TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of this 2nd day of January, 1998 between
SALOMON BROTHERS VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS INC (the "Fund"), a Maryland
corporation having its principal place of business at 0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 and FIRST DATA INVESTOR SERVICES GROUP, INC.
("Investor Services Group"), a Massachusetts corporation with principal offices
at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue Shares in separate series,
with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities or other assets.
WHEREAS, the Fund initially intends to offer Shares in those Portfolios
identified in the attached Exhibit 1, each such Portfolio, together with all
other Portfolios subsequently established by the Fund shall be subject to this
Agreement in accordance with Article 14;
WHEREAS, the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios, desires to appoint
Investor Services Group as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and
agent in connection with certain other activities and Investor Services Group
desires to accept such appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
hereinafter set forth, the Fund and Investor Services Group agree as follows:
Article 1 Definitions.
1.1 Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases,
unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Articles of Incorporation" shall mean the Articles of
Incorporation, Declaration of Trust, or other similar organizational
document as the case may be, of the Fund as the same may be amended
from time to time.
(b) "Authorized Person" shall be deemed to include (i) any
authorized officer of the Fund; or (ii) any person, whether or not such
person is an officer or employee of the Fund, duly authorized to give
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund as
indicated in writing to Investor Services Group from time to time.
(c) "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors or
Board of Trustees of the Fund, as the case may be.
(d) "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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(e) "Custodian" refers to any custodian or subcustodian of
securities and other property which the Fund may from time to time
deposit, or cause to be deposited or held under the name or account of
such a custodian pursuant to a Custodian Agreement.
(f) "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as amended
from time to time.
(g) "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as amended
from time to time.
(h) "Oral Instructions" shall mean instructions, other than
Written Instructions, actually received by Investor Services Group from
a person reasonably believed by Investor Services Group to be an
Authorized Person;
(i) "Portfolio" shall mean each separate series of shares
offered by the Fund representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets;
(j) "Prospectus" shall mean the most recently dated Fund
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, including any
supplements thereto if any, which has become effective under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act.
(k) "Shares" refers collectively to such shares of capital
stock or beneficial interest, as the case may be, or class thereof, of
each respective Portfolio of the Fund as may be issued from time to
time.
(l) "Shareholder" shall mean a record owner of Shares of each
respective Portfolio of the Fund.
(m) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication
signed by a person reasonably believed by Investor Services Group to be
an Authorized Person and actually received by Investor Services Group.
Written Instructions shall include manually executed originals and
authorized electronic transmissions, including telefacsimile of a
manually executed original or other process.
Article 2 Appointment of Investor Services Group.
The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, hereby appoints and constitutes
Investor Services Group as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for
Shares of each respective Portfolio of the Fund and as shareholder servicing
agent for the Fund and Investor Services Group hereby accepts such appointments
and agrees to perform the duties hereinafter set forth.
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Article 3 Duties of Investor Services Group.
3.1 Investor Services Group shall be responsible for:
(a) Administering and/or performing the customary services of
a transfer agent; acting as service agent in connection with dividend
and distribution functions; and for performing shareholder account and
administrative agent functions in connection with the issuance,
transfer and redemption or repurchase (including coordination with the
Custodian) of Shares of each Portfolio, as more fully described in the
written schedule of Duties of Investor Services Group annexed hereto as
Schedule A and incorporated herein, and in accordance with the terms of
the Prospectus of the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio,
applicable law and the procedures established from time to time between
Investor Services Group and the Fund.
(b) Recording the issuance of Shares and maintaining pursuant
to Rule 17Ad-10(e) of the 1934 Act a record of the total number of
Shares of each Portfolio which are authorized, based upon data provided
to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. Investor Services Group
shall provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total number of
Shares of each Portfolio which are authorized and issued and
outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance
of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance
of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which
functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this
Agreement, Investor Services Group shall be under no duty or obligation
to inquire into, and shall not be liable for: (i) the legality of the
issuance or sale of any Shares or the sufficiency of the amount to be
received therefor; (ii) the legality of the redemption of any Shares,
or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor; (iii) the legality
of the declaration of any dividend by the Board of Directors, or the
legality of the issuance of any Shares in payment of any dividend; or
(iv) the legality of any recapitalization or readjustment of the
Shares.
3.2 In addition and to the extent required by law, the Fund shall (i)
identify to Investor Services Group in writing those transactions and assets to
be treated as exempt from blue sky reporting for each State and (ii) verify the
establishment of transactions for each State on the system prior to activation
and thereafter monitor the daily activity for each State. The responsibility of
Investor Services Group for the Fund's blue sky State registration status is
solely limited to the initial establishment of transactions subject to blue sky
compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such transactions to the Fund as
provided above.
3.3 In addition to the duties set forth herein, Investor Services Group
shall perform such other duties and functions, and shall be paid such amounts
therefor, as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing between the Fund
and Investor Services Group.
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Article 4 Recordkeeping and Other Information.
4.1 Investor Services Group shall create and maintain all records
required of it pursuant to its duties hereunder and as set forth in Schedule A
in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including records
required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act. All records shall be available during
regular business hours for inspection and use by the Fund. Where applicable,
such records shall be maintained by Investor Services Group for the periods and
in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
4.2 Upon reasonable notice by the Fund, Investor Services Group shall
make available during regular business hours such of its facilities and premises
employed in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement
for reasonable visitation by the Fund, or any other person retained by the Fund
as may be necessary for the Fund to evaluate the quality of the services
performed by Investor Services Group pursuant hereto.
4.3 To the extent required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, Investor
Services Group agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by Investor
Services Group relating to the services to be performed by Investor Services
Group hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained
and made available in accordance with such section, and will be surrendered
promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with the Fund's request.
4.4 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of
Shareholder records of the Fund, Investor Services Group will notify the Fund of
such request and secure Written Instructions as to the handling of such request.
Investor Services Group reserves the right, however, upon prior written notice
to the Fund, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is
advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for the failure to comply with
such request.
Article 5 Fund Instructions.
5.1 Investor Services Group will have no liability when acting upon
Written or Oral Instructions believed to have been executed or orally
communicated by an Authorized Person and will not be held to have any notice of
any change of authority of any person until receipt of a Written Instruction
thereof from the Fund. Investor Services Group will also have no liability when
processing Share certificates which it reasonably believes to bear the proper
manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of the Fund and the proper
countersignature of Investor Services Group.
5.2 At any time, Investor Services Group may request Written
Instructions from the Fund and may seek advice from legal counsel for the Fund,
or its own legal counsel, with respect to any matter arising in connection with
this Agreement, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken or
suffered by it in good faith in accordance with such Written Instructions or in
accordance with the opinion of counsel for the Fund or for Investor Services
Group.
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Written Instructions requested by Investor Services Group will be provided by
the Fund within a reasonable period of time.
5.3 Investor Services Group, its officers, agents or employees, shall
accept Oral Instructions or Written Instructions given to them by any person
representing or acting on behalf of the Fund only if said representative is an
Authorized Person. The Fund agrees that all Oral Instructions shall be followed
within one business day by confirming Written Instructions, and that the Fund's
failure to so confirm shall not impair in any respect Investor Services Group's
right to rely on Oral Instructions.
Article 6 Compensation.
6.1 The Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios will compensate
Investor Services Group for the performance of its obligations hereunder in
accordance with the fees set forth in the written Fee Schedule annexed hereto as
Schedule B and incorporated herein.
6.2 In addition to those fees set forth in Section 6.1 above, the Fund
on behalf of each of the Portfolios (but only from the assets of the particular
Portfolio) agrees to pay, and will be billed separately for, out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by Investor Services Group in the performance of its duties
hereunder. Out-of-pocket expenses shall include, but shall not be limited to,
the items specified in the written schedule of out-of-pocket charges annexed
hereto as Schedule C and incorporated herein. Schedule C may be modified by
written agreement between the parties. Unspecified out-of-pocket expenses shall
be limited to those out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by Investor
Services Group in the performance of its obligations hereunder.
6.3 Investor Services Group will transmit an invoice to the Fund as
soon as practicable after the end of each calendar month which will be detailed
in accordance with Schedule A, and the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios
agrees to pay all fees and out-of-pocket expenses within thirty (30) days
following the receipt of the respective invoice.
6.4 Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from time to
time by attaching to Schedule B, a revised Fee Schedule executed and dated by
the parties hereto.
Article 7 Documents.
In connection with the appointment of Investor Services Group, the Fund
shall, on or before the date this Agreement goes into effect, but in any case
within a reasonable period of time for Investor Services Group to prepare to
perform its duties hereunder, deliver or caused to be delivered to Investor
Services Group the documents set forth in the written schedule of Fund Documents
annexed hereto as Schedule D.
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Article 8 Transfer Agent System.
8.1 Investor Services Group shall retain title to and ownership of any
and all data bases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats,
interactive design techniques, derivative works, inventions, discoveries,
patentable or copyrightable matters, concepts, expertise, patents, copyrights,
trade secrets, and other related legal rights utilized by Investor Services
Group in connection with the services provided by Investor Services Group to the
Fund herein (the "Investor Services Group System").
8.2 Investor Services Group hereby grants to the Fund a limited license
to the Investor Services Group System for the sole and limited purpose of having
Investor Services Group provide the services contemplated hereunder and nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted otherwise and such
license shall immediately terminate with the termination of this Agreement.
8.3 In the event that the Fund, including any affiliate or agent of the
Fund or any third party acting on behalf of the Fund is provided with direct
access to the Investor Services Group System for either account inquiry or to
transmit transaction information, including but not limited to maintenance,
exchanges, purchases and redemptions, such direct access capability shall be
limited to direct entry to the Investor Services Group System by means of
on-line mainframe terminal entry or PC emulation of such mainframe terminal
entry and any other non-conforming method of transmission of information to the
Investor Services Group System is strictly prohibited without the prior written
consent of Investor Services Group.
Article 9 Representations and Warranties.
9.1 Investor Services Group represents and warrants to the Fund that:
(a) it is a corporation duly organized, existing and in good
standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
(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 this Agreement;
(d) it is duly registered with its appropriate regulatory
agency as a transfer agent and such registration will remain in effect
for the duration of this Agreement; and
(e) it has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and
obligations under this Agreement.
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(f) the various procedures and systems which it has
implemented with regard to safeguarding from loss or damage
attributable to fire, theft or any other cause, each Portfolio's blank
checks, records and other data and Investor Services Group's records,
data equipment facilities and other property used in the performance of
its obligations hereunder are adequate and that it will make such
changes therein from time to time as may be reasonably necessary for
the secure performance of its obligations thereunder.
9.2 The Fund represents and warrants to Investor Services Group that:
(a) it is duly organized, existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized;
(b) it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles
of Incorporation and By-Laws to enter into this Agreement;
(c) all corporate proceedings required by said Articles of
Incorporation, By-Laws and applicable laws have been taken to authorize
it to enter into this Agreement;
(d) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the 1940 Act on behalf of each of the Portfolios is
currently effective and will remain effective; and to the extent
required by applicable law, all appropriate state securities law
filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to
all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale; and
(e) all outstanding Shares are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and when Shares are hereafter issued in accordance with
the terms of the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and its Prospectus
with respect to each Portfolio, such Shares shall be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
9.3 THIS IS A SERVICE AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, INVESTOR SERVICES GROUP DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, MADE TO THE FUND OR ANY OTHER PERSON, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING QUALITY, SUITABILITY,
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE (IRRESPECTIVE OF
ANY COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE) OF ANY SERVICES OR ANY GOODS
PROVIDED INCIDENTAL TO SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. INVESTOR SERVICES
GROUP DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
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Article 10 Indemnification.
10.1 Each party hereto (the "Indemnifying Party") will indemnify the
other party (the "Indemnified Party") against and hold it harmless from any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any sort or kind
(including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting from any claim,
demand, action or suit or other proceeding (a "Claim") unless such Claim has
resulted from a negligent failure to act or omission to act or bad faith of the
Indemnified Party in the performance of its duties hereunder. In addition,
Investor Services Group shall not be responsible for and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold Investor Services Group harmless from and against, any Claim
which may be asserted against Investor Services Group or for which Investor
Services Group may be held to be liable arising out of or attributable to any of
the following:
(a) any actions of Investor Services Group required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement unless such Claim resulted from a
negligent act or omission to act or bad faith by Investor Services
Group in the performance of its duties hereunder;
(b) Investor Services Group's reasonable reliance on, or
reasonable use of information, data, records and documents (including
but not limited to magnetic tapes, computer printouts, hard copies and
microfilm copies) received by Investor Services Group from the Fund, or
any authorized third party acting on behalf of the Fund, including but
not limited to the prior transfer agent for the Fund, in the
performance of Investor Services Group's duties and obligations
hereunder;
(c) the reliance on, or the implementation of, any Written or
Oral Instructions or any other instructions or requests of the Fund on
behalf of the applicable Portfolio;
(d) the offer or sales of shares in violation of any
requirement under the securities laws or regulations of any state that
such shares be registered in such state or in violation of any stop
order or other determination or ruling by any state with respect to the
offer or sale of such shares in such state; and
(e) the Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of
this Agreement, or any Claim which arises out of the Fund's negligence
or misconduct or the breach of any representation or warranty of the
Fund made herein.
10.2 In any case in which the Indemnifying Party may be asked to
indemnify or hold the Indemnified Party harmless, the Indemnified Party will
notify the Indemnifying Party promptly after identifying any situation which it
believes presents or appears likely to present a claim for indemnification
against the Indemnifying Party although the failure to do so shall not prevent
recovery by the Indemnified Party and shall keep the Indemnifying Party advised
with respect to all developments concerning such situation. The Indemnifying
Party shall have the option to defend the Indemnified Party against any Claim
which may be the subject of this indemnification, and, in the event that the
Indemnifying Party so elects, such defense shall be conducted by
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counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party and reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party, and thereupon the Indemnifying Party shall take over complete
defense of the Claim and the Indemnified Party shall sustain no further legal or
other expenses in respect of such Claim. The Indemnified Party will not confess
any Claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party
will be asked to provide indemnification, except with the Indemnifying Party's
prior written consent. The obligations of the parties hereto under this Article
10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10.3 Any claim for indemnification under this Agreement must be made
prior to the earlier of:
(a) one year after the Indemnifying Party becomes aware of the
event for which indemnification is claimed; or
(b) one year after the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement or the expiration of the term of this Agreement.
10.4 Except for remedies that cannot be waived as a matter of law (and
injunctive or provisional relief), the provisions of this Article 10 shall be
Investor Services Group's sole and exclusive remedy for claims or other actions
or proceedings to which the Fund's indemnification obligations pursuant to this
Article 10 may apply.
10.5 Any obligation of the Fund under this Article 10 to indemnify or
reimburse Investor Services Group in connection with any claim, cost, expense,
loss, damage, charge, payment or liability that is attributable to a particular
Portfolio shall be satisfied from the assets of the Portfolio in question and
not from the assets of any other Portfolio.
Article 11 Standard of Care.
11.1 Investor Services Group shall at all times act in good faith and
agrees to use its best efforts within commercially reasonable limits to ensure
the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes no
responsibility for loss or damage to the Fund unless said errors are caused by
Investor Services Group's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or
that of its employees.
11.2 Each party shall have the duty to mitigate damages for which the
other party may become responsible.
Article 12 Consequential Damages.
IN NO EVENT AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL EITHER PARTY UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR INDIRECT LOSS OF PROFITS, REPUTATION
OR BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL OR
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SPECIAL DAMAGES UNDER ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR FOR ANY ACT OR FAILURE
TO ACT THEREUNDER.
Article 13 Term and Termination.
13.1 This Agreement shall be effective on the date first written above
and shall continue for a period of three (3) years (the "Initial Term").
13.2 Upon the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall
automatically renew for successive terms of three (3) years ("Renewal Terms")
each, unless the Fund or Investor Services Group provides written notice to the
other of its intent not to renew. Such notice must be received not less than
ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current
Renewal Term.
13.3 In the event a termination notice is given by the Fund, all
expenses associated with movement of records and materials and conversion
thereof to a successor transfer agent will be borne by the Fund. Investor
Services Group will reasonably cooperate with the Fund and any successor
transfer agent or agents in the substitution process.
13.4 If a party hereto is guilty of a material failure to perform its
duties and obligations hereunder (a "Defaulting Party") the other party (the
"Non-Defaulting Party") may give written notice thereof to the Defaulting Party,
and if such material breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days
after such written notice is given, then the Non-Defaulting Party may terminate
this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of such termination to
the Defaulting Party. In all cases, termination by the Non-Defaulting Party
shall not constitute a waiver by the Non-Defaulting Party of any rights it might
have under this Agreement or otherwise against the Defaulting Party.
Article 14 Additional Portfolios
14.1 In the event that the Fund establishes one or more Portfolios in
addition to those identified in Exhibit 1, with respect to which the Fund
desires to have Investor Services Group render services as transfer agent under
the terms hereof, the Fund shall so notify Investor Services Group in writing,
and if Investor Services Group agrees in writing to provide such services,
Exhibit 1 shall be amended to include such additional Portfolios.
Article 15 Confidentiality.
15.1 The parties agree that the Proprietary Information (defined below)
and the contents of this Agreement (collectively "Confidential Information") are
confidential information of the parties and their respective licensors. The Fund
and Investor Services Group shall exercise at
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least the same degree of care, but not less than reasonable care, to safeguard
the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the other as it would
exercise to protect its own confidential information of a similar nature. The
Fund and Investor Services Group shall not duplicate, sell or disclose to others
the Confidential Information of the other, in whole or in part, without the
prior written permission of the other party. The Fund and Investor Services
Group may, however, disclose Confidential Information to their respective parent
corporation, their respective affiliates, their subsidiaries and affiliated
companies and employees, provided that each shall use reasonable efforts to
ensure that the Confidential Information is not duplicated or disclosed in
breach of this Agreement. The Fund and Investor Services Group may also disclose
the Confidential Information to independent contractors, auditors, and
professional advisors, provided they first agree to be bound by the
confidentiality obligations substantially similar to this Section 15.1.
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in no event shall either the Fund or
Investor Services Group disclose the Confidential Information to any competitor
of the other without specific, prior written consent.
15.2 Proprietary Information means:
(a) any data or information that is competitively sensitive
material, and not generally known to the public, including, but not
limited to, information about product plans, marketing strategies,
finance, operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, sales
estimates, business plans, and internal performance results relating to
the past, present or future business activities of the Fund or Investor
Services Group, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies
and the customers, clients and suppliers of any of them;
(b) any scientific or technical information, design, process,
procedure, formula, or improvement that is commercially valuable and
secret in the sense that its confidentiality affords the Fund or
Investor Services Group a competitive advantage over its competitors;
and
(c) all confidential or proprietary concepts, documentation,
reports, data, specifications, computer software, source code, object
code, flow charts, databases, inventions, know-how, show-how and trade
secrets, whether or not patentable or copyrightable.
15.3 Confidential Information includes, without limitation, all
documents, inventions, substances, engineering and laboratory notebooks,
drawings, diagrams, specifications, bills of material, equipment, prototypes and
models, and any other tangible manifestation of the foregoing of either party
which now exist or come into the control or possession of the other. The term
"Confidential Information" does not include any information which (i) at the
time of disclosure or thereafter is generally available to the public (other
than as a result of disclosure directly or indirectly by either party in
violation hereof), (ii) is or becomes available to either party on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Fund or Investor Services
Group, as the case may be, provided that, after due inquiry, such source was not
prohibited from disclosing such
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information to such party by a legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation owed
to either party or (iii) either party can establish is already in such party's
possession (other than information furnished by or on behalf of either party).
15.4 If either party becomes legally compelled (including by
deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative
demand or similar process) to disclose any Confidential Information, such party
will provide the other party with prompt prior written notice of such
requirements so that such other party may seek a protective order or other
appropriate remedy. If such protective order or other remedy is not obtained,
each party agrees to disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information
which such party is advised by written opinion of outside counsel is legally
required to be disclosed and to take all reasonable steps to preserve the
confidentiality of the Confidential Information (including by obtaining an
appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information). In addition, each
party agrees to not oppose any action (and will, if and to the extent requested
by the other party, cooperate with, assist and join with the other party at the
other party's expense, in any reasonable action) by the other party to obtain an
appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential
treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information.
Article 16 Force Majeure.
No party shall be liable for any default or delay in the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement if and to the extent such default or delay
is caused, directly or indirectly, by (i) fire, flood, elements of nature or
other acts of God; (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war, riots or
civil disorders in any country, (iii) any act or omission of any governmental
authority; (iv) any labor disputes (whether or not the employees' demands are
reasonable or within the party's power to satisfy); or (v) nonperformance by a
third party or any similar cause beyond the reasonable control of such party,
including without limitation, failures or fluctuations in telecommunications or
other equipment. In any such event, the non-performing party shall be excused
from any further performance and observance of the obligations so affected only
for as long as such circumstances prevail and such party continues to use
commercially reasonable efforts to recommence performance or observance as soon
as practicable.
Article 17 Assignment and Subcontracting.
This Agreement, its benefits and obligations shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned or otherwise transferred
by either party hereto, without the prior written consent of the other party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that
Investor Services Group may, in its sole discretion, assign all its right, title
and interest in this Agreement to an affiliate, parent or subsidiary, or upon
prior written consent of the Fund to the
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purchaser of substantially all of its business. Investor Services Group may, in
its sole discretion, engage subcontractors to perform any of the obligations
contained in this Agreement to be performed by Investor Services Group provided
that Investor Services Group shall remain liable hereunder for any acts or
omissions of any subcontractor as if performed by Investor Services Group.
Article 18 Arbitration.
18.1 Any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or breach hereof, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the
American Arbitration Association in Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with its
applicable rules, except that the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to the discovery process shall apply.
18.2 The parties hereby agree that judgment upon the award rendered by
the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.
18.3 The parties acknowledge and agree that the performance of the
obligations under this Agreement necessitates the use of instrumentalities of
interstate commerce and, notwithstanding other general choice of law provisions
in this Agreement, the parties agree that the Federal Arbitration Act shall
govern and control with respect to the provisions of this Article 18.
Article 19 Notice.
Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this Agreement
to be given in writing to the Fund or Investor Services Group, shall be
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it at its office
set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to time designate in
writing.
To the Fund:
Salomon Brothers Variable Series Funds Inc
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
To Investor Services Group:
First Data Investor Services Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
00
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President
with a copy to Investor Services Group's General Counsel
Article 20 Governing Law/Venue.
The Agreement shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of
New York without reference to the choice of law provisions thereof. Each party
hereto hereby agrees that (i) the Supreme Court of New York sitting in New York
County shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any and all disputes arising
hereunder; (ii) hereby consents to the personal jurisdiction of such court over
the parties hereto, hereby waiving any defense of lack of personal jurisdiction;
and (iii) appoints the person to whom notices hereunder are to be sent as agent
for service of process.
Article 21 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts shall, together,
constitute only one instrument.
Article 22 Captions.
The captions of 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.
Article 23 Publicity.
Neither Investor Services Group nor the Fund shall release or publish
news releases, public announcements, advertising or other publicity relating to
this Agreement or to the transactions contemplated by it without the prior
review and written approval of the other party; provided, however, that either
party may make such disclosures as are required by legal, accounting or
regulatory requirements after making reasonable efforts in the circumstances to
consult in advance with the other party.
Article 24 Relationship of Parties/Non-Solicitation.
24.1 The parties agree that they are independent contractors and not
partners or co-venturers and nothing contained herein shall be interpreted or
construed otherwise.
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Article 25 Entire Agreement; Severability.
25.1 This Agreement, including Schedules, Addenda, and Exhibits hereto,
constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous proposals,
agreements, contracts, representations, and understandings, whether written or
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No change,
termination, modification, or waiver of any term or condition of the Agreement
shall be valid unless in writing signed by each party. A party's waiver of a
breach of any term or condition in the Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
any subsequent breach of the same or another term or condition.
25.2 The parties intend every provision of this Agreement to be
severable. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any term or
provision is illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity
shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement. In such case,
the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent
with the original intent of the parties. Without limiting the generality of this
paragraph, if a court determines that any remedy stated in this Agreement has
failed of its essential purpose, then all other provisions of this Agreement,
including the limitations on liability and exclusion of damages, shall remain
fully effective.
Article 26 Miscellaneous
Any amount owing to Investor Services Group under Articles 6 or 10 that
are attributable to a particular Portfolio shall be paid by the Fund only from
and to the extent of the assets of that Portfolio and not from the assets of any
other Portfolio.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above
written.
SALOMON BROTHERS VARIABLE
SERIES FUNDS INC
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
FIRST DATA INVESTOR SERVICES GROUP, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
Exhibit 1
LIST OF PORTFOLIOS
Salomon Brothers Variable U.S. Government Income Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable High Yield Bond Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable Strategic Bond Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable Total Return Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable Asia Growth Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable Investors Fund
Salomon Brothers Variable Capital Fund
Schedule A
DUTIES OF Investor Services Group
1. Shareholder Information. Investor Services Group shall maintain a
record of the number of Shares held by each Shareholder of record which shall
include name, address, taxpayer identification and which shall indicate whether
such Shares are held in certificates or uncertificated form.
2. Shareholder Services. Investor Services Group shall respond as
appropriate to all inquiries and communications from Shareholders relating to
Shareholder accounts with respect to its duties hereunder and as may be from
time to time mutually agreed upon between Investor Services Group and the Fund.
Investor Services Group shall provide the Fund with reports concerning
shareholder inquiries and the responses therto by Investor Services Group, in
such form and at such times as are agreed to by the Fund and Investor Services
Group.
3. Share Certificates.
(a) At the expense of the Fund, the Fund shall supply Investor
Services Group with an adequate supply of blank share certificates to meet
Investor Services Group requirements therefor. Such Share certificates shall be
properly signed by facsimile. The Fund agrees that, notwithstanding the death,
resignation, or removal of any officer of the Fund whose signature appears on
such certificates, Investor Services Group or its agent may continue to
countersign certificates which bear such signatures until otherwise directed by
Written Instructions.
(b) Investor Services Group shall issue replacement Share
certificates in lieu of certificates which have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
upon receipt by Investor Services Group of properly executed affidavits and lost
certificate bonds, in form satisfactory to Investor Services Group, with the
Fund and Investor Services Group as obligees under the bond.
(c) Investor Services Group shall also maintain a record of
each certificate issued, the number of Shares represented thereby and the
Shareholder of record. With respect to Shares held in open accounts or
uncertificated form (i.e., no certificate being issued with respect thereto)
Investor Services Group shall maintain comparable records of the Shareholders
thereof, including their names, addresses and taxpayer identification. Investor
Services Group shall further maintain a stop transfer record on lost and/or
replaced certificates.
4. Mailing Communications to Shareholders; Proxy Materials. Investor
Services Group will address and mail to Shareholders of the Fund, all reports to
Shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy material for the
Fund's meetings of Shareholders. In connection with meetings of Shareholders,
Investor Services Group will prepare Shareholder lists, mail and certify as to
the mailing of proxy materials, process and tabulate returned proxy cards,
report on proxies voted prior to meetings, act as inspector of election at
meetings and certify Shares voted at meetings.
5. Sales of Shares.
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(a) Investor Services Group shall not be required to issue any
Shares of the Fund where it has received a Written Instruction from the Fund or
official notice from any appropriate authority that the sale of the Shares of
the Fund has been suspended or discontinued. The existence of such Written
Instructions or such official notice shall be conclusive evidence of the right
of Investor Services Group to rely on such Written Instructions or official
notice.
(b) In the event that any check or other order for the payment
of money is returned unpaid for any reason, Investor Services Group will
endeavor to: (i) give prompt notice of such return to the Fund or its designee;
(ii) place a stop transfer order against all Shares issued as a result of such
check or order; and (iii) take such actions as Investor Services Group may from
time to time deem appropriate.
6. Transfer and Repurchase.
(a) Investor Services Group shall process all requests to
transfer or redeem Shares in accordance with the transfer or repurchase
procedures set forth in the Fund's Prospectus.
(b) Investor Services Group will transfer or repurchase Shares
upon receipt of Oral or Written Instructions or otherwise pursuant to the
Prospectus and Share certificates, if any, properly endorsed for transfer or
redemption, accompanied by such documents as Investor Services Group reasonably
may deem necessary.
(c) Investor Services Group reserves the right to refuse to
transfer or repurchase Shares until it is satisfied that the endorsement on the
instructions is valid and genuine. Investor Services Group also reserves the
right to refuse to transfer or repurchase Shares until it is satisfied that the
requested transfer or repurchase is legally authorized, and it shall incur no
liability for the refusal, in good faith, to make transfers or repurchases which
Investor Services Group, in its good judgment, deems improper or unauthorized,
or until it is reasonably satisfied that there is no basis to any claims adverse
to such transfer or repurchase.
(d) When Shares are redeemed, Investor Services Group shall,
upon receipt of the instructions and documents in proper form, deliver to the
Custodian and the Fund or its designee a notification setting forth the number
of Shares to be repurchased. Such repurchased shares shall be reflected on
appropriate accounts maintained by Investor Services Group reflecting
outstanding Shares of the Fund and Shares attributed to individual accounts.
(e) Investor Services Group shall upon receipt of the monies
provided to it by the Custodian for the repurchase of Shares, pay such monies as
are received from the Custodian, all in accordance with the procedures described
in the written instruction received by Investor Services Group from the Fund.
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(f) Investor Services Group shall not process or effect any
repurchase with respect to Shares of the Fund after receipt by Investor Services
Group or its agent of notification of the suspension of the determination of the
net asset value of the Fund.
7. Dividends.
(a) Upon the declaration of each dividend and each capital
gains distribution by the Board of Directors of the Fund with respect to Shares
of the Fund, the Fund shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Investor
Services Group Written Instructions setting forth the date of the declaration of
such dividend or distribution, the ex-dividend date, the date of payment
thereof, the record date as of which Shareholders entitled to payment shall be
determined, the amount payable per Share to the Shareholders of record as of
that date, the total amount payable on the payment date and whether such
dividend or distribution is to be paid in Shares at net asset value.
(b) On or before the payment date specified in such resolution
of the Board of Directors, the Fund will provide Investor Services Group with
sufficient cash to make payment to the Shareholders of record as of such payment
date.
(c) If Investor Services Group does not receive sufficient
cash from the Fund to make total dividend and/or distribution payments to all
Shareholders of the Fund as of the record date, Investor Services Group will,
upon notifying the Fund, withhold payment to all Shareholders of record as of
the record date until sufficient cash is provided to Investor Services Group.
8. In addition to and neither in lieu nor in contravention of the
services set forth above, Investor Services Group shall: (i) perform all the
customary services of a transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and
agent of the dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan as described herein
consistent with those requirements in effect as at the date of this Agreement.
The detailed definition, frequency, limitations and associated costs (if any)
set out in the attached fee schedule, include but are not limited to:
maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists,
mailing proxies, tabulating proxies, mailing Shareholder reports to current
Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts
where applicable, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and
other appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by
federal authorities for all Shareholders.
Schedule B
FEE SCHEDULE
I. Fees:
Salomon Brothers Variable Series Funds, Inc. shall pay the Transfer Agent with
respect to each Portfolio an annualized fee of $8.50 per open account per year.
Such fees shall be billed by the transfer agent monthly in arrears on a
prorated basis of 1/12th of the annualized fee for all accounts that
are open during such month.
Closed Accounts $ 2.50 per account/year
XXX Accounts $10.00 per account/year
DCXchange'sm' Fee $15.00 per account/year
II. Annual Fee Adjustment:
The per account fees will be incrementally adjusted annually relative
to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) change plus 2 percent.
III. Programming Costs, with respect to the whole Fund if a Dedicated Team
is requested (Charges for Client Requested Enhancements)
(a) Dedicated Team:
Programmer $100,000 per annum
BSA $ 85,000 per annum
Tester $ 65,000 per annum
(b) System Enhancements (Non Dedicated Team):
Programmer $150.00 per hour
The above rates are subject to an annual 5% increase after the one year
anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement.
Schedule C
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Fund shall reimburse Investor Services Group monthly for applicable
out-of-pocket expenses, including, but not limited to the following items:
Microfiche/microfilm production
Magnetic media tapes and freight
Printing costs, including certificates, envelopes, checks and
stationery
Postage (bulk, pre-sort, ZIP+4, barcoding, first class) direct
pass through to the Fund
Due diligence mailings
Telephone and telecommunication costs, including all lease,
maintenance and line costs
Ad hoc reports
Proxy solicitations, mailings and tabulations
Daily & Distribution advice mailings
Shipping, Certified and Overnight mail and insurance
Year-end form production and mailings
Terminals, communication lines, printers and other equipment and
any expenses incurred in connection with such terminals and lines
Duplicating services
Courier services
Incoming and outgoing wire charges
Federal Reserve charges for check clearance
Overtime, as approved by the Fund
Temporary staff, as approved by the Fund
Travel and entertainment, as approved by the Fund
Record retention, retrieval and destruction costs, including, but
not limited to exit fees charged by third party record keeping
vendors
Third party audit reviews
Ad hoc SQL time
Insurance
Such other miscellaneous expenses reasonably incurred by Investor
Services Group in performing its duties and responsibilities under
this Agreement.
The Fund agrees that postage and mailing expenses will be paid on the
day of or prior to mailing as agreed with Investor Services Group. In addition,
the Fund will promptly reimburse Investor Services Group for any other
unscheduled expenses incurred by Investor Services Group whenever the Fund and
Investor Services Group mutually agree that such expenses are not otherwise
properly borne by Investor Services Group as part of its duties and obligations
under the Agreement.
Schedule D
FUND DOCUMENTS
Certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as amended
Certified copy of the By-laws of the Fund, as amended,
Copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the
execution and delivery of this Agreement
Specimens of the certificates for Shares of the Fund, if applicable, in
the form approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, with a
certificate of the Secretary of the Fund as to such approval
All account application forms and other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts or to any plan, program or service offered by
the Fund
Certified list of Shareholders of the Fund with the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of each Shareholder, and the number
of Shares of the Fund held by each, certificate numbers and
denominations (if any certificates have been issued), lists of any
accounts against which stop transfer orders have been placed,
together with the reasons therefore, and the number of Shares
redeemed by the Fund
All notices issued by the Fund with respect to the Shares in
accordance with and pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation or
By-laws of the Fund or as required by law.
