ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of February 28, 1997 between Interactive
Investments, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), Interactive
Research Advisers, Inc. (the "Adviser"), a California
corporation, and Countrywide Fund Services, Inc. ("Countrywide"),
an Ohio corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is responsible for retaining and compensating
agents to provide non-advisory services to the Trust pursuant to the terms of an
Administration Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser wishes to employ the services of Countrywide to
provide the Trust with certain accounting and pricing services; and
WHEREAS, Countrywide wishes to provide such services under
the conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
Countrywide is hereby appointed as agent to perform those
services described in this Agreement for the Trust. Countrywide shall act under
such appointment and perform the obligations thereof upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE.
Countrywide will calculate the net asset value of each series
of the Trust and the per share net asset value of each series of the Trust, in
accordance with the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional
information, once daily as of the time selected by the Trust's Board of
Trustees. Countrywide will prepare and maintain a daily valuation of all
securities and other assets of the Trust in accordance with instructions from a
designated officer of the Trust or the Adviser and in the manner set forth in
the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional information. In
valuing securities of the Trust, Countrywide may contract with, and rely upon
market quotations provided by, outside services.
3. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
Countrywide will maintain and keep current the general ledger
for each series of the Trust, recording all income and expenses, capital share
activity and security transactions of the Trust. Countrywide will maintain such
further books and records as are necessary to enable it to perform its duties
under this Agreement, and will periodically provide reports to the Trust and its
authorized agents regarding share purchases and redemptions and trial balances
of each series of the Trust. Countrywide will prepare and maintain complete,
accurate and current all records with respect to the Trust required to be
maintained by the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
under the rules and regulations of the 1940 Act, and will preserve said records
in the manner and for the periods prescribed in the Code and the 1940 Act. The
retention of such records shall be at the expense of the Adviser.
All of the records prepared and maintained by Countrywide pursuant to
this Section 3 which are required to be maintained by the Trust under the Code
and the 1940 Act will be the property of the Trust. In the event this Agreement
is terminated, all such records shall be delivered to the Trust at the Adviser's
expense, and Countrywide shall be relieved of responsibility for the preparation
and maintenance of any such records delivered to the Trust.
4. PAYMENT OF TRUST EXPENSES.
Countrywide shall process each request received from the Trust
or its authorized agents for payment of the Trust's expenses. Upon receipt of
written instructions signed by an officer or other authorized agent of the
Trust, Countrywide shall prepare checks in the appropriate amounts which shall
be signed by an authorized officer of Countrywide and mailed to the appropriate
party.
5. FORM N-SAR.
Countrywide shall maintain such records within its control and
shall be requested by the Trust to assist the Trust in fulfilling the
requirements of Form N-SAR.
6. COOPERATION WITH ACCOUNTANTS.
Countrywide shall cooperate with the Trust's independent
public accountants and shall take all reasonable action in the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement to assure that the necessary information is
made available to such accountants for the expression of their unqualified
opinion where required for any document for the Trust.
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7. FURTHER ACTIONS.
Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute
such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
8. FEES.
For the performance of the services under this Agreement, the
Adviser shall pay Countrywide a monthly fee in accordance with the schedule
attached hereto as Schedule A. The fees with respect to any month shall be paid
to Countrywide on the last business day of such month. The Adviser shall also
promptly reimburse Countrywide for the cost of external pricing services
utilized by Countrywide.
9. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing
contained herein shall be construed to require Countrywide to perform any
services for the Trust or the Adviser which services could cause Countrywide to
be deemed an "investment adviser" of the Trust within the meaning of Section
2(a)(20) of the 1940 Act or to supersede or contravene the Trust's prospectus or
statement of additional information or any provisions of the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and except for
the accuracy of information furnished to it by Countrywide, the Trust assumes
full responsibility for complying with all applicable requirements of the 1940
Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any other laws, rules and
regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction.
10. REFERENCES TO COUNTRYWIDE.
The Trust or the Adviser shall not circulate any printed
matter which contains any reference to Countrywide without the prior written
approval of Countrywide, excepting solely such printed matter as merely
identifies Countrywide as Administrative Services Agent, Transfer, Shareholder
Servicing and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Accounting Services Agent. The Trust
or the Adviser will submit printed matter requiring approval to Countrywide in
draft form, allowing sufficient time for review by Countrywide and its counsel
prior to any deadline for printing.
11. EQUIPMENT FAILURES.
Countrywide shall take all steps necessary to minimize or
avoid service interruptions, and has entered into one or more agreements making
provision for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment. Countrywide
shall have no liability with respect to equipment failures beyond its control.
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12. INDEMNIFICATION OF COUNTRYWIDE.
A. Countrywide may rely on information reasonably believed by it to be
accurate and reliable. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act and
the rules thereunder, neither Countrywide nor its shareholders, officers,
directors, employees, agents, control persons or affiliates of any thereof shall
be subject to any liability for, or any damages, expenses or losses incurred by
the Trust or the Adviser in connection with, any error of judgment, mistake of
law, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered
under or payments made pursuant to this Agreement or any other matter to which
this Agreement relates, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence on the part of any such persons in the performance of the
duties of Countrywide under this Agreement or by reason of reckless disregard by
any of such persons of the obligations and duties of Countrywide under this
Agreement.
B. Any person, even though also a director, officer, employee,
shareholder, or agent of Countrywide, or any of its affiliates, who may be or
become an officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed,
when rendering services to the Trust or acting on any business of the Trust, to
be rendering such services to or acting solely as an officer, trustee, employee
or agent of the Trust and not as a director, officer, employee, shareholder or
agent of or one under the control or direction of Countrywide or any of its
affiliates, even though paid by one of those entities.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Trust and
the Adviser shall each indemnify and hold harmless Countrywide, its directors,
officers, employees, shareholders, agents, control persons and affiliates from
and against any and all claims, demands, expenses and liabilities (whether with
or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature which Countrywide may
sustain or incur or which may be asserted against Countrywide by any person by
reason of, or as a result of: (i) any action taken or omitted to be taken by
Countrywide in good faith in reliance upon any certificate, instrument, order or
share certificate reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed,
countersigned or executed by any duly authorized person, upon the oral
instructions or written instructions of an authorized person of the Trust or
upon the opinion of legal counsel for the Trust or its own counsel; or (ii) any
action taken or omitted to be taken by Countrywide in connection with its
appointment in good faith in reliance upon any law, act, regulation or
interpretation of the same even though the same may thereafter have been
altered, changed, amended or repealed. However, indemnification under this
subparagraph shall not apply to actions or omissions of Countrywide or its
directors, officers, employees, shareholders or agents in cases of its or
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their own gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, or reckless disregard
of its or their own duties hereunder.
13. TERMINATION.
A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be effective on the
date first above written, shall continue in effect for two years from that date
and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only so long as
such continuance is approved (1) by Countrywide, (2) the Adviser, (3) by vote,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose, of a majority of the Trust's
trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of any such party, and (4) by vote of a majority of the Trust's
Board of Trustees or a majority of the Trust's outstanding voting securities.
B. Either party may terminate this Agreement on any date by
giving the other party at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice of such
termination specifying the date fixed therefor. Upon termination of this
Agreement, the Adviser shall pay to Countrywide such compensation as may be due
as of the date of such termination, and shall likewise reimburse Countrywide for
any out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements reasonably incurred by Countrywide
to such date.
C. In the event that in connection with the termination of
this Agreement a successor to any of Countrywide's duties or responsibilities
under this Agreement is designated by the Trust or by the Adviser by written
notice to Countrywide, Countrywide shall, promptly upon such termination and at
the expense of the Adviser, transfer all records maintained by Countrywide under
this Agreement and shall cooperate in the transfer of such duties and
responsibilities, including provision for assistance from Countrywide's
cognizant personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by
such successor.
14. SERVICES FOR OTHERS.
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Countrywide or any
affiliated person (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of Countrywide from providing
services for any other person, firm or corporation (including other investment
companies); provided, however, that Countrywide expressly represents that it
will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the
performance of its obligations to the Trust under this Agreement.
15. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the
Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees,
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shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust, personally,
but bind only the trust property of the Trust. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by
an officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such
Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have
been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them
personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust.
16. SEVERABILITY.
In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to
be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of
this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
17. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the
1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or in
the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations
or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued pursuant to said 1940
Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected
in any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation or order of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, such provision shall be deemed to
incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
18. NOTICES.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing (including telex
and telegraphic communication) and shall be (as elected by the person giving
such notice) hand delivered by messenger or courier service, telecommunicated,
or mailed (airmail if international) by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid), return receipt requested, addressed to:
To the Trust Interactive Investments
or the Adviser: 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
To Countrywide: Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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or to such other address as any party may designate by notice complying with the
terms of this Section 18. Each such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the
date delivered if by personal delivery; (b) on the date telecommunicated if by
telegraph; (c) on the date of transmission with confirmed answer back if by
telex, telefax or other telegraphic method; and (d) on the date upon which the
return receipt is signed or delivery is refused or the notice is designated by
the postal authorities as not deliverable, as the case may be, if mailed.
19. AMENDMENT.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a
written agreement executed by both parties.
20. BINDING EFFECT.
Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that
he has the full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the
party indicated, and that his signature will operate to bind the party indicated
to the foregoing terms.
21. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
22. FORCE MAJEURE.
If Countrywide shall be delayed in its performance of services
or prevented entirely or in part from performing services due to causes or
events beyond its control, including and without limitation, acts of God,
interruption of power or other utility, transportation or communication
services, acts of civil or military authority, sabotages, national emergencies,
explosion, flood, accident, earthquake or other catastrophe, fire, strike or
other labor problems, legal action, present or future law, governmental order,
rule or regulation, or shortages of suitable parts, materials, labor or
transportation, such delay or non-performance shall be excused and a reasonable
time for performance in connection with this Agreement shall be extended to
include the period of such delay or non-performance.
23. MISCELLANEOUS.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
INTERACTIVE INVESTMENTS
By:
Its: President
INTERACTIVE RESEARCH ADVISERS, INC.
By:
Its: President
COUNTRYWIDE FUND SERVICES, INC.
By:
Its: President
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Schedule A
COMPENSATION
The Adviser will pay Countrywide a monthly fee, according to the
average net assets of each series during such month, as follows:
TECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND:
Monthly Fee Average Net Assets During Month
$2,000 $0 - $ 50,000,000
$2,500 $50,000,000 - $100,000,000
$3,000 $100,000,000 - $200,000,000
$3,500 $200,000,000 - $300,000,000
$4,000 $300,000,000 - $400,000,000
$5,000 Over $400,000,000
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