Common use of Securities and Exchange Clause in Contracts

Securities and Exchange. Commission Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs for the Trust to indicate whether the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolios, authorizes the Custodian to provide the Trust's name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose stock the Trust owns. If the Trust tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Trust tells the Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Trust as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by any Portfolios of the Trust. For the Trust's protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Trust's name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Trust consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below. YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Trust's name, address, and share positions. NO [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Trust's name, address, and share positions.