform any of the obligations contained in this
Agreement to be performed by PFPC, provided, however, PFPC shall remain
responsible for the acts or omissions of any such sub-contractors.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
20. Further Actions. Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the
purposes hereof.
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21. Miscellaneous.
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement
and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter
hereof, provided that the parties may embody in one or more
separate documents their agreement, if any, with respect to
delegated duties.
(b) No Changes that Materially Affect Obligations. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund agrees not
to make any modifications to its registration statement or adopt
any policies which would affect materially the obligations or
responsibilities of PFPC hereunder without the prior written
approval of PFPC, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
(c) Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any
of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction
or effect.
(d) Information. The Fund will provide such information and
documentation as PFPC may reasonably request in connection with
services provided by PFPC to the Fund.
(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract
made in Delaware and governed by Delaware law, without regard to
principles of conflicts of law.
(f) Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or
otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.
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(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
(h) No Representations or Warranties. Except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, PFPC hereby disclaims all representations and
warranties, express or implied, made to the Fund or any other
person, including, without limitation, any warranties regarding
quality, suitability, merchantability, fitness for a particular
purpose or otherwise (irrespective of any course of dealing,
custom or usage of trade), of any services or any goods provided
incidental to services provided under this Agreement. PFPC
disclaims any warranty of title or non-infringement except as
otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
(i) Facsimile Signatures. The facsimile signature of any party to
this Agreement shall constitute the valid and binding execution
hereof by such party.
(j) The Fund and PFPC agree that the obligations of the Fund under
the Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the directors,
shareholders, nominees, officers, employees or agents, whether
past, present or future, of the Fund individually, but are
binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund (or
applicable series thereof), as provided in the Declaration of
Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the directors of the Fund, and signed by an
authorized officer of the Fund, acting as such, and neither such
authorization by such directors nor such execution and delivery
by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them
or any shareholder of the Fund individually or to impose any
liability on any of them or any shareholder of the Fund
personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the
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Fund (or applicable series thereof), as provided in the Articles
of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust.
(k) Customer Identification Program Notice. To help the U.S.
government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering
activities, U.S. Federal law requires each financial institution
to obtain, verify, and record certain information that identifies
each person who initially opens an account with that financial
institution on or after October 1, 2003. Certain of PFPC's
affiliates are financial institutions, and PFPC may, as a matter
of policy, request (or may have already requested) the Fund's
name, address and taxpayer identification number or other
government-issued identification number, and, if such party is a
natural person, that party's date of birth. PFPC may also ask
(and may have already asked) for additional identifying
information, and PFPC may take steps (and may have already taken
steps) to verify the authenticity and accuracy of these data
elements.
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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: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Title: ______________________
FIRST TRUST STRATEGIC HIGH INCOME FUND
By: ______________________
Name: ______________________
Title: ______________________
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