EXHIBIT 23.8
TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 30th day of September, 1996,
between SAFECO TAX-EXEMPT BOND TRUST ("Trust"), a Delaware business trust, and
SAFECO SERVICES CORPORATION ("SAFECO Services"), a Washington corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), and has caused its shares of
beneficial interest ("Shares") to be registered for sale to the public under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), and various state securities
laws; and
WHEREAS, the Trust offers for public sale distinct series of Shares, each
corresponding to a distinct portfolio ("Series"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust's Board of Trustees has divided the shares of each
Series into one or more classes of Shares (each a "Class"), designated No-Load
Class, and Advisor Class A or Advisor Class B (latter two classes "Advisor
Classes"), as listed on Exhibit A hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain SAFECO Services as its transfer agent,
dividend and distribution disbursement agent, and shareholder services agent
with respect to the Classes of Shares of beneficial interest in each Series
listed on Exhibit A to this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, SAFECO Services is qualified and authorized to act in such
capacities;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed by the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust on behalf of each Series hereby appoints SAFECO
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Services as transfer agent, dividend and distribution disbursement agent, and
shareholder services agent for each Series, and SAFECO Services agrees to act as
such upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
2. Documents. The Trust agrees to deliver to SAFECO Services the following
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documents to enable SAFECO Services to exercise its functions under this
Agreement: (a) copies of all basic corporate documentation, including the
Trust's Trust Instrument and Bylaws; (b) evidence of creation and authorization
for issue and sale of the Trust's Shares; (c) evidence of the status of the
Trust's Shares under applicable laws, including copies of the current
registration statement or post-effective amendments to the registration
statement of the Trust's securities under the 1933 Act, copies of current
prospectuses and evidence of compliance with all applicable state securities
laws. The Trust shall furnish promptly to SAFECO Services a copy of any
amendment or supplement to the above-mentioned documents. The Trust shall
furnish to SAFECO Services any additional documents requested by SAFECO Services
as necessary to perform the services required hereunder.
3. Duties of SAFECO Services. SAFECO Services shall perform as agent of each
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Series, the following duties:
(a) With respect to each Series' Advisor Class Shares:
(1) Calculate the 12b-1 payments to brokers and any broker trail
commissions.
(2) Develop, monitor and maintain all systems necessary to
implement and operate the two-tier distribution system,
including the conversion feature applicable to Advisor Class B
Shares, as described in the registration statement and related
documents of the Trust, as they may be amended from time to
time.
(3) Calculate the contingent deferred sales charge amounts, if any,
upon redemption of Advisor Class A or Advisor Class B Shares
and deduct such amounts from redemption proceeds.
(4) Calculate the front-end sales charge, if any, at the time of
purchase of Advisor Class A Shares and deduct such amounts from
purchase amounts.
(5) Determine the dates of conversion applicable to Advisor Class B
Shares and effect same.
(b) Maintain a complete computerized record of shareholders by Series and
Class including, name(s) in which the Shares are registered, address, account
number, broker/dealer or registered representative number (if required), type of
account, number of Shares owned in certificate and non-certificate form, dates
and amounts of purchases and redemptions, and dates and amounts of dividends and
capital gains distributed and reinvested, together with cost amounts.
(c) With respect to requests for the purchase, repurchase, redemption or
transfer of the Shares and the receipt or disbursement of monies, maintain
records of all such transactions for each Series and Class and from these
records furnish to the Trust, as heretofore agreed, the following for each
Series and Class:
(1) Number of Shares purchased and dollar net asset value per
Share.
(2) Number of Shares repurchased or redeemed and dollar net asset
value per Share.
(3) Number of accumulated Shares outstanding.
(4) Number of opened and closed accounts.
(5) Current number of shareholder accounts.
(d) With respect to requests for the purchase of Shares of a Series
received by SAFECO Securities, Inc., principal underwriter of each Series'
Shares, from authorized broker/dealers, and orders for the repurchase of such
Shares from authorized broker/dealers, SAFECO Services shall accept and execute
such orders at the prices per share next computed in accordance with Rule 22c-1
under the 1940 Act, deducting any applicable front-end or contingent deferred
sales charge from the purchase or redemption of Advisor Class A or Advisor Class
B Shares.
(e) Following receipt of payments, upon receipt of proper instructions,
SAFECO Services, as transfer agent, shall prepare computer input entries to
register Shares of each Series and Class upon its books in such name or names as
directed. If the Trust elects to issue certificates representing Shares of a
Series or Class, such certificates shall be issued, recorded and forwarded for
delivery to the proper person(s) upon request. Whether or not certificates
evidencing ownership are issued, a confirmation showing the registration and
listing the purchase transaction shall be mailed to the Trust's shareholders.
(f) Upon receipt of Shares of a Series or Class for redemption or
repurchase, in good delivery form, SAFECO Services shall prepare computer input
entries to clear the Advisor Class Shares out of the shareholders' accounts and
effect prompt payment to the authorized broker/dealer or the shareholder.
(g) With respect to Advisor Class Shares, upon request, send duplicate
confirmations to broker-dealers, banks and other financial institutions of their
clients' activity.
(h) New investors or shareholders of the Trust may forward monies directly
to SAFECO Services for the purchase of Shares of any Class of a Series under
various plans as described in the Trust's then current prospectuses.
With respect to such plans, SAFECO Services for the Classes of each Series
shall:
(1) Receive monies for the purchase of full and fractional Shares
with respect to any of the plans. When purchase orders are
received by SAFECO Services in proper form, they shall be time-
stamped and priced in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940
Act, deducting any applicable front-end sales charge.
(2) Prepare computer input entries to effect the issuance of
confirmations, registration of the Shares and recording of cost
amounts in shareholder accounts; record Shares and net asset
value amounts; record Shares and aggregate dollar amounts for
updating Blue Sky records, production reports, etc.
(3) Secure signed applications from each shareholder which shall
include details as to registration of Shares, social security
number, birth date (for accounts which require it), citizenship,
type of account, broker/dealer and registered representative (if
required).
(4) Obtain back-up withholding certificates (e.g., Forms W-8 and
W-9) from each shareholder.
(5) Maintain signed applications, correspondence, etc. for
individual shareholders.
(6) Accept redemption orders as described in the Trust's then
current prospectuses directly from shareholders, or their
qualified agents, upon tender of properly endorsed certificates
which meet the redemption requirements of the Trust. Shares not
represented by certificates tendered by the presentation of a
written request signed by the shareholder may be accepted
without a signature guarantee provided a signature is on file
with SAFECO Services.
(7) Disburse proceeds for Shares tendered for redemption at the net
asset value per share next computed after receipt of tender in
accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, deducting any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
(i) Take all actions necessary to complete any transaction in connection
with any exchange privileges as described in the Trust's then current
prospectuses.
(j) Maintain a bank account in its own name with any bank which qualifies
under the Bylaws of the Trust, for the deposit of funds received in payment of
Shares and for the withdrawal of funds in payment of repurchases or redemptions
of Shares, expenses and dividends and capital gains distributions. After each
computer run, written instructions, signed by authorized officers or other
authorized signatories are to be forwarded to such bank requesting the transfer
of net balance to or from the Series' custodian account with such bank.
(k) Take actions necessary in connection with any "withdrawal plan," as
described in the Trust's then current prospectuses including making the monthly
or quarterly payments to the plan participant, and informing the Trust with
regard to the Shares of each Class of each Series redeemed and total dollar
amount involved on each payment date. Although a withdrawal plan terminates upon
the death of the shareholder, SAFECO Services shall not be responsible for any
payments made or other action taken in accordance with the provisions of the
withdrawal plan until it has knowledge of such death.
(l) Take actions necessary in connection with the purchase of Advisor
Class A Shares under any "reinstatement privilege", "right of accumulation" or
"letter of intent," as described in
the Trust's then current Advisor Class prospectus including with respect to the
letter of intent placing in escrow the applicable percentage of Shares.
(m) In the case of the registration and transfer of Shares referred to in
Section (b) above, treat the person in whose name Shares of any Series are
registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, and SAFECO Services shall not
be bound to recognize any other person, whether or not SAFECO Services shall
have notice thereof, except as expressly provided under applicable state law.
(n) Use reasonable efforts to assure the accuracy of the records maintained
under this Agreement and issue certificates or register Shares only to those
persons or entities entitled thereto.
(o) When a transfer of Shares is demanded, take reasonable steps to
ascertain whether or not a transfer of the Shares requested is duly authorized.
If SAFECO Services fails to take such reasonable steps, it will be liable to any
insured party for any damages incurred as a result. SAFECO Services' transfer
obligations shall run to the owners of beneficial interest in the Shares as well
as to the owners of record. SAFECO Services shall take reasonable steps to
ascertain the identity and authority of each signatory who is acting in a
representative capacity.
(p) Before permitting a transfer of Shares, take reasonable efforts to
ensure that the transferee is properly described and that the transfer
instructions for the Shares are clear and not ambiguous or subject to doubt.
(q) Upon receipt of proper instructions, compile, distribute or reinvest
authorized dividends and capital gains distributions to each of the Series'
shareholders. In this regard data shall be accumulated to enable SAFECO
Services to provide and process year-end income tax information for
shareholders, states and the Internal Revenue Service. Where required, taxes
shall be withheld from alien shareholders with foreign addresses and accumulated
for surrender to the Internal Revenue Service.
(r) Prior to each meeting of the Trust's or any Series' or Class'
shareholders, address the proxy cards, prepare the proxy cards, notice of
meeting of shareholders and proxy statement for mailing, and mail them to the
shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Upon their return by the
shareholders, SAFECO Services shall examine them and prepare a tabulation that
provides the following information for the Trust, Series or Class as the case
may be:
(1) Number of Shares outstanding and entitled to vote on the record
date for the meeting.
(2) Number of Shares voted by proxy.
(3) Number of Shares voting "for" each proposal.
(4) Number of Shares voting "against" each proposal.
(5) Number of Shares voting "abstain" for each proposal.
(6) Number of shareholders involved in each above instance.
(s) Prepare a certified list of shareholders eligible to vote at each
meeting of the Trust, or any Series or Classes thereof, which shall be available
on the day of the meeting. SAFECO Services shall also prepare an "Affidavit of
Mailing" to be available for reading at each meeting stating that on the
appropriate date a responsible, named individual caused the notice of meeting,
proxy card and proxy statement to be mailed by United States mail, postage
prepaid, to each and every shareholder of the Shares entitled to vote at the
meeting.
(t) Countersign all certificates to be issued to shareholders of the Trust
upon receipt of payments for the Shares and request a certificate or
certificates representing the Shares being purchased.
(u) Contract from time to time with other persons to provide software or
computer time. SAFECO Services shall advise the Trust of any such arrangements.
4. Appointment of Agents. SAFECO Services may at any time or times in its
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discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) one or more other parties as
agent to perform any or all of the services specified hereunder and carry out
such provisions of this Agreement as SAFECO Services may from time to time
direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any such agent shall not
relieve SAFECO Services of any of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.
5. Record Keeping and Other Information. SAFECO Services shall create and
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maintain all records required by all applicable laws, rules and regulations
relating to the services to be performed under this Agreement, including but not
limited to records required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules
thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time. All records shall be
the property of the Trust and shall be available for inspection and use by the
Trust at all times. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by
SAFECO Services for the periods and in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under
the 1940 Act.
6. Net Asset Value. Wherever used herein, the term "net asset value" shall
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mean the "net asset value" as computed for each Series or Class in accordance
with the Trust's Trust Instrument and Bylaws. If any amendment is made to said
Trust Instrument or Bylaws that changes the method of said computation, the
Trust shall give SAFECO Services immediate notice of such amendment.
7. Proper Instructions. The term "proper instructions" used in this Agreement
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shall be deemed to mean any written instructions signed by authorized persons or
any oral instructions delivered in accordance with Trust requirements.
8. Disbursement of Funds. Funds deposited in the bank account maintained by
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SAFECO Services shall not be disbursed to any trustee, officer or employee of
the Trust. This provision shall not be deemed to apply to dividend payments to
any trustee, officer, or employee in his or her capacity as shareholder. Neither
shall this provision apply to the above individuals upon payments to them for
any Shares redeemed for their personal accounts.
9. Compensation. SAFECO Services shall receive from each Class of each
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Series of the Trust a fee in accordance with the arrangements described in
Exhibit B hereto as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time. Exhibit B
may be amended or additional Exhibits may be added, as deemed necessary from
time to time by written agreement between the Trust and SAFECO Services.
Deletion of Exhibit B shall be in accordance with the termination provisions in
paragraph 16 of this Agreement. Each Exhibit B and any amendments thereto shall
be dated and signed by the parties to this Agreement.
10. Certification of Officers/Reliance upon Certifications.
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(a) The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust shall be, and is
hereby, directed to certify to SAFECO Services the names of the officers of the
Trust, and their respective signatures, and in case of any change of any holder
of any such office, the fact of such change, and the name of such new officer
and the office held by him or her, together with specimens of his or her
signature. SAFECO Services is hereby authorized to honor any instructions given
to SAFECO Services by any such new officer in respect of whom it has received
any such certificate with the same force and effect (and not otherwise), as if
such new officer were named in this Agreement in the place of any person with
the same title of office.
(b) The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust shall be, and is
hereby, authorized and directed to notify SAFECO Services promptly in writing of
any change of officers as above provided, and that until SAFECO Services has
actually received and accepted such notice of any such change, SAFECO Services
is hereby authorized and directed to act in pursuance of this Agreement and the
latest certificates theretofore received by it; and SAFECO Services shall be
indemnified and saved harmless from any loss suffered or liability incurred by
it in so acting, even though any such officer may have been changed.
11. Audits, Inspections and Visits. SAFECO Services shall make available
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during regular business hours all records and other data created and maintained
pursuant to this Agreement for reasonable audit and inspection by the Trust, any
agent or person designated by the Trust, or any regulatory agency having
authority over the Trust. Upon reasonable notice by the Trust, SAFECO Services
shall make available during regular business hours its facilities and premises
employed in connection with its performance of this Agreement for reasonable
visits by the Trust, any agent or person designated by the Trust, or any
regulatory agency having authority over the Trust.
12. Acts of God, Etc. SAFECO Services shall not be liable for delays or errors
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occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not
limited to acts of civil or military
authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts
of God, war, riot or failure of communications equipment of common carriers or
power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, SAFECO
Services shall at no additional expense to the Trust take reasonable steps to
minimize service interruptions and mitigate their effects but shall have no
liability whatsoever with respect thereto.
13. Liability and Indemnification.
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(a) SAFECO Services shall use reasonable care in the performance of its
duties under this Agreement.
(b) SAFECO Services shall not be liable for, or considered to be, the
custodian of any money called for or represented by any check, draft, or other
instrument for the payment of money delivered to it, or on behalf of the Trust.
(c) The Trust shall indemnify and hold SAFECO Services harmless against
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) resulting from:
(1) any claim, demand, action or suit brought by any person other
than the Trust, including by a shareholder, which names SAFECO
Services and/or the Trust as a party, and is not based on and
does not result from SAFECO Services' willful misfeasance, bad
faith or negligence or reckless disregard of duties, and
arises out of or in connection with SAFECO Services'
performance hereunder; or
(2) any claim, demand, action or suit (except to the extent
contributed to by SAFECO Services' willful misfeasance, bad
faith, negligence or reckless disregard of duties) which
results from the negligence of the Trust, or from SAFECO
Services acting upon any instruction(s) reasonably believed by
it to have been executed or communicated by any person duly
authorized by the Trust, or as a result of SAFECO Services
acting in reliance upon advice reasonably believed by SAFECO
Services to have been given by counsel for the Trust, or as a
result of SAFECO Services acting in reliance upon any
instrument or stock certificate reasonably believed by it to
have been genuine and signed, countersigned or executed by the
proper person.
14. Effective Date/Renewal. This Agreement shall become effective with respect
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to the Trust and each Series on the date first written above or such later date
as indicated on Exhibit A or B and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein,
will continue in effect for two years from the above written date. Thereafter,
if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each
Series for successive annual periods ending on the same date of each year,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a
vote of the Board, including the vote of a majority of the trustees who are
neither interested persons of SAFECO
Services nor of the Trust at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
15. Amendment. This Agreement may be modified by written mutual consent, such
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consent on the part of the Trust to be authorized by the vote of the Board of
Trustees.
16. Termination.
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(a) Either party hereto may, at any time on no less than sixty (60) days
prior written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement with respect to the
Trust or any Series (by deleting such Series from Exhibits A and B) without the
payment of any penalty.
(b) Upon termination each Series shall pay to SAFECO Services such
compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall likewise
reimburse SAFECO Services for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
(c) If a successor transfer agent is appointed by the Board of Trustees,
SAFECO Services shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor transfer
agent at the office of the transfer agent all transfer records then held
hereunder and all funds or other properties of the Trust and deposited with or
held by it hereunder.
(d) If no successor transfer agent is appointed, SAFECO Services shall,
in like manner, at its office, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the
Board of Trustees deliver such transfer records, funds and other properties in
accordance with such vote.
(e) In the event that no written order designating a successor transfer
agent or certified copy of a vote of the Board shall have been delivered to
SAFECO Services on or before the date when such termination shall become
effective, then SAFECO Services shall have the right to deliver to a bank or
trust company doing business in Seattle, Washington, of its own selection,
having proper qualifications, all transfer records, funds and other properties
held by SAFECO Services and all instruments held by it relative thereto and all
other property held by it under this Agreement. Thereafter such bank or trust
company shall be the successor of SAFECO Services under this Agreement.
(f) In the event that transfer records, funds and other properties
remain in the possession of SAFECO Services after the date of termination hereof
owing to failure of the Trust to procure the certified copy above referred to,
or of the trustees to appoint a successor transfer agent, SAFECO Services shall
be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period and the
provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of SAFECO
Services shall remain in full force and effect.
17. Limitation of Liability. SAFECO Services is hereby expressly put on
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notice of (i) the limitation of shareholder, officer and trustee liability as
set forth in the Trust Instrument of the Trust and (ii) of the provisions in the
Trust Instrument permitting the establishment of separate Series and limiting
the liability of each Series to obligations of that Series. SAFECO Services
hereby agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement
are in all cases assumed on behalf of a particular Series and each such
obligation shall be limited in all cases to that Series and its assets. SAFECO
Services agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from
the shareholders or any individual shareholder of the Trust nor from the
officers or trustees or any individual officer or trustee of the Trust.
18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement between
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SAFECO Services and the Trust with respect to the services to be provided by
SAFECO Services to the Trust and each Class of each Series and supersedes any
prior written or oral agreement between those parties.
19. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
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of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. SAFECO Services understands that the rights and obligations of each
Series under the Trust Instrument are separate and distinct from those of any
and all other Series.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
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accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and, to the extent it
involves any United States statute, in accordance with the laws of the United
States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their proper officers as of the day and year first above written.
SAFECO TAX-EXEMPT BOND TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxx, President
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Assistant Secretary
SAFECO SERVICES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxx, President
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Assistant Secretary
EXHIBIT A
SAFECO TAX-EXEMPT BOND TRUST
The SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust consists of the following Series and Classes:
1. SAFECO Municipal Bond Fund
No-Load Class
Advisor Class A
Advisor Class B
2. SAFECO California Tax-Free Income Fund
No-Load Class
Advisor Class A
Advisor Class B
3. SAFECO Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Fund
No-Load Class
4. SAFECO Insured Municipal Bond Fund
No-Load Class
As of April 30, 2000
EXHIBIT B
SAFECO TAX-EXEMPT BOND TRUST
ALL SERIES
FEE SCHEDULE
SAFECO Services shall receive from each class of each series fund ("Fund") of
the Trust an annual fee equal to $32 per account, but not to exceed a maximum of
.30% of the Fund's average net assets, which amount shall be calculated on a
monthly basis (by averaging the number of shareholder accounts at the beginning
and end of each month) and shall be billed and paid monthly. With respect to any
omnibus account maintained by any financial intermediary which is providing
shareholder services under a written sub-administration agreement with SAFECO
Services, the annual fee will be calculated based upon the average number of
underlying individual shareholder accounts comprising the omnibus account. If
the number of underlying individual accounts are unavailable from the financial
intermediary, the fee will be calculated based on an imputed number of accounts.
The imputed number will be derived from the average underlying account size for
similar types of accounts.
SAFECO Services Corporation SAFECO Tax-Exempt Bond Trust
On behalf of each Series
By:_________________________ By:____________________________
Its: President Its: President
Attest:______________________ Attest:________________________
Asst. Secretary Asst. Secretary
