FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of October, 1996, between THE OFFITBANK
INVESTMENT FUND, INC. (the "Company"), a Maryland corporation, and BISYS FUND
SERVICES, INC. ("Fund Accountant"), a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, the Company desires that Fund Accountant perform certain fund
accounting services for each investment portfolio of the Company, all as now or
hereafter may be established from time to time (individually referred to herein
as the "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"); 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 premises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES AS FUND ACCOUNTANT; CONVERSION TO SERVICES.
The Company hereby engages Fund Accountant to perform fund accounting
services as set forth in this Section 1 (collectively, the "Services"), and, in
connection therewith, the Company agrees to convert to Fund Accountant's data
processing systems and software (the "BISYS System") as necessary in order to
receive the Services. The Company shall cooperate with Fund Accountant to
provide Fund Accountant with all necessary information and assistance required
to successfully convert to the BISYS System. Fund Accountant shall provide the
Company with a schedule relating to such conversion and the parties agree that
the conversion may progress in stages. The date upon which all Services shall
have been converted to the BISYS System shall be referred to herein as the
"Conversion Date." Fund Accountant hereby accepts such engagement and agrees to
perform the Services commencing, with respect to each individual Service, on the
date that the conversion of such Service to the BISYS System has been completed.
Fund Accountant shall determine in accordance with its normal acceptance
procedures when the applicable Service has been successfully converted.
(a) MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Fund Accountant will keep and
maintain the following books and records of each 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 DAILY ACCOUNTING SERVICES. In addition to the
maintenance of the books and records specified above, Fund
Accountant shall perform the following accounting services daily
for each Fund:
(i) Calculate the net asset value per share utilizing prices
obtained from the sources described in subsection
1(b)(ii) below;
(ii) Obtain security prices from independent pricing services,
or if such quotes are unavailable, then obtain such
prices from each Fund's investment adviser or its
designee, as approved by the Company's Board of
Directors;
(iii) Verify and reconcile with the Fund's custodian all daily
trade activity;
(iv) Compute, as appropriate, each 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 daily the net asset value calculation and dividend
factor (if any) for each Fund prior to release to
shareholders, check and confirm the net asset values and
dividend factors for reasonableness and deviations, and
distribute net asset values and yields to NASDAQ;
(vi) Report to the Company the daily market pricing of
securities in any money market Funds, with the comparison
to the amortized cost basis;
(vii) Determine unrealized appreciation and depreciation on
securities held in variable net asset value Funds;
(viii) Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on securities
purchased at a price other than face value, if requested
by the Company;
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(ix) Update fund accounting system to reflect rate changes, as
received from a Fund's investment adviser, on variable
interest rate instruments;
(x) Post Fund transactions to appropriate categories;
(xi) Accrue expenses of each Fund according to instructions
received from the Company's Administrator;
(xii) Determine the outstanding receivables and payables for
all (1) security trades, (2) Fund share transactions and
(3) income and expense accounts;
(xiii) Provide accounting reports in connection with the
Company's regular annual audit and other audits and
examinations by regulatory agencies; and
(xiv) Provide such periodic reports as the parties shall agree
upon, as set forth in a separate schedule.
(c) SPECIAL REPORTS AND SERVICES.
(i) Fund Accountant may provide additional special reports
upon the request of the Company or a 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 a Fund as may be reasonably requested by
the Company, 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 each
Fund:
(i) Provide monthly a download (and hard copy thereof) of the
financial statements described below, upon request of the
Company. 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;
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(ii) Provide accounting information for the following:
(A) federal and state income tax returns and federal
excise tax returns;
(B) the Company's semi-annual reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Form
N-SAR;
(C) the Company's annual, semi-annual and quarterly
(if any) shareholder reports;
(D) registration statements on Form N-1A and other
filings relating to the registration of Shares;
(E) the Administrator's monitoring of the Company's
status as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended;
(F) annual audit by the Company's auditors; and
(G) examinations performed by the SEC.
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 6 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor as if such acts
were its own.
3. COMPENSATION.
The Company 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 Company agrees to reimburse Fund Accountant for its
out-of-pocket expenses in providing services hereunder, including without
limitation the following:
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(a) All direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or other
electronic transmission expenses incurred by Fund Accountant in
communication with the Company, the Company's investment advisor or
custodian, dealers or others as required for Fund Accountant to
perform the services to be provided hereunder;
(b) The cost of obtaining security market quotes pursuant to Section
l(b)(ii) above;
(c) Any expenses Fund Accountant shall incur at the written direction of
an officer of the Company thereunto duly authorized; and
(d) Any additional expenses reasonably incurred by Fund Accountant, upon
receipt of prior approval from the Company, in the performance of its
duties and obligations under this Agreement.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund as of the
date first written above.
6. TERM.
The initial term of this Agreement (the "Initial Term") shall be for a
period commencing on the date this Agreement is executed by both parties and
ending on the date that is one year after the Conversion Date. Thereafter,
unless otherwise terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall be renewed
automatically for successive one-year periods ("Rollover Periods"). This
Agreement may be terminated without penalty (i) by provision of 60 days advance
written notice of nonrenewal to the other party prior to the end of the Initial
Term or the then-current Rollover Period, (ii) by mutual agreement of the
parties, (iii) for "cause," as defined below, upon the provision of 60 days
advance written notice by the party alleging cause, or (iv) by provision of 90
days advance written notice of termination during a Rollover Period.
For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" shall mean (a) willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard on the part of
the party to be terminated with respect to its obligations and duties set forth
herein; (b) multiple negligent acts on the part of the party to be terminated
which in the aggregate constitute a serious failure to perform satisfactorily
that party's obligations hereunder; (c) a material breach of this Agreement that
has not been remedied for 45 days following receipt of written notice of such
breach from the nonbreaching party; or (d) a "service standard deficiency," as
defined below.
For purposes of this Agreement, a service standard deficiency shall be
defined as (i) any pattern of substandard performance over a 60-day period with
respect to such service standards as the parties shall agree upon relating to
the duties and obligations of Fund Accountant herein or to the duties and
obligations of Fund Accountant or an affiliate of Fund Accountant
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pursuant to any other service agreement with the Company ("Service Standards")
or (ii) any "asset withdrawal," as defined below, by a Shareholder which, in the
aggregate, exceeds $1 million, that can be reasonably attributed to a failure on
the part of Fund Accountant or an affiliate of Fund Accountant to meet one or
more Service Standards. For purposes of this Agreement, "asset withdrawal"
shall include any combination of (i) a redemption of Company Shares and/or (ii)
a withdrawal of assets from any non-mutual fund account or other mutual fund
account held by a Company Shareholder that is advised by the Company's
investment adviser or an affiliate of such investment adviser.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, after such termination, for so long as
Fund Accountant, with the written consent of the Company, 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 Company
upon such termination shall be immediately due and payable upon and
notwithstanding such termination.
If, during the first six months of the Initial Term, for any reason
other than cause, as defined herein, Fund Accountant is replaced as fund
accountant, or if a third party is added to perform all or a part of the
services provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement (excluding any
sub-accountant appointed by Fund Accountant as provided in Section 2 hereof),
then the Company shall make a one-time cash payment, as liquidated damages, to
Fund Accountant equal to the balance due Fund Accountant for the remainder of
such Initial Term, assuming for purposes of calculation of the payment that the
asset level of the Company on the date Fund Accountant is replaced, or a third
party is added, will remain constant for the balance of such term.
If, during the second six months of the Initial Term, for any reason
other than cause, as defined herein, Fund Accountant is replaced as fund
accountant, or if a third party is added to perform all or a part of the
services provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement (excluding any
sub-accountant appointed by Fund Accountant as provided in Section 2 hereof),
then the Company shall make a one-time cash payment, as liquidated damages to
Fund Accountant equal to one-half of the balance due Fund Accountant for the
remainder of such Initial Term, assuming for purposes of calculation of the
payment that the asset level of the Company on the date Fund Accountant is
replaced, or a third party is added, will remain constant for the balance of
such term.
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
Company 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. A Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
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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 such Fund or based, if applicable, upon reasonable
reliance on information, records, instructions or requests with respect to such
Fund given or made to Fund Accountant by a duly authorized representative of the
Company; 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 Company written
notice of and reasonable opportunity to defend against said claim in its own
name or in the name of Fund Accountant.
Fund Accountant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
employees, agents, Directors, officers and nominees from and against any and all
actions, suits and claims, whether groundless or otherwise, and from and against
any and all judgements, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable
counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and character arising out or in
any way relating to Fund Accountant's bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence
or reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties, with respect to the
performance of services under this Agreement; provided, that, prior to
confessing any claim against it which may be the subject of this
indemnification, the Company shall give Fund Accountant written notice of and a
reasonable opportunity to defend against said claim in its own name or in the
name of the Company.
8. RECORD RETENTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
Fund Accountant shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Company all
books and records which the Company 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 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 Company and to make such books and records available for inspection by
the Company 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 Company 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.
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10. REPORTS.
Fund Accountant will furnish to the Company and to its properly
authorized auditors, investment advisers, examiners, distributors, dealers,
underwriters, salesmen, insurance companies and others designated by the Company
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.
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 Company and all such other
records and data will be furnished to the Company 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 Company's demand, turn over to the Company 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 to the Company, 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 Company
unless the Company authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and
documents.
13. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
The Company certifies to Fund Accountant that: (1) as of the close of
business on each Conversion Date, each Fund that is in existence as of the
Conversion Date has authorized unlimited shares, and (2) this Agreement has been
duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company,
will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company 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 Company and Fund Accountant's records, data,
equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of its
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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 Company 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 Company 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
Company 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 COMPANY AND FUNDS.
The Company has furnished to Fund Accountant the following:
(a) Copies of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and of any
amendments thereto, certified by the proper official of the state
in which such document has been filed.
(b) Copies of the following documents:
(i) The Company'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 Company to execute and deliver
this Agreement and authorization for specified officers
of the Company to instruct Fund Accountant thereunder.
(c) A list of all the officers of the Company, together with specimen
signatures of those officers who are authorized to instruct Fund
Accountant in all matters.
(d) Two copies of the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information for each Fund.
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17. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FUND ACCOUNTANT.
(a) Fund Accountant has furnished to the Company the following:
(i) Fund Accountant's Articles of Incorporation; and
(ii) Fund Accountant's Bylaws and any amendments thereto.
(b) Fund Accountant shall, upon request, furnish certified copies of
corporate actions covering the following matters:
(i) Approval of this Agreement, and authorization of a
specified officer of Fund Accountant to execute and
deliver this Agreement; and
(ii) Authorization of Fund Accountant to act as fund
accountant for the Company and to provide accounting
services for the Company.
18. AMENDMENTS TO DOCUMENTS.
The Company shall furnish Fund Accountant written copies of any
amendments to, or changes in, any of the items referred to in Section 16 hereof
forthwith upon such amendments or changes becoming effective. In addition, the
Company agrees that no amendments will be made to the Prospectuses or Statements
of Additional Information of the Company 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 Company 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 Company assumes full responsibility for the preparation, contents
and distribution of each prospectus of the Company 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 Company's
Shares. The Company represents and warrants that no Shares of the Company will
be offered to the public until the Company's registration statement under the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act has been declared or becomes effective.
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: if to the
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Company, to it at _____________________________________________________________;
if to BISYS, to it at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 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 a Fund by either of the parties hereto except by the
specific written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding
upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
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 executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
THE OFFITBANK INVESTMENT
FUND, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------------------
BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Title:
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Dated: October __, 1996
SCHEDULE A
TO THE FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE OFFITBANK INVESTMENT FUND, INC.
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC..
FEES
Fund Accountant shall be entitled to receive an annual fee of $30,000 from each
Fund.
THE OFFITBANK INVESTMENT BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC.
FUND, INC.
By: By:
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A-1
