The Agreement between X. Xxxx Price Associates, Inc. and
X. Xxxx Price Funds for Fund Accounting Services, dated January
1, 1997.
PAGE 1
AGREEMENT
between
X. XXXX PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
and
THE X. XXXX PRICE FUNDS
for
FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
PAGE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article A Terms of Appointment/Duties of Price
Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Article B Fees and Out-of-Pocket Expenses . . . . . . . . 2
Article C Representations and Warranties of Price
Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Article D Representations and Warranties of the Fund . . . 3
Article E Ownership of Software and Related Material . . . 3
Article F Quality Service Standards . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Article G Standard of Care/Indemnification . . . . . . . . 4
Article H Dual Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Article I Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Article J Recordkeeping/Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . 6
Article K Compliance with Governmental Rules and
Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article L Terms and Termination of Agreement . . . . . . . 7
Article M Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article N Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article O Amendment/Interpretive Provisions . . . . . . . 8
Article P Further Assurances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article Q Maryland Law to Apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article R Merger of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article S Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article T The Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PAGE 3
Article U Directors, Trustee and Shareholders and
Massachusetts Business Trust . . . . . . . . . . 9
Article V Captions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
PAGE 4
AGREEMENT made as of the first day of January, 1997, by and
between X. XXXX PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC., a Maryland corporation
having its principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 ("Price Associates"), and
each Fund which is listed on Appendix A (as such Appendix may be
amended from time to time) and which evidences its agreement to
be bound hereby by executing a copy of this Agreement (each such
Fund individually hereinafter referred to as "the Fund", whose
definition may be found in Article T);
WHEREAS, Price Associates has the capability of providing
the Funds with certain accounting services ("Accounting
Services");
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint Price Associates to
provide these Accounting Services and Price Associates desires to
accept such appointment;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Fund has authorized
the Fund to utilize various pricing services for the purpose of
providing to Price Associates securities prices for the
calculation of the Fund's net asset value.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
PAGE 5
A. Terms of Appointment/Duties of Price Associates
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints Price Associates
to provide, and Price Associates agrees to provide, the following
Accounting Services:
a. Maintain for each Fund a daily trial balance, a general
ledger, subsidiary records and capital stock accounts;
b. Maintain for each Fund an investment ledger, including
amortized bond and foreign dollar denominated costs
where applicable;
c. Maintain for each Fund all records relating to the
Fund's income and expenses;
d. Provide for the daily valuation of each Fund's
portfolio securities and the computation of each Fund's
daily net asset value per share. Such daily valuations
shall be made in accordance with the valuation policies
established by each of the Fund's Board of Directors
including, but not limited to, the utilization of such
pricing valuation sources and/or pricing services as
determined by the Boards. Price Associates shall have
no liability for any losses or damages incurred by the
Fund as a result of erroneous portfolio security
evaluations provided by such designated sources and/or
pricing services; provided that, Price Associates
reasonably
PAGE 6
believes the prices are accurate, has adhered to its
normal verification control procedures, and has
otherwise met the standard of care as set forth in
Article G of this Agreement;
e. Provide daily cash flow and transaction status
information to each Fund's adviser;
f. Authorize the payment of Fund expenses, either through
instruction of custodial bank or utilization of
custodian's automated transfer system;
g. Prepare for each Fund such financial information that
is reasonably necessary for shareholder reports,
reports to the Board of Directors and to the officers
of the Fund, and reports to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and other
Federal and state regulatory agencies;
h. Provide each Fund with such advice that may be
reasonably necessary to properly account for all
financial transactions and to maintain the Fund's
accounting procedures and records so as to insure
compliance with generally accepted accounting and tax
practices and rules;
i. Maintain for each Fund all records that may be
reasonably required in connection with the audit
performed by each Fund's independent accountant, the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Internal
Revenue Service or such other Federal or state
regulatory agencies; and
j. Cooperate with each Fund's independent public
accountants and take all reasonable action in the
performance of its
PAGE 7
obligations under the Agreement to assure that the
necessary information is made available to such
accountants for the expression of their opinion without
any qualification as to the scope of their examination
including, but not limited to, their opinion included
in each such Fund's annual report on Form N-SAR and
annual amendment to Form N-1A.
B. Fees and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Each Fund shall pay to Price Associates for its Accounting
Services hereunder, fees as set forth in the Schedule attached
hereto. In addition, each Fund will reimburse Price Associates
for out-of-pocket expenses such as postage, printed forms, voice
and data transmissions, record retention, disaster recovery,
third party vendors, equipment leases and other similar items as
may be agreed upon between Price Associates and the Fund. Some
invoices will contain costs for both the Funds and other funds
services by Price Associates. In these cases, a reasonable
allocation methodology will be used to allocate these costs to
the Funds.
C. Representations and Warrantees of Price Associates
Price Associates represents and warrants to the Fund that:
1. It is a corporation duly organized and existing in good
standing under the laws of Maryland.
2. It is duly qualified to carry on its business in
Maryland.
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 this Agreement.
PAGE 8
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.
D. Representations and Warrantees of the Fund
The Fund represents and warrants to Price Associates that:
1. It is a corporation or business trust, as the case may
be, duly organized and existing and in good standing under the
laws of Maryland or Massachusetts, as the case may be.
2. It is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case
may be, and By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into
and perform this Agreement.
3. All proceedings required by said Articles of
Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case may be, and
By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform
this Agreement.
E. Ownership of Software and Related Material
All computer programs, magnetic tapes, written procedures,
and similar items purchased and/or developed and used by Price
Associates in performance of the Agreement shall be the property
of Price Associates and will not become the property of the
Funds.
F. Quality Service Standards
Price Associates and the Fund may, from time to time, agree
to certain quality service standards, with respect to Price
Associates' services hereunder.
G. Standard of Care/Indemnification
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:
PAGE 9
1. Where a Pricing Error results in loss or dilution to a
Fund of less than $10,000, the determination of liability for the
error will be made by Price Associates. Where a Pricing Error
results in loss or dilution to a Fund of $10,000 or more but less
than $100,000, liability for the error will be resolved through
negotiations between Fund Counsel and Price Associates. Where a
Pricing Error results in loss or dilution to a Fund of the lesser
of 1/2 of 1% of NAV or $100,000 or more, the error will be
promptly reported to the Board of Directors of the Fund (unless
the Fund is fully compensated for the loss or dilution), provided
that final settlement with respect to such errors will not be
made until approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund. A
summary of all Pricing Errors and their effect on the Funds will
be reported to the Funds Audit Committee on an annual basis. In
determining the liability of Price Associates for a Pricing
Error, an error or omission will not be deemed to constitute
negligence when it is determined that:
o Price Associates had in place "appropriate procedures
and an adequate system of internal controls;"
o the employee responsible for the error or omission had
been reasonably trained and was being appropriately
monitored; and
o the error or omission did not result from wanton or
reckless conduct on the part of the employee.
It is understood that Price Associates is not obligated to
have in place separate procedures to prevent each and every
conceivable type of error or omission. The term "appropriate
procedures and adequate system of internal controls" shall
PAGE 10
mean procedures and controls reasonably designed to prevent
and detect errors and omissions. In determining the
reasonableness of such procedures and controls, weight will
be given to such factors as are appropriate, including the
prior occurrence of any similar errors or omissions, when
such procedures and controls were in place and fund
accounting industry standards in place at the time of the
error.
2. The Fund shall indemnify and hold Price Associates
harmless from and against all losses, costs, damages, claims,
actions, and expenses, including reasonable expenses for legal
counsel, incurred by Price Associates resulting from: (i) any
action or omission by Price Associates or its agents or
subcontractors in the performance of their duties hereunder; (ii)
Price Associates acting upon instructions believed by it to have
been executed by a duly authorized officer of the Fund; or (iii)
Price Associates acting upon information provided by the Fund in
form and under policies agreed to by Price Associates and the
Fund. Price Associates shall not be entitled to such
indemnification in respect of actions or omissions constituting
negligence or willful misconduct of Price Associates or where
Price Associates has not exercised reasonable care in selecting
or monitoring the performance of its agents or subcontractors.
3. Price Associates shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund from all losses, costs, damages, claims, actions and
expenses, including reasonable expenses for legal counsel,
incurred by the Fund resulting from the negligence or willful
misconduct of Price Associates or which result from Price
Associates' failure to
PAGE 11
exercise reasonable care in selecting or monitoring the
performance
of its agents or subcontractors. The Fund shall not be entitled
to such indemnification with respect to actions or omissions
constituting negligence or willful misconduct of such Fund or its
agents or subcontractors; unless such negligence or misconduct is
attributable to Price Associates.
4. In the event either party is unable to perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of
God, strikes or other causes reasonably beyond its control, such
party shall not be liable to the other party for any loss, cost,
damage, claim, action or expense resulting from such failure to
perform or otherwise from such causes.
5. In order that the indemnification provisions contained
in this Article G 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, or to defend against said claim in its own name or
in the name of the other party. 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.
6. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the
other party for consequential damages under any provision of this
Agreement.
PAGE 12
H. Dual Interests
It is understood that some person or persons may be
directors, officers, or shareholders of both the Fund and Price
Associates (including Price Associates' affiliates), and that the
existence of any such dual interest shall not affect the validity
of this Agreement or of any transactions hereunder except as
otherwise provided by a specific provision of applicable law.
I. Documentation
As requested by Price Associates, the Fund shall promptly
furnish to Price Associates such documents as it may reasonably
request and as are necessary for Price Associates to carry out
its responsibilities hereunder.
J. Recordkeeping/Confidentiality
1. Price Associates shall keep records relating to the
services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it
may deem advisable, provided that Price Associates shall keep all
records in such form and in such manner as required by applicable
law, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("the Act") and
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("the '34 Act").
2. Price Associates and the Fund agree that all books,
records, information and data pertaining to the business of the
other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the
negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain
confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other
person, except: (a) after prior notification to and approval in
writing by the other party hereto, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where Price
Associates or Fund may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
PAGE 13
proceedings for failure to comply; (b) when requested to divulge
such information by duly constituted governmental authorities; or
(c) after so requested by the other party hereto.
K. Compliance With Governmental Rules and Regulations
Except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and except for
the accuracy of information furnished to the Funds by Price
Associates, each Fund assumes full responsibility for the
preparation, contents and distribution of its prospectuses, and
for complying with all applicable requirements of the Act, the
'34 Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (the "33 Act"), and any laws,
rules and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction over the Funds.
L. Term and Termination of Agreement
1. This Agreement shall run for a period of one (1) year
from the date first written above and will be renewed from year
to year thereafter unless terminated by either party as provided
hereunder.
2. This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund upon sixty
(60) days' written notice to Price Associates; and by Price
Associates, upon three hundred sixty-five (365) days' writing
notice to the Fund.
3. Upon termination hereof, the Fund shall pay to Price
Associates such compensation as may be due as of the date of such
termination, and shall likewise reimburse for out-of-pocket
expenses related to its services hereunder.
M. Notice
Any notice as required by this Agreement shall be
sufficiently given (i) when sent to an authorized person of the
other party at
PAGE 14
the address of such party set forth above or at such other
address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to
the other party; or (ii) as otherwise agreed upon by appropriate
officers of the parties hereto.
N. Assignment
Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
hereunder may be assigned either voluntarily or involuntarily, by
operation of law or otherwise, by either party without the prior
written consent of the other party, provided this shall not
preclude Price Associates from employing such agents and
subcontractors as it deems appropriate to carry out its
obligations set forth hereunder.
O. Amendment/Interpretive Provisions
The parties by mutual written agreement may amend this
Agreement at any time. In addition, in connection with the
operation of this Agreement, Price Associates and the Fund may
agree from time to time 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 are to
be signed by all parties and annexed hereto, but no such
provision shall contravene any applicable Federal or state law or
regulation and no such interpretive or additional provision shall
be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
PAGE 15
P. Further Assurances
Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute
such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the
purposes hereof.
Q. Maryland Law to Apply
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of Maryland.
R. Merger of Agreement
This Agreement, including the attached Appendix and Schedule
supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
hereof, whether oral or written.
S. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any
number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instruments.
T. The Parties
All references herein to "the Fund" are to each of the Funds
listed on Appendix A individually, as if this Agreement were
between such individual Fund and Price Associates. In the case
of a series Fund or trust, all references to "the Fund" are to
the individual series or portfolio of such Fund or trust, or to
such Fund or trust on behalf of the individual series or
portfolio, as appropriate. The "Fund" also includes any X. Xxxx
Price Funds which may be established after the execution of this
Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement to "the parties"
shall mean Price
PAGE 16
Associates and such other individual Fund as to which the matter
pertains.
U. Directors, Trustees and Shareholders and Massachusetts
Business Trust
It is understood and is expressly stipulated that neither
the holders of shares in the Fund nor any Directors or Trustees
of the Fund shall be personally liable hereunder.
With respect to any Fund which is a party to this Agreement
and which is organized as a Massachusetts business trust, the
term "Fund" means and refers to the trustees from time to time
serving under the applicable trust agreement (Declaration of
Trust) of such Trust as the same may be amended from time to
time. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of any such
Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the trustees,
shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the
Trust, personally, but bind only the trust property of the Trust,
as provided in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement has been authorized by
the trustees 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, but shall bind only the trust
property of the Trust as provided in its Declaration of Trust.
PAGE 17
V. Captions
The captions in the Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or
effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf under
their seals by and through their duly authorized officers.
X. XXXX PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. X. XXXX PRICE FUNDS
/s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
BY:_____________________ BY:_____________________
DATED:__________________ DATED:__________________
PAGE 18
APPENDIX A
X. XXXX PRICE BALANCED FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE BLUE CHIP GROWTH FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE
INCOME TRUST
California Tax-Free Bond Fund
California Tax-Free Money Fund
X. XXXX PRICE CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND
X. XXXX PRICE CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE CORPORATE INCOME FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE EQUITY INCOME FUND
X. XXXX PRICE EQUITY SERIES, INC.
X. Xxxx Price Equity Income Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price New America Growth Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Personal Strategy Balanced
Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
X. XXXX PRICE FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE FIXED INCOME SERIES, INC.
X. Xxxx Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
X. XXXX PRICE GNMA FUND
X. XXXX PRICE GROWTH & INCOME FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE GROWTH STOCK FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE HEALTH SCIENCES FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE INDEX TRUST, INC.
X. Xxxx Price Equity Index Fund
INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY FUNDS, INC.
Mid-Cap Equity Growth Fund
INSTITUTIONAL INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
Foreign Equity Fund
PAGE 19
X. XXXX PRICE INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
X. Xxxx Price International Bond Fund
X. Xxxx Price International Discovery Fund
X. Xxxx Price International Stock Fund
X. Xxxx Price European Stock Fund
X. Xxxx Price New Asia Fund
X. Xxxx Price Global Government Bond Fund
X. Xxxx Price Japan Fund
X. Xxxx Price Latin America Fund
X. Xxxx Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund
X. Xxxx Price Emerging Markets Stock Fund
X. Xxxx Price Global Stock Fund
X. XXXX PRICE INTERNATIONAL SERIES, INC.
X. Xxxx Price International Stock Portfolio
X. XXXX PRICE MID-CAP GROWTH FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE MID-CAP VALUE FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE NEW AMERICA GROWTH FUND
X. XXXX PRICE NEW ERA FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE NEW HORIZONS FUNDS, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE NEW INCOME FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE OTC FUND, INC.
X. Xxxx Price OTC Fund
X. XXXX PRICE PERSONAL STRATEGY FUNDS, INC.
X. Xxxx Price Personal Strategy Balanced Fund
X. Xxxx Price Personal Strategy Growth Fund
X. Xxxx Price Personal Strategy Income Fund
X. XXXX PRICE PRIME RESERVE FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE SHORT-TERM BOND FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND,
INC.
X. XXXX PRICE SMALL-CAP VALUE FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE SPECTRUM FUND, INC.
Spectrum Growth Fund
Spectrum Income Fund
Spectrum International Fund
PAGE 20
X. XXXX PRICE STATE TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund
Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Money Fund
New Jersey Tax-Free Bond Fund
Virginia Tax-Free Bond Fund
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
Florida Insured Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
Georgia Tax-Free Bond Fund
X. XXXX PRICE TAX-EXEMPT MONEY FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE TAX-FREE HIGH YIELD FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE TAX-FREE INCOME FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE TAX-FREE SHORT-INTERMEDIATE FUND,
INC.
X. XXXX PRICE TAX-FREE INSURED INTERMEDIATE BOND
FUND, INC.
X. XXXX PRICE U.S. TREASURY FUNDS, INC.
U.S. Treasury Intermediate Fund
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Fund
U.S. Treasury Money Fund
X. XXXX PRICE SUMMIT FUNDS, INC. on behalf of
the:
X. Xxxx Price Summit Cash Reserves Fund
X. Xxxx Price Summit Limited-Term Bond Fund
X. Xxxx Price Summit GNMA Fund
X. XXXX PRICE SUMMIT MUNICIPAL FUNDS, INC. on
behalf of the:
X. Xxxx Price Summit Municipal Money Market Fund
X. Xxxx Price Summit Municipal Intermediate Fund
X. Xxxx Price Summit Municipal Income Fund
X. XXXX PRICE VALUE FUND, INC.
