Exhibit 99.(h)
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
between
STRATEGIC PARTNERS SERIES
and
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Agent ................ 1
Article 2 Fees and Expenses......................................... 5
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of PMFS.................... 5
Article 4 Representations of Warranties of the Fund................. 7
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification.......................... 7
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and PMFS.............. 10
Article 7 Termination of Agreement.................................. 11
Article 8 Assignment................................................ 12
Article 9 Affiliations.............................................. 12
Article 10 Amendment................................................. 13
Article 11 Applicable Law............................................ 13
Article 12 Miscellaneous............................................. 13
Article 13 Merger of Agreement....................................... 15
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TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------
AGREEMENT made as of the 15th day of March, 2000_ by and
between STRATEGIC PARTNERS SERIES, a Delaware business trust having its
principal office and place of business at Gateway Center Three, 000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 (the Fund), and PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES
LLC, a New Jersey limited liability corporation, having its principal office and
place of business at Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 (the Agent or
PMFS).
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint PMFS as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with
certain other activities, and PMFS desires to accept such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of PMFS
------------------------------------
1.01 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints PMFS to act as, and PMFS agrees
to act as, the transfer agent for the authorized and issued shares of beneficial
interest of each series of the Trust, $.001 par value (Shares), dividend
disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with any
accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided to the shareholders of the
Fund or any series thereof (Shareholders) and set out in the currently effective
prospectuses and statement of additional information (prospectus) of the Fund,
including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal
program.
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1.02 PMFS agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and PMFS, PMFS shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian
of the Fund authorized pursuant to the Declaration of Trust of the Fund (the
Custodian) ;
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares
and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption directions
and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it by
the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over
in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon
receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on purchases
and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may be reflected in the
prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain pursuant to
Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (1934 Act) a record of
the total number of Shares of the Fund
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which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and
outstanding. PMFS shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the total
number of Shares which are authorized, issued and outstanding and shall notify
the Fund in case any proposed issue of Shares by the Fund would result in an
overissue. In case any issue of Shares would result in an overissue, PMFS shall
refuse to issue such Shares and shall not countersign and issue any certificates
requested for such Shares. When recording the issuance of Shares, PMFS shall
have no obligation to take cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the issue
or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the
Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the above
paragraph (a), PMFS shall: (i) perform all of the customary services of a
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder
servicing 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, preparing Shareholder meeting lists, mailing proxies, receiving and
tabulating proxies, mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
Shareholders, withholding taxes on non-resident alien accounts, preparing and
filing appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by
federal tax authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation
forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and
redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder
accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders and
providing Shareholder account information and (ii) provide a system which will
enable the Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each State or
other jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to PMFS in writing those
transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from Blue Sky notice for each
State and (ii) verify the establishment of transactions for each State on the
system prior to activation and thereafter monitor the daily activity for each
State. The
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responsibility of PMFS for the Fund's registration status under the Blue Sky or
securities laws of any State or other jurisdiction is solely limited to the
initial establishment of transactions subject to Blue Sky compliance by the Fund
and the reporting of such transactions to the Fund as provided above and as
agreed from time to time by the Fund and PMFS.
PMFS may also provide such additional services and functions not
specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between PMFS and the
Fund and set forth in Schedule B hereto.
Procedures applicable to certain of these services may be established from
time to time by agreement between the Fund and PMFS.
Article 2 Fees and Expenses
-----------------
2.01 For performance by PMFS pursuant to this Agreement, the
Fund agrees to pay PMFS an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account
and certain transactional fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as
Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances identified under
Section 2.02 below may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written
agreement between the Fund and PMFS.
2.02 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.01 above, the
Fund agrees to reimburse PMFS for out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by
PMFS for the items set out in Schedule A attached hereto. In addition, any other
expenses incurred by PMFS at the request or with the consent of the Fund will be
reimbursed by the Fund.
2.03 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses
within a reasonable period of time following the mailing of the respective
billing notice. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and
other mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to PMFS by the Fund
upon request prior to the mailing date of such materials.
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Article 3 Representations and Warranties of PMFS
--------------------------------------
PMFS represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.01 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of New Jersey and it is duly qualified to carry on its
business in New Jersey.
3.02 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements
of Section 17A of the 0000 Xxx.
3.03 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter
and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.04 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.05 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund
------------------------------------------
The Fund represents and warrants to PMFS that:
4.01 It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of Delaware.
4.02 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.03 All proceedings required by said Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
4.04 It is an investment company registered or to be registered
with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940
Act).
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4.05 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 0000
(xxx 0000 Xxx) is currently effective or is anticipated to become effective, and
will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law notice filings have
been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund
being offered for sale.
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification
--------------------------------
5.01 PMFS shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold PMFS harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages,
costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of PMFS or its agents or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in good
faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by PMFS or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records and documents which (i) are received by PMFS or its agents
or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund, and (ii) have
been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other person or firm on
behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by PMFS or its agents or
subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund.
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under the
federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue Sky laws of any
State or other jurisdiction that notice of such Shares be filed in such State or
other jurisdiction or in violation of any stop order or other determination or
ruling by
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any federal agency or any State or other jurisdiction with respect to the offer
or sale of such Shares in such State or other jurisdiction.
5.02 PMFS shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from and
against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure
or omission to act by PMFS as a result of PMFS' lack of good faith, negligence
or willful misconduct.
5.03 At any time PMFS may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel, with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be performed by PMFS under this
Agreement, and PMFS and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and
shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in
reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. PMFS, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any
paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund, reasonably believed to
be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any
instruction, information, data, records or documents provided to PMFS or its
agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or
other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice
of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice
thereof from the Fund. PMFS, its agents and subcontractors shall also be
protected and indemnified in recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably
believed to bear the proper manual or facsimile signature of the officers of the
Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or registrar,
or of a co-transfer agent or co-registrar.
5.04 In the event either party is unable to perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes,
equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or
other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for
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damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or
otherwise from such causes.
5.05 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the
other party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or
for any act or failure to act hereunder.
5.06 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in
this Article 5 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 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and PMFS
--------------------------------------------
6.01 The Fund shall promptly furnish to PMFS the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund authorizing the appointment of PMFS and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement;
(b) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(c) The current registration statements and any amendments and
supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the 1933
Act and the 1940 Act;
(d) A specimen of the certificates for Shares of the Fund in the
forms approved by the Board of Trustees, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
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(e) All account application forms or other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan program or service offered or
to be offered by the Fund; and
(f) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as the Agent
deems to be appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
6.02 PMFS hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund 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.
6.03 PMFS shall prepare and keep records relating to the
services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem
advisable. To the extent required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the Rules
and Regulations thereunder, PMFS agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by PMFS relating to the services to be performed by PMFS hereunder
are the property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained and made
available in accordance with such Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder, and will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in
accordance with its request.
6.04 PMFS 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 as may be required by law or with the prior consent of
PMFS and the Fund.
6.05 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of
the Shareholder records of the Fund, PMFS will endeavor to notify the Fund and
to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. PMFS reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records
to any
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person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for the
failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
Article 7 Termination of Agreement
------------------------
7.01 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one
hundred twenty (120) days written notice to the other.
7.02 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all
out-of-pocket expenses associated with the movement of records and other
materials will be borne by the Fund. Additionally, PMFS reserves the right to
charge for any other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such
termination.
Article 8 Assignment
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8.01 Except as provided in Section 8.03 below, neither this
Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either
party without the written consent of the other party.
8.02 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
8.03 PMFS may, in its sole discretion and without further
consent by the Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of
its obligations and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not
limited to: (i) Prudential Securities Incorporated (Prudential Securities), a
registered broker-dealer, (ii) The Prudential Insurance Company of America
(Prudential), (iii) Pruco Securities Corporation, a registered broker-dealer,
(iv) any Prudential Securities or Prudential subsidiary or affiliate duly
registered as a broker-dealer and/or a transfer agent pursuant to the 1934 Act
or (v) any other Prudential Securities or Prudential affiliate or subsidiary;
provided, however, that PMFS shall be as fully responsible to the Fund for the
acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor as it is for its own acts and
omissions.
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8.04 PMFS may enter into agreements with Prudential or any
subsidiary or affiliate of Prudential whereby PMFS will maintain an omnibus
account and the Fund will reimburse PMFS for amounts paid by PMFS to Prudential,
or such subsidiary or affiliate, in an amount not in excess of the annual
maintenance fee for each beneficial shareholder account and transactional fees
and expenses with respect to such beneficial shareholder account as if each
beneficial shareholder account were maintained by PMFS on the Fund's records,
subject to the fee schedule attached hereto as Schedule A. Prudential, its
subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be, shall maintain records relating to
each beneficial shareholder account that underlies the omnibus account
maintained by PMFS.
Article 9 Affiliations
------------
9.01 PMFS may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice
to the Fund, function as Transfer Agent and/or Shareholder Servicing Agent for
any other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act,
including without limitation any investment company whose adviser,
administrator, sponsor or principal underwriter is or may become affiliated with
Prudential Securities and/or Prudential or any of its or their direct or
indirect subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.02 It is understood and agreed that the trustees, officers,
employees, agents and Shareholders of the Fund, and the directors, officers,
employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund's investment adviser and/or
distributor, are or may be interested in the Agent as directors, officers,
employees, agents, shareholders or otherwise, and that the directors, officers,
employees, agents or shareholders of the Agent may be interested in the Fund as
trustees, officers, employees, agents, Shareholders or otherwise, or in the
investment adviser and/or distributor as officers, directors, employees, agents,
shareholders or otherwise.
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Article 10 Amendment
---------
10.01 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of
the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
Article 11 Applicable Law
--------------
11.01 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New
Jersey.
Article 12 Miscellaneous
-------------
12.01 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any
Share certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless
there shall first be furnished to PMFS an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by
the holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been lost or
destroyed, supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to PMFS and the Fund
issued by a surety company satisfactory to PMFS, except that PMFS may accept an
affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder (or
legal representative) without surety in such form as PMFS deems appropriate
indemnifying PMFS and the Fund for the issuance of a replacement certificate, in
cases where the alleged loss is in the amount of $1000 or less.
12.02 In the event that any check or other order for payment of
money on the account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for
any reason, PMFS will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor
(Distributor) of such non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including
imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee, as PMFS may, in its sole
discretion, deem appropriate or as the Fund and the Distributor may instruct
PMFS.
12.03 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or to PMFS shall be
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by
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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:
Strategic Partners Series
Gateway Center Three
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
To PMFS:
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
Article 13 Merger of Agreement
-------------------
13.01 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the
subject matter hereof whether oral or written.
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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, as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: STRATEGIC PARTNERS SERIES
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
______________________ _____________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Secretary President
ATTEST: PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL
FUND SERVICES LLC
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
______________________ _____________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Secretary President
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Schedule A
----------
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC
Fee Schedule
Fee Information for Services as
Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent
and Shareholder Servicing Agent
______________________
General - Fees are based on an annual per shareholder account charge for account
-------
maintenance plus out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, there is a one time set-up
charge per account for manually established accounts and a monthly charge for
inactive zero balance accounts. The effective period of this fee schedule is
____________, 2000 through December 31, 2000 and shall continue thereafter from
year to year, unless otherwise amended.
Annual Maintenance Charges - The annual maintenance charge includes the
--------------------------
processing of all transactions and correspondence. The fee is billable on a
monthly basis at the rate of 1/12 of the annual fee. A charge is made for an
account in the month that an account opens or closes.
Annual Maintenance Per Account Fee $9.00
Other Charges
-------------
New Account Set-up Fee for Manually $2.00
Established Accounts
Monthly Inactive Zero Balance Account Fee $ .20
Out-of -Pocket Expenses - out-of-pocket expenses include but are not limited to:
-----------------------
postage, stationery and printing, allocable communication costs, microfilm,
microfiche, and expenses incurred at the specific direction of the Trust.
Payment - An invoice will be presented to the Fund on a monthly basis assessing
-------
the Fund the appropriate fee and out-of-pocket expenses.
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STRATEGIC PARTNERS SERIES PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND
SERVICES LLC
NAME: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx NAME: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
__________________________ ______________________________
TITLE: President TITLE: Assistant Secretary
__________________________ ______________________________
DATE: March 15, 2000 DATE: March 15, 2000
__________________________ ______________________________
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