CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Dated
______________, 2011
Between
UMB
BANK, N.A.
And
FEG
INVESTORS, LLC
And
And
FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND LDC
This agreement made as of the date
first set forth above among UMB Bank, n.a., a national banking association with
its principal place of business located in Kansas City, Missouri (hereinafter
"Custodian"), FEG Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND LLC (the “TEI Fund”) and the FEG ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI
FUND LDC (the “Offshore Fund”)(each of the TEI Fund and the Offshore Fund may be
referred to herein as a “Fund” and, collectively, as the “Funds”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the TEI Fund is a
limited liability company which is authorized to offer and sell membership
interests in the TEI Fund representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets in reliance on exemptions provided in the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and state securities laws for transactions not
involving any public offering; and
WHEREAS, in pursuit of its
investment objective, the TEI Fund will invest its assets primarily in the
Offshore Fund, a Cayman Islands limited duration company which will in turn
invests all or substantially all of its assets in FEG Absolute Access Fund LLC
(“Master Fund”) which will in turn invest its assets primarily in private
investment funds (“Portfolio Funds”); and
WHEREAS, FEG Investors, LLC is
the Investment Manager (the “Manager”) for the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Funds desire to
appoint Custodian as its custodian for the custody of Assets (as hereinafter
defined) owned by the Funds, which Assets are to be held in such accounts as the
Funds may establish from time to time; and
WHEREAS, the Funds desire to
enter into this Custody Agreement to reflect the services to be provided by
Custodian; and
WHEREAS, the Custodian is
willing to accept such appointment on the terms and conditions
hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, mutually covenant and agree as
follows:
1. APPOINTMENT
OF CUSTODIAN.
The Fund hereby constitutes and
appoints the Custodian as custodian of Assets belonging to the Fund which have
been or may be from time to time delivered to and accepted by the
Custodian. Custodian accepts such appointment as a custodian and
agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities of Custodian as set forth
herein on the conditions set forth herein. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Assets” shall include Securities, Underlying Shares,
monies, and other property held by the Custodian for the benefit of the
Fund. “Security” or “Securities” shall mean stocks, bonds, rights,
warrants, certificates, instruments, obligations and all other negotiable or
non-negotiable paper commonly known as Securities and any other instruments
including, but not limited to, those included within the definition of
“Security” in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the “1940 Act”) and which have been or may from time to time be delivered to
and accepted by the Custodian. “Underlying Fund” shall mean a pooled
investment fund or vehicle, investment company (whether or not registered or
required to be registered under the 1940 Act), collective investment fund,
common trust fund, commodity pool, omnibus account, or other company,
partnership, trust or association. “Underlying Share” shall mean any
capital stock of, share or beneficial interest in, or other unit of ownership
interest in, any Underlying Fund, that is (i) evidenced by execution of
subscription documents, partnership agreements, operating agreements or limited
liability company agreements and/or other documents that are not in
bearer or registrable form, (ii) not evidenced by a certificate, and (iii) not
capable of being deposited or maintained in a securities depository or clearing
agency.
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2. INSTRUCTIONS.
(a) An “Instruction,” as
used herein, shall mean a request, direction, instruction or certification
initiated by the Fund and conforming to the terms of this
paragraph. An Instruction may be transmitted to the Custodian by any
of the following means:
(i) a
writing manually signed on behalf of the Fund by an Authorized Person (as
hereinafter defined);
(ii) a
telephonic or other oral communication from a person the Custodian reasonably
believes to be an Authorized Person;
(iii) a
facsimile transmission that the Custodian reasonably believes has been signed or
otherwise originated by an Authorized Person;
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(iv)
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a
communication effected through the internet or web-based functionality
(including without limitation, emails, data files and other
communications) on behalf of the Fund (“Electronic Communication”);
or
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(v)
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other
means reasonably acceptable to both
parties.
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Instructions
in the form of oral communications shall be confirmed by the appropriate Fund by
either a writing (as set forth in (i) above), a facsimile (as set forth in (iii)
above), or an Electronic Communication (as set forth in (iv) above), but the
lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the
Custodian in reliance upon such oral Instructions prior to the Custodian’s
receipt of such confirmation. The Fund authorizes the Custodian to
record any and all telephonic or other oral Instructions communicated to the
Custodian. The parties acknowledge and agree that, with respect to
Instructions transmitted by facsimile, the Custodian cannot verify that the
signature of an Authorized Person has been properly affixed and, with respect to
Instructions transmitted by an Electronic Communication, the Custodian cannot
verify that the Electronic Communication has been initiated by an Authorized
Person; accordingly, the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of
actions taken in reliance on unauthorized facsimile or Electronic Communication
Instructions. The Custodian recommends, but does not require, that
any Instructions transmitted by the Fund via email be done so through a secure
system or process. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, nothing
herein shall prohibit the Custodian from requiring the Fund to transmit email
Instructions through a secure system or process if it reasonably determines that
it is appropriate to do so and in the best interests of all of its custody
clients.
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(b) “Special Instructions,”
as used herein, shall mean Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by
the Treasurer, any other officer of the Fund or any other person
designated by the Treasurer (which notice shall be delivered to the Custodian
prior to the countersignature or confirmation of an Instruction by such person),
which countersignature or confirmation shall be on the same instrument
containing the Instructions or on a separate instrument relating
thereto.
(c) Instructions and Special
Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian at the address and/or telephone
number, facsimile transmission number or email address agreed upon from time to
time by the Custodian and the Fund.
(d) Where appropriate,
Instructions and Special Instructions shall be continuing
Instructions.
(e) An Authorized Person (as
defined below) shall be responsible for assuring the accuracy and completeness
of Instructions. If the Custodian reasonably determines that an Instruction is
unclear or incomplete, the Custodian may notify the Fund of such determination,
in which case the Fund shall be responsible for delivering to the Custodian an
amended Instruction. The Custodian shall have no obligation to take
any action until the Fund re-delivers to the Custodian an Instruction that is
clear and complete.
(f) The Fund shall be
responsible for delivering to the Custodian Instructions or Special Instructions
in a timely manner, after considering such factors as the involvement of
subcustodians, brokers or agents in a transaction, time zone differences,
reasonable industry standards, etc. The Custodian shall have no
liability if the Fund delivers Instructions or Special Instructions to the
Custodian after any deadline established by the Custodian.
(g) By providing
Instructions to acquire or hold Foreign Assets (as defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(2)
under the 1940 Act), the Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian
that the Fund has (i) considered and accepted responsibility for all Sovereign
Risks and Country Risks (as hereinafter defined) associated with investing in a
particular country or jurisdiction, and (ii) made all determinations and
provided to shareholders and other investors all disclosures required of
registered investment companies by the 1940 Act.
3. DELIVERY
OF CORPORATE DOCUMENTS.
Each of the parties to this Agreement
represents that its execution does not violate (i) any law, ordinance or rule
applicable to it, (ii) any of the provisions of its respective charter, articles
of incorporation, certificate of organization, articles of
association, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement,
operating agreement, agreement or declaration of trust, or other charter
document, as applicable, or its bylaws; or (iii) any agreement by which it or
any of its Assets are bound; and furthermore, that all required corporate or
organizational action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement
has been taken, and that the person signing this Agreement is authorized to bind
the Manager and the Fund.
The Fund agrees to provide the
Custodian, upon request, documentation regarding the Fund, including, by way of
example: certificates of incorporation or trust, by-laws, resolutions,
registration statements, W-9s and other tax-related documentation, compliance
policies and procedures and other compliance documents, etc.
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In addition, the Fund has delivered or
will promptly deliver to the Custodian, copies of the Resolution(s) of the Fund
and the Manager, and all amendments or supplements thereto, properly certified
or authenticated, designating certain directors, partners, managing members,
officers, employees and/or agents of the Fund and the Manager who will have
continuing authority to certify to the Custodian: (a) the names, titles,
signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Instructions
or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument
on behalf of the Fund, and (b) the names, titles and signatures of those persons
authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions on behalf of the Fund
(in both cases collectively, the "Authorized Persons" and individually, an
"Authorized Person"). Such Resolutions and certificates may be
accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts
set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until
delivery to the Custodian of a similar Resolution or certificate to the
contrary; provided, however, that the Custodian may rely upon any written
designation furnished by the Treasurer or other officer of the Fund designating
persons authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions (as provided
in Section 2(b)). Upon delivery of a certificate which deletes or
does not include the name(s) of a person previously authorized to give
Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special Instructions, such person
shall no longer be considered an Authorized Person authorized to give
Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special
Instructions. Unless the certificate specifically requires that the
approval of anyone else will first have been obtained, the Custodian will be
under no obligation to inquire into the right of the person giving such
Instructions or Special Instructions to do so. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, no Instructions or Special Instructions received by the Custodian
from the Fund or the Manager will be deemed to authorize or permit any director,
partner, managing member, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Fund or
the Manager to withdraw any of the Assets of the Fund upon the mere receipt of
such authorization, Special Instructions or Instructions from such director,
partner, managing member, trustee, officer, employee or agent.
4. POWERS
AND DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN AND DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIAN.
Except for Assets held by any Foreign
Subcustodian, Interim Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian or Eligible Securities
Depository (each as hereinafter defined) appointed pursuant to
Sections 5(b), (c), or (f) of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have and
perform the powers and duties hereinafter set forth in this Section
4. For purposes of this Section 4 all references to powers and duties
of the "Custodian" shall also refer to any Domestic Subcustodian appointed
pursuant to Section 5(a).
(a) Safekeeping.
The Custodian will keep safely the
Assets of the Fund which are delivered to and accepted by it from time to
time. The Custodian shall notify the Fund if it is unwilling or
unable to accept custody of any asset of the Fund. The Custodian
shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held by the Fund and not
delivered to the Custodian or for any pre-existing faults or defects in Assets
that are delivered to the Custodian.
(b) Manner of Holding
Securities.
(1) The Custodian shall at
all times hold Securities of the Fund either: (i) by physical possession of the
share certificates or other instruments representing such Securities, in
registered or bearer form; in the vault of the Custodian, Domestic Subcustodian,
a Special Custodian, depository or agent of the Custodian; or in an
account maintained by the Custodian or agent at a Securities System (as
hereinafter defined); or (ii) in book-entry form by a Securities System in
accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) below.
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(2) The Custodian may hold
registrable portfolio Securities which have been delivered to it in physical
form, by registering the same in the name of the appropriate Fund or its
nominee, or in the name of the Custodian or its nominee, for whose actions the
Fund and Custodian, respectively, shall be fully responsible. Upon
the receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall hold such Securities in street
certificate form, so called, with or without any indication of representative
capacity. However, unless it receives Instructions to the contrary,
the Custodian will register all such portfolio Securities in the name of the
Custodian's authorized nominee. All such Securities shall be held in
an account of the Custodian containing only assets of the appropriate Fund or
only assets held by the Custodian for the benefit of customers, provided that
the records of the Custodian shall indicate at all times the Fund or other
customer for which such Securities are held in such accounts and the respective
interests therein.
(3) The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by the Fund in, and the Fund
hereby approves use of: (a) The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation; (b) any other clearing agency registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities depository; and (c) a Federal
Reserve Bank or other entity authorized to operate the federal book-entry system
described in the regulations of the Department of the Treasury or book-entry
systems operated pursuant to comparable regulations of other federal
agencies. Upon the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by the Fund in any other
domestic clearing agency that may otherwise be authorized by the SEC to serve in
the capacity of depository or clearing agent for the Securities or other assets
of investment companies and that acts as a Securities
depository. Each of the foregoing shall be referred to in this
Agreement as a "Securities System", and all such Securities Systems shall be
listed on the attached Appendix A. Use of a Securities System shall
be in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and SEC rules and
regulations, if any, and subject to the following provisions:
(i) The
Custodian may deposit the Securities directly or through one or more agents or
Subcustodians which are also qualified to act as custodians for investment
companies.
(ii) Securities held
in a Securities System shall be subject to any agreements or rules effective
between the Securities System and the Custodian or a Subcustodian, as the case
may be.
(iii) Any
Securities deposited or maintained in a Securities System shall be held in an
account ("Account") of the Custodian or a Subcustodian in the Securities System
that includes only assets held by the Custodian or a Subcustodian as a custodian
or otherwise for customers.
(iv) The books and
records of the Custodian shall at all times identify those Securities belonging
to any one or more Funds which are maintained in a Securities
System.
(v) The
Custodian shall pay for Securities purchased for the account of the Fund only
upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such Securities have
been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in accordance with the rules of
the Securities System, and (b) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the
Fund. The Custodian shall transfer Securities sold for the account of
the Fund only upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that payment
for such Securities has been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in
accordance with the rules of the Securities System, and (b) the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for
the account of the Fund. Copies of all advices from the Securities
System relating to transfers of Securities for the account of the Fund shall be
maintained for the Fund by the Custodian. Such copies may be
maintained by the Custodian in electronic form. The Custodian shall
make available to the Fund or its agent on the next business day, by Electronic
Communication, facsimile, or other means reasonably acceptable to both parties,
daily transaction activity that shall include each day’s transactions for the
account of the Fund.
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(vi) The Custodian shall,
if requested by the Fund pursuant to Instructions, provide the Fund with reports
obtained by the Custodian or any Subcustodian with respect to a Securities
System's accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding Securities deposited in the Securities System.
(vii) The
Custodian otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940
Act.
(c)
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Underlying
Shares.
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(1) The provisions of this Section 4(c)
shall govern the custody of the Underlying Shares and, to the extent there is a
conflict between such provisions and the provisions of any other section of this
Agreement with respect to Underlying Shares, the terms of this Section 4(c)
shall control.
(2) The Underlying Shares beneficially
owned by the Fund shall be deposited and/or held in an account or accounts
maintained by a transfer agent, registrar, recordkeeper, general partner,
corporate secretary or other relevant third party (each a “Transfer Agent”)
pursuant to Instructions to the Custodian. The Fund and the Custodian
agree that the Custodian’s only responsibilities in connection with Underlying
Shares shall be limited to the following:
(i) Upon receipt of a confirmation or
statement from a Transfer Agent that such Transfer Agent is holding or
maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the
Custodian) for the benefit of the Fund, the Custodian shall (A) xxxx such
holdings on its books and records and (B) identify by book-entry that the
relevant Underlying Shares are being held by the Custodian as custodian for the
benefit of the Fund;
(ii) In accordance with Instructions,
the Custodian shall (A) pay out monies from Fund Assets for the purchase of
Underlying Shares for the account of the Fund and (B) record such purchase on
the books and records of the Custodian; and
(iii) In accordance with
Instructions, the Custodian shall (A) transfer Underlying Shares redeemed for
the account of the Fund in accordance with such Instructions and (B) record such
transfer on the books and records of the Custodian and, upon receipt of related
proceeds, record the related payment for the account of the Fund on said books
and records.
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(d) Free Delivery of
Assets.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement and except as provided in Section 3 hereof, the Custodian,
upon receipt of Special Instructions, will undertake to make free delivery of
Assets, provided such Assets are on hand and available, in connection with the
Fund's transactions and to transfer such Assets to such broker, dealer,
Subcustodian, bank, agent, Securities System or otherwise as specified in such
Special Instructions.
(e) Exchange of
Securities.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian will exchange Securities held by it for the Fund for other Securities
or cash paid in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, conversion, or similar event, and will deposit any such
Securities in accordance with the terms of any reorganization or protective
plan.
Unless otherwise directed by
Instructions, the Custodian is authorized to exchange Securities held by it in
temporary form for Securities in definitive form, to surrender Securities for
transfer into a name or nominee name as permitted in Section 4(b)(2), to effect
an exchange of shares in a stock split or when the par value of the stock is
changed, to sell any fractional shares, and, upon receiving payment therefor, to
surrender bonds or other Securities held by it at maturity or call.
(f) Purchases of
Assets.
(1) Securities
Purchases. In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian
shall, with respect to a purchase of Securities, pay for such Securities out of
monies held for the Fund's account for which the purchase was made, but only
insofar as monies are available therein for such purpose, and receive the
Securities so purchased. Unless the Custodian has received Special
Instructions to the contrary, such payment will be made only upon delivery of
such Securities to the Custodian, a clearing corporation of a national
securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member, or a Securities System
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3)
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in connection with a
repurchase agreement, the Custodian may release funds to a Securities System
prior to the receipt of advice from the Securities System that the Securities
underlying such repurchase agreement have been transferred by book-entry into
the Account maintained with such Securities System by the Custodian, provided
that the Custodian’s instructions to the Securities System require that the
Securities System may make payment of such funds to the other party to the
repurchase agreement only upon transfer by book-entry of the Securities
underlying the repurchase agreement into such Account; (ii) in the case of
options, Interest Bearing Deposits (as hereinafter defined), currency
deposits and other deposits, and foreign exchange transactions, pursuant to
Sections 4(h), 4(l), and 4(m) hereof, the Custodian may make payment therefor
before receipt of an advice of transaction; and (iii) the Custodian may make
payment for Securities or other Assets prior to delivery thereof in accordance
with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade practices, or the
terms of the instrument representing such Security or other Asset, including,
but not limited to, Securities and other Assets as to which payment for the
Security and receipt of the instrument evidencing the Security are under
generally accepted trade practices or the terms of the instrument representing
the Security expected to take place in different locations or through separate
parties.
(2) Other Assets
Purchased. Upon receipt of Instructions and except as
otherwise provided herein, the Custodian shall pay for and receive other Assets
for the account of the Fund as provided in Instructions.
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(g) Sales of
Assets.
(1) Securities
Sold. In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian shall,
with respect to a sale, deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities thus
designated as sold to the broker or other person specified in the Instructions
relating to such sale. Unless the Custodian has received Special
Instructions to the contrary, such delivery shall be made only upon receipt of
payment therefor in the form of: (a) cash, certified check, bank cashier's
check, bank credit, or bank wire transfer; (b) credit to the account of the
Custodian with a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which
the Custodian is a member; or (c) credit to the Account of the Custodian with a
Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3)
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian may deliver
Securities and other Assets prior to receipt of payment for such Securities in
accordance with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade
practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Security or other
Asset. For example, Securities held in physical form may be delivered
and paid for in accordance with "street delivery custom" to a broker or its
clearing agent, against delivery to the Custodian of a receipt for such
Securities, provided that the Custodian shall have taken reasonable steps to
ensure prompt collection of the payment for, or return of, such Securities by
the broker or its clearing agent, and provided further that the Custodian shall
not be responsible for the selection of or the failure or inability to perform
of such broker or its clearing agent or for any related loss arising from
delivery or custody of such Securities prior to receiving payment
therefor.
(2) Other Assets
Sold. Upon receipt of Instructions and except as otherwise
provided herein, the Custodian shall receive payment for and deliver other
Assets for the account of the Fund as provided in Instructions.
(h) Options.
(1) Upon receipt of
Instructions relating to the purchase of an option or sale of a covered call
option, the Custodian shall: (a) receive and retain Instructions or
other documents, to the extent they are provided to the Custodian, evidencing
the purchase or writing of the option by the Fund; (b) if the transaction
involves the sale of a covered call option, deposit and maintain in a segregated
account the Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities
System) subject to the covered call option written on behalf of the Fund; and
(c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash or other Assets in
accordance with any notices or other communications evidencing the expiration,
termination or exercise of such options which are furnished to the Custodian by
the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”), the securities or options
exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization as may
be responsible for handling such option transactions.
(2) Upon receipt of
Instructions relating to the sale of a naked option (including stock index and
commodity options), the Custodian, the Fund and the broker-dealer shall enter
into an agreement to comply with the rules of the OCC or of any registered
national securities exchange or similar organizations. Pursuant to
that agreement and the Fund’s Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a)
receive and retain Instructions or other documents, if any, evidencing the
writing of the option; (b) deposit and maintain in a segregated account,
Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System), cash
and/or other Assets; and (c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash
or other Assets in accordance with any such agreement and with any notices or
other communications evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such
option which are furnished to the Custodian by the OCC, the securities or
options exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization
as may be responsible for handling such option transactions. The
appropriate Fund, the Manager, and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for
determining the quality and quantity of assets held in any segregated account
established in compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements and
the performance of other terms of any option contract.
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(i) Segregated
Accounts.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian shall establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or
accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred Assets of the Fund, including Securities maintained by the Custodian
in a Securities System pursuant to Paragraph (b)(3) of this Section 4, said
account or accounts to be maintained (i) for the purposes set forth in Sections
4 (h) and 4(n) and (ii) for the purpose of compliance by the Fund with the
procedures required by SEC Investment Company Act Release Number
10666 or any subsequent release or releases or other SEC interpretations
relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment
companies, or (iii) for such other purposes as may be set forth, from time to
time, in Special Instructions. The Custodian shall not be responsible
for the determination of the type or amount of Assets to be held in any
segregated account referred to in this paragraph, or for compliance by the Fund
with required procedures noted in (ii) above.
(j) Depositary
Receipts.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian shall surrender or cause to be surrendered Securities to the
depository used for such Securities by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts
or International Depositary Receipts (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as
“ADRs”), against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such
Securities and written evidence satisfactory to the organization surrendering
the same that the depository has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue
ADRs with respect to such Securities in the name of the Custodian or a nominee
of the Custodian, for delivery in accordance with such
instructions.
Upon
receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall surrender or cause to be
surrendered ADRs to the issuer thereof, against a written receipt therefor
adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to
the organization surrendering the same that the issuer of the ADRs has
acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the
Securities underlying such ADRs in accordance with such
instructions.
(k) Corporate Actions, Put
Bonds, Called Bonds, etc.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian shall: (a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar Securities
to the issuer or trustee thereof (or to the agent of such issuer or trustee) for
the purpose of exercise or sale, provided that the new Securities, cash or other
Assets, if any, acquired as a result of such actions are to be delivered to the
Custodian; and (b) deposit Securities upon invitations for tenders thereof,
provided that the consideration for such Securities is to be paid or delivered
to the Custodian, or the tendered Securities are to be returned to the
Custodian.
Unless otherwise directed to the
contrary in Instructions, the Custodian shall comply with the terms of all
mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar
rights of security ownership of which the Custodian receives notice through data
services or publications to which it normally subscribes, and shall promptly
notify the appropriate Fund of such action in writing by facsimile transmission
or in such other manner as the Fund and Custodian may agree in
writing.
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The Fund and the Manager agree that
if either of them gives an Instruction for the performance of an act on the last
permissible date of a period established by the Custodian or any optional offer
or on the last permissible date for the performance of such act, the Fund and
the Manager shall hold the Custodian harmless from any adverse consequences in
connection with acting upon or failing to act upon such
Instructions.
If the Fund wishes to receive
periodic corporate action notices of exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions and
other similar notices pertaining to Securities and to provide Instructions with
respect to such Securities via the internet, the Custodian and the Fund may
enter into a Supplement to this Agreement whereby the Fund will be able to
participate in the Custodian’s Electronic Corporate Action Notification
Service.
(l) Interest Bearing
Deposits.
Upon receipt of Instructions
directing the Custodian to purchase interest bearing fixed-term certificates of
deposit or call deposits (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as “Interest
Bearing Deposits”) for the account of the Fund, the Custodian shall purchase
such Interest Bearing Deposits with such banks or trust companies, including the
Custodian, any Subcustodian or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Custodian
(hereinafter referred to as “Banking Institutions”), and in such amounts as the
Fund may direct pursuant to Instructions. Such Interest Bearing
Deposits shall be denominated in U.S. dollars. Interest Bearing
Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be in the name of the
Fund. Interest Bearing Deposits issued by another Banking Institution
may be in the name of the Fund or the Custodian or in the name of the Custodian
for its customers generally. The responsibilities of the Custodian to
the Fund for Interest Bearing Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be that of
a U.S. bank for a similar deposit. With respect to Interest Bearing
Deposits issued by any other Banking Institution, (a) the Custodian shall be
responsible for the collection of income and the transmission of cash to and
from such accounts; and (b) the Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the
selection of the Banking Institution or for the failure of such Banking
Institution to pay upon demand.
(m) Foreign Exchange
Transactions.
(l) The Fund hereby appoints
the Custodian as its agent in the execution of all currency exchange
transactions. If requested, the Custodian agrees to provide exchange
rate and U.S. Dollar information, in writing, or by other means agreeable to
both parties, to the Fund.
(2) Upon receipt of
Instructions, the Custodian shall settle foreign exchange contracts or options
to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf
of and for the account of the Fund with such currency brokers or Banking
Institutions as the Fund may determine and direct pursuant to
Instructions. If, in its Instructions, the Fund does not direct the
Custodian to utilize a particular currency broker or Banking Institution, the
Custodian is authorized to select such currency broker or Banking Institution as
it deems appropriate to execute the Fund's foreign currency
transaction. It is understood that all such transactions shall be
undertaken by the Custodian as agent for the Fund.
(3) The Fund accepts full
responsibility for its use of third party foreign exchange brokers and for
execution of said foreign exchange contracts and understands that the Fund shall
be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges which may be incurred
as a result of the failure or delay of its third party broker to deliver foreign
exchange. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability
with respect to the selection of the currency brokers or Banking Institutions
selected by the Fund or the performance or non-performance of such brokers or
Banking Institutions.
11
(4) Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, upon receipt of Instructions the Custodian
may, in connection with a foreign exchange contract, make free outgoing payments
of cash in the form of U.S. Dollars or foreign currency prior to receipt of
confirmation of such foreign exchange contract or confirmation that the
countervalue currency completing such contract has been delivered or
received.
(5) The Custodian shall not
be obligated to enter into foreign exchange transactions as
principal. However, if the Custodian has made available to the Fund
its services as a principal in foreign exchange transactions and subject to any
separate agreement between the parties relating to such transactions, the
Custodian shall enter into foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and
sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf of and for the
account of the Fund, with the Custodian as principal.
(n) Pledges or Loans of
Securities.
(1) Upon receipt of
Instructions from the Fund, the Custodian will release or cause to be released
Securities held in custody to the pledgees designated in such Instructions by
way of pledge or hypothecation to secure loans incurred by the Fund with various
lenders including but not limited to UMB Bank, n.a.; provided, however, that the
Securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian of the monies
borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure
existing borrowings, further Securities may be released or delivered, or caused
to be released or delivered for that purpose upon receipt of
Instructions. Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will pay,
but only from funds available for such purpose, any such loan upon re-delivery
to the Custodian of the Securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon
surrender of the note or notes evidencing such loan. In lieu of
delivering collateral to a pledgee, the Custodian, on the receipt of
Instructions, shall transfer the pledged Securities to a segregated account for
the benefit of the pledgee.
(2) Upon receipt of
Instructions, the Custodian will release securities to a securities lending
agent appointed by the Fund and designated in such Instructions. The
Custodian shall act upon Instructions from the Fund and/or such agent in order
to effect securities lending transactions on behalf of the Fund. For
its services in facilitating the Fund’s securities lending activities through
such agent, the Custodian may receive from the agent a portion of the agent’s
securities lending revenue or a fee directly from the Fund. The
Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any losses arising in
connection with the agent’s actions or omissions, including but not limited to
the delivery of Securities prior to the receipt of collateral, in the absence of
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian.
(o) Stock Dividends, Rights,
Etc.
The Custodian shall receive and
collect all stock dividends, rights, and other items of like nature and, upon
receipt of Instructions, take action with respect to the same as directed in
such Instructions.
12
(p) Routine
Dealings.
The Custodian will, in general,
attend to all routine and operational matters in accordance with industry
standards in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase,
transfer, or other dealings with Securities or other property of the Fund,
except as may be otherwise provided in this Agreement or directed from time to
time by Instructions from any particular Fund. The Custodian may also
make payments to itself or others from the Assets for disbursements and
out-of-pocket expenses incidental to handling Securities or other similar items
relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments
shall be accounted for to the appropriate Fund.
(q) Collections.
The Custodian shall (a) collect
amounts due and payable to the Fund with respect to Securities and other Assets;
(b) promptly credit to the account of the Fund all income and other payments
relating to Securities and other Assets held by the Custodian hereunder upon
Custodian's receipt of such income or payments or as otherwise agreed in writing
by the Custodian and the Fund; (c) promptly endorse and deliver any instruments
required to effect such collection; and (d) promptly execute ownership and other
certificates, affidavits and other documents for all federal, state, local and
foreign tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with
respect to Securities and other Assets, or in connection with the transfer of
such Securities or other Assets; provided, however, that with respect to
Securities registered in so-called street name, or physical Securities with
variable interest rates, the Custodian shall use its best efforts to collect
amounts due and payable to the Fund. The Custodian shall notify the
Fund as soon as is reasonably practicable in writing by facsimile transmission
or in such other manner as the Fund and Custodian may agree in writing if any
amount payable with respect to Securities or other Assets is not received by the
Custodian when due. The Custodian shall not be responsible for the
collection of amounts due and payable with respect to Securities or other Assets
that are in default.
Any advance credit of cash or
Securities expected to be received shall be subject to actual collection and
may, when the Custodian determines collection unlikely, be reversed by the
Custodian.
(r) Dividends, Distributions and
Redemptions.
To enable the Fund to pay dividends
or other distributions to holders of shares or other interests in the Fund
(“Shares”) and to make payment to holders of such Shares who have requested
repurchase or redemption of their Shares, the Custodian shall release cash or
Securities insofar as available. In the case of cash, the Custodian shall, upon
the receipt of Instructions, transfer such funds by check or wire transfer to
any account at any bank or trust company designated by the Fund in such
Instructions. In the case of Securities, the Custodian shall, upon
the receipt of Special Instructions, make such transfer to any entity or account
designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions.
(s) Proceeds from Shares
Sold.
The Custodian shall receive funds
representing cash payments received for Shares issued or sold from time to time
by the Fund, and shall credit such funds to the account of the
Fund. The Custodian shall notify the Fund of Custodian's receipt of
cash in payment for Shares issued by the Fund by facsimile transmission or in
such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian shall agree. Upon
receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) deliver all federal funds
received by the Custodian in payment for Shares as may be set forth in such
Instructions and at a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and
(b) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times agreed upon
from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, in the amount of checks
received in payment for Shares which are deposited to the accounts of the
Fund.
13
(t) Proxies and Notices;
Compliance with the Shareholders Communication Act of 1985.
The Custodian shall deliver or cause
to be delivered to the Fund, or its designated agent or proxy service provider,
all forms of proxies, all notices of meetings, and any other notices or
announcements affecting or relating to Securities or Underlying Shares owned by
the Fund that are received by the Custodian and, upon receipt of Instructions,
the Custodian shall execute and deliver, or cause a Subcustodian or nominee to
execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be
required. Except as directed pursuant to Instructions, the Custodian
shall not vote upon any such Securities or Underlying Shares, or execute any
proxy to vote thereon, or give any consent or take any other action with respect
thereto.
The Custodian will not release the
identity of any Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to
the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct
communications between such issuer and the Fund unless the Fund directs the
Custodian otherwise pursuant to Instructions.
(u) Books and
Records.
The Custodian shall maintain such
records relating to its activities under this Agreement as are required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to preserve them for the periods
prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. These records shall be
open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents (including
independent public accountants) of the Fund during normal business hours of the
Custodian.
The Custodian shall provide
accountings relating to its activities under this Agreement as shall be agreed
upon by the Fund and the Custodian.
(v) Opinion of Fund's
Independent Certified Public Accountants.
The Custodian shall take all
reasonable action as the Fund or the Manager may request to obtain from year to
year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent certified public accountants
with respect to the Custodian's activities hereunder and in connection with the
preparation of the Fund’s periodic reports to the SEC and with respect to any
other requirements of the SEC.
(w) Reports by Independent
Certified Public Accountants.
At the request of the Fund or the
Manager, the Custodian shall deliver to the Fund a written report, which may be
in electronic form, prepared by the Custodian's independent certified public
accountants with respect to the services provided by the Custodian under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the Custodian's accounting system,
internal accounting control, financial strength and procedures for safeguarding
cash, Securities and other Assets, including cash, Securities and other Assets
deposited and/or maintained in a Securities System or with a
Subcustodian. Such report shall be of sufficient scope and in
sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by the Fund and as may
reasonably be obtained by the Custodian.
14
(x) Bills and Other
Disbursements.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian shall pay, or cause to be paid, all bills, statements, or other
obligations of the Fund.
(y) Precious
Metals.
The Fund may, upon Special
Instructions, direct the Custodian to appoint, or instruct the Domestic
Subcustodian (as hereinafter defined) to appoint, a depository for the
safekeeping and storage of gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals
(“Precious Metals”) on behalf of the Fund.
(z) Sweep or Automated Cash
Management.
Upon receipt of Instructions, the
Custodian shall invest any otherwise uninvested cash of the Fund held by the
Custodian in a money market mutual fund, a cash deposit product, or other cash
investment vehicle made available by the Custodian from time to time, in
accordance with the directions contained in such Instructions. A fee
may be charged or a spread may be received by the Custodian for investing the
Fund’s otherwise uninvested cash in the available cash investment vehicles or
products.
The Custodian shall have no
responsibility to determine whether any purchases of money market mutual fund
shares or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product by or on
behalf of the Fund under the terms of this section will cause the Fund to exceed
the limitations contained in the 1940 Act on ownership of shares of another
registered investment company or any other asset or portfolio restrictions or
limitations contained in applicable laws or regulations or the Fund’s offering
documents. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Custodian from all losses, damages and expenses (including attorney’s fees)
suffered or incurred by the Custodian as a result of a violation by the Fund of
the limitations on ownership of shares of another registered investment company
or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product.
5. SUBCUSTODIANS.
From time
to time, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement, (i) the
Custodian may appoint one or more Domestic Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians,
Special Subcustodians or Interim Subcustodians (each as hereinafter defined) to
act on behalf of any one or more Funds; and (ii) the Custodian may be directed,
pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and the Custodian (“Delegation
Agreement”), to appoint a Domestic Subcustodian to perform the duties of the
Foreign Custody Manager (as such term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940
Act) (“Approved Foreign Custody Manager”) for the Fund so long as such Domestic
Subcustodian is so eligible under the 1940 Act. Such Delegation
Agreement shall provide that the appointment of any Domestic Subcustodian as the
Approved Foreign Custody Manager must be governed by a written agreement between
the Custodian and the Domestic Subcustodian, which provides for compliance with
Rule 17f-5. The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may then
appoint a Foreign Subcustodian or Interim Subcustodian in accordance with this
Section 5. For purposes of this Agreement, all Domestic
Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians and Interim
Subcustodians shall be referred to collectively as
“Subcustodians.”
15
(a)
|
Domestic
Subcustodians.
|
The Custodian may, at any time and from
time to time, appoint any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act or
any trust company or other entity, any of which meets the requirements of a
custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, to act for the Custodian on behalf of any one or more Funds as a
subcustodian for purposes of holding Assets of the Fund and performing other
functions of the Custodian within the United States (a "Domestic
Subcustodian"). The Fund shall approve in writing the appointment of
the proposed Domestic Subcustodian; and the Custodian's appointment of any such
Domestic Subcustodian shall not be effective without such prior written approval
of the Fund(s). Each such duly approved Domestic Subcustodian shall be reflected
on Appendix A hereto.
(b)
|
Foreign
Subcustodians.
|
(1) Foreign
Subcustodians. The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may appoint any
entity meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian, as such term
is defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, and which term shall also
include a bank that qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment
companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act or by SEC order is exempt
therefrom (each a “Foreign Subcustodian” in the context of either a subcustodian
or a sub-subcustodian), for purposes of holding Assets of the Fund(s) and
performing other functions of the Custodian in countries other than the United
States, provided that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s appointments of
such Foreign Subcustodians shall at all times be governed by an agreement that
complies with Rule 17f-5.
(2) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager determines
that it will not provide delegation services (i) in a country in which the Fund
has directed that the Fund invest in a security or other Asset or (ii) with
respect to a specific Foreign Subcustodian which the Fund has directed be used,
the Custodian shall, or shall cause the Approved Foreign Custody Manager to,
promptly notify the Fund in writing by facsimile transmission, Electronic
Communication, or otherwise of the unavailability of the Approved Foreign
Custody Manager’s delegation services in such country. The Custodian
and the Approved Foreign Custody Manager (or Domestic Subcustodian) as
applicable, shall be entitled to rely on and shall have no liability or
responsibility for following such direction from the Fund as a Special
Instruction and shall have no duties or liabilities under this Agreement save
those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each
particular instance. Upon the receipt of such Special Instructions,
the Custodian may, in it absolute discretion, designate, or cause the Approved
Foreign Custody Manager to designate, an entity (defined herein as “Interim
Subcustodian”) designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions, to hold such
security or other Asset. In such event, the Fund represents and
warrants that it has made a determination that the arrangement with such Interim
Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder (including Rule 17f-5, if applicable). It is
further understood that where the Approved Foreign Custody Manager and the
Custodian do not agree to provide fully to the Fund the services under this
Agreement and the Delegation Agreement with respect to a particular country or
specific Foreign Subcustodian, the Fund may delegate such services to another
delegate pursuant to Rule 17f-5.
16
(c) Special
Subcustodians.
Upon receipt of Special Instructions,
the Custodian shall, on behalf of the Fund, appoint one or more banks, trust
companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act for
the Custodian on behalf of the Fund as a subcustodian for purposes of: (i)
effecting third-party repurchase transactions with banks, brokers, dealers or
other entities through the use of a common custodian or subcustodian; (ii)
providing depository and clearing agency services with respect to certain
variable rate demand note Securities, (iii) providing depository and clearing
agency services with respect to dollar denominated Securities; and (iv)
effecting any other transactions designated by the Fund in such Special
Instructions. Each such designated subcustodian (hereinafter referred to as a
"Special Subcustodian") shall be listed on Appendix A attached hereto, as it may
be amended from time to time. In connection with the appointment of
any Special Subcustodian, the Custodian may enter into a subcustodian agreement
with the Special Subcustodian.
(d) Termination of a
Subcustodian.
The Custodian or Domestic
Subcustodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to the
appropriate Fund(s), terminate any Subcustodian of the Fund in accordance with
the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement, and upon
the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian or Domestic Subcustodian
shall terminate any Subcustodian in accordance with the termination provisions
under the applicable subcustodian agreement.
(e) Information Regarding
Foreign Subcustodians.
Upon request of the Fund, the
Custodian shall deliver, or cause any Approved Foreign Custody Manager to
deliver, to the Fund a letter or list stating: (i) the identity of
each Foreign Subcustodian then acting on behalf of the Custodian; (ii) the
Eligible Securities Depositories (as defined in Section 5(f)) in each foreign
market through which each Foreign Subcustodian is then holding cash, securities
and other Assets of the Fund; and (iii) such other information as may be
requested by the Fund to ensure compliance with rules and regulations under the
1940 Act.
(f) Eligible Securities
Depositories.
(1) The Custodian or the
Domestic Subcustodian may place and maintain the Fund’s Foreign Assets
with an Eligible Securities Depository (as defined in Rule 17f-7, which
term shall include any other securities depository for which the SEC by
exemptive order has permitted registered investment companies to maintain their
assets).
(2) Upon the request of
the Fund, the Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to provide to the
Fund (including the Fund’s board of directors or trustees) and/or the Fund’s
adviser or other agent an analysis of the custody risks associated with
maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets with such Eligible Securities Depository
utilized directly or indirectly by the Custodian or the Domestic Subcustodian as
of the date hereof (or, in the case of an Eligible Securities Depository not so
utilized as of the date hereof, prior to the placement of the Fund’s Foreign
Assets at such depository) and at which any Foreign Assets of the Fund are held
or are expected to be held. The Custodian shall direct the Domestic
Subcustodian to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining the Fund’s
Foreign Assets at each such Eligible Securities Depository on a continuing basis
and shall promptly notify the Fund or its adviser of any material changes in
such risks through the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s letter, market alerts
or other periodic correspondence.
17
(3) The Custodian shall
direct the Domestic Subcustodian to determine the eligibility under Rule 17f-7
of each foreign securities depository before maintaining the Fund’s Foreign
Assets therewith and shall promptly advise the Fund if any Eligible Securities
Depository ceases to be so eligible. Notwithstanding Subsection 17(c)
hereof, Eligible Securities Depositories may, subject to Rule 17f-7, be added to
or deleted from such list from time to time.
(4) Withdrawal of
Assets. If an arrangement with an Eligible Securities Depository no
longer meets the requirements of Rule 17f-7, the Custodian shall direct the
Domestic Subcustodian to withdraw the Fund’s Foreign Assets from such depository
as soon as reasonably practicable.
(5) Standard of
Care. In fulfilling its responsibilities under this Section 5(f), the
Custodian will exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence.
6. STANDARD
OF CARE.
(a) General Standard of
Care.
The Custodian shall exercise due care
in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties
hereunder. The Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for all losses,
damages and reasonable costs and expenses suffered or incurred by the Fund
resulting from the fraud, bad faith, negligence or willful misfeasance of the
Custodian or the reckless disregard by the Custodian of its obligations and
duties hereunder; provided, however, in no event shall the Custodian be liable
for attorneys’ fees or for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages
arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
(b) Actions Prohibited by
Applicable Law, Etc.
In no
event shall the Custodian incur liability hereunder if the Custodian or any
Subcustodian or Securities System, or any Subcustodian, Eligible Securities
Depository utilized by any such Subcustodian, or any nominee of the Custodian or
any Subcustodian (individually, a "Person") is prevented, forbidden or delayed
from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement
provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason
of: (i) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or
order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or of any foreign
country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent
jurisdiction (and neither the Custodian nor any other Person shall be obligated
to take any action contrary thereto); or (ii) any “Force Majeure,” which for
purposes of this Agreement, shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond
the reasonable control of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the
Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the
Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations
under its subcustodian agreement or by any other agent of the Custodian or the
Subcustodian, unless in each case, such delay or nonperformance is caused by the
negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian. Such Force Majeure
events may include any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a) an act
of God, (b) accident, fire, water damage or explosion, (c) any computer, system
outage or downtime or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any
computer virus or any other reason or the malfunction or failure of any
communications medium, (d) any interruption of the power supply or other utility
service, (e) any strike or other work stoppage, whether partial or total, (f)
any delay or disruption resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any
Sovereign Risk (as defined below), (g) any disruption of, or suspension of
trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange markets, whether or
not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, (h) any
encumbrance on the transferability of cash, currency or a currency position
on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange transaction, whether or not
resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, or (i) any
other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control of the
Custodian.
18
Subject
to the Custodian’s general standard of care set forth in Subsection 6(a) hereof
and the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7
thereunder, the Custodian shall not incur liability hereunder if any Person is
prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or
thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be
performed by reason of any (i) “Sovereign Risk,” which for the purpose of this
Agreement shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including but not limited
to the United States of America, where investments are acquired or held under
this Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil
commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange
control restrictions by any governmental authority, (c) the confiscation,
expropriation or nationalization of any investments by any governmental
authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any devaluation or revaluation of
the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges affecting
investments, (f) any change in the applicable law, or (g) any other economic,
systemic or political risk incurred or experienced that is not directly related
to the economic or financial conditions of the Eligible Foreign Custodian,
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Delegation Agreement, or
(ii) “Country Risk,” which for the purpose of this Agreement shall mean, with
respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of investments in a
jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and
markets factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of
investments, including (a) the prevalence of crime and corruption in such
jurisdiction, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial
information (unrelated to the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s duties imposed
by Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act or to the duties imposed on the Custodian by
Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act), (c) the instability or volatility of banking and
financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support
such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which
such investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation
of any Eligible Securities Depository, it being understood that this provision
shall not excuse the Custodian’s performance under the express terms of this
Agreement, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents,
counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer
agents, (g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly
execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets, and
(h) the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of the Fund’s Foreign
Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided,
however, that, in compliance with Rule 17f-5, neither Sovereign Risk nor Country
Risk shall include the custody risk of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian
of the Fund’s Foreign Assets.
(c) Liability for Past
Records.
Neither the Custodian nor any
Domestic Subcustodian shall have any liability in respect of any loss, damage or
expense suffered by the Fund, insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises
from the performance of the Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian in reliance
upon records that were maintained for the Fund by entities other than the
Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian prior to the Custodian's employment
hereunder.
19
(d) Advice of
Counsel.
The Custodian and all Domestic
Subcustodians shall be entitled to receive and act upon advice of counsel of its
own choosing on all matters. The Custodian and all Domestic
Subcustodians shall be without liability for any actions taken or omitted in
good faith pursuant to the advice of counsel.
(e) Advice of the Fund and
Others.
The Custodian and any Domestic
Subcustodian may rely upon the advice of any Fund and upon statements of the
Fund's accountants and other persons believed by the Custodian or any Domestic
Subcustodian in good faith to be expert in matters upon which they are
consulted, and neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall be
liable for any actions taken or omitted, in good faith, pursuant to such advice
or statements.
(f) Information
Services.
The Custodian may rely upon
information received from issuers of Securities or agents of such issuers,
information received from Subcustodians or depositories, information from data
reporting services that provide detail on corporate actions and other securities
information, and other commercially reasonable industry sources; and, provided
the Custodian has acted in accordance with the standard of care set forth in
Section 6 (a), the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of relying upon
such information sources, including but not limited to errors in any such
information.
(g) Instructions Appearing to be
Genuine.
The Custodian and all Domestic
Subcustodians shall be fully protected and indemnified in acting as a custodian
hereunder upon any resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Fund,
Instructions, Special Instructions, advice, notice, request, consent,
certificate, instrument or paper appearing to it to be genuine and to have been
properly executed and shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, be
entitled to receive as conclusive proof of any fact or matter required to be
ascertained from any Fund hereunder a certificate signed by any officer of the
Fund authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions. The
Custodian shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the validity,
accuracy or content of any Instruction or Special Instruction. The
Custodian shall have no liability for any losses, damages or expenses incurred
by the Fund arising from the use of a non-secure form of email or other
non-secure electronic system or process.
(h) No Investment
Advice.
The Custodian shall have no duty to
assess the risks inherent in Securities or other Assets or to provide investment
advice, accounting or other valuation services regarding any such Securities or
other Assets.
20
(i) Exceptions from
Liability.
Without limiting the generality of
any other provisions hereof, neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian
shall be under any duty or obligation to inquire into, nor be liable
for:
(i) the validity
of the issue of any Securities, Underlying Shares or other Assets purchased by
or for any Fund, the legality of the purchase thereof or evidence of ownership
required to be received by the Fund, or the propriety of the decision to
purchase or amount paid therefor;
(ii) the legality of the
sale, transfer or movement of any Securities, Underlying Shares or
other Assets by or for any Fund, or the propriety of the amount for which the
same were sold; or
(iii) any other
expenditures, encumbrances of Securities, Underlying Shares or other Assets,
borrowings or similar actions with respect to any Fund's Assets;
and may,
until notified to the contrary, presume that all Instructions or Special
Instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to
any provisions of the Fund's Certificate of Organization, Limited Liability
Company Agreement, Declaration of Trust, Partnership Agreement, Articles of
Incorporation, or other charter document, or By-Laws or votes or
proceedings of the shareholders, trustees, partners or directors of the Fund, or
the Fund's currently effective Registration Statement on file with the
SEC.
7. LIABILITY
OF THE CUSTODIAN FOR ACTIONS OF OTHERS.
(a) Domestic
Subcustodians
Except as provided in Section 7(d),
the Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any Domestic
Subcustodian to the same extent as if such actions or omissions were performed
by the Custodian itself.
(b) Liability for Acts and
Omissions of Foreign Subcustodians.
The Custodian shall be liable to the
Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused by or resulting from the acts or
omissions of any Foreign Subcustodian only to the extent that, under the terms
set forth in the subcustodian agreement between the Custodian or a Domestic
Subcustodian and such Foreign Subcustodian, the Foreign Subcustodian has failed
to perform in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed under such
subcustodian agreement and the Custodian or Domestic Subcustodian recovers from
the Foreign Subcustodian under the applicable subcustodian
agreement.
(c) Securities Systems, Interim
Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Eligible Securities
Depositories.
The Custodian shall not be liable to
any Fund for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Fund
resulting from or occasioned by the actions or omissions of a Securities System,
Interim Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian, or Eligible Securities Depository
unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the
negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian.
21
(d) Failure of Third
Parties.
The Custodian shall not be liable for
any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by any Fund resulting from or
occasioned by the actions, omissions, neglects, defaults, insolvency or other
failure of any (i) issuer of any Securities or of any agent of such issuer; (ii)
any counterparty with respect to any Security or other Asset, including any
issuer of any option, futures, derivatives or commodities contract; (iii)
investment adviser or other agent of the Fund; or (iv) any broker, bank, trust
company or any other person with whom the Custodian may deal (other than any of
such entities acting as a Subcustodian, Securities System or Eligible Securities
Depository, for whose actions the liability of the Custodian is set out
elsewhere in this Agreement); or (v) any agent or depository (including but not
limited to a securities lending agent or precious metals depository) with whom
the Custodian may deal at the direction of, and behalf of, the Fund; unless such
loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the fraud, bad
faith, negligence or willful misfeasance of the Custodian, the
reckless disregard by the Custodian of its obligations or duties hereunder or
the Custodian’s breach of the terms of any contract between the Fund and the
Custodian.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnification by
Fund.
Subject to the limitations set forth
in this Agreement, the Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian
and its nominees from all losses, damages and expenses (including attorneys'
fees) suffered or incurred by the Custodian or its nominee caused by or arising
from actions taken by the Custodian, its employees or agents in the performance
of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited
to, any indemnification obligations undertaken by the Custodian under any
relevant subcustodian agreement; provided, however, that such indemnity shall
not apply to the extent the Custodian is liable under Sections 6 or 7
hereof.
If the Manager or the Fund requires
the Custodian to take any action with respect to Securities, Underlying Shares
or other Assets, which action involves the payment of money or which may, in the
opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the
Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other
form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such
action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form
satisfactory to it.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Custodian for any action the Custodian takes or does not take in
reliance upon directions, Instructions or Special Instructions except for such
action or inaction resulting from the Custodian’s negligence or willful
misconduct.
(b) Indemnification by
Custodian.
Subject to the limitations set forth
in this Agreement and in addition to the obligations provided in Sections 6 and
7, the Custodian agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund from all losses,
damages and expenses (with the exception of those damages and expenses
referenced in Section 6(a)) suffered or incurred by each the Fund caused by the
fraud, bad faith, negligence or willful misfeasance of the Custodian or from
reckless disregard by Custodian of its obligations or duties
hereunder.
22
9. ADVANCES.
In the event that the Custodian or
any Subcustodian, Securities System, or Eligible Securities Depository acting
either directly or indirectly under agreement with the Custodian (each of which
for purposes of this Section 9 shall be referred to as "Custodian"), makes any
payment or transfer of funds on behalf of the Fund as to which there would be,
at the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer, insufficient
funds held by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund, the Custodian may, in its
discretion without further Instructions, provide an advance ("Advance") to the
Fund in an amount sufficient to allow the completion of the transaction by
reason of which such payment or transfer of funds is to be made. In
addition, in the event the Custodian is directed by Instructions to make any
payment or transfer of funds on behalf of the Fund as to which it is
subsequently determined that the Fund has overdrawn its cash account with the
Custodian as of the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer,
said overdraft shall constitute an Advance. Any Advance shall be
payable by the Fund on behalf of which the Advance was made on demand by
Custodian, unless otherwise agreed by the Fund and the Custodian, and shall
accrue interest from the date of the Advance to the date of payment by the Fund
to the Custodian at a rate determined from time to time by the
Custodian. It is understood that any transaction in respect of which
the Custodian shall have made an Advance, including but not limited to a foreign
exchange contract or transaction in respect of which the Custodian is not acting
as a principal, is for the account of and at the risk of the Fund, and not, by
reason of such Advance, deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Custodian
for its own account and risk. The Custodian and the Fund acknowledge
that the purpose of Advances is to finance temporarily the purchase or sale of
Securities and other Assets for prompt delivery in accordance with the
settlement terms of such transactions or to meet emergency expenses not
reasonably foreseeable by the Fund. The Custodian shall promptly notify the
appropriate Fund of any Advance. Such notification may be
communicated by telephone, Electronic Communication or facsimile transmission or
in such other manner as the Custodian may choose. Nothing herein
shall be deemed to create an obligation on the part of the Custodian to advance
monies to the Fund. In addition, the Fund hereby agrees that it will
promptly execute any documentation the Custodian reasonably believes is required
under Regulation U with respect to any Advances made pursuant to this
Section.
10. SECURITY
INTEREST.
To secure the due and prompt payment
of all Advances, together with any taxes, charges, fees, expenses, assessments,
obligations, claims or liabilities incurred by the Custodian in connection with
its performance of any duties under this Agreement (collectively,
“Liabilities”), except for any Liabilities arising from the Custodian’s fraud,
bad faith, negligence or willful misfeasance or the reckless disregard by the
Custodian of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Fund grants to the
Custodian a security interest in all of the Fund’s Securities and other Assets
now or hereafter in the possession of the Custodian and all proceeds thereof
(collectively, the “Collateral”). The Fund shall promptly reimburse
the Custodian for any and all such Liabilities. In the event that the
Fund fails to satisfy any of the Liabilities as and when due and payable, the
Custodian shall have in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other
rights and remedies arising hereunder or under local law, the rights and
remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial
Code. Without prejudice to the Custodian’s rights under applicable
law, the Custodian shall be entitled, without notice to the Fund, to
withhold delivery of any Collateral, sell, set-off, or otherwise realize upon or
dispose of any such Collateral and to apply the money or other proceeds and any
other monies credited to the Fund in satisfaction of the
Liabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, any interest on
any such unpaid Liability as the Custodian deems reasonable, and all costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by the Custodian in
connection with the sale, set-off or other disposition of such
Collateral.
23
11. COMPENSATION.
The Fund will pay to the Custodian
such compensation as is agreed to in writing by the Custodian and the Fund from
time to time. In addition, the Fund shall reimburse the Custodian for
all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with this
Agreement, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses. Such
compensation, and expenses shall be billed to the Fund and paid in cash to the
Custodian.
12. POWERS OF
ATTORNEY.
Upon request, the Fund or the Manager
on behalf of the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian such proxies, powers of
attorney or other instruments as may be reasonable and necessary or desirable in
connection with the performance by the Custodian or any Subcustodian of their
respective obligations under this Agreement or any applicable subcustodian
agreement.
13. TAX
LAWS.
The Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the
Fund or on the Custodian as custodian for the Fund by the tax law of any country
or of any state or political subdivision thereof. The Fund agrees to
indemnify the Custodian for and against any such obligations including taxes,
tax reclaims, withholding and reporting requirements, claims for exemption or
refund, additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses
(including legal expenses) that may be assessed against the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund.
14. TERMINATION
AND ASSIGNMENT.
Any Fund or the Custodian may
terminate this Agreement by notice in writing, delivered or mailed, postage
prepaid (certified mail, return receipt requested) to the other not less than 60
days prior to the date upon which such termination shall take
effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the
Custodian such fees as may be due the Custodian hereunder as well as its
reimbursable disbursements, costs and expenses paid or incurred. Upon
termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall deliver, at the terminating
party's expense, all Assets held by it hereunder to a successor custodian
designated by the Fund or, if a successor custodian is not designated, then to
the appropriate Fund or as otherwise designated by the Fund by Special
Instructions. Upon such delivery, the Custodian shall have no further
obligations or liabilities under this Agreement except (1) as explicitly noted
otherwise and/or (2) as to the final resolution of matters relating to activity
occurring prior to the effective date of termination. In the event
that for any reason Securities or other Assets remain in the possession of the
Custodian after the date such termination shall take effect, the Custodian shall
be entitled to compensation at the same rates as agreed to by the Custodian and
the Funds during the term of this Agreement as set forth in Section
11.
This Agreement may not be assigned by
the Custodian or the Fund without the respective consent of the other, duly
authorized by a resolution by its Board of Directors.
24
15. ADDITIONAL
FUNDS.
An additional Fund or Funds may
become a party to this Agreement after the date hereof by an instrument in
writing to such effect signed by the Manager on behalf of the Fund
and the Custodian.
16. NOTICES.
As to the Fund, notices, requests,
instructions and other writings delivered to FEG Investors, LLC, 000 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, postage prepaid, or to such
other address as any particular Fund may have designated to the Custodian in
writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to the
Fund.
Notices, requests, instructions and
other writings delivered to the Custodian at its office at 000 Xxxxx Xxxx., 0xx
Xxxxx, Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, postage
prepaid, or to such other addresses as the Custodian may have
designated to the Fund in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly
delivered or given to the Custodian hereunder; provided, however, that
procedures for the delivery of Instructions and Special Instructions shall be
governed by Section 2(c) hereof.
17. CONFIDENTIALITY.
The parties agree that all
Information, books and records provided by the Custodian or the Funds to each
other in connection with this Agreement, and all information provided by either
party pertaining to its business or operations, is “Confidential
Information.” All Confidential Information shall be used by the party
receiving such information only for the purpose of providing or obtaining
services under this Agreement and, except as may be required to carry out the
terms of this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any other party without the
express consent of the party providing such Confidential
Information. The foregoing limitations shall not apply to any
information that is available to the general public other than as a result
of a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any
entity having regulatory authority over a party hereto or any auditor of a party
hereto or that is required to be disclosed as a result of a subpoena or other
judicial process, or otherwise by applicable laws.
18. ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE.
The Funds represent and warrant that
they have established and maintain policies and procedures designed to meet the
requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act, including policies and procedures
designed to detect and prevent money laundering, including those required by the
USA PATRIOT Act. The Funds agree to provide to the Custodian, from
time to time upon the request of the Custodian, certifications regarding its
compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other anti-money laundering
laws. The Funds acknowledge that, because the Custodian will not have
information regarding the shareholders of the Funds, the Funds will assume
responsibility for customer identification and verification and other CIP
requirements in regard to such shareholders.
19. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement is
executed and delivered in the State of Missouri and shall be governed by the
laws of such state.
25
(b) All of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties
hereto.
(c) No provisions of this
Agreement may be amended, modified or waived in any manner except in writing,
properly executed by both parties hereto; provided, however, Appendix A may be
amended from time to time as Domestic Subcustodians, Securities Systems,
and Special Subcustodians are approved or terminated according to the terms
of this Agreement.
(d) The captions in this
Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define
or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction
or effect.
(e) This Agreement shall
be effective as of the date of execution hereof.
(f) This Agreement may be
executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same
instrument.
(g) The following terms
are defined terms within the meaning of this Agreement, and the definitions
thereof are found in the following sections of the Agreement:
Term
|
Section
|
|
Account
|
4(b)(3)(iii)
|
|
ADR'S
|
4(i)
|
|
Advance
|
9
|
|
Approved
Foreign Custody Manager
|
5
|
|
Assets
|
1
|
|
Authorized
Person
|
3
|
|
Banking
Institution
Collateral
|
4(k)
10
|
|
Confidential
Information
|
17
|
|
Country
Risk
|
6(b)
|
|
Delegation
Agreement
|
5
|
|
Domestic
Subcustodian
Electronic
Communication
|
5(a)
2(a)(iv)
|
|
Eligible
Securities Depository
|
5(f)
|
|
Force
Majeure
|
6(b)
|
|
Foreign
Assets
|
2(g)
|
|
Foreign
Subcustodian
|
5(b)(1)
|
|
Instruction
|
2(a)
|
|
Interim
Subcustodian
|
5(b)(2)
|
|
Interest
Bearing Deposit
|
4(k)
|
|
Liabilities
|
10
|
|
OCC
|
4(g)(1)
|
|
Person
Precious
Metals
|
6(b)
4(x)
|
|
SEC
|
4(b)(3)
|
|
Securities
|
1
|
|
Securities
System
|
4(b)(3)
|
26
Term
|
Section
|
|
Shares
|
4(q)
|
|
Sovereign
Risk
|
6(b)
|
|
Special
Instruction
|
2(b)
|
|
Special
Subcustodian
|
5(c)
|
|
Subcustodian
|
5
|
(h) If any part, term or
provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or
otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portion
or portions shall be considered severable and shall not be affected, and the
rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this
Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be
illegal or invalid.
(i) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the Delegation Agreement (if
applicable), as amended from time to time, constitute the entire understanding
and agreement of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter therein
and accordingly, supersedes as of the effective date of this Agreement any
custodian agreement heretofore in effect between the Fund and the
Custodian.
(j) The
rights and obligations contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 17 of this
Agreement shall continue, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, in
order to fulfill the intention of the parties as described in such
Sections.
(k) The Custodian shall
maintain a disaster recovery and business continuity plan and adequate and
reliable computer and other equipment necessary and appropriate to carry out its
obligations under this Agreement. Subject to Section 8(b), the Custodian assumes
no responsibility hereunder, and shall not be liable, for any default, damage,
loss of data or documents, errors, delay or any other loss whatsoever caused by
events beyond its reasonable control. The Custodian will, however,
take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that
such interruption continues beyond its control.
(l) The Custodian shall have no power
or authority to assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any
securities or investments, except as expressly provided in Section 10 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, or upon Instructions authorizing the
transaction.
(m) The Custodian shall furnish to the
Fund the following reports: (i) such periodic and special reports as the Fund
may reasonably request; (ii) a monthly statement summarizing all transactions
and entries for the account of the Fund, listing each portfolio security
belonging to the Fund (with the corresponding security identification number)
held at the end of such month and stating the cash balance of the Fund at the
end of such month; (iii) the reports required to be furnished to the Manager
pursuant to Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act; and (iv) such other information as may
be agreed upon from time to time between the Manager and the
Custodian.
27
(n) The
Custodian agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially
and as proprietary information of the Fund all records relative to the holders
of the Fund’s Shares, not to use such records and information for any purpose
other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, and not to
disclose such information except where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or
criminal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such
information by duly constituted authorities or court process, when subject to
governmental or regulatory audit or investigation, or when so requested by the
Fund. In case of any requests or demands for inspection of the records of the
Fund, the Custodian will endeavor to notify the Fund promptly and to secure
instructions from the Fund as to such inspection, unless prohibited by law from
making such notification. Records and information which have become known to the
public through no wrongful act of the Custodian or any of its employees, agents
or representatives, and information which was already in the possession of the
Custodian prior to the date hereof, shall not be subject to this
paragraph. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
(o)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the termination of this
Agreement or the liquidation of the Fund, the Custodian shall deliver the
records of the Fund in the form maintained by the Custodian (to the extent
permitted by applicable license agreements) to the Fund or person(s) designated
by the Fund at the Fund's cost and expense, and thereafter the Fund or its
designee shall be solely responsible for preserving the records for the periods
required by all applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Custodian shall be
entitled to maintain a copy of such records for the sole purpose of defending
itself against any action arising under or as a result of this Agreement or as
otherwise required or permitted by law. The Fund shall be responsible
for all expenses associated with the movement (or duplication) of records and
materials and conversion thereof to a successor custodian, including all
reasonable trailing expenses incurred by the Custodian. In addition,
in the event of termination of this Agreement, or the proposed liquidation or
merger of the Fund, and if the Fund requests the Custodian to provide additional
services in connection therewith, the Custodian shall provide such services and
be entitled to such compensation as the parties may mutually agree.
(p)
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be deemed to constitute a
partnership, association or joint venture between the Fund and the Custodian in
the conduct of the provisions of this Agreement. The Custodian shall
at all times have the status of an independent contractor without the right or
authority to impose tort, contractual or any other liability on the
Fund.
(q) Any
waiver by either party of any provision or condition of this Agreement shall not
be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or condition of
this Agreement, nor a waiver of a subsequent breach of the same provision or
condition.
(r) If by
reason of Force Majeure, the parties are unable in whole or in part to act in
accordance with this Agreement, the parties shall not be deemed in default
during the continuance of such inability provided, however, that either party
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the
other party if the other party is unable to satisfy its obligations for fourteen
(14) days due to such Force Majeure.
The term "Force Majeure" as used herein
shall mean without limitation: acts of God; strikes or lockout; acts of public
enemies; war; insurrections; riots; epidemics; lightening; earthquakes; fire;
storms; flood; washouts; droughts; arrests; restraint of government and people
or any other act by a governmental authority; any computer system outage or
downtime or other equipment failure of any communications medium; any
interruption of the power supply or other utility service; civil disturbances;
and explosions.
28
Custodian shall, however, remedy, with
all reasonable dispatch, any such cause to the extent within its reasonable
control, which prevents Custodian from carrying out its obligations contained
herein.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
29
(s) The
undersigned represent and warrant that they are duly authorized to execute this
Agreement on behalf of the respective parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Custody Agreement to be executed by their
respective duly authorized officers.
FEG
INVESTORS, LLC
|
||
Attest:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
Date:
|
||
FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND
LLC
|
||
Attest:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
Date:
|
||
FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND
LDC
|
||
Attest:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
Date:
|
||
UMB
BANK, N.A.
|
||
Attest:
|
By:
|
|
Name: Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title: Vice-President
|
||
Date:
|
30
APPENDIX
A
The following Subcustodians and
Securities Systems are approved for use in connection with the Custody Agreement
dated
.
SECURITIES
SYSTEMS:
Depository Trust Company
Federal Book Entry
SPECIAL
SUBCUSTODIANS:
DOMESTIC
SUBCUSTODIANS:
Citibank (Foreign
Securities Only)
FEG
INVESTORS, LLC
|
UMB
BANK, N.A.
|
|
By:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
Name: Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Title: Vice-President
|
|
Date:
|
Date:
|
FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND
LDC
|
FEG
ABSOLUTE ACCESS TEI FUND
LLC
|
|
By:
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Title:
|
|
Date:
|
Date:
|
31