"COMPREHENSIVE FEE"
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement'), dated the ____ day of ______, 2000, made
and entered into by and between Reserve Tax-Exempt Trust, a Massachusetts
business trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of the Virginia Tax-Exempt Fund (the
"Portfolio"), and RESERVE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., a New Jersey corporation
having its principal place of business in New York (the "Manager").
WHEREAS, the Trust is a non-diversified management investment company
and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of
shares of beneficial interest, par value of $.001 per share, in separate series
or classes of series, with each such separate series representing an interest
in a separate portfolio of investment securities and other assets;
The parties agree as follows:
1. Investment Services. The Manager shall select and manage the
Portfolio's investments and shall determine what investments shall be made or
disposed of by the Portfolio and shall effect such acquisitions and
dispositions, all in furtherance of the Portfolio's investment objective and
policies, subject to the overall control and direction of the Trust's Board of
Trustees. The Manager shall report on such activities to the Board of Trustees
of the Trust and shall submit such reports and other information thereon as the
Board of Trustees shall from time to time request. Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof, the Manager, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, may
contract with one or more Sub-Investment Managers to perform any of the
investment management services; provided, however, any compensation paid will
be the sole responsibility of the Manager.
2. Other Services and Assumption of Certain Expenses. The Manager
shall furnish to the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio: (i) the services of a
President and such other executive officers as may be requested by the
Portfolio, (ii) office space and customary office facilities to the extent that
the Portfolio's activities occur in New York, (iii) maintain Portfolio records
not otherwise maintained by the Portfolio's custodian, distributor or
sub-investment managers, and (iv) all accounting, administrative, clerical,
secretarial and statistical services as may be required by the Portfolio for
the operation of its business and compliance with applicable laws. The Manager
shall pay the compensation of all officers of the Trust on behalf of the
Portfolio and all operating and other expenses of the Portfolio except interest
charges, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, extraordinary legal and
accounting fees and other extraordinary expenses including expenses incurred in
connection with litigation proceedings, other claims and the legal obligations
of the Trust to indemnify its trustees, officers, employees, shareholders,
distributors and other agents of the Trust, payments made pursuant to the
Trust's Distribution Plan, and the fees of the disinterested Trustees. The
Manager may contract with other parties to
perform any of the ordinary administrative services required of the Manager;
provided, however any such compensation will be the responsibility of the
Manager.
3. Compensation of the Manager. The Portfolio shall pay to the Manager
as compensation for the services rendered hereunder and as full reimbursement
for all officers compensation and ordinary operating expenses of the Portfolio
paid by the Manager under paragraph 2 hereof, a management fee at an annual
rate of 0.80% of the average daily net asset value of the Portfolio (the
"Management Fee").
The Management Fee shall be computed and accrued daily and shall be
paid by the Portfolio to the Manager monthly.
4. Compliance with Applicable Requirements. This Agreement will be
performed in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations
under such acts, to the extent that the subject matter of the Agreement is
within the purview of such acts and such rules and regulations. The Manager
will assist the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio in complying with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act'), and the rules and regulations under such acts and in qualifying as
a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service thereunder.
In carrying out its obligations under this Agreement the Manager shall at all
times conform to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the
provisions of the currently effective Registration Statement of the Trust under
the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, and any other applicable provisions of state or
Federal law.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall be in effect until the close of
business on June 30, 2000 and shall continue in effect from year to year
thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (i) either the Board of Trustees of the Trust or a majority
vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio, provided, however,
that if the shareholders of the Portfolio fail to approve the Agreement, as
provided herein, the Manager may continue to serve in such capacity in the
manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder,
and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
either party of this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be
terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Portfolio, on 60 days' written notice to the Manager, or by
the Manager on like notice to the Trust.
The name "Reserve" shall be deemed to have been licensed to the Trust
by the Manager. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the Manager may
terminate or revoke such license
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on 90 days' written notice to the Trust. On or before the date of such
revocation or termination, the Trust will change its name to another name which
does not include the word "Reserve."
6. Non-Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assignable by either
party hereto and shall automatically terminate forthwith in the event of such
assignment (within the meaning of the 1940 Act).
7. Approval of Agreement and Amendments. This Agreement and any
material amendments hereto shall be approved by vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
the Portfolio; provided, however, that if the shareholders of the Portfolio
fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein, the Manager may continue to
serve in such capacity in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder.
8. Non-Exclusivity. The services of the Manager to the Trust are not
to be deemed exclusive and the Trust agrees that the Manager is free to act as
investment manager to various investment companies and other managed accounts.
For purposes of this Agreement and the undertakings provided for herein, the
Manager shall at all times be considered as an independent contractor, and
shall not be considered as an agent of the Trust and shall have no authority to
act for or represent the Trust in any way.
9. Liability of the Manager. In performing its duties hereunder, the
Manager may rely on all documentation and information furnished it by the
Trust. Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act, neither the Manager
nor its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be subject to any
liability for any act or omission in the course of, connected with or arising
out of any services to be rendered hereunder, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Manager's
duties or by reason of reckless disregard of the Manager's obligations and
duties under this Agreement.
10. Notices. Any notices and communications required hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered in person or when sent
by first-class, registered or certified mail to the Manager or to the Trust at
0000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at such addresses as
either party may from time to time specify by notice to the other.
11. Definitions. The terms "assignment," "interested person," and
"majority of the outstanding voting securities," when used in this Agreement,
shall have the respective meanings specified under the 1940 Act and the rules
thereunder.
12. Governing Law. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be
construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
as at the time in effect and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the
extent that the applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control.
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13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or
made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of
this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
14. Shareholder Liability. The Manager understands and agrees that the
obligations of the Trust under this Agreement are not binding upon any
shareholder of the Trust personally, but bind only the Portfolio and the
property of the Portfolio. The Manager represents that it has notice of the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Trust.
15. Enforcement Limited to Portfolio. The Manager understands and
agrees that any debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses incurred,
contracted for or otherwise existing under this Agreement shall be enforceable
against the assets of the Portfolio only, and not against the assets of the
Trust, generally, or the assets of any other separate series of the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
instrument to be executed on the day and year first above written.
RESERVE TAX-EXEMPT TRUST, on behalf of
Virginia Tax-Exempt Fund
By
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President
ATTEST:
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Secretary
RESERVE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
By
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President
ATTEST
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Secretary
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