AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND REGISTRAR AGREEMENT
The Transfer Agency and Registrar Agreement of PREFERRED INCOME
OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED, (the "Fund"), a corporation organized under the
laws of Maryland and having its principal place of business at 000 X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, made and agreed to by and between the
Fund and FIRST DATA INVESTOR SERVICES GROUP, INC. (the "Transfer Agent"), (then
known as The Shareholder Services Group, Inc.) a Massachusetts corporation with
principal offices at One Exchange Place, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
00000 on February 5, 1992, as amended on October 21, 1992, and further amended
on February 11, 1993, is hereby amended and restated as of December 1, 1996, to
read in its entirety as follows:
W I T N E S S E T H
That for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
hereinafter set forth, the Fund and the Transfer Agent agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the
following words and phrases,
unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Articles of Incorporation" shall mean the Articles of
Incorporation, Declaration of Trust, Partnership Agreement, or similar
organizational document as the case may be, of the Fund as the same may be
amended from time to time.
(b) "Authorized Person" shall be deemed to include any
person, whether or not such person is an officer or employee of the Fund, duly
authorized to give Oral Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of the
Fund as indicated in a certificate furnished to the Transfer Agent pursuant to
Section 4(c) hereof as may be received by the Transfer Agent from time to time.
(c) "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors,
Board of Trustees or, if the Fund is a limited partnership, the General
Partner(s) of the Fund, as the case may be.
(d) "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(e) "Custodian" refers to any custodian or subcustodian of
securities and other property which the Fund may from time to time deposit, or
cause to be deposited or held under the name or account of such a custodian
pursuant to a Custodian Agreement.
(f) "Fund" shall mean the entity executing this Agreement, and
if it is a series fund, as such term is used in the 1940 Act, such term shall
mean each series of the Fund hereafter created, except that appropriate
documentation with respect to each series must be presented to the Transfer
Agent before this Agreement shall become effective with respect to each such
series.
(g) "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act
of 1940.
(h) "Oral Instructions" shall mean instructions, other than
Written Instructions, actually received by the Transfer Agent from a person
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be an Authorized Person.
(i) "Prospectus" shall mean the most recently dated Fund
Prospectus, including any supplements thereto if any, which has become effective
under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act.
(j) "Shares" refers collectively to such shares of capital
stock, beneficial interest or limited partnership interests, as the case may be,
of the Fund as may be issued from time to time and, if the Fund is a closed-end
or a series fund, as such terms are used in the 1940 Act any other classes or
series of stock, shares of beneficial interest or limited partnership interests
that may be issued from time to time.
(k) "Shareholder" shall mean a holder of shares of capital
stock, beneficial interest or any other class or series, and also refers to
partners of limited partnerships.
(1) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication
signed by a person reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be an Authorized
Person and actually received by the Transfer Agent. Written Instructions shall
include manually executed originals and authorized electronic transmissions,
including telefacsimile of a manually executed original or other process.
2. Appointment of the Transfer Agent. The Fund hereby appoints and
constitutes the Transfer Agent as transfer agent, registrar and dividend
disbursing agent for Shares of the Fund, as shareholder servicing agent for the
Fund, and as plan agent under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase
Plan. The Transfer Agent accepts such appointments and agrees to perform the
duties hereinafter set forth.
3. Compensation.
(a) The Fund will compensate or cause the Transfer Agent to be
compensated for the performance of its obligations hereunder in accordance with
the fees set forth in the written schedule of fees annexed hereto as Schedule A
and incorporated herein. The Transfer Agent will transmit an invoice to the Fund
as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar month which will be
detailed in accordance with Schedule A, and the Fund will pay to the Transfer
Agent the amount of such invoice within fifteen (15) days after the Fund's
receipt of the invoice.
In addition, the Fund agrees to pay, and will
be billed separately for,
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent in the performance of its
duties hereunder. Out-of-pocket expenses shall include, but shall not be limited
to, the items specified in the written schedule of out-of-pocket charges annexed
hereto as Schedule B and incorporated herein. Schedule B may be modified by the
Transfer Agent upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice to the Fund.
Unspecified out-of-pocket expenses shall be limited to those out-of-pocket
expenses reasonably incurred by the Transfer Agent in the performance of its
obligations hereunder. Reimbursement by the Fund for expenses incurred by the
Transfer Agent in any month shall be made as soon as practicable but no later
than 15 days after the receipt of an itemized xxxx from the Transfer Agent.
(b) Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from
time to time by attaching to Schedule A a revised fee schedule executed and
dated by the parties hereto.
4. Documents. In connection with the appointment of the Transfer Agent,
the Fund shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Transfer Agent the
following documents on or before the date this Agreement goes into effect, but
in any case within a reasonable period of time for the Transfer Agent to prepare
to perform its duties hereunder:
(a) If applicable, specimens of the certificates for
Shares of the Fund;
(b) All account application forms and other documents
relating to Shareholder
accounts or to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund;
(c) A signature card bearing the signatures of any officer of
the Fund or other Authorized Person who will sign Written Instructions or is
authorized to give Oral Instructions;
(d) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation,
as amended;
(e) A certified copy of the By-laws of the Fund,
as amended;
(f) A copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors
authorizing the execution
and delivery of this Agreement;
(g) A certified list of Shareholders of the Fund with the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of each Shareholder, and the
number of Shares of the Fund held by each, certificate numbers and denominations
(if any certificates have been issued), lists of any accounts against which stop
transfer orders have been placed, together with the reasons therefore, and the
number of Shares redeemed by the Fund; and
(h) An opinion of counsel for the Fund with respect to the
validity of the Shares and the status of such Shares under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
5. Further Documentation. The Fund will also furnish the
Transfer Agent with copies of
the following documents promptly after the same shall become available:
(a) each resolution of the Board of Directors
authorizing the issuance of
Shares;
(b) any registration statements filed on behalf of
the Fund and all pre-effective
and post-effective amendments thereto filed with the Commission;
(c) a certified copy of each amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation or the
By-laws of the Fund;
(d) certified copies of each resolution of the
Board of Directors or other
authorization designating Authorized Persons; and
(e) such other certificates, documents or opinions as the
Transfer Agent may reasonably request in connection with the performance of its
duties hereunder.
6. Representations of the Fund. The Fund represents to the Transfer
Agent that all outstanding Shares are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. When Shares are hereafter issued in accordance with the terms of
the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and its Prospectus, such Shares shall be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
7. Distributions Payable in Shares. In the event that the Board of
Directors of the Fund shall declare a distribution payable in Shares, the Fund
shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Transfer Agent written notice of
such declaration signed on behalf of the Fund by an officer thereof, upon which
the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely for all purposes, certifying (i)
the identity of the Shares involved, (ii) the number of Shares involved, and
(iii) that all appropriate action has been taken.
8. Duties of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall be
responsible for administering and/or performing those functions typically
performed by a transfer agent; for acting as service agent in connection with
dividend and distribution functions; and for performing shareholder account and
administrative agent functions in connection with the issuance, transfer and
redemption or repurchase (including coordination with the Custodian) of Shares
in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and applicable law. The operating
standards and procedures to be followed shall be determined from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and shall initially be as
described in Schedule C attached hereto. In addition, the Fund shall deliver to
the Transfer Agent all notices issued by the Fund with respect to the Shares in
accordance with and pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the
Fund or as required by law and shall perform such other specific duties as are
set forth in the Articles of Incorporation including the giving of notice of any
special or annual meetings of shareholders and any other notices required
thereby.
9. Record Keeping and Other Information. The Transfer Agent shall
create and maintain all records required of it pursuant to its duties hereunder
and as set forth in Schedule C in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, including records required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act. All
records shall be available during regular business hours for inspection and use
by the Fund. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by the Transfer
Agent for the periods and in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940
Act.
Upon reasonable notice by the Fund, the Transfer Agent shall make
available during regular business hours such of its facilities and premises
employed in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement
for reasonable visitation by the Fund, or any person retained by the Fund as may
be necessary for the Fund to evaluate the quality of the services performed by
the Transfer Agent pursuant hereto.
10. Other Duties. In addition to the duties set forth in Schedule C,
the Transfer Agent shall perform such other duties and functions, and shall be
paid such amounts therefor, as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing
between the Fund and the Transfer Agent. The compensation for such other duties
and functions shall be reflected in a written amendment to Schedule A or B and
the duties and functions shall be reflected in an amendment to Schedule C, both
dated and signed by authorized persons of the parties hereto.
11. Reliance by Transfer Agent; Instructions
(a) The Transfer Agent will have no liability when acting upon
Written or Oral Instructions believed to have been executed or orally
communicated by an Authorized Person and will not be held to have any notice of
any change of authority of any person until receipt of a Written Instruction
thereof from the Fund pursuant to Section 4(c). The Transfer Agent will also
have no liability when processing Share certificates which it reasonably
believes to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of
the Fund and the proper countersignature of the Transfer Agent.
(b) At any time, the Transfer Agent may apply to any
Authorized Person of the Fund for Written Instructions and may seek advice from
legal counsel for the Fund, or its own legal counsel, with respect to any matter
arising in connection with this Agreement, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
such Written Instructions or in accordance with the opinion of counsel for the
Fund or for the Transfer Agent. Written Instructions requested by the Transfer
Agent will be provided by the Fund within a reasonable period of time. In
addition, the Transfer Agent, its officers, agents or employees, shall accept
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions given to them by any person
representing or acting on behalf of the Fund only if said representative is an
Authorized Person. The Fund agrees that all Oral Instructions shall be followed
within one business day by confirming Written Instructions, and that the Fund's
failure to so confirm shall not impair in any respect the Transfer Agent's right
to rely on Oral Instructions. The Transfer Agent shall have no duty or
obligation to inquire into, nor shall the Transfer Agent be responsible for, the
legality of any act done by it upon the request or direction of a person
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be an Authorized Person.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this
Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire
into, and shall not be liable for: (i) the legality of the issuance or sale of
any Shares or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor; (ii) the
legality of the redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be
paid therefor; (iii) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by the
Board of Directors, or the legality of the issuance of any Shares in payment of
any dividend; or (iv) the legality of any recapitalization or readjustment of
the Shares.
12. Acts of God, etc. The Transfer Agent will not be liable or
responsible for delays or errors by acts of God or by reason of circumstances
beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national
emergencies, labor difficulties, mechanical breakdown, insurrection, war, riots,
or failure or unavailability of transportation, communication or power supply,
fire, flood or other catastrophe.
13. Duty of Care and Indemnification. The Fund will indemnify the
Transfer Agent against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses of any sort or kind (including reasonable
counsel fees and expenses) resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit or
other proceeding (a "Claim") unless such Claim has been judicially determined to
have resulted from a negligent failure to act or omission to act or bad faith of
the Transfer Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder. In addition, the
Fund will indemnify the Transfer Agent against and hold it harmless from any
Claim, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) that
is a result of: (i) any action taken in accordance with Written or Oral
Instructions, or any other instructions, or share certificates reasonably
believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine and to be signed, countersigned or
executed, or orally communicated by an Authorized Person; (ii) any action taken
in accordance with written or oral advice reasonably believed by the Transfer
Agent to have been given by counsel for the Fund or its own counsel; or (iii)
any action taken as a result of any error or omission in any record (including
but not limited to magnetic tapes, computer printouts, hard copies and microfilm
copies) delivered, or caused to be delivered by the Fund to the Transfer Agent
in connection with this Agreement.
In any case in which the Fund may be asked to indemnify or hold the
Transfer Agent harmless, the Fund shall be advised of all pertinent facts
concerning the situation in question. The Transfer Agent will notify the Fund
promptly after identifying any situation which it believes presents or appears
likely to present a claim for indemnification against the Fund although the
failure to do so shall not prevent recovery by the Transfer Agent. The Fund
shall have the option to defend the Transfer Agent against any Claim which may
be the subject of this indemnification, and, in the event that the Fund so
elects, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Fund and
satisfactory to the Transfer Agent, and thereupon the Fund shall take over
complete defense of the Claim and the Transfer Agent shall sustain no further
legal or other expenses in respect of such Claim. The Transfer Agent will not
confess any Claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Fund will be
asked to provide indemnification, except with the Fund's prior written consent.
The obligations of the parties hereto under this Section shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
14. Consequential Damages. In no event and under no circumstances shall
either party under this Agreement be liable to the other party for consequential
or indirect loss of profits, reputation or business or any other special damages
under any provision of this Agreement or for any act or failure to act
hereunder.
15. Term and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall be effective on the date first
written above and shall continue in effect from year to year so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Directors
of the Fund, provided that it may be terminated by either party upon 90 days
prior written notice.
(b) In the event a termination notice is given by the Fund, it
shall be accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors, certified by the
Secretary of the Fund, designating a successor transfer agent or transfer
agents. Upon such termination and at the expense of the Fund, the Transfer Agent
will deliver to such successor a certified list of shareholders of the Fund
(with names and addresses), and all other relevant books, records,
correspondence and other Fund records or data in the possession of the Transfer
Agent, and the Transfer Agent will cooperate with the Fund and any successor
transfer agent or agents in the substitution process.
16. Confidentiality. Both parties hereto agree that any nonpublic
information obtained hereunder concerning the other party is confidential and
may not be disclosed to any other person without the consent of the other party,
except as may be required by applicable law or at the request of the Commission
or other governmental agency. The parties further agree that a breach of this
provision would irreparably damage the other party and accordingly agree that
each of them is entitled, without bond or other security, to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this provision.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended or
modified by a written instrument
executed by both parties.
18. Subcontracting. The Fund agrees that the Transfer Agent may, in its
discretion, subcontract for certain of the services described under this
Agreement or the Schedules hereto; provided that the appointment of any such
Transfer Agent shall not relieve the Transfer Agent of its responsibilities
hereunder.
19. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any notice or other instrument authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or the Transfer
Agent, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it
at its office set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to time
designate in writing.
To the Fund:
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated
000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
To the Transfer Agent:
First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.
4400 Computer Drive, 2AW45
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Esquire
(b) Successors. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be
binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns,
provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assigned to any person other
than a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
assignor without the written consent of the other party, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed
exclusively by the laws of the State of New York without reference to the choice
of law provisions thereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) the Supreme
Court of New York sitting in New York County shall have exclusive jurisdiction
over any and all disputes arising hereunder; (ii) hereby consents to the
personal jurisdiction of such court over the parties hereto, hereby waiving any
defense of lack of personal jurisdiction; and (iii) appoints the person to whom
notices hereunder are to be sent as agent for service of process.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original; but such
counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
(e) Captions. The captions of 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.
(f) Use of Transfer Agent's Name. The Fund shall not use the
name of the Transfer Agent in any Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information, shareholders' report, sales literature or other material relating
to the Fund in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing; provided, that
the Transfer Agent need only receive notice of all reasonable uses of its name
which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are
required by any government agency or applicable law or rule. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any reference to the Transfer Agent shall include a statement to the
effect that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Information
Services Corporation.
(g) Use of Fund's Name. The Transfer Agent shall not use the
name of the Fund or material relating to the Fund on any documents or forms for
other than internal use in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing;
provided, that the Fund need only receive notice of all reasonable uses of its
name which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Transfer
Agent or which are required by any government agency or applicable law or rule.
(h) Independent Contractors. The parties agree
that they are independent
contractors and not partners or co-venturers.
(i) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement and the
Schedules attached hereto constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto
relating to the matters covered hereby and supersede any previous agreements. If
any provision is held to be illegal, unenforceable or invalid for any reason,
the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and
year first above written.
PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY
FUND INCORPORATED
By: XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: President
FIRST DATA INVESTOR SERVICES
GROUP, INC.
By: XXXXXX XXXXX
Title: Executive Vice
President
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SCHEDULE A
FEE SCHEDULE
In consideration of the services which the Transfer Agent shall perform
for the Fund pursuant to the Fund's Transfer Agency and Registrar Agreement, the
Fund hereby agrees to pay an aggregate monthly fee to the Transfer Agent under
the Agreement as follows: an annual fee equal to .02% (two basis points) of the
value of the Fund's average monthly net assets which for the purposes of
calculating such fee, will be deemed to be the average monthly value of the
Fund's total assets minus the sum of the Fund's liabilities (excluding aggregate
liquidation preference on the outstanding shares of the Fund's auction rate
preferred stock and accumulated dividends, if any, thereon).
-3-
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x:\shared\xxxxxx\f&c\pfd\agrmnts\ecocon96.doc
B-1
Schedule B
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Fund shall reimburse the Transfer Agent monthly for applicable
out-of-pocket expenses, including, but not limited to the following items:
- Microfiche/microfilm production
- Magnetic media tapes and freight
- Printing costs, including certificates, envelopes, checks and
stationery - Postage (bulk, pre-sort, ZIP+4, barcoding, first class)
direct pass through to the Fund - Due diligence mailings - Telephone
and telecommunication costs, including all lease, maintenance and line
costs - Ad hoc reports - Proxy solicitations, mailings and tabulations
- Daily & Distribution advice mailings - Shipping, Certified and
Overnight mail and insurance
-Year-end form production and mailings
- Terminals, communication lines, printers and other equipment
Duplicating services - Courier services - Incoming and outgoing wire
charges - Overtime, as approved by the Fund - Temporary staff, as
approved by the Fund - Travel and entertainment, as approved by the
Fund - Federal Reserve charges for check clearance - Record retention,
retrieval and destruction costs - Third party audit reviews - All
conversion costs: including System start up costs - All Systems
enhancements after the conversion at the rate of $95.00 per hour
Insurance - Such other miscellaneous expenses reasonably incurred by
the Transfer
Agent in performing its duties and responsibilities under this
Agreement.
- Dropsite Fees
The Fund agrees that postage and mailing expenses will be paid on the
day of or prior to mailing as agreed with the Transfer Agent. In addition, the
Fund will promptly reimburse the Transfer Agent for any other unscheduled
expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent whenever the Fund and the Transfer Agent
mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise properly borne by the
Transfer Agent as part of its duties and obligations under the Agreement.
C-1
Schedule C
DUTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT
1. Shareholder Information. The Transfer Agent or its agent shall
maintain a record of the number of Shares held by each holder of record which
shall include name, address, taxpayer identification and which shall indicate
whether such Shares are held in certificates or uncertificated form.
2. Shareholder Services. The Transfer Agent or its agent will
investigate all inquiries from shareholders of the Fund relating to Shareholder
accounts and will respond to all communications from Shareholders and others
relating to its duties hereunder and such other correspondence as may from time
to time be mutually agreed upon between the Transfer Agent and the Fund.
3. Share Certificates.
(a) At the expense of the Fund, it shall supply the Transfer
Agent or its agent with an adequate supply of blank share certificates to meet
the Transfer Agent or its agent's requirements therefor. Such Share certificates
shall be properly signed by facsimile. The Fund agrees that, notwithstanding the
death, resignation, or removal of any officer of the Fund whose signature
appears on such certificates, the Transfer Agent or its agent may continue to
countersign certificates which bear such signatures until otherwise directed by
Written Instructions.
(b) The Transfer Agent or its agent shall issue replacement
Share certificates in lieu of certificates which have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon receipt by the Transfer Agent or its agent of properly executed
affidavits and lost certificate bonds, in form satisfactory to the Transfer
Agent or its agent, with the Fund and the Transfer Agent or its agent as
obligees under the bond.
(c) The Transfer Agent or its agent shall also maintain a
record of each certificate issued, the number of Shares represented thereby and
the holder of record. With respect to Shares held in open accounts or
uncertificated form, i.e., no certificate being issued with respect thereto, the
Transfer Agent or its agent shall maintain comparable records of the record
holders thereof, including their names, addresses and taxpayer identification.
The Transfer Agent or its agent shall further maintain a stop transfer record on
lost and/or replaced certificates.
C-2
4. Mailing Communications to Shareholders; Proxy Materials. The
Transfer Agent or its agent will address and mail to Shareholders of the Fund,
all reports to Shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy
material for the Fund's meetings of Shareholders. In connection with meetings of
Shareholders, the Transfer Agent or its Agent will prepare Shareholder lists,
mail and certify as to the mailing of proxy materials, process and tabulate
returned proxy cards, report on proxies voted prior to meetings, act as
inspector of election at meetings and certify Shares voted at meetings.
5. Sales of Shares.
(a) Suspension of Sale of Shares. The Transfer Agent or its
agent shall not be required to issue any Shares of the Fund where it has
received a Written Instruction from the Fund or official notice from any
appropriate authority that the sale of the Shares of the Fund has been suspended
or discontinued. The existence of such Written Instructions or such official
notice shall be conclusive evidence of the right of the Transfer Agent or its
agent to rely on such Written Instructions or official notice.
(b) Returned Checks. In the event that any check or other
order for the payment of money is returned unpaid for any reason, the Transfer
Agent or its agent will: (i) give prompt notice of such return to the Fund or
its designee; (ii) place a stop transfer order against all Shares issued as a
result of such check or order; and (iii) take such actions as the Transfer Agent
may from time to time deem appropriate.
6. Transfer.
(a) Requirements for Transfer of Shares. The Transfer Agent or
its agent shall process all requests to transfer Shares in accordance with oral
or written instructions or otherwise pursuant to the transfer procedures set
forth in the Fund's Prospectus.
The Transfer Agent or its agent will transfer Shares upon
receipt of Oral or Written Instructions or otherwise pursuant to the Prospectus
and Share certificates, if any, properly endorsed for transfer, accompanied by
such documents as the Transfer Agent or its agent reasonably may deem necessary.
The Transfer Agent or its agent reserves the right to refuse
to transfer Shares until it is satisfied that the endorsement on the
instructions is valid and genuine. The Transfer Agent or its agent also reserves
the right to refuse to transfer Shares until it is satisfied that the requested
transfer is legally authorized, and it shall incur no liability for the refusal,
in good faith, to make transfers which the Transfer Agent or its agent, in its
good judgment, deems improper or unauthorized, or until it is reasonably
satisfied that there is no basis to any claims adverse to such transfer.
C-3
7. Dividends.
(a) Notice to Agent and Custodian. Upon the declaration of
each dividend and each capital gains distribution by the Board of Directors of
the Fund with respect to Shares of the Fund, the Fund shall furnish or cause to
be furnished to the Transfer Agent or its agent a copy of a resolution of the
Fund's Board of Directors certified by the Secretary of the Fund setting forth
the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the ex-dividend
date, the date of payment thereof, the record date as of which shareholders
entitled to payment shall be determined, the amount payable per Share to the
shareholders of record as of that date, the total amount payable to the Transfer
Agent or its agent on the payment date and whether such dividend or distribution
is to be paid in Shares of such class at net asset value.
On or before the payment date specified in such resolution of
the Board of Directors, the Custodian of the Fund will pay to the Transfer Agent
sufficient cash to make payment to the shareholders of record as of such payment
date that are not participating in the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment and Cash
Purchase Plan.
(b) Insufficient Funds for Payments. If the Transfer Agent or
its agent does not receive sufficient cash from the Custodian to make total
dividend and/or distribution payments to all shareholders of the Fund as of the
record date, the Transfer Agent or its agent will, upon notifying the Fund,
withhold payment to all Shareholders of record as of the record date until
sufficient cash is provided to the Transfer Agent or its agent.
C-4
Exhibit 1
to
Schedule C
Summary of Services
The services to be performed by the Transfer Agent or its agent shall
be as follows:
A. DAILY RECORDS
Maintain daily the following information with respect to each
Shareholder account as received:
o Name and Address (Zip Code)
o Class of Shares
o Taxpayer Identification Number
o Balance of Shares held by Agent
o Beneficial owner code: i.e., male, female, joint
tenant, etc.
o Dividend code (reinvestment)
o Number of Shares held in certificate form
B. OTHER DAILY ACTIVITY
o Answer written inquiries relating to Shareholder accounts
(matters relating to portfolio management, distribution of
Shares and other management policy questions will be
referred to the Fund).
o Process additional payments into established Shareholder
accounts in accordance with Written Instruction from the
Agent.
o Upon receipt of proper instructions and all required
documentation, process requests for repurchase of Shares.
o Identify redemption requests made with respect to accounts
in which Shares have been purchased within an agreed-upon
period of time for determining whether good funds have
been collected with respect to such purchase and process
as agreed by the Agent in accordance with written
instruments set forth by the Fund.
o Examine and process all transfers of Shares, ensuring that
all transfer requirements and legal documents have been
supplied.
C-5
Issue and mail replacement checks.
o Open new accounts and maintain records of exchanges
between accounts.
C. DIVIDEND ACTIVITY
o Calculate and process Share dividends and distributions
as instructed by the Fund.
o Compute, prepare and mail all necessary reports to
Shareholders or various authorities as requested by the
Fund. Report to the Fund reinvestment plan share
purchases and determination of the reinvestment price.
D. MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
o Cause to be mailed proxy and related material for all
meetings of Shareholders. Tabulate returned proxies
(proxies must be adaptable to mechanical equipment of the
Agent or its agents) and supply daily reports when
sufficient proxies have been received.
o Prepare and submit to the Fund an Affidavit of Mailing.
o At the time of the meeting, furnish a certified list of
Shareholders, hard copy, microfilm or microfiche and, if
requested by the Fund, Inspection of Election.
E. PERIODIC ACTIVITIES
o Cause to be mailed reports, Prospectuses, and any other
enclosures requested by the Fund (material must be
adaptable to mechanical equipment of Agent or its agents).
o Receive all notices issued by the Fund with respect to the
Preferred Shares in accordance with and pursuant to the
Articles of Incorporation and the Indenture and perform
such other specific duties as are set forth in the
Articles of Incorporation including a giving of notice of
a special meeting and notice of redemption in the
circumstances and otherwise in accordance with all
relevant provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.
