CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between EVERGREEN SELECT FIXED INCOME TRUST, a business
trust organized and existing under the laws of Delaware with its principal place
of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Fund"),
and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company with its
principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
(the "Custodian"),
WITNESSETH:
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 that this Agreement be applicable to the
series set forth on Schedule C hereto (such series together with all other
series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement
in accordance with Section 18, be referred to herein as the "Portfolio(s)");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of
the Portfolios of the Fund, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of
the applicable Portfolio desires to be held in places within the United States
("domestic securities") and securities it desires to be held outside the United
States ("foreign securities") pursuant to the provisions of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust. The Fund on behalf of the Portfolio(s) agrees to deliver
to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios, and all payments of
income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with
respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time, and the
cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund representing interests in the Portfolios ("Shares") as may
be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for
any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio and not delivered
to the Custodian.
Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (as such term is defined in
Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s)
from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United
States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (the "Board of Trustees") on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s),
and provided that the Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or
liability to the Fund on
account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any
such sub-custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as
sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign securities on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio(s) the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities
depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto but only in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY
THE CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by
it in the United States including all domestic securities owned by such
Portfolio, other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section
2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a
book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a
"U.S. Securities System") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for which State
Street Bank and Trust Company acts as issuing and paying agent ("Direct Paper")
which is deposited and/or maintained in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian
(the "Direct Paper System") pursuant to Section 2.9.
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a
U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct
Paper book entry system account ("Direct Paper System Account") only upon
receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may
be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in
the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio
and receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the
Portfolio;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities
System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8
hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
provided that, in any such case, the cash or other
consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or
nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee
name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into
the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed
pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number
of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in
any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the
Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the
Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a
receipt, for examination in accordance with "street delivery"
custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall
have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from
the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for
such securities except as may arise from the Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or
readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such
securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained
in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash,
if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that,
in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to
be delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made
by the Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian
and the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, which may be in the
form of cash or obligations issued by the United States
government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be
credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system
authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the
Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the
delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to the
receipt of such collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of
assets by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, but only
against receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the
Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and a member of The
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"),
relating to compliance
with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any
registered national securities exchange, or of any similar
organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other
arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio
of the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the
Custodian, and a Futures Commission Merchant registered under
the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any
Contract Market, or any similar organization or organizations,
regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by
the Portfolio of the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the
Fund (the "Transfer Agent") for delivery to such Transfer
Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with
distributions in kind, as may be described from time to time
in the currently effective prospectus and statement of
additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio
(the "Prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by holders of
Shares for repurchase or redemption; and
15) For any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of,
in addition to Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of
the applicable Portfolio, a copy of a resolution of the Board
of Trustees or of the Executive Committee thereof signed by an
officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary thereof (a "Certified Resolution"),
specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be
made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Portfolio, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a
nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having
the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by
the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall
be in "street name" or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs
the Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall
utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such
securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant
corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities,
tender or exchange offers.
SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain
a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each
Portfolio of the Fund, subject only to
draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof,
all cash received by it from or for the account of the Portfolio, other than
cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank account established and used in
accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act"). Funds held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited
by it to its credit as Custodian in the Banking Department of the Custodian or
in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem
necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company
shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such
bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust
company shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a
majority of the Board of Trustees. Such funds shall be deposited by the
Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the
Custodian only in that capacity.
SECTION 2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments
with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each
Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the
securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment
by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof
and shall credit such income, as collected, to such Portfolio's custodian
account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall
detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring
presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on
securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of
the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection
therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may
be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the
Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions
on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a
Portfolio in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of
the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such
securities or evidence of title to such options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or
any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the
United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act
to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian
as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian
referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for
transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a
U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions
set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase
involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.9; (d) in the case of
repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund on behalf
of the Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a
broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery
of the securities either in certificate form or through an
entry crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal Reserve
Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the
receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities
owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the
agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from
the Portfolio or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of
the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such
transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation
from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper
Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2
hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth
in Section 5 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments
for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management,
accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating
expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in
whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant
to the governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) For any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of,
in addition to Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of
the Portfolio, a copy of a Certified Resolution specifying the
amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which
such payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a
proper trust purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom
such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or
trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as
the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the
appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities
or liabilities hereunder.
SECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a
clearing agency registered with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under Section 17A
of the Exchange Act , which acts as a securities depository, or in the
book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and certain
federal agencies, collectively referred to herein as "U.S. Securities System" in
accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and SEC rules and regulations,
if any, and subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account of the Custodian in the U.S.
Securities System (the "U.S. Securities System Account") which
account shall not include any assets of the Custodian other
than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for
customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System
shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the
U.S. Securities System that such securities have been
transferred to the U.S. Securities System Account, and (ii)
the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the
Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for
the account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from
the U.S. Securities System that payment for such securities
has been transferred to the U.S. Securities System Account,
and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account
of the Portfolio. Copies of all advices from the U.S.
Securities System of transfers of securities for the account
of the Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be maintained
for the Portfolio by the Custodian and be provided to the Fund
at its request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the
Fund on behalf of the Portfolio confirmation of each transfer
to or from the account of the Portfolio in the form of a
written advice or notice and shall furnish to the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets
reflecting each day's transactions in the U.S. Securities
System for the account of the Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained
by the Custodian on the U.S. Securities System's accounting
system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding securities deposited in the U.S. Securities
System;
5) The Custodian shall have received from the Fund on behalf of
the Portfolio the initial or annual certificate, as the case
may be, required by Section 15 hereof;
6) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding,
the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the benefit of
the Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Portfolio
resulting from use of the U.S. Securities System by reason of
any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or
any of its agents or of any of its or their employees or from
failure of the Custodian or any such agent to enforce
effectively such rights as it may have against the U.S.
Securities System; at the election of the Fund, it shall be
entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with
respect to any claim against the U.S. Securities System or any
other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of
any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the
Portfolio has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
SECTION 2.9 FUND ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in the
Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper
System will be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions
from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in the
Direct Paper System only if such securities are represented in
the Direct Paper System Account, which account shall not
include any assets of the Custodian other than assets held as
a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in the Direct Paper System
shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer
of securities to the account of the Portfolio. The Custodian
shall transfer securities sold for the account of the
Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt of payment for
the account of the Portfolio;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or from the account
of the Portfolio, in the form of a written advice or notice,
of Direct Paper on the next business day following such
transfer and shall furnish to the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each
day's transaction in the Direct Paper System for the account
of the Portfolio;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio with any report on its system of internal accounting
control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
SECTION 2.10 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio establish and
maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such
Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or
securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian
pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any
futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act),
relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of
any registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or
government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by
the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or
sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio
with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the SEC relating to the maintenance of
segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper
trust purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in
addition to Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio, a copy of a Certified Resolution setting forth the purpose or
purposes of such segregated account and declaring such purpose(s) to be a proper
trust purpose.
SECTION 2.11 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian
shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal
and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments
with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in
connection with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.12 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in
the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without
indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall
promptly deliver to the Portfolio such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials
and all notices relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
Fund for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation,
pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of
rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options
written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from
issuers of the securities being held for the
Portfolio. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall
transmit promptly to the Portfolio all written information received by the
Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and
from the party (or his agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the
Portfolio desires to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange
offer or any other similar transaction, the Portfolio shall notify the Custodian
at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
such action.
SECTION 3. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE PORTFOLIOS
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms shall have
the indicated meanings:
"Country Risk" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment; economic and financial infrastructure
(including financial institutions such as any Mandatory Securities Depositories
operating in the country); prevailing or developing custody and settlement
practices; and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery
of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the 1940 Act, except that the term does not include Mandatory Securities
Depositories.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Portfolios' investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios'
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2) of Rule
17f-5.
"Mandatory Securities Depository" means a foreign securities depository or
clearing agency that, either as a legal or practical matter, must be used if the
Fund, on the Portfolios' behalf, determines to place Foreign Assets in a country
outside the United States (i) because required by law or regulation; (ii)
because securities cannot be withdrawn from such foreign securities depository
or clearing agency; or (iii) because maintaining or effecting trades in
securities outside the foreign securities depository or clearing agency is not
consistent with prevailing or developing custodial or market practices.
SECTION 3.2. DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
The Fund, by resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees, hereby delegates to
the Custodian with
respect to the Portfolios, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the
responsibilities set forth in this Section 3 with respect to Foreign Assets of
the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts
such delegation, as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.
SECTION 3.3. COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A of this Contract, which may be amended from time to time by
the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule
A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to
maintain the assets of the Portfolios. Mandatory Securities Depositories are
listed on Schedule B to this Contract, which may be amended from time to time by
the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended
versions of Schedules A and B in accordance with Section 3.7 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions
to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios of the
applicable account opening requirements for the country, the Foreign Custody
Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board of Trustees on
behalf of the Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect
to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Following the receipt of
Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board of Trustees
on behalf of the Portfolios to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that
country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall
immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with
respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period as to which the parties agree in
writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have
no further responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to
the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.
SECTION 3.4. SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
3.4.1. Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3, the Portfolios' Foreign Custody Manager may place
and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time.
In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager
to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the
Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject
to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the
country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign
Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such
assets, including, without limitation:
(i) the Eligible Foreign Custodian's practices, procedures, and
internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical
protections available for certificated securities (if
applicable), its methods of keeping custodial records, and its
security and data protection practices;
(ii) whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has the financial
strength to provide reasonable care for Foreign Assets;
(iii) the Eligible Foreign Custodian's general reputation and
standing and, in the case of a foreign securities depository
or clearing agency which is not a Mandatory Securities
Depository, the foreign securities depository's or clearing
agency's operating history and the number of participants in
the foreign securities depository or clearing agency; and
(iv) whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to
enforce judgments against the Eligible Foreign Custodian, such
as by virtue of the existence of any offices of the Eligible
Foreign Custodian in the United States or the Eligible Foreign
Custodian's consent to service of process in the United
States.
3.4.2. Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract (or the rules or established practices
or procedures in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian that is a foreign
securities depository or clearing agency) governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will provide reasonable care for the Foreign Assets held by that
Eligible Foreign Custodian based on the standards applicable to custodians in
the particular country. Each such contract shall include provisions that
provide:
(i) for indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any
combination of the foregoing) such that each Portfolio will be
adequately protected against the risk of loss of the Foreign
Assets held in accordance with such contract;
(ii) that the Foreign Assets will not be subject to any right,
security interest, or lien or claim of any kind in favor of
the Eligible Foreign Custodian or its creditors except a claim
of payment for their safe custody or administration or, in the
case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors
of the Eligible Foreign Custodian arising under bankruptcy,
insolvency, or similar laws;
(iii) that beneficial ownership of the Foreign Assets will be freely
transferable without the payment of money or value other than
for safe custody or administration;
(iv) that adequate records will be maintained identifying the
Foreign Assets as belonging to the applicable Portfolio or as
being held by a third party for the benefit of such Portfolio;
(v) that the independent public accountants for each Portfolio
will be given access to those records or confirmation of the
contents of those records; and
(vi) that the Fund will receive periodic reports with respect to
the safekeeping of the Foreign Assets, including, but not
limited to, notification of any transfer of the Foreign Assets
to or from a Portfolio's account or a third party account
containing the Foreign Assets held for the benefit of the
Portfolio,
or, in lieu of any or all of the provisions set forth in (i) through (vi) above,
such other provisions that the Foreign Custody Manager determines will provide,
in their entirety, the same or greater level of care and protection for the
Foreign Assets as the provisions set forth in (i) through (vi) above, in their
entirety.
3.4.3. Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such
Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the
custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no
longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board of
Trustees in accordance with Section 3.7 hereunder.
SECTION 3.5. GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3, the Board of Trustees shall be deemed to have
considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing
and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is
serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios. The Fund, on behalf of the
Portfolios, and the Custodian each expressly acknowledge that the Foreign
Custody Manager shall not be delegated any responsibilities under this Section 3
with respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories.
SECTION 3.6. STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE
PORTFOLIOS. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign
Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such
as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management
investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
SECTION 3.7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall
report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian
and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian
by providing to the Board of Trustees amended Schedules A or B at the end of the
calendar quarter in which an amendment to either Schedule has occurred. The
Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of
Trustees of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the
Portfolios described in this Article 3 after the occurrence of the material
change.
SECTION 3.8. REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17f-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the
Board of Trustees has determined that it is reasonable for the Board of Trustees
to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to
this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the
Portfolios.
SECTION 3.9. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board of Trustees' delegation to the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date of execution
of this Agreement and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time,
without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the
non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after
receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section
3.3 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS
HELD OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Section 4 shall
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have the following meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities Depository
listed on Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign
securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are
maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the
Portfolios and (ii) the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the
Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country only through
arrangements implemented by the Foreign Sub-Custodian in such country pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. Delivery of Foreign Securities. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios
held by such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account,
only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions
when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolios in
accordance with reasonable market practice in the country
where such foreign securities are held or traded, including,
without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of
receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected
through a Foreign Securities System in accordance with the
rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities
System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such
Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number
of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for
examination or trade execution in accordance with market
custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for
any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to
receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from
the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or
readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such
securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained
in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities,
the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights
or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities;
(ix) or delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by
the Portfolios requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of,
in addition to Proper Instructions, a copy of a Certified
Resolution specifying the foreign securities to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be
made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
4.4.2. Payment of Portfolio Monies. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of
a Portfolio in the following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio,
unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A)
delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor
(or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of
receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in
the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities
System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation
of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the Portfolio;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees
under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign
exchange contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions
executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign
Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of,
in addition to Proper Instructions, a copy of a Certified
Resolution specifying the amount of such payment, setting
forth the purpose for which such payment is to be made,
declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be
made.
4.4.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received
for the account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for
the account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the
country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without
limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer
therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of
receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
SECTION 4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Custodian (other than bearer securities)
shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of
the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any
nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio agrees to
hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such
foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be
obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the terms of this
Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are
delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
SECTION 4.6. BANK ACCOUNTS. A bank account or bank accounts opened and
maintained outside the United States on behalf of a Portfolio with a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian or such
Foreign Sub-Custodian, acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold
cash received by or from or for the account of the Portfolio.
SECTION 4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
endeavors to collect all income and other payments in due course with respect to
the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and
shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the
event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund
and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation
and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8. PROXIES. The Custodian will generally with respect to the
foreign securities held under this Section 4 use its reasonable endeavors to
facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder proxy rights, subject
always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the
country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local
conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack
of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability
of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian via the
Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the
account of the Portfolios. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information so received by
the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is
sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender,
exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other
property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or
the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign
securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with
regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur
at least three (3) business days prior to the date on which such right or power
is to be exercised.
SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS AND FOREIGN
SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs as a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign
Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and,
to the extent possible, to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and
against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in
connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At
the Fund's election, the Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the
rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign
Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense,
liability or claim if and to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made
whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11. TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund, the
Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the
United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the
responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on
the Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the
Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The
sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or
refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
SECTION 4.12. CONFLICT. If the Custodian is delegated the
responsibilities of Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Section 3
hereof, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of Sections 3 and 4
hereof, the provisions of Section 3 shall prevail.
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from
the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio
such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to
time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund on
behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of
payments for Shares of such Portfolio.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose but subject to the
limitations of the Fund's Declaration of Trust and any applicable votes of the
Board of Trustees pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to
holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for
redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or
repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions
from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a
commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the
redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on
the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the
Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with
such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time
between the Fund and the Custodian.
SECTION 6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions as used throughout this Agreement means a writing
signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board of Trustees
shall have from time to time authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the
specific transaction or type of transaction involved, including a specific
statement of the purpose for which such action is requested. Oral instructions
will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them
to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect
to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be
confirmed in writing. Upon receipt of a certificate of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary as to the authorization by the Board of Trustees accompanied
by a detailed description of procedures approved by the Board of Trustees,
Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Board of Trustees and
the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards for
the Portfolios' assets. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall
include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three - party
agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section
2.10.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of
handling securities or other similar items relating to its
duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments
shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks,
drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in
connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase,
transfer and other dealings with the securities and property
of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed by the Board of
Trustees.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions,
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by
it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund.
The Custodian may receive and accept a Certified Resolution as conclusive
evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such
resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board of Trustees
pursuant to the Fund's Declaration of Trust as described in such resolution, and
such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by
the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.
SECTION 9. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to
the entity or entities appointed by the Board of Trustees to keep the books of
account of each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the
outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of
the Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net
asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily
the net income of the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus and shall advise
the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income
and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise
the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its
various components. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the
daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from
time to time in the Prospectus.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain
all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in
such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder.
All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during
the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of
the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a
tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and
shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be
agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in
such tabulations.
SECTION 11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf
of each applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year
to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect
to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's
Form N-1A, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to
any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 12. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the
Portfolios at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by
independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and
options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained
in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (collectively
referred to herein as the "Securities Systems"), relating to the services
provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of
sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the
Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be
disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for
any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be
without liability to the Fund and the Portfolios for any loss, liability, claim
or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is (A) part of Country
Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war,
revolution, riots or terrorism,
or (B) part of the "prevailing country risk" of the Portfolios, as such term is
used in SEC Release Nos. IC-22658; IS-1080 (May 12, 1997) or as such term or
other similar terms are now or in the future interpreted by the SEC or by the
staff of the Division of Investment Management thereof.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent,
the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability,
claim or expense resulting from or caused by (i) events or circumstances beyond
the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities
System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without
limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the
closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work
stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by
the Fund or the Investment Advisor in their instructions to the Custodian
provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii)
the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or
failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially
prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's sub-custodian
or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection
with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or
other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of
the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees or agents or
any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such
securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other
accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to
any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or
Securities System; and (vii) changes to any existing, or any provision of any
future, law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state
thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court
of competent jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any
action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or
which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or
its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment
of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to
it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or
agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited
to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or
in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the
performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall
be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly,
the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such
Portfolio's assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or
consequential damages.
SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall
continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may
be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed,
postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner
than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided,
however that the Custodian shall not with respect to a Portfolio act under
Section 2.8 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of Trustees has approved the
initial use of a particular Securities System by such Portfolio, as required by
Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act and that the Custodian shall not with respect to a
Portfolio act under Section 2.9 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of
Trustees has approved the initial use of the Direct Paper System by such
Portfolio; provided further, however, that the Fund shall not amend or terminate
this Agreement in contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations,
or any provision of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that
the Fund on behalf of one or more of the Portfolios may at any time by action of
its Board of Trustees (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the
Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii)
immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a
conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or
upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory
agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due
as of the date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian
for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed
by the Board of Trustees, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such
successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the
form for transfer, all securities of each applicable Portfolio then held by it
hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the
securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of
the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in
accordance with such resolution.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the
date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have
the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in
the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of
its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all
securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto
and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian
all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System.
Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian
under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services
during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds
and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 17. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on
such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this
Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of
this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a
writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no
such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable
federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund's Declaration of
Trust. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the
preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
SECTION 18. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to those set forth on Schedule C with respect to which it desires to
have the Custodian render services as
custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing,
and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of
Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
SECTION 19. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
SECTION 20. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all
prior Agreements between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
SECTION 21. NOTICES.
Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given
hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth
herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by
telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other
addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.
To the Fund: EVERGREEN SELECT FIXED INCOME TRUST
c/o First Union Corporation - Legal Division
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have
been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five
business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after
dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if
delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received
at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the
case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof.
Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post
shall be conclusive evidence of posting.
SECTION 22. 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
all/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 of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
SECTION 23. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION
SEC 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 the Fund
to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name,
address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund
owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide this
information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or
does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule
to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund.
For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using
the Fund's name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications.
Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of
the alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's name, address,
and share positions.
NO [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name,
address, and share positions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to
be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of September 18, 1997.
EVERGREEN SELECT FIXED INCOME TRUST FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: President Title: Secretary
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President Title: VP and Assoc. Counsel
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Non-Mandatory
Country Subcustodian Depositories
--------- ------------ -------------
Argentina Citibank, N.A. --
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation --
Austria Erste Bank der oesterreichischen --
Sparkasen AG
Bahrain The British Bank of the Middle East --
(as delegate of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank --
Belgium Generale Bank --
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited --
Bolivia Banco Boliviano Americano --
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited --
Brazil Citibank, N.A. --
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V. --
Canada Canada Trustco Mortgage Company --
Chile Citibank, N.A. --
People's Republic The Hongkong and Shanghai --
of China Banking Corporation Limited,
Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. --
Sociedad Fiduciaria
Croatia Privredana banka Zagreb d.d --
Cyprus Barclays Bank PLC --
Cyprus Offshore Banking Unit
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni --
Banka A.S.
Denmark Den Danske Bank --
Ecuador Citibank, N.A. --
Egypt National Bank of Egypt --
Estonia Hansabank --
Finland Xxxxxx Bank Ltd. --
France Banque Paribas --
Germany Dresdner Bank AG --
Ghana Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited --
Greece National Bank of Greece S.A Bank of Greece
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank --
Hungary Citibank Budapest Rt. --
India Deutsche Bank AG; --
The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Standard Chartered Bank --
Ireland Bank of Ireland --
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M. --
Italy Banque Paribas --
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques --
en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Scotiabank Trust and Merchant Bank --
Japan The Daiwa Bank, Limited; Japan Securities
The Fuji Bank, Limited Depository
Center;
Jordan The British Bank of the Middle East --
(as delegate of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Kenya Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited --
Republic of Korea The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking --
Corporation Limited
Latvia Hansabank --
Lebanon The British Bank of the Middle East Custodian and
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Clearing Center
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) of Financial
Instruments
for Lebanon
(MIDCLEAR)
X.X.X.;
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas AB --
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank --
Malaysia Berhad
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Citibank Mexico, S.A. --
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc --
Namibia (via) Standard Bank of South Africa -
The Netherlands MeesPierson N.V. --
New Zealand ANZ Banking Group --
(New Zealand) Limited
Norway Christiania Bank og --
Kreditkasse
Oman The British Bank of the Middle East --
(as delegate of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG --
Peru Citibank, N.A. --
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank --
Poland Citibank Poland S.A. --
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues --
Romania ING Bank, N.V. --
Russia Credit Suisse First Boston, Zurich --
via Credit Suisse First Boston
Limited, Moscow
Singapore The Development Bank --
of Singapore Ltd.
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodna -
Banka A.S.
Slovenia Banka Creditanstalt d.d. --
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited --
Spain Banco Santander, S.A. --
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland Barclays Bank of Swaziland Limited --
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken --
Switzerland Union Bank of Switzerland --
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Trust of China --
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank --
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Ltd. --
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie --
Turkey Citibank, N.A. --
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust --
Uruguay Citibank, N.A. --
Venezuela Citibank, N.A. --
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited --
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited --
Euroclear (The Euroclear System)
Cedel (Cedel Bank, societe anonyme)
INTERSETTLE (for EASDAQ Securities)
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
Country Mandatory Depositories
---------- ------------------------------------------
Argentina -Caja de Valores S.A.;
-CRYL
Australia -Austraclear Limited;
-Reserve Bank Information and
Transfer System
Austria -Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Belgium -Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et
de Virements de Titres S.A.;
-Banque Nationale de Belgique
Brazil - Camara de Liquidacao de Sao Paulo, (Calispa);
-Bolsa de Valores de Rio de Janeiro
- All SSB clients presently use Calispa
-Central de Custodia e de Liquidacao Financeira
de Titulos
-Banco Central do Brasil,
Systema Especial de Liquidacao e
Custodia
Bulgaria - Central Depository AD
Canada -The Canadian Depository
for Securities Limited; West Canada
Depository Trust Company [depositories linked]
People's Republic -Shanghai Securities Central Clearing and
of China Registration Corporation;
-Shenzhen Securities Central Clearing Co., Ltd.
Croatia Ministry of Finance
Czech Republic --Stredisko cennych papiru;
-Czech National Bank
Denmark -Vaerdipapircentralen - The Danish
Securities Center
Egypt -Misr Company for Clearing, Settlement,
and Central Depository
Estonia - Eesti Vaartpaberite Keskdepositooruim
Finland -The Finnish Central Securities
Depository
France -Societe Interprofessionnelle
pour la Compensation des
Valeurs Mobilieres;
-Banque de France,
Saturne System
Germany -The Deutscher Kassenverein AG
Greece -The Central Securities Depository
(Apothetirion Titlon A.E.);
Hong Kong -The Central Clearing and
Settlement System;
-The Central Money Markets Unit
Hungary -The Central Depository and Clearing
House (Budapest) Ltd.
[Mandatory for Gov't Bonds only;
SSB does not use for other securities]
India The National Securities Depository Limited
Indonesia -Bank of Indonesia
Ireland -The Central Bank of Ireland,
The Gilt Settlement Office
Israel -The Clearing House of the
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange;
-Bank of Israel
Italy -Monte Titoli S.p.A.;
-Banca d'Italia
Japan -Bank of Japan Net System
Republic of Korea -Korea Securities Depository Corporation
Latvia - The Latvian Central Depository
Lebanon -The Central Bank of Lebanon
Lithuania - The Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia -Malaysian Central Depository Sdn.
Bhd.;
-Bank Negara Malaysia,
Scripless Securities Trading and Safekeeping
Systems
Mauritius -The Central Depository & Settlement
Co. Ltd.
Mexico -S.D. INDEVAL, S.A. de C.V.
(Instituto para el Deposito de
Valores);
The Netherlands -Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor
Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. ("NECIGEF");
New Zealand -New Zealand Central Securities
Depository Limited
Norway -Verdipapirsentralen - The Norwegian
Registry of Securities
Oman -Muscat Securities Market
Peru -Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones
(CAVALI, S.A.)
Philippines -The Philippines Central Depository Inc.
-The Book-Entry-System of Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas;
-The Registry of Scripless Securities of the
Bureau of the Treasury
Poland -The National Depository of Securities
(Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartos'ciowych);
-National Bank of Poland
Portugal -Central de Valores Mobiliarios
Romania -National Securities Clearing, Settlement and
Depository Co.;
-Bucharest Stock Exchange;
-National Bank of Romania
Singapore -The Central Depository (Pvt.)
Limited;
-Monetary Authority of Singapore
Slovak Republic -Stredisko Cennych Papierov;
-National Bank of Slovakia
Slovenia - Klirinsko Depotna Bruzba
South Africa -The Central Depository Limited
Spain -Servicio de Compensacion y
Liquidacion de Valores, S.A.;
-Banco de Espana,
Anotaciones en Cuenta
Sri Lanka -Central Depository System
(Pvt) Limited
Sweden -Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB -
The Swedish Central Securities Depository
Switzerland -Schweizerische Effekten - Giro AG;
Taiwan - R.O.C. -The Taiwan Securities Central
Depository Company, Ltd.
Thailand -Thailand Securities Depository
Company Limited
Tunisia -STICODEVAM;
-Central Bank of Tunisia;
-Tunisian Treasury
Turkey -Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S.;
-Central Bank of Turkey
United Kingdom -The Bank of England,
The Central Gilts Office;
The Central Moneymarkets Office
Uruguay -Central Bank of Uruguay
Zambia -Lusaka Central Depository
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
SCHEDULE C
Pursuant to the custodian agreement between Evergreen Select Fixed Income Trust
(the "Fund") and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated September 18, 1997
(the "Agreement"), as of September 18, 1997, the Fund had made the following
Portfolios (as such term is defined in the Agreement) subject to the Agreement:
Evergreen Select Limited Duration Fund
Evergreen Select Fixed Income Fund
Evergreen Select Income Plus Fund
Evergreen Select Intermediate Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Evergreen Select Core Bond Fund
Evergreen Select Intermediate Bond Fund
Evergreen Select Adjustable Rate Fund
