ADMINISTRATION, BOOKKEEPING AND PRICING SERVICES AGREEMENT
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Exhibit 99(k)(2)
ADMINISTRATION, BOOKKEEPING AND
PRICING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of February 24, 2004, between Xxxxxx Utility Income Fund, a Delaware Statutory Trust (the "Fund"), and ALPS Mutual Funds Services, Inc., a Colorado corporation ("ALPS").
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act") as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company.
WHEREAS, ALPS provides certain administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services to investment companies; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint ALPS to perform certain administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services for the Fund, and ALPS has indicated its willingness to so act, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
- 1.
- ALPS Appointment and Duties.
- (a)
- The
Fund hereby appoints ALPS to provide administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services as are set forth in Appendix A, as
amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an
agent of the Fund.
- (b)
- ALPS
may employ or associate itself with a person or persons or organizations as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such
event, the compensation of such person or persons or organizations shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS and the Fund shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and
provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person or persons or organizations taken
in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts.
- 2.
- ALPS Compensation; Expenses.
- (a)
- In
consideration for the services to be performed hereunder by ALPS, the Fund shall pay ALPS the fees listed in Appendix B
hereto.
- (b)
- ALPS
will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement and all related agreements, except as otherwise provided herein. ALPS will pay all
expenses incurred by the Fund, with the exception of advisory fees, trustees' fees, portfolio transaction expenses, litigation expenses, taxes, cost of preferred shares, expenses of conducting
repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing fund shares, and extraordinary expenses.
- 3.
- Right to Receive Advice.
- (a)
- Advice of the Fund. If ALPS is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, ALPS shall request directions or advice from the
Fund.
- (b)
- Advice of Counsel. If ALPS is in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, ALPS shall request advice from counsel of its own choosing and at its own expense.
- (c)
- Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions, advice or instructions ALPS receives from the Fund and the advice
ALPS receives from counsel, ALPS shall inform the Fund and its counsel of the conflict and seek resolution.
- (d)
- Nothing
in this subsection shall excuse ALPS when an action or omission on the part of ALPS constitutes willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard by ALPS
of any duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement.
- 4.
- Liability of ALPS.
- (a)
- ALPS
may rely upon the written advice of counsel for the Fund and the Fund's independent accountants, and upon oral or written statements of the Fund's investment adviser, brokers and
other service providers to the Fund, reasonably believed by ALPS in good faith to be an expert in the matters upon which they are consulted and, for any actions reasonably taken in good faith reliance
upon such advice or statements and without negligence, ALPS shall not be liable to anyone.
- (b)
- Nothing
herein contained shall be construed to protect ALPS against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which ALPS would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence, or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties.
- (c)
- Except
as may otherwise be provided by applicable law, neither ALPS nor its shareholders, officers, Directors, employees or agents shall be subject to, and the Fund shall indemnify
and hold such persons harmless from and against, any liability for and any damages, expenses or losses incurred by reason of the inaccuracy of factual information furnished to ALPS by the Fund or its
adviser.
- (d)
- ALPS
shall be obligated to exercise commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of its duties hereunder, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within
reasonable limits, in performing services provided for under this Agreement. ALPS shall be liable for actual damages arising out of ALPS' failure to perform its duties under this Agreement to the
extent such damages arise out of ALPS' willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of such duties.
- (e)
- ALPS
shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except for a
loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
- 5.
- Reports. Whenever, in the course of performing its duties under this Agreement, ALPS determines, on the basis of information supplied to
ALPS by the Fund or its authorized agents, that a violation of applicable law has occurred or that, to its knowledge, a possible violation of applicable law may have occurred or, with the passage of
time, would occur, ALPS shall promptly notify the Fund and its counsel.
- 6.
- Activities of ALPS. The services of ALPS under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and ALPS shall be free to render similar
services to others. The Fund recognizes that from time to time directors, officers and employees of ALPS may serve as directors, officers and employees of other corporations or businesses (including
other investment companies) and that such other corporations and funds may include ALPS as part of their name and that ALPS or its affiliates may enter into administrative, bookkeeping, pricing
agreements or other agreements with such other corporations and funds.
- 7.
- Accounts and Records. The accounts and records maintained by ALPS shall be the property of the Fund. Such accounts and records shall be prepared, maintained and preserved as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. Such accounts and records
2
shall be surrendered to the Fund promptly upon receipt of instructions from the Fund in the form in which such accounts and records have been maintained or preserved. The Fund shall have access to such accounts and records at all times during ALPS' normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by ALPS to the Fund at the Fund's expense. ALPS shall assist the Fund, the Fund's independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Fund, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Fund's accounts and records, and reports by ALPS or its independent accountants concerning its accounting system and internal auditing controls will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request.
- 8.
- Confidential and Proprietary Information. ALPS agrees that it will, on behalf of itself and its officers and employees, treat all
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all records and information relative to the Fund and its shareholders (past, present and future) and other information germane thereto, as confidential
and as proprietary information of the Fund and not to use, sell, transfer or divulge such information or records to any person for any purpose other than performance of its duties hereunder, except
after prior notification to and approval in writing from the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. It may not be withheld where ALPS may be exposed to civil, regulatory or criminal
proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Fund. ALPS shall have in place and maintain physical,
electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to
the Fund and its past, present and future shareholders, consumers and customers.
- 9.
- Compliance with Rules and Regulations. ALPS shall comply—and to the extent ALPS takes or is required to take action
on behalf of the Fund hereunder shall cause the Fund to comply—with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and code of ethics, as
well as all investment restrictions, policies and procedures adopted by the Fund of which ALPS has knowledge. Except as specifically set forth herein, ALPS assumes no responsibility for such
compliance by the Fund.
- 10.
- Representations and Warranties of ALPS. ALPS represents and warrants to the Fund that:
- (a)
- It
is duly organized and existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado.
- (b)
- It
is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
- (c)
- All
requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
- (d)
- It
has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement in accordance with industry
standards.
- (e)
- It has and will keep in effect professional liability insurance naming ALPS as insured and providing coverage with respect to ALPS' activities on behalf of the Fund in the amount of at least $1,000,000, and will provide to the Fund at least annually a certificate of insurance evidencing that such insurance is in full force and effect.
- (a)
- It is a Statutory Trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and is registered with the SEC as a closed-end investment company.
Representations and Warranties of the Fund. The Fund represents and warrants to ALPS that:
3
- (b)
- It
is empowered under applicable laws and by its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
- (c)
- The
Board of Trustees has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
- (d)
- It
has provided ALPS with copies of its Prospectus(es) and Statement(s) of Additional Information and will provide ALPS with any amendments or supplements thereto.
- 11.
- Liaison with Accountants. ALPS shall act as liaison with the Fund's independent public accountants and shall provide account analysis,
fiscal year summaries, and other audit-related schedules with respect to the services provided to the Fund. ALPS shall take all reasonable action in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
to assure that the necessary information in ALPS' control is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion, as required by the Fund.
- 12.
- Business Interruption Plan. ALPS shall maintain in effect a business interruption plan, and enter into any agreements necessary with
appropriate parties making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment customary in the industry. In the event of equipment failures, ALPS shall, at no additional
expense to the Fund, take commercially reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. ALPS shall have no liability with respect to the loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment
failure provided such loss or interruption is not caused by ALPS' own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement.
- 13.
- Duration and Termination of this Agreement.
- (a)
- Initial Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (the "Start Date") and shall continue thereafter throughout the period which ends 3 years after the Start Date (the "Initial Term"). Until the end of the Initial Term, this Agreement may be terminated without penalty only by agreement of the parties upon not less than 60 days' written notice or for cause pursuant to Section 13(c) hereof. If the Fund terminates this Agreement unilaterally without cause prior to the end of the Initial Term, it will be in default hereunder, causing substantial damages to ALPS. Because of the difficulty of estimating the damages that will result, the Fund agrees to pay to ALPS, as liquidated damages for such default, an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual fee in effect at the time of termination (the "Default Payment"):
- (b)
- Renewal Term. If not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall renew at the end of the Initial Term and shall thereafter continue for
successive annual periods until terminated by the Fund or by ALPS, without penalty, upon not less than 90 days' written notice to the other party.
- (c)
- Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Fund may terminate this Agreement for cause
immediately at any time, without penalty, without default and without the payment of any Default Payment or other liquidated damages. Termination for "cause" hereunder shall mean:
- (i)
- willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard on the part of ALPS in the performance of or with respect to its obligations and duties hereunder;
- (ii)
- regulatory, administrative, or judicial proceedings against ALPS which result in a determination that, in rendering its services hereunder, ALPS has violated—or has caused the Fund to violate—any applicable law, rule, regulation, order or code of ethics, or any
The parties agree that the Default Payment is a reasonable forecast of probable actual loss to ALPS and that this sum is agreed to as liquidated damages and not as a penalty.
4
- (iii)
- financial
difficulties on the part of ALPS which are evidenced by the authorization or commencement of, or involvement by way of pleading, answer, consent, or acquiescence in, a
voluntary or involuntary case under Title 11 of the United States Code, as from time to time in effect, or any applicable law other than said Title 11, of any jurisdiction relating to
the liquidation or reorganization of debtors or to the modification or alteration of the rights of creditors;
- (iv)
- failure
by ALPS to keep in effect professional liability insurance satisfactory to the Fund trustees naming ALPS as insured and providing coverage with respect to ALPS' activities on
behalf of the Fund in the amount of at least $1,000,000, and to provide to the Fund at least annually a certificate of insurance evidencing that such insurance is in full force and effect; or
- (v)
- any
other circumstance which, in the reasonable judgment of the Fund directors, including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
any party to this Agreement, materially impairs ALPS' ability to perform its obligations and duties hereunder.
- (d)
- Deliveries Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, ALPS shall deliver to the Fund or as otherwise directed by the Fund
(at the expense of the Fund, unless such termination is for "cause") all records and other documents made or accumulated in the performance of its duties for the Fund hereunder.
investment restriction, policy or procedure adopted by the Fund of which ALPS had knowledge;
- 14.
- Assignment. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the prior written consent of ALPS, or by ALPS without the prior written consent of the Fund.
- 15.
- Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Colorado, and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. To the extent that the laws of the State of Colorado conflict with the 1940 Act or such rules, the latter shall control.
- 16.
- Names. The obligations of the "Fund" entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any director, representative or agent thereof are
made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the directors, shareholders, representatives or agents of the Fund personally, but bind only the property of the Fund,
and all persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund.
- 17.
- Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended by the parties in writing.
- 18.
- Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received or when sent by telex or facsimile, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given):
To ALPS:
ALPS
Mutual Funds Services, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
5
To the Fund:
Xxxxxx
Utility Income Fund
0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Secretary
Fax: (000) 000-0000
- 19.
- Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
- 20.
- Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that ALPS may embody in one or more separate documents its agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties and oral instructions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXX UTILITY INCOME FUND |
||||
By: |
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX |
|||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Secretary | |||
ALPS MUTUAL FUNDS SERVICES, INC. |
||||
By: |
/s/ XXXXXX X. MAY |
|||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. May | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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Administrative
- •
- On
a monthly basis, assist the Fund in monitoring compliance with:
- (i)
- the
investment restrictions described in the Fund's registration statement
- (ii)
- SEC
diversification requirements, as applicable
- (iii)
- its
status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
- •
- Coordinate
the preparation and filing with the SEC on behalf of the Fund:
- (i)
- Form N-SAR
- (ii)
- Form N-CSR
- •
- Provide
assistance to the Fund related to quarterly Board of Directors meetings by preparing board reports regarding services provided by ALPS, as requested by the Fund
- •
- Provide
assistance to the Fund related to annual stockholder meetings.
- •
- Assist
the Fund with placement of fidelity bond and errors and omissions insurance policies
- •
- Prepare
the Fund's annual and semi-annual financial statements including schedules of investments and the related statements of operations, assets and
liabilities and, changes in net assets, as well as the financial highlights and footnotes to the financial statements.
- •
- Provide
facilities, information and personnel, as necessary, to accommodate annual audits with the Fund's independent accountants, or examinations conducted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities.
- •
- Monitor
the Fund's expense accruals by establishing expense budgets and comparing expense accruals on a periodic basis to actual expenses paid.
- •
- Report
performance and other Fund information to outside reporting agencies as directed by the Fund.
- •
- Calculate
monthly total return performance calculations.
- •
- Prepare
the Fund's federal and state tax returns.
- •
- Supervise
the activities of the Fund's custodian and transfer agent.
- •
- Respond to telephonic or in-person inquiries from existing stockholders or their representatives requesting information regarding matters such as stockholder account or transaction status, net asset value of Fund shares, Fund performance, Fund services, plans and options, Fund investment policies, Fund portfolio holdings, and Fund distributions and classifications thereof for tax purposes.
ALPS shall not be responsible for the accuracy or adequacy of any information contained in the documents listed in subsections (i) through (iii) above, to the extent such information is provided to ALPS by the Fund, other service providers to the Fund, or any other third party.
Bookkeeping and Pricing
- •
- Maintain a separate account for the Fund, as directed from time to time by written instructions from the Fund.
7
- •
- Compute
net asset value for the Fund and, as appropriate, compute yields, expense ratios, and portfolio turnover rate.
- •
- Obtain
security market quotes from independent pricing services, if available, approved by the Fund, or if such quotes are unavailable, then obtain such prices pursuant to
the Fund's valuation policies and procedures, and in either case calculate the market value of the Fund's investments.
- •
- Timely
calculate and transmit the Fund's daily net asset value and public offering price (such determinations to be made in accordance with the provisions of the Fund's
then-current Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information, and any applicable resolutions and policies and procedures of the Board of Directors of the Fund) and promptly
communicate such values and prices to the Fund.
- •
- Maintain
and keep current all books and records of the Fund as required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, in connection with ALPS' duties
hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, ALPS will prepare and maintain the following records upon receipt of information in proper form from the Fund:
- (i)
- Cash
receipts journal
- (ii)
- Cash
disbursements journal
- (iii)
- Dividend
records
- (iv)
- Security
purchases, sales and loans—portfolio securities journals
- (v)
- Subscription
and redemption journals
- (vi)
- Security
ledgers
- (vii)
- Broker
ledger
- (viii)
- General
ledger
- (ix)
- Daily
expense accruals
- (x)
- Daily
income accruals
- (xi)
- Foreign
currency journals
- (xii)
- Trial
balances
- (xiii)
- Historical
tax lots for each security
- •
- Reconcile
cash and investment balances with the Custodian.
- •
- Provide
the Fund with daily Portfolio values, net asset values and other statistical data for the Fund as requested from time to time.
- •
- Compute the net income and capital gains and losses of the Fund and calculate income dividend rates in accordance with relevant prospectus policies and resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
0
Fees paid to ALPS shall be calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly by the Fund at the annual rate of 0.265% of the Fund's average daily total assets.
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ADMINISTRATION, BOOKKEEPING AND PRICING SERVICES AGREEMENT
APPENDIX A SERVICES
APPENDIX B FEES