Exhibit 8
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE MERRIMAC FUNDS
AND
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. Bank Appointed Custodian....................................................................... 1
2. Definitions.................................................................................... 1
2.1 Authorized Person............................................................ 1
2.2 Board .................................................................... 1
2.3 Security .................................................................... 1
2.4 Portfolio Security........................................................... 1
2.5 Officers' Certificate........................................................ 2
2.6 Book-Entry System............................................................ 2
2.7 Depository................................................................... 2
2.8 Proper Instructions.......................................................... 2
3. Separate Accounts ............................................................................. 2
4. Certification as to Authorized Persons......................................................... 2
5. Custody of Cash ............................................................................. 3
5.1 Purchase of Securities....................................................... 3
5.2 Redemptions ............................................................ 3
5.3 Distributions and Expenses of Fund........................................... 3
5.4 Payment in Respect of Securities............................................. 3
5.5 Repayment of Loans........................................................... 4
5.6 Repayment of Cash............................................................ 4
5.7 Foreign Exchange Transactions................................................ 4
5.8 Other Authorized Payments.................................................... 4
5.9 Termination.................................................................. 4
6. Securities..................................................................................... 4
6.1 Segregation and Registration................................................. 4
6.2 Voting and Proxies........................................................... 5
6.3 Corporate Action ............................................................ 5
6.4 Book-Entry System............................................................ 6
6.5 Use of a Depository.......................................................... 6
6.6 Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper................................ 7
6.7 Use of Immobilization Programs............................................... 8
6.8 Eurodollar CDs ........................................................... 8
6.9 Options and Futures Transactions............................................. 8
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges,
NASDAQ or Over-the-Counter............................................ 8
(b) Puts, Calls, and Futures Traded
on Commodities Exchanges.............................................. 9
6.10 Segregated Account........................................................... 9
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6.11 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits....................................... 10
6.12 Transfer of Securities....................................................... 11
7. Redemptions ................................................................................... 12
8. Merger, Dissolution, etc. of Fund ............................................................ 12
9. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization.................................................... 12
10. Collection and Defaults........................................................................ 13
11. Maintenance of Records and Accounting Services................................................. 13
12. Fund Evaluation and Yield Calculation.......................................................... 14
12.1 Fund Evaluation.............................................................. 14
12.2 Yield Calculation............................................................ 14
13. Additional Services .......................................................................... 15
14. Duties of the Bank .......................................................................... 15
14.1 Performance of Duties and
Standard of Care ............................................................ 15
14.2 Agents and Subcustodians with Respect to Property
of the Fund Held in the United States........................................ 16
14.3 Duties of the Bank with Respect to Property
Held Outside of the United States............................................ 16
14.4 Insurance.................................................................... 18
14.5 Fees and Expenses of Bank.................................................... 18
14.6 Advances by Bank............................................................ 19
15. Limitation of Liability........................................................................ 19
16. Termination.................................................................................... 20
17. Confidentiality................................................................................ 21
18. Notices ..................................................................................... 21
19. Amendments..................................................................................... 21
20. Parties ...................................................................................... 22
21. Governing Law.................................................................................. 22
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22. Counterparts................................................................................... 22
23. Entire Agreement............................................................................... 22
24. Limitation of Liability........................................................................ 22
25. Several Obligations of the Portfolios.......................................................... 22
APPENDICES
Appendix A ................................... Fee Schedule
Appendix B ................................... Portfolios
Appendix C ................................... Additional Services
Appendix D ................................... Select Foreign Sub-Custodians
Appendix E ................................... Reports
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CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 1st day of November, 1996, between THE
MERRIMAC FUNDS, a company organized under the laws of Delaware (the "Fund"), and
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the "Bank").
The Fund, an open-end management investment company on behalf of the
portfolios listed on Appendix B hereto (as such Appendix B may be amended from
time to time) (each a "Portfolio" and collectively, the "Portfolios"), desires
to place and maintain all of its portfolio securities and cash in the custody of
the Bank. The Bank has at least the minimum qualifications required by Section
17(f)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to act as
custodian of the portfolio securities and cash of the Fund, and has indicated
its willingness to so act, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Bank Appointed Custodian. The Fund hereby appoints the Bank as
custodian of its portfolio securities and cash delivered to the Bank as
hereinafter described and the Bank agrees to act as such upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. For the services rendered pursuant to this
Agreement the Fund agrees to pay to the Bank the fees set forth on Appendix A
hereto.
2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, the terms listed below will have
the following meaning:
2.1 Authorized Person. Authorized Person will mean any of the
persons duly authorized to give Proper Instructions or otherwise act on behalf
of the Fund by appropriate resolution of its Board, and set forth in a
certificate as required by Section 4 hereof.
2.2 Board. Board will mean the Board of Directors or the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, as the case may be.
2.3 Security. The term security as used herein will have the same
meaning assigned to such term in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
including, without limitation, any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture,
evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit
sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization certificate or
subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate,
certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil,
gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on
any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including
any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle,
option, or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to
a foreign currency, or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as
a "security", or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or
interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to
subscribe to, or option contract to purchase or sell any of the foregoing, and
futures, forward contracts and options thereon.
2.4 Portfolio Security. Portfolio Security will mean any security
owned by the Fund.
2.5 Officers' Certificate. Officers' Certificate will mean, unless
otherwise indicated, any request, direction, instruction, or certification in
writing signed by any two Authorized Persons of the Fund.
2.6 Book-Entry System. Book-Entry System shall mean the Federal
Reserve-Treasury Department Book Entry System for United States government,
instrumentality and agency securities operated by the Federal Reserve Bank, its
successor or successors and its nominee or nominees.
2.7 Depository. Depository shall mean The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange
Act"), its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees. The term
"Depository" shall further mean and include any other person authorized to act
as a depository under the 1940 Act, its successor or successors and its nominee
or nominees, specifically identified in a certified copy of a resolution of the
Board.
2.8 Proper Instructions. Proper Instructions shall mean (i)
instructions regarding the purchase or sale of Portfolio Securities, and
payments and deliveries in connection therewith, given by an Authorized Person,
such instructions to be given in such form and manner as the Bank and the Fund
shall agree upon from time to time, and (ii) instructions (which may be
continuing instructions) regarding other matters signed or initialed by an
Authorized Person. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if
the Bank reasonably believes them to have been given by an Authorized Person.
The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing.
The Bank shall act upon and comply with any subsequent Proper Instruction which
modifies a prior instruction and the sole obligation of the Bank with respect to
any follow-up or confirmatory instruction shall be to make reasonable efforts to
detect any discrepancy between the original instruction and such confirmation
and to report such discrepancy to the Fund. The Fund shall be responsible, at
the Fund's expense, for taking any action, including any reprocessing, necessary
to correct any such discrepancy or error, and to the extent such action requires
the Bank to act, the Fund shall give the Bank specific Proper Instructions as to
the action required. Upon receipt by the Bank of an Officers' Certificate as to
the authorization by the Board accompanied by a detailed description of
procedures approved by the Fund, Proper Instructions may include communication
effected directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that
the Board and the Bank agree in writing that such procedures afford adequate
safeguards for the Fund's assets.
3. Separate Accounts. If the Fund has more than one series or
portfolio, the Bank will segregate the assets of each series or portfolio to
which this Agreement relates into a separate account for each such series or
portfolio containing the assets of such series or portfolio (and all investment
earnings thereon). Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this
Agreement to any actions to be taken by the Fund shall be deemed to refer to the
Fund acting on behalf of one or more of its series, any reference in this
Agreement to any assets of the Fund, including, without limitation, any
portfolio securities and cash and earnings thereon, shall be deemed to refer
only to assets of the applicable series, any duty or obligation of the Bank
hereunder to the Fund shall be deemed to refer to duties and obligations with
respect to such individual series and any obligation or liability of the Fund
hereunder shall be binding only with respect to such individual series, and
shall be discharged only out of the assets of such series.
4. Certification as to Authorized Persons. The Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Fund will at all times maintain on file with the Bank his or
her certification to the Bank, in such form as may be acceptable to the Bank, of
(i) the names and signatures of the Authorized Persons and (ii) the names of the
members of the Board, it being understood that upon the occurrence of any change
in the information
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set forth in the most recent certification on file (including without limitation
any person named in the most recent certification who is no longer an Authorized
Person as designated therein), the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund
will sign a new or amended certification setting forth the change and the new,
additional or omitted names or signatures. The Bank will be entitled to rely and
act upon any Officers' Certificate given to it by the Fund which has been signed
by Authorized Persons named in the most recent certification received by the
Bank.
5. Custody of Cash. As custodian for the Fund, the Bank will open and
maintain a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund or in the name
of the Bank, as Custodian of the Fund, and will deposit to the account of the
Fund all of the cash of the Fund, except for cash held by a subcustodian
appointed pursuant to Sections 14.2 or 14.3 hereof, including borrowed funds,
delivered to the Bank, subject only to draft or order by the Bank acting
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Pursuant to the Bank's internal
policies regarding the management of cash accounts, the Bank may segregate
certain portions of the cash of the Fund into a separate savings deposit account
upon which the Bank reserves the right to require seven (7) days notice prior to
withdrawal of cash from such an account. Upon receipt by the Bank of Proper
Instructions (which may be continuing instructions) or in the case of payments
for redemptions and repurchases of outstanding shares of common stock of the
Fund, notification from the Fund's transfer agent as provided in Section 7,
requesting such payment, designating the payee or the account or accounts to
which the Bank will release funds for deposit, and stating that it is for a
purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 5, specifying the applicable
subsection, the Bank will make payments of cash held for the accounts of the
Fund, insofar as funds are available for that purpose, only as permitted in
subsections 5.1-5.9 below.
5.1 Purchase of Securities. Upon the purchase of securities for the
Fund, against contemporaneous receipt of such securities by the Bank or against
delivery of such securities to the Bank in accordance with generally accepted
settlement practices and customs in the jurisdiction or market in which the
transaction occurs registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of, or
properly endorsed and in form for transfer to, the Bank, or a nominee of the
Bank, or receipt for the account of the Bank pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6 below, each such payment to be made at the purchase price shown on a
broker's confirmation (or transaction report in the case of Book Entry Paper (as
that term is defined in Section 6.6 hereof)) of purchase of the securities
received by the Bank before such payment is made, as confirmed in the Proper
Instructions received by the Bank before such payment is made.
5.2 Redemptions. In such amount as may be necessary for the
repurchase or redemption of common shares of the Fund offered for repurchase or
redemption in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement.
5.3 Distributions and Expenses of Fund. For the payment on the
account of the Fund of dividends or other distributions to shareholders as may
from time to time be declared by the Board, interest, taxes, management or
supervisory fees, distribution fees, fees of the Bank for its services hereunder
and reimbursement of the expenses and liabilities of the Bank as provided
hereunder, fees of any transfer agent, fees for legal, accounting, and auditing
services, or other operating expenses of the Fund.
5.4 Payment in Respect of Securities. For payments in connection
with the conversion, exchange or surrender of Portfolio Securities or securities
subscribed to by the Fund held by or to be delivered to the Bank.
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5.5 Repayment of Loans. To repay loans of money made to the Fund,
but, in the case of final payment, only upon redelivery to the Bank of any
Portfolio Securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of
documents evidencing the loan;
5.6 Repayment of Cash. To repay the cash delivered to the Fund for
the purpose of collateralizing the obligation to return to the Fund certificates
borrowed from the Fund representing Portfolio Securities, but only upon
redelivery to the Bank of such borrowed certificates.
5.7 Foreign Exchange Transactions.
(a) For payments in connection with foreign exchange contracts
or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery
(collectively, "Foreign Exchange Agreements") which may be entered into by the
Bank on behalf of the Fund upon the receipt of Proper Instructions, such Proper
Instructions to specify the currency broker or banking institution (which may be
the Bank, or any other subcustodian or agent hereunder, acting as principal)
with which the contract or option is made, and the Bank shall have no duty with
respect to the selection of such currency brokers or banking institutions with
which the Fund deals or for their failure to comply with the terms of any
contract or option.
(b) In order to secure any payments in connection with Foreign
Exchange Agreements which may be entered into by the Bank pursuant to Proper
Instructions, the Fund agrees that the Bank shall have a continuing lien and
security interest, to the extent of any payment due under any Foreign Exchange
Agreement, in and to any property at any time held by the Bank for the Fund's
benefit or in which the Fund has an interest and which is then in the Bank's
possession or control (or in the possession or control of any third party acting
on the Bank's behalf). The Fund authorizes the Bank, in the Bank's sole
discretion, at any time to charge any such payment due under any Foreign
Exchange Agreement against any balance of account standing to the credit of the
Fund on the Bank's books.
5.8 Other Authorized Payments. For other authorized transactions of
the Fund, or other obligations of the Fund incurred for proper Fund purposes;
provided that before making any such payment the Bank will also receive a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board signed by an Authorized Person
(other than the Person certifying such resolution) and certified by its
Secretary or Assistant Secretary, naming the person or persons to whom such
payment is to be made, and either describing the transaction for which payment
is to be made and declaring it to be an authorized transaction of the Fund, or
specifying the amount of the obligation for which payment is to be made, setting
forth the purpose for which such obligation was incurred and declaring such
purpose to be a proper corporate purpose.
5.9 Termination: Upon the termination of this Agreement as
hereinafter set forth pursuant to Section 8 and Section 16 of this Agreement.
6. Securities.
6.1 Segregation and Registration. Except as otherwise provided
herein, and except for securities to be delivered to any subcustodian appointed
pursuant to Sections 14.2 or 14.3 hereof, the Bank as custodian will receive and
hold pursuant to the provisions hereof, in a separate account or accounts and
physically segregated at all times from those of other persons, any and all
Portfolio Securities which may now or hereafter be delivered to it by or for the
account of the Fund. All such Portfolio Securities will be held or disposed of
by the Bank for, and subject at all times to, the instructions of the Fund
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Subject to the specific provisions
herein relating to Portfolio Securities that are not physically held by the
Bank, the Bank will register all
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Portfolio Securities (unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions or an
Officers' Certificate), in the name of a registered nominee of the Bank as
defined in the Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the Treasury
Department issued thereunder, and will execute and deliver all such certificates
in connection therewith as may be required by such laws or regulations or under
the laws of any state.
The Fund will from time to time furnish to the Bank appropriate
instruments to enable it to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to
register in the name of its registered nominee, any Portfolio Securities which
may from time to time be registered in the name of the Fund.
6.2 Voting and Proxies. Neither the Bank nor any nominee of the Bank
will vote any of the Portfolio Securities held hereunder, except in accordance
with Proper Instructions or an Officers' Certificate. The Bank will execute and
deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Fund all notices, proxies
and proxy soliciting materials delivered to the Bank with respect to such
Securities, such proxies to be executed by the registered holder of such
Securities (if registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund), but without
indicating the manner in which such proxies are to be voted.
6.3 Corporate Action. If at any time the Bank is notified that an
issuer of any Portfolio Security has taken or intends to take a corporate action
(a "Corporate Action") that affects the rights, privileges, powers, preferences,
qualifications or ownership of a Portfolio Security, including without
limitation, liquidation, consolidation, merger, recapitalization,
reorganization, reclassification, subdivision, combination, stock split or stock
dividend, which Corporate Action requires an affirmative response or action on
the part of the holder of such Portfolio Security (a "Response"), the Bank shall
notify the Fund promptly of the Corporate Action, the Response required in
connection with the Corporate Action and the Bank's deadline for receipt from
the Fund of Proper Instructions regarding the Response (the "Response
Deadline"). The Bank shall forward to the Fund via telecopier and/or overnight
courier all notices, information statements or other materials relating to the
Corporate Action within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of such materials by
the Bank.
(a) The Bank shall act upon a required Response only after
receipt by the Bank of Proper Instructions from the Fund no later than 5:00 p.m.
on the date specified as the Response Deadline and only if the Bank (or its
agent or subcustodian hereunder) has actual possession of all necessary
Securities, consents and other materials no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date
specified as the Response Deadline.
(b) The Bank shall have no duty to act upon a required
Response if Proper Instructions relating to such Response and all necessary
Securities, consents and other materials are not received by and in the
possession of the Bank no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date specified as the
Response Deadline. Notwithstanding, the Bank may, in its sole discretion, use
its best efforts to act upon a Response for which Proper Instructions and/or
necessary Securities, consents or other materials are received by the Bank after
5:00 p.m. on the date specified as the Response Deadline, it being acknowledged
and agreed by the parties that any undertaking by the Bank to use its best
efforts in such circumstances shall in no way create any duty upon the Bank to
complete such Response prior to its expiration.
(c) In the event that the Fund notifies the Bank of a
Corporate Action requiring a Response and the Bank has received no other notice
of such Corporate Action, the Response Deadline shall be 48 hours prior to the
Response expiration time set by the depository processing such Corporate Action.
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(d) Section 14.3(g) of this Agreement shall govern any
Corporate Action involving Foreign Portfolio Securities held by a Selected
Foreign Sub-Custodian.
6.4 Book-Entry System. Provided (i) the Bank has received a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving deposits of
Fund assets in the Book-Entry System, and (ii) for any subsequent changes to
such arrangements following such approval, the Board has reviewed and approved
the arrangement and has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank
indicating that the Board has withdrawn its approval:
(a) The Bank may keep Portfolio Securities in the Book-Entry
System provided that such Portfolio Securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Bank (or its agent) in such System which shall not include
any assets of the Bank (or such agent) other than assets held as a fiduciary,
custodian, or otherwise for customers;
(b) The records of the Bank (and any such agent) with respect
to the Fund's participation in the Book-Entry System through the Bank (or any
such agent) will identify by book entry the Portfolio Securities which are
included with other securities deposited in the Account and shall at all times
during the regular business hours of the Bank (or such agent) be open for
inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund. Where
securities are transferred to the Fund's account, the Bank shall also, by book
entry or otherwise, identify as belonging to the Fund a quantity of securities
in a fungible bulk of securities (i) registered in the name of the Bank or its
nominee, or (ii) shown on the Bank's account on the books of the Federal Reserve
Bank;
(c) The Bank (or its agent) shall pay for securities purchased
for the account of the Fund or shall pay cash collateral against the return of
Portfolio Securities loaned by the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the
Book-Entry System that such Securities have been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank (or its agent) to reflect
such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Bank (or its agent)
shall transfer securities sold or loaned for the account of the Fund upon
(i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System that
payment for securities sold or payment of the initial cash collateral against
the delivery of securities loaned by the Fund has been transferred to the
Account; and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank
(or its agent) to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.
Copies of all advices from the Book-Entry System of transfers of securities for
the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by
the Bank and shall be provided to the Fund at its request. The Bank shall send
the Fund a confirmation, as defined by Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, of any
transfers to or from the account of the Fund;
(d) The Bank will promptly provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Bank or its agent on the Book-Entry System's accounting system,
internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited
in the Book-Entry System;
6.5 Use of a Depository. Provided (i) the Bank has received a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving deposits in
DTC or other such Depository and (ii) for any subsequent changes to such
arrangements following such approval, the Board has reviewed and approved the
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arrangement and has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank
indicating that the Board has withdrawn its approval:
(a) The Bank may use a Depository to hold, receive, exchange,
release, lend, deliver and otherwise deal with Portfolio Securities including
stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature, and to receive and remit
to the Bank on behalf of the Fund all income and other payments thereon and to
take all steps necessary and proper in connection with the collection thereof;
(b) Registration of Portfolio Securities may be made in the
name of any nominee or nominees used by such Depository;
(c) Payment for securities purchased and sold may be made
through the clearing medium employed by such Depository for transactions of
participants acting through it. Upon any purchase of Portfolio Securities,
payment will be made only upon delivery of the securities to or for the account
of the Fund and the Fund shall pay cash collateral against the return of
Portfolio Securities loaned by the Fund only upon delivery of the Securities to
or for the account of the Fund; and upon any sale of Portfolio Securities,
delivery of the Securities will be made only against payment therefor or, in the
event Portfolio Securities are loaned, delivery of Securities will be made only
against receipt of the initial cash collateral to or for the account of the
Fund; and
(d) The Bank shall use its best efforts to provide that:
(i) The Depository obtains replacement of any
certificated Portfolio Security deposited with it in the event such Security is
lost, destroyed, wrongfully taken or otherwise not available to be returned to
the Bank upon its request;
(ii) Proxy materials received by a Depository with
respect to Portfolio Securities deposited with such Depository are forwarded
immediately to the Bank for prompt transmittal to the Fund;
(iii) Such Depository promptly forwards to the Bank
confirmation of any purchase or sale of Portfolio Securities and of the
appropriate book entry made by such Depository to the Fund's account;
(iv) Such Depository prepares and delivers to the Bank
such records with respect to the performance of the Bank's obligations and
duties hereunder as may be necessary for the Fund to comply with the
recordkeeping requirements of Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 31(a)
thereunder; and
(v) Such Depository delivers to the Bank all internal
accounting control reports, whether or not audited by an independent public
accountant, as well as such other reports as the Fund may reasonably request in
order to verify the Portfolio Securities held by such Depository.
6.6 Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. Provided (i) the
Bank has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically
approving participation in a system maintained by the Bank for the holding of
commercial paper in book-entry form ("Book-Entry Paper") and (ii) for each year
following such approval the Board has received and approved the arrangements,
upon receipt of Proper Instructions and upon receipt of confirmation from an
Issuer (as defined below) that the Fund has purchased such Issuer's Book-Entry
Paper, the Bank shall issue and hold in book-entry form, on behalf of
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the Fund, commercial paper issued by issuers with whom the Bank has entered into
a book-entry agreement (the "Issuers"). In maintaining procedures for Book-Entry
Paper, the Bank agrees that:
(a) The Bank will maintain all Book-Entry Paper held by the
Fund in an account of the Bank that includes only assets held by it for
customers;
(b) The records of the Bank with respect to the Fund's
purchase of Book-Entry Paper through the Bank will identify, by book-entry,
commercial paper belonging to the Fund which is included in the Book-Entry
System and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Bank be
open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the
Fund;
(c) The Bank shall pay for Book-Entry Paper purchased for the
account of the Fund upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice from the Issuer
that such sale of Book-Entry Paper has been effected, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Bank to reflect such payment and transfer for the
account of the Fund;
(d) The Bank shall cancel such Book-Entry Paper obligation
upon the maturity thereof upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice that
payment for such Book-Entry Paper has been transferred to the Fund, and (ii) the
making of an entry on the records of the Bank to reflect such payment for the
account of the Fund; and
(e) The Bank will send to the Fund such reports on its system
of internal accounting control with respect to the Book-Entry Paper as the Fund
may reasonably request from time to time.
6.7 Use of Immobilization Programs. Provided (i) the Bank has
received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving
the maintenance of Portfolio Securities in an immobilization program operated by
a bank which meets the requirements of Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act, and
(ii) for each year following such approval the Board has reviewed and approved
the arrangement and has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank
indicating that the Board has withdrawn its approval, the Bank shall enter into
such immobilization program with such bank acting as a subcustodian hereunder.
6.8 Eurodollar CDs. Any Portfolio Securities which are Eurodollar
CDs may be physically held by the European branch of the U.S. banking
institution that is the issuer of such Eurodollar CD (a "European Branch"),
provided that such Portfolio Securities are identified on the books of the Bank
as belonging to the Fund and that the books of the Bank identify the European
Branch holding such Portfolio Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, except as stated in the first sentence of this
subsection 6.8, the Bank shall be under no other duty with respect to such
Eurodollar CDs belonging to the Fund.
6.9 Options and Futures Transactions.
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges, NASDAQ or
Over-the-Counter.
(i) The Bank shall take action as to put options
("puts") and call options ("calls") purchased or sold (written) by the Fund
regarding escrow or other arrangements (i) in accordance with the provisions of
any agreement entered into upon receipt of Proper Instructions among the Bank,
any broker-dealer registered with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to the
compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing
8
Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any
similar organization or organizations.
(ii) Unless another agreement requires it to do so, the
Bank shall be under no duty or obligation to see that the Fund has deposited or
is maintaining adequate margin, if required, with any broker in connection with
any option, nor shall the Bank be under duty or obligation to present such
option to the broker for exercise unless it receives Proper Instructions from
the Fund. The Bank shall have no responsibility for the legality of any put or
call purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, the propriety of any such purchase
or sale, or the adequacy of any collateral delivered to a broker in connection
with an option or deposited to or withdrawn from a Segregated Account (as
defined in subsection 6.10 below). The Bank specifically, but not by way of
limitation, shall not be under any duty or obligation to: (i) periodically check
or notify the Fund that the amount of such collateral held by a broker or held
in a Segregated Account is sufficient to protect such broker or the Fund against
any loss; (ii) effect the return of any collateral delivered to a broker; or
(iii) advise the Fund that any option it holds, has or is about to expire. Such
duties or obligations shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on Commodities Exchanges
(i) The Bank shall take action as to puts, calls and
futures contracts ("Futures") purchased or sold by the Fund in accordance with
the provisions of any agreement entered into upon the receipt of Proper
Instructions among the Fund, the Bank and a Futures Commission Merchant
registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any Contract Market, or
any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in
connection with transactions by the Fund.
(ii) The responsibilities of the Bank as to futures,
puts and calls traded on commodities exchanges, any Futures Commission Merchant
account and the Segregated Account shall be limited as set forth in subparagraph
(a)(2) of this Section 6.8 as if such subparagraph referred to Futures
Commission Merchants rather than brokers, and Futures and puts and calls thereon
instead of options.
6.10 Segregated Account. The Bank shall upon receipt of Proper
Instructions establish and maintain a Segregated Account or Accounts for and on
behalf of the Fund.
(a) Cash and/or Portfolio Securities may be transferred into a
Segregated Account upon receipt of Proper Instructions in the following
circumstances:
(i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Bank and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act
and a member of the NASD or any Futures Commission Merchant registered under the
Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange or the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered Contract Market, or of
any similar organizations regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection
with transactions by the Fund;
(ii) for the purpose of segregating cash or securities
in connection with options purchased or written by the Fund or commodity futures
purchased or written by the Fund;
(iii) for the deposit of liquid assets, such as cash,
U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations, having a market
value (marked to market on a daily basis) at all times equal to not less than
the aggregate purchase price due on the settlement dates of all the Fund's
9
then outstanding forward commitment or "when-issued" agreements relating to the
purchase of Portfolio Securities and all the Fund's then outstanding commitments
under reverse repurchase agreements entered into with broker-dealer firms;
(iv) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the
procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the maintenance of Segregated Accounts by registered investment
companies;
(v) for other proper corporate purposes, but only, in
the case of this clause (e), upon receipt of, in addition to Proper
Instructions, a certified copy of a resolution of the Board, or of the executive
committee of the Board signed by an officer of the Fund and certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, setting forth the purpose or purposes of
such Segregated Account and declaring such purposes to be proper corporate
purposes.
(b) Cash and/or Portfolio Securities may be withdrawn from a
Segregated Account pursuant to Proper Instructions in the following
circumstances:
(i) with respect to assets deposited in accordance with
the provisions of any agreements referenced in (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, in
accordance with the provisions of such agreements;
(ii) with respect to assets deposited pursuant to
(a)(iii) or (a)(iv) above, for sale or delivery to meet the Fund's obligations
under outstanding forward commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase
of Portfolio Securities and under reverse repurchase agreements;
(iii) for exchange for other liquid assets of equal or
greater value deposited in the Segregated Account;
(iv) to the extent that the Fund's outstanding forward
commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase of portfolio securities or
reverse repurchase agreements are sold to other parties or the Fund's
obligations thereunder are met from assets of the Fund other than those in the
Segregated Account;
(v) for delivery upon settlement of a forward commitment
or when-issued agreement for the sale of Portfolio Securities; or
(vi) with respect to assets deposited pursuant to (e)
above, in accordance with the purposes of such account as set forth in Proper
Instructions.
6.11 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits. The Bank shall, upon
receipt of Proper Instructions relating to the purchase by the Fund of
interest-bearing fixed-term and call deposits, transfer cash, by wire or
otherwise, in such amounts and to such bank or banks as shall be indicated in
such Proper Instructions. The Bank shall include in its records with respect to
the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount of each such
deposit, the banking institution with which such deposit is made (the "Deposit
Bank"), and shall retain such forms of advice or receipt evidencing the deposit,
if any, as may be forwarded to the Bank by the Deposit Bank. Such deposits shall
be deemed Portfolio Securities of the Fund and the responsibility of the Bank
therefore shall be the same as and no greater than the Bank's responsibility in
respect of other Portfolio Securities of the Fund.
10
6.12 Transfer of Securities. The Bank will transfer, exchange,
deliver or release Portfolio Securities held by it hereunder, insofar as such
Securities are available for such purpose, provided that before making any
transfer, exchange, delivery or release under this Section only upon receipt of
Proper Instructions. The Proper Instructions shall state that such transfer,
exchange or delivery is for a purpose permitted under the terms of this Section
6.11, and shall specify the applicable subsection, or describe the purpose of
the transaction with sufficient particularity to permit the Bank to ascertain
the applicable subsection. After receipt of such Proper Instructions, the Bank
will transfer, exchange, deliver or release Portfolio Securities only in the
following circumstances:
(a) Upon sales of Portfolio Securities for the account of the
Fund, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of payment therefor in full,
or against payment to the Bank in accordance with generally accepted settlement
practices and customs in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction
occurs, each such payment to be in the amount of the sale price shown in a
broker's confirmation of sale received by the Bank before such payment is made,
as confirmed in the Proper Instructions received by the Bank before such payment
is made;
(b) In exchange for or upon conversion into other securities
alone or other securities and cash pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, reorganization, share split-up, change in par value,
recapitalization or readjustment or otherwise, upon exercise of subscription,
purchase or sale or other similar rights represented by such Portfolio
Securities, or for the purpose of tendering shares in the event of a tender
offer therefor, provided, however, that in the event of an offer of exchange,
tender offer, or other exercise of rights requiring the physical tender or
delivery of Portfolio Securities, the Bank shall have no liability for failure
to so tender in a timely manner unless such Proper Instructions are received by
the Bank at least two business days prior to the date required for tender, and
unless the Bank (or its agent or subcustodian hereunder) has actual possession
of such Security at least two business days prior to the date of tender;
(c) Upon conversion of Portfolio Securities pursuant to their
terms into other securities;
(d) For the purpose of redeeming in-kind shares of the Fund
upon authorization from the Fund;
(e) In the case of option contracts owned by the Fund, for
presentation to the endorsing broker;
(f) When such Portfolio Securities are called, redeemed or
retired or otherwise become payable;
(g) For the purpose of effectuating the pledge of Portfolio
Securities held by the Bank in order to collateralize loans made to the Fund by
any bank, including the Bank; provided, however, that such Portfolio Securities
will be released only upon payment to the Bank for the account of the Fund of
the moneys borrowed, provided further, however, that in cases where additional
collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, and such fact is made
to appear in the Proper Instructions, Portfolio Securities may be released for
that purpose without any such payment. In the event that any pledged Portfolio
Securities are held by the Bank, they will be so held for the account of the
lender, and after notice to the Fund from the lender in accordance with the
normal procedures of the lender and any loan agreement between the fund and the
lender that an event of deficiency or default on the loan has occurred, the Bank
may deliver such pledged Portfolio Securities to or for the account of the
lender;
11
(h) for the purpose of releasing certificates representing
Portfolio Securities, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of the fair
market value of such security, as set forth in the Proper Instructions received
by the Bank before such payment is made;
(i) for the purpose of delivering securities lent by the Fund
to a bank or broker dealer, but only against receipt in accordance with street
delivery custom except as otherwise provided herein, of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Bank, and upon receipt of
payment in connection with any repurchase agreement relating to such securities
entered into by the Fund;
(j) for other authorized transactions of the Fund or for other
proper corporate purposes; provided that before making such transfer, the Bank
will also receive a certified copy of resolutions of the Board, signed by an
authorized officer of the Fund (other than the officer certifying such
resolution) and certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, specifying
the Portfolio Securities to be delivered, setting forth the transaction in or
purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such transaction to be
an authorized transaction of the Fund or such purpose to be a proper corporate
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities
shall be made; and
(k) upon termination of this Agreement as hereinafter set
forth pursuant to Section 8 and Section 16 of this Agreement.
As to any deliveries made by the Bank pursuant to this Section 6.12,
securities or cash receivable in exchange therefor shall be delivered to the
Bank.
7. Redemptions. In the case of payment of assets of the Fund held by
the Bank in connection with redemptions and repurchases by the Fund of
outstanding common shares, the Bank will rely on notification by the Fund's
transfer agent of receipt of a request for redemption and certificates, if
issued, in proper form for redemption before such payment is made. Payment shall
be made in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust
and By-laws of the Fund (the "Articles"), from assets available for said
purpose.
8. Merger, Dissolution, etc. of Fund. In the case of the following
transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, namely, the merger of the
Fund into or the consolidation of the Fund with another investment company, the
sale by the Fund of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another
investment company, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund and
distribution of its assets, the Bank will deliver the Portfolio Securities held
by it under this Agreement and disburse cash only upon the order of the Fund set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, accompanied by a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board authorizing any of the foregoing transactions. Upon
completion of such delivery and disbursement and the payment of the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Bank, this Agreement will terminate and the
Bank shall be released from any and all obligations hereunder.
9. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, unless and until the Bank receives an Officers'
Certificate to the contrary, the Bank will take the following actions without
prior authorization or instruction of the Fund or the transfer agent:
9.1 Endorse for collection and collect on behalf of and in the name
of the Fund all checks, drafts, or other negotiable or transferable instruments
or other orders for the payment of money received by it for the account of the
Fund and hold for the account of the Fund all income, dividends, interest and
other payments or distributions of cash with respect to the Portfolio Securities
held thereunder;
12
9.2 Present for payment all coupons and other income items held by
it for the account of the Fund which call for payment upon presentation and hold
the cash received by it upon such payment for the account of the Fund;
9.3 Receive and hold for the account of the Fund all securities
received as a distribution on Portfolio Securities as a result of a stock
dividend, share split-up, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, readjustment, distribution of rights and similar securities
issued with respect to any Portfolio Securities held by it hereunder.
9.4 Execute as agent on behalf of the Fund all necessary ownership
and other certificates and affidavits required by the Internal Revenue Code or
the regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder, or by the laws of
any state, now or hereafter in effect, inserting the Fund's name on such
certificates as the owner of the securities covered thereby, to the extent it
may lawfully do so and as may be required to obtain payment in respect thereof.
The Bank will execute and deliver such certificates in connection with Portfolio
Securities delivered to it or by it under this Agreement as may be required
under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the
Treasury Department issued thereunder, or under the laws of any State;
9.5 Present for payment all Portfolio Securities which are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable, and hold cash received by it upon
payment for the account of the Fund; and
9.6 Exchange interim receipts or temporary securities for
definitive securities.
10. Collections and Defaults. The Bank will use reasonable efforts to
collect any funds which may to its knowledge become collectible arising from
Portfolio Securities, including dividends, interest and other income, and to
transmit to the Fund notice actually received by it of any call for redemption,
offer of exchange, right of subscription, reorganization or other proceedings
affecting such Securities. If Portfolio Securities upon which such income is
payable are in default or payment is refused after due demand or presentation,
the Bank will notify the Fund in writing of any default or refusal to pay within
two business days from the day on which it receives knowledge of such default or
refusal.
11. Maintenance of Records and Accounting Services. The Bank will
maintain records with respect to transactions for which the Bank is responsible
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in compliance with
the applicable rules and regulations of the 1940 Act. The Bank will furnish to
the Fund such reports at such times as are set forth on Appendix E hereto. The
books and records of the Bank pertaining to its actions under this Agreement and
reports by the Bank or its independent accountants concerning its accounting
system, procedures for safeguarding securities and internal accounting controls
will be open to inspection and audit at reasonable times by officers of or
auditors employed by the Fund and will be preserved by the Bank in the manner
and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations under the 1940 Act.
The Bank shall perform fund accounting and shall keep the books of
account and render statements or copies from time to time as reasonably
requested by the Treasurer or any executive officer of the Fund.
The Bank shall assist generally in the preparation of reports to
shareholders and others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of
like nature.
13
12. Fund Evaluation and Yield Calculation
12.1 Fund Evaluation. The Bank shall compute and, unless otherwise
directed by the Board, determine as of the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange on each day on which said Exchange is open for unrestricted
trading and as of such other days, or hours, if any, as may be authorized by the
Board, the net asset value and the public offering price of a share of capital
stock of the Fund, such determination to be made in accordance with the
provisions of the Articles and By-laws of the Fund and the Confidential Offering
Circular relating to the Fund, as they may from time to time be amended, and any
applicable resolutions of the Board at the time in force and applicable; and
promptly to notify the Fund, the proper exchange and the NASD or such other
persons as the Fund may request of the results of such computation and
determination. In computing the net asset value hereunder, the Bank may rely in
good faith upon information furnished to it by any Authorized Person in respect
of (i) the manner of accrual of the liabilities of the Fund and in respect of
liabilities of the Fund not appearing on its books of account kept by the Bank,
(ii) reserves, if any, authorized by the Board or that no such reserves have
been authorized, (iii) the source of the quotations to be used in computing the
net asset value, (iv) the value to be assigned to any security for which no
price quotations are available, and (v) the method of computation of the public
offering price on the basis of the net asset value of the shares, and the Bank
shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by such reliance or for any
good faith reliance on any quotations received from a source pursuant to (iii)
above.
12.2. Yield Calculation. The Bank will compute the performance
results of the Fund (the "Yield Calculation") in accordance with the provisions
of Release No. 33-6753 and Release No. IC-16245 (February 2, 1988) (the
"Releases") promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any
subsequent amendments to, published interpretations of or general conventions
accepted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to
such releases or the subject matter thereof ("Subsequent Staff Positions"),
subject to the terms set forth below:
(a) The Bank shall compute the Yield Calculation for the Fund
for the stated periods of time as shall be mutually agreed upon, and communicate
in a timely manner the result of such computation to the Fund.
(b) In performing the Yield Calculation, the Bank will derive
the items of data necessary for the computation from the records it generates
and maintains for the Fund pursuant Section 11 hereof. The Bank shall have no
responsibility to review, confirm, or otherwise assume any duty or liability
with respect to the accuracy or correctness of any such data supplied to it by
the Fund, any of the Fund's designated agents or any of the Fund's designated
third party providers.
(c) At the request of the Bank, the Fund shall provide, and
the Bank shall be entitled to rely on, written standards and guidelines to be
followed by the Bank in interpreting and applying the computation methods set
forth in the Releases or any Subsequent Staff Positions as they specifically
apply to the Fund. In the event that the computation methods in the Releases or
the Subsequent Staff Positions or the application to the Fund of a standard or
guideline is not free from doubt or in the event there is any question of
interpretation as to the characterization of a particular security or any aspect
of a security or a payment with respect thereto (e.g., original issue discount,
participating debt security, income or return of capital, etc.) or otherwise or
as to any other element of the computation which is pertinent to the Fund, the
Fund or its designated agent shall have the full responsibility for making the
determination of how the security or payment is to be treated for purposes of
the computation and how the computation is to be made and shall inform the Bank
thereof on a timely basis. The Bank shall have no responsibility to make
independent determinations with respect to any item which is covered by this
14
Section, and shall not be responsible for its computations made in accordance
with such determinations so long as such computations are mathematically
correct.
(d) The Fund shall keep the Bank informed of all publicly
available information and of any non-public advice, or information obtained by
the Fund from its independent auditors or by its personnel or the personnel of
its investment adviser, or Subsequent Staff Positions related to the
computations to be undertaken by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement and the
Bank shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such information (except as
contained in the Releases) unless it has been furnished to the Bank in writing.
13. Additional Services. The Bank shall perform the additional services
for the Fund as are set forth on Appendix C hereto. Appendix C may be amended
from time to time upon agreement of the parties to include further additional
services to be provided by the Bank to the Fund, at which time the fees set
forth in Appendix A shall be appropriately increased.
14. Duties of the Bank.
14.1 Performance of Duties and Standard of Care. In performing its
duties hereunder and any other duties listed on any Schedule hereto, if any, the
Bank will be entitled to receive and act upon the advice of independent counsel
of its own selection, which may be counsel for the Fund, and will be without
liability for any action taken or thing done or omitted to be done in accordance
with this Agreement in good faith in conformity with such advice.
The Bank will be under no duty or obligation to inquire into and will
not be liable for:
(a) the validity of the issue of any Portfolio Securities
purchased by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchases thereof or the
propriety of the price incurred therefor;
(b) the legality of any sale of any Portfolio Securities by or
for the Fund or the propriety of the amount for which the same are sold;
(c) the legality of an issue or sale of any common shares of
the Fund or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor;
(d) the legality of the repurchase of any common shares of the
Fund or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor;
(e) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by the
Fund or the legality of the distribution of any Portfolio Securities as payment
in kind of such dividend; and
(f) any property or moneys of the Fund unless and until
received by it, and any such property or moneys delivered or paid by it pursuant
to the terms hereof.
Moreover, the Bank will not be under any duty or obligation to
ascertain whether any Portfolio Securities at any time delivered to or held by
it for the account of the Fund are such as may properly be held by the Fund
under the provisions of its Articles, By-laws, any federal or state statutes or
any rule or regulation of any governmental agency.
15
14.2 Agents and Subcustodians with Respect to Property of the Fund
Held in the United States. The Bank may employ agents in the performance of its
duties hereunder and shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of such
agents as if performed by the Bank hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing,
certain duties of the Bank hereunder may be performed by one or more affiliates
of the Bank.
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Bank may employ
subcustodians, provided that any such subcustodian meets at least the minimum
qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian of the Fund's assets with respect to property of the Fund held in the
United States. The Bank shall have no liability to the Fund or any other person
by reason of any act or omission of any subcustodian and the Fund shall
indemnify the Bank and hold it harmless from and against any and all actions,
suits and claims, arising directly or indirectly out of the performance of any
subcustodian. Upon request of the Bank, the Fund shall assume the entire defense
of any action, suit, or claim subject to the foregoing indemnity. The Fund shall
pay all fees and expenses of any subcustodian.
14.3 Duties of the Bank with Respect to Property of the Fund Held
Outside of the United States.
(a) Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians. The Fund hereby
authorizes and instructs the Bank to employ as sub-custodians for the Fund's
Portfolio Securities and other assets maintained outside the United States the
foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated on
the Schedule attached hereto (each, a "Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian"). Upon
receipt of Proper Instructions, together with a certified resolution of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, the Bank and the Fund may agree to designate
additional foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories to
act as Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians hereunder. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, the Fund may instruct the Bank to cease the employment of any one
or more such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians for maintaining custody of the
Fund's assets, and the Bank shall so cease to employ such sub-custodian as soon
as alternate custodial arrangements have been implemented.
(b) Foreign Securities Depositories. Except as may otherwise
be agreed upon in writing by the Bank and the Fund, assets of the Fund shall be
maintained in foreign securities depositories only through arrangements
implemented by the foreign banking institutions serving as Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodians pursuant to the terms hereof. Where possible, such arrangements
shall include entry into agreements containing the provisions set forth in
subparagraph (d) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as may otherwise
be agreed upon in writing by the Bank and the Fund, the Fund authorizes the
deposit in Euro-clear, the securities clearance and depository facilities
operated by Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York in Brussels, Belgium, of
Foreign Portfolio Securities eligible for deposit therein and the use of
Euro-clear in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of securities
and deliveries and returns of securities, until notified to the contrary
pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereunder.
(c) Segregation of Securities. The Bank shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Fund the Foreign Portfolio Securities held by each
Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian. Each agreement pursuant to which the Bank
employs a foreign banking institution shall require that such institution
establish a custody account for the Bank and hold in that account Foreign
Portfolio Securities and other assets of the Fund, and, in the event that such
institution deposits Foreign Portfolio Securities in a foreign securities
depository, that it shall identify on its books as belonging to the Bank the
securities so deposited.
(d) Agreements with Foreign Banking Institutions. Each of the
agreements pursuant to which a foreign banking institution holds assets of the
Fund (each, a "Foreign Sub-Custodian
16
Agreement") shall be substantially in the form attached as Appendix D hereto and
shall provide that: (a) the Fund's assets will not be subject to any right,
charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the foreign
banking institution or its creditors or agent, except a claim of payment for
their safe custody or administration (including, without limitation, any fees or
taxes payable upon transfers or reregistration of securities); (b) beneficial
ownership of the Fund's assets will be freely transferable without the payment
of money or value other than for custody or administration (including, without
limitation, any fees or taxes payable upon transfers or reregistration of
securities); (c) adequate records will be maintained identifying the assets as
belonging to the Bank; (d) officers of or auditors employed by, or other
representatives of the Bank, including to the extent permitted under applicable
law, the independent public accountants for the Fund, will be given access to
the books and records of the foreign banking institution relating to its actions
under its agreement with the Bank; and (e) assets of the Fund held by the
Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian will be subject only to the instructions of the
Bank or its agents.
(e) Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon
request of the Fund, the Bank will use its best efforts to arrange for the
independent accountants of the Fund to be afforded access to the books and
records of any foreign banking institution employed as a Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodian insofar as such books and records relate to the performance of
such foreign banking institution under its Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement.
(f) Reports by Bank. The Bank will supply to the Fund from
time to time, as mutually agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities
and other assets of the Fund held by Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians, including
but not limited to an identification of entities having possession of the
Foreign Portfolio Securities and other assets of the Fund.
(g) Transactions in Foreign Custody Account. Transactions with
respect to the assets of the Fund held by a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian shall
be effected pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund to the Bank and shall
be effected in accordance with the applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement.
If at any time any Foreign Portfolio Securities shall be registered in the name
of the nominee of the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian, the Fund agrees to hold
any such nominee harmless from any liability by reason of the registration of
such securities in the name of such nominee.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Portfolio Securities received for
the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Portfolio Securities maintained
for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or securities processing practices and procedures
in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction occurs, including,
without limitation, delivering securities to the purchaser thereof or to a
dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) against a receipt
with the expectation of receiving later payment for such securities from such
purchaser or dealer.
In connection with any action to be taken with respect to
the Foreign Portfolio Securities held hereunder, including, without limitation,
the exercise of any voting rights, subscription rights, redemption rights,
exchange rights, conversion rights or tender rights, or any other action in
connection with any other right, interest or privilege with respect to such
Securities (collectively, the "Rights"), the Bank shall promptly transmit to the
Fund such information in connection therewith as is made available to the Bank
by the Foreign Sub-Custodian, and shall promptly forward to the applicable
Foreign Sub-Custodian any instructions, forms or certifications with respect to
such Rights, and any instructions relating to the actions to be taken in
connection therewith, as the Bank shall receive from the Fund pursuant to Proper
Instructions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank shall have no further duty
or obligation with respect to such Rights, including, without limitation, the
determination of
17
whether the Fund is entitled to participate in such Rights under applicable U.S.
and foreign laws, or the determination of whether any action proposed to be
taken with respect to such Rights by the Fund or by the applicable Foreign
Sub-Custodian will comply with all applicable terms and conditions of any such
Rights or any applicable laws or regulations, or market practices within the
market in which such action is to be taken or omitted.
(h) Liability of Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each Foreign
Sub-Custodian Agreement with a foreign banking institution shall require the
institution to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and to
indemnify, and hold harmless, the Bank and each Fund from and against certain
losses, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or claims arising out of or in
connection with the institution's performance of such obligations, all as set
forth in the applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement. The Fund acknowledges
that the Bank, as a participant in Euro-clear, is subject to the Terms and
Conditions Governing the Euro-Clear System, a copy of which has been made
available to the Fund. The Fund acknowledges that pursuant to such Terms and
Conditions, Xxxxxx Guaranty Brussels shall have the sole right to exercise or
assert any and all rights or claims in respect of actions or omissions of, or
the bankruptcy or insolvency of, any other depository, clearance system or
custodian utilized by Euro-clear in connection with the Fund's securities and
other assets.
(i) Monitoring Responsibilities. The Bank shall furnish
annually to the Fund information concerning the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians
employed hereunder for use by the Fund in evaluating such Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodians to ensure compliance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 of the
Act. In addition, the Bank will promptly inform the Fund in the event that the
Bank is notified by a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian that there appears to be a
substantial likelihood that its shareholders' equity will decline below US$200
million (or the equivalent thereof) or that its shareholders' equity has
declined below US$200 million (in each case computed in accordance with
generally accepted U.S. accounting principles) or any other capital adequacy
test applicable to it by exemptive order, or if the Bank has actual knowledge of
any material loss of the assets of the Fund held by a Foreign Sub-Custodian.
(j) Tax Law. The Bank shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Bank
as custodian of the Fund by the tax laws of any jurisdiction, and it shall be
the responsibility of the Fund to notify the Bank of the obligations imposed on
the Fund or the Bank as the custodian of the Fund by the tax law of any non-U.S.
jurisdiction, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental
reporting. The sole responsibility of the Selected Foreign Sub-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
jurisdictions for which the Fund has provided such information.
14.4 Insurance. The Bank shall use the same care with respect to the
safekeeping of Portfolio Securities and cash of the Fund held by it as it uses
in respect of its own similar property but it need not maintain any special
insurance for the benefit of the Fund.
14.5. Fees and Expenses of the Bank. The Fund will pay or reimburse
the Bank from time to time for any transfer taxes payable upon transfer of
Portfolio Securities made hereunder, and for all necessary proper disbursements,
expenses and charges made or incurred by the Bank in the performance of this
Agreement (including any duties listed on any Schedule hereto, if any) including
any indemnities for any loss, liabilities or expense to the Bank as provided
above. For the services rendered by the Bank hereunder, the Fund will pay to the
Bank such compensation or fees at such rate and at such times as shall be agreed
upon in writing by the parties from time to time. The Bank will also be entitled
to
18
reimbursement by the Fund for all reasonable expenses incurred in conjunction
with termination of this Agreement.
14.6 Advances by the Bank. The Bank may, in its sole discretion,
advance funds on behalf of the Fund to make any payment permitted by this
Agreement upon receipt of any proper authorization required by this Agreement
for such payments by the Fund. Should such a payment or payments, with advanced
funds, result in an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of the Fund's account with
the Bank, or for any other reason) this Agreement deems any such overdraft or
related indebtedness a loan made by the Bank to the Fund payable on demand. Such
overdraft shall bear interest at the current rate charged by the Bank for such
loans unless the Fund shall provide the Bank with agreed upon compensating
balances. The Fund agrees that the Bank shall have a continuing lien and
security interest to the extent of any overdraft or indebtedness, in and to any
property at any time held by it for the Fund's benefit or in which the Fund has
an interest and which is then in the Bank's possession or control (or in the
possession or control of any third party acting on the Bank's behalf). The Fund
authorizes the Bank, in the Bank's sole discretion, at any time to charge any
overdraft or indebtedness, together with interest due thereon, against any
balance of account standing to the credit of the Fund on the Bank's books.
15. Limitation of Liability.
15.1 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in
no event shall the Bank or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") be liable to the Fund or any third
party, and the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Bank and the Indemnified
Parties harmless from and against any and all loss, damage, liability, actions,
suits, claims, costs and expenses, including legal fees, (a "Claim") arising as
a result of any act or omission of the Bank or any Indemnified Party under this
Agreement, except for any Claim resulting solely from the negligence, willful
misfeasance or bad faith of the Bank or any Indemnified Party. Without limiting
the foregoing, neither the Bank nor the Indemnified Parties shall be liable for,
and the Bank and the Indemnified Parties shall be indemnified against, any Claim
arising as a result of:
(a) Any act or omission by the Bank or any Indemnified Party
in good faith reliance upon the terms of this Agreement, any Officer's
Certificate, Proper Instructions, resolution of the Board, telegram, telecopier,
notice, request, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by the Bank
to genuine;
(b) Any act or omission of any subcustodian selected by or at
the direction of the Fund;
(c) Any act or omission of a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian to
the extent which such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian is not liable to the Bank;
(d) Any Corporate Action requiring a Response for which the
Bank has not received Proper Instructions or obtained actual possession of all
necessary Securities, consents or other materials by 5:00 p.m. on the date
specified as the Response Deadline;
(e) Any act or omission of any European Branch of a U.S.
banking institution that is the issuer of Eurodollar CDs in connection with any
Eurodollar CDs held by such European Branch;
(f) Information relied on in good faith by the Bank and
supplied by any Authorized Person in connection with the calculation of (i) the
net asset value and public offering price of the shares of capital stock of the
Fund or (ii) the Yield Calculation; or
19
(g) Any acts of God, earthquakes, fires, floods, storms or
other disturbances of nature, epidemics, strikes, riots, nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, acts of war, civil war or terrorism,
insurrection, nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, the interruption, loss or
malfunction of utilities, transportation or computers (hardware or software) and
computer facilities, the unavailability of energy sources and other similar
happenings or events.
15.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in
no event shall the Bank or the Indemnified Parties be liable to the Fund or any
third party for lost profits or lost revenues or any special, consequential,
punitive or incidental damages of any kind whatsoever in connection with this
Agreement or any activities hereunder.
16. Termination.
16.1 The term of this Agreement shall be three years commencing upon
November 1, 1996 (the "Initial Term"), unless earlier terminated as provided
herein. After the expiration of the Initial Term, the term of this Agreement
shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each a "Renewal Term")
unless notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party to the other
party no later than sixty days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or
any Renewal Term, as the case may be.
(a) Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement prior to
the expiration of the Initial Term in the event the other party violates any
material provision of this Agreement, provided that the non-violating party
gives written notice of such violation to the violating party and the violating
party does not cure such violation within 90 days of receipt of such notice.
(b) Either party may terminate this Agreement during any
Renewal Term upon sixty days written notice to the other party. Any termination
pursuant to this paragraph 16.1(b) shall be effective upon expiration of such
sixty days, provided, however, that the effective date of such termination may
be postponed to a date not more than ninety days after delivery of the written
notice: (i) at the request of the Bank, in order to prepare for the transfer by
the Bank of all of the assets of the Fund held hereunder; or (ii) at the request
of the Fund, in order to give the Fund an opportunity to make suitable
arrangements for a successor custodian.
16.2 In the event of the termination of this Agreement, the Bank
will immediately upon receipt or transmittal, as the case may be, of notice of
termination, commence and prosecute diligently to completion the transfer of all
cash and the delivery of all Portfolio Securities duly endorsed and all records
maintained under Section 11 to the successor custodian when appointed by the
Fund. The obligation of the Bank to deliver and transfer over the assets of the
Fund held by it directly to such successor custodian will commence as soon as
such successor is appointed and will continue until completed as aforesaid. If
the Fund does not select a successor custodian within ninety (90) days from the
date of delivery of notice of termination the Bank may, subject to the
provisions of subsection (16.3), deliver the Portfolio Securities and cash of
the Fund held by the Bank to a bank or trust company of the Bank's own selection
which meets the requirements of Section 17(f)(1) of the 1940 Act and has a
reported capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating not less than
$2,000,000, to be held as the property of the Fund under terms similar to those
on which they were held by the Bank, whereupon such bank or trust company so
selected by the Bank will become the successor custodian of such assets of the
Fund with the same effect as though selected by the Board. Thereafter, the Bank
shall be released from any and all obligations under this Agreement.
20
16.3 Prior to the expiration of ninety (90) days after notice of
termination has been given, the Fund may furnish the Bank with an order of the
Fund advising that a successor custodian cannot be found willing and able to act
upon reasonable and customary terms and that there has been submitted to the
shareholders of the Fund the question of whether the Fund will be liquidated or
will function without a custodian for the assets of the Fund held by the Bank.
In that event the Bank will deliver the Portfolio Securities and cash of the
Fund held by it, subject as aforesaid, in accordance with one of such
alternatives which may be approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, upon
receipt by the Bank of a copy of the minutes of the meeting of shareholders at
which action was taken, certified by the Fund's Secretary and an opinion of
counsel to the Fund in form and content satisfactory to the Bank. Thereafter,
the Bank shall be released from any and all obligations under this Agreement.
16.4 The Fund shall reimburse the Bank for any reasonable expenses
incurred by the Bank in connection with the termination of this Agreement.
16.5 At any time after the termination of this Agreement, the Fund
may, upon written request, have reasonable access to the records of the Bank
relating to its performance of its duties as custodian.
17. Confidentiality. Both parties hereto agree than any non-public
information obtained hereunder concerning the other party is confidential and
may not be disclosed without the consent of the other party, except as may be
required by applicable law or at the request of a governmental agency. The
parties further agree that a breach of this provision would irreparably damage
the other party and accordingly agree that each of them is entitled, in addition
to all other remedies at low or in equal to an injunction or injunctions without
bond or other security to prevent breaches of this provision.
18. Notices. Any notice or other instrument in writing authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given to either party hereto will be
sufficiently given if addressed to such party and delivered via (I) United
States Postal Service registered mail, (ii) telecopier with written
confirmation, (iii) had delivery with signature to such party at its office at
the address set forth below, namely:
(a) In the case of notices sent to the Fund to:
Merrimac Funds
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
(b) In the case of notices sent to the Bank to:
Investors Bank & Trust Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, General Counsel
or at such other place as such party may from time to time
designate in writing.
19. Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered or amended, except
by an instrument in writing, executed by both parties.
21
20. Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that this Agreement will not be assignable by the Fund
without the written consent of the Bank or by the Bank without the written
consent of the Fund, authorized and approved by its Board; and provided further
that termination proceedings pursuant to Section 16 hereof will not be deemed to
be an assignment within the meaning of this provision.
21. Governing Law. This Agreement and all performance hereunder will be
governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to
conflict of laws provisions.
22. Counterparts. 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.
23. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with its Appendices,
constitutes the sole and entire agreement between the parties relating to the
subject matter herein and does not operate as an acceptance of any conflicting
terms or provisions of any other instrument and terminates and supersedes any
and all prior agreements and undertakings between the parties relating to the
subject matter herein.
24. Limitation of Liability. The Bank is hereby expressly put on notice
of the limitation of liability set forth in the Master Trust Agreement of the
Fund and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Fund hereunder shall be
limited in all cases to the assets of the Fund and that the Bank shall not seek
satisfaction of any such obligation from the officers, agents, employees,
trustees, or shareholders of the Fund.
25. Several Obligations of the Portfolios. This Agreement is an
agreement entered into between the Bank and the Fund with respect to each
Portfolio. With respect to any obligation of the Fund on behalf of any Portfolio
arising out of this Agreement, the Bank shall look for payment or satisfaction
of such obligation solely to the assets of the Portfolio to which such
obligation relates as though the Bank had separately contracted with the Fund by
separate written instrument with respect to each Portfolio.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day
and year first written above.
THE MERRIMAC FUNDS
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President & C.E.O.
00
Xxxxxxxx X
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Portfolios
Merrimac Cash Fund
