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TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of November 13, 1996, between Strategist World
Fund, Inc. (the "Company"), a Minnesota corporation, on behalf of
its underlying series funds: Strategist Emerging Markets Fund and
Strategist World Technologies Fund (each referred to as a "Fund"
and collectively referred to as the "Funds"); and American Express
Financial Corporation (the "Transfer Agent"), a Delaware
corporation.
In consideration of the mutual promises set forth below, the
Company and the Transfer Agent agree as follows:
1. Appointment of the Transfer Agent. The Company, on behalf of the
Funds, hereby appoints the Transfer Agent, as transfer agent for
the Funds' shares and as shareholder servicing agent for the Funds,
and the Transfer Agent accepts such appointment and agrees to
perform the duties set forth below.
2. Compensation. The Funds will compensate the Transfer Agent for
the performance of its obligations as set forth in Schedule A.
Schedule A does not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the
Transfer Agent for which the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to
xxxx the Funds separately.
The Transfer Agent will xxxx the Funds monthly. The fee provided
for hereunder shall be paid in cash by the Funds to the Transfer
Agent within five (5) business days after the last day of each
month.
Out-of-pocket disbursements shall include, but shall not be limited
to, the items specified in Schedule B. Reimbursement by the
Funds for expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent in any month
shall be made as soon as practicable after the receipt of an
itemized xxxx from the Transfer Agent.
Any compensation jointly agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from
time to time by attaching to this agreement a revised Schedule A,
dated and signed by an officer of each party.
3. Documents. The Funds will furnish from time to time such
certificates, documents or opinions as the Transfer Agent deems to
be appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its
duties.
4. Representations of the Company and the Transfer Agent.
(a) The Company represents to the Transfer Agent that the Funds'
currently outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable by the Company. When shares are hereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and its By-laws, such shares shall be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company.
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(b) The Transfer Agent represents that it is registered under
Section 17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The
Transfer Agent agrees to maintain the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this agreement and to comply with all applicable laws.
5. Duties of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall be
responsible, separately and through its subsidiaries or affiliates,
for the following functions:
(a) Sale of the Funds' Shares.
(1) On receipt of an application and payment, wired instructions
and payment, or payment identified as being for the account of a
shareholder, the Transfer Agent will deposit the payment, prepare
and present the necessary report to the Custodian and record the
purchase of shares in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms
of the respective Funds' Prospectus. All shares shall be held in
book entry form and no certificate shall be issued unless the Fund
is permitted to do so by its Prospectus and the purchaser so
requests.
(2) On receipt of notice that payment was dishonored, the Transfer
Agent shall stop redemptions of all shares owned by the purchaser
related to that payment, place a stop payment on any checks that
have been issued to redeem shares of the purchaser and take such
other action as it deems appropriate.
(b) Redemption of Shares. On receipt of instructions to
redeem shares in accordance with the terms of the respective Fund's
Prospectus, the Transfer Agent will record the redemption of shares
of the Fund, prepare and present the necessary report to the
Custodian and pay the proceeds of the redemption to the
shareholder, an authorized agent or legal representative upon the
receipt of the monies from the Custodian.
(c) Transfer or Other Change Pertaining to Shares. On
receipt of instructions or forms acceptable to the Transfer Agent
to transfer the shares to the name of a new owner, change the name
or address of the present owner or take other legal action, the
Transfer Agent will take such action as is requested.
(d) Exchange of Shares. On receipt of instructions to
exchange the shares of the Funds for shares of another fund
in the Strategist Fund Group or other American Express Financial
Corporation product in accordance with the terms of each Fund's
Prospectus, the Transfer Agent will process the exchange in the
same manner as a redemption and sale of shares.
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(e) Right to Seek Assurance. The Transfer Agent may refuse to
transfer, exchange or redeem shares of the Funds or take any
action requested by a shareholder until it is satisfied that the
requested transaction or action is legally authorized or until it
is satisfied there is no basis for any claims adverse to the
transaction or action. It may rely on the provisions of the
Uniform Act for the Simplification of Fiduciary Security Transfers
or the Uniform Commercial Code. The Company shall indemnify the
Transfer Agent for any act done or omitted to be done in reliance
on such laws or for refusing to transfer, exchange or redeem shares
or taking any requested action if it acts on a good faith belief
that the transaction or action is illegal or unauthorized.
(f) Shareholder Records, Reports and Services.
(1) The Transfer Agent shall maintain all shareholder accounts,
which shall contain all required tax, legally imposed and
regulatory information; shall provide shareholders, and file with
federal and state agencies, all required tax and other reports
pertaining to shareholder accounts; shall prepare shareholder
mailing lists; shall cause to be printed and mailed all required
prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports, statements of
additional information (upon request), proxies and other mailings
to shareholders; and shall cause proxies to be tabulated.
(2) The Transfer Agent shall respond to all valid inquiries related
to its duties under this agreement.
(3) The Transfer Agent shall create and maintain all records in
accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including, but not limited to, the records required by Section
31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(g) Dividends and Distributions. The Transfer Agent shall prepare
and present the necessary report to the Custodian and shall cause
to be prepared and transmitted the payment of income dividends and
capital gains distributions or cause to be recorded the investment
of such dividends and distributions in additional shares of the
Funds or as directed by instructions or forms acceptable to
the Transfer Agent.
(h) Confirmations and Statements. The Transfer Agent shall confirm
each transaction either at the time of the transaction or through
periodic reports as may be legally permitted.
(i) Lost or Stolen Checks. The Transfer Agent will replace lost or
stolen checks issued to shareholders upon receipt of proper
notification and will maintain any stop payment orders against the
lost or stolen checks as it is economically desirable to do.
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(j) Reports to Company. The Transfer Agent will provide reports
pertaining to the services provided under this agreement as the
Company may request to ascertain the quality and level of services
being provided or as required by law.
(k) Other Duties. The Transfer Agent may perform other duties for
additional compensation if agreed to in writing by the parties to
this agreement.
6. Ownership and Confidentiality of Records. The Transfer Agent
agrees that all records prepared or maintained by it relating to
the services to be performed by it under the terms of this
agreement are the property of the Company and may be inspected by
the Company or any person retained by the Company at reasonable
times. The Company and Transfer Agent agree to protect the
confidentiality of those records.
7. Action by Board and Opinion of Counsel. The Transfer
Agent may rely on resolutions of the Board of Directors (the
"Board") and on opinion of counsel for the Company.
8. Duty of Care. It is understood and agreed that, in furnishing
the Funds with the services as herein provided, neither the
Transfer Agent, nor any officer, director or agent thereof shall be
held liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with their
actions under this agreement so long as they act in good faith and
with due diligence, and are not negligent or guilty of any willful
misconduct. It is further understood and agreed that the Transfer
Agent may rely upon information furnished to it reasonably believed
to be accurate and reliable. In the event the Transfer Agent is
unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this agreement
because of an act of God, strike or equipment or transmission
failure reasonably beyond its control, the Transfer Agent shall not
be liable for any damages resulting from such failure.
9. Term and Termination. This agreement shall become effective on
the date first set forth above (the "Effective Date") and shall
continue in effect from year to year thereafter as the parties may
mutually agree; provided that either party may terminate this
agreement by giving the other party notice in writing specifying
the date of such termination, which shall be not less than 60 days
after the date of receipt of such notice. In the event such notice
is given by the Company (as to one or all of the Funds), it shall
be accompanied by a vote of the Board of Directors, certified by
the Secretary, electing to terminate this agreement and designating
a successor transfer agent or transfer agents. Upon such
termination and at the expense of the Company, the Transfer Agent
will deliver to such successor a certified list of shareholders of
the Fund (or Funds) that has been terminated (with name, address
and taxpayer identification or Social Security number), a
historical record of the account of each shareholder and the status
thereof, and all other relevant books, records, correspondence, and
other data established or maintained by the Transfer Agent under
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this agreement in the form reasonably acceptable to the Company,
and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and
responsibilities, including provisions for assistance from the
Transfer Agent's personnel in the establishment of books, records
and other data by such successor or successors.
10. Amendment. This agreement may not be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties.
11. Subcontracting. The Company agrees that the Transfer Agent may
subcontract for certain of the services described under this
agreement with the understanding that there shall be no diminution
in the quality or level of the services and that the Transfer Agent
remains fully responsible for the services. Except for
out-of-pocket expenses identified in Schedule B, the Transfer Agent
shall bear the cost of subcontracting such services, unless
otherwise agreed by the parties.
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) This agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the
parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that this agreement shall not be assignable
without the written consent of the other party.
(b) This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement
to be executed by their respective officers as of the day and year
written above.
STRATEGIST WORLD FUND, INC.
Strategist Emerging Markets Fund
Strategist World Technologies Fund
By: __/s/ Xxxxx X. Mitchell___________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: __/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Hogan____________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
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Schedule A
STRATEGIST WORLD FUND, INC.
FEE
Effective the 13th day of November, 1996, the annual fee
for services under this agreement is as follows:
Strategist Emerging Markets Fund $20 per account
Strategist World Technologies Fund $20 per account
Until October 31, 1997, the Transfer Agent has agreed to waive and
to absorb fund expenses under this agreement. If, at the end of
any month, the fees and expenses of a Fund under this Agreement and
any other agreement between a Fund and the Transfer Agent exceed
2.20% for Emerging Markets Fund or 1.50% for World Technologies
Fund, that Fund shall not pay fees and expenses under this
agreement to the extent necessary to keep Emerging Markets and
World Technologies Funds' ratio from exceeding the limitation.
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Schedule B
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Funds shall reimburse the Transfer Agent monthly for the
following out-of-pocket expenses:
o typesetting, printing, paper, envelopes, postage and return
postage for proxy soliciting material, and proxy tabulation costs;
o printing, paper, envelopes and postage for dividend notices,
dividend checks, records of account, purchase confirmations,
exchange confirmations and exchange prospectuses, redemption
confirmations, redemption checks, confirmations on changes of
address and any other communication required to be sent to
shareholders;
o typesetting, printing, paper, envelopes and postage for
prospectuses, annual and semiannual reports, statements of
additional information, supplements for prospectuses and statements
of additional information and other required mailings to
shareholders;
o stop orders;
o outgoing wire charges; and
o other expenses incurred at the request or with the consent of the
Company.
