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EXHIBIT g(2)(b)
AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
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This Amendment to the Custodian Contract is made as of May 1, 2000, by
and between each entity set forth in Appendix A hereto (each such entity
referred to herein as the "Fund") and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the
"Custodian"). Capitalized terms used in this Amendment without definition shall
have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Custodian Contract
referred to below.
WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian entered into a Master Custodian
Contract dated as of May 1, 2000 (as amended and in effect from time to time,
the "Contract"); and
WHEREAS, each Fund so authorized may issue shares in separate series,
with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets, (each such series, together with all other series
subsequently established by each Fund and made subject to the Contract in
accordance with the terms thereof, shall be referred to as a "Portfolio", and,
collectively, the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian desire to amend certain provisions
of the Contract to reflect revisions to Rule 17f-5 ("Rule 17f-5") promulgated
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian desire to amend and restate
certain other provisions of the Contract relating to the terms and conditions of
the custody of assets of each of the Portfolios 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 25
of the Contract are hereby amended, as of the effective date of this
Amendment, by renumbering same as Articles 5 through 26, 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. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
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3.1. DEFINITIONS.
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Capitalized terms in this Article 3 of the Contract 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 Mandatory
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Securities Depositories operating in the country); prevailing or developing
custody and settlement practices; laws and regulations applicable to the
safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country; and
factors comprising the "prevailing country risk", including the effects of
foreign law on the safekeeping of Portfolio assets, the likelihood of
expropriation, nationalization, freezing, or confiscation of a Portfolio's
assets and any reasonably foreseeable difficulties in repatriating a Portfolio's
assets.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the 1940 Act, except that the term does not include Mandatory Securities
Depositories.
"Foreign Assets" means any of a Portfolio's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States, currency
contracts that are settled outside the United States and such cash and cash
equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect a Portfolio's transactions in
such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2) of Rule
17f-5.
"Mandatory Securities Depository" means a foreign securities depository or
clearing agency that, either as a legal or practical matter, must be used if a
Fund determines to place Foreign Assets in a country outside the United States
(i) because required by law or regulation; (ii) because securities cannot be
withdrawn from such foreign securities depository or clearing agency; or (iii)
because maintaining or effecting trades in securities outside the foreign
securities depository or clearing agency is not consistent with prevailing or
developing custodial or market practices.
3.2. DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
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Each applicable Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board of Trustees or Board of
Directors (as appropriate and in each case, the "Board"), hereby delegates to
the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set
forth in this Article 3 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United
States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation, as Foreign Custody
Manager of each Portfolio.
3.3. COUNTRIES COVERED.
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The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated
responsibilities defined below only with respect to (a) the countries listed on
Schedule A hereto as approved by the applicable Fund's Board, which list of
Board-approved countries may be amended from time to time by a Fund with the
agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager, and (b) the custody arrangements set
forth on such Schedule A. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A
the Eligible Foreign Custodians
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selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of each
Portfolio, 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 of this Article 3.
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 a Fund of the account opening requirements
for such country (if any), the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have
been appointed by the Board as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that
country and to have accepted the delegation. Execution of this Amendment by a
Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place
or maintain Foreign Assets, in each Board-approved 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 a
Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board 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 Portfolio 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
applicable Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period as to which the parties
agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the applicable Fund, the
Custodian shall have no further responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager to a
Portfolio with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of
delegation is withdrawn.
3.4. SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
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3.4.1. SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS.
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Subject to the provisions of this Article 3, the Foreign Custody Manager may
place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed as
"approved" on Schedule A, as such Schedule is amended from time to time.
In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place
or maintain the Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign
Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to
reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the 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).
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3.4.2. CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS.
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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.
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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 maintain a system to monitor (i) the
appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign
Custodian, and (ii) the contract governing the custody arrangements established
by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian (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).
The Foreign Custody Manager shall provide the Board with information at least
annually as to the factors used in such monitoring system. In the event the
Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an
Eligible Foreign Custodian that it has selected are no longer appropriate, the
Foreign Custody Manager shall promptly transfer each Fund's Foreign Assets to
another Eligible Foreign Custodian in the market and shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.7 hereunder.
3.5. GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY.
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For purposes of this Article 3, each Fund's Board 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 a Portfolio, and such Board shall be
deemed to be monitoring on a continuing basis such Country Risk to the extent
that such Board considers necessary or appropriate.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Contract to the contrary, each Fund on
behalf of the Portfolios and the Custodian expressly acknowledge and agree that
the Foreign Custody Manager shall not be delegated any responsibilities under
this Article 3 with respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories, and that the
determination by or on behalf of each Fund's Board to place the Foreign Assets
in a particular country shall be deemed to include the determination to place
such Foreign Assets eligible for any Mandatory Securities Depository with such
Mandatory Securities Depository, whether the Mandatory Securities Depository
exists at the time the Foreign Assets are acquired, or after the acquisition
thereof.
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3.6. STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF A PORTFOLIO.
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In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager
shall 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.
3.7. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
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The Foreign Custody Manager shall report at least quarterly on the Foreign
Assets held with each Eligible Foreign Custodian and in connection therewith if
applicable, provide 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 will make written reports notifying the Board of any
other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios
described in this Article 3 promptly after the occurrence of the material
change.
3.8. REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17f-5.
-------------------------------------------
The Foreign Custody Manager represents to each Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as
defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5.
Each Fund represents to the Custodian that its Board has determined that it is
reasonable for such Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the
responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Contract to the Custodian as the
Foreign Custody Manager of each Portfolio.
3.9. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY
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MANAGER.
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Each Fund's Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of a
Portfolio 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 thirty 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 applicable Fund
with respect to designated countries.
3.10 FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS.
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If at any time prior to termination of this Amendment the Custodian as a matter
of standard business practice, accepts delegation as Foreign Custody Manager for
its U.S. mutual fund clients on terms materially different than set forth in
this Amendment, the Custodian hereby agrees to negotiate with each Fund in good
faith with respect thereto.
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4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS HELD
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OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
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4.1 DEFINITIONS.
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Terms used in this Article 4 and not defined below shall have the meanings
ascribed them in the Contract or in this Amendment:
"Foreign Securities System" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository which is listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities
Depository.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES.
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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.
4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS.
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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 Contract.
4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
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4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS.
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The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign
securities of a Portfolio held by such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign
Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may
be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in
the following cases:
(i) upon sale of such foreign securities for the applicable
Portfolio in accordance with reasonable market practice in the
country where such Foreign Assets are held or traded,
including, without limitation: (A)
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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 applicable
Portfolio;
(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 reasonable
market practices in the country where such securities are held
or traded; provided that in any such case the 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
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
any Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the applicable
Portfolio;
(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 corporate purpose, but only upon receipt
of, in addition to Proper Instructions, a copy of a resolution
of the applicable
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Board or of an Executive Committee of the applicable Board so
authorized by the Board, signed by an officer of the
applicable Fund and certified by its Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary that the resolution was duly adopted and is in full
force and effect (a "Certified Resolution"), specifying the
Foreign Assets to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for
which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to
be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or
persons to whom delivery of such Foreign Assets shall be made.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF PORTFOLIO MONIES.
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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, moneys of a Portfolio in the following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the applicable
Portfolio, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions,
in accordance with reasonable market settlement practice in
the country where such foreign securities are held or traded,
including, without limitation: (A) delivering money to the
seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such
seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later
delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a
purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of such
Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the applicable Portfolio;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the applicable
Portfolio 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 applicable 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, in
addition to Proper Instructions, a Certified Resolution
specifying the amount of such
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payment, setting forth the purpose for which such payment is
to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be
made.
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4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS; MARKET INFORMATION.
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Notwithstanding any provision of this Contract to the contrary, settlement and
payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of a Portfolio and delivery
of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of a Portfolio 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 generally accepted by Institutional Clients, including, without
limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer
therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) against a receipt with the
expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such
purchaser or dealer. For purposes of this Contract, "Institutional Clients"
means U.S. registered investment companies or major U.S. based commercial banks,
insurance companies, pension funds or substantially similar institutions which,
as a part of their ordinary business operations, purchase or sell securities and
make use of global custody services.
The Custodian shall provide to each Fund's 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 each Fund's Board being
provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided
hereunder and, provided further, that the Custodian shall in any event provide
to each Fund's Board and to A I M Advisors, Inc. annually the following
information and opinions with respect to the Board-approved countries listed on
Schedule A:
(i) legal opinions relating to whether local law restricts with
respect to U.S. registered mutual funds (a) access of a fund's
independent public accountants to books and records of a
Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (b) a
fund's ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or
insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities
System, (c) a fund's ability to recover in the event of a loss
by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, and
(d) the ability of a foreign investor to convert cash and cash
equivalents to U.S. dollars;
(ii) summary of information regarding Foreign Securities Systems;
and
(iii) country profile information containing market practice for (a)
delivery versus payment, (b) settlement method, (c) currency
restrictions, (d) buy-in practices, (e) foreign ownership
limits, and (f) unique market arrangements.
4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES.
-----------------------------------
The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Custodian (other
than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the applicable Fund
(on behalf of the
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applicable Portfolio) or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any
Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the
applicable Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a
holder of record of such foreign securities, except to the extent that the
applicable Fund incurs loss or damage due to failure of such nominee to meet its
standard of care as set forth in the Contract. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of the
applicable Fund (on behalf of the applicable Portfolio) 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.
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The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to a Portfolio 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 Contract to hold cash received by or from or for the
account of the applicable Portfolio.
4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME.
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The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all dividends,
income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to
which a Portfolio shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected,
to the applicable Portfolio. In the event the Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian must use measures beyond those which are customary in a particular
country to collect such payments, the applicable Fund and the Custodian shall
consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the
Custodian attendant thereto.
4.8. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS.
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With respect to the foreign securities held under this Article 4, the Custodian
will use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the exercise by the
applicable Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolios of voting and other
shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical
constraints that may obtain in the country where such securities are issued.
Each 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 each Fund to exercise shareholder
rights.
4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES.
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The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable 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
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Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account
of a Portfolio. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall
transmit promptly to the applicable 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.
Subject to the standard of care to which the Custodian is held under this
Contract, 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 applicable Portfolio 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 two New York 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 AND FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS.
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Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian
shall, to the extent possible consistent with prevailing market practice,
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 such Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At
the election of each Fund, such 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 applicable Fund and any
applicable Portfolio has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost,
expense, liability or claim.
4.11. TAX LAW.
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The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now
or hereafter imposed on any Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios
by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision
thereof. With respect to jurisdictions other than the United States, the sole
responsibility of the Custodian with regard to the tax law of any such
jurisdiction shall be to use reasonable efforts to (a) notify the applicable
Fund of the obligations imposed on such Fund with respect to the Portfolios or
the Custodian as custodian of such Portfolios by the tax law of such
jurisdictions, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes,
assessment or other governmental charges, certifications and government
reporting and (b) perform such ministerial steps as are required to collect any
tax refund, to ascertain the appropriate rate of tax withholding and to provide
such documents as may be required to enable each Fund to receive appropriate tax
treatment under applicable tax laws and any applicable treaty provisions. The
Custodian, in performance of its duties under this Section, shall be entitled to
treat each Fund which is organized as a Delaware business trust as a Delaware
business trust which is a "registered investment company" under the laws of the
United States, and it shall be the duty of each Fund to inform the Custodian of
any change in the organization, domicile or, to the extent within the knowledge
of the applicable Fund,
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other relevant facts concerning tax treatment of such Fund and further to inform
the Custodian if such Fund is or becomes the beneficiary of any special ruling
or treatment not applicable to the general nationality and category of entity of
which such Fund is a part under general laws and treaty provisions. The
Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information supplied by the
applicable Fund. The Custodian may engage reasonable professional advisors
disclosed to each Fund by the Custodian, which may include attorneys,
accountants or financial institutions in the regular business of investment
administration and may rely upon advice received therefrom.
4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN.
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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 any Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by Country Risk (as such term is defined in Article 3
hereof), regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities Depository, the Custodian shall be without
liability for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or
terrorism, or any other similar loss beyond the reasonable control of the
Custodian or the Sub-Custodian.
The Custodian shall be liable to each Fund on account of any actions or
omissions of any Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as such Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall be liable to the Custodian.
4.13 USE OF TERM "FUND"; ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
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All references in this Article 4 or in Article 3 of this Agreement to "Fund"
shall mean any Fund, or a Portfolio of any Fund, as the context requires or as
applicable.
The Custodian shall maintain separate and distinct records for each Portfolio
and the assets allocated solely with such Portfolio shall be held and accounted
for separately from the assets of each Fund associated solely with any other
Portfolio. The debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted
for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Portfolio shall be
enforceable against the assets of such Portfolio only, and not against the
assets of any Fund generally or the assets of any other Portfolio.
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.
14
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/ XXXXXXXXX X. POSTER By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------- ----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Poster Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President Title: Vice Chairman
WITNESSED BY:
EACH OF THE ENTITIES SET FORTH ON
APPENDIX A ATTACHED HERETO
/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXX By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
---------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Senior Vice President
15
APPENDIX A
AIM ADVISOR FUNDS, INC. AIM INVESTMENT SECURITIES FUNDS
o AIM Advisor Flex Fund o AIM High Yield Fund II
o AIM Advisor International Fund
o AIM Advisor Large Cap Value Fund AIM SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUNDS
o AIM Advisor Real Estate Fund o AIM Small Cap Opportunities Fund
o AIM Mid Cap Opportunities Fund
AIM EQUITY FUNDS, INC. o AIM Large Cap Opportunities Fund
o AIM Aggressive Growth Fund
o AIM Blue Chip Fund AIM SUMMIT FUND, INC.
o AIM Capital Development Fund
o AIM Charter Fund AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
o AIM Constellation Fund o AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund
o AIM Dent Demographic Trends Fund o AIM V.I. Balanced Fund
o AIM Emerging Growth Fund o AIM V.I. Blue Chip Fund
o AIM Large Cap Basic Value Fund o AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
o AIM Large Cap Growth Fund o AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund
o AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund o AIM V.I. Dent Demographic Trends Fund
o AIM Xxxxxxxxxx Fund o AIM V.I. Diversified Income Fund
o AIM V.I. Global Growth and Income Fund
AIM FUNDS GROUP o AIM V.I. Global Utilities Fund
o AIM Balanced Fund o AIM V.I. Government Securities Fund
o AIM Global Utilities Fund o AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund
o AIM High Yield Fund o AIM V.I. Growth Fund
o AIM Income Fund o AIM V.I. High Yield Fund
o AIM Intermediate Government Fund o AIM V.I. International Equity Fund
o AIM Money Market Fund o AIM V.I. Money Market Fund
o AIM Select Growth Fund o AIM V.I. Telecommunications and
o AIM Value Fund Technology Fund
o AIM V.I. Value Fund
AIM INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
o AIM Asian Growth Fund
o AIM European Development Fund
o AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund
o AIM Global Growth Fund
o AIM Global Income Fund
o AIM International Equity Fund
16
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Argentina Citibank, N.A. --
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation --
Austria Erste Bank der Oesterreichischen --
Sparkassen AG
Bahrain HSBC Bank Middle East --
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank --
Belgium Fortis Bank NV/as. --
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited --
Bolivia Citibank, N.A. --
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited --
Brazil Citibank, N.A. --
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V. --
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada --
Chile Citibank, N.A. --
People's Republic The Hongkong and Shanghai --
of China Banking Corporation Limited,
Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. --
Sociedad Fiduciaria
1
17
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A. --
Croatia Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d. --
Cyprus The Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd. --
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni --
Banka, A.S.
Denmark Den Danske Bank --
Ecuador Citibank, N.A. --
Egypt Egyptian British Bank --
(as delegate of The Hongkong
and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited)
Estonia Hansabank --
Finland Xxxxxx Bank Plc. --
France Paribas, S.A. --
Germany Dresdner Bank AG --
Ghana Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited --
Greece National Bank of Greece S.A. Bank of Greece,
System for Monitoring Transactions in
Securities in Book-Entry Form
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank --
Hungary Citibank Rt. --
2
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Iceland Icebank Ltd.
India Deutsche Bank A.G. --
The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Standard Chartered Bank --
Ireland Bank of Ireland --
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M. --
Italy Paribas, S.A. --
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques --
en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Scotiabank Jamaica Trust and Merchant --
Bank Limited
Japan The Fuji Bank, Limited Japan Securities Depository
Center (JASDEC)
The Sumitomo Bank, Limited
Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East --
(as delegate of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited)
Kenya Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited --
Republic of Korea The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking --
Corporation Limited
Latvia A/s Hansabank --
3
19
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Lebanon HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas AB --
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank --
Malaysia Berhad
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Citibank Mexico, S.A. --
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc --
Namibia (via) Standard Bank of South Africa --
The Netherlands MeesPierson N.V. --
New Zealand ANZ Banking Group --
(New Zealand) Limited
Norway Christiania Bank og --
Kreditkasse ASA
Oman HSBC Bank Middle East --
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank A.G. --
Palestine HSBC Bank Middle East --
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Panama BankBoston, N.A. --
Peru Citibank, N.A. --
4
20
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank --
Poland Citibank (Poland) S.A. --
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues --
Qatar HSBC Bank Middle East --
Romania ING Bank N.V. --
Russia Credit Suisse First Boston AO, Moscow --
(as delegate of Credit Suisse
First Boston, Zurich)
Singapore The Development Bank --
of Singapore Limited
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S. --
Slovenia Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. Ljubljana --
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited --
Spain Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. --
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited --
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken --
Switzerland UBS AG --
5
21
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS AND NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN NON-MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Taiwan - R.O.C Central Trust of China --
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank --
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited --
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie --
Turkey Citibank, N.A. --
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine --
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company, --
London Branch
Uruguay BankBoston N.A. --
Venezuela Citibank, N.A. --
Vietnam The Hongkong and Shanghai --
Banking Corporation Limited
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited --
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited --
Euroclear (The Euroclear System)/State Street London Limited
Cedelbank S.A. (Cedel Bank, societe anonyme)/State Street London Limited
INTERSETTLE (for EASDAQ Securities)
6
22
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Belgium Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et de Virements
de Titres S.A.
Banque Nationale de Belgique
Brazil Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e Custodia
Bulgaria Central Depository AD
Bulgarian National Bank
Canada Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile Deposito Central de Valores S.A.
People's Republic Shanghai Securities Central Clearing & Registration
of China Corporation
Shenzhen Securities Clearing Co., Ltd.
Colombia Deposito Centralizado de Valores
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
1
23
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Croatia Ministry of Finance
National Bank of Croatia
Sredisnja Depozitarna Agencija
Czech Republic Stredisko cennych papirfi
Czech National Bank
Denmark Vaerdipapircentralen (Danish Securities Center)
Egypt Misr Company for Clearing, Settlement, and Depository
Estonia Eesti Vaartpaberite Keskdepositoorium
Finland Finnish Central Securities Depository
France Societe Interprofessionnelle pour la Compensation des
Valeurs Mobilieres
Germany Deutsche Borse Clearing AG
Greece Central Securities Depository
(Apothetirion Titlon AE)
Hong Kong Central Clearing and Settlement System
Central Moneymarkets Unit
Hungary Kozponti Elszamolohaz es Ertektar
(Budapest) Rt. (KELER)
[Mandatory for Gov't Bonds and dematerialized
equities only; SSB does not use for other securities]
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
2
24
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
India The National Securities Depository Limited
Central Depository Services India Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Ireland Central Bank of Ireland
Securities Settlement Office
Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing
House Ltd. (TASE Clearinghouse)
Bank of Israel
(As part of the TASE Clearinghouse system)
Italy Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Banca d'Italia
Ivory Coast Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Jamaica Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Japan Bank of Japan Net System
Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository Corporation
Latvia Latvian Central Depository
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
3
25
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Lebanon Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial
Instruments for Lebanon and the Middle East
(MIDCLEAR) X.X.X.
The Central Bank of Lebanon
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Malaysian Central Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Bank Negara Malaysia,
Scripless Securities Trading and Safekeeping System
Mauritius Central Depository & Settlement Co. Ltd.
Mexico S.D. INDEVAL
(Instituto para el Deposito de Valores)
Morocco Maroclear
The Netherlands Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor Giraal
Effectenverkeer B.V. (NECIGEF)
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Norway Verdipapirsentralen (the Norwegian Central Registry
of Securities)
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a
matter of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
4
26
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Oman Muscat Securities Market Depository & Securities
Registration Company
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine The Palestine Stock Exchange
Peru Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones
CAVALIICLV S.A.
Philippines Philippines Central Depository, Inc.
Registry of Scripless Securities
(XXXX) of the Bureau of Treasury
Poland National Depository of Securities
(Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych SA)
Central Treasury Bills Registrar
Portugal Central de Valores Mobiliarios
Qatar Doha Securities Market
Romania National Securities Clearing, Settlement and
Depository Company
Bucharest Stock Exchange Registry Division
National Bank of Romania
Singapore Central Depository (Pte)
Limited
Monetary Authority of Singapore
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a
matter of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
5
27
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Slovak Republic Stredisko cennych papierov SR
Bratislava, a.s.
National Bank of Slovakia
Slovenia Klirinsko Depotna Xxxxxx x.x.
South Africa The Central Depository Limited
Strate Ltd.
Spain Servicio de Compensacion y
Liquidacion de Valores, S.A.
Banco de Espana,
Central de Anotaciones en Cuenta
Sri Lanka Central Depository System
(Pvt) Limited
Sweden Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB
(the Swedish Central Securities Depository)
Switzerland SIS-SegaIntersettle
Taiwan - R.O.C. Taiwan Securities Central
Depository Co., Ltd.
Thailand Thailand Securities Depository
Company Limited
Tunisia Societe Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et de Depots de
Valeurs Mobilieres
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a
matter of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
6
28
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
MANDATORY* DEPOSITORIES
COUNTRY MANDATORY DEPOSITORIES
Turkey Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S. (TAKASBANK)
Central Bank of Turkey
Ukraine National Bank of Ukraine
United Kingdom The Bank of England,
The Central Gilts Office and
The Central Moneymarkets Office
Venezuela Central Bank of Venezuela
Zambia XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited
Bank of Zambia
* Mandatory depositories include entities for which use is mandatory as a matter
of law or effectively mandatory as a matter of market practice.
7
29
SCHEDULE C
MARKET INFORMATION
PUBLICATION/TYPE OF
INFORMATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION
------------------- -----------------
(FREQUENCY)
The Guide to Custody in An overview of safekeeping and settlement practices and procedures in each market in which State Street
----------------------- Bank and Trust Company offers custodial services.
World Markets
-----------------------
(annually)
Global Custody Network Information relating to the operating history and structure of depositories and subcustodians located in
----------------------- the markets in which State Street Bank and Trust Company offers custodial services, including
Review transnational depositories.
-----------------------
(annually)
Global Legal Survey With respect to each market in which State Street Bank and Trust Company offers custodial services,
----------------------- opinions relating to whether local law restricts (i) access of a fund's independent public accountants
(annually) to books and records of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) the Fund's ability
to recover in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities
System, (iii) the Fund's ability to recover in the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign
Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a foreign investor to convert cash and cash equivalents to
U.S. dollars.
Subcustodian Agreements Copies of the subcustodian contracts State Street Bank and Trust Company has entered into with each
----------------------- subcustodian in the markets in which State Street Bank and Trust Company offers subcustody services to
(annually) its US mutual fund clients.
Network Bulletins Developments of interest to investors in the markets in which State Street Bank and Trust Company offers
(weekly): custodial services.
Foreign Custody With respect to markets in which State Street Bank and Trust Company offers custodial services which
Advisories (as exhibit special custody risks, developments which may impact State Street's ability to deliver expected
necessary): levels of service.
