EX-99.B(h)asssa
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, as amended and restated April 1, 1996, between XXXXXXX
& XXXX ADVISORS ASSET STRATEGY FUND, INC., (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx &
Xxxx Services Company (the "Agent"), and further amended August 22, 2001,
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, The Company wishes, as applicable, to appoint the Agent or to
continue the appointment of the Agent to be its shareholder servicing agent
upon, and subject to, the terms and provisions of this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Agent as Shareholder Servicing Agent for the
Company; Acceptance.
(1) The Company hereby appoints the Agent to act as Shareholder
Servicing Agent for the Company upon, and subject to, the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.
(2) The Agent hereby accepts the appointment as Shareholder
Servicing Agent for the Company and agrees to act as such upon, and subject
to, the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
(3) The Agent may appoint an entity or entities approved by the
Company in writing to perform any portion of Agent's duties hereunder (the
"Subagent").
2. Definitions.
(1) In this Agreement -
(a) The term the "Act" means the Investment Company Act of
1940 as amended from time to time;
(b) The term "account" means the shares of the Company
registered on the books of the Company in the name of a shareholder under a
particular account registration number and includes shares subject to
instructions by the shareholder with respect to periodic redemptions and/or
reinvestment in additional shares of any dividends payable on said shares;
(c) The term "affiliate" of a person shall mean a person
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with that person;
(d) The term "Class" shall mean each separate sub-class of
a class of shares of the Company, as may now or in the future exist;
(e) The term "Fund" shall mean each separate class of
shares of the Company, as may now or in the future exist;
(f) The term "officers' instruction" means an instruction
given on behalf of the Company to the Agent and signed on behalf of the
Company by any one or more persons authorized to do so by the Company's
Board of Directors;
(g) The term "prospectus" means the prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information of the applicable Fund or Class from
time to time in effect;
(h) The term "shares" means shares including fractional
shares of capital stock of the Company, whether or not such shares are
evidenced by an outstanding stock certificate issued by the Company;
(i) The term "shareholder" shall mean the owner of record
of shares of the Company;
(j) The term "stock certificate" means a certificate
representing shares in the form then currently in use by the Company.
3. Duties of the Agent.
The Agent shall perform such duties as shall be set forth in this
paragraph 3 and in accordance with the practice stated in Exhibit A of this
Agreement or any amendment thereof, any or all of which duties may be
delegated to or performed by one or more Subagents pursuant to Paragraph
(3) above.
(1) Transfers.
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement the Agent hereby
agrees to perform the following functions as transfer agent for the
Company:
(a) Recording the ownership, transfer, exchange and
cancellation of ownership of shares of the Company on the books of the
Company;
(b) Causing the issuance, transfer, exchange and
cancellation of stock certificates;
(c) Establishing and maintaining records of accounts;
(d) Computing and causing to be prepared and mailed or
otherwise delivered to shareholders payment checks including bank wire
transfers and notices of reinvestment in additional shares of dividends,
stock dividends or stock splits declared by the Company on shares and of
redemption proceeds due by the Company on redemption of shares;
(e) Furnishing to shareholders such information as may be
reasonably required by the Company, including appropriate income tax
information;
(f) Addressing and mailing to shareholders prospectuses,
annual and semi-annual reports and proxy materials for shareholder meetings
prepared by or on behalf of the Company;
(g) Replacing allegedly lost, stolen or destroyed stock
certificates in accordance with and subject to procedures and conditions
agreed upon and set out in officers' instructions;
(h) Maintaining such books and records relating to
transactions effected by the Agent pursuant to this Agreement as are
required by the Act, or by rules or regulations thereunder, or by any other
applicable provisions of law, to be maintained by the Company or its
transfer agent with respect to such transactions; preserving, or causing to
be preserved, any such books and records for such periods as may be
required by any such law, rule or regulation; furnishing the Company such
information as to such transactions and at such time as may be reasonably
required by it to comply with applicable laws and regulations;
(i) Providing such services and carrying out such
responsibilities on behalf of the Company, or imposed on the Agent as the
Company's transfer agent, not otherwise expressly provided for in this
Paragraph 3, as may be required by or be reasonably necessary to comply
with any statute, act, governmental rule, regulation or directive or court
order, including, without limitation, the requirements imposed by the Tax
Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 and the Income and Dividend
Tax Compliance Act of 1983 relating to the withholding of tax from
distributions to shareholders.
(2) Correspondence.
The Agent agrees to deal with and answer all correspondence
from or on behalf of shareholders relating to its functions under this
Agreement.
4. Compensation of the Agent.
The Company agrees to pay the Agent for its services under this
Agreement in accordance with the schedule as then in effect set forth in
Exhibit B of this Agreement or any amendment thereof. In addition, the
Company agrees to reimburse the Agent for the following "out-of-pocket"
expenses of the Agent within five days after receipt of an itemized
statement of such expenses, to the extent that payment of such expenses has
not been or is not to be made directly by the Company: (i) costs of
stationery, appropriate forms, envelopes, checks, postage, printing (except
cost of printing prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports and proxy
materials) and mailing charges, including returned mail and proxies,
incurred by the Agent with respect to materials and communications sent to
shareholders in carrying out its duties to the Company under this
Agreement, and bank charges for wire transfers pursuant to Section 3(1)(d)
herein above; (ii) long distance telephone costs incurred by the Agent for
telephone communications and microfilm and storage costs for transfer
agency records and documents; (iii) costs of all ancillary and supporting
services and related expenses (other than insurance premiums) reasonably
required by and provided to the Agent, other than by its employees or
employees of an affiliate, with respect to functions of the Company being
performed by it in its capacity as Agent hereunder, including legal advice
and representation in litigation to the extent that such payments are
permitted under Paragraph 7 of this Agreement and charges to Agent made by
any Subagent; (iv) costs for special reports or information furnished on
request pursuant to this Agreement and not specifically required by the
Agent by Paragraph 3 of this Agreement; and (v) reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with the duties of the Agent
described in Paragraph (3)(1)(i). In addition, the Company agrees to
promptly pay over to the Agent any fees or payment of charges it may
receive from a shareholder for services furnished to the shareholder by the
Agent.
Services and operations incident to the sale and distribution of
the Company's shares, including sales communications, confirmations of
investments (not including reinvestment of dividends) and the clearing or
collection of payments will not be for the account or at the expense of the
Company under this Agreement.
5. Right of Company to Inspect Records, etc.
The Company will have the right under this Agreement to perform
on site inspection of records and accounts and to perform audits directly
pertaining to the Company shareholder accounts serviced by the Agent
hereunder at the Agent's or any Subagent's facilities in accordance with
reasonable procedures at the frequency necessary to assure proper
administration of the Agreement. The Agent will cooperate with the
Company's auditors or representatives of appropriate regulatory agencies
and furnish all reasonably requested records and data.
6. Insurance.
The Agent now has the insurance coverage described in Exhibit C,
attached hereto, and the Agent will not take any action to eliminate or
decrease such coverage during the term of this Agreement without receiving
the approval of the Fund in advance of any change, except the Agent, after
giving reasonable notice to the Company, may eliminate or decrease any
coverage if the premiums for such coverage are substantially increased.
7. Standard of Care; Indemnification.
The Agent will at all times exercise due diligence and good faith
in performing its duties hereunder. The Agent will make every reasonable
effort and take all reasonably available measures to assure the adequacy of
its personnel and facilities as well as the accurate performance of all
services to be performed by it hereunder within, at a minimum, the time
requirements of any applicable statutes, rules or regulations or as set
forth in the prospectus.
The Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Company agrees to
indemnify the Agent for any losses, damages or expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees and expenses) (i) resulting from any claim, demand,
action or suit not resulting from the Agent's failure to exercise good
faith or due diligence and arising out of or in connection with the Agent's
duties on behalf of the Company hereunder; (ii) for any delay, error or
omission by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of
civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties
(except with respect to the Agent's employees), fire, mechanical breakdown
beyond its control, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war,
riots, or failure beyond its control of transportation, communication or
power supply; or (iii) for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the
Agent in good faith in reliance on (a) the authenticity of any instrument
or communication reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
properly made and signed or endorsed by an appropriate person, (b) the
accuracy of any records or information provided to it by the Company, (c)
any authorization or instruction contained in any officers' instruction, or
(d) with respect to the functions performed for the Company listed under
Paragraph 3(1) of this Agreement, any advice of counsel approved by the
Company who may be internally employed counsel or outside counsel, in
either case for the Company and/or the Agent.
In order for the rights to indemnification to apply, it is
understood that if in any case the Company may be asked to indemnify or
hold the Agent harmless, the Company shall be advised of all pertinent
facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood
that the Agent will use reasonable care to identify and notify the Company
promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to
present a claim for indemnification against the Company. The Company shall
have the option to defend the Agent against any claim which may be the
subject of this indemnification and, in the event that the Company so
elects, it will so notify the Agent and thereupon the Company shall take
over complete defense of the claim and the Agent shall sustain no further
legal or other expenses in such situation for which the Agent shall seek
indemnification under this paragraph. The Agent will in no case confess any
claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Company will be asked
to indemnify the Agent except with the Company's prior written consent.
8. Term of the Agreement; Taking Effect; Amendments.
This Agreement shall become effective at the start of business on
the date hereof and shall continue, unless terminated as hereinafter
provided, for a period of one year and from year to year thereafter,
provided that such continuance shall be specifically approved as provided
below.
This Agreement shall go into effect, or may be continued, or may
be amended or a new agreement between the Company and the Agent covering
the substance of this Agreement may be entered into only if the terms of
this Agreement, such continuance, the terms of such amendment or the terms
of such new agreement have been approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company, including the vote of a majority of the directors who are not
"interested persons," as defined in the Act, of either party to this
Agreement or of Xxxxxxx & Xxxx Investment Management Company, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Such
a vote is hereinafter referred to as a "disinterested director vote."
Any disinterested director vote shall include a determination
that (i) the Agreement, amendment, new agreement or continuance in question
is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; (ii) the
services to be performed under the Agreement, the Agreement as amended, new
agreement or agreement to be continued, are services required for the
operation of the Company; (iii) the Agent can provide services the nature
and quality of which are at least equal to those provided by others
offering the same or similar services; and (iv) the fees for such services
are fair and reasonable in the light of the usual and customary charges
made by others for services of the same nature and quality.
9. Termination.
(1) This Agreement may be terminated by the Agent at any time
without penalty upon giving the Company 120 days' written notice (which
notice may be waived by the Company) and may be terminated by the Company
at any time without penalty upon giving the Agent sixty (60) days' written
notice (which notice may be waived by the Agent), provided that such
termination by the Company shall be directed or approved by the vote of a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in office at the time or
by the vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in or under the Act)
of the outstanding shares of the Company.
(2) On termination, the Agent will deliver to the Company or its
designee all files, documents and records of the Company used, kept or
maintained by the Agent in the performance of its services hereunder,
including such of the Company's records in machine readable form as may be
maintained by the Agent, as well as such summary and/or control data
relating thereto used by or available to the Agent.
(3) In the event of any termination which involves the
appointment of a new shareholder servicing agent, including the Company's
acting as such on its own behalf, the Company shall have the non-exclusive
right to the use of the data processing programs used by the Agent in
connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement without
charge.
(4) In addition, on such termination or in preparation
therefore, at the request of the Company and at the Company's expense the
Agent shall provide to the extent that its capabilities then permit such
documentation, personnel and equipment as may be reasonably necessary in
order for a new agent or the Company to fully assume and commence to
perform the agency functions described in this Agreement with a minimum
disruption to the Company's activities.
10. Construction; Governing Law.
The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof. Whenever the context
requires, words denoting singular shall be read to include the plural. This
Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be
construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Kansas, except to the extent that the laws of the State of Maryland apply
with respect to share transactions.
11. Representations and Warranties of Agent.
Agent represents and warrants that it is a corporation duly
organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Missouri, that it is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State
of Kansas and wherever its duties require, that it has the power and
authority under laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to
enter into this Shareholder Servicing Agreement and to perform the services
contemplated by this Agreement.
12. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement and the Exhibits annexed hereto constitutes the
entire and complete agreement between the parties hereto relating to the
subject matter hereof, supersedes and merges all prior discussions between
the parties hereto, and may not be modified or amended orally.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereto caused this Agreement
to be duly executed on the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXX & XXXX ADVISORS
ASSET STRATEGY FUND, INC.
By:/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Vice President
ATTEST:
By:/s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Secretary
XXXXXXX & XXXX SERVICES COMPANY
By:/s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
ATTEST:
By:/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Secretary
EXHIBIT A
A. DUTIES IN SHARE TRANSFERS AND REGISTRATION
1. The Agent in carrying out its duties shall follow general
commercial practices and the Rules of the Stock Transfer Association, Inc.
except as they may conflict or be inconsistent with the specific provisions
of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, prospectus,
applicable Federal and state laws and regulations and this Agreement.
2. The Agent shall not require that the signature of the appropriate
person be guaranteed, witnessed or verified in order to effect a
redemption, transfer, exchange or change of address except as may from time
to time be directed by the Company as set forth in an officers'
instruction. In the event a signature guarantee is required by the Company,
the Agent shall not inquire as to the genuineness of the guarantee.
3. The Agent shall not replace a lost, stolen or misplaced stock
certificate without requiring and being furnished with an open penalty
surety bond protecting the Company and the Agent against loss.
B. The practices, procedures and requirements specified in A above may be
modified, altered, varied or supplemented as from time to time may be
mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Agent and evidenced on behalf
of the Company by an officers' instruction. Any such change shall not be
deemed to be an amendment to the Agreement within the meaning of Paragraph
8 of the Agreement.
XXXXXXX & XXXX ADVISORS ASSET STRATEGY FUND, INC.
EXHIBIT B
COMPENSATION
Class A Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month of $1.4125 for each
account of the Company which was in existence during any portion of the
immediately preceding month.
Class B Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month of $1.4125 for each
account of the Company which was in existence during any portion of the
immediately preceding month.
Class C Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month of $1.4125 for each
account of the Company which was in existence during any portion of the
immediately preceding month.
Class Y Shares
An amount payable on the first day of each month equal to 1/12 of .15 of 1%
of the average daily net assets of the Class for the preceding month.
Effective September 1, 2000
EXHIBIT C
Bond or
Name of Bond Policy No. Insurer
Investment Company 87015101B ICI
Blanket Bond Form Mutual
Insurance
Company
Fidelity $24,200,000
Audit Expense 50,000
On Premises 24,200,000
In Transit 24,200,000
Forgery or Alteration 24,200,000
Securities 24,200,000
Counterfeit Currency 24,200,000
Uncollectible Items of
Deposit 25,000
Phone-Initiated Transactions 24,200,000
Directors and Officers/ 87015101D ICI
Errors and Omissions Liability Mutual
Insurance Form Insurance
Total Limit $20,000,000 Company
Blanket Lost Instrument Bond (Mail Loss) 30S100639551 Travelers
Blanket Undertaking Lost Instrument
Waiver of Probate 42SUN339806 Hartford
Casualty
Insurance
