Exhibit (g)
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of April 17, 2000 between DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY
FUNDS (the "Fund"), an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having its principal office and place of
business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, and MELLON BANK, N.A.
(the "Custodian"), a national banking association, having its principal place of
business at Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, with respect
to the Fund's series named on Schedule 1 hereto, as such Schedule may be revised
from time to time (each, a "Series").
W I T N E S S E T H:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth,
the Fund and the Custodian agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
Whenever used in this Agreement or in any Schedules to this Agreement, the
following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have
the following meanings:
(a) "Affiliated Person" shall have the meaning of the term within Section
2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(b) "Authorized Person" shall mean those persons duly authorized by the
Fund's Board to give Oral Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf
of the Fund and listed in the certification annexed hereto as Appendix A or
such other certification as may be received by the Custodian from time to
time.
(c) "Book-Entry System" shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry
system for United States and federal agency Securities, its successor or
successors and its nominee or nominees, in which the Custodian is hereby
specifically authorized and instructed on a continuous and on-going basis
to deposit all Securities eligible for deposit therein, and to utilize the
Book-Entry System to the extent possible in connection with its performance
hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean each day on which the Fund is required to
determine its net asset value, and any other day on which the Securities
and Exchange Commission may require the Fund to be open for business.
(e) "Certificate" shall mean any notice, instruction or other instrument in
writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the
Custodian, which is actually received by the Custodian and signed on behalf
of the Fund by any two Authorized Persons or any two officers of the Fund.
(f) "Depository" shall mean Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation
("DTC"), a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, in which
the Custodian is hereby specifically authorized and instructed on a
continuous and on-going basis to deposit all Securities eligible for
deposit therein, and to utilize the Depository to the extent possible in
connection with its performance hereunder. The term "Depository" shall
further mean and include any other person to be named in a Certificate
authorized to act as a depository under the 1940 Act, its successor or
successors and its nominee or nominees.
(g) "Money Market Security" shall be deemed to include, without limitation,
debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to interest and principal by the
government of the United States or agencies or instrumentalities thereof
("U.S. government securities"), commercial paper, bank certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances and short-term corporate obligations, where
the purchase or sale of such securities normally requires settlement in
federal funds on the same day as such purchase or sale, and repurchase and
reverse repurchase agreements with respect to any of the foregoing types of
securities and bank time deposits.
(h) "Oral Instructions" shall mean verbal instructions actually received by
the Custodian from a person reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an
Authorized Person.
(i) "Prospectus" shall mean the Fund's current prospectus and statement of
additional information relating to the registration of the Fund's Shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(j) "Shares" shall mean all or any part of each class of shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund, allocated to a particular Series, listed
in the Certificate annexed hereto as Appendix B, as it may be amended from
time to time, which from time to time are authorized and/or issued by the
Fund.
(k) "Security" or "Securities" shall be deemed to include bonds,
debentures, notes, stocks, shares, evidences of indebtedness, and other
securities, commodities interests and investments from time to time owned
by the Fund.
(l) "Transfer Agent" shall mean the person which performs the transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent functions
for the Fund.
(m) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication actually
received by the Custodian from a person reasonably believed by the
Custodian to be an Authorized Person by any system, including, without
limitation, electronic transmissions, facsimile and telex, whereby the
receiver of such communication is able to verify by codes or otherwise with
a reasonable degree of certainty the authenticity of the sender of such
communication.
(n) The "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the
Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time.
2. APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN.
(a) The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian of
all the Securities and monies at the time owned by or in the possession of
the Fund during the period of this Agreement.
(b) The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such custodian and agrees
to perform the duties thereof as hereinafter set forth.
3. COMPENSATION.
(a) The Fund will compensate the Custodian for its services rendered under
this Agreement in accordance with the fees set forth in the Fee Schedule
annexed hereto as Schedule A and incorporated herein. Such Fee Schedule
does not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the Custodian for which the
Custodian shall be entitled to xxxx separately. Out-of-pocket disbursements
shall consist of the items specified in the Schedule of Out-of-pocket
charges annexed hereto as Schedule B and incorporated herein, which
schedule may be modified by the Custodian upon not less than thirty days
prior written notice to the Fund.
(b) Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from time to time
by attaching to Schedule A of this Agreement a revised Fee Schedule, dated
and signed by an Authorized Officer or authorized representative of each
party hereto.
(c) The Custodian will xxxx the Fund as soon as practicable after the end
of each calendar month, and said xxxxxxxx will be detailed in accordance
with Schedule A, as amended from time to time. The Fund will promptly pay
to the Custodian the amount of such billing. The Custodian may charge
against any monies held on behalf of the Fund pursuant to this Agreement
such compensation and disbursements incurred by the Custodian in the
performance of its duties pursuant to this Agreement. The Custodian shall
also be entitled to charge against any money held on behalf of the Fund
pursuant to this Agreement the amount of any loss, damage, liability or
expense incurred with respect to the Fund, including counsel fees, for
which it shall be entitled to reimbursement under the provisions of this
Agreement.
4. CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES.
(a) RECEIPT AND HOLDING OF ASSETS. The Fund will deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Custodian or its permitted Sub-Custodians all Securities
and monies owned by the Series at any time during the period of this
Agreement and shall specify the Series to which the same are to be
specifically allocated. The Custodian will not be responsible for such
Securities and monies until actually received by it. The Fund shall
instruct the Custodian from time to time in its sole discretion, by means
of Written Instructions, or, in connection with the purchase or sale of
Money Market Securities, by means of Oral Instructions confirmed in writing
in accordance with Section 11(h) hereof or Written Instructions, as to the
manner in which and in what amounts Securities and monies are to be
deposited on behalf of the Series in the Book-Entry System or the
Depository. Securities and monies of such Series deposited in the
Book-Entry System or the Depository will be represented in accounts which
include only assets held by the Custodian for customers, including but not
limited to accounts for which the Custodian acts in a fiduciary or
representative capacity.
(b) ACCOUNTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. The Custodian shall establish and maintain
a separate account for the Fund with respect to each Series and shall
credit to the separate account all monies received by it for the account of
the Fund with respect to such Series and shall disburse the same only:
1. In payment for Securities purchased for the Series, as provided in
Section 5 hereof;
2. In payment of dividends or distributions with respect to the
Shares, as provided in Section 7 hereof;
3. In payment of original issue or other taxes with respect to the
Shares, as provided in Section 8 hereof;
4. In payment for Shares which have been redeemed by the Fund, as
provided in Section 8 hereof;
5. Pursuant to a Certificate setting forth the name and address of the
person to whom the payment is to be made, the Series account from
which payment is to be made, the amount to be paid and the purpose for
which payment is to be made, provided that in the event of
disbursements pursuant to this paragraph 5 of Section 4(b), the Fund
shall indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from any claims or
losses arising out of such disbursements in reliance on such
Certificate; or
6. In payment of fees and in reimbursement of the expenses and
liabilities of the Custodian attributable to the Fund, as provided in
Sections 3 and 11(i).
(c) CONFIRMATION AND STATEMENTS. Promptly after the close of business on
each day, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with confirmations and a
summary of all transfers to or from the account of each Series during said
day. Where securities purchased by a Series are in a fungible bulk of
securities registered in the name of the Custodian (or its nominee) or
shown on the Custodian's account on the books of the Depository or the
Book-Entry System, the Custodian shall by book-entry or otherwise identify
the quantity of those securities belonging to such Series. At least
monthly, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a detailed statement of
the Securities and monies held for each Series under this Agreement.
(d) REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES AND PHYSICAL SEPARATION. All Securities held
for a Series which are issued or issuable only in bearer form, except such
Securities as are held in the Book-Entry System, shall be held by the
Custodian in that form; all other Securities held for a Series may be
registered in the name of such Series, in the name of the Custodian, in the
name of any duly appointed registered nominee of the Custodian as the
Custodian may from time to time determine, or in the name of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository or their successor or successors, or their nominee
or nominees. The Fund reserves the right to instruct the Custodian as to
the method of registration and safekeeping of the Securities. The Fund
agrees to furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the
Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in
the name of its registered nominee or in the name of the Book-Entry System
or the Depository, any Securities which it may hold for the account of a
Series and which may from time to time be registered in the name of such
Series. The Custodian shall hold all such Securities specifically allocated
to a Series which are not held in the Book-Entry System or the Depository
in a separate account for the Fund in the name of such Series physically
segregated at all times from those of any other person or persons.
(e) SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS. Upon receipt of a Certificate, the Custodian will
establish segregated accounts on behalf of each Series to hold liquid or
other assets as it shall be directed by a Certificate and shall increase or
decrease the assets in such segregated accounts only as it shall be
directed by subsequent Certificate.
(f) COLLECTION OF INCOME AND OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING SECURITIES. Unless
otherwise instructed to the contrary by a Certificate, the Custodian by
itself, or through the use of the Book-Entry System or the Depository with
respect to Securities therein deposited, shall with respect to all
Securities held for each Series in accordance with this Agreement:
1. Collect all income due or payable;
2. Present for payment and collect the amount payable upon all
Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, retired or
otherwise become payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian
only shall have such responsibility to the Fund for Securities which
are called if either (i) the Custodian received a written notice of
such call; or (ii) notice of such call appears in one or more of the
publications listed in Appendix C annexed hereto, which may be amended
at any time by the Custodian upon five (5) Business Days prior
notification to the Fund;
3. Surrender Securities in temporary form for definitive Securities;
4. Execute any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership
under the Federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any
other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect; and
5. Hold directly, or through the Book-Entry System or the Depository
with respect to Securities therein deposited, for the account of each
Series all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to any
Securities held by the Custodian hereunder for the Series.
(g) DELIVERY OF SECURITIES AND EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY. Upon receipt of a
Certificate, the Custodian, directly or through the use of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository, shall:
1. Execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to such
persons as may be designated in such Certificate, proxies, consents,
authorizations, and any other instruments whereby the authority of the
Fund as owner of any Securities may be exercised;
2. Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for the Series
in exchange for other Securities or cash issued or paid in connection
with the liquidation, reorganization, refinancing, merger,
consolidation or recapitalization of any corporation, or the exercise
of any conversion privilege;
3. Deliver or cause to be delivered any Securities held for the Series
to any protective committee, reorganization committee or other person
in connection with the reorganization, refinancing, merger,
consolidation or recapitalization or sale of assets of any
corporation, and receive and hold under the terms of this Agreement in
the separate account for the Series such certificates of deposit,
interim receipts or other instruments or documents as may be issued to
it to evidence such delivery;
4. Make or cause to be made such transfers or exchanges of the assets
specifically allocated to the separate account of the Series and take
such other steps as shall be stated in a Certificate to be for the
purpose of effectuating any duly authorized plan of liquidation,
reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Fund;
5. Deliver Securities upon the receipt of payment in connection with
any repurchase agreement related to such Securities entered into by
the Fund;
6. Deliver Securities owned by the Series to the issuer thereof or its
agent when such Securities are called or otherwise become payable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no
responsibility for monitoring or ascertaining any call, redemption or
retirement dates with respect to put bonds which are owned by the
Series and held by the Custodian or its nominees. Nor shall the
Custodian have any responsibility or liability to the Fund for any
loss by the Series for any missed payments or other defaults resulting
therefrom; unless the Custodian received timely notification from the
Fund specifying the time, place and manner for the presentment of any
such put bond owned by the Series and held by the Custodian or its
nominee. The Custodian shall not be responsible and assumes no
liability to the Fund for the accuracy or completeness of any
notification the Custodian may furnish to the Fund with respect to put
bonds;
7. Deliver Securities for delivery in connection with any loans of
Securities made by the Series but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the
Fund which may be in the form of cash or U.S. government securities or
a letter of credit;
8. Deliver Securities for delivery as security in connection with any
borrowings by the Series requiring a pledge of Fund assets, but only
against receipt of amounts borrowed;
9. Deliver Securities upon receipt of a Certificate from the Fund for
delivery to the Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in
connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from time
to time in the Fund's Prospectus, in satisfaction of requests by
holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;
10. Deliver Securities as collateral in connection with short sales by
the Series of common stock for which the Series owns the stock or owns
preferred stocks or debt securities convertible or exchangeable,
without payment or further consideration, into shares of the common
stock sold short;
11. Deliver Securities for any purpose expressly permitted by and in
accordance with procedures described in the Fund's Prospectus; and
12. Deliver Securities for any other proper business purpose, but only
upon receipt of, in addition to Written Instructions, a certified copy
of a resolution of the Fund's Board signed by an Authorized Person and
certified by the Secretary of the Fund, specifying the Securities to
be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper business purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall
be made.
(h) ENDORSEMENT AND COLLECTION OF CHECKS, ETC. The Custodian is hereby
authorized to endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders for
the payment of money received by the Custodian for the account of the
Series.
5. PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS.
(a) Promptly after each purchase of Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each purchase of Securities
which are not Money Market Securities, a Certificate; and (ii) with respect
to each purchase of Money Market Securities, either a Written Instruction
or Oral Instruction, in either case specifying with respect to each
purchase: (1) the Series to which the Securities purchased are to be
specifically allocated; (2) the name of the issuer and the title of the
Securities; (3) the number of shares or the principal amount purchased and
accrued interest, if any; (4) the date of purchase and settlement; (5) the
purchase price per unit; (6) the total amount payable upon such purchase;
(7) the name of the person from whom or the broker through whom the
purchase was made, if any; and (8) whether or not such purchase is to be
settled through the Book-Entry System or the Depository. The Custodian
shall receive the Securities purchased by or for such Series and upon
receipt of Securities shall pay out of the monies held for the account of
such Series the total amount payable upon such purchase, provided that the
same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such Certificate,
Written or Oral Instruction.
(b) Promptly after each sale of Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each sale of Securities which
are not Money Market Securities, a Certificate, and (ii) with respect to
each sale of Money Market Securities, either Written Instruction or Oral
Instructions, in either case specifying with respect to such sale: (1) the
Series to which such Securities sold were specifically allocated; (2) the
name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (3) the number of
shares or principal amount sold, and accrued interest, if any; (4) the date
of sale; (5) the sale price per unit; (6) the total amount payable to such
Series upon such sale; (7) the name of the broker through whom or the
person to whom the sale was made; and (8) whether or not such sale is to be
settled through the Book-Entry System or the Depository. The Custodian
shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities to the broker or
other person designated by the Fund upon receipt of the total amount
payable to such Series upon such sale, provided that the same conforms to
the total amount payable to the Series as set forth in such Certificate,
Written or Oral Instruction. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian may
accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it, and may deliver
Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs
prevailing among dealers in Securities.
6. LENDING OF SECURITIES.
If the Fund is permitted by the terms of its organization documents
and as disclosed in its Prospectus to lend securities, within 24 hours
after each loan of Securities, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to each such loan: (a) the Series to
which the Securities to be loaned are specifically allocated; (b) the name
of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (c) the number of shares or
the principal amount loaned; (d) the date of loan and delivery; (e) the
total amount to be delivered to the Custodian, and specifically allocated
against the loan of the Securities, including the amount of cash collateral
and the premium, if any, separately identified; and (f) the name of the
broker, dealer or financial institution to which the loan was made.
Promptly after each termination of a loan of Securities, the Fund
shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to
each such loan termination and return of Securities: (a) the Series to
which the Securities to be returned are specifically allocated; (b) the
name of the issuer and the title of the Securities to be returned; (c) the
number of shares or the principal amount to be returned; (d) the date of
termination; (e) the total amount to be delivered by the Custodian
(including the cash collateral for such Securities minus any offsetting
credits as described in said Certificate); and (f) the name of the broker,
dealer or financial institution from which the Securities will be returned.
The Custodian shall receive all Securities returned from the broker, dealer
or financial institution to which such Securities were loaned and upon
receipt thereof shall pay the total amount payable upon such return of
Securities as set forth in the Certificate. Securities returned to the
Custodian shall be held as they were prior to such loan.
7. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) For each Series, the Fund shall furnish to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying the date of payment of any dividend or distribution, and the
total amount payable to the Transfer Agent on the payment date.
(b) Upon the payment date specified in such Certificate, the Custodian
shall pay out of the monies held for the account of the Series the total
amount payable to the Transfer Agent of the Fund.
8. SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES.
(a) Whenever the Fund shall sell any Shares, or whenever any Shares are
redeemed, the Fund shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian
a Written Instruction from the Transfer Agent duly specifying:
1. The net amount of money to be received by the Custodian, where the
sale of such Shares exceeds redemption; and
2. The net amount of money to be paid for such Shares, where
redemptions exceed purchases.
The Custodian understands and agrees that Written Instructions may be
furnished subsequent to the purchase of Shares and that the information
contained therein will be derived from the sales of Shares as reported to
the Fund by the Transfer Agent.
(b) Upon receipt of money from the Transfer Agent, the Custodian shall
credit such money to the separate account of the Series.
(c) Upon issuance of any Shares in accordance with the foregoing provisions
of this Section 8, the Custodian shall pay all original issue or other
taxes required to be paid for the account of the Series in connection with
such issuance upon the receipt of a Written Instruction specifying the
amount to be paid.
(d) Upon receipt from the Transfer Agent of Written Instructions setting
forth the net amount of money to be paid for Shares received by the
Transfer Agent for redemption, the Custodian shall make payment to the
Transfer Agent of such net amount out of the monies held for the account of
the Series.
9. INDEBTEDNESS.
(a) The Fund will cause to be delivered to the Custodian by any bank
(excluding the Custodian) from which the Fund borrows money for investment
or for temporary administrative or emergency purposes using Securities as
collateral for such borrowings, a notice or undertaking in the form
currently employed by any such bank setting forth the amount which such
bank will loan to the Fund against delivery of a stated amount of
collateral. The Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
stating with respect to each such borrowing: (1) the Series to which the
borrowing relates; (2) the name of the bank; (3) the amount and terms of
the borrowing, which may be set forth by incorporating by reference an
attached promissory note, duly endorsed by the Fund, or other loan
agreement; (4) the time and date, if known, on which the loan is to be
entered into (the "borrowing date"); (5) the date on which the loan becomes
due and payable; (6) the total amount payable to the Fund for the account
of such Series on the borrowing date; (7) the market value of Securities to
be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the issuer,
the title and the number of shares or the principal amount of any
particular Securities; and (8) a statement that such loan is in conformance
with the 1940 Act and the Fund's Prospectus.
(b) Upon receipt of the Certificate referred to in subparagraph (a) above,
the Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date the specified collateral
and the executed promissory note, if any, against delivery by the lending
bank of the total amount of the loan payable, provided that the same
conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the Certificate. The
Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in
its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights therein
given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory note or loan agreement.
The Custodian shall deliver as additional collateral in the manner directed
by the Fund from time to time such Securities as may be specified in the
Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described in this
Section 9. The Fund shall cause all Securities released from collateral
status to be returned directly to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall
receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to
it. In the event that the Fund fails to specify in the Certificate all of
the information required by this Section 9, the Custodian shall not be
under any obligation to deliver any Securities. Collateral returned to the
Custodian shall be held hereunder as it was prior to being used as
collateral.
10. PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO ASSETS OF THE FUND.
(a) No Board member or agent of the Fund, and no officer, director,
employee or agent of the Fund's investment adviser, of any sub-investment
adviser of the Fund, or of the Fund's administrator, shall have physical
access to the assets of the Fund held by the Custodian or be authorized or
permitted to withdraw any investments of the Fund, nor shall the Custodian
deliver any assets of the Fund to any such person. No officer, director,
employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar position with the
Fund's investment adviser, with any sub-investment adviser of the Fund or
with the Fund's administrator shall have access to the assets of the Fund.
(b) Nothing in this Section 10 shall prohibit any duly authorized officer,
employee or agent of the Fund, or any duly authorized officer, director,
employee or agent of the investment adviser, of any sub-investment adviser
of the Fund or of the Fund's administrator, from giving Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions to the Custodian or executing a Certificate so long
as it does not result in delivery of or access to assets of the Fund
prohibited by Section 10(a).
11. CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN.
(a) STANDARD OF CONDUCT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, neither the Custodian nor its nominee shall be liable for any
loss or damage, including counsel fees, resulting from its action or
omission to act or otherwise, except for any such loss or damage arising
out of the negligence, misfeasance or willful misconduct of the Custodian
or any of its employees, Sub-Custodians or agents. The Custodian may, with
respect to questions of law, apply for and obtain the advice and opinion of
counsel to the Fund or of its own counsel, at the expense of the Fund, and
shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in
good faith in conformity with such advice or opinion. The Custodian shall
not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage resulting from the use of
the Book-Entry System or the Depository, except to the extent such loss or
damage arises by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or willful
misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any of its employees or agents.
(b) LIMIT OF DUTIES. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire into, and shall
not be liable for:
1. The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased by the Fund,
the legality of the purchase thereof, or the propriety of the amount
paid therefor;
2. The legality of the sale of any Securities by the Fund or the
propriety of the amount for which the same are sold;
3. The legality of the issue or sale of any Shares, or the sufficiency
of the amount to be received therefor;
4. The legality of the redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of
the amount to be paid therefor;
5. The legality of the declaration or payment of any distribution of
the Fund; or
6. The legality of any borrowing for temporary or emergency
administrative purposes.
(c) NO LIABILITY UNTIL RECEIPT. The Custodian shall not be liable for, or
considered to be the Custodian of, any money, whether or not represented by
any check, draft, or other instrument for the payment of money, received by
it on behalf of the Fund until the Custodian actually receives and collects
such money directly or by the final crediting of the account representing
the Fund's interest in the Book-Entry System or the Depository.
(d) AMOUNTS DUE FROM TRANSFER AGENT. The Custodian shall not be under any
duty or obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount due to
the Fund from the Transfer Agent nor to take any action to effect payment
or distribution by the Transfer Agent of any amount paid by the Custodian
to the Transfer Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
(e) COLLECTION WHERE PAYMENT REFUSED. The Custodian shall not be under any
duty or obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount, if
the Securities upon which such amount is payable are in default, or if
payment is refused after due demand or presentation, unless and until (a)
it shall be directed to take such action by a Certificate and (b) it shall
be assured to its satisfaction of reimbursement of its costs and expenses
in connection with any such action.
(f) APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS AND SUB-CUSTODIANS. The Custodian may appoint one
or more banking institutions, including but not limited to banking
institutions located in foreign countries, to act as Depository or
Depositories or as Sub-Custodian or as Sub-Custodians of Securities and
monies at any time owned by the Fund. The Custodian shall use reasonable
care in selecting a Depository and/or Sub-Custodian located in a country
other than the United States ("Foreign Sub-Custodian"), which selection
shall be in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 under the 1940
Act, and shall oversee the maintenance of any Securities or monies of the
Fund by any Foreign Sub-Custodian. In addition, the Custodian shall hold
the Fund harmless from, and indemnify the Fund against, any loss, action,
claim, demand, expense and proceeding, including counsel fees, that occurs
as a result of the failure of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or Depository to
exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of Securities and
monies of the Fund. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing,
however, the Custodian shall not be liable for any losses resulting from
the general risk of investing or holding Securities and monies in a
particular country, including, but not limited to, losses resulting from
nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, revaluation, confiscation,
seizure, cancellation, destruction or similar action by any governmental
authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or
enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency restrictions,
exchange controls, taxes, levies or other charges affecting the Fund's
property; or acts of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any
other similar act or event beyond the Custodian's control.
(g) NO DUTY TO ASCERTAIN AUTHORITY. The Custodian shall not be under any
duty or obligation to ascertain whether any Securities at any time
delivered to or held by it for the Fund are such as may properly be held by
the Fund under the provisions of its organization documents and the
Prospectus.
(h) RELIANCE ON CERTIFICATES AND INSTRUCTIONS. The Custodian shall be
entitled to rely upon any Certificate, notice or other instrument in
writing received by the Custodian and reasonably believed by the Custodian
to be genuine and to be signed by an officer or Authorized Person of the
Fund. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any Written Instructions
or Oral Instructions actually received by the Custodian pursuant to the
applicable Sections of this Agreement and reasonably believed by the
Custodian to be genuine and to be given by an Authorized Person. The Fund
agrees to forward to the Custodian Written Instructions from an Authorized
Person confirming such Oral Instructions in such manner so that such
Written Instructions are received by the Custodian, whether by hand
delivery, telex or otherwise, by the close of business on the same day that
such Oral Instructions are given to the Custodian. The Fund agrees that the
fact that such confirming instructions are not received by the Custodian
shall in no way affect the validity of the transactions or enforceability
of the transactions hereby authorized by the Fund. The Fund agrees that the
Custodian shall incur no liability to the Fund in acting upon Oral
Instructions given to the Custodian hereunder concerning such transactions
provided such instructions reasonably appear to have been received from a
duly Authorized Person.
(i) OVERDRAFT FACILITY AND SECURITY FOR PAYMENT. In the event that the
Custodian is directed by Written Instruction (or Oral Instructions
confirmed in writing in accordance with Section 11(h) hereof) to make any
payment or transfer of monies on behalf of a Series for which there would
be, at the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer,
insufficient monies held by the Custodian on behalf of such Series, the
Custodian may, in its sole discretion, provide an overdraft (an
"Overdraft") to the Fund in an amount sufficient to allow the completion of
such payment or transfer. Any Overdraft provided hereunder: (a) shall be
payable on the next Business Day, unless otherwise agreed by the Fund and
the Custodian; and (b) shall accrue interest from the date of the Overdraft
to the date of payment in full by the Fund at a rate agreed upon in
writing, from time to time, by the Custodian and the Fund. The Custodian
and the Fund acknowledge that the purpose of such Overdraft is to
temporarily finance the purchase of Securities for prompt delivery in
accordance with the terms hereof, to meet unanticipated or unusual
redemption, to allow the settlement of foreign exchange contracts or to
meet other emergency expenses not reasonably foreseeable by the Fund. The
Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in writing (an "Overdraft Notice")
of any Overdraft by facsimile transmission or in such other manner as the
Fund and the Custodian may agree in writing. To secure payment of any
Overdraft, the Fund hereby grants to the Custodian a continuing security
interest in and right of setoff against the Securities and cash in the
Series' account from time to time in the full amount of such Overdraft.
Should the Fund fail to pay promptly any amounts owed hereunder, the
Custodian shall be entitled to use available cash in the Series' account
and to liquidate Securities in the account as is necessary to meet the
Fund's obligations under the Overdraft. In any such case, and without
limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall be entitled to take such other
actions(s) or exercise such other options, powers and rights as the
Custodian now or hereafter has as a secured creditor under the Pennsylvania
Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law.
(j) INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the Custodian
shall be open to inspection and audit at reasonable times by officers and
auditors employed by the Fund and by the appropriate employees of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository and with such reports on its own systems of
internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to
time.
12. TERM AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first set forth above
(the "Effective Date") and shall continue in effect thereafter until such
time as this Agreement may be terminated in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
(b) Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to
the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such
termination, which shall be not less than 60 days after the date of receipt
of such notice. In the event such notice is given by the Fund, it shall be
accompanied by a certified vote of the Fund's Board, electing to terminate
this Agreement and designating a successor custodian or custodians, which
shall be a person qualified to so act under the 1940 Act.
In the event such notice is given by the Custodian, the Fund shall, on
or before the termination date, deliver to the Custodian a certified vote
of the Fund's Board, designating a successor custodian or custodians. In
the absence of such designation by the Fund, the Custodian may designate a
successor custodian, which shall be a person qualified to so act under the
0000 Xxx. If the Fund fails to designate a successor custodian, the Fund
shall upon the date specified in the notice of termination of this
Agreement and upon the delivery by the Custodian of all Securities (other
than Securities held in the Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to
the Fund) and monies then owned by the Fund, be deemed to be its own
custodian and the Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and
responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement, other than the duty with
respect to Securities held in the Book-Entry System which cannot be
delivered to the Fund.
(c) Upon the date set forth in such notice under paragraph (b) of this
Section 12, this Agreement shall terminate to the extent specified in such
notice, and the Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by
the successor custodian on that date deliver directly to the successor
custodian all Securities and monies then held by the Custodian on behalf of
the Fund, after deducting all fees, expenses and other amounts for the
payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled.
13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
The Fund and the Custodian agree that the obligations of the Fund
under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the Board members,
shareholders, nominees, officers, employees or agents, whether past,
present or future, of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the
assets and property of the Fund. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement have been authorized by the Fund's Board members, and signed by
an authorized officer of the Fund, acting as such, and neither such
authorization by such Board members nor such execution and delivery by such
officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them or any shareholder
of the Fund individually or to impose any liability on any of them or any
shareholder of the Fund personally, but shall bind only the assets and
property of the Fund.
14. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Annexed hereto as Appendix A is a certification signed by the Secretary
of the Fund setting forth the names and the signatures of the present
Authorized Persons. The Fund agrees to furnish to the Custodian a new
certification in similar form in the event that any such present Authorized
Person ceases to be such an Authorized Person or in the event that other or
additional Authorized Persons are elected or appointed. Until such new
certification shall be received, the Custodian shall be fully protected in
acting under the provisions of this Agreement upon Oral Instructions or
signatures of the present Authorized Persons as set forth in the last
delivered certification.
(b) Annexed hereto as Appendix B is a certification signed by the Secretary
of the Fund setting forth the names and the signatures of the present
officers of the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish to the Custodian a new
certification in similar form in the event any such present officer ceases
to be an officer of the Fund or in the event that other or additional
officers are elected or appointed. Until such new certification shall be
received, the Custodian shall be fully protected in acting under the
provisions of this Agreement upon the signature of an officer as set forth
in the last delivered certification.
(c) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Custodian, shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to the Custodian and mailed or delivered to it at its offices at
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 or at such other
place as the Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.
(d) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund, shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to the Fund and mailed or delivered to it at its offices at 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 or at such other place as the Fund
may from time to time designate in writing.
(e) This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a
written agreement executed by both parties with the same formality as this
Agreement, (i) authorized, or ratified and approved by a vote of the Fund's
Board, including a majority of the Board members who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), or (ii) authorized, or
ratified and approved by such other procedures as may be permitted or
required by the 1940 Act.
(f) This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however,
that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the written
consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent
of the Fund authorized or approved by a vote of the Fund's Board. Nothing
in this Agreement shall give or be construed to give or confer upon any
third party any rights hereunder.
(g) The Fund represents that copies of its organization documents are on
file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(h) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(i) The captions of the 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.
(j) This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall,
together, constitute only one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective representatives duly authorized as of the day and
year first above written.
DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FUNDS
By:
Name:
Title:
MELLON BANK, N.A.
By:
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE 1
NAME OF SERIES
Dreyfus Premier NexTech Fund
CUSTODIAN ACCOUNT FOR PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
APPENDIX A
I, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Assistant Secretary of the Fund, do hereby certify
that:
The following individuals have been duly authorized as Authorized Persons
to give Oral Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund and the
specimen signatures set forth opposite their respective names are their true and
correct signatures:
NAME SIGNATURE
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Assistant Secretary
Dated: _________________
APPENDIX A
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES: CASH ACCOUNT
GROUP I GROUP II
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx XxXxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X.
Daviloff, Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx. and Xxxx Xxxxxx
Svagna and Xxxx Xxxxxxx
1. Fees payable to Mellon Bank, N.A. or Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company
pursuant to written agreement with the Fund for services rendered in its
capacity as Custodian or agent of the Fund, or to Dreyfus Transfer, Inc. in
its capacity as Transfer Agent or agent of the Fund:
Two (2) signatures required, one of which must be from Group II,
except that no individual shall be authorized to sign more than once.
2. Other expenses of the Fund, $5,000 and under:
Any combination of two (2) signatures from either Group I or Group II,
or both such Groups, except that no individual shall be authorized to
sign more than once.
3. Other expenses of the Fund, over $5,000 but not over $25,000:
Two (2) signatures required, one of which must be from Group II,
except that no individual shall be authorized to sign more than once.
4. Other expenses of the Fund, over $25,000:
Two (2) signatures required, one from Group I or Group II, including
any one of the following: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx or Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx,
Xx., except that no individual shall be authorized to sign more than
once.
CUSTODIAN ACCOUNT FOR PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Two (2) signatures required from any of the following:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Angel Plergui, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx.
APPENDIX B
DREYFUS PREMIER OPPORTUNITY FUNDS
I, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Assistant Secretary of the Fund, do hereby certify that the
only classes of shares of the Fund issued and/or authorized by the Fund as of
the date of this Custody Agreement are shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par
value, as follows:
Dreyfus Premier NexTech Fund
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class T
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Assistant Secretary
Dated:
APPENDIX C
The following are designated publications for purposes of paragraph 2 of
Section 4 (f):
The Bond Buyer
Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation Notices
Financial Daily Card Service
New York Times
Standard & Poor's Called Bond Record
Wall Street Journal
SCHEDULE A
I. ASSET BASED CHARGES
A. U.S. SECURITIES (NET ASSET VALUE)
First $1 Billion 0.70 Basis Points
Next $1 Billion 0.50 Basis Points
Excess 0.25 Basis Points
B. INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES (MARKET VALUE)
Foreign Assets in all funds will be totaled by country and charged a
basis point fee by category.
Euroclear 5.00 Basis Points
Category I 8.00 Basis Points
Category II 14.00 Basis Points
Category III 16.00 Basis Points
Category IV 45.00 Basis Points
(A complete listing of countries is on page 2 of this fee schedule)
II. TRANSACTION CHARGES
A. DOMESTIC
U.S. Buy/Sell transaction (DTC, PTC, Fed) $7.00
Physical U.S. Buy/Sell transaction $20
B. INTERNATIONAL
Euroclear $ 25
Category I $ 35
Category II $ 60
Category III $ 80
Category IV $100
C. OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Futures Transaction $ 8
Paydown Transaction $ 5
Margin Variation Wire $ 10
F/X not executed at BSDT $ 20
Options Round Trip $ 20
Wire Transfer $ 5
III. OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Custodian will pass through to the client any out-of-pocket expenses
including, but not limited to, postage, courier expense, registration
fees, stamp duties telex charges, custom reporting or custom
programming, internal/external tax, legal or consulting costs, proxy
voting expenses, etc.
The Custodian reserves the right to amend its fees if the service
requirements change in a way that materially affects our
responsibilities or costs. Support of other derivative investment
strategies or special processing requirements (e.g., external cash
sweep, third party securities lending etc.) may result in additional
fees.
IV. COUNTRY BY COUNTRY CATEGORIES:
CATEGORY I CATEGORY II CATEGORY III CATEGORY IV
Australia Argentina Austria Bangladesh
Belgium Denmark Indonesia Brazil
Canada Finland Israel Colombia
France Hong Kong South Korea China
Germany Malaysia Philippines Czech Republic
Ireland Mexico Singapore Greece
Italy Norway Thailand India
Japan Spain Jordan
Netherlands Luxembourg
New Zealand Pakistan
South Africa Peru
Sweden Poland
Switzerland Portugal
United Kingdom Sri Lanka
Cedel Taiwan
Turkey
Uruguay
Venezuela
SCHEDULE B
The Fund will pay to the Custodian as soon as possible after the end of
each month all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the
assets of the Fund.
SCHEDULE C
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES
CUSTODIAN ACCOUNT FOR PAYMENT OF BLUE SKY FEES
1. The Custodian shall be authorized to draw from the Fund's custodial
account, upon request by the Dreyfus Legal Department and only upon
compliance with these procedures for payment of state blue sky fees for the
purpose of, including but not limited to, state notification or
registration, exemption, amendment and filing fees.
2. The Dreyfus Legal Department shall prepare a Wire Transfer Authorization
Form addressed to the Custodian that includes an attached invoice
containing the following information: the name of the Fund, the Fund's
internal code number, the amount to be funded, the state and type of
filing, and the appropriate general ledger account.
3. Each Wire Transfer Authorization Form must be signed by two (2) of the
following authorized Blue Sky Administrators:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
