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EXHIBIT 8
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between THE BAUPOST FUND, a Massachusetts
business trust having its principal place of business at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, 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"), 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 Fund, including securities which the Fund 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"). The Fund, in its
discretion, may deliver to the Custodian all of the Fund's securities and cash,
and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions
received by it with respect to securities or other property owned by the Fund
from time to time, and cash consideration received by it for new shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund ("SHARES") as may be issued or sold from time to
time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held
or received by the Fund 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 Fund, from time to time
employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only as
expressly permitted by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "BOARD OF
TRUSTEES"), 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 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 the Fund all non-cash property to be held by it in
the United States including all domestic securities owned by the Fund, 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
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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 the Fund 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 from the Fund, 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 Fund 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 Fund;
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 held by the Fund;
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 delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Fund, the Custodian or any nominee or nominees of
the Fund or Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any
agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 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 Fund,
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, misfeasance 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
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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 Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral
as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the
Fund, 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 Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral, except as
may arise from the Custodian's own negligence, misfeasance or
willful misconduct;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by
the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, but only
against receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, 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 Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, 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 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 (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,
Proper Instructions specifying the securities of the Fund to
be delivered, setting forth the purpose for
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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
Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the
Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, 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 Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to
Section 2.8 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
Fund 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 to
timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on
a best efforts basis of relevant corporate actions including, without
limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers; provided,
however, that the Custodian shall be responsible for such notice in the event of
its actual knowledge of such corporate actions.
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 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 Fund,
other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in
accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund 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 Investment Act of 1940, as amended, 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 the Fund 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 use its best efforts to collect on a timely basis all
income, dividends and other payments with respect to registered domestic
securities held hereunder to which each Fund shall be entitled either by law or
pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall use its best efforts to
collect on a timely basis all income, dividends 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
amount, as collected, to the Fund'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 use its best efforts to collect interest and dividends when
due on securities held hereunder. Income and dividends due the Fund on
securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the
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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 Fund is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions
from the Fund, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following
cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
contracts, options on futures contracts or other property for
the account of the Fund but only (a) against the delivery of
such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures
contracts, options on futures contracts or other property to
the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company
doing business in the United States or abroad which is
qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, to act as a custodian and has been designated by the
Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the
name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund 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 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 Fund of securities owned by
the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by
the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund or
(e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any
bank, whether domestic or foreign;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Fund 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
Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for
the account of the Fund: 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;
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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
Proper Instructions 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 Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, 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 the Fund in a clearing
agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A
of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 SYSTEMS", in accordance with applicable Federal
Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if
any, and subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in a U.S.
Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account of the Custodian in a U.S.
Securities System account (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
Fund which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Fund 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 Fund. The
Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of
the Fund 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 Fund. Copies of
all advices from the U.S. Securities System of transfers of
securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the
Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be
provided to the Fund at its request. Upon request, the
Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of each transfer
to or
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from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice
or notice and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the
U.S. Securities System for the account of the Fund;
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 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 any loss or
damage to the Fund resulting from use of the U.S. Securities
System by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or willful
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 Fund 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 the Fund 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;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund 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
Fund which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Fund 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 Fund. The Custodian shall
transfer securities sold for the account of the Fund 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
Fund;
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5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of each
transfer to or from the account of the Fund, 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
copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's
transaction in the Direct Paper System for the account of the
Fund;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund 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 from the Fund establish and maintain a segregated account or
accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred cash, securities and/or other property, 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, 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 Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash
or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written
by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold
by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the
procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission
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 Proper Instructions from the Fund 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 the Fund 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 Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication
of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver
to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices
relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATION RELATING TO FUND SECURITIES. Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund 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
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and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by
the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With
respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to
the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the
securities or other property whose tender or exchange is sought and from the
party (or his agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires
to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other
similar transaction, the Fund shall notify the Custodian at least three business
days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action, provided;
however, that if such notice is not timely the Custodian will still use
commercially reasonable efforts to take the action desired.
SECTION 3. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE FUND
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms, as used in
this Agreement, 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 promulgated under Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (as amended from time to time, "RULE 17F-5"), except that the term does
not include Mandatory Securities Depositories.
"FOREIGN ASSETS" means any of the Fund's 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 Fund's
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 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 subject to
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section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager set
forth in this Section 3 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United
States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as the Fund's Foreign
Custody Manager.
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 Fund. Mandatory Securities Depositories are listed on
Schedule B to this Contract, which Schedule B 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 of the account opening requirements
for the country (if any), the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have
been appointed by the Board of Trustees as Foreign Custody Manager with respect
to that country and to have accepted the delegation. Following the receipt of
Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board of Trustees 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 with respect to that country, subject to reappointment as
provided in the preceding sentence.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Ninety 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;
provided, however, that, in the event the Foreign Custody Manager believes in
its sole discretion that it can no longer hold assets in the country consistent
with Rule 17f-5, the Foreign Custody Manager shall after 30 days have no further
responsibility with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's
acceptance of delegation is withdrawn. The provisions of Section 3.9 hereof
shall govern the termination by the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the
Fund with respect to all countries.
SECTION 3.4. SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
3.4.1. Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3, the Fund's Foreign Custody Manager may place and
maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of
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the Eligible Foreign Custodians 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 the 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
relevant market, 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, 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 relevant market. Each such contract shall include provisions that provide:
(i) for indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any
combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund 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
12
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 Fund or as being held by a
third party for the benefit of the Fund;
(v) that the independent public accountants for the Fund 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 the Fund's account or a third party account
containing the Foreign Assets held for the benefit of the
Fund,
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 that it has selected are
no longer consistent with Rule 17f-5, 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 Fund. The Fund and the Custodian each
expressly acknowledge that the Custodian, in its role as Foreign Custody
Manager, shall not be delegated any responsibilities under this Section 3 with
respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories.
13
SECTION 3.6. STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE FUND.
In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Custodian, in its role
as 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 Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, 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 promptly make written reports notifying the Board
of Trustees of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of
the Fund described in this Section 3 after the occurrence of such material
change.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall from time to time provide to the Fund
such information with respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories as it
periodically provides to its other custody customers which are investment
companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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 Fund.
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 Fund 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 at the earlier of (i) ninety days after
receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice or (ii) the effectiveness of
the termination of this Agreement. The provisions of Section 3.3 hereof shall
govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD
OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. The following terms shall have the following
meanings:
"FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEM" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository which is listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities
Depository.
14
"FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIAN" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian or a Permissible Foreign Custodian.
"PERMISSIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIAN" means any person with whom property of the Fund
may be placed and maintained outside of the United States under (i) section
17(f) or 26(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, without regard
to Rule 17f-5 or (ii) an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Fund 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 Fund, 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 Fund which are maintained in
such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund 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. HOLDING OF FOREIGN ASSETS WITH PERMISSIBLE FOREIGN
CUSTODIANS. Subject to the requirements of Sections 17(f) and 26(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (and any other applicable law or
order), the Custodian may place and maintain Foreign Assets in the care of any
Permissible Foreign Custodian approved by the Board of Trustees pursuant to
Section 1 hereof. Section 3 hereof shall not apply to placement of Foreign
Assets by the Custodian with a Permissible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.5. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.5.1. Delivery of Foreign Securities. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund 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 sale of such foreign securities for the Fund 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;
15
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;
(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, misfeasance 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) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by
the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
(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
Proper Instructions 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.
16
4.5.2. Payment of Fund 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 the Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund in
accordance with reasonable market practices in the country
where such foreign securities are held or traded, 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 Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund,
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 Fund, 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 of foreign securities; and
(viii) for any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of
Proper Instructions 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.
4.5.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received
for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the
account of the Fund 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.
17
SECTION 4.6. 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 Fund 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 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
the Fund 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 4.7. BANK ACCOUNTS. A bank account or bank accounts opened and
maintained outside the United States in 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 Fund.
SECTION 4.8. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use its best
efforts to collect all income and other payments in due course with respect to
the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall
credit such income, as collected, to the Fund. 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 attendant thereto.
SECTION 4.9. PROXIES. The Custodian will generally, with respect to the
foreign securities held under this Section 4, use its best efforts 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 4.10. 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 Fund. 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.
Unless due to the Custodian's own negligence, misfeasance or willful misconduct,
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 Fund 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.
18
SECTION 4.11. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement
pursuant to which the Custodian employs 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 election of the Fund,
the Fund 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 Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense,
liability or claim.
SECTION 4.12. TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any
state or political subdivision thereof. To the extent that the Fund requires the
assistance of the Custodian with respect to any claim for exemption or refund
under the tax law of any jurisdiction other than the United States or of any
state or subdivision thereof, it shall be the responsibility of the Fund to
notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as
custodian of the Fund 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 jurisdictions for which the Fund
provided such information.
SECTION 4.13. 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 Fund 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 and the Transfer Agent of
any receipt by it of payments for Shares.
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
19
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. Proper Instructions may include communications effected
directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices. 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:
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;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, 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 Fund except as otherwise directed by the Board of
Trustees.
20
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting, in good faith, upon any
instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper
reasonably 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 copy of a vote of
the Board of Trustees of the Fund certified by the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk
of the Fund (a "CERTIFIED VOTE") as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of
any person to act in accordance with such vote 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 vote and such vote 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 Fund to keep the books of account of the
Fund and/or compute the net asset value per share of the outstanding Shares of
the Fund.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
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 Securities and Exchange Commission. The Custodian shall, at the
Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the
Fund and held by the Custodian itself or by a banking institution serving as a
sub-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 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 registration statement on Form
N-1A, the Fund's annual report on Form N-SAR or other material required to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any other
requirements of such Commission.
21
SECTION 12. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, 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 and the Custodian.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN; INDEMNIFICATION
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, misfeasance
or willful misconduct. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and act upon
advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) and, except as provided in
the next paragraph of this Section 14, shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be
without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by anything which is (A) part of Country Risk,
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 Fund, as such term is used in Securities and
Exchange Commission 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
Securities and Exchange Commission or by the staff of the Division of Investment
Management thereof.
In any case in which the Fund may be asked to indemnify or hold the
Custodian harmless, the Fund shall be fully and promptly advised of all
pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further
understood that the Custodian will use all reasonable care to identify and
notify the Fund
22
promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present
the probability of such claim for indemnification against the Fund; provided,
however, that the failure to so advise, identify or notify the Fund shall not in
any way limit the Fund's liability for indemnification under this Contract with
respect to any such claim to the extent that the defense thereof is not
materially prejudiced by such failure. If the Fund acknowledges in writing that
the Custodian is entitled to indemnification, the Fund shall have the option to
defend the Custodian against any claim which may be the subject of this
indemnification, and in the event that the Fund so elects, it will so notify the
Custodian, and thereupon the Fund shall take over complete defense of the claim.
In the event the Fund elects to assume the control of the defense of the claim,
the Custodian may participate in such proceeding and retain additional counsel
but shall bear all fees and expenses of such retention of such counsel, unless
(i) the Fund shall have specifically authorized the retention of such counsel,
or (ii) if the Fund and the Custodian agree that the retention of such counsel
is required as a result of a conflict of interest. In the event the Fund assumes
control of any proceeding, the Fund shall keep the Custodian notified of the
progress of such proceeding and, upon request, consult with the Custodian and
counsel. The Fund will, upon request by the Custodian, either pay in the first
instance or reimburse the Custodian for any expenses subject to indemnity
hereunder. The Fund shall not settle or compromise any proceeding without the
prior written consent of the Custodian unless (i) such settlement or compromise
involves no admission of guilt, wrongdoing, or misconduct by the Custodian, (ii)
such settlement or compromise does not impose any obligations or restrictions on
the Custodian other than obligations to pay money that are subject to indemnity
under this Agreement, and (iii) the Fund shall have paid, or made arrangements
satisfactory to the Custodian for payment of amounts payable by the Custodian in
connection with such settlement. The Custodian shall in no case confess any
claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Fund will be asked to
indemnify the Custodian except with the Fund's prior written consent.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence, misfeasance or
willful misconduct or the negligence, misfeasance 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 its investment adviser of the Fund in
its 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) any change in any provision of any present law
23
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 to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians
generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund 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 being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some
other form, the Fund, 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 that are related directly to the Fund's
securities transactions, except such as may arise from the Custodian's or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act, misfeasance or willful
misconduct, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund 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 the
Fund'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 act under Section 2.8 hereof in the absence
of receipt of an initial certificate of the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk of the
Fund that the Board of Trustees has approved the initial use of a particular
Securities System by the Fund, as required by Rule 17f-4 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, and that the Custodian shall not act under Section 2.9
hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the Clerk or an
Assistant Clerk of the Fund that the Board of Trustees has approved the initial
use of the Direct Paper System by the Fund; 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 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
24
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 shall pay to the Custodian
such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination.
SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for the Fund 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 and other property of the Fund then held by the
Custodian hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian
all of the securities, funds and other property of the Fund 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
a Certified Vote 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, 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 the Fund and all instruments held by the Custodian
relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement and to
transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities of the
Fund 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 Vote 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
25
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund 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 19. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof 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 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: THE BAUPOST FUND
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
P.O. Box 381288
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
26
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx XxXxxxx
Mail Stop JPB2N
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000000
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
Rule 14b-2 under the Exchange Act (the "Rule") 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.
27
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's
name, address, and share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the
Fund's name, address, and share positions.
SECTION 24. ASSIGNMENT
Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
SECTION 25. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file
with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby
given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument and
are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders of the Fund
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
28
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 the October 31st, 1997.
ATTEST THE BAUPOST FUND
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Title: CFO
ATTEST STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President Executive Vice President
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Argentina Citibank, N.A. --
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation --
Austria ERSTE Bank --
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. --
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
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Croatia Privredna 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 Hansa Bank --
Finland Xxxxxx Bank Limited --
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 --
1992
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Hungary Citibank Budapest Rt. --
India Deutsche Bank AG; --
The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Standard Chartered Bank --
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
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 Depository
The Fuji Bank, Limited; Center (JASDEC);
The Sumitomo Trust
& Banking Co., Ltd.
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 Citibank, N.A. --
Lebanon The British Bank of the Middle East Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Instruments for Lebanon (MIDCLEAR) X.X.X.;
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank --
Malaysia Berhad
1992
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Mexico Citibank Mexico, S.A. --
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc --
Namibia (via) Standard Bank of South Africa --
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 --
1992
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
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.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodna --
Banka A.S.
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. --
1992
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Venezuela Citibank, N.A. --
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited --
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN OPTIONAL DEPOSITORIES
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited --
Euroclear (The Euroclear System)
Cedel (Cedel Bank, societe anonyme)
INTERSETTLE (for EASDAQ Securities)
1992
39
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Argentina -Caja de Valores S.A.;
-CRYL
Australia -Austraclear Limited;
-Reserve Bank Information and
Transfer System (RITS)
Austria -Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Belgium -Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et
de Virements de Titres S.A. (CIK);
-Banque Nationale de Belgique
Brazil -Bolsa de Valores de Sao Paulo (Bovespa)
[CALISPA];
-Bolsa de Valores de Rio de Janeiro (BVRJ)
[CLC] - All SSB clients presently use Calispa
-Central de Custodia e de Liquidacao Financeira
de Titulos (CETIP)
-Banco Central do Brasil,
Systema Especial de Liquidacao e
Custodia (SELIC)
Canada -The Canadian Depository
for Securities Limited (CDS); West Canada
Depository Trust Company [depositories
linked]
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
People's Republic -Shanghai Securities Central Clearing and
of China Registration Corporation (SSCCRC);
-Shenzhen Securities Central Clearing
Co., Ltd. (SSCC)
Czech Republic --Stredisko cennych papiru(degree)
(SCP);
-Czech National Bank (CNB)
Denmark -Vaerdipapircentralen - The Danish
Securities Center (VP)
Egypt -Misr Company for Clearing, Settlement,
and Central Depository (MCSD)
Finland -The Finnish Central Securities
Depository (CSD)
France -Societe Interprofessionnelle
pour la Compensation des
Valeurs Mobilieres (SICOVAM);
-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 (CCASS);
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
-The Central Money Markets Unit (CMU)
Hungary -The Central Depository and Clearing
House (Budapest) Ltd. (KELER Ltd.)
[Mandatory for Gov't Bonds only;
SSB does not use for other securities]
1992
42
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Indonesia -Bank of Indonesia
Ireland -The Central Bank of Ireland,
The Gilt Settlement Office (GSO)
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 (KSD)
Lebanon -The Central Bank of Lebanon
Malaysia -Malaysian Central Depository Sdn.
Bhd. (MCD);
-Bank Negara Malaysia,
Scripless Securities Trading and Safekeeping
Systems (SSTS)
Mauritius -The Central Depository & Settlement
System (CDS)
Mexico -S.D. INDEVAL, S.A. de C.V.
(Instituto para el Deposito de
Valores);
-Banco de Mexico
1992
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Netherlands -Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor
Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. (NECIGEF);
-De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.
New Zealand -New Zealand Central Securities
Depository Limited (NZCSD)
Norway -Verdipapirsentralen - The Norwegian
Registry of Securities (VPS)
Oman -Muscat Securities Market (MSM)
Peru -Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones
(CAVALI, S.A.)
Philippines -The Philippines Central Depository Inc.(PCD)
-The Book-Entry-System (BES) of Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas;
-The Registry of Scripless Securities (XXXX) of the
Bureau of the Treasury
Poland -The National Depository of Securities
(Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych);
-National Bank of Poland
Portugal -Central de Valores Mobiliarios (Central)
Romania -National Securities Clearing,Settlement and
Depository Co. (SNCDD);
-Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE);
-National Bank of Romania
1992
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Singapore -The Central Depository (Pte)
Limited (CDP);
-Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
Slovak Republic -Stredisko Cennych Papierov (SCP);
-National Bank of Slovakia
South Africa -The Central Depository Limited (CD)
Spain -Servicio de Compensacion y
Liquidacion de Valores, S.A. (SCLV);
-Banco de Espana,
Anotaciones en Cuenta
Sri Lanka -Central Depository System
(Pvt) Limited (CDS)
Sweden -Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB -
The Swedish Central Securities Depository
Switzerland -Schweizerische Effekten - Giro AG
(SEGA);
Taiwan - R.O.C. -The Taiwan Securities Central
Depository Company, Ltd. (TSCD)
Thailand -Thailand Securities Depository
Company Limited (TSD)
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Tunisia -STICODEVAM;
-Central Bank of Tunisia;
-Tunisian Treasury
1992
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Turkey -Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S.
(TAKASBANK);
-Central Bank of Turkey
United Kingdom -The Bank of England,
The Central Gilts Office (CGO);
The Central Moneymarkets Office (CMO);
The European Settlements Office (ESO);
-First Chicago Clearing Centre
Uruguay -Central Bank of Uruguay
Zambia -Lusaka Central Depository (LCD)
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.