ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT entered into as of October 28, 1999, between Countrywide
Investments, Inc. ("Adviser") and Countrywide Fund Services, Inc. ("CFS"),
both of which are Ohio corporations having their principal place of business
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WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and provides investment management services
under the terms of investment advisory agreements (the "Management Agreements")
with Countrywide Investment Trust, Countrywide Strategic Trust and Countrywide
Tax-Free Trust (referred to individually as a "Trust" and collectively as the
"Trusts"), with respect to the series of the Trusts; and
WHEREAS, the Trusts have been organized as Massachusetts business
trusts to operate as investment companies registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser manages the business affairs of the series of the
Trusts pursuant to the Management Agreements; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser wishes to avail itself of the information, advice,
assistance and facilities of CFS to perform on behalf of the Trusts the services
as hereinafter described; and
WHEREAS, CFS wishes to provide such services to the Adviser under the
conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the Adviser and CFS agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs CFS
to perform those services described in this Agreement. CFS shall perform the
obligations thereof upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. TRUST ADMINISTRATION. Subject to the direction and control of the
Adviser, CFS shall assist the Adviser in supervising the Trusts' business
affairs not otherwise supervised by other agents of the Trusts. To the extent
not otherwise the primary responsibility of, or provided by, other agents of the
Trusts, CFS shall supply (i) non-investment related statistical and research
data, (ii) internal regulatory compliance services, and (iii) executive and
administrative services. CFS shall supervise the preparation of (i) tax returns,
(ii) reports to shareholders of the Trusts, (iii) reports to and filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, state securities commissions and Blue
Sky authorities including preliminary and definitive
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proxy materials and post-effective amendments to the Trusts' registration
statements, and (iv) necessary materials for meetings of the Trusts' Board of
Trustees unless prepared by other parties under agreement.
3. RECORDKEEPING AND OTHER INFORMATION. CFS shall create and maintain
all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, including but not limited to records required by Section 31(a) of
the Act and the rules thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time,
pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not otherwise created
and maintained by another party pursuant to contract with a Trust. Where
applicable, such records shall be maintained by CFS for the periods and in the
places required by Rule 31a-2 under the Act.
4. AUDIT, INSPECTION AND VISITATION. CFS shall make available to the
Adviser during regular business hours all records and other data created and
maintained pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Agreement for reasonable
audit and inspection by the Trusts or any regulatory agency having authority
over the Trusts.
5. COMPENSATION. For the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, the Adviser shall pay CFS, with respect to the Trusts, a fee equal to
$37,500 per month. The Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to
CFS, and CFS agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Adviser.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. CFS shall not be liable for any action
taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its reasonable judgment, in good
faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Agreement, or in accordance with instructions
from the Adviser, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have
resulted from CFS's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence.
7. COMPLIANCE WITH THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. The parties
hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing contained herein shall be construed to
require CFS to perform any services for the Adviser which services could cause
CFS to be deemed an "investment adviser" of a Trust within the meaning of
Section 2(a)(20) of the Act or to supersede or contravene the Prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information of any Trust or any provisions of the Act
and the rules thereunder.
8. TERMINATION. The provisions of this Agreement shall be effective
upon its execution, shall continue in effect for two years from that date and
shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is approved (1) by CFS, (2) by vote, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose, of a majority of each Trust's trustees who are not
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parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the Act) of any
such party, and (3) by vote of a majority of each Trust's Board of Trustees or a
majority of a Trust's outstanding voting securities. This Agreement may be
terminated by either party upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the other
party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically with respect to a series in
the event of termination of a Management Agreement for that series. Upon the
termination of this Agreement, the Adviser shall pay CFS such compensation as
may be payable for the period prior to the effective date of such termination.
9. NO TRUST LIABILITY. CFS is hereby expressly put on notice that the
Trusts are not contracting parties to this Agreement and assume no obligations
pursuant to this Agreement. CFS shall seek satisfaction of any obligations
arising out of this Agreement only from the Adviser, and not from any Trust nor
its Trustees, officers, employees or shareholders. CFS shall not act as agent
for or bind either the Adviser or any Trust in any matter.
10. MISCELLANEOUS. Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of
the 28th day of October, 1999.
COUNTRYWIDE INVESTMENTS, INC.
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COUNTRYWIDE FUND SERVICES, INC.
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