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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made the 20th day of March, 1995, by and between IDS Utilities
Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Minnesota corporation, and American Express
Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Part One: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
(1) The Fund hereby retains American Express Financial Corporation, and
American Express Financial Corporation hereby agrees, for the period of this
Agreement and under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to furnish
the Fund continuously with suggested investment planning; to determine,
consistent with the Fund's investment objectives and policies, which securities
in American Express Financial Corporation's discretion shall be purchased, held
or sold and to execute or cause the execution of purchase or sell orders; to
prepare and make available to the Fund all necessary research and statistical
data in connection therewith; to furnish all services of whatever nature
required in connection with the management of the Fund as provided under this
Agreement; and to pay such expenses as may be provided for in Part Three;
subject always to the direction and control of the Board of Directors (the
"Board"), the Executive Committee and the authorized officers of the Fund.
American Express Financial Corporation agrees to maintain an adequate
organization of competent persons to provide the services and to perform the
functions herein mentioned. American Express Financial Corporation agrees to
meet with any persons at such times as the Board deems appropriate for the
purpose of reviewing American Express Financial Corporation's performance under
this Agreement.
(2) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that the investment
planning and investment decisions will be in accordance with general investment
policies of the Fund as disclosed to American Express Financial Corporation from
time to time by the Fund and as set forth in its prospectuses and registration
statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC").
(3) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that it will maintain
all required records, memoranda, instructions or authorizations relating to the
acquisition or disposition of securities for the Fund.
(4) The Fund agrees that it will furnish to American Express Financial
Corporation any information that the latter may reasonably request with respect
to the services performed or to be performed by American Express Financial
Corporation under this Agreement.
(5) American Express Financial Corporation is authorized to select the
brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio
securities for the Fund and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain the
best available price and most favorable execution, except as prescribed herein.
Subject to prior authorization by the Fund's Board of appropriate policies and
procedures, and subject to termination at any time by the Board,
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American Express Financial Corporation may also be authorized to effect
individual securities transactions at commission rates in excess of the minimum
commission rates available, to the extent authorized by law, if American Express
Financial Corporation determines in good faith that such amount of commission
was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services
provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or American Express Financial Corporation's overall responsibilities
with respect to the Fund and other funds for which it acts as investment
adviser.
(6) It is understood and agreed that in furnishing the Fund with the
services as herein provided, neither American Express Financial Corporation, nor
any officer, director or agent thereof shall be held liable to the Fund or its
creditors or shareholders for errors of judgment or for anything except willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the terms of this
Agreement. It is further understood and agreed that American Express Financial
Corporation may rely upon information furnished to it reasonably believed to be
accurate and reliable.
Part Two: COMPENSATION TO INVESTMENT MANAGER
(1) The Fund agrees to pay to American Express Financial Corporation, and
American Express Financial Corporation covenants and agrees to accept from the
Fund in full payment for the services furnished, a fee for each calendar day of
each year equal to the total of 1/365th (1/366th in each leap year) of the
amount computed as shown below. The computation shall be made for each day on
the basis of net assets as of the close of business of the full business day two
(2) business days prior to the day for which the computation is being made. In
the case of the suspension of the computation of net asset value, the asset
charge for each day during such suspension shall be computed as of the close of
business on the last full business day on which the net assets were computed.
Net assets as of the close of a full business day shall include all transactions
in shares of the Fund recorded on the books of the Fund for that day.
The asset charge shall be based on the net assets of the Fund as set forth
in the following table.
Asset Charge
Assets Annual Rate at
(Billions) Each Asset Level
---------- ----------------
First $0.5 0.530%
Next $0.5 0.505
Next $1 0.480
Next $1 0.455
Next $3 0.430
Over $6 0.400
(2) The fee shall be paid on a monthly basis and, in the event of the
termination of this Agreement, the fee accrued shall be prorated on the basis of
the number of days that this Agreement is in effect during the month with
respect to which such payment is made.
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(3) The fee provided for hereunder shall be paid in cash by the Fund to
American Express Financial Corporation within five business days after the last
day of each month.
Part Three: ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES
(1) The Fund agrees to pay:
(a) Fees payable to American Express Financial Corporation for its
services under the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Taxes.
(c) Brokerage commissions and charges in connection with the
purchase and sale of assets.
(d) Custodian fees and charges.
(e) Fees and charges of its independent certified public
accountants for services the Fund requests.
(f) Premium on the bond required by Rule 17g-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(g) Fees and expenses of attorneys (i) it employs in matters not involving
the assertion of a claim by a third party against the Fund, its directors and
officers, (ii) it employs in conjunction with a claim asserted by the Board
against American Express Financial Corporation, except that American Express
Financial Corporation shall reimburse the Fund for such fees and expenses if it
is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or American
Express Financial Corporation agrees, that it is liable in whole or in part to
the Fund, and (iii) it employs to assert a claim against a third party.
(h) Fees paid for the qualification and registration for public sale of
the securities of the Fund under the laws of the United States and of the
several states in which such securities shall be offered for sale.
(i) Fees of consultants employed by the Fund.
(j) Directors, officers and employees expenses which shall include fees,
salaries, memberships, dues, travel, seminars, pension, profit sharing, and all
other benefits paid to or provided for directors, officers and employees,
directors and officers liability insurance, errors and omissions liability
insurance, worker's compensation insurance and other expenses applicable to the
directors, officers and employees, except the Fund will not pay any fees or
expenses of any person who is an officer or employee of American Express
Financial Corporation or its affiliates.
(k) Filing fees and charges incurred by the Fund in connection with filing
any amendment to its articles of incorporation, or incurred in filing any other
document with the State of Minnesota or its political subdivisions.
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(l) Organizational expenses of the Fund.
(m) Expenses incurred in connection with lending portfolio
securities of the Fund.
(n) Expenses properly payable by the Fund, approved by the
Board.
(2) American Express Financial Corporation agrees to pay all expenses
associated with the services it provides under the terms of this Agreement.
Further, American Express Financial Corporation agrees that if, at the end of
any month, the expenses of the Fund under this Agreement and any other agreement
between the Fund and American Express Financial Corporation, but excluding those
expenses set forth in (1)(b) and (1)(c) of this Part Three, exceed the most
restrictive applicable state expenses limitation, the Fund shall not pay those
expenses set forth in (1)(a) and (d) through (n) of this Part Three to the
extent necessary to keep the Fund's expenses from exceeding the limitation, it
being understood that American Express Financial Corporation will assume all
unpaid expenses and xxxx the Fund for them in subsequent months but in no event
can the accumulation of unpaid expenses or billing be carried past the end of
the Fund's fiscal year.
Part Four: MISCELLANEOUS
(1) American Express Financial Corporation shall be deemed to be an
independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized in this
Agreement, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Fund.
(2) A "full business day" shall be as defined in the By-laws.
(3) The Fund recognizes that American Express Financial Corporation now
renders and may continue to render investment advice and other services to other
investment companies and persons which may or may not have investment policies
and investments similar to those of the Fund and that American Express Financial
Corporation manages its own investments and/or those of its subsidiaries.
American Express Financial Corporation shall be free to render such investment
advice and other services and the Fund hereby consents thereto.
(4) Neither this Agreement nor any transaction had pursuant hereto shall
be invalidated or in any way affected by the fact that directors, officers,
agents and/or shareholders of the Fund are or may be interested in American
Express Financial Corporation or any successor or assignee thereof, as
directors, officers, stockholders or otherwise; that directors, officers,
stockholders or agents of American Express Financial Corporation are or may be
interested in the Fund as directors, officers, shareholders, or otherwise; or
that American Express Financial Corporation or any successor or assignee, is or
may be interested in the Fund as shareholder or otherwise, provided, however,
that neither American Express Financial Corporation, nor any officer, director
or employee
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thereof or of the Fund, shall sell to or buy from the Fund any property or
security other than shares issued by the Fund, except in accordance with
applicable regulations or orders of the SEC.
(5) Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed,
and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the party to this Agreement entitled to
receive such, at such party's principal place of business in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, or to such other address as either party may designate in writing
mailed to the other.
(6) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that no officer,
director or employee of American Express Financial Corporation will deal for or
on behalf of the Fund with himself as principal or agent, or with any
corporation or partnership in which he may have a financial interest, except
that this shall not prohibit:
(a) Officers, directors or employees of American Express Financial
Corporation from having a financial interest in the Fund or in American Express
Financial Corporation.
(b) The purchase of securities for the Fund, or the sale of securities
owned by the Fund, through a security broker or dealer, one or more of whose
partners, officers, directors or employees is an officer, director or employee
of American Express Financial Corporation, provided such transactions are
handled in the capacity of broker only and provided commissions charged do not
exceed customary brokerage charges for such services.
(c) Transactions with the Fund by a broker-dealer affiliate of American
Express Financial Corporation as may be allowed by rule or order of the SEC, and
if made pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund's Board.
(7) American Express Financial Corporation agrees that, except as herein
otherwise expressly provided or as may be permitted consistent with the use of a
broker-dealer affiliate of American Express Financial Corporation under
applicable provisions of the federal securities laws, neither it nor any of its
officers, directors or employees shall at any time during the period of this
Agreement, make, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any fees, profits or
emoluments of any character in connection with the purchase or sale of
securities (except shares issued by the Fund) or other assets by or for the
Fund.
Part Five: RENEWAL AND TERMINATION
(1) This Agreement shall continue in effect until March 19, 1997, or until
a new agreement is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding shares
of the Fund and by vote of the Fund's Board, including the vote required by (b)
of this paragraph, and if no new agreement is so approved, this Agreement shall
continue from year to year thereafter unless and until terminated by either
party as hereinafter provided, except that such continuance shall be
specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Board of the Fund or by a
vote of the majority of the
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outstanding shares of the Fund and (b) by the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any
such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. As used in this paragraph, the term "interested person" shall have the
same meaning as set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act").
(2) This Agreement may be terminated by either the Fund or American
Express Financial Corporation at any time by giving the other party 60 days'
written notice of such intention to terminate, provided that any termination
shall be made without the payment of any penalty, and provided further that
termination may be effected either by the Board of the Fund or by a vote of the
majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. The vote of the majority
of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund for the purpose of this Part Five
shall be the vote at a shareholders' regular meeting, or a special meeting duly
called for the purpose, of 67% or more of the Fund's shares present at such
meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares are
present or represented by proxy, or more than 50% of the outstanding voting
shares of the Fund, whichever is less.
(3) This Agreement shall terminate in the event of its assignment, the
term "assignment" for this purpose having the same meaning as set forth in the
1940 Act.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
IDS UTILITIES INCOME FUND, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Vice President
AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President
