Exhibit (g)(3)
AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Amendment to the Custodian Contract is made as of July 2, 2001, by
and between XXXXXXX FOCUS VALUE PLUS GROWTH FUND (formerly Xxxxxx Value Plus
Growth Fund) (the "Fund") and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the
"Custodian"). Capitalized terms used in this Amendment without definition shall
have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Custodian Contract
referred to below.
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian entered into a Custodian Contract
dated as of April 19, 1999 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the
"Contract"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend certain provisions
of the Contract to reflect revisions to Rule 17f-5 ("Rule 17f-5") and the
adoption of Rule 17f-7 ("Rule 17f-7") promulgated under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend and restate certain
other provisions of the Contract relating to the custody of assets of the Fund
held outside of the United States.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree to
amend the Contract, pursuant to the terms thereof, as follows:
I. Article 3 of the Contract is hereby deleted, and Articles 4 through 19
of the Contract are hereby renumbered, as of the effective date of this
Amendment, as Articles 5 through 20, respectively.
II. New Articles 3 and 4 of the Contract are hereby added, as of the
effective date of this Amendment, as set forth below.
3. Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7
3.1. Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Amendment shall have the
following 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 Eligible Securities Depository 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 direct or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank
(as defined in Section (a)(7) of 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")), or a foreign branch of
a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements
of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include
any Eligible Securities Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"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)(3) of Rule 17f-5.
3.2. The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.
3.2.1 Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Fund,
by resolution adopted by its Board of Trustees (the "Board"), hereby delegates
to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set
forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Fund held
outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as
Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Fund.
3.2.2 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 Contract, 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
Fund, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time
in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section
3.2.5 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 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 Fund responsibility as Foreign
Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such
delegation. Execution of this Amendment by the Fund shall be deemed to be a
Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets,
in each country listed on Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously
placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the
Contract. 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 on behalf of the Fund to the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the
Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund
with respect to that country.
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In the event that the Foreign Custody Manager determines that no Eligible
Foreign Custodian in the designated market satisfies the requirements of Rule
17f-5, the Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to such designated country upon written notice to
the Fund. Sixty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in
writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have
no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund
with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation
is withdrawn.
3.2.3 Scope of Delegated Responsibilities:
(a) Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3.2, the 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).
(b) Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign
Custody Manager shall determine that the contract 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).
(c) 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) performance of the contract governing the
custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the
Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines
that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected
are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
3.2.4 Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes
of this Section 3.2, the Board, directly or by delegation to its duly authorized
investment adviser or investment manager, 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.
3.2.5 Reporting Requirements. At least annually and more frequently as
the Board deems reasonable and appropriate based on the circumstances, the
Custodian shall provide the
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Board with written reports specifying placement of the Fund's Foreign Assets
with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Custodian and shall
promptly report to the Board, or its duly authorized investment adviser or
manager, as to any material changes to such foreign custody arrangement.
3.2.6 Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund. 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.
3.2.7 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 Contract to the
Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof 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 sixty (60) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such
notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to
and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with
respect to designated countries.
3.3 Eligible Securities Depositories.
3.3.1 Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund
(or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) with an
analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the
Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance
with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a
continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized
investment manager or investment adviser) of any material change in such risks,
in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
3.3.2 Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable
care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section
3.3.1.
4. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held
Outside the United States.
4.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Article 4 shall have the
following meanings:
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"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
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) 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.
4.3 Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a
Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements
implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such
country.
4.4. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.
4.4.1. Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by
the Custodian or 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 Fund 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 Fund;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
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(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 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 purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
4.4.2. 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, 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;
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(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 Contract, 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;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in
respect of securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming
the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Contract 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.
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 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.
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 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, provided that a nominee does not act negligently,
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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 Contract unless the form of such securities and the manner in
which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
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 shall be opened and maintained outside the United
States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred
to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or,
if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of the
Contract to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash
maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries
and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank
accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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 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 relating
to such measures.
4.8 Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to
this Article 4, 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.
4.9. Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit
promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by
the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign
securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written
information with respect to materials 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. Absent negligence on the
part of the Custodian, 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
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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.
4.10. 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 indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any
loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection
with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At the Fund's
election, the 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 have not been made whole for any such loss, damage,
cost, expense, liability or claim.
4.11. 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. 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 countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
4.12. Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon request of the Fund,
the Custodian will use reasonable efforts to arrange for the independent
accountants of the Fund to be afforded access to the books and records of any
foreign banking institution employed as a foreign sub-custodian insofar as such
books and records relate to the performance of such foreign banking institution
under its agreement with the Custodian.
4.13 Liability of Custodian. Except as may arise from the Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any
loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is
part of Country Risk.
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 the Contract and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in
the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the
Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or
acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Foreign Sub-Custodian has
otherwise acted with reasonable care.
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III. Except as specifically superseded or modified herein, the terms and
provisions of the Contract shall continue to apply with full force and effect.
In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Contract prior to this
Amendment and this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment shall prevail. If the
Custodian is delegated the responsibilities of Foreign Custody Manager pursuant
to the terms of Article 3 hereof, in the event of any conflict between the
provisions of Articles 3 and 4 hereof, the provisions of Article 3 shall
prevail.
IV. Limitation of Liability. It is understood and expressly stipulated that none
of the trustees, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund shall be
personally liable under the Contract. It is understood and acknowledged that all
persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for
the enforcement of any claims against the Fund, as neither the trustees,
officers agents nor shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations
entered into on behalf of the Fund.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Amendment to be executed
in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date
first above written.
WITNESSED BY: STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY
/s/Xxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President ----------------------------
& Associate Counsel Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
WITNESSED BY: XXXXXXX FOCUS VALUE PLUS GROWTH FUND
/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxx
---------------------
Name: By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: -----------------------
Name:
Title:
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