Exhibit 99.9
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
between
PRUDENTIAL DISTRESSED SECURITIES FUND, INC.
AND
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Agent ............ 1
Article 2 Fees and Expenses..................................... 5
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of the Agent........... 5
Article 4 Representations of Warranties of the Fund............. 6
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification...................... 7
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and the Agent..... 10
Article 7 Termination of Agreement.............................. 12
Article 8 Assignment............................................ 12
Article 9 Affiliations.......................................... 13
Article 10 Amendment............................................. 14
Article 11 Applicable Law........................................ 14
Article 12 Miscellaneous......................................... 14
Article 13 Merger of Agreement................................... 15
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------
AGREEMENT made as of the day of , 1996 by and between
PRUDENTIAL DISTRESSED SECURITIES FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation, having its
principal office and place of business at Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000 (the Fund), and PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, INC., a New Jersey
corporation, having its principal office and place of business at Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 (the Agent or PMFS).
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint PMFS as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with
certain other activities, and PMFS desires to accept such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of PMFS
------------------------------------
1.01 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
the Fund hereby employs and appoints PMFS to act as, and PMFS agrees to act as,
the transfer agent for the authorized and issued shares of the common stock of
each series of the Fund, $.001 par value (Shares), dividend disbursing agent and
shareholder servicing agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or
similar plans provided to the shareholders of the
Fund or any series thereof (Shareholders) and set out in the currently effective
prospectus and statement of additional information (prospectus) of the Fund,
including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal
program.
1.02 PMFS agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and PMFS, PMFS shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the
Custodian of the Fund authorized pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation
of the Fund (the Custodian);
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the
Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid
to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to
be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the
redeeming Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and
2
distributions declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on
purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may be
reflected in the prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (1934
Act) a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund which are
authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and
outstanding. PMFS shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the
total number of Shares which are authorized, issued and outstanding and
shall notify the Fund in case any proposed issue of Shares by the Fund would
result in an overissue. In case any issue of Shares would result in an
overissue, PMFS shall refuse to issue such Shares and shall not countersign
and issue any certificates requested for such Shares. When recording the
issuance of Shares, PMFS shall have no obligation to take cognizance of any
Blue Sky laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions
shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the
above paragraph (a), PMFS shall: (i) perform all of the customary services of a
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder
servicing agent in connection with
3
accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not
limited to, maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting
lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing Shareholder
reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on non-
resident alien accounts, preparing and filing appropriate forms required with
respect to dividends and distributions by federal tax authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account
to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity
statements for Shareholders and providing Shareholder account information and
(ii) provide a system which will enable the Fund to monitor the total number of
Shares sold in each State or other jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to PMFS 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 PMFS for the Fund's registration status under the
Blue Sky or securities laws of any State or other jurisdiction is solely limited
to the initial establishment of transactions subject to Blue Sky compliance by
the Fund and the reporting of such
4
transactions to the Fund as provided above and as agreed from time to time by
the Fund and PMFS.
PMFS may also provide such additional services and functions not
specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between PMFS and the
Fund and set forth in Schedule B hereto.
Procedures applicable to certain of these services may be established
from time to time by agreement between the Fund and PMFS.
Article 2 Fees and Expenses
-----------------
2.01 For performance by PMFS pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund
agrees to pay PMFS an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account and
certain transactional fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as
Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances identified under
Section 2.02 below may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written
agreement between the Fund and PMFS.
2.02 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.01 above, the Fund
agrees to reimburse PMFS for out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by PMFS
for the items set out in Schedule A attached hereto. In addition, any other
expenses incurred by PMFS at the request or with the consent of the Fund will be
reimbursed by the Fund.
2.03 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within
a reasonable period of time following the mailing of the respective billing
notice. Postage for mailing of
5
dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts
shall be advanced to PMFS by the Fund upon request prior to the mailing date of
such materials.
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of PMFS
--------------------------------------
PMFS represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.01 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of New Jersey and it is duly qualified to carry on its
business in New Jersey.
3.02 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements of
Section 17A of the 0000 Xxx.
3.03 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and By-
Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.04 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize
it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.05 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund
------------------------------------------
The Fund represents and warrants to PMFS that:
4.01 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of Maryland.
4.02 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
6
4.03 All corporate proceedings required by said Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into and
perform this Agreement.
4.04 It is an investment company registered with the SEC under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).
4.05 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 0000 (xxx
0000 Xxx) is currently effective and will remain effective, and 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.
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification
--------------------------------
5.01 PMFS shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify
and hold PMFS harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs,
charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of PMFS or its agents or subcontractors required to
be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken
in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence
or willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any
representation or warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by PMFS or its agents or
7
subcontractors of information, records and documents which (i) are received
by PMFS or its agents or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf
of the Fund, and (ii) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or
any other person or firm on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by PMFS or its agents or
subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund.
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement
under the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue
Sky laws of any State or other jurisdiction that such Shares be registered
in such State or other jurisdiction or in violation of any stop order or
other determination or ruling by any federal agency or any State or other
jurisdiction with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares in such State
or other jurisdiction.
5.02 PMFS shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from and against
any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses
and liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure or
omission to act by PMFS as a result of PMFS' lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct.
5.03 At any time PMFS may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel, with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be
8
performed by PMFS under this Agreement, and PMFS and its agents or
subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any
action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the
opinion of such counsel. PMFS, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected
and indemnified in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf
of the Fund, reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the
proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or
documents provided to PMFS or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable
input, telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and
shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until
receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. PMFS, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock
certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or
facsimile signature of the officers of the Fund, and the proper countersignature
of any former transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or co-
registrar.
5.04 In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations
under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes
reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the
other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from
such causes.
9
5.05 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party
for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any act
or failure to act hereunder.
5.06 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
Article 5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may
be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the
other party's prior written consent.
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and PMFS
--------------------------------------------
6.01 The Fund shall promptly furnish to PMFS the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Fund authorizing the appointment of PMFS and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement;
(b) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(c) The current registration statements and any amendments and
supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the
1933 Act and the 1940 Act;
10
(d) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form
approved by the Board of Directors, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
(e) All account application forms or other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan program or service offered
or to be offered by the Fund; and
(f) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as the Agent deems
to be appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
6.02 PMFS hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of stock
certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any;
and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates,
forms and devices.
6.03 PMFS shall prepare and keep records relating to the services to be
performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the
extent required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the Rules and Regulations
thereunder, PMFS agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by PMFS
relating to the services to be performed by PMFS hereunder are the property of
the Fund and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with
such Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, and
will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
11
6.04 PMFS and the Fund agree that all books, records, information and
data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or
received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall
remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person
except as may be required by law or with the prior consent of PMFS and the Fund.
6.05 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Fund, PMFS will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. PMFS reserves the right, however, 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 exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
Article 7 Termination of Agreement
------------------------
7.01 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred
twenty (120) days written notice to the other.
7.02 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket
expenses associated with the movement of records and other materials will be
borne by the Fund. Additionally, PMFS reserves the right to charge for any
other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such termination.
Article 8 Assignment
----------
8.01 Except as provided in Section 8.03 below, neither this Agreement
nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without
the written consent of the other
12
party.
8.02 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
8.03 PMFS may, in its sole discretion and without further consent by
the Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of its
obligations and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not
limited to: (i) Prudential Securities Incorporated (Prudential Securities), a
registered broker-dealer, (ii) The Prudential Insurance Company of America
(Prudential), (iii) Pruco Securities Corporation, a registered broker-dealer,
(iv) any Prudential Securities or Prudential subsidiary or affiliate duly
registered as a broker-dealer and/or a transfer agent pursuant to the 1934 Act
or (vi) any other Prudential Securities or Prudential affiliate or subsidiary;
provided, however, that PMFS shall be as fully responsible to the Fund for the
acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor as it is for its own acts and
omissions.
Article 9 Affiliations
------------
9.01 PMFS may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice to
the Fund, function as Transfer Agent and/or Shareholder Servicing Agent for any
other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act, including
without limitation any investment company whose adviser, administrator, sponsor
or principal underwriter is or may become affiliated with
13
Prudential Securities and/or Prudential or any of its or their direct or
indirect subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.02 It is understood and agreed that the directors, officers,
employees, agents and Shareholders of the Fund, and the directors, officers,
employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund's investment adviser and/or
distributor, are or may be interested in the Agent as directors, officers,
employees, agents, shareholders or otherwise, and that the directors, officers,
employees, agents or shareholders of the Agent may be interested in the Fund as
directors, officers, employees, agents, Shareholders or otherwise, or in the
investment adviser and/or distributor as officers, directors, employees, agents,
shareholders or otherwise.
Article 10 Amendment
---------
10.01 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of
the Board of Directors of the Fund.
Article 11 Applicable Law
--------------
11.01 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
Article 12 Miscellaneous
-------------
12.01 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any Share
certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there
shall first be furnished to PMFS an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the
holder of Shares with
14
respect to which a certificate has been lost or destroyed, supported by an
appropriate bond satisfactory to PMFS and the Fund issued by a surety company
satisfactory to PMFS, except that PMFS may accept an affidavit of loss and
indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder (or legal representative)
without surety in such form as PMFS deems appropriate indemnifying PMFS and the
Fund for the issuance of a replacement certificate, in cases where the alleged
loss is in the amount of $1000 or less.
12.02 In the event that any check or other order for payment of money
on the account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for any
reason, PMFS will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor
(Distributor) of such non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including
imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee, as PMFS may, in its sole
discretion, deem appropriate or as the Fund and the Distributor may instruct
PMFS.
12.03 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or to PMFS 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:
Prudential Distressed Securities Fund, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
15
To PMFS:
Prudential Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
Article 13 Merger of Agreement
-------------------
13.01 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
matter hereof whether oral or written.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed in their names and on their behalf under their seals by and through
their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
PRUDENTIAL DISTRESSED SECURITIES FUND, INC.
BY: ______________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
ATTEST:
-----------------------------
PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, INC.
BY: _______________________________________
ATTEST:
-----------------------------
16
SCHEDULE A
17
SCHEDULE B
18
