SUB-ADMINISTRATOR AGREEMENT
This Sub-Administrator Agreement is made as of this 1st day of
January, 1997 between Evergreen Asset Management Corp., a New York corporation
(herein called "EAMC"), and BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership DBA as BISYS
Fund Services, an Ohio Limited Partnership (herein called "BISYS").
WHEREAS, EAMC has been appointed as investment adviser or
administrator to certain open-end management investment companies, or to one or
more separate investment series thereof, listed on Schedule A, as the same may
be amended from time to time to reflect additions or deletions of such companies
or series, which are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Funds");
WHEREAS, in its capacity as investment adviser or
administrator to the Funds, EAMC has the obligation to provide, or engage others
to provide, certain administrative services to the Funds; and
WHEREAS, EAMC desires to retain BISYS as Sub-Administrator to
the Funds for the purpose of providing the Funds with personnel to act as
officers of the Funds and to provide certain administrative services in addition
to those provided by EAMC ("Sub-Administrative Services"), and BISYS is willing
to render such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Sub-Administrator. EAMC hereby appoints BISYS as
Sub-Administrator for the Funds on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement and BISYS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the
services and duties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement in consideration of
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof.
2. Services and Duties. As Sub-Administrator, and subject to the supervision and
control of EAMC and the Trustees or Directors of the Funds, BISYS will hereafter
provide facilities, equipment and personnel to carry out the following
Sub-Administrative services to assist in the operation of the business and
affairs of the Funds:
(a) provide individuals reasonably acceptable to the Funds for
nomination, appointment or election as officers of the Funds and who
will be responsible for the management of certain of each Fund's
affairs as determined from time to time by the Trustees or Directors of
the Funds;
(b) review filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
state securities authorities that have been prepared on behalf of the
Funds by the administrator and take such actions as may be reasonably
requested by the administrator to effect such filings;
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(c) verify, authorize and transmit to the custodian, transfer agent and
dividend disbursing agent of each Fund all necessary instructions for
the disbursement of cash, issuance of shares, tender and receipt of
portfolio securities, payment of expenses and payment of dividends; and
(d) advise the Trustees or Directors of the Funds on matters
concerning the Funds and their affairs.
BISYS may, in addition, agree in writing to perform additional
Sub-Administrative Services for the Funds. Sub-Administrative Services shall not
include investment advisory services or any duties, functions, or services to be
performed for the Funds by their distributor, custodian or transfer agent
pursuant to their agreements with the Funds.
3. Expenses. BISYS shall be responsible for expenses incurred in providing
office space, equipment and personnel as may be necessary or convenient to
provide the Sub-Administrative Services to the Funds. EAMC and/or the Funds
shall be responsible for all other expenses incurred by BISYS on behalf of the
Funds pursuant to this Agreement at the direction of EAMC, including without
limitation postage and courier expenses, printing expenses, registration fees,
filing fees, fees of outside counsel and independent auditors, insurance
premiums, fees payable to Trustees or Directors who are not BISYS employees, and
trade association dues.
4. Compensation. For the Sub-Administrative Services provided, EAMC hereby
agrees to pay and BISYS hereby agrees to accept as full compensation for its
services rendered hereunder a sub-administrative fee, calculated daily and
payable monthly at an annual rate based on the aggregate average daily net
assets of the Funds, or separate series thereof, set forth on Schedule A and
determined in accordance with the table below.
Aggregate Daily Net Assets of Funds For
Which KIMCO, Evergreen Asset Management
Sub-Administrative Corp., First Union National Bank of North
Fee as a % of Carolina or any Affiliates Thereof Serve as
Average Annual Investment Adviser or Administrator And For
Daily Net Assets Which BISYS Serves as Sub-Administrator
.0100% on the first $7 billion
.0075% on the next $3 billion
.0050% on the next $15 billion
.0040% on assets in excess of $25 billion
5. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability of BISYS. The duties of BISYS
shall be limited to those expressly set forth herein or later agreed to in
writing by BISYS, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted
against BISYS hereunder. BISYS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any act or omission in carrying
out its duties hereunder, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
faith or negligence in the
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performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations
and duties hereunder, except as may otherwise be provided under provisions of
applicable law which cannot be waived or modified hereby. (As used in this
Section, the term "BISYS" shall include partners, officers, employees and other
agents of BISYS as well as BISYS itself)
So long as BISYS acts in good faith and with due diligence and without
negligence, EAMC shall indemnify BISYS and hold it harmless from any and all
actions, suits and claims, and from any and all losses, damages, costs, charges,
reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, payments, expenses and liabilities
(including reasonable investigation expenses) arising directly or indirectly out
of BISYS' actions taken or nonactions with respect to the performance of
services hereunder. The indemnity and defense provisions set forth herein shall
survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of three years.
The rights hereunder shall include the right to reasonable advances of
defense expenses in the event of any pending or threatened litigation with
respect to which indemnification hereunder may ultimately be merited. In order
that the indemnification provision contained herein shall apply, however, it is
understood that if in any case EAMC maybe asked to indemnify or hold BISYS
harmless, EAMC shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts
concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that BISYS
will use all reasonable care to identify and notify EAMC promptly concerning any
situation which presents or appears likely to present the probability of such a
claim for indemnification against EAMC.
EAMC shall be entitled to participate at its own expense or, if it so
elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims subject
to this indemnity provision. If EAMC elects to assume the defense of any such
claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by EAMC and satisfactory
to BISYS, whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event that
EAMC elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, BISYS shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it. If EAMC
does not elect to assume the defense of a suit, it will reimburse BISYS for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by BISYS.
BISYS may apply to EAMC at any time for instructions and may consult
counsel for EAMC or its own counsel and with accountants and other experts with
respect to any matter arising in connection with BISYS' duties, and BISYS shall
not be liable or accountable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
in accordance with such instruction or with the opinion of such counsel,
accountants or other experts.
Any person, even though also an officer, director, partner, employee or
agent of BISYS, who may be or become an officer, trustee, employee or agent of
the Funds, shall be deemed, when rendering services to a Fund or acting on any
business of a Fund (other than services or business in connection with the
duties of BISYS hereunder) to be rendering such services to or acting solely for
the Fund and not as an officer, director, partner, employee or agent or one
under the control or direction of BISYS even though paid by BISYS.
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6. Duration and Termination.
(a) The initial term of this Agreement (the "Initial Term") shall
commence on the date this Agreement is executed by both parties, shall continue
until April 30, 1998, and shall continue in effect for a Fund from year to year
thereafter, provided it is approved, at least annually, by a vote of a majority
of Directors/Trustees of the Funds, including a majority of the disinterested
Directors/Trustees. In the event of' any breach of this Agreement by either
party, the non-breaching party shall notify the breaching party in writing of
such breach and upon receipt of such notice, the breaching party shall have 45
days to remedy the breach except in the case of a breach resulting from fraud or
other acts which materially and adversely affects the operations or financial
position of the Funds. In the event any material breach is not remedied within
such time period, the nonbreaching party may immediately terminate this
Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, after such termination for so long as
BISYS, with the written consent of EAMC, 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 BISYS and unpaid by EAMC upon such termination shall be
immediately due and payable upon and notwithstanding such termination. BISYS
shall be entitled to collect from EAMC, in addition to the compensation
described herein, all costs reasonably incurred in connection with BISYS's
activities in effecting such termination, including without limitation, the
delivery to the Funds and/or their designees of each Fund's property, records,
instruments and documents, or any copies thereof. To the extent that BISYS may
retain in its possession copies of any Fund documents or records subsequent to
such termination which copies had not been requested by or on behalf of a Fund
in connection with the termination process described above, BISYS will provide
such Fund with reasonable access to such copies; provided, however, that, in
exchange therefor, EAMC shall reimburse BISYS for all costs reasonably incurred
in connection therewith.
(b) Subject to (c) below, this Agreement may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) day's prior written notice by
KIMCO, or by BISYS and, with respect to one or more of the Funds a vote of a
majority of such Fund's or Funds' Directors/Trustees.
(c) If, during the first six months this Agreement is in effect it is
terminated for a Fund or Funds in accordance with (b) above, for any reason
other than a material breach of this Agreement, the merger of a Fund or Funds
for which KIMCO, Evergreen Asset Management Corp., First Union National Bank of
North Carolina or any affiliates thereof act as investment adviser, or any other
event that leads to the termination of the existence of a Fund or Funds, and
BISYS is replaced as sub-administrator, then EAMC shall make a one-time cash
payment to BISYS equal to the unpaid balance due BISYS for the first six-months
this Agreement in effect, assuming for purposes of calculation of the payment
that the asset level of each Fund on the date BISYS is replaced will remain
constant for the balance of such term. Once this Agreement has been in effect
for more than six months from the commencement date, this paragraph (c) shall be
null, void and of no further effect.
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7. Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged
or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought.
8. Notices. Notices of any kind to be given to EAMC hereunder by BISYS shall be
in writing and shall be duly given if delivered to EAMC at the following
address: Evergreen Asset Management Corp., 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, ATT: Legal Department. Notices of any kind to be given to BISYS
hereunder by EAMC or the Funds shall be in writing and shall be duly given if
delivered to BISYS at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President.
9. Limitation of Liability. BISYS is hereby expressly put on notice of the
limitations of liability as set forth in the Declarations of Trust of the Funds
that are Massachusetts business trusts or series thereof and agrees that the
obligations pursuant to this Agreement of a particular Fund be limited solely to
the assets of that particular Fund, and BISYS shall not seek satisfaction of any
such obligation from the assets of any other Fund, the shareholders of any Fund,
the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of any Fund, or any of them.
10. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court or regulatory agency
decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not
be affected thereby. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and shall be governed by New York law;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any rule or regulation
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first
above written.
EVERGREEN ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.
By________________________________________
Its:________________________________________
Attest:_________________
BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By________________________________________
BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC., its General Partner
Attest:________________________
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SCHEDULE A
Evergreen Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Fund
The Evergreen Aggressive Growth Fund
The Evergreen Total Return Fund
The Evergreen Limited Market Fund, Inc.
Evergreen Growth and Income Fund
Evergreen Money Market Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Money Market Fund
Evergreen Institutional Money Market Fund
Evergreen Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund
The Evergreen American Retirement Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen American Retirement Fund
Evergreen Small Cap Equity Income Fund
The Evergreen Municipal Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Short-Intermediate Municipal Fund
Evergreen Short-Intermediate Municipal Fund-CA
Evergreen Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
Evergreen Florida High Income Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen Institutional Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund
Evergreen Equity Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Global Real Estate Equity Fund
Evergreen U.S. Real Estate Equity Fund
Evergreen Global Leaders Fund
Evergreen Foundation Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Foundation Fund
Evergreen Tax Strategic Foundation Fund
Evergreen Investment Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Evergreen International Equity Fund
Evergreen Balanced Fund
Evergreen Value Fund
Evergreen Utility Fund
Evergreen Short-Intermediate Bond Fund
Evergreen Florida Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen South Carolina Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen Virginia Municipal Bond Fund
Evergreen High Grade Tax Free Fund
Evergreen Treasury Money Market Fund
Evergreen U.S. Government Fund
Evergreen Variable Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen VA Foundation Fund
Evergreen VA Fund
Evergreen VA Growth and Income Fund
Evergreen VA Strategic Income Fund
Evergreen VA Small Company Growth Fund
Evergreen VA Global Leaders Fund
Evergreen Tax Free Trust on behalf of:
Evergreen New Jersey Tax-Free Income Fund
Evergreen Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund
Evergreen Lexicon Fund on behalf of:
Evergreen Fixed Income Fund
Evergreen Short-Intermediate U.S. Government Securities Fund
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