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EXHIBIT 2(k)
FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 31st day of May, 2000, between NBT INVESTMENT
COMPANY, INC. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation having its principal place of
business at 00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, and NBT BANK, N.A.
("Fund Accountant"), having its principal place of business at 00 X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Fund desires that Fund Accountant perform certain fund
accounting services for the Fund, all as now or hereafter may be established
from time to time; and
WHEREAS, Fund Accountant is willing to perform such services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. Services as Fund Accountant.
(a) Maintenance of Books and Records. Fund Accountant
will keep and maintain the following books and
records of the Fund pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Rule"):
(i) Journals containing an itemized daily record
in detail of all purchases and sales of
securities, all receipts and disbursements
of cash and all other debits and credits, as
required by subsection (b)(1) of the Rule;
(ii) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all
asset, liability, reserve, capital, income
and expense accounts, including interest
accrued and interest received, as required
by subsection (b)(2)(i) of the Rule;
(iii) Separate ledger accounts required by
subsection (b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of the Rule;
and
(iv) A monthly trial balance of all ledger
accounts (except shareholder accounts) as
required by subsection (b)(8) of the Rule.
(b) Performance of Accounting Services. In addition to
the maintenance of the books and records specified
above, Fund Accountant shall perform the following
accounting services for the Fund:
(i) Calculate the net asset value per share
utilizing prices obtained from the sources
described in subsection 1(b)(ii) below;
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(ii) Obtain security prices from independent
pricing services, or if such quotes are
unavailable, then obtain such prices from
the Fund's investment adviser or its
designee, as approved by the Fund's Board of
Directors;
(iii) Verify and reconcile with the Fund's
custodian all daily trade activity;
(iv) Compute, as appropriate, the Fund's net
income and capital gains, dividend payables,
dividend factors, 7-day yields, 7-day
effective yields, 30-day yields, and
weighted average portfolio maturity;
(v) Review the net asset value calculation and
dividend factor (if any) for the Fund prior
to release to shareholders, check and
confirm the net asset values and dividend
factors for reasonableness and deviations;
(vi) Determine unrealized appreciation and
depreciation on securities held by the Fund;
(vii) Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on
securities purchased at a price other than
face value, if requested by the Fund;
(viii) Update fund accounting system to reflect
rate changes, as received from the Fund's
investment adviser, on variable interest
rate instruments;
(ix) Post Fund transactions to appropriate
categories;
(x) Accrue expenses of the Fund according to
instructions received from the Fund's
Investment Adviser;
(xi) Determine the outstanding receivables and
payables for all (1) security trades, (2)
Fund share transactions, and (3) income and
expense accounts;
(xii) Provide accounting reports in connection
with the Fund's regular annual audit and
other audits and examinations by regulatory
agencies; and
(xiii) Provide such periodic reports as the parties
shall agree upon, as set forth in a separate
schedule.
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(c) Special Reports and Services.
(i) Fund Accountant may provide additional
special reports upon the request of the
Fund's Investment Adviser, which may result
in an additional charge, the amount of which
shall be agreed upon between the parties.
(ii) Fund Accountant may provide such other
similar services with respect to the Fund as
may be reasonably requested by the Fund,
which may result in an additional charge,
the amount of which shall be agreed upon
between the parties.
(d) Additional Accounting Services. Fund Accountant shall
also perform the following additional accounting
services for the Fund:
(i) Provide monthly a download (and hard copy
thereof) of the financial statements
described below, upon request of the Fund.
The download will include the following
items:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities,
Statement of Operations,
Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and
Condensed Financial Information;
(ii) Provide accounting information for the
following:
(A) federal and state income tax
returns and federal excise tax
returns;
(B) the Fund's semi-annual reports with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") on Form N-SAR;
(C) the Fund's annual, semi-annual and
quarterly (if any) shareholder
reports;
(D) registration statements on Form N-2
and other filings relating to the
registration of shares;
(E) the Investment Adviser's monitoring
of the Fund's status as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended;
(F) annual audit by the Fund's
auditors; and
(G) examinations performed by the SEC.
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2. Subcontracting.
Fund Accountant may, at its expense, subcontract with any entity or
person concerning the provision of the services contemplated hereunder;
provided, however, that Fund Accountant shall not be relieved of any of its
obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such subcontractor and
provided further, that Fund Accountant shall be responsible, to the extent
provided in Section 7 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor as if such acts
were its own.
3. Compensation.
The Fund shall pay Fund Accountant for the services to be provided by
Fund Accountant under this Agreement in accordance with, and in the manner set
forth in, Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
4. Reimbursement of Expenses.
In addition to paying Fund Accountant the fees described in Section 3
hereof, the Fund agrees to reimburse Fund Accountant for its out-of-pocket
expenses in providing services hereunder, including without limitation the
following:
(a) All freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred by
Fund Accountant in delivering materials to and from the Fund;
(b) All direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or
other electronic transmission expenses incurred by Fund
Accountant in communication with the Fund, the Fund's
Investment Adviser or custodian, dealers or others as required
for Fund Accountant to perform the services to be provided
hereunder;
(c) The cost of obtaining security market quotes pursuant to
Section l(b)(ii) above;
(d) The cost of microfilm or microfiche of records or other
materials; and
(e) Any expenses Fund Accountant shall incur at the written
direction of an officer of the Fund thereunto duly authorized.
5. Effective Date.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Fund as of
the date first written above (or, if the Fund is not in existence on that date,
on the date the Fund commences operation) (the "Effective Date").
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6. Term.
This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Fund,
unless earlier terminated by either party hereto as provided hereunder, until
May 31, 2002 and thereafter shall be renewed automatically for successive
two-year terms unless written notice not to renew is given by the non-renewing
party to the other party at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the
then-current term; provided, however, that after such termination for so long as
Fund Accountant, with the written consent of the Fund, in fact continues to
perform any one or more of the services contemplated by this Agreement or any
schedule or exhibit hereto, the provisions of this Agreement, including without
limitation the provisions dealing with indemnification, shall continue in full
force and effect. Compensation due Fund Accountant and unpaid by the Fund upon
such termination shall be immediately due and payable upon and notwithstanding
such termination. Fund Accountant shall be entitled to collect from the Fund, in
addition to the compensation described under Section 3 hereof, the amount of all
of Fund Accountant's cash disbursements for services in connection with Fund
Accountant's activities in effecting such termination, including without
limitation, the delivery to the Fund and/or its designees of the Fund's
property, records, instruments and documents, or any copies thereof. Subsequent
to such termination, for a reasonable fee, Fund Accountant will provide the Fund
with reasonable access to any Fund documents or records remaining in its
possession.
7. Standard of Care; Reliance on Records and Instructions;
Indemnification.
Fund Accountant shall use its best efforts to insure the accuracy of
all services performed under this Agreement, but shall not be liable to the Fund
for any action taken or omitted by Fund Accountant in the absence of bad faith,
willful misfeasance, negligence or from reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Fund
Accountant, its employees, agents, directors, officers and nominees from and
against any and all claims, demands, actions and suits, whether groundless or
otherwise, and from and against any and all judgments, liabilities, losses,
damages, costs, charges, counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and
character arising out of or in any way relating to Fund Accountant's actions
taken or nonactions with respect to the performance of services under this
Agreement with respect to the Fund or based, if applicable, upon reasonable
reliance on information, records, instructions or requests with respect to the
Fund given or made to Fund Accountant by a duly authorized representative of the
Fund; provided that this indemnification shall not apply to actions or omissions
of Fund Accountant in cases of its own bad faith, willful misfeasance,
negligence or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties, and
further provided that prior to confessing any claim against it which may be the
subject of this indemnification, Fund Accountant shall give the Fund written
notice of and reasonable opportunity to defend against said claim in its own
name or in the name of Fund Accountant.
8. Record Retention and Confidentiality.
Fund Accountant shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Fund all books
and records which the Fund and Fund Accountant is, or may be, required to keep
and maintain pursuant to any applicable statutes, rules and regulations,
including without limitation Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under
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the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), relating to the
maintenance of books and records in connection with the services to be provided
hereunder. Fund Accountant further agrees that all such books and records shall
be the property of the Fund and to make such books and records available for
inspection by the Fund or by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
reasonable times and otherwise to keep confidential all books and records and
other information relative to the Fund and its shareholders; except when
requested to divulge such information by duly-constituted authorities or court
process.
9. Uncontrollable Events.
Fund Accountant assumes no responsibility hereunder, and shall not be
liable, for any damage, loss of data, delay or any other loss whatsoever caused
by events beyond its reasonable control.
10. Reports.
Fund Accountant will furnish to the Fund and to its properly authorized
auditors, investment advisers, examiners, distributors, dealers, underwriters,
salesmen, insurance companies and others designated by the Fund in writing, such
reports and at such times as are prescribed pursuant to the terms and the
conditions of this Agreement to be provided or completed by Fund Accountant, or
as subsequently agreed upon by the parties pursuant to an amendment hereto. The
Fund agrees to examine each such report or copy promptly and will report or
cause to be reported any errors or discrepancies therein no later than three
business days from the receipt thereof. In the event that errors or
discrepancies, except such errors and discrepancies as may not reasonably be
expected to be discovered by the recipient within ten days after conducting a
diligent examination, are not so reported within the aforesaid period of time, a
report will for all purposes be accepted by and binding upon the Fund and any
other recipient, and, except as provided in Section 7 hereof, Fund Accountant
shall have no liability for errors or discrepancies therein and shall have no
further responsibility with respect to such report except to perform reasonable
corrections of such errors and discrepancies within a reasonable time after
requested to do so by the Fund.
11. Rights of Ownership.
All computer programs and procedures developed to perform services
required to be provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement are the property
of Fund Accountant. All records and other data except such computer programs and
procedures are the exclusive property of the Fund and all such other records and
data will be furnished to the Fund in appropriate form as soon as practicable
after termination of this Agreement for any reason.
12. Return of Records.
Fund Accountant may at its option at any time, and shall promptly upon
the Fund's demand, turn over to the Fund and cease to retain Fund Accountant's
files, records and documents created and maintained by Fund Accountant pursuant
to this Agreement which are no longer needed by Fund Accountant in the
performance of its services or for its legal protection. If not so turned over
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to the Fund, such documents and records will be retained by Fund Accountant for
six years from the year of creation. At the end of such six-year period, such
records and documents will be turned over to the Fund unless the Fund authorizes
in writing the destruction of such records and documents.
13. Representations of the Fund.
The Fund certifies to Fund Accountant that: (1) as of the close of
business on the Effective Date, the Fund as of the Effective Date has authorized
50,000,000 shares, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Fund
and, when executed and delivered by the Fund, will constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Fund, enforceable against the Fund in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
and secured parties.
14. Representations of Fund Accountant.
Fund Accountant represents and warrants that: (1) the various
procedures and systems which Fund Accountant has implemented with regard to
safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft, or any other cause
the records, and other data of the Fund and Fund Accountant's records, data,
equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its
obligations hereunder are adequate and that it will make such changes therein
from time to time as are required for the secure performance of its obligations
hereunder, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by Fund Accountant
and, when executed and delivered by Fund Accountant, will constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Fund Accountant, enforceable against Fund
Accountant in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.
15. Insurance.
Fund Accountant shall notify the Fund should any of its insurance
coverage be canceled or reduced. Such notification shall include the date of
change and the reasons therefor. Fund Accountant shall notify the Fund of any
material claims against it with respect to services performed under this
Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the
Fund from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding claims
made by Fund Accountant under its insurance coverage.
16. Information to be Furnished by the Fund.
The Fund has furnished to Fund Accountant the following:
(a) Copies of the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund
and of any amendments thereto, certified by the
proper official of the state in which such document
has been filed.
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(b) Copies of the following documents:
(i) The Fund's Bylaws and any amendments
thereto; and
(ii) Certified copies of resolutions of the Board
of Directors covering the approval of this
Agreement, authorization of a specified
officer of the Fund to execute and deliver
this Agreement and authorization for
specified officers of the Fund to instruct
Fund Accountant thereunder.
(c) A list of all the officers of the Fund, together with
specimen signatures of those officers who are
authorized to instruct Fund Accountant in all
matters.
(d) Two copies of the Private Offering Memorandum
("Memorandum") for the Fund.
17. Information Furnished by Fund Accountant.
(a) Fund Accountant has furnished to the Fund the
following:
(i) Fund Accountant's Charter; and
(ii) Fund Accountant's Bylaws and any amendments
thereto.
18. Amendments to Documents.
The Fund shall furnish Fund Accountant written copies of any amendments
to, or changes in, any of the items referred to in Section 17 hereof forthwith
upon such amendments or changes becoming effective. In addition, the Fund agrees
that no amendments will be made to the Memorandum of the Fund which might have
the effect of changing the procedures employed by Fund Accountant in providing
the services agreed to hereunder or which amendment might affect the duties of
Fund Accountant hereunder unless the Fund first obtains Fund Accountant's
approval of such amendments or changes.
19. Compliance with Law.
Except for the obligations of Fund Accountant set forth in Section 8
hereof, the Fund assumes full responsibility for the preparation, contents and
distribution of the Memorandum of the Fund as to compliance with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
the 1940 Act and any other laws, rules and regulations of governmental
authorities having jurisdiction. Fund Accountant shall have no obligation to
take cognizance of any laws relating to the sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund
represents and warrants that no shares of the Fund will be offered until the
Fund's registration statement under the 1940 Act has become effective.
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20. Notices.
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by
registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with such
notice, at the following address: 00 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party pursuant to this Section.
21. Headings.
Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only
and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
22. Assignment.
This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not be
assignable with respect to the Fund by either of the parties hereto except by
the specific written consent of the other party.
23. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and provisions shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
NBT INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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NBT BANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Dated: May 31, 2000
FORM OF SCHEDULE A
TO THE FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
NBT INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
AND
NBT BANK, N.A.
FEES
NBT Bank, N.A. shall be entitled to receive a fee from the Fund in the
amount of $10,000 per month plus NBT Bank's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in the performance of its services as provided in Section 4 of the Fund
Accounting Agreement to which this Schedule A is attached.
NBT INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC. NBT BANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X.Xxxxxxx
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