CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This
Agreement is made as of this 24th day of
January 2008, between U.S. Bank
National Association, a national banking association (the “Custodian”)
and Citi Fund Services,
Inc., (the “Transfer Agent”).
WHEREAS,
the Custodian has agreed to act and shall serve as custodian of
record for certain accounts established by account clients (“Clients”) including
but not limited to, Traditional IRAs, Xxxx IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Section
457 plans, Section 403(b) plan accounts and Xxxxxxxxx ESAs (“Accounts”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Accounts shall hold shares of certain mutual funds listed in Exhibit
A hereto, as may be amended from time to time upon written notice to the
Custodian; and for which the Transfer Agent provides certain shareholder
services, and
WHEREAS,
the Transfer Agent has agreed to provide for the Accounts, and is in the
business of providing, certain retirement plan accounting and administration
services as agent for the Custodian; and
IN
CONSIDERATION OF THE AGREEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN, and for other good and
valuable consideration hereby acknowledged by the Custodian and Transfer
Agent,
NOW,
THEREFORE, in order to clarify the respective duties, the Custodian and the
Transfer Agent agree as follows:
I. |
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Duties
and Responsibilities of Custodian:
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A.
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Custodian
shall act as custodian of record for the
Accounts.
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B.
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Custodian
hereby appoints Transfer Agent, and Transfer Agent accepts
such appointment, to take sole responsibility to perform the
functions with regard to the Accounts as set forth in Article II, A.
below.
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II.
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Duties
and Responsibilities of Transfer
Agent:
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A.
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Transfer
Agent accepts appointment by Custodian to take sole responsibility to
perform the following functions with regard to the
Accounts:
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1.
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Draft,
maintain and update all documents necessary or relevant to establishing
and maintaining Accounts in compliance with applicable law, including but
not limited to Account applications, custodial agreements, rollover forms
and certifications, beneficiary designation forms and state and federal
tax forms.
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2.
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Receive,
process, maintain and update all Account applications, custodial
agreements, beneficiary designation forms, federal and state tax forms and
all other relevant documents for each Account as necessary to satisfy all
applicable legal or reasonable administrative
requirements.
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3.
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Execute
as agent on behalf of Custodian, all Account documents under whose terms
the Custodian undertakes custodial
responsibilities.
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4.
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Maintain
each Client’s records pertinent to each Account, including but not limited
to the Client’s current mailing address, as required by applicable law or
reasonable administration.
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5.
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Receive
Account contributions directly from the Clients or their agents, or
receive transfers of assets directly from predecessor custodians/trustees,
for investment in accordance with instructions received from the Client or
his agent. All such investments shall be registered in the name
of Custodian as custodian.
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7.
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Allocate
contributions between or among each Account as directed by the appropriate
Client.
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8.
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Provide
at least annual statements to the Client setting forth the market value of
the Client’s account.
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9.
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As
necessary, forward to and provide Clients with such notices of annual
meetings, corporate actions, proxies and any other materials required by
applicable law to be provided to the
Clients.
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10.
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Provide
to each Client such information or notifications as may be required to be
furnished in accordance with applicable law, including without limitation
tax withholding election forms.
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11.
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Follow
the written instructions of the Client directing redemption, reinvestment
of assets, distribution of assets for the purposes of benefit payments,
return of excess contributions or deferrals, transfers to successor
custodians/trustees, transfers from predecessor custodians/trustees and
any other action, provided that such directions and actions are in
conformity with the terms of applicable law. On behalf of the
Custodian, Transfer Agent shall prepare, file and distribute all necessary
tax forms for each Account, including, but not limited to 1099Rs and
5498s, which may be required by applicable law. Transfer Agent
shall maintain a copy of all such forms in its files as required by
applicable law.
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12.
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Process
and report redemptions, including making the appropriate tax withholding
and promptly transmitting of amounts withheld to the appropriate revenue
agency in accordance with applicable
law.
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13.
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Maintain
age records of the Clients and notify each Client as required by U.S.
Treasury Regulations and other applicable law relating to required minimum
distributions (“RMD”). Calculate the amount of the RMD based on the method
elected by the Client and collect the information concerning a 70 ½
election of payment method.
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14.
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Respond
promptly to all Client inquiries and maintain records of such responses
for no less than the term of this Agreement or as otherwise required by
applicable law.
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15.
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Collect
all fees relating to the Account investments and pay compensation due and
payable in accordance with Article V
below.
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B.
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If
Transfer Agent is unable to perform or has failed to perform any of the
services it has agreed to perform herein at any time, and such
nonperformance exposes Custodian to regulatory or legal noncompliance with
regard to applicable law, then Transfer Agent promptly shall notify
Custodian in writing detailing: (i) the nature of the omissions or
failures, (ii) the number and/or duration of such omissions or failures,
(iii) the reason for each omission or failure, (iv) the proposed solution
to correct each omission or failure, and (v) a procedure for preventing
such omissions or failures going
forward.
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III.
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Safekeeping
of Assets
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Transfer
Agent shall assume
sole responsibility for the safekeeping of all Account
assets. Transfer Agent shall perform all recordkeeping and accounting
functions (including but not limited to purchases and redemptions and earnings
and loss calculations) for each Account, and shall provide a detailed report
regarding such recordkeeping and accounting to the Custodian at least annually
or more frequently upon Custodian’s reasonable request.
IV.
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Indemnification
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Transfer
Agent hereby agrees
to indemnify and hold Custodian harmless against any and all claims, demands,
actions, suits, judgments, IRS or other governmental penalties or fees of any
nature, losses, damages, costs, charges and other expenses of every nature
(including legal counsel and other professional fees and expenses) arising
directly from gross negligence or willful misconduct by Transfer
Agent in the performance of this Agreement.
The
indemnity provisions set forth in this section shall indefinitely survive the
termination or assignment of this Agreement.
V. |
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Compensation
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A.
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Transfer
Agent shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this
Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit
B hereto, as amended from time to
time.
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B.
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The
Custodian shall be compensated for providing the custodial services set
forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on
Exhibit
B hereto, as amended from time to
time.
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VI. |
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Compliance
with Laws
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Transfer
Agent shall be legally and contractually responsible for ensuring that, in
providing services or agreeing to the provision of such services under this
Agreement, they have not exposed Custodian to any regulatory or legal
noncompliance with regard to any applicable law. If Transfer Agent
does expose Custodian to such regulatory or legal noncompliance, they shall
indemnify, defend, hold harmless and make the Custodian whole with regard to
such exposure.
Custodian
shall be legally and contractually responsible for ensuring that, in providing
services or agreeing to the provision of such services under this Agreement,
they have not exposed to Transfer Agent any regulatory or legal noncompliance
with regard to any applicable law. If Custodian does expose Transfer
Agent to such regulatory or legal noncompliance, they shall indemnify, defend,
hold harmless and make the Transfer Agent whole with regard to such
exposure.
Further,
Custodian and Transfer Agent hereby agree to the terms and requirements as set
forth in Exhibit
C which are hereby incorporated by reference.
VII. |
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Privacy
of Client and Account Information
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A.
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“Confidential
Information” shall mean all information however collected,
compiled, or received, including without limitation, through
non-electronic or electronic means pertaining to or identifiable in any
way to any Client or Account, including but not limited to, first and last
names, home addresses, telephone numbers, account numbers, account
balances, account positions, account statements, account activity, social
security numbers, driver’s license numbers, account access codes, pass
words, account lists, and any other information that may be compiled or
derived therefrom.
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X.
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Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx. Because
Custodian is a federally-regulated financial institution that must comply
with the safeguards for Confidential Information contained in the
Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act (“GLBA”) and regulations promulgated pursuant to
GLBA, Transfer Agent must establish, as an entity that maintains,
processes, or otherwise is permitted access to Confidential Information,
appropriate measures designed to safeguard Confidential
Information. Specifically, Transfer Agent must establish and
maintain data security policies and procedures designed to ensure the
following:
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1.
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security and confidentiality of Confidential
Information;
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2.
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protection against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or
integrity of Confidential Information;
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3.
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protection against the unauthorized access or use of Confidential
Information.
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C.
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Monitoring. During
the term of this Agreement, Transfer Agent will provide the Custodian with
such information as it may reasonable request to allow the Custodian to
monitor the Transfer Agent in relation to the data security policies and
procedures designed to meet the requirements set forth
above.
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VIII. |
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Disposition
of Confidential Information
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Transfer
Agent is required to develop appropriate security measures for the proper
disposal and destruction of Confidential Information. Upon
termination of this Agreement, Transfer Agent must forward all Confidential
Information to Custodian or Transfer Agent may provide Confidential Information
to a successor custodian or destroy the Confidential Information. If
requested by the Custodian, Transfer Agent shall provide written certification
to Custodian that Transfer Agent has forwarded or destroyed, all such
Confidential Information in Transfer Agent's
possession. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Transfer Agent may retain
one archival copy of Confidential Information, to demonstrate compliance with
the provisions of this Section and to meet any regulatory retention requirements
of Transfer Agent.
IX. |
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Right
to Audit; Access.
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A.
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The
Custodian's business operations are regularly audited by (i) various
government agencies having supervisory and regulatory authority over
Custodian (the “Regulatory Authorities”) and (ii) Custodian's own internal
auditors. Transfer Agent agrees to take reasonable action
to cooperate with Custodian's efforts to meet its regulatory obligations
and will comply in a timely manner with Custodian’s reasonable requests
for documentation and information.
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XI. |
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Term
of Agreement; Amendment
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This
Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written
above. This Agreement may be terminated by any party upon giving
ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other parties. This
Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the termination of the Transfer Agent
as transfer agent with respect to such mutual funds listed in Exhibit
A. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner
except by written agreement executed by the parties.
XII. |
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Duties
in the Event of Termination
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In the
event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of the
Custodian’s duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by written notice
to the Custodian, the Custodian will promptly, upon such termination transfer to
such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data
established or maintained by the Custodian under this Agreement in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Transfer Agent, and will cooperate in the transfer
of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from the
Custodian’s personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by
such successor. If no such successor is designated, then such books,
records and other data shall be returned to the Transfer Agent.
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XIII. |
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Assignment
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This
Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the respective successors and
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the
Transfer Agent without the written consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian
without the written consent of the Transfer Agent.
XIV. |
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Governing
Law
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This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent
that the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions
herein, conflict with the applicable federal law, the latter shall control, and
nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the Investment
Companies Act of 1940 or any rule or order of the Securities and Exchange
Commission promulgated thereunder.
XV. |
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No
Agency Relationship
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Nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as
agent for the other party to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Agreement.
XVI. |
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Services
Not Exclusive
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Nothing
in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Custodian from providing services
to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services
provided hereunder.
XVII. |
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Invalidity
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Any
provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. In such case,
the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent
with the original intent of the parties.
XVIII. |
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Notices
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Any
notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered
personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent
and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address
set forth below:
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Notice to
the Custodian shall be sent to:
U.S. Bank
National Association
Attn:
Mutual Fund Custody Services
000 X.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
and notice to the Transfer Agent shall
be sent to:
Citi Fund
Services, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
XIX. |
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Multiple
Originals
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This
Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by
a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first
written above.
U.S. Bank National
Association, Custodian
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By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
XxXxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxx
Title:
Vice President
Citi Fund Services, Inc.,
Transfer Agent
By:/s/ Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Title:
President
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SCHEDULE
A
List of
Funds
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SCHEDULE
B
Fee
Schedule
Transfer
Agent shall collect $___ per Account, of which $__ shall be payable to
Custodian.
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Reliance
Provisions
EXHIBIT
C
Recitals.
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1.1
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Custodian
is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act and Section 326
of the USA PATRIOT Act requiring it to implement and maintain a Customer
Identification Program as part of its Anti-Money Laundering Program and
Bank Secrecy Act Policy.
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1.2
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Custodian
provides custodial services to Accounts and, in connection therewith, is
obligated to comply with all laws, rules and regulations relating to the
provision of services to such Accounts. The custodial services
provided to Accounts by Custodian are specified in a written custodial
agreement between the Custodian and each Account
Client.
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1.3
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Transfer
Agent provides certain shareholder services certain to the mutual funds
listed in Exhibit
A (“Funds”), as
may be amended from time to time, which are federally regulated registered
investment companies and Transfer Agent has implemented Anti-Money
Laundering Programs that complies with Section 326 of the USA Patriot
ACT.
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1.4
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The
Funds are in the business of providing mutual fund investments to
individuals and entities, and, in that capacity, provide services to third
parties that are or may be customers of Funds and/or Transfer Agent, but
are not otherwise customers of, or specifically known to, the Custodian
prior to becoming a custodial customer of the Custodian as described in
Section 1.2, above (“Third
Parties”).
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1.5
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Custodian
and Transfer Agent desire to assure that the services the Funds and
Transfer Agent provide to such Third Parties also comply with such Laws,
as that term is defined below.
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NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the covenants set forth below, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
2. Transfer Agent Obligations
Regarding Laws and Compliance Related Matters
For so
long as the Custodian provides custodial services to any Third Parties, and the
Funds and Transfer Agent provide services to Third Parties, the parties agree
that Fund shall be legally and contractually responsible for ensuring that the
services the Funds provide to Third Parties fully comply with the
Laws. In connection therewith, the Transfer Agent makes the following
representations regarding the Funds:
The Funds
have established and currently maintain policies and procedures related to right
to financial privacy; know your customer; Customer Identification Program; and
intend to establish and maintain any other program, policies, and procedures
which may in the future be found to be needed for the proper conduct of the
services provided by Fund and Transfer Agent in conformity with the
Laws. The Funds operate, and cause the Transfer Agent to operate, in
compliance with such programs, policies and procedures.
Transfer
Agent agrees to cooperate with, and shall take reasonable action to make all
necessary information available to, the Custodian and representatives of the
agencies which regulate Custodian for the purpose of auditing compliance with
obligations the USA PATRIOT ACT.
For
purposes hereof, "Laws" shall mean all federal, state and local laws and
regulations applicable to the provision of banking, financial or custodial
services by Custodian under this Agreement. These include, but are not limited
to, the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, those relating to currency
reporting, the prevention of money laundering, and laws regarding the privacy of
nonpublic consumer information.
3.
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Transfer Agent
Obligations Regarding USA PATRIOT Act Customer Identification
Program
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Transfer
Agent shall perform, with respect to all Third Parties for which Custodian
provides services, certain duties of the Custodian’s Customer Identification
Program. Such duties will conform, in all respects, with the
requirements specified under the USA PATRIOT Act and the implementing
regulations applicable to national banks in addition to the specific Customer
Identification Program of the Custodian.
Transfer
Agent shall perform the following:
1.
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Collect
all identifying information of the Third Parties as applicable (name,
physical address, date of birth and taxpayer identification
number);
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2.
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Verify
the identity of the Third Parties prior to the opening of an account with
Custodian for Third Parties;
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3.
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Provide
notice to the Third Parties that Fund and/or Transfer Agent may request
information to verify Third Parties’ identity in a format agreed upon
by Transfer Agent
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and Custodian; | |||
4.
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Compare
names of Third Parties against any list of known or suspected terrorists
or terrorist organizations issued by any Federal government agency and
designated as
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such by the U.S. Treasury and follow all Federal directions issued in connection with such list; | |||
5.
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Retain
all identifying information of Third Parties for a period of five years
after the account maintained at Custodian for Third Party is
closed;
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6.
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Retain
all verifying information of Third Parties for a period of five years
after the verification of identity is
made;
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7.
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Provide
written certification to Custodian attesting to the performance of the
foregoing requirements upon any request made by Transfer Agent to
Custodian to open an
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account for Third Parties; and | |||
8.
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Annually
provide a written certification to Custodian that it has implemented an
Anti-Money Laundering program and that it will perform the specified
requirements of the
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Custodian’s Customer Identification Program. |
4. Custodian Obligations
Regarding USA PATRIOT Act Customer Identification
Program
Custodian
shall, with respect to all Third Parties for which Custodian provides services,
retain all Transfer Agent certifications described herein for a period of five
years after the account is closed.
5. SAR
and CTR Obligations
Each
party to this contract shall remain obligated to file any and all Suspicious
Activity Reports (SARs) or Currency Transaction Reports (CTR) that are required
by law. In no way is Custodian agreeing to assume the Funds’ or the
Transfer Agent’s SAR or CTR filing requirements. Instead, Custodian
shall file any SARs or CTRs that it is required to file by law, and the Fund and
the Transfer Agent shall file any SARs or CTRs they are required to file by
law.
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