Exhibit (h)(5)
FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT made this,1st day of January, 2001, between AMSOUTH FUNDS
(the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal place of
business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, and ASO SERVICES COMPANY,
INC. ("Fund Accountant"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware and having its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Fund Accountant perform certain fund
accounting services for each investment portfolio of the Trust, all as now or
hereafter may be established from time to time (individually referred to herein
as the "Fund" and collectively as the "Funds"); and
WHEREAS, Fund Accountant is willing to perform such services on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES AS FUND ACCOUNTANT.
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(a) MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Fund Accountant will keep
and maintain the following books and records of each Fund
pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "Rule"):
(i) Journals containing an itemized daily record in
detail of all purchases and sales of securities,
all receipts and disbursements of cash and all
other debits and credits, as required by
subsection (b)(1) of the Rule;
(ii) General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all
asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and
expense accounts, including interest accrued and
interest received, as required by subsection
(b)(2)(i) of the Rule;
(iii) Separate ledger accounts required by subsection
(b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of the Rule; and
(iv) A monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts
(except shareholder accounts) as required by
subsection (b)(8) of the Rule.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF DAILY ACCOUNTING SERVICES. In addition to
the maintenance of the books and records specified above,
Fund Accountant shall perform the following accounting
services daily for each Fund:
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(i) Calculate the net asset value per share utilizing
prices obtained from the sources described in
subsection 1(b)(ii) below;
(ii) Obtain security prices from independent pricing
services, or if such quotes are unavailable, then
obtain such prices from each Fund's investment
adviser or its designee, as approved by the
Trust's Board of Trustees;
(iii) Verify and reconcile with the Funds' custodian all
daily trade activity;
(iv) Compute, as appropriate, each Fund's net income
and capital gains, dividend payables, dividend
factors, 7-day yields, 7-day effective yields,
30-day yields, and weighted average portfolio
maturity;
(v) Review daily the net asset value calculation and
dividend factor (if any) for each Fund prior to
release to shareholders, check and confirm the net
asset values and dividend factors for
reasonableness and deviations, and distribute net
asset values and yields to NASDAQ;
(vi) Report to the Trust the daily market pricing of
securities in any money market Funds, with the
comparison to the amortized cost basis;
(vii) Determine unrealized appreciation and depreciation
on securities held in variable net asset value
Funds;
(viii) Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on
securities purchased at a price other than face
value, if requested by the Trust;
(ix) Update fund accounting system to reflect rate
changes, as received from a Fund's investment
adviser, on variable interest rate instruments;
(x) Post Fund transactions to appropriate categories;
(xi) Accrue expenses of each Fund according to
instructions received from the Trust's
Administrator;
(xii) Determine the outstanding receivables and payables
for all (1) security trades, (2) Fund share
transactions and (3) income and expense accounts;
(xiii) Provide accounting reports in connection with the
Trust's regular annual audit and other audits and
examinations by regulatory agencies; and
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(xiv) Provide such periodic reports as the parties shall
agree upon, as set forth in a separate schedule.
(c) SPECIAL REPORTS AND SERVICES.
(i) Fund Accountant may provide additional special
reports upon the request of the Trust or a Fund's
investment adviser, which may result in an
additional charge, the amount of which shall be
agreed upon between the parties.
(ii) Fund Accountant may provide such other similar
services with respect to a Fund as may be
reasonably requested by the Trust, which may
result in an additional charge, the amount of
which shall be agreed upon between the parties.
(d) ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Fund Accountant shall also
perform the following additional accounting services for
each Fund:
(i) Provide monthly a download (and hard copy thereof)
of the financial statements described below, upon
request of the Trust. The download will include
the following items:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities,
Statement of Operations,
Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and
Condensed Financial Information;
(ii) Provide accounting information for the following:
(A) federal and state income tax returns and
federal excise tax returns;
(B) the Trust's semi-annual reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on
Form N-SAR;
(C) the Trust's annual, semi-annual and quarterly
(if any) shareholder reports;
(D) registration statements on Form N-1A and
other filings relating to the registration of
shares;
(E) the Administrator's monitoring of the Trust's
status as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code, as amended;
(F) annual audit by the Trust's auditors; and
(G) examinations performed by the SEC.
2. SUBCONTRACTING.
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Fund Accountant may, at its expense, subcontract with any entity
or person concerning the provision of the services contemplated hereunder;
provided, however, that Fund Accountant shall not be relieved of any of its
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obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such subcontractor and
provided further, that Fund Accountant shall be responsible, to the extent
provided in Section 7 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor as if such acts
were its own.
3. COMPENSATION.
The Trust shall pay Fund Accountant for the services to be
provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement in accordance with, and in the
manner set forth in, Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from
time to time.
4. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.
In addition to paying Fund Accountant the fees described in
Section 3 hereof, the Trust agrees to reimburse Fund Accountant for its
out-of-pocket expenses in providing services hereunder, including without
limitation the following:
(a) All freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred by
Fund Accountant in delivering materials to and from the Trust;
(b) All direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or
other electronic transmission expenses incurred by Fund
Accountant in communication with the Trust, the Trust's
investment advisor or custodian, dealers or others as required
for Fund Accountant to perform the services to be provided
hereunder;
(c) The cost of obtaining security market quotes pursuant to Section
1(b)(ii) above;
(d) All systems-related expenses associated with the provision of
special reports and services pursuant to Section 1(c) herein;
(e) The cost of microfilm or microfiche of records or other
materials;
(f) Any expenses Fund Accountant shall incur at the written direction
of an officer of the Trust thereunto duly authorized; and
(g) Any additional expenses reasonably incurred by Fund Accountant in
the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund as
of the date first written above (or, if a particular Fund is not in existence on
that date, on the date such Fund commences operation) (the "Effective Date").
6. TERM.
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
and shall remain in effect, unless earlier terminated by either party hereto as
provided hereunder, until December 31, 2006 (the "Initial Term"). Thereafter,
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unless otherwise terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall be renewed
automatically for successive two-year periods ("Rollover Periods"). This
Agreement may be terminated without penalty (i) by provision of a notice of
nonrenewal in the manner set forth below, (ii) by mutual agreement of the
parties or (iii) for "cause," as defined below, upon the provision of sixty (60)
days advance written notice by the party alleging cause. Written notice of
nonrenewal must be provided at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of the
Initial Term or any Rollover Period, as the case may be.
For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" shall mean (a) willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard on the part of
the party to be terminated with respect to its obligations and duties set forth
herein; (b) a final, unappealable judicial, regulatory or administrative ruling
or order in which the party to be terminated has been found guilty of criminal
or unethical behavior in the conduct of its business; (c) financial difficulties
on the part of the party to be terminated which is evidenced by the
authorization or commencement of, or involved by way of pleading, consent, or
acquiescence in, a voluntary case under Title 11 of the United States Code, as
from time to time is in effect, or any applicable law, other than said Title 11,
of any jurisdiction relating to the liquidation or reorganization of debtors or
to the modification or alteration of the rights of creditors; or (d) any
circumstance which substantially impairs the performance of the obligations and
duties of the party to be terminated, or the ability to perform those
obligations and duties, as contemplated herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, after such termination, for so
long as Fund Accountant, with the written consent of the Trust, in fact
continues to perform any one or more of the services contemplated by this
Agreement or any schedule or exhibit hereto, the provisions of this Agreement,
including without limitation the provisions dealing with indemnification, shall
continue in full force and effect. Compensation due Fund Accountant and unpaid
by the Trust upon such termination shall be immediately due and payable upon and
notwithstanding such termination. Fund Accountant shall be entitled to collect
from the Trust, in addition to the compensation referred to in Section 3 herein,
the amount of all of Fund Accountant's cash disbursements for services in
connection with Fund Accountant's activities in effecting such termination,
including without limitation, the delivery to the Trust and/or its designees of
the Trust's property, records, instruments and documents.
If, during the Initial Term, for any reason other than
nonrenewal, mutual agreement of the parties or "cause," as defined above, Fund
Accountant is replaced, or if a third party is added to perform all or a part of
the services provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement (excluding any
sub-fund accountant appointed by Fund Accountant as provided in Article 2
hereof), then the Trust shall make a one-time cash payment, in consideration of
the fee structure and services to be provided under this Agreement, and not as a
penalty, to Fund Accountant equal to the fees that are due and payable under
this Agreement for the lesser of (i) the remainder of the Initial Term of this
Agreement or (ii) a two-year period, assuming for purposes of calculation of the
payment that such balance shall be based upon the average amount of the Trust's
assets for the twelve months prior to the date Fund Accountant is replaced or a
third party is added.
In the event the Trust is merged into another legal entity in
part or in whole pursuant to any form of business reorganization or is
liquidated in part or in whole prior to the expiration of the then-current term
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of this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that the liquidated damages
provision set forth above shall be applicable in those instances in which Fund
Accountant is not retained to provide fund accounting services consistent with
this Agreement. The one-time cash payment referenced above shall be due and
payable on the day prior to the first day in which Fund Accountant is replaced
or a third party is added.
The parties further acknowledge and agree that, in the event Fund
Accountant is replaced, or a third party is added, as set forth above, (i) a
determination of actual damages incurred by Fund Accountant would be extremely
difficult, and (ii) the liquidated damages provision contained herein is
intended to adequately compensate Fund Accountant for damages incurred and is
not intended to constitute any form of penalty.
7. STANDARD OF CARE; RELIANCE ON RECORDS AND INSTRUCTIONS;
INDEMNIFICATION.
Fund Accountant shall use its best efforts to insure the accuracy
of all services performed under this Agreement, but shall not be liable to the
Trust for any action taken or omitted by Fund Accountant in the absence of bad
faith, willful misfeasance, negligence or from reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties. The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Fund
Accountant, its employees, agents, directors, officers and nominees from and
against any and all claims, demands, actions and suits, whether groundless or
otherwise, and from and against any and all judgments, liabilities, losses,
damages, costs, charges, counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and
character arising out of or in any way relating to Fund Accountant's actions
taken or nonactions with respect to the performance of services under this
Agreement or based, if applicable, upon reasonable reliance on information,
records, instructions or requests given or made to Fund Accountant by a duly
authorized representative of the Trust; provided that this indemnification shall
not apply to actions or omissions of Fund Accountant in cases of its own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, negligence or from reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties, and further provided that prior to confessing any claim
against it which may be the subject of this indemnification, Fund Accountant
shall give the Trust written notice of and reasonable opportunity to defend
against said claim in its own name or in the name of Fund Accountant.
8. RECORD RETENTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
Fund Accountant shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Trust
all books and records which the Trust and Fund Accountant is, or may be,
required to keep and maintain pursuant to any applicable statutes, rules and
regulations, including without limitation Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), relating to the
maintenance of books and records in connection with the services to be provided
hereunder. Fund Accountant further agrees that all such books and records shall
be the property of the Trust and to make such books and records available for
inspection by the Trust or by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
reasonable times and otherwise to keep confidential all books and records and
other information relative to the Trust and its shareholders; except when
requested to divulge such information by duly-constituted authorities or court
process.
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9. UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS.
Fund Accountant assumes no responsibility hereunder, and shall
not be liable, for any damage, loss of data, delay or any other loss whatsoever
caused by events beyond its reasonable control.
10. REPORTS.
Fund Accountant will furnish to the Trust and to its properly
authorized auditors, investment advisers, examiners, distributors, dealers,
underwriters, salesmen, insurance companies and others designated by the Trust
in writing, such reports and at such times as are prescribed pursuant to the
terms and the conditions of this Agreement to be provided or completed by Fund
Accountant, or as subsequently agreed upon by the parties pursuant to an
amendment hereto. The Trust agrees to examine each such report or copy promptly
and will report or cause to be reported any errors or discrepancies therein no
later than three business days from the receipt thereof. In the event that
errors or discrepancies, except such errors and discrepancies as may not
reasonably be expected to be discovered by the recipient within ten days after
conducting a diligent examination, are not so reported within the aforesaid
period of time, a report will for all purposes be accepted by and binding upon
the Trust and any other recipient, and, except as provided in Section 7 hereof,
Fund Accountant shall have no liability for errors or discrepancies therein and
shall have no further responsibility with respect to such report except to
perform reasonable corrections of such errors and discrepancies within a
reasonable time after requested to do so by the Trust.
11. RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP.
All computer programs and procedures developed to perform
services required to be provided by Fund Accountant under this Agreement are the
property of Fund Accountant. All records and other data except such computer
programs and procedures are the exclusive property of the Trust and all such
other records and data will be furnished to the Trust in appropriate form as
soon as practicable after termination of this Agreement for any reason.
12. RETURN OF RECORDS.
Fund Accountant may at its option at any time, and shall promptly
upon the Trust's demand, turn over to the Trust and cease to retain Fund
Accountant's files, records and documents created and maintained by Fund
Accountant pursuant to this Agreement which are no longer needed by Fund
Accountant in the performance of its services or for its legal protection. If
not so turned over to the Trust, such documents and records will be retained by
Fund Accountant for six years from the year of creation. At the end of such
six-year period, such records and documents will be turned over to the Trust
unless the Trust authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and
documents.
13. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST.
The Trust certifies to Fund Accountant that: (1) as of the close
of business on the Effective Date, each Fund that is in existence as of the
Effective Date has authorized unlimited shares, and (2) this Agreement has been
duly authorized by the Trust and, when executed and delivered by the Trust, will
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constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable
against the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.
14. REPRESENTATIONS OF FUND ACCOUNTANT.
Fund Accountant represents and warrants that: (1) the various
procedures and systems which Fund Accountant has implemented with regard to
safeguarding from loss or damage attributable to fire, theft, or any other cause
the records, and other data of the Trust and Fund Accountant'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 are required for the secure performance of its obligations
hereunder, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by Fund Accountant
and, when executed and delivered by Fund Accountant, will constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Fund Accountant, enforceable against Fund
Accountant in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties.
15. INSURANCE.
Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust should any of its
insurance coverage be canceled or reduced. Such notification shall include the
date of change and the reasons therefor. Fund Accountant shall notify the Trust
of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this
Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the
Trust from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding claims
made by Fund Accountant under its insurance coverage.
16. INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY THE TRUST AND FUNDS.
The Trust has furnished to Fund Accountant the following:
(a) Copies of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and of any
amendments thereto, certified by the proper official of the
state in which such document has been filed.
(b) Copies of the following documents:
(i) The Trust's Bylaws and any amendments thereto; and
(ii) Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of
Trustees covering the approval of this Agreement,
authorization of a specified officer of the Trust to
execute and deliver this Agreement and authorization
for specified officers of the Trust to instruct Fund
Accountant thereunder.
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(c) A list of all the officers of the Trust, together with
specimen signatures of those officers who are authorized to
instruct Fund Accountant in all matters.
(d) Two copies of the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information for each Fund.
17. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY FUND ACCOUNTANT.
(a) Fund Accountant has furnished to the Trust the following:
(i) Fund Accountant's Articles of Incorporation; and
(ii) Fund Accountant's Bylaws and any amendments thereto.
(b) Fund Accountant shall, upon request, furnish certified
copies of corporate actions covering the following matters:
(i) Approval of this Agreement, and authorization of a
specified officer of Fund Accountant to execute and
deliver this Agreement; and
(ii) Authorization of Fund Accountant to act as fund
accountant for the Trust and to provide accounting
services for the Trust.
18. AMENDMENTS TO DOCUMENTS.
The Trust shall furnish Fund Accountant written copies of any
amendments to, or changes in, any of the items referred to in Section 17 hereof
forthwith upon such amendments or changes becoming effective. In addition, the
Trust agrees that no amendments will be made to the Prospectuses or Statements
of Additional Information of the Trust which might have the effect of changing
the procedures employed by Fund Accountant in providing the services agreed to
hereunder or which amendment might affect the duties of Fund Accountant
hereunder unless the Trust first obtains Fund Accountant's approval of such
amendments or changes.
19. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.
Except for the obligations of Fund Accountant set forth in
Section 8 hereof, the Trust assumes full responsibility for the preparation,
contents and distribution of each prospectus of the Trust as to compliance with
all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the 1940 Act and any other laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction. Fund Accountant shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any laws relating to the sale of the Trust's
shares. The Trust represents and warrants that no shares of the Trust will be
offered to the public until the Trust's registration statement under the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act has been declared or becomes effective.
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20. NOTICES.
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when
sent by registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with
such notice, at the following address: 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000,
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party pursuant to this Section.
21. HEADINGS.
Paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience
only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.
22. ASSIGNMENT.
This Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not be
assignable with respect to a Fund by either of the parties hereto except by the
specific written consent of the other party.
23. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by and provisions shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
24. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS.
The names "AmSouth Funds" and "Trustees of AmSouth Funds" refer
respectively to the Trust created and the Trustees, as trustees but not
individually or personally, acting from time to time under a Declaration of
Trust dated as of October 1, 1987, as amended June 25, 1993, to which reference
is hereby made and a copy of which is on file at the office of the Secretary of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and elsewhere as required by law, and to any
and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The obligations of
"AmSouth Funds" entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the
Trustees, representatives or agents are made not individually, but in such
capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, Shareholders or
representatives of the Trust personally, but bind only the assets of the Trust,
and all persons dealing with any series of shares of the Trust must look solely
to the assets of the Trust belonging to such series for the enforcement of any
claims against the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
AMSOUTH FUNDS
By:__________________________________
Title:_______________________________
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ASO SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
By:__________________________________
Title:_______________________________
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SCHEDULE A
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TO THE
FUND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
AMSOUTH FUNDS
AND
ASO SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
FEES
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ANNUAL PER FUND FEE:
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BISYS shall be entitled to receive from each Fund an annual fee computed daily
and paid monthly at the annual rate of two one-hundredths of one percent (.02%)
of the Fund's average daily net assets.
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES:
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BISYS shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses,
including, but not limited to, the expenses set forth in Section 4 of the Fund
Accounting Agreement to which this Schedule A is attached.
AMSOUTH FUNDS
By:__________________________________
Title:_______________________________
ASO SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
By:__________________________________
Title:_______________________________
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