WCT Funds Page 1 September 1, 1997
Exhibit 9(i)
FORM OF
AGREEMENT
for
FUND ACCOUNTING,
SHAREHOLDER RECORDKEEPING,
and
CUSTODY SERVICES PROCUREMENT
AGREEMENT made as of September 1, 1997, by and between WCT FUNDS, having
their principal office and place of business at Federated Investors Tower,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779 (the "Trust"), on behalf of the portfolios listed on
Exhibit 1 (individually referred to herein as a "Fund" and collectively as
"Funds") of the Trust, and FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware business
trust, having its principal office and place of business at Federated Investors
Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779 (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
with authorized and issued shares of capital stock or beneficial interest
("Shares"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust may desire to retain the Company to provide certain
pricing, accounting and recordkeeping services for each of the Funds, including
any classes of shares issued by any Fund ("Classes") if so indicated on Exhibit
1, and the Company is willing to furnish such services; and
WHEREAS, the Trust may desire to appoint the Company as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent if so indicated on Exhibit 1, and agent in connection
with certain other activities, and the Company desires to accept such
appointment; and
WHEREAS, the Trust may desire to appoint the Company as its agent to
select, negotiate and subcontract for custodian services from an approved list
of qualified banks if so indicated on Exhibit 1, and the Company desires to
accept such appointment; and
WHEREAS, from time to time the Trust may desire and may instruct the
Company to subcontract for the performance of certain of its duties and
responsibilities hereunder to State Street Bank and Trust Company or another
agent (the "Agent"); and
WHEREAS, the words Trust and Fund may be used interchangeably for those
investment companies consisting of only one portfolio;
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:
SECTION ONE: Fund Accounting.
Article 1. Appointment.
The Trust hereby appoints the Company to provide certain pricing and
accounting services to the Funds, and/or the Classes, for the period and on the
terms set forth in this Agreement. The Company accepts such appointment and
agrees to furnish the services herein set forth in return for the compensation
as provided in Article 3 of this Section.
Article 2. The Company's Duties.
Subject to the supervision and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees or
Directors ("Board"), the Company will assist the Trust with regard to fund
accounting for the Trust, and/or the Funds, and/or the Classes, and in
connection therewith undertakes to perform the following specific services;
A. Value the assets of the Funds using: primarily, market
quotations, including the use of matrix pricing, supplied by the
independent pricing services selected by the Company in
consultation with the adviser, or sources selected by the
adviser, and reviewed by the board; secondarily, if a designated
pricing service does not provide a price for a security which the
Company believes should be available by market quotation, the
Company may obtain a price by calling brokers designated by the
investment adviser of the fund holding the security, or if the
adviser does not supply the names of such brokers, the Company
will attempt on its own to find brokers to price those
securities; thirdly, for securities for which no market price is
available, the Pricing Committee of the Board will determine a
fair value in good faith. Consistent with Rule 2a-4 of the 40
Act, estimates may be used where necessary or appropriate. The
Company's obligations with regard to the prices received from
outside pricing services and designated brokers or other outside
sources, is to exercise reasonable care in the supervision of the
pricing agent. The Company is not the guarantor of the securities
prices received from such agents and the Company is not liable to
the Fund for potential errors in valuing a Fund's assets or
calculating the net asset value per share of such Fund or Class
when the calculations are based upon such prices. All of the
above sources of prices used as described are deemed by the
Company to be authorized sources of security prices. The Company
provides daily to the adviser the securities prices used in
calculating the net asset value of the fund, for its use in
preparing exception reports for those prices on which the adviser
has comment. Further, upon receipt of the exception reports
generated by the adviser, the Company diligently pursues
communication regarding exception reports with the designated
pricing agents.
B. Determine the net asset value per share of each Fund and/or
Class, at the time and in the manner from time to time determined
by the Board and as set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information ("Prospectus") of each Fund;
C. Calculate the net income of each of the Funds, if any;
D. Calculate capital gains or losses of each of the Funds resulting
from sale or disposition of assets, if any;
E. Maintain the general ledger and other accounts, books and
financial records of the Trust, including for each Fund, and/or
Class, as required under Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the
Rules thereunder in connection with the services provided by the
Company;
F. Preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act
the records to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act in
connection with the services provided by the Company. The Company
further agrees that all such records it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to
the Trust such records upon the Trust's request;
G. At the request of the Trust, prepare various reports or other
financial documents required by federal, state and other
applicable laws and regulations; and
H. Performing the following accounting functions on a daily basis:
(1) Journalizing each Portfolio's investment, capital share and
income and expense activities;
(2) Reconciling cash and investment balances of each Portfolio with
the Custodian;
(3) Maintaining individual ledgers for investment securities;
(4) Maintaining historical tax lots for each investment security;
(5) Calculating various contractual expenses (e.g., advisory transfer
agency, administrative, portfolio accounting fees);
I. Preparing semi-annual financial statements, to 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
J. Preparing monthly purchase and sales journal;
K. Preparing semi-annual broker security transactions summaries;
L. At the request of the Trust, preparing or assisting with the
preparation of various reports or other financial documents required
by federal, state and other applicable laws and regulations,
including but not limited to providing financial data required in
connection with the Trust's semi-annual reports on Form N-SAR, annual
and semi-annual shareholder reports, proxy statements and
registration statements; and
M. Such other similar services as may be reasonably requested by the Trust.
Article 3. Compensation and Allocation of Expenses.
A. The Funds will compensate the Company for its services rendered
pursuant to Section One of this Agreement in accordance with the fees
agreed upon from time to time between the parties hereto. Such fees
do not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the Company for which
the Funds shall reimburse the Company upon receipt of a separate
invoice. Out-of-pocket disbursements shall include, but shall not be
limited to, the items agreed upon between the parties from time to
time.
B. The Fund and/or the Class, and not the Company, shall bear the cost
of: custodial expenses; membership dues in the Investment Company
Institute or any similar organization; transfer agency expenses;
investment advisory expenses; costs of printing and mailing stock
certificates, Prospectuses, reports and notices; administrative
expenses; interest on borrowed money; brokerage commissions; taxes
and fees payable to federal, state and other governmental agencies;
fees of Trustees or Directors of the Trust; independent auditors
expenses; Federated Administrative Services and/or Federated
Administrative Services, Inc. legal and audit department expenses
billed to Federated Services Company for work performed related to
the Trust, the Funds, or the Classes; law firm expenses; or other
expenses not specified in this Article 3 which may be properly
payable by the Funds and/or classes.
C. The compensation and out-of-pocket expenses shall be accrued by the
Fund and shall be paid to the Company no less frequently than
monthly, and shall be paid daily upon request of the Company. The
Company will maintain detailed information about the compensation and
out-of-pocket expenses by Fund and Class.
D. Any schedule of compensation agreed to hereunder, as may be
adjusted from time to time, shall be dated and signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Trust and/or the Funds and a duly
authorized officer of the Company.
E. The fee for the period from the effective date of this Agreement with
respect to a Fund or a Class to the end of the initial month shall be
prorated according to the proportion that such period bears to the
full month period. Upon any termination of this Agreement before the
end of any month, the fee for such period shall be prorated according
to the proportion which such period bears to the full month period.
For purposes of determining fees payable to the Company, the value of
the Fund's net assets shall be computed at the time and in the manner
specified in the Fund's Prospectus.
F. The Company, in its sole discretion, may from time to time
subcontract to, employ or associate with itself such person or
persons as the Company may believe to be particularly suited to
assist it in performing services under this Section One. Such person
or persons may be third-party service providers, or they may be
officers and employees who are employed by both the Company and the
Funds. The compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by
the Company and no obligation shall be incurred on behalf of the
Trust, the Funds, or the Classes in such respect.
SECTION TWO: Shareholder Recordkeeping.
Article 4. Terms of Appointment.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust
hereby appoints the Company to act as, and the Company agrees to act as,
transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for each Fund's Shares, and agent
in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided to
the shareholders of any Fund ("Shareholder(s)"), including without limitation
any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
As used throughout this Agreement, a "Proper Instruction" means a writing
signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board shall have
from time to time authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the specific
transaction or type of transaction involved. Oral instructions will be deemed to
be Proper Instructions if (a) the Company reasonably believes them to have been
given by a person previously authorized in Proper Instructions to give such
instructions with respect to the transaction involved, and (b) the Trust, or the
Fund, and the Company promptly cause such oral instructions to be confirmed in
writing. Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly
between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Trust, or the
Fund, and the Company are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate
safeguards for the Fund's assets. Proper Instructions may only be amended in
writing.
Article 5. Duties of the Company.
The Company shall perform the following services in accordance with Proper
Instructions as may be provided from time to time by the Trust as to any Fund:
A. Purchases
(1) The Company shall receive orders and payment for the
purchase of shares and promptly deliver payment and
appropriate documentation therefor to the custodian of the
relevant Fund, (the "Custodian"). The Company shall notify
the Fund and the Custodian on a daily basis of the total
amount of orders and payments so delivered.
(2) Pursuant to purchase orders and in accordance with the Fund's
current Prospectus, the Company shall compute and issue the
appropriate number of Shares of each Fund and/or Class and hold
such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder accounts.
(3) For certificated Funds and/or Classes, if a Shareholder or
its agent requests a certificate, the Company, as Transfer
Agent, shall countersign and mail by first class mail, a
certificate to the Shareholder at its address as set forth
on the transfer books of the Funds, and/or Classes, subject
to any Proper Instructions regarding the delivery of
certificates.
(4) In the event that any check or other order for the purchase
of Shares of the Fund and/or Class is returned unpaid for
any reason, the Company shall debit the Share account of the
Shareholder by the number of Shares that had been credited
to its account upon receipt of the check or other order,
promptly mail a debit advice to the Shareholder, and notify
the Fund and/or Class of its action. In the event that the
amount paid for such Shares exceeds proceeds of the
redemption of such Shares plus the amount of any dividends
paid with respect to such Shares, the Fund and/the Class or
its distributor will reimburse the Company on the amount of
such excess.
B. Distribution
(1) Upon notification by the Funds of the declaration of any
distribution to Shareholders, the Company shall act as
Dividend Disbursing Agent for the Funds in accordance with
the provisions of its governing document and the
then-current Prospectus of the Fund. The Company shall
prepare and mail or credit income, capital gain, or any
other payments to Shareholders. As the Dividend Disbursing
Agent, the Company shall, on or before the payment date of
any such distribution, notify the Custodian of the estimated
amount required to pay any portion of said distribution
which is payable in cash and request the Custodian to make
available sufficient funds for the cash amount to be paid
out. The Company shall reconcile the amounts so requested
and the amounts actually received with the Custodian on a
daily basis. If a Shareholder is entitled to receive
additional Shares by virtue of any such distribution or
dividend, appropriate credits shall be made to the
Shareholder's account, for certificated Funds and/or
Classes, delivered where requested; and
(2) The Company shall maintain records of account for each Fund and
Class and advise the Trust, each Fund and Class and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing.
C. Redemptions and Transfers
(1) The Company shall receive redemption requests and redemption
directions and, if such redemption requests comply with the
procedures as may be described in the Fund Prospectus or set
forth in Proper Instructions, deliver the appropriate
instructions therefor to the Custodian. The Company shall
notify the Funds on a daily basis of the total amount of
redemption requests processed and monies paid to the Company
by the Custodian for redemptions.
(2) At the appropriate time upon receiving redemption proceeds
from the Custodian with respect to any redemption, the
Company shall pay or cause to be paid the redemption
proceeds in the manner instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders, pursuant to procedures described in the
then-current Prospectus of the Fund.
(3) If any certificate returned for redemption or other request
for redemption does not comply with the procedures for
redemption approved by the Fund, the Company shall promptly
notify the Shareholder of such fact, together with the
reason therefor, and shall effect such redemption at the
price applicable to the date and time of receipt of
documents complying with said procedures.
(4) The Company shall effect transfers of Shares by the registered
owners thereof.
(5) The Company shall identify and process abandoned accounts and
uncashed checks for state escheat requirements on an annual basis
and report such actions to the Fund.
D. Recordkeeping
(1) The Company shall record the issuance of Shares of each
Fund, and/or Class, and maintain pursuant to applicable
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a
record of the total number of Shares of the Fund and/or
Class which are authorized, based upon data provided to it
by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. The Company shall
also provide the Fund on a regular basis or upon reasonable
request with the total number of Shares which are authorized
and issued and outstanding, but shall have no obligation
when recording the issuance of Shares, except as otherwise
set forth herein, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or
to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale
of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole
responsibility of the Funds.
(2) The Company shall establish and maintain records pursuant to
applicable rules of the SEC relating to the services to be
performed hereunder in the form and manner as agreed to by the
Trust or the Fund to include a record for each Shareholder's
account of the following:
(a) Name, address and tax identification number (and whether such
number has been certified);
(b) Number of Shares held;
(c) Historical information regarding the account, including dividends
paid and date and price for all transactions;
(d) Any stop or restraining order placed against the account;
(e) Information with respect to withholding in the case of a foreign
account or an account for which withholding is required by the
Internal Revenue Code;
(f) Any dividend reinvestment order, plan application, dividend
address and correspondence relating to the current maintenance of
the account;
(g) Certificate numbers and denominations for any Shareholder holding
certificates;
(h) Any information required in order for the Company to perform the
calculations contemplated or required by this Agreement.
(3) The Company shall preserve any such records required to be
maintained pursuant to the rules of the SEC for the periods
prescribed in said rules as specifically noted below. Such record
retention shall be at the expense of the Company, and such
records may be inspected by the Fund at reasonable times. The
Company may, at its option at any time, and shall forthwith upon
the Fund's demand, turn over to the Fund and cease to retain in
the Company's files, records and documents created and maintained
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, which are no longer
needed by the Company in performance of its services or for its
protection. If not so turned over to the Fund, such records and
documents will be retained by the Company for six years from the
year of creation, during the first two of which such documents
will be in readily accessible form. At the end of the six year
period, such records and documents will either be turned over to
the Fund or destroyed in accordance with Proper Instructions.
E. Confirmations/Reports
(1) The Company shall furnish to the Fund, and the Fund's Investment
Adviser, periodically the following information:
(a) A copy of the transaction register;
(b) Dividend and reinvestment blotters;
(c) The total number of Shares issued and outstanding in each state
for "blue sky" purposes as determined according to Proper
Instructions delivered from time to time by the Fund to the
Company;
(d) Shareholder lists and statistical information;
(e) Payments to third parties relating to distribution agreements,
allocations of sales loads, redemption fees, or other
transaction- or sales-related payments;
(f) Such other information as may be agreed upon from time to time.
(2) The Company shall prepare in the appropriate form, file with
the Internal Revenue Service and appropriate state agencies,
and, if required, mail to Shareholders, such notices for
reporting dividends and distributions paid as are required
to be so filed and mailed and shall withhold such sums as
are required to be withheld under applicable federal and
state income tax laws, rules and regulations.
(3) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth above,
the Company shall:
(a) Perform all of the customary services of a transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant,
agent in connection with accumulation, open-account
or similar plans (including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal
program), including but not limited to: maintaining
all Shareholder accounts, mailing Shareholder
reports and Prospectuses to current Shareholders,
withholding taxes on accounts subject to back-up or
other withholding (including non-resident alien
accounts), preparing and filing reports on U.S.
Treasury Department Form 1099 and other appropriate
forms required with respect to dividends and
distributions by federal authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation
forms and statements of account to Shareholders for
all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
conformable transactions in Shareholder accounts,
preparing and mailing activity statements for
Shareholders, and providing Shareholder account
information; and
(b) provide a system which will enable the Fund to
monitor the total number of Shares of each Fund
and/or Class sold in each state ("blue sky
reporting"). The Fund shall by Proper Instructions
(i) identify to the Company those transactions and
assets to be treated as exempt from the blue sky
reporting for each state and (ii) verify the
classification of transactions for each state on
the system prior to activation and thereafter
monitor the daily activity for each state. The
responsibility of the Company for each Fund's
and/or Class's state blue sky registration status
is limited solely to the recording of the initial
classification of transactions or accounts with
regard to blue sky compliance and the reporting of
such transactions and accounts to the Fund as
provided above.
F. Other Duties
(1) The Company shall answer correspondence from Shareholders
relating to their Share accounts and such other correspondence as
may from time to time be addressed to the Company;
(2) The Company shall prepare Shareholder meeting lists, mail proxy
cards and other material supplied to it by the Fund in connection
with Shareholder Meetings of each Fund; receive, examine and
tabulate returned proxies, and certify the vote of the
Shareholders;
(3) The Company shall establish and maintain facilities and
procedures for safekeeping of stock certificates, check forms and
facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for the
preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such
certificates, forms and devices.
Article 6. Duties of the Trust.
A. Compliance
The Trust or Fund assume full responsibility for the preparation,
contents and distribution of their own and/or their classes'
Prospectus and for complying with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the 1940 Act and
any laws, rules and regulations of government authorities having
jurisdiction.
B. Share Certificates
The Trust shall supply the Company with a sufficient supply of blank
Share certificates and from time to time shall renew such supply upon
request of the Company. Such blank Share certificates shall be
properly signed, manually or by facsimile, if authorized by the Trust
and shall bear the seal of the Trust or facsimile thereof; and
notwithstanding the death, resignation or removal of any officer of
the Trust authorized to sign certificates, the Company may continue
to countersign certificates which bear the manual or facsimile
signature of such officer until otherwise directed by the Trust.
C. Distributions
The Fund shall promptly inform the Company of the declaration of any
dividend or distribution on account of any Fund's shares.
Article 7. Compensation and Expenses.
A. Annual Fee
For performance by the Company pursuant to Section Two of this
Agreement, the Trust and/or the Fund agree to pay the Company an
annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as agreed upon
between the parties and as may be added to or amended from time to
time. Such fees may be changed from time to time subject to written
agreement between the Trust and the Company. Pursuant to information
in the Fund Prospectus or other information or instructions from the
Fund, the Company may sub-divide any Fund into Classes or other
sub-components for recordkeeping purposes. The Company will charge
the Fund the same fees for each such Class or sub-component the same
as if each were a Fund.
B. Reimbursements
In addition to the fee paid under Article 7A above, the Trust and/or
Fund agree to reimburse the Company for out-of-pocket expenses or
advances incurred by the Company for the items agreed upon between
the parties, as may be added to or amended from time to time. In
addition, any other expenses incurred by the Company at the request
or with the consent of the Trust and/or the Fund, will be reimbursed
by the appropriate Fund.
C. Payment
The compensation and out-of-pocket expenses shall be accrued by the
Fund and shall be paid to the Company no less frequently than
monthly, and shall be paid daily upon request of the Company. The
Company will maintain detailed information about the compensation and
out-of-pocket expenses by Fund and Class.
D. Any schedule of compensation agreed to hereunder, as may be
adjusted from time to time, shall be dated and signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Trust and/or the Funds and a duly
authorized officer of the Company.
Article 8. Assignment of Shareholder Recordkeeping.
Except as provided below, no right or obligation under this Section Two may
be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party.
A. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the parties and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.
B. The Company may without further consent on the part of the Trust
subcontract for the performance hereof with (A) State Street Bank and
its subsidiary, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a Massachusetts
Trust ("BFDS"), which is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant
to Section 17A(c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any succeeding statute ("Section 17A(c)(1)"), or (B) a
BFDS subsidiary duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to
Section 17A(c)(1), or (C) a BFDS affiliate, or (D) such other
provider of services duly registered as a transfer agent under
Section 17A(c)(1) as Company shall select; provided, however, that
the Company shall be as fully responsible to the Trust for the acts
and omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts and
omissions; or
C. The Company shall upon instruction from the Trust subcontract for the
performance hereof with an Agent selected by the Trust, other than
BFDS or a provider of services selected by Company, as described in
(2) above; provided, however, that the Company shall in no way be
responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of the Agent.
SECTION THREE: Custody Services Procurement.
Article 9. Appointment.
The Trust hereby appoints Company as its agent to evaluate and obtain
custody services from a financial institution that (i) meets the criteria
established in Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and (ii) has been approved by the
Board as eligible for selection by the Company as a custodian (the "Eligible
Custodian"). The Company accepts such appointment.
Article 10. The Company and Its Duties.
Subject to the review, supervision and control of the Board, the Company
shall:
A. evaluate the nature and the quality of the custodial services
provided by the Eligible Custodian;
B. employ the Eligible Custodian to serve on behalf of the Trust as
Custodian of the Trust's assets substantially on the terms set
forth as the form of agreement in Exhibit 2;
C. negotiate and enter into agreements with the Custodians for the
benefit of the Trust, with the Trust as a party to each such
agreement. The Company shall not be a party to any agreement with
any such Custodian;
D. establish procedures to monitor the nature and the quality of the
services provided by the Custodians;
E. continuously monitor the nature and the quality of services
provided by the Custodians; and
F. periodically provide to the Trust (i) written reports on the
activities and services of the Custodians; (ii) the nature and amount
of disbursement made on account of the Trust with respect to each
custodial agreement; and (iii) such other information as the Board
shall reasonably request to enable it to fulfill its duties and
obligations under Sections 17(f) and 36(b) of the 1940 Act and other
duties and obligations thereof.
Article 11. Fees and Expenses.
A. Annual Fee
For the performance by the Company pursuant to Section Three of this
Agreement, the Trust and/or the Fund agree to pay the Company an annual fee as
agreed upon between the parties.
B. Reimbursements
In addition to the fee paid under Section 11A above, the Trust and/or
Fund agree to reimburse the Company for out-of-pocket expenses or
advances incurred by the Company for the items agreed upon between
the parties, as may be added to or amended from time to time. In
addition, any other expenses incurred by the Company at the request
or with the consent of the Trust and/or the Fund, will be reimbursed
by the appropriate Fund.
C. Payment
The compensation and out-of-pocket expenses shall be accrued by the
Fund and shall be paid to the Company no less frequently than
monthly, and shall be paid daily upon request of the Company. The
Company will maintain detailed information about the compensation and
out-of-pocket expenses by Fund.
D. Any schedule of compensation agreed to hereunder, as may be
adjusted from time to time, shall be dated and signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Trust and/or the Funds and a duly
authorized officer of the Company.
Article 12. Representations.
The Company represents and warrants that it has obtained all required
approvals from all government or regulatory authorities necessary to enter into
this arrangement and to provide the services contemplated in Section Three of
this Agreement.
SECTION FOUR: General Provisions.
Article 13. Documents. A. In connection with the appointment of the
Company under this Agreement, the Trust shall file with the
Company the following documents:
(1) A copy of the Charter and By-Laws of the Trust and all amendments
thereto;
(2) A copy of the resolution of the Board of the Trust authorizing
this Agreement;
(3) Specimens of all forms of outstanding Share certificates of the
Trust or the Funds in the forms approved by the Board of the
Trust with a certificate of the Secretary of the Trust as to such
approval;
(4) All account application forms and other documents relating to
Shareholders accounts; and
(5) A copy of the current Prospectus for each Fund.
B. The Fund will also furnish from time to time the following documents:
(1) Each resolution of the Board of the Trust authorizing the
original issuance of each Fund's, and/or Class's Shares;
(2) Each Registration Statement filed with the SEC and amendments
thereof and orders relating thereto in effect with respect to the
sale of Shares of any Fund, and/or Class;
(3) A certified copy of each amendment to the governing document and
the By-Laws of the Trust;
(4) Certified copies of each vote of the Board authorizing officers
to give Proper Instructions to the Custodian and agents for fund
accountant, custody services procurement, and shareholder
recordkeeping or transfer agency services;
(5) Specimens of all new Share certificates representing Shares of
any Fund, accompanied by Board resolutions approving such forms;
(6) Such other certificates, documents or opinions which the Company
may, in its discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in the
proper performance of its duties; and
(7) Revisions to the Prospectus of each Fund.
Article 14. Representations and Warranties.
A. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company represents and warrants to the Trust that:
(1) It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(2) It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of
Delaware.
(3) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
by-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(4) All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize
it to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(5) It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and
obligations under this Agreement.
(6) It is in compliance with federal securities law requirements and
in good standing as a transfer agent.
(7) It is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section
17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
B. Representations and Warranties of the Trust
The Trust represents and warrants to the Company that:
(1) It is an investment company duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of its state of organization;
(2) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and
By-Laws to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement;
(3) All corporate proceedings required by said Charter and By-Laws
have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement;
(4) The Trust is an open-end investment company registered under the
1940 Act; and
(5) A registration statement under the 1933 Act will be effective,
and appropriate state securities law filings have been made and
will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of each Fund
being offered for sale.
Article 15. Standard of Care and Indemnification.
A. Standard of Care
The Company shall be held to a standard of reasonable care in
carrying out the provisions of this Contract. The Company 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,
provided that such action is not in violation of applicable federal
or state laws or regulations, and is in good faith and without
negligence.
B. Indemnification by Trust
The Company shall not be responsible for and the Trust or Fund shall
indemnify and hold the Company, including its officers, directors,
shareholders and their agents employees and affiliates, harmless
against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees,
payments, expenses and liabilities arising out of or attributable to:
(1) The acts or omissions of any Custodian, Adviser, Sub-adviser or
other party (other than the Company) contracted by or approved by
the Trust or Fund,
(2) The reliance on or use by the Company or its agents or
subcontractors of information, records and documents in proper
form which
(a) are received by the Company or its agents or
subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf
of the Fund, its Shareholders or investors
regarding the purchase, redemption or transfer of
Shares and Shareholder account information;
(b) are received by the Company from independent pricing services or
sources for use in valuing the assets of the Funds; or
(c) are received by the Company or its agents or
subcontractors from Advisers, Sub-advisers or other
third parties contracted by or approved by the
Trust of Fund for use in the performance of
services under this Agreement;
(d) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or its
affiliates or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust.
(3) The reliance on, or the carrying out by the Company or its agents
or subcontractors of Proper Instructions of the Trust or the
Fund.
(4) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement
under the federal securities laws or regulations or the
securities laws or regulations of any state that such Shares
be registered in such state or in violation of any stop
order or other determination or ruling by any federal agency
or any state with respect to the offer or sale of such
Shares in such state.
Provided, however, that the Company shall not be protected
by this Article 15.B. from liability for any act or omission
resulting from the Company's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
negligence or reckless disregard of its duties of failure to
meet the standard of care set forth in 15.A. above.
C. Reliance
At any time the Company may apply to any officer of the Trust or Fund
for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel with respect to
any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by
the Company under this Agreement, and the Company and its agents or
subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the
Trust or the appropriate Fund for any action reasonably taken or
omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion
of such counsel provided such action is not in violation of
applicable federal or state laws or regulations. The Company, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in
recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably believed to bear
the proper manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of the
Trust or the Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former
transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or
co-registrar.
D. Notification
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
Article 15 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which
either party may be required to indemnify the other, the party
seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such
assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all
developments concerning such claim. The party who may be required to
indemnify shall have the option to participate with the party seeking
indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any
compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to
indemnify it except with the other party's prior written consent.
Article 16. Termination of Agreement.
This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred twenty
(120) days written notice to the other. Should the Trust exercise its rights to
terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses associated with the movement of records
and materials will be borne by the Trust or the appropriate Fund. Additionally,
the Company reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses
associated with such termination. The provisions of Article 15 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
Article 17. Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed
by both parties.
Article 18. Interpretive and Additional Provisions.
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Company and the
Trust may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in
addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be
annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions
shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of
the Charter. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the
preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
Article 19. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Article 20. Notices.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, Notices and other
writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Trust at Federated Investors
Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-3779, or to the Company at Federated
Investors Tower, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222-3779, or to such other address
as the Trust or the Company may hereafter specify, shall be deemed to have been
properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective address.
Article 21. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original.
Article 22. Limitations of Liability of Trustees and Shareholders of the Trust.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the
Trustees of the Trust and signed by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting
as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and
delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, and the
obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or
Shareholders of the Trust, but bind only the appropriate property of the Fund,
or Class, as provided in the Declaration of Trust.
Article 23. Limitations of Liability of Trustees and Shareholders of the
Company.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the
Trustees of the Company and signed by an authorized officer of the Company,
acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such
execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any
of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, and
the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or
Shareholders of the Company, but bind only the property of the Company as
provided in the Declaration of Trust.
Article 24. Merger of Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject hereof whether
oral or written.
Article 25. Successor Agent.
If a successor agent for the Trust shall be appointed by the Trust, the
Company shall upon termination of this Agreement deliver to such successor agent
at the office of the Company all properties of the Trust held by it hereunder.
If no such successor agent shall be appointed, the Company shall at its office
upon receipt of Proper Instructions deliver such properties in accordance with
such instructions.
In the event that no written order designating a successor agent or Proper
Instructions shall have been delivered to the Company on or before the date when
such termination shall become effective, then the Company shall have the right
to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in the 1940
Act, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided
profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $2,000,000, all
properties held by the Company under this Agreement. Thereafter, such bank or
trust company shall be the successor of the Company under this Agreement.
Article 26. Force Majeure.
The Company shall have no liability for cessation of services hereunder or
any damages resulting therefrom to the Fund as a result of work stoppage, power
or other mechanical failure reasonably beyond its control, natural disaster,
governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of
performance.
Article 27. Assignment; Successors.
This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party without the prior
written consent of the other party, except that either party may assign to a
successor all of or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such party. Nothing in
this Article 28 shall prevent the Company from delegating its responsibilities
to another entity to the extent provided herein.
Article 28. Severability.
In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, void or
unenforceable, the balance shall remain in effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused Sections One, Two and
Four of this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf under
their seals by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and
year first above written.
ATTEST: WCT FUNDS
By:
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
ATTEST: FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY
By:
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
EXHIBIT 1
CONTRACT
DATE INVESTMENT COMPANY
Portfolios
Classes
9/1/97 WCT FUNDS
WCT Equity Fund
SCHEDULE A
STANDARD DOMESTIC FUNDS
Fund Accounting
Fee Schedule
I. Annual Fees for Portfolio Record Keeping/Fund Accounting Services
First $100 Million 3.0 Basis Points
$100 Million - $300 Million 2.0 Basis Points
$300 Million - $500 Million 1.0 Basis Points
Over $500 Million 0.5 Basis Points
Fund Minimum $39,000
Additional Class of Shares $12,000
(Plus pricing charges and other out-of-pocket expenses)
II. Pricing Charges
Monthly Base Pricing Charge: $375 per month/fund
In addition, each Fund shall reimburse the Company for third-party
pricing service charges.
III. Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
SAS 70 audit reports, postage (including overnight courier service), telephones,
telecommunication charges (including FAX), travel made at the client's request,
duplicating, forms, supplies, micorfiche, computer access charges for client
specific system enhancements ,access to the shareholder recordkeeping system,
security pricing services, variable rate change notification services, paydown
factor notification services. The Company shall provide documentation supporting
out-of-pocket expenses upon the Trust's request.
IV. Cost of Living Increase
The minimum fee set forth in this Schedule may increase annually upon
each September 1 anniversary of this Agreement over the minimum fee during the
prior 12 months, as calculated under this Schedule, in an amount equal to the
increase in Pennsylvania Consumer Price Index (not to exceed 6% annually) as
last reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve months
immediately preceding such anniversary.
V. Payment
Payment is due thirty days after the date of the invoice.
V. Term of Schedule
The parties agree that this fee schedule shall become effective September 1,
1997 and will remain in effect until it is revised as a result of negotiations
initiated by either party.
WCT FUNDS FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY
By: By:
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Transfer Agency Agreement
between
Federated Services Company
and
WCT Funds
Base Fee* Annual fee per fund, class or other subdivision. $24,000
---------
Account Fee* Annual account charge( includes system access
and funds control and reconcilement)
Daily dividend fund $16.00
Non-daily dividend fund $10.00
Other Account Fees* Services or features not covered above.
Account Activity Processing( includes account
establishment, transaction and maintenance processing) $ 3.50
Account Servicing(includes shareholder servicing and
correspondence) $ 4.50
Contingent deferred sales charge( monthly and quarterly
funds only) $ 5.00
Cost of Living Increase
The fees and expenses set forth in this Schedule may increase annually upon each
September 1 anniversary of this Agreement over the fees and expenses during the
prior 12 months, as calculated under this Schedule, in an amount equal to the
annual percentage increase of the Pennsylvania Consumer Price Index (not to
exceed 6% annually) as last reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for
the twelve months immediately preceding such anniversary."
*All fees are annualized and will be prorated on a monthly basis for billing
purposes. Out of pocket expenses are not covered by these fees.
Transfer Agency Agreement
between
Federated Services Company
and
WCT Funds
Out-of-Pocket Expenses Schedule
Out-of-Pocket Expenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
Postage (including overnight courier service)
Statement Stock
Envelopes
Telephones
Telecommunication Charges (including FAX and Dedicated Line Charges)
VRU Application
Closed account Charges
12b-1 Processing Fees
Third Party Expenses (ie; NSCC fees)
Fiduciary Subaccounting Fee
Travel
Duplicating
Forms
Supplies
Microfiche
Computer Access Charges
Customized Programming and Reporting
Disaster Recovery
Other as Incurred
WCT FUNDS FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY
By: By:
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
