U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT, dated March 1, 1999, between U.S. Equity
Portfolio, a New York trust (the "Trust"), and Xxxxx Brothers Xxxxxxxx Trust
Company, a company organized under the laws of the State of New York (the
"Administrator").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trust is a diversified open-end management investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has been organized for the purpose of investing its
funds in securities and has retained an investment adviser for this purpose and
desires to avail itself of the facilities available to the Administrator with
respect to the administration of the day to day affairs of the Trust, and the
Administrator is willing to furnish such administrative services on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. The Trust hereby appoints the Administrator to administer
all aspects of the operations of the Trust (except those subject to the
supervision of the investment adviser), subject to the overall supervision of
the Trustees of the Trust for the period and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. The Administrator hereby accepts such appointment and agrees during
such period to render the services herein described and to assume the
obligations set forth herein, for the compensation herein provided.
Section 2. Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, the
Administrator shall administer all aspects of the operations of the Trust
(except those subject to the supervision of the investment adviser) and, in
connection therewith, shall (i) furnish the Trust with adequate office
facilities, utilities, office equipment and related services; (ii) be
responsible for the financial and accounting records required to be maintained
(including those being maintained by the custodian) other than those being
maintained by the investment adviser; (iii) furnish the Trust with ordinary
clerical, bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities; (iv)
arrange, but not pay for, the preparation of all required tax returns and
reports to its investors and the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
periodic updating of its registration statement; and (v) oversee the performance
of administrative and professional services to the Trust by others, including
the custodian.
In connection with the services rendered by the Administrator under
this Agreement, the Administrator assumes and will pay all expenses incurred by
the Administrator or by the Trust in connection with administering the ordinary
course of business of the Trust, other than those assumed by the Trust herein.
The Trust assumes and will pay the expenses described below:
(a) the fees and expenses of the investment adviser or expenses
otherwise incurred in connection with the management of the investment and
reinvestment of its assets,
(b) the fees and expenses of Trustees of the Trust who are not
affiliated persons of the Administrator, or of any entity with whom the
Administrator has subcontracted its performance under this Agreement (the
"Subadministrator") or any investment adviser,
(c) the fees and expenses of the custodian which relate to (i) the
custodial function and the recordkeeping connected therewith, (ii) the
maintenance of the required accounting records not being maintained by the
Administrator or the Subadministrator, (iii) the valuation of interests,
including the cost of any pricing service or services which may be retained
pursuant to the authorization of the Trustees of the Trust, and (iv) the
cashiering function in connection with the purchase and withdrawal of interests,
(d) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent, which relate to the
maintenance of each investor account,
(e) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent
accountants for the Trust,
(f) brokers' commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to
the Trust in connection with its securities transactions,
(g) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Trust to federal, state
or other governmental agencies,
(h) the fees of any trade association of which the Trust may be a
member,
(i) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining
registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the preparation and printing of the Trust's registration statements for filing
under federal securities laws for such purposes,
(j) the cost of any liability insurance or fidelity bonds,
(k) allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services
and all expenses of investors' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing
and mailing reports to investors in the amount necessary for distribution to
investors, and
(l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary
expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Trust.
Section 3. As full compensation for the services performed and the
facilities furnished by the Administrator, the Administrator shall receive a fee
from the Trust, computed daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate equal to
0.035% of the average daily net assets of the Trust.
Section 4. The Administrator assumes no responsibility under this
Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder, and
specifically assumes no responsibilities for investment advice or the investment
or reinvestment of Trust assets.
Section 5. The Administrator shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to
which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from wilful misfeasance,
bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or
from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
Section 6. The Administrator may subcontract for the performance of its
obligations hereunder with any one or more persons; provided, however, that the
Administrator shall not enter into any such subcontract unless the Trustees of
the Trust shall have found the subcontracting party to be qualified to perform
the obligations sought to be subcontracted; and provided, further, that unless
the Trust otherwise expressly agrees in writing, the Administrator shall be as
fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of any subcontractor
as it would be for its own acts or omissions. If permitted by the
subadministration agreement between the Administrator and the Subadministrator,
the Subadministrator may authorize and permit any of its trustees, officers and
employees who may be elected as officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities
in which they are elected and the Subadministrator will pay the salaries of all
personnel of the Trust who are affiliated with the Subadministrator.
Section 7. This Agreement shall become effective on the date determined
by mutual agreement of the parties. This Agreement shall continue in effect for
successive annual periods, but only so long as its continuance is specifically
approved at least annually in the same manner as an investment advisory contract
under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by
the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trustees of
the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust, upon not less than 60 days' written
notice to the Administrator, or by the Administrator at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, upon not less than 90 days' written notice to the Trust.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
Section 8. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any trustee, officer or employee of the Administrator who may also be an
officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote
his time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any
business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the
right of the Administrator to engage in any other business or to render services
of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
Section 9. During the term of this Agreement, the Trust agrees to
furnish the Administrator at its principal office all registration statement,
reports to investors, or other material prepared for distribution to investors,
which refer in any way to the Administrator, prior to use thereof and not to use
such material if the Administrator reasonably objects in writing within five
business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt
thereof. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the Trust will continue
to furnish to the Administrator copies of any of the above-mentioned materials
which refer in any way to the Administrator. The Trust shall furnish or
otherwise make available to the Administrator such other information relating to
the business affairs of the Trust as the Administrator at any time, or from time
to time, reasonably requests in order to discharge its obligations hereunder.
Section 10. This Agreement may be amended only by mutual written
consent.
Section 11. The Trustees have authorized the execution of this
Agreement in their capacity as Trustees and not individually and the
Administrator agrees that neither investors nor the Trustees nor any officer,
employee, representative or agent of the Trust shall be personally liable upon,
nor shall resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of,
obligations given, executed or delivered on behalf of or by the Trust, that
neither investors nor the Trustees, officers, employees, representatives or
agents of the Trust shall be personally liable hereunder, and that the
Administrator shall look solely to the property of the Trust for the
satisfaction of any claim hereunder.
Section 12. Any notice or other communication required to be given
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by
registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Administrator at 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Managing Director; or (2) to the Portfolio at
U.S. Equity Portfolio, Xxxxxxxxxxx House, Fort Street, P.O. Box 2330, Xxxxxx
Town, Grand Cayman, BWI.
Section 13. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO
By
XXXXX BROTHERS XXXXXXXX TRUST COMPANY
By
WS5221a
