AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Amendment to the Custodian Agreement is made as of December 22, 2000
by and between North American Senior Floating Rate Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and
State Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Custodian"). Capitalized terms used in
this Amendment without definition shall have the respective meanings given to
such terms in the Custodian Agreement referred to below.
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian entered into a Custodian Agreement
dated as of June 23, 1998 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the
"Contract"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend certain provisions of
the Contract to reflect revisions to Rule 17f-5 ("Rule 17f-5") and the adoption
of Rule 17f-7 ("Rule 17f-7") promulgated under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend and restate certain
other provisions of the Contract relating to the custody of assets of the Fund
held outside of the United States.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree to amend the
Contract, pursuant to the terms thereof, as follows:
I. Articles 3 and 4 of the Contract are hereby deleted.
II. New Articles 3 and 4 of the Contract are hereby added, as of the effective
date of this Amendment, as set forth below.
3. Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7
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3.1. Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Amendment shall have the following
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meanings:
"Country Risk" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment, economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country),
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")), or a foreign
branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the
requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does
not include any Eligible Securities Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Fund's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
3.2. The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.
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3.2.1 Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Fund, by
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resolution adopted by its Board of Directors (the "Board"), hereby delegates to
the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set
forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United
States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund.
3.2.2 Countries Covered. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible
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for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to
the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule
A to this Contract, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by
the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Fund's assets, which list of Eligible
Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of
the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended
versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open
an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening
requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to
have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with
respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this
Amendment by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an
account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on
Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains
Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Contract. Following the receipt of
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Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn
and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of
the Fund with respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing)
after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no
further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund
with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation
is withdrawn.
3.2.3 Scope of Delegated Responsibilities:
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(a) Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
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provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and
maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as
Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible
Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign
Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to
custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that
Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified
in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
(b) Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign Custody
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Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
(c) Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
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maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such
Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the
custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no
longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
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3.2.4 Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes of
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this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to
accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign
Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund.
3.2.5 Reporting Requirements. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the
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withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the
placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by
providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter
in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager
shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in
the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after
the occurrence of the material change.
3.2.6 Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund. In
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performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager
agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person
having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
3.2.7 Representations with Respect to Rule 17f-5. The Foreign Custody
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Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section
(a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has
determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to
perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Contract to the
Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody
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Manager. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of
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the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect
until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the
terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become
effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such
notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to
and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with
respect to designated countries.
3.3 Eligible Securities Depositories.
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3.3.1 Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or
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its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) with an analysis
of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible
Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with
section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing
basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager
or investment adviser) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with
section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
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3.3.2 Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care,
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prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.
4. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Fund Property Held Outside the
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United States.
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4.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Article 4 shall have the following
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meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
4.2. Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging
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to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign
Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its
customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that
is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers,
provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign
securities of the Fund which are maintained in such account shall identify those
securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii), to the extent permitted and
customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall
require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately
from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such
Foreign Sub-Custodian.
4.3. Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a
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Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements
implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such
country.
4.4. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.
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4.4.1. Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian
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shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by the Custodian
or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only
upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in accordance
with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where
such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without
limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later
payment; or (B) in the case
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of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign
Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for foreign securities of the Fund;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian
or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or
for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination
or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that
in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery
of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities
except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence
or willful misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant
to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
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4.4.2. Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which
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may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the
respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money
to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such
seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of
such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected
through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules
governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign
securities of the Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund, including
but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes,
investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this
Contract, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange
contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or
through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities;
and
(viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Contract to
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the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account
of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the
Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities
trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which
the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets
to the purchaser thereof or to a
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dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation
of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or
dealer.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody
and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign
Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on
such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided
that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with
substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
4.5. Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign securities maintained in
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the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be
registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the
name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the
foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any
liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of
the Fund under the terms of this Contract unless the form of such securities and
the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market
practice.
4.6 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the
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Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the
Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does
not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank
account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United
States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred
to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or,
if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash
maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries
and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank
accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
4.7. Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts
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to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held
hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as
collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to
collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such
measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to
such measures.
4.8 Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to
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this Article 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to
facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always
to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country
where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions,
including lack of regulation, onerous
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procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of
severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
4.9. Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit
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promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by
the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign
securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written
information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers
of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party
(or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be
liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power
in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time
held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is
in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the
Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such
right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior
to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or
power.
4.10. Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each agreement pursuant to which the
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Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require
the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its
duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any
loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection
with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At the
election of the Fund, the Fund shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights
of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and
to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage,
cost, expense, liability or claim.
4.11 Tax Law. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any
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obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund, or the Custodian as custodian
of the Fund, by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political
subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund to notify the
Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund, or the Custodian as custodian
of the Fund, by the tax law of countries other than the United States, including
responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole
responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or
refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
4.12. Liability of Custodian. Except as may arise from the Custodian's own
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negligence or willful misconduct, or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any
loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is
part of Country Risk.
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The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians
generally in the Contract and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in
the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the
Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or
acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Foreign Sub-Custodian has
otherwise acted with reasonable care.
III. Except as specifically superseded or modified herein, the terms and
provisions of the Contract shall continue to apply with full force and
effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Contract
prior to this Amendment and this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment
shall prevail. If the Custodian is delegated the responsibilities of
Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Article 3 hereof, in the
event of any conflict between the provisions of Articles 3 and 4 hereof,
the provisions of Article 3 shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Amendment to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the
date first above written.
WITNESSED BY: STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By:
Vice President and Counsel ----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
WITNESSED BY: NORTH AMERICAN SENIOR FLOATING RATE
FUND, INC.
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Name: By:
Title: ----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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