EXHIBIT 99.23(h)(2)
FORM OF TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
between
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC.
and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Terms of Appointment and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
2. Third Party Administrators for Defined Contribution Plans . . . . . . .3
3. Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
4. Representations and Warranties of the Transfer Agent . . . . . . . . .5
5. Representations and Warranties of the Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
6. Wire Transfer Operating Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
7. Data Access and Proprietary Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
8. Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
9. Standard of Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
10. Year 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
11. Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
12. Covenants of the Fund and the Transfer Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
13. Termination of Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
14 Assignment and Third Party Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
15. Subcontractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
16. Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
17. Additional Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
i
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the ______ day of ______________, 1999, by and between
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC., a Maryland corporation, having its principal
office and place of business at 0 Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
(the "Fund"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust
company having its principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Transfer Agent").
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each
such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and
other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to initially offer shares in one (1) series, such
series shall be named in the attached Schedule A which may be amended by the
parties from time to time (each such series, together with all other series
subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement in
accordance with Article 13, being herein referred to as a "Portfolio", and
collectively as the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios desires to appoint the Transfer
Agent as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain
retirement plans and agent in connection with certain other activities, and the
Transfer Agent desires to accept such appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES
1.1 Transfer Agency Services. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios,
hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the
Transfer Agent agrees to act as its transfer agent for the Fund's
authorized and issued shares of its common stock, $.001 par value,
("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain
retirement plans and agent in connection with any accumulation,
open-account or similar plan provided to the shareholders of each of
the respective Portfolios of the Fund ("Shareholders") and set out
in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("prospectus") of the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio, including without limitation any periodic investment plan
or periodic withdrawal program. In accordance with procedures
established from time to time by agreement between the Fund on
behalf of each of the Portfolios, as applicable and the Transfer
Agent, the Transfer Agent agrees that it will perform the following
services:
(a) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares,
and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation
thereof to the Custodian of the Fund authorized pursuant to
the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund (the "Custodian");
(b) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder
account;
(c) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation thereof
to the Custodian;
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(d) In respect to the transactions in items (i), (ii) and
(iii) above, the Transfer Agent shall execute transactions
directly with broker-dealers authorized by the Fund;
(e) 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;
(f) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(g) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and
distributions declared by the Fund on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio;
(h) Issue replacement certificates for those certificates
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon receipt
by the Transfer Agent of indemnification satisfactory to the
Transfer Agent and protecting the Transfer Agent and the
Fund, and the Transfer Agent at its option, may issue
replacement certificates in place of mutilated stock
certificates upon presentation thereof and without such
indemnity;
(i) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(j) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) 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. The
Transfer Agent shall also provide the Fund on a regular
basis with the total number of Shares 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.
1.2 Additional Services. In addition to, and neither in lieu nor in
contravention of, the services set forth in the above paragraph, the
Transfer Agent shall perform the following services:
(a) OTHER CUSTOMARY SERVICES. Perform the customary services of
a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian of
certain retirement plans and, as relevant, agent in
connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plan
(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 Shareholder proxies,
Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and
non-resident alien accounts, 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, 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.
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(b) CONTROL BOOK (ALSO KNOWN AS "SUPER SHEET"). Maintain a daily
record and produce a daily report for the Fund of all
transactions and receipts and disbursements of money and
securities and deliver a copy of such report for the Fund
for each business day to the Fund no later than 9:00 AM
Eastern Time, or such earlier time as the Fund may
reasonably require, on the next business day;
(c) "BLUE SKY" REPORTING. The Fund shall (i) identify to the
Transfer Agent 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 the Transfer Agent 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 providing a system which will enable the
Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each
State;
(d) NATIONAL SECURITIES CLEARING CORPORATION (THE "NSCC").
(i) accept and effectuate the registration and maintenance
of accounts through Networking and the purchase, redemption,
transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through
Fund/SERV (networking and Fund/SERV being programs operated
by the NSCC on behalf of NSCC's participants, including the
Fund), in accordance with, instructions transmitted to and
received by the Transfer Agent by transmission from NSCC on
behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been
established by, or in accordance with the instructions of
authorized persons, as hereinafter defined on the dealer
file maintained by the Transfer Agent; (ii) issue
instructions to Fund's banks for the settlement of
transactions between the Fund and NSCC (acting on behalf of
its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iii) provide
account and transaction information from the affected Fund's
records on DST Systems, Inc. computer system TA2000 ("TA2000
System") in accordance with NSCC's Networking and Fund/SERV
rules for those broker-dealers; and (iv) maintain
Shareholder accounts on TA2000 System through Networking.
(e) NEW PROCEDURES. New procedures as to who shall provide
certain of these services in Section 1 may be established in
writing from time to time by agreement between the Fund and
the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent may at times perform
only a portion of these services and the Fund or its agent
may perform these services on the Fund's behalf.
(f) ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT SERVICES. If the parties elect
to have the Transfer Agent provide ADDITIONAL telephone
support services under this Agreement, the parties will
agree to such services, fees and sub-contracting as stated
in Schedule 1.2(f) entitled "Telephone Support Services"
attached hereto.
2. THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS FOR DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS
2.1 The Fund may decide to make available to certain of its customers, a
qualified plan program (the "Program") pursuant to which the
customers ("Employers") may adopt certain plans of deferred
compensation ("Plan or Plans") for the benefit of the individual
Plan participant (the "Plan Participant"), such Plan(s) being
qualified under Section 401(a)
Page 3
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and
administered by third party administrators which may be plan
administrators as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended)(the "TPA(s)").
2.2 In accordance with the procedures established in the initial
Schedule 2.1 entitled "Third Party Administrator Procedures", as may
be amended by the Transfer Agent and the Fund from time to time
("Schedule 2.1"), the Transfer Agent shall:
(a) Treat Shareholder accounts established by the Plans in the
name of the Trustees, Plans or TPAs as the case may be as
omnibus accounts;
(b) Maintain omnibus accounts on its records in the name of the
TPA or its designee as the Trustee for the benefit of the
Plan: and
(c) Perform all services under SECTION 1 as transfer agent of
the Funds and not as a record-keeper for the Plans.
2.3 Transactions identified under SECTION 2 of this Agreement shall be
deemed exception services ("Exception Services") when such
transactions:
(a) Require the Transfer Agent to use methods and procedures
other than those usually employed by the Transfer Agent to
perform services under SECTION 1 of this Agreement;
(b) Involve the provision of information to the Transfer Agent
after the commencement of the nightly processing cycle of
the TA2000 System; or
(c) Require more manual intervention by the Transfer Agent,
either in the entry of data or in the modification or
amendment of reports generated by the TA2000 System than is
usually required by non-retirement plan and pre-nightly
transactions.
3. FEES AND EXPENSES
3.1 Fee Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent pursuant to
this Agreement, the Fund agrees to pay the Transfer Agent an annual
maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as set forth in the
attached fee Schedule ("Schedule 3.1"). Such fees and out-of-pocket
expenses and advances identified under SECTION 3.2 below may be
changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement
between the Fund and the Transfer Agent.
3.2 Out-of-Pocket Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under
SECTION 3.1 above, the Fund agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent
for out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to
confirmation production, postage, forms, telephone, microfilm,
microfiche, mailing and tabulating proxies, records storage, or
advances incurred by the Transfer Agent for the items set out in
Schedule 3.1 attached hereto. In addition, any other expenses
incurred by the Transfer Agent at the request or with the consent of
the Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund.
Page 4
3.3 Postage. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and
other mailings to all shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the
Transfer Agent by the Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the
mailing date of such materials.
3.4 Invoices. The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses
within thirty (30) days following the receipt of the respective
billing notice, except for any fees or expenses which are subject to
good faith dispute. In the event of such a dispute, the Fund may
only withhold that portion of the fee or expense subject to the good
faith dispute. The Fund shall notify the Transfer Agent in writing
within twenty-one (21) calendar days following the receipt of each
billing notice if the Fund is disputing any amounts in good faith.
If the Fund does not provide such notice of dispute within the
required time, the billing notice will be deemed accepted by the
Fund.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT
The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Fund that:
4.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
4.2 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
4.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND
The Fund represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:
5.1 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Maryland.
5.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
5.3 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.
5.4 It is an open-end and diversified management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
5.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended is currently effective and will remain effective, and
appropriate state securities law filings have been
Page 5
made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the
Fund being offered for sale.
6. WIRE TRANSFER OPERATING GUIDELINES/ARTICLES 4A OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL
CODE
6.1 The Transfer Agent is authorized to promptly debit the appropriate
Fund account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance
with the selected security procedure (the "Security Procedure")
chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money that the
Transfer Agent has been instructed to transfer. The Transfer Agent
shall execute payment orders in compliance with the Security
Procedure and with the Fund instructions on the execution date
provided that such payment order is received by the customary
deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order
specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications
received after this the customary deadline will be deemed to have
been received the next business day.
6.2 The Fund acknowledges that the Security Procedure it has designated
on the Fund Selection Form was selected by the Fund from security
procedures offered by the Transfer Agent. The Fund shall restrict
access to confidential information relating to the Security
Procedure to authorized persons as communicated to the Transfer
Agent in writing. The Fund must notify the Transfer Agent
immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may
have obtained access to such information or of any change in the
Fund's authorized personnel. The Transfer Agent shall verify the
authenticity of all Fund instructions according to the Security
Procedure.
6.3 The Transfer Agent shall process all payment orders on the basis of
the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a
discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the
account number, the account number shall take precedence and govern.
6.4 The Transfer Agent reserves the right to decline to process or delay
the processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the
collected balance in the account to be charged at the time of the
Transfer Agent's receipt of such payment order; (b) if initiating
such payment order would cause the Transfer Agent, in the Transfer
Agent's sole judgement, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar,
network, time, credit or similar limits which are applicable to the
Transfer Agent; or (c) if the Transfer Agent, in good faith, is
unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly
authorized.
6.5 The Transfer Agent shall use reasonable efforts to act on all
authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in
compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests
are received in a timely manner affording the Transfer Agent
reasonable opportunity to act. However, the Transfer Agent assumes
no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot be
satisfied.
6.6 The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for failure to
detect any erroneous payment order provided that the Transfer Agent
complies with the payment order instructions as received and the
Transfer Agent complies with the Security Procedure. The Security
Procedure is established for the purpose of authenticating payment
orders only and not for the detection of errors in payment orders.
Page 6
6.7 The Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for lost interest
with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment
order, unless the Transfer Agent is notified of the unauthorized
payment order within thirty (30) days of notification by the
Transfer Agent of the acceptance of such payment order. In no event
(including failure to execute a payment order) shall the Transfer
Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages, even
if advised of the possibility of such damages.
6.8 When the Fund initiates or receives Automated Clearing House credit
and debit entries pursuant to these guidelines and the rules of the
National Automated Clearing House Association and the New England
Clearing House Association, the Transfer Agent will act as an
Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or receiving
depository Financial Institution, as the case may be, with respect
to such entries. Credits given by the Transfer Agent with respect to
an ACH credit entry are provisional until the Transfer Agent
receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve
Bank. If the Transfer Agent does not receive such final settlement,
the Fund agrees that the Transfer Agent shall receive a refund of
the amount credited to the Fund in connection with such entry, and
the party making payment to the Fund via such entry shall not be
deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.
6.9 Confirmation of Transfer Agent's execution of payment orders shall
ordinarily be provided within twenty-four (24) hours notice of which
may be delivered through the Transfer Agent's proprietary
information systems, or by facsimile or call-back. Fund must report
any objections to the execution of an order within thirty (30) days.
7. DATA ACCESS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
7.1 The Fund acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen
formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and
documentation manuals furnished to the Fund by the Transfer Agent as
part of the Fund's ability to access certain Fund-related data
("Customer Data") maintained by the Transfer Agent on data bases
under the control and ownership of the Transfer Agent or other third
party ("Data Access Services") constitute copyrighted, trade secret,
or other proprietary information (collectively, "Proprietary
Information") of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or other
third party. In no event shall Proprietary Information be deemed
Customer Data. The Fund agrees to treat all Proprietary Information
as proprietary to the Transfer Agent and further agrees that it
shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or
organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting
the foregoing, the Fund agrees for itself and its employees and
agents to:
(a) Use such programs and databases (i) solely on the Fund's
computers, or (ii) solely from equipment at the location
agreed to between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and
(iii) solely in accordance with the Transfer Agent's
applicable user documentation;
(b) Refrain from copying or duplicating in any way (other than
in the normal course or performing processing on the Fund's
computer(s)), the Proprietary Information;
(c) Refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of
the Proprietary Information, and if such access is
inadvertently obtained, to inform in a timely
Page 7
manner of such fact and dispose of such information in
accordance with the Transfer Agent's instructions;
(d) Refrain from causing or allowing information transmitted
from the Transfer Agent's computer to the Fund's terminal to
be retransmitted to any other computer terminal or other
device except as expressly permitted by the Transfer Agent
(such permission not to be unreasonably withheld);
(e) Allow the Fund to have access only to those authorized
transactions as agreed to between the Fund and the Transfer
Agent; and
(f) Honor all reasonable written requests made by the Transfer
Agent to protect at the Transfer Agent's expense the rights
of the Transfer Agent in Proprietary Information at common
law, under federal copyright law and under other federal or
state law.
7.2 Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any
of the foregoing items that: (i) are or become publicly available
without breach of this Agreement; (ii) are released for general
disclosure by a written release by the Transfer Agent; or (iii) are
already in the possession of the receiving party at the time or
receipt without obligation of confidentiality or breach of this
Agreement.
7.3 The Fund acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Transfer
Agent's Proprietary Information is essential to the business
interest of the Transfer Agent and that the disclosure of such
Proprietary Information in breach of this Agreement would cause the
Transfer Agent immediate, substantial and irreparable harm, the
value of which would be extremely difficult to determine.
Accordingly, the parties agree that, in addition to any other
remedies that may be available in law, equity, or otherwise for the
disclosure or use of the Proprietary Information in breach of this
Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to seek and obtain a
temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or other equitable
relief against the continuance of such breach
7.4 If the Fund notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access
Services do not operate in material compliance with the most
recently issued user documentation for such services, the Transfer
Agent shall endeavor in a timely manner to correct such failure.
Organizations from which the Transfer Agent may obtain certain data
included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the
contents of such data and the Fund agrees to make no claim against
the Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party
data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA
ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS
IS, AS AVAILABLE BASIS. THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
7.5 If the transactions available to the Fund include the ability to
originate electronic instructions to the Transfer Agent in order to:
(i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares; or
(ii) transmit Shareholder information or other information, then in
such event the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the
validity and authenticity of such instruction
Page 8
without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction
is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established by
the Transfer Agent from time to time.
7.6 Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of
their obligations pursuant to this SECTION 7. The obligations of
this Section shall survive any earlier termination of this
Agreement.
8. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold the Transfer Agent 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 the Transfer Agent 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 lack of good faith, negligence or willful
misconduct which arise out of the breach of any
representation or warranty of the Fund hereunder:
(c) The reliance upon, and any subsequent use of or action taken
or omitted, by the Transfer Agent, or its agents or
subcontractors on: (i) any information, records, documents,
data, stock certificates or services, which are received by
the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by
machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry,
electronic instructions or other similar means authorized by
the Fund, and which have been prepared, maintained or
performed by the Fund or any other person or firm on behalf
of the Fund including but not limited to any previous
transfer agent or registrar; (ii) any instructions or
requests of the Fund or any of its officers; (iii) any
instructions or opinions of legal counsel with respect to
any matter arising in connection with the services to be
performed by the Transfer Agent under this Agreement which
are provided to the Transfer Agent after consultation with
such legal counsel; or (iv) any paper or document,
reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by
the proper person or persons;
(d) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of federal or state
securities laws or regulations requiring that such Shares be
registered or in violation of any stop order or other
determination or ruling by any federal or any state agency
with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares;
(e) The negotiation and processing of any checks including
without limitation for deposit into the Fund's demand
deposit account maintained by the Transfer Agent; or
(f) Upon the Fund's request entering into any agreements
required by the National Securities Clearing Corporation
(the "NSCC") required by the NSCC for the transmission of
Fund or Shareholder data through the NSCC clearing systems.
8.2 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
SECTION 8 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which the
Fund may be required to indemnify the Transfer
Page 9
Agent, the Transfer Agent shall promptly notify the Fund of such
assertion, and shall keep the Fund advised with respect to all
developments concerning such claim. The Fund shall have the option
to participate with the Transfer Agent in the defense of such claim
or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of
the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall in no case confess any
claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Fund may be
required to indemnify the Transfer Agent except with the Fund's
prior written consent.
9. STANDARD OF CARE
9.1 The Transfer Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees
to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to insure the
accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes
no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to
errors unless said errors are caused by its negligence, bad faith,
or willful misconduct or that of its employees, except as provided
in SECTION 9.2 below.
9.2 In the case of Exception Services as defined in SECTION 2.3 herein,
the Transfer Agent shall be held to a standard of gross negligence
and encoding and payment processing errors shall not be deemed
negligence.
10. YEAR 2000
The Transfer Agent will take reasonable steps to ensure that its products
(and those of its third-party suppliers) reflect the available technology
to offer products that are Year 2000 ready, including, but not limited to,
century recognition of dates, calculations that correctly compute same
century and multi century formulas and date values, and interface values
that reflect the date issues arising between now and the next one-hundred
years, and if any changes are required, the Transfer Agent will make the
changes to its products at a price to be agreed upon by the parties and in
a commercially reasonable time frame and will require third-party suppliers
to do likewise.
11. CONFIDENTIALITY
11.1 The Transfer Agent and the Fund agree that they will not, at any
time during the term of this Agreement or after its termination,
reveal, divulge, or make known to any person, firm, corporation or
other business organization, any customers' lists, trade secrets,
cost figures and projections, profit figures and projections, or any
other secret or confidential information whatsoever, whether of the
Transfer Agent or of the Fund, used or gained by the Transfer Agent
or the Fund during performance under this Agreement. The Fund and
the Transfer Agent further covenant and agree to retain all such
knowledge and information acquired during and after the term of this
Agreement respecting such lists, trade secrets, or any secret or
confidential information whatsoever in trust for the sole benefit of
the Transfer Agent or the Fund and their successors and assigns. In
the event of breach of the foregoing by either party, the remedies
provided by SECTION 7.3 shall be available to the party whose
confidential information is disclosed. The above prohibition of
disclosure shall not apply to the extent that the Transfer Agent
must disclose such data to its sub-contractor or Fund agent for
purposes of providing services under this Agreement.
Page 10
11.2 In the event that any requests or demands are made for the
inspection of the Shareholder records of the Fund, other than
request for records of Shareholders pursuant to standard subpoenas
from state or federal government authorities (i.e., divorce and
criminal actions), the Transfer Agent will endeavor to notify the
Fund and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the
Fund as to such inspection. The Transfer Agent expressly reserves
the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person
whenever it is advised by counsel that it may be held liable for the
failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person or if
required by law or court order.
12. COVENANTS OF THE FUND AND THE TRANSFER AGENT
12.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Fund authorizing the appointment of the Transfer
Agent and the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and
(b) A copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Fund and all amendments thereto.
12.2 The Transfer Agent 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.
12.3 The Transfer Agent shall 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 Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Rules thereunder, the
Transfer Agent agrees that all such records prepared or maintained
by the Transfer Agent relating to the services to be performed by
the Transfer Agent hereunder are the property of the Fund and will
be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such
Section and Rules, and will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on
and in accordance with its request.
13. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
13.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred
twenty (120) days written notice to the other.
13.2 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket
expenses or costs associated with the movement of records and
material will be borne by the Fund. Additionally, the Transfer Agent
reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses
associated with such termination and a charge equivalent to the
average of three (3) months' fees. Payment of such expenses or costs
shall be in accordance with SECTION 3.4 of this Agreement.
13.3 Upon termination of this Agreement, each party shall return to the
other party all copies of confidential or proprietary materials or
information received from such other party
Page 11
hereunder, other than materials or information required to be
retained by such party under applicable laws or regulations.
14. ASSIGNMENT AND THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES
14.1 Except as provided in SECTION 15.1 below and the Additional
Telephone Support Services Schedule 1.2(f) attached, neither this
Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by
either party without the written consent of the other party. Any
attempt to do so in violation of this Section shall be void. Unless
specifically stated to the contrary in any written consent to an
assignment, no assignment will release or discharge the assignor
from any duty or responsibility under this Agreement.
14.2 Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing
under this Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or
benefits in this Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent
and the Fund, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken
pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the Transfer Agent and the Fund. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their
respective permitted successors and assigns.
14.3 This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or
joint venture between the Transfer Agent and the Fund. Other than as
provided in SECTION 15.1 and Schedule 1.2(f), neither party shall
make any commitments with third parties hat are binding on the other
party without the other party's prior written consent.
15. SUBCONTRACTORS
15.1 The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the
Fund, subcontract for the performance hereof with (i) Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation ("BFDS")
which is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant to
Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (ii) a BFDS subsidiary duly registered as a transfer agent
or (iii) a BFDS affiliate duly registered as a transfer agent;
provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall be fully
responsible to the Fund for the acts and omissions of BFDS or its
subsidiary or affiliate as it is for its own acts and omissions.
15.2 Nothing herein shall impose any duty upon the Transfer Agent in
connection with or make the Transfer Agent liable for the actions or
omissions to act of unaffiliated third parties such as by way of
example and not limitation, Airborne Services, Federal Express,
United Parcel Service, the U.S. Mails, the NSCC and
telecommunication companies, provided, if the Transfer Agent
selected such company, the Transfer Agent shall have exercised due
care in selecting the same.
16. MISCELLANEOUS
16.1 Amendment. 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.
Page 12
16.2 Massachusetts Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and
the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
16.3 Force Majeure. 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.
16.4 Consequential Damages. Neither party to this Agreement shall be
liable to the other party for consequential damages under any
provision of this Agreement or for any consequential damages arising
out of any act or failure to act hereunder.
16.5 Survival. All provisions regarding indemnification, warranty,
liability, and limits thereon, and confidentiality and/or
protections of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.
16.6 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality,
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way
be affected or impaired.
16.7 Priorities Clause. In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or
ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement and any Schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and
conditions contained in this Agreement shall take precedence.
16.8 Waiver. No waiver by either party or any breach or default of any of
the covenants or conditions herein contained and performed by the
other party shall be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach
of the same or of any other covenant or condition.
16.9 Merger of Agreement. 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.
16.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto
on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
16.11 Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules,
exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any
photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature
photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto each agree
that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding,
whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such
reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business,
and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence.
16.12 Notices. All notices and other communications as required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sent by first class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or to
Page 13
such other address or addresses of which the respective party shall
have notified the other.
(a) If to State Street Bank and Trust Company, to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
c/o Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Legal Department
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) If to the Fund, to:
Attention:
17. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to the attached Schedule A with respect to which it desires to
have the Transfer Agent render services as transfer agent under the terms
hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if the
Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of
Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
Page 14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized
officers, as of the day and year first above written.
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC.
BY:
--------------------------------
ATTEST:
-------------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY:
--------------------------------
Executive Vice President
ATTEST:
-------------------------------
Page 15
SCHEDULE A
Dresdner RCM Europe Fund
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY: BY:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
Page 16
SCHEDULE 1.2(f)
ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT FEES AND SERVICES
Dated
--------------------------
I. SERVICES
1. Transfer Agent and Telephone Support Functions
a. Answer telephone inquiries from [XXX 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Boston time
Monday through Friday XXX] from [XXX existing customers and
prospective customers XXX] of the Fund [XXX for sales literature
XXX] in accordance with the telephone script provided by the
Fund.
b. Answer questions pertaining thereto the extent that such
questions are answerable based upon the information supplied to
the Transfer Agent by the Fund.
c. [XXX As the Fund and the Transfer Agent may agree in writing, the
Transfer Agent will receive calls and take written transaction
requests from shareholders of the Fund. Transfer Agent
transactions include: [XXX telephone redemptions, account
maintenance, exchanges, transfers, confirmed purchases, account
balances and general inquiries XXX]. Some transactions may result
in research which will be done by the Fund. Other calls may be
referred directly to the Fund. Fax any referrals to [XXX name of
company XXX] on the same day the telephone call is xxxxxxxx.XXX];
2. Incorporate new information into the above referenced script upon
written instructions from the Fund;
3. Maintain prospect detail information for six (6) months thereafter,
provide such information to the Fund in the form that the Fund may
reasonably request;
4. Send all literature orders for information from BFDS/DST [XXX [how?]
[to whom?] XXX] a minimum of [XXX one XXX] transmission per day;
5. Provide the Fund with a [XXX daily/weekly/monthly XXX] telephone
report detailing the calls received during the [XXX day/week/month
XXX].
6. [XXX Provide the Fund with monthly conversion reports as selected by
the Fund from DST's standard report package. XXX]
II. SUBCONTRACTORS
1. The Transfer Agent may, without further consent on the part of the
Fund, subcontract ministerial telephone support services for the
performance hereof.
III. FEES
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY: BY:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
SCHEDULE 2.1
THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR(S) PROCEDURES
Dated
-----------------------------------
1. On each Business Day, the TPA(s) shall receive, on behalf of and as agent
of the Fund(s), Instructions (as hereinafter defined) from the Plan.
Instructions shall mean as to each Fund (i) orders by the Plan for the
purchases of Shares, and (ii) requests by the Plan for the redemption of
Shares; in each case based on the Plan's receipt of purchase orders and
redemption requests by Participants in proper form by the time required by
the term of the Plan, but not later than the time of day at which the net
asset value of a Fund is calculated, as described from time to time in that
Fund's prospectus. Each Business Day on which the TPA receives Instructions
shall be a "Trade Date".
2. The TPA(s) shall communicate the TPA(s)'s acceptance of such Instructions,
to the applicable Plan.
3. On the next succeeding Business Day following the Trade Date on which it
accepted Instructions for the purchase and redemption of Shares, (TD+1),
the TPA(s) shall notify the Transfer Agent of the net amount of such
purchases or redemptions, as the case may be, for each of the Plans. In the
case of net purchases by any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Trustees
of such Plan to transmit the aggregate purchase price for Shares by wire
transfer to the Transfer Agent on (TD+1). In the case of net redemptions by
any Plan, the TPA(s) shall instruct the Fund's custodian to transmit the
aggregate redemption proceeds for Shares by wire transfer to the Trustees
of such Plan on (TD+1). The times at which such notification and
transmission shall occur on (TD+1) shall be as mutually agreed upon by each
Fund, the TPA(s), and the Transfer Agent.
4. The TPA(s) shall maintain separate records for each Plan, which record
shall reflect Shares purchased and redeemed, including the date and price
for all transactions, and Share balances. The TPA(s) shall maintain on
behalf of each of the Plans a single master account with the Transfer Agent
and such account shall be in the name of that Plan, the TPA(s), or the
nominee of either thereof as the record owner of Shares owned by such Plan.
5. The TPA(s) shall maintain records of all proceeds of redemptions of Shares
and all other distributions not reinvested in Shares.
6. The TPA(s) shall prepare, and transmit to each of the Plans, periodic
account statements showing the total number of Shares owned by that Plan as
of the statement closing date, purchases and redemptions of Shares by the
Plan during the period covered by the statement, and the dividends and
other distributions paid to the Plan on Shares during the statement period
(whether paid in cash or reinvested in Shares).
7. The TPA(s) shall, at the request and expense of each Fund, transmit to the
Plans prospectuses, proxy materials, reports, and other information
provided by each Fund for delivery to its shareholders.
8. The TPA(s) shall, at the request of each Fund, prepare and transmit to each
Fund or any agent designated by it such periodic reports covering Shares of
each Plan as each Fund shall reasonably conclude are necessary to enable
the Fund to comply with state Blue Sky requirements.
9. The TPA(s) shall transmit to the Plans confirmation of purchase orders and
redemption requests placed by the Plans; and
10. The TPA(s) shall, with respect to Shares, maintain account balance
information for the Plan(s) and daily and monthly purchase summaries
expressed in Shares and dollar amounts.
11. Plan sponsors may request, or the law may require, that prospectuses, proxy
materials, periodic reports and other materials relating to each Fund be
furnished to Participants in which event the Transfer Agent or each Fund
shall mail or cause to be mailed such materials to Participants. With
respect to any such mailing, the TPA(s) shall, at the request of the
Transfer Agent or each Fund, provide at the TPA(s)'s expense complete and
accurate set of mailing labels with the name and address of each
Participant having an interest through the Plans in Shares.
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY: BY:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
SCHEDULE 3.1
FEES
Dated
-------------------------
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY: BY:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
Dresdner RCM
Fee Information for Services as
Plan, Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL ACCOUNT SERVICE FEES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Dividend Funds $ 14.00/year*
(per open account within a fund)
Quarterly Dividend Funds $ 13.00/year*
(per open account within a fund)
Semi-Annual/Annual Dividend Funds $ 12.00/year*
(per open account within a fund)
Closed Account Fee $ 1.80/year*
(per closed account within a fund)
Minimum Per Cusip
1st Class within a Non-Institutional Portfolio $18,000/year*
Subsequent Classes within a Non-Institutional $15,000/year*
Portfolio
Institutional Classes $12,000/year*
* Fees are billable on a monthly basis at the rate of 1/12 of the annual fee. A
charge is made for an account in the month that an account opens or closes.
Account service fees are the higher of: open account charges plus closed
account charges or the fund minimum.
These fees will be subject to an annual Cost of Living Adjustment based on
regional consumer price index.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTIVITY BASED FEES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Account Set-up $ 4.00/each
Manual Transactions $ 1.50/each
Manual Non-Financial Transactions $ .75/each
Telephone Calls $ 2.00/each
Correspondence $ 3.00/each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANKING SERVICES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkwriting Drafts Presented for Payment $ 1.00/each
Checkwriting Set-up $ 5.00/each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONVERSION FEES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Class within a Portfolio $ 2,500/each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND IMPLEMENTATION FEES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Class within a Portfolio $ 1,000/each
Subsequent Classes within a Portfolio $ 500/each
Institutional Class $ 1,000/each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES BILLED AS INCURRED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out-of-Pocket expenses include but are not limited to: mailing expenses (i.e.,
statements, stationery, checks, certificates, sales literature, printing,
postage, etc.), telecommunication expenses, equipment and software expenses
(client-site only), programming expenses (i.e., charges necessary to establish
consolidated statement), microfiche, freight, ACH bank charges, and all other
expenses incurred on the fund's behalf.
DRESDNER RCM INVESTMENT FUNDS INC. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: By:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: Title:
---------------------------- -----------------------------
Date: Date:
----------------------------- ------------------------------
