CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
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This Agreement between XXX XXX FUNDS, a business trust organized and
existing under the laws of Massachusetts (the "FUND"), and STATE STREET BANK and
TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the "CUSTODIAN"),
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with
each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities
and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends that this Agreement be applicable to series now
in existence and hereafter established (such series together with all other
series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement
in accordance with Section 18, be referred to herein as the "PORTFOLIO S";
Now THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of assets of the
Portfolios of the Fund, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio desires to be held in places within the United States
("DOMESTIC SECURITIES") and securities it desires to be held outside the United
States ("FOREIGN SECURITIES"). The Fund on behalf of the Portfolio(s) agrees to
deliver to the Custodian securities and cash of the Portfolios, and payments of
income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with
respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time and held
in custody hereunder, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or
treasury shares of beneficial interest of the Fund representing interests in the
Portfolios ("SHARES") as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian
shall not be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the
Portfolio and not delivered to the Custodian.
Upon receipt of "PROPER INSTRUCTIONS" (as such term is defined in Section 6
hereof), the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) from time
to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only
in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the
"BOARD") on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), and provided that the
Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on
account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any
such sub-custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as
sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign securities on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio(s) the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities
depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto but only in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4.
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SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY
THE CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES SECTION
2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate
for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by it in the
United States including all domestic securities owned by such Portfolio, other
than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing
agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system
authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a "U.S. SECURITIES
SYSTEM") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for which State Street Bank and
Trust Company acts as issuing and paying agent ("DIRECT PAPER") which is
deposited and/or maintained in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian (the
"DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM") pursuant to Section 2.9.
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver
domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a U.S.
Securities System account of the Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct Paper
book entry system account ("DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM ACCOUNT") only upon receipt of
Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the
following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement
related to such securities entered into by the Portfolio;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof,
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for securities of the Portfolio;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any
such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the
Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the
Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian
or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to
Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian
appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number
of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units; PROVIDED that, in any such
case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
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7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio, to
the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in
accordance with "street delivery" custom; provided that in any such
case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any
loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving
payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian's
own negligence or willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the
securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions
for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit
agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and
cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender
thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities
or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for
definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the
Portfolio, BUT ONLY against receipt of collateral in such form and such
amount as directed by the Fund, except that in connection with any
loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian's account
in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the
delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to the receipt of
such collateral unless the Custodian has acted with negligence or
willful misconduct;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund
on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio, BUT ONLY against receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE
ACT") and a member of The National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding
escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Portfolio of the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian, and a futures
commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act,
relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and/or any
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contract market, or any similar organization or organizations,
regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the
Portfolio of the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the Fund (the
"TRANSFER AGENT") for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders
of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described
from time to time in the currently effective prospectus and statement
of additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio (the
"PROSPECTUS"), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for
repurchase or redemption; and
15) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio
specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered, setting
forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such
purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and naming the person or persons
to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Portfolio, UNLESS, the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of
a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having
the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by
the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall
be in "street name" or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs
the Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall
utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such
securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant
corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities,
tender or exchange offers.
SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate
bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each Portfolio of
the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to
the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the
Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank account
established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 ACT"). Funds held by the Custodian for a
Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the Banking
Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may
in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; PROVIDED, however, that every
such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the
1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited
with each such bank or trust company shall on behalf of each applicable
Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such funds shall be
deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be
withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
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SECTION 2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3,
the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with
respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each Portfolio
shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities
business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with
respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer,
such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit
such income, as collected, to such Portfolio's custodian account. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present
for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and
when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held
hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The
Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other
than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to
assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the
income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions on
behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a
Portfolio in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or
options on futures contracts for the account of the Portfolio but only
(a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to
such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the
Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in
the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to
act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its
agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or in
the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3
hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase
effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a
purchase involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.9; (d) in the case of repurchase
agreements entered into between the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and
the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of
NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form
or through an entry crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal
Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the
receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by the
Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian
to repurchase such securities from the Portfolio; (e) for transfer to a
time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or
foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a
confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to
Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein; or (f) for
transfer to a bank in connection with a Loan Participation Agreement in
accordance with Proper Instructions;
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2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities
owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in
Section 5 hereof,
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments for the account of
the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management, accounting, transfer agent
and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such
expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred
expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio 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/corporate] purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom
such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or times
in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust
company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as
its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian
may from time to time direct; PROVIDED, however, that the appointment of any
agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities
hereunder.
SECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in a U.S. Securities
System provided that such securities are represented in an account of
the Custodian in the U.S. Securities System (the "U.S. SECURITIES
SYSTEM ACCOUNT") which account shall not include any assets of the
Custodian other than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise
for customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Portfolio;
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3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account of the
Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S. Securities System
that such securities have been transferred to the U.S. Securities
System Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the
Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account
of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S. Securities
System that payment for such securities has been transferred to the
U.S. Securities System Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the
account of the Portfolio. Copies of all advices from the U.S.
Securities System of transfers of securities for the account of the
Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be maintained for the Portfolio
by the Custodian and be provided to the Fund at its request. Upon
request, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the
Portfolio in the form of a written advice or notice and shall furnish
to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily transaction
sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the U.S. Securities System
for the account of the Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian on the U.S. Securities System's accounting system, internal
accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited
in the U.S. Securities System;
5) [Reserved.];
6) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio
for any loss or damage to the Portfolio resulting from use of the U.S.
Securities System by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or
misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or
their employees or from failure of the Custodian or any such agent to
enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the U.S.
Securities System; at the election of the Fund, it shall be entitled to
be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim
against the U.S. Securities System or any other person which the
Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and
to the extent that the Portfolio has not been made whole for any such
loss or damage.
SECTION 2.9 FUND ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio
in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following
provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper System will
be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions from the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio;
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2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in the Direct Paper
System only if such securities are represented in the Direct Paper
System Account, which account shall not include any assets of the
Custodian other than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise
for customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account of the
Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian
to reflect such payment and transfer of securities to the account of
the Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
account of the Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the records of
the Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt of payment for the
account of the Portfolio;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Portfolio,
in the form of a written advice or notice, of Direct Paper on the next
business day following such transfer and shall furnish to the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting
each day's transaction in the Direct Paper System for the account of
the Portfolio;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio with
any report on its system of internal accounting control as the Fund may
reasonably request from time to time.
SECTION 2.10 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper
Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio establish and maintain a
segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such Portfolio, into
which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including
securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8
hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission merchant
registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the
rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any
similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in
connection with transactions by the Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating
cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or
written by the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon
purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the
Portfolio with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No.
10666, or any subsequent release of the SEC, or interpretative opinion of the
staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by
registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper trust purposes, BUT
ONLY, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the
Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, setting
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forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such
purpose(s) to be a proper trust purpose.
SECTION 2.11 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall
execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and
state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with
respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in connection
with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.12 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in
the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without
indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall
promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and
all notices relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund
for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation,
pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of
rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options
written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from
issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to tender
or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Portfolio all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities
whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the
tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires to take action with respect
to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction, the
Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
SECTION 3. THE CUSTODIAN As FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE PORTFOLIOS
SECTION 3.1 DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms shall have the
indicated meanings:
"COUNTRY RISK" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment; economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Mandatory Securities Depositories operating in the country);
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices; and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country.
"ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIAN" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under
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Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act, except that the term does not include Mandatory
Securities Depositories.
"FOREIGN ASSETS" means any of the Portfolios' investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios'
transactions in such investments.
"FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2) of Rule
17f-5.
"MANDATORY SECURITIES DEPOSITORY" means a foreign securities depository or
clearing agency that, either as a legal or practical matter, must be used if the
Fund, on the Portfolios' behalf, determines to place Foreign Assets in a country
outside the United States (i) because required by law or regulation; (ii)
because securities cannot be withdrawn from such foreign securities depository
or clearing agency; or (iii) because maintaining or effecting trades in
securities outside the foreign securities depository or clearing agency is not
consistent with prevailing or developing custodial or market practices.
SECTION 3.2 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Fund, by resolution adopted by the Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian with
respect to the Portfolios, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the
responsibilities set forth in this Section 3 with respect to Foreign Assets of
the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts
such delegation, as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.
SECTION 3.3 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Fund with the Agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the
Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time
to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. 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 on behalf of the Portfolios of the
applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody
Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board on behalf of the
Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that
country and to have accepted such delegation. Following the receipt of Proper
Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of a
Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of the
Portfolios to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be
deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian
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shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios
with respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period as to which the parties agree in
writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have
no further responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to
the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.
SECTION 3.4 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
3.4.1. SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the provisions
of this Section 3, the Portfolios' Foreign Custody Manager may place and
maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as
Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible
Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign
Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to
custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that
Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors
specified,in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
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 satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
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 at reasonable intervals (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 (or the rules or established practices and
procedures in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager which is a foreign securities depository or clearing agency that
is not a Mandatory Securities Depository). In the event the Foreign Custody
Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign
Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager
shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.7 hereunder.
SECTION 3.5 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. It shall
not be the responsibility of the Foreign Custody Manager to consider Country
Risk as part of its delegated responsibility hereunder. The Fund and the
Custodian each expressly acknowledge that the Foreign Custody Manager shall not
be delegated any responsibilities under this Section 3 with respect to Mandatory
Securities Depositories.
11
SECTION 3.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE PORTFOLIOS.
In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager
agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person
having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
SECTION 3.7 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall
report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian
and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian
by providing to the Board amended Schedules A or B at the end of the calendar
quarter in which an amendment to either Schedule has occurred. The Foreign
Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other
material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios described
in this Section 3 after the occurrence of the material change and upon request
of the Fund shall periodically certify compliance with the requirements of Rule
17f-5 as in effect from time to time.
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 has
determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to
perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the
Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.
SECTION 3.9 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date of execution of this
Agreement and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without
penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating
party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the
non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.3 hereof shall
govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 3.10 INFORMATION REGARDING MANDATORY SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES. The
Custodian will from time to time provide information to the Fund regarding
settlement and safekeeping practices and procedures in foreign markets in which
it provides custody services, and shall be responsible to use reasonable care in
gathering such information. The Custodian shall provide the Fund with such
information as the Fund may reasonably request to enable the Fund (or its
delegate) to determine that assets maintained in a Mandatory Securities
Depository will be subject to reasonable care, which information may include any
or all of the information in Rule 17f-7 (or any similar rule) as currently
proposed or as in effect from time to time. In the event that the Foreign
Custody Manager shall in the future offer review or other information services
with respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories other than as set forth
herein, it agrees that it shall notify the Fund thereof and negotiate in good
faith with the Fund with respect thereto.
12
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS
HELD OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Section 4 shall have the
following meanings:
"FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEM" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities Depository
listed on Schedule B hereto.
"FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIAN" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books
as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign
securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are
maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the
Portfolios and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in
which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so
held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such
Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3 FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country only through
arrangements implemented by the Foreign Sub-Custodian in such country pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.4 TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4. 1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios
held by such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account,
only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions
when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolios in
accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the
country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including,
without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving
later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a
Foreign Securities System in accordance with the rules governing the
operation of the Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;
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(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the
Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of
any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for
exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or
trade execution in accordance with market custom; PROVIDED that in any
such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities
prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from
the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the
securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions
for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit
agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar
securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities
for definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Portfolios requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including
delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other proper 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.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF PORTFOLIO MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of
a Portfolio in the following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio,
unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A)
delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer
14
therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against
expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign
securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a
Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules
governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the Portfolio;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees
under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange
contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions executed
with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other proper 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/corporate]
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment
is to be made.
4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the
account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the
account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the
country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without
limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer
therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of
receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to
custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a
Foreign Sub-Custodian, including without limitation information relating to
Foreign Securities Systems, described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times
set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to
time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided
with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
SECTION 4.5 REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer
securities) shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in
the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign
15
Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund on
behalf of such Portfolio agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any
liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a
Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities
and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable
market practice.
SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies)
deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or
market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the
Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts opened and maintained outside the
United States on behalf of a Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall be
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian,
acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from
or for the account of the Portfolio.
SECTION 4.7 COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and
shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the
event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund
and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation
and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities held
pursuant to this Agreement, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts
to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject
always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the
country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local
conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack
of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability
of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian via the
Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the
account of the Portfolios. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information so received by
the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is
sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender,
exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other
property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or
the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign
securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with
regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur
at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
action to exercise such right or power
16
SECTION 4.10 LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS AND FOREIGN SECURITIES
SYSTEMS. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs as a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian
to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and, to the extent
possible, to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any
loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection
with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations, or, in lieu
thereof, shall satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2)(ii). At the Fund's
election, the Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the
Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and
to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made whole for any such loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund, the
Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the
United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the
responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on
the Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the
Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The
sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or
refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
SECTION 4.12 CONFLICT. If the Custodian is delegated the responsibilities
of Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Section 3 hereof, in the
event of any conflict between the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof, the
provisions of Section 3 shall prevail.
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from the
Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio such
payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by
the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund on behalf
of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments
for Shares of such Portfolio.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall,
upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for
payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request
for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial
bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian
by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the
holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such
procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between
the Fund and the Custodian.
17
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 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 provided that the Fund and the
Custodian agree to security procedures, including but not limited to, the
security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum attached
hereto. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include
instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement
which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.10.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this
Agreement, PROVIDED that all such payments shall be accounted for to
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive
form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with
the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other
dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as
otherwise directed by the Board.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting 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 resolution certified by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund ("CERTIFIED RESOLUTION") as
conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with
such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as
described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full
force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the
contrary.
18
SECTION 9. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the
entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of each
Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares
or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio,
shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per
Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income
of the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and
the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if
instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the
Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various
components. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily
income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from time
to time in the Prospectus.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain all
records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such
manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 3la-1 and 31a-2 thereunder.
All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during
the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of
the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a
tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and
shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be
agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in
such tabulations.
SECTION 11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf of
each applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year to
year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect to
its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's Form
N-1A, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any
other requirements thereof.
SECTION 12. REPORTS To FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios
at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent
public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and
procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures
contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities
System or a Foreign Securities System, relating to the services provided by the
Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and
in
19
sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide
reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such
examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services
and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care,
the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of
any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it
pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any
futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party
futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of
reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be
kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence and otherwise in
compliance with its obligations hereunder. It shall be entitled to rely on and
may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters,
and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted
pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund
and the Portfolios for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or
caused by anything which is (A) part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3
hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism, or (B) part of the
"prevailing country risk" of the Portfolios, as such term is used in SEC Release
Nos. IC-22658; IS-1080 (May 12, 1997) or as such term or other similar terms are
now or in the future interpreted by the SEC or by the staff of the Division of
Investment Management thereof.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent,
the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability,
claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond
the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities
System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without
limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the
closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work
stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts, provided that the
Custodian shall have taken reasonable steps to minimize the harm resulting from
such event or circumstance; (ii) errors by the Fund or the Investment Advisor in
their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in
accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by
a Securities System; (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or
intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing
system to deliver to the Custodian's sub-custodian or agent securities
20
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 provision of any present or future law or
regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or
any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent
jurisdiction.
In addition to the Custodian's obligations as Foreign Custody Manager
hereunder, the Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any
action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or
which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or
its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment
of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form reasonably
satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents,
to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to
securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in
the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall
be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly,
the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such
Portfolio's assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable to the Fund or the Fund liable to
the Custodian 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 Fund shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in
contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision
of the Fund's Master Trust Agreement, and further provided, that the Fund on
behalf of one or more of the Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board
(i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice
as described above
21
to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of
the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the
Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the
direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent
jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund on behalf of each applicable
Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the
date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its
costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by
the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor
custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for
transfer, all securities of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder
and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the
securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in
like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of
the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in
accordance with such resolution.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the
date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have
the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in
the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of
its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all
securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto
and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian
all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System.
Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian
under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services
during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds
and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 17. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the
Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on such
provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as
may in their joint opinion be consistent with the
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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 Master
Trust Agreement. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in
the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
SECTION 18. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to those existing on the date hereof with respect to which it desires
to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it
shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing
to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio
hereunder.
SECTION 19. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts without
giving effect to the conflict or choice of law provisions thereof.
SECTION 20. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior
Agreements between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
SECTION 21. NOTICES.
Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder
may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein
during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex,
cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other
addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.
To the Fund: VAN ECK FUNDS
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
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To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Vice President, Insurance Services
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been
served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business
days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and,
in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal
business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after
delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or
telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice
was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive
evidence of posting.
SECTION 22. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, 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. DATA ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Data
Access Services Addendum and Fund Transfer Operating Guidelines attached hereto.
Sections 26 and 27 of this Agreement shall apply to the Data Access Services
Addendum and Funds Transfer Operating Guidelines.
SECTION 24. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION
SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of
customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names,
addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by
the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of
this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund
to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name,
address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund
owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide this
information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or
does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule
to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund.
For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using
the Fund's name and address
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for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below
whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.
YES [ x ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's name, address,
and share positions.
NO [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name,
address, and share positions.
SECTION 25 YEAR 2000
The Custodian will take reasonable steps to ensure that its products (and
those of its third party suppliers) reflect the available state of the art
technology to offer products that are Year 2000 compliant, including, but not
limited to, century recognition of dates, calculations that correctly compute
same century and multi century formulas and date values, and interface values
that reflect the date issues arising between now and the next one-hundred years.
SECTION 26 DISCLAIMER OF CROSS-LIABILITY
The Custodian acknowledges that Fund is a registered investment company
organized as a trust with multiple series (each series being referred to in the
Agreement as a "Portfolio"). Under no circumstances shall the rights and
obligations applicable to one Portfolio constitute a right or obligation
applicable to any other Portfolio. Without otherwise limiting the scope of the
foregoing, the Custodian shall have no right to set off claims of the Custodian
against the Fund with respect to a Portfolio by applying property of any other
Portfolio. The Custodian shall maintain separate transaction records on its
books for each Portfolio as if it were a separate investment company.
SECTION 27 NON-RECOURSE PROVISIONS
The Custodian acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the trustees of
the Fund are regarded as entering into this Agreement, they do so only as
trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Agreement are not
binding upon any such trustee, officer, employee or interest holder
individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund. The
Custodian hereby agrees that such trustees, officers, employees or interest
holders shall not be personally liable under this Agreement and that the
Custodian shall look solely to the property of the Portfolio to which a
transaction relates for the performance of or payment of any claim under this
Agreement.
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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 June __, 1999.
XXX XXX FUNDS
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------------
Title: Secretary
------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------
Title: Vice President
------------------------
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