ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Administrative Services Agreement is made as of this __th day of _____
1995 between Evergreen Variable Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (herein
called the "Trust"), and Evergreen Asset Management Corp., a New York
corporation (herein called "EAMC").
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Massachusetts business trust
consisting of one or more portfolios which operates as an open-end management
investment company and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain EAMC as its Administrator
to provide it with administrative services, and EAMC is willing to render such
services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Administrator. The Trust hereby appoints EAMC as
Administrator of the Trust and each of its portfolios on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement; and EAMC hereby accepts such appointment
and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in Section 2 of this
Agreement in consideration of the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof.
2. Services and Duties. As Administrator, and subject to the
supervision and control of the Trustees of the Trust, EAMC will hereafter
provide facilities, equipment and personnel to carry out the following
administrative services for operation of the business and affairs of the Trust
and each of its portfolios:
(a) prepare, file and maintain the Trust's governing documents,
including the Declaration of Trust (which has previously been prepared and
filed), the By- laws, minutes of meetings of Trustees and shareholders, and
proxy statements for meetings of shareholders;
(b) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the appropriate state securities authorities the registration statements for the
Trust and the Trust's shares and all amendments thereto, reports to regulatory
authorities and shareholders, prospectuses, proxy statements, and such other
documents as may be necessary or convenient to enable the Trust to make a
continuous offering of its shares;
(c) prepare, negotiate and administer contracts on behalf of the Trust
with, among others, the Trust's distributor, custodian and transfer agent;
(d) supervise the Trust's fund accounting agent in the maintenance of
the Trust's general ledger and in the preparation of the Trust's financial
statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments and the
determination of the net asset value of the Trust's assets and of the Trust's
shares, and of the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions
to shareholders;
(e) calculate performance data of the Trust for dissemination to
information services covering the investment company industry;
(f) prepare and file the Trust's tax returns;
(g) examine and review the operations of the Trust's custodian and
transfer agent;
(h) coordinate the layout and printing of publicly disseminated
prospectuses and reports;
(i) prepare various shareholder reports;
(j) assist with the design, development and operation of new portfolios
of the Trust;
(k) coordinate shareholder meetings;
(l) provide general compliance services; and
(m) advise the Trust and its Trustees on matters concerning the Trust
and its affairs.
The foregoing, along with any additional services that EAMC shall agree
in writing to perform for the Trust hereunder, shall hereafter be referred to as
"Administrative Services." Administrative Services shall not include any duties,
functions, or services to be performed for the Trust by the Trust's investment
adviser, distributor, custodian or transfer agent pursuant to their agreements
with the Trust.
3. Expenses. EAMC shall be responsible for expenses incurred in
providing office space, equipment and personnel as may be necessary or
convenient to provide the Administrative Services to the Trust. The Trust shall
be responsible for all other expenses incurred by EAMC on behalf of the Trust,
including without limitation postage and courier expenses, printing expenses,
registration fees, filing fees, fees of outside counsel and independent
auditors, insurance premiums, fees payable to Trustees who are not EAMC
employees, and trade association dues.
4. Compensation. For the Administrative Services provided, the Trust
hereby agrees to pay and EAMC hereby agrees to accept as full compensation for
its services rendered hereunder an administrative fee, calculated daily and
payable monthly, at an annual rate determined in accordance with the table
below.
Aggregate Daily Net Assets of
Funds Administered by EAMC
For Which EAMC or First Union
Administrative National Bank of North Carolina
Fee Serve as Investment Adviser
.050% on the first $7 billion
.035% on the next $3 billion
.030% on the next $5 billion
.020% on the next $10 billion
.015% on the next $5 billion
.010% on assets in excess of $30 billion
Each portfolio of the Trust shall pay a portion of the administrative fee equal
to the rate determined above times that portfolios average annual daily net
assets.
5. Responsibility of Administrator. EAMC shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in
connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss
resulting from wilful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in
the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement. EAMC shall be entitled to rely on
and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Trust) on all
matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or
omitted pursuant to such advice. Any person, even though also an officer,
director, partner, employee or agent of EAMC, who may be or become an officer,
trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering
services to the Trust or acting on any business of the Trust (other than
services or business in connection with the duties of EAMC hereunder) to be
rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust and not as an officer,
director, partner, employee or agent or one under the control or direction of
EAMC even though paid by EAMC.
6. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall be in effect until July 1, 1997, and shall
continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided it is approved, at
least annually, by a vote of a majority of Trustees of the Trust including a
majority of the disinterested Trustees.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of
any penalty, on sixty (60) day's prior written notice by a vote of a majority of
the Trust's Trustees or by EAMC.
7. Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by
the party against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought.
8. Notices. Notices of any kind to be given to the Trust hereunder by
EAMC shall be in writing and shall be duly given if delivered to the Trust and
to its investment adviser at the following address: First Union National Bank of
North Carolina, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. Notices of any kind
to be given to EAMC hereunder by the Trust shall be in writing and shall be duly
given if delivered to EAMC at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: General Counsel.
9. Limitation of Liability. EAMC is hereby expressly put on notice of
the limitation of liability as set forth in Article IX of the Declaration of
Trust and agrees that the obligations pursuant to this Agreement of a particular
portfolio and of the Trust with respect to that particular portfolio be limited
solely to the assets of that particular portfolio, and EAMC shall not seek
satisfaction of any such obligation from the assets of any other portfolio, the
shareholders of any portfolio, the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of
the Trust, or any of them.
10. Miscellaneous. 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. If any
provison of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court or
regulatory agency decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby. Subject to the provisions of Section 5
hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and shall be governed by New
York law; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any rule or regulation
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first
above written.
EVERGREEN VARIABLE TRUST
By____________________
Its:__________________
Attest:_________________
Its:_______________________
EVERGREEN ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.
By_________________________________
Its:_______________________________
Attest:________________________
Its:___________________________
