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CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
THIS CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT dated May 13, 1996, between Strategist
Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc. (the Company), a Minnesota corporation,
on behalf of its underlying series fund, and American Express Trust
Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Minnesota with its principal place of business at Minneapolis,
Minnesota (the "Custodian").
WHEREAS, the Company desires that its securities and cash be
hereafter held and administered by Custodian pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein
made, the Company and the Custodian agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
The word "securities" as used herein shall be construed to include,
without being limited to, shares, stocks, treasury stocks,
including any stocks of this Company, notes, bonds, debentures,
evidences of indebtedness, options to buy or sell stocks or stock
indexes, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-
sharing agreements, collateral trust certificates, preorganization
certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, investment
contracts, voting trust certificates, certificates of deposit for a
security, fractional or undivided interests in oil, gas or other
mineral rights, or any certificates of interest or participation
in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees
of, or warrants or rights to subscribe to or purchase any of the
foregoing, acceptances and other obligations and any evidence of
any right or interest in or to any cash, property or assets and any
interest or instrument commonly known as a security. In addition,
for the purpose of this Custodian Agreement, the word "securities"
also shall include other instruments in which the Company may
invest including currency forward contracts and commodities such as
interest rate or index futures contracts, margin deposits on such
contracts or options on such contracts.
The words "custodian order" shall mean a request or direction,
including a computer printout, directed to the Custodian and signed
in the name of the Company by any two individuals designated in the
current certified list referred to in Section 2.
The word "facsimile" shall mean an exact copy or likeness which is
electronically transmitted for instant reproduction.
Section 2. Names, Titles and Signatures of Authorized Persons
The Company will certify to the Custodian the names and signatures
of its present officers and other designated persons authorized on
behalf of the Company to direct the Custodian by custodian order as
herein before defined. The Company agrees that whenever any change
occurs in this list it will file with the Custodian a copy of a
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resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company as having been duly adopted by the board of directors
(the "board") or the Executive Committee of the board designating
those persons currently authorized on behalf of the Company to
direct the Custodian by custodian order, as herein before defined,
and upon such filing (to be accompanied by the filing of specimen
signatures of the designated persons) the persons so designated in
said resolution shall constitute the current certified list. The
Custodian is authorized to rely and act upon the names and
signatures of the individuals as they appear in the most recent
certified list from the Company which has been delivered to the
Custodian as herein above provided.
Section 3. Use of Subcustodians
The Custodian may make arrangements, where appropriate, with other
banks having not less than two million dollars aggregate capital,
surplus and undivided profits for the custody of securities. Any
such bank selected by the Custodian to act as subcustodian shall be
deemed to be the agent of the Custodian.
The Custodian also may enter into arrangements for the custody of
securities entrusted to its care through foreign branches of United
States banks; through foreign banks, banking institutions or trust
companies; through foreign subsidiaries of United States banks or
bank holding companies, or through foreign securities depositories
or clearing agencies (hereinafter also called, collectively, the
"Foreign Subcustodian" or indirectly through an agent, established
under the first paragraph of this section, if and to the extent
permitted by Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder, any order issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any "no-action" letter received from the staff of
the Securities and Exchange Commission. To the extent the existing
provisions of the Custodian Agreement are consistent with the
requirements of such Section, rules, order or no-action letter,
they shall apply to all such foreign custodianships. To the extent
such provisions are inconsistent with or additional requirements
are established by such Section, rules, order or no-action letter,
the requirements of such Section, rules, order or no-action letter
will prevail and the parties will adhere to such requirements;
provided, however, in the absence of notification from the Company
of any changes or additions to such requirements, the Custodian
shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire as to any such
changes or additions.
Section 4. Receipt and Disbursement of Money
(1) The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate account or
accounts in the name of the Company or cause its agent to open and
maintain such account or accounts subject only to checks, drafts or
directives by the Custodian pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. The Custodian or its agent shall hold in such account
or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by
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it from or for the account of the Company. The Custodian or its
agent shall make payments of cash to or for the account of the
Company from such cash only:
(a) for the purchase of securities for the portfolio of the
Company upon the receipt of such securities by the Custodian
or its agent unless otherwise instructed on behalf of the
Company;
(b) for the purchase or redemption of shares of capital stock of
the Company;
(c) for the payment of interest, dividends, taxes, management
fees, or operating expenses (including, without limitation
thereto, fees for legal, accounting and auditing services);
(d) for payment of distribution fees, commissions, or redemption
fees, if any;
(e) for payments in connection with the conversion, exchange or
surrender of securities owned or subscribed to by the Company
held by or to be delivered to the Custodian;
(f) for payments in connection with the return of securities
loaned by the Company upon receipt of such securities or the
reduction of collateral upon receipt of proper notice;
(g) for payments for other proper corporate purposes;
(h) or upon the termination of this Agreement.
Before making any such payment for the purposes permitted under the
terms of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of paragraph (1)
of this section, the Custodian shall receive and may rely upon a
custodian order directing such payment and stating that the payment
is for such a purpose permitted under these items (a), (b), (c),
(d), (e), (f) or (g) and that in respect to item (g), a copy of a
resolution of the board or of the Executive Committee of the board
signed by an officer of the Company and certified by its Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary, specifying the amount of such payment,
setting forth the purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is made.
Notwithstanding the above, for the purposes permitted under items
(a) or (f) of paragraph (1) of this section, the Custodian may rely
upon a facsimile order.
(2) The Custodian is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of the
Company to endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders
for the payment of money received by the Custodian for the account
of the Company and drawn on or to the order of the Company and to
deposit same to the account of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement.
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Section 5. Receipt of Securities
Except as permitted by the second paragraph of this section, the
Custodian or its agent shall hold in a separate account or
accounts, and physically segregated at all times from those of any
other persons, firms or corporations, pursuant to the provisions
hereof, all securities received by it for the account of the
Company. The Custodian shall record and maintain a record of all
certificate numbers. Securities so received shall be held in the
name of the Company, in the name of an exclusive nominee duly
appointed by the Custodian or in bearer form, as appropriate.
Subject to such rules, regulations or guidelines as the Securities
and Exchange Commission may adopt, the Custodian may deposit all or
any part of the securities owned by the Company in a securities
depository which includes any system for the central handling of
securities established by a national securities exchange or a
national securities association registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, pursuant
to which system all securities of any particular class or series of
any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical
delivery of such securities.
All securities are to be held or disposed of by the Custodian for,
and subject at all times to the instructions of, the Company
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian shall have
no power or authority to assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise
dispose of any such securities, except pursuant to the directive of
the Company and only for the account of the Company as set forth in
Section 6 of this Agreement.
Section 6. Transfer Exchange, Delivery, etc. of Securities
The Custodian shall have sole power to release or deliver any
securities of the Company held by it pursuant to this Agreement.
The Custodian agrees to transfer, exchange or deliver securities
held by it or its agent hereunder only:
(a) for sales of such securities for the account of the Company,
upon receipt of payment therefor;
(b) when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or
otherwise become payable;
(c) for examination upon the sale of any such securities in
accordance with "street delivery" custom which would include
delivery against interim receipts or other proper delivery
receipts;
(d) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities
alone or other securities and cash whether pursuant to any
plan of
(e) merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or
readjustment, or otherwise;
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(f) for the purpose of exchanging interim receipts or temporary
certificates for permanent certificates;
(g) upon conversion of such securities pursuant to their terms
into other securities;
(h) upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar
rights represented by such securities; for loans of such
securities by the Company receipt of collateral; or
(i) for other proper corporate purposes.
As to any deliveries made by the Custodian pursuant to items (a),
(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h), securities or cash received
in exchange therefore shall be delivered to the Custodian, its
agent, or to a securities depository. Before making any such
transfer, exchange or delivery, the Custodian shall receive a
custodian order or a facsimile from the Company requesting such
transfer, exchange or delivery and stating that it is for a purpose
permitted under Section 6 (whenever a facsimile is utilized, the
Company will also deliver an original signed custodian order) and,
in respect to item (i), a copy of a resolution of the board or of
the Executive Committee of the board signed by an officer of the
Company and certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
specifying the securities, setting forth the purpose for which such
payment, transfer, exchange or delivery is to be made, declaring
such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the
person or persons to whom such transfer, exchange or delivery of
such securities shall be made.
Section 7. Custodian's Acts Without Instructions
Unless and until the Custodian receives a contrary custodian order
from the Company, the Custodian shall or shall cause its agent to:
(a) present for payment all coupons and other income items held
by the Custodian or its agent for the account of the Company
which call for payment upon presentation and hold all cash
received by it upon such payment for the account of the
Company;
(b) present for payment all securities held by it or its agent
which mature or when called, redeemed, retired or otherwise
become payable;
(c) ascertain all stock dividends, rights and similar securities
to be issued with respect to any securities held by the
Custodian or its agent hereunder, and to collect and hold for
the account of the Company all such securities; and
(d) ascertain all interest and cash dividends to be paid to
security holders with respect to any securities held by the
Custodian or its agent, and to collect and hold such interest
and cash dividends for the account of the Company.
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Section 8. Voting and Other Action
Neither the Custodian nor any nominee of the Custodian shall vote
any of the securities held hereunder by or for the account of the
Company. The Custodian shall promptly deliver to the Company all
notices, proxies and proxy soliciting materials with relation to
such securities, such proxies to be executed by the registered
holder of such securities (if registered otherwise than in the name
of the Company), but without indicating the manner in which such
proxies are to be voted.
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company all written
information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and
maturities of securities and expirations of rights in connection
therewith) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities
being held for the Company. With respect to tender or exchange
offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company 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.
Section 9. Transfer Taxes
The Company shall pay or reimburse the Custodian for any transfer
taxes payable upon transfers of securities made hereunder,
including transfers resulting from the termination of this
Agreement. The Custodian shall execute such certificates in
connection with securities delivered to it under this Agreement as
may be required, under any applicable law or regulation, to exempt
from taxation any transfers and/or deliveries of any such
securities which may be entitled to such exemption.
Section 10. Custodian's Reports
The Custodian shall furnish the Company as of the close of business
each day a statement showing all transactions and entries for the
account of the Company. The books and records of the Custodian
pertaining to its actions as Custodian under this Agreement and
securities held hereunder by the Custodian shall be open to
inspection and audit by officers of the Company, internal auditors
employed by the Company's investment advisor, and independent
auditors employed by the Company. The Custodian shall furnish the
Company in such form as may reasonably be requested by the Company
a report, including a list of the securities held by it in custody
for the account of the Company, identification of any subcustodian,
and identification of such securities held by such subcustodian, as
of the close of business of the last business day of each month,
which shall be certified by a duly authorized officer of the
Custodian. It is further understood that additional reports may
from time to time be requested by the Company. Should any report
ever be filed with any governmental authority pertaining to lost or
stolen securities, the Custodian will concurrently provide the
Company with a copy of that report.
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The Custodian also shall furnish such reports on its systems of
internal accounting control as the Company may reasonably request
from time to time.
Section 11. Concerning Custodian
For its services hereunder the Custodian shall be paid such
compensation at such times as may from time to time be agreed on in
writing by the parties hereto in a Custodian Fee Agreement.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any action taken in good
faith upon any custodian order or facsimile herein described or
certified copy of any resolution of the board or of the Executive
Committee of the board, and may rely on the genuineness of any such
document which it may in good faith believe to have been validly
executed.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and its
nominee from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and
liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or assessed against
it or its nominee in connection with the performance of this
Agreement, except such as may arise from the Custodian's or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful
misconduct. Custodian is authorized to charge any account of the
Company for such items. In the event of any advance of cash for
any purpose made by Custodian resulting from orders or instructions
of the Company, or in the event that 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 Company shall
be security therefor.
The Custodian shall maintain a standard of care equivalent to that
which would be required of a bailee for hire and shall not be
liable for any loss or damage to the Company resulting from
participation in a securities depository unless such loss or damage
arises by reason of any negligence, misfeasance, or willful
misconduct of officers or employees of the Custodian, or from its
failure to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against
any securities depository or from use of an agent, unless such loss
or damage arises by reason of any negligence, misfeasance, or
willful misconduct of officers or employees of the Custodian, or
from its failure to enforce effectively such rights as it may have
against any agent.
Section 12. Termination and Amendment of Agreement
The Company and the Custodian mutually may agree from time to time
in writing to amend, to add to, or to delete from any provision of
this Agreement.
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The Custodian may terminate this Agreement by giving the Company
ninety days' written notice of such termination by registered mail
addressed to the Company at its principal place of business.
The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time by written
notice thereof delivered, together with a copy of the resolution of
the board authorizing such termination and certified by the
Secretary of the Company, by registered mail to the Custodian.
Upon such termination of this Agreement, assets of the Company held
by the Custodian shall be delivered by the Custodian to a successor
custodian, if one has been appointed by the Company, upon receipt
by the Custodian of a copy of the resolution of the board certified
by the Secretary, showing appointment of the successor custodian,
and provided that such successor custodian is a bank or trust
company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any
State of the United States, having not less than two million
dollars aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits. Upon the
termination of this Agreement as a part of the transfer of assets,
either to a successor custodian or otherwise, the Custodian will
deliver securities held by it hereunder, when so authorized and
directed by resolution of the board, to a duly appointed agent of
the successor custodian or to the appropriate transfer agents for
transfer of registration and delivery as directed. Delivery of
assets on termination of this Agreement shall be effected in a
reasonable, expeditious and orderly manner; and in order to
accomplish an orderly transition from the Custodian to the
successor custodian, the Custodian shall continue to act as such
under this Agreement as to assets in its possession or control.
Termination as to each security shall become effective upon
delivery to the successor custodian, its agent, or to a transfer
agent for a specific security for the account of the successor
custodian, and such delivery shall constitute effective delivery by
the Custodian to the successor under this Agreement.
In addition to the means of termination herein before authorized,
this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Company and after written
notice of such action to the Custodian.
Section 13. General
Nothing expressed or mentioned in or to be implied from any
provision of this Agreement is intended to, or shall be construed
to give any person or corporation other than the parties hereto,
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect
of this Agreement, or any covenant, condition or provision herein
contained, this Agreement and all of the covenants, conditions and
provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns.
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This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
STRATEGIST TAX-FREE INCOME FUND, INC.
Strategist Tax-Free High Yield Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
