CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of January -, 2005 by and between THE
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN POOLING PORTFOLIOS, a business trust organized and existing
under the laws of Massachusetts (the "Fund"), and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST
COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the "Custodian"),
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares of common stock or shares
of beneficial interest in separate series ("Shares"), with each such series
representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends that this Agreement be applicable to eleven (11)
series, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN U.S. VALUE
PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN U.S. LARGE CAP GROWTH. PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL VALUE
PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN
SHORT DURATION BOND PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERMEDIATE DURATION BOND
PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN TIPS PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN SMALL-MID CAP
VALUE PORTFOLIO and ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN SMALL-MID CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO (such
series together with all other series subsequently established by the Fund and
made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18.5, be referred to
herein as the "Portfolio(s)").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the
Portfolios, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio, desires to be held in places within the United States ("domestic
securities") and securities it desires to be held outside the United States
("foreign securities"). The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property
of a Portfolio which is not received by it or which is delivered out in
accordance with Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7
hereof) including, without limitation, Portfolio property (i) held by brokers,
private bankers or other entities on behalf of the Portfolio (each a "Local
Agent"), (ii) held by Special Sub-Custodians (as such term is defined in Section
5 hereof), (iii) held by entities which have advanced monies to or on behalf of
the Portfolio and which have received Portfolio property as security for such
advance(s) (each a "Pledgee"), or (iv) delivered or otherwise removed from the
custody of the Custodian (a) in connection with any Free Trade (as such term is
hereinafter defined) or (b) pursuant to Special Instructions (as such term is
defined in Section 7 hereof). With respect to uncertificated shares (the
"Underlying Shares") of registered "investment companies" (as defined in Section
3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time (the
"1940 Act")), whether in the same "group of investment companies" (as defined in
Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the 0000 Xxx) or otherwise, including pursuant to
Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"Underlying Portfolios") the holding of confirmation statements that identify
the shares as being recorded in the Custodian's name on behalf of the Portfolios
will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio(s) from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians
located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio(s), and provided that the Custodian shall have no more or less
responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions
of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the
Custodian. The Custodian may place and maintain each Fund's foreign securities
with foreign banking
institution sub-custodians employed by the Custodian and/or foreign securities
depositories, all as designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS TO
BE HELD IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 2.1. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by
it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by such
Portfolio other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8
in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry
system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a "U.S.
Securities System") and (b) Underlying Shares owned by the Fund which are
maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account with State Street Bank
and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a
transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the
Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the "Underlying Transfer
Agent").
SECTION 2.2. DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian, in a
U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the
Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of
the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed
appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Portfolio;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof,
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for securities of the Portfolio;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become .payable; provided that, in
any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to
the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed
pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a
different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence
representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio,
to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for
examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom; provided
that in any such case, the 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 Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct;
-2-
8) 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; provided that, in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar 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; provided that, in any such
case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the
Portfolio (a) against receipt of collateral as agreed from time to
time by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to
the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral or (b) to the
lending agent, or the lending agent's custodian, in accordance with
written Proper Instructions (which may not provide for the receipt
by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to
time by the Custodian and the Fund;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the
Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") and a member of The National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), relating to compliance with
the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered
national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection
with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian, and a
futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange
Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (the "CFTC') and/or any contract market, or any
similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in
connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;
14) Upon the sale or other delivery of such investments (including,
without limitation, to one or more (a) Special Sub-Custodians or (b)
additional custodians appointed by the Fund, and communicated to the
Custodian from time to time via a writing duly executed by an
authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in
repurchase agreement transactions(s), each a "Repo Custodian"), and
prior to receipt of payment therefor, as set forth in written Proper
Instructions (such delivery in advance of payment, along with
payment in advance of delivery made in accordance with Section
2.6(7), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a "Free
Trade"), provided that such Proper Instructions shall set forth (a)
the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the
person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;
15) Upon receipt of instructions from the Fund's transfer agent (the
"Transfer Agent") for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the
holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as may
be described from time to time in the currently effective prospectus
and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the
Portfolio (the "Prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by holders
of Shares for repurchase or redemption;
-3-
16) In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer
Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof;
and
17) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying (a)
the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the
person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
SECTION 2.3. REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Portfolio, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a
nominee to be used in common with other registered management investment
companies having the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or
nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or
nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All
securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms
of this Agreement shall be in. "street name" or other good delivery form. If,
however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in "street name",
the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due
the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only
of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls,
maturities, tender or exchange offers.
SECTION 2.4. BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each
Portfolio of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or
accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for
the account of the Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a
bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940
Act. Funds held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its
credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other
banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or
desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be
qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or
trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company
shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority
of the Board. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as
Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
SECTION 2.5. COLLECTION OF INCOME. Except with respect to Portfolio
property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14) or purchased
pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3,. the
Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with
respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each Portfolio
shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities
business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with
respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer,
such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit
such income, as collected, to such Portfolio's custodian account. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present
for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and
when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held
hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The
Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other
than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to
assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the
income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6. PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions
on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a
Portfolio in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts
or options on futures contracts for the account of the Portfolio but
only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of
title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures
contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust
company doing business in
-4-
the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to
act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its
agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or
in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3
hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase
effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a
purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set
forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase
agreements entered into between the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a
member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in
certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's
account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii)
against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio
of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of
the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from
the Portfolio; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the
Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be
effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the
applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as
defined herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities
owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in
Section 6 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments for
the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management,
accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of
the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part
capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the
Fund's articles of incorporation or organization and by-laws or
agreement or declaration of trust, as applicable, and Prospectus
(collectively, the "Governing Documents");
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) Upon the purchase of domestic investments including, without
limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of
Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), and prior to receipt of such
investments, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such
payment in advance of delivery, along with delivery in advance of
payment made in accordance with Section 2.2(14), as applicable,
shall each be referred to herein as a "Free Trade"), provided that
such Proper Instructions shall also set forth (a) the amount of such
payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is made; and
8) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio specifying (a) the amount
of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is to be
made.
-5-
SECTION 2.7. APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or times
in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust
company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as
its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian
may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any
agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities
hereunder. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or
sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other
provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.8. DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940
Act, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 2.9. SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, establish and
maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such
Portfolio, into which account or accounts maybe transferred cash and/or
securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian
pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (a) in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian 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 CFTC or any registered
contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding
escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio,
(b) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with
options purchased, sold or written by the Portfolio or commodity futures
contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (c) for the
purposes of compliance by the Portfolio with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC'), or interpretative opinion of the
staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by
registered management investment companies, and (d) for any other purpose in
accordance with Proper Instructions.
SECTION 2.10. DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRANSFER AGENT.
Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio,
shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with
an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian's only responsibilities with
respect thereto shall be limited to the following:
1) Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying
Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or
maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a
nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of a Portfolio, the
Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares
are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of such Portfolio.
2) In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of a
Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall
pay out monies of such Portfolio as so directed, and record such
payment from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian's In
respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the
account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the
Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed,
record such transfer from the account of such Portfolio on the
Custodian's books and records and, upon the Custodian's receipt of
the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of such
Portfolio on the Custodian's books and records.
The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage
to the Fund or any Portfolio resulting from the maintenance of
Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for
losses resulting directly from the fraud, negligence or willful
misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or
their employees.
SECTION 2.11. OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall
execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and
state tax purposes in connection
-6-
with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of
each Portfolio held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.12. PROXIES. Except with respect to Portfolio property released
and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section
2.6(7), the Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held
hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such
securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the
Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without indication of the
manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the
Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to
such securities.
SECTION 2.13. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Except with
respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section
2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions
of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund for each
Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of
calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in
connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures contracts
purchased or sold by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio) received by the
Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With
respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to
the Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the
securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents)
making the tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires to take action with
respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction,
the Fund shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the
capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated 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 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 Portfolios' 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 Portfolios'
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
"Rule 17f-S" means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act. "Rule 17f-7" means
Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.
-7-
SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Fund, by resolution adopted by 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 of the Portfolios held outside the
United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign
Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.
3.2.2 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible 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 Agreement, 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 assets of the
Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians maybe 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, on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio(s), of the applicable account opening requirements for such country,
the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board
on behalf of such Portfolio(s) responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with
respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this
Agreement 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. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign
Custody Manager to close the account of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign
Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a -designated country, the
delegation by the Board on behalf of such Portfolio 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 with
respect to such Portfolio 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:
(a) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the 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
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
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
-8-
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.
3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of 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 Portfolios.
3.2.5 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall
report the 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 Portfolios described in this
Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.
3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF A PORTFOLIO. In
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 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 Agreement
to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.
3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios 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 Portfolios
with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 3.3. ELIGIBLE SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
3.3.1 ANALYSIS AND MONITORING. The Custodian shall (a) provide the
Fund (or 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.
3.3.2 STANDARD OF CARE. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable
care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section
3.3.1.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS TO
BE HELD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the
capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:
-9-
"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.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books
as belonging to the Portfolios 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 Portfolios, 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 Portfolios which are
maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the
Portfolios 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.
SECTION 4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through
arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as
applicable, in such country.
SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1 DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios
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:
1) Upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolio 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 of a sale effected through a
Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing
the operation of the Foreign Securities System;
2) In connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
3) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;
4) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
5) 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;
6) 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 foreign securities prior to receiving payment for such
foreign securities except as may arise from the Foreign
Sub-Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct;
7) 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;
-10-
8) 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;
9) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the
Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;
10) In connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
11) Upon the sale or other delivery of such foreign securities
(including, without limitation, to one or more Special
Sub-Custodians or Repo Custodians) as a Free Trade, provided that
applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the foreign
securities to be delivered and (B) the person(s) to whom delivery
shall be made;
12) In connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
13) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
4.4.2 PAYMENT OF PORTFOLIO MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which maybe 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
a Portfolio in the following cases only:
(i) Upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio, 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 Portfolio;
(iii) For the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under
this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating
expenses;
(iv) For the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange
contracts for the Portfolio, 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) Upon the purchase of foreign investments including, without
limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of
Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), as a Free Trade, provided
that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the amount
of such payment and (B) the person(s) to whom payment shall be made;
(vii) For payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(viii) In connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities;
and
-11-
(ix) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person(s) to
whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3 MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received
for the account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for
the account of the Portfolios 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 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.
SECTION 4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer
securities) shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio 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 on behalf of such Portfolio
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 a Portfolio under the
terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in
which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
SECTION 4.6. BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the 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 a Portfolio 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 Portfolio. 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. '
SECTION 4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and
shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. 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.
SECTION 4.8. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS with respect to the foreign securities
held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian shall 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 procedural obligations,
lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the
ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit 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 Portfolios
(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
-12-
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 Portfolios 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.
SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement pursuant
to which the 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 Fund's election, the Portfolios 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 Portfolios have not been made
whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11. TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund, the
Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios 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 with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the
Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, 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.
SECTION 4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. 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 this Agreement 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 Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.
SECTION 5. SPECIAL SUB-CUSTODIANS
Upon receipt of Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7
hereof), the Custodian shall, on behalf of one or more Portfolios, appoint one
or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special
Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such
transaction(s) as may be designated by the Fund in Special Instructions. Each
such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a "Special
Sub-Custodian." Each such duly appointed Special Sub-Custodian shall be listed
on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by the Fund, with
the acknowledgment of the Custodian. In connection with the appointment of any
Special Sub-Custodian, and in accordance with Special Instructions, the
Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the Fund and the
Special Sub-Custodian in form and substance approved by the Fund, provided that
such agreement shall in all events comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder and the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
SECTION 6. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from the
Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio such
payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold
-13-
from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to
the Fund on behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt
by it of payments for Shares of such Portfolio.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon
receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for
payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request
for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial
bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian
by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the
holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such
procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between
the Fund and the Custodian.
SECTION 7. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS AND. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
"Proper Instructions," which may also be standing instructions, as such term is
used throughout this Agreement shall mean instructions received by the Custodian
from the Fund, the Fund's duly authorized investment manager or investment
adviser, or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such
instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may
be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes
effected between electromechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other
means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed
from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such
instruction, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed
to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited
to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer
Addendum hereto. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the
Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to
provide such instructions with respect to the transaction involved; the Fund
shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of
this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the
Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated
asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.
"Special Instructions," as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means
Proper Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or
any Assistant Treasurer of the Fund or any other person designated in writing by
the Treasurer of the Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be (a)
included on the same instrument containing the Proper Instructions or on a
separate instrument clearly relating thereto and (b) delivered by hand, by
facsimile transmission, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian
agree in writing.
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time
thereafter, as appropriate, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian, duly
certified by the Fund's Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a certificate setting
forth: (i) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons
authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction,
instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund and (ii) the names,
titles and signatures of those persons authorized to give Special Instructions.
Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive
evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full
force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of a similar certificate to the
contrary.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be
genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The
Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of
the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of
any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution,
and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt
by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.
-14-
SECTION 9. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
14) Make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this
Agreement; provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
15) Surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive
form;
16) Endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and
17) In general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other
dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as
otherwise directed by the Board.
SECTION 10. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the
entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of each
Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares
or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, shall
itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share.
If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the
Portfolio as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the
Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed
in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent
periodically of the division of such net income among its various components.
The Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained
with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole
source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it on behalf of
a Portfolio and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information
furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its
duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth
in this Section 10 and in Section 11 hereof; provided, however, that the
Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales
of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received
by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying
Transfer Agent. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily
income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from time
to time in the Prospectus. The Fund acknowledges that, in keeping the books of
account of the Portfolio and/or making the calculations described herein with
respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section
2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is
authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund,
the Fund's counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.
SECTION 11. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain all
records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such
manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with
particular attention to section 31 thereof and Rules 31 a-1 and 31 a-2
thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all
times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection
by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and
agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund
with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the
Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such
compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include
certificate numbers in such tabulations. The Fund acknowledges that, in creating
and maintaining the records as set forth herein with respect to Portfolio
property released and delivered pursuant to Section
-15-
2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is
authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund,
the Fund's counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.
SECTION 12. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund with respect to a
Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable
opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect to its activities
hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's Form N-lA or Form
N-2, as applicable, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with
respect to any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 13. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios at
such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent
public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and
procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures
contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities
System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a "Securities System"), relating
to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports,
shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be
required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material
inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such
inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
SECTION 14. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and
expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 15. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the
Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any
property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant
to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request,
consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures
commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or
options agreement.. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable
care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept
indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without
limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be
without liability to the Fund and the Portfolios for any loss, liability, claim
or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk
(as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or
terrorism.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct or
the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian
shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent
or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the
interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any
securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or
interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages,
natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or
its duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser in their
instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance
with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a
Securities System; (iv) any act or omission of a Special Sub-Custodian
including, without limitation, reliance on reports prepared by a Special
Sub-Custodian; (v) any
-16-
delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other
commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's
sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made
in connection with securities sold; (vi) any delay or failure of any company,
corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities
in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees
or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to
transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights
and other accretions or benefits; (vii) delays or inability to perform its
duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any
particular security or Securities System; and (viii) any provision of any
present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or
any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of
any court of competent jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as such term is defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent
as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any action
with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which
action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its
nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment of
money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to
it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to
advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to
securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in
the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the applicable
Portfolio shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the
Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash
and to dispose of such Portfolio's assets to the extent necessary to obtain
reimbursement.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct,
the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any
and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and
liabilities which may be asserted against the Custodian (a) acting in accordance
with any Proper Instruction or Special Instruction including, without
limitation, any Proper Instruction with respect to Free Trades including, but
not limited to, cost, expense, loss, damage, liability, tax, charge, assessment
or claim resulting from (i) the failure of the Fund to receive income with
respect to purchased investments, (ii) the failure of the Fund to recover
amounts invested on maturity of purchased investments, (iii) the failure of the
Custodian to respond to or be aware of notices or other corporate communications
with respect to purchased investments, or (iv) the Custodian's reliance upon
information provided by the Fund, the Fund's counterparty(ies) or the agents of
either of them with respect to Fund property released, delivered or purchased
pursuant to either of Section 2.2(14) or Section 2.6(7) hereof; (b) for the acts
or omissions of any Special Sub-Custodian; or (c) for the acts or omissions of
any Local Agent or Pledgee.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential
damages.
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in
full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may be amended
at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by
either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to
the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days
after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided, however, that the Fund
shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable
federal or state regulations, or any provision of the Fund's Governing
-17-
Documents, and further provided, that the Fund on behalf of one or more of the
Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or
trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the
Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the
appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of
the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an
appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund on behalf of each applicable
Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the
date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its
costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 17. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the
Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination and receipt of Proper Instructions,
deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly
endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities of each applicable
Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the
successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in a
Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like
manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the
Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance
with such resolution.
In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or
alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before
the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall
have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as
defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts or New York,
New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and
undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than
$25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian
relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such
successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any
Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or
trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian
shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as
the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties
and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of
the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
-18-
SECTION 18. GENERAL
SECTION 18.1. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY. This Agreement shall be
construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 18.2. PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement supersedes and terminates,
as of the date hereof, all prior Agreements between the Fund on behalf of each
of the Portfolios and the Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's
assets.
SECTION 18.3. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may not be assigned by either
party without the written consent of the other.
SECTION 18.4. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. In connection with
the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund on behalf of each of
the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of
or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion
be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be
annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions
shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of
the Fund's Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as
provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this
Agreement.
SECTION 18.5. ADDTITONAL FUNDS. In the event that the Fund establishes one
or more series of Shares in addition to ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO,
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN U.S. VALUE PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN U.S. LARGE CAP GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN
INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN SHORT DURATION BOND PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERMEDIATE
DURATION BOND PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN TIPS PORTFOLIO, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN
SMALL-MID CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO and ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN SMALL-MID CAP GROWTH
PORTFOLIO with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services
as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in
writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such
series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
SECTION 18.6. NOTICES. Any notice, instruction or other instrument
required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the
parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid
registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following
addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to
time.
To the Fund: THE ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN POOLING PORTFOLIOS
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: *[contact]
Telephone: *[]
Telecopy: * []
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
0 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, XXX00X
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served
in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after
posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after
-19-
dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered
outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the
next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of
cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence
that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be
conclusive evidence of posting.
SECTION 18.7. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such
counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
SECTION 18.8. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired.
SECTION 18.9. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. This Agreement and all schedules,
addenda, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any
photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or
other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such
reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any
judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in
existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the
regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further
reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.
SECTION 18.10. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM. The Custodian and-the Fund
agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.
SECTION 18.11. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION. SEC Rule 14b-2
requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to
requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of
beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the
beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In
order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether
it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name, address, and share
position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund
tells the Custodian "no," the Custodian will not provide this information to
requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or does not check
either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the
Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by
the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund's
protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund's name
and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate
below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives
below.
YES[ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's name, address, and
share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name, address, and
share positions.
-20-
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of the date first above-written.
FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY: THE ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN POOLING
PORTFOLIOS
By:
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
--------------------------------- -----------------------------
Title:* Secretary/Ass't Secretary Title:
-------------------------------- ----------------------------
SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Poster Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President and Counsel Executive Vice President
-21-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY
NETWORK SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Argentina Citibank, N.A.
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation
Citibank Pty. Limited
Austria Erste Bank der Osterreichischen Sparkassen AG
Bahrain HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited
Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V.
Burkina Faso via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada
Cayman Islands Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Limited
BankBoston, N.A.
People's Republic The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited,
-22-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
of China Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia . Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d
Cyprus Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd.
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.
Denmark Danske Bank A/S
Ecuador Banco de la Producciun S.A.
Egypt HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Estonia AS Hansabank
Finland Nordea Bank Finland Plc.
France BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Germany Deutsche Bank AG
Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited
National Bank of Greece S.A.
Guinea-Bissau via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
-23-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Hungary HVB Bank Hungary Rt.
Iceland Kaupthing Bank hf.
Deutsche Bank AG
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Deutsche Bank AG
Ireland Bank of Ireland
Israel Bank Hapoahm B.M.
BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd.
Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Kazakhstan HSBC Bank Kazakhstan
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited
-24-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Republic of Korea Deutsche Bank AG
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Latvia A/s Hansabanka
Lebanon HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas AB
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
HSBC Bank Malta Plc.
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico S.A,
Morocco Attijariwafa bank
Namibia Standard Bank Namibia Limited
Netherlands Deutsche Bank N.V.
KAS BANK N.V.
New Zealand Westpac Banking Corporation
via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
-25-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Nigeria Stanbic Bank Nigeria Limited
Norway Nordea Bank Norge ASA
Oman HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG
Palestine HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Panama BankBoston, N.A,
Peru Citibank del Peru, S.A.
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues S.A.
Puerto Rico Citibank N.A,
HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Romania ING Bank N.V.
Russia ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO, Moscow
Senegal via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
HVB Bank Serbia and Montenegro a.d.
-26-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Singapore DBS Bank Limited
United Overseas Bank Limited
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S., pobocka zahranicnej
banky v SR
Slovenia Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. - Ljubljana
South Africa Nedcor Bank Limited
Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Santander Central Hispano Investment S.A.
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX
Switzerland UBS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Trust of China
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank
via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
-27-
SCHEDULE A
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Turkey Citibank, A.S.
Uganda Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine
United Arab Emirates HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company, United kingdom
Branch
Uruguay BankBoston, N.A.
Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Plc.
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited
-00-
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXX XXXXXX
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Bahrain Clearing, Settlement, and Depository System of the
Bahrain Stock Exchange
Bangladesh Central Depository Bangladesh Limited
Belgium Banque Nationale de Belgique
Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et de Virements
de Titres, S.A.
Benin Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Bermuda Bermuda Securities Depository
Central de Custudia e de Liquidacao Financeira de
Titulos Privados (CETIP)
Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e Custudia
Sistema Especial de Liquidacao e de Custudia (SELIC)
Bulgaria Bulgarian National Bank
Central Depository AD
Burkina Faso Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Canada The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Depusito Central de Valores S.A.
-00-
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXX XXXXXX
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
People's Republic China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation
of China Limited Shanghai Branch
China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation
Limited Shenzhen Branch
Colombia Depusito Central de Valores
Depusito Centralizado de Valores de Colombia S..A.
(DECEVAL)
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
Croatia Sredisnja Depozitama Agencija d.d.
Cyprus Central Depository and Central Registry
Czech Republic Czech National Bank
Stredisko cennych papiru- Ceska republika
Denmark Vaerdipapircentralen (Danish Securities Center)
Misr for Clearing, Settlement, and Depository S.A.E.
Estonia AS Eesti Vaartpaberikeskus
Finland Suomen Arvopaperikeskus
Euroclear France
Germany Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX, Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX - Central Securities Depository
-30-
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Bank of Greece,
System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities in
Book-Entry Form
Guinea-Bissau Depositaire Central -Banque de Reglement
Hong Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Securities Clearing Company Linuted
Hungary Kozponti Elszamulohaz es Ertektar (Budapest) Rt. (KELER)
Iceland Icelandic Securities Depository Limited
Central Depository Services (India) Limited
National Securities Depository Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd. (TASE
Clearinghouse)
Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Ivory Coast Depositaire Central -Banque de Reglement
Jamaica Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Bank of Japan - Net System
-00-
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXX XXXXXX
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC) Incorporated
Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository
Central Depository and Settlement Corporation Limited
Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository
Latvian Central Depository
Lebanon Banque du Liban
Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial Instruments
for Lebanon and the Middle East (Midclear) X.X.X.
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Bank Negara Malaysia
Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Depositaire Central -Banque de Reglement
Malta Central Securities Depository of the Malta Stock
Exchange
Mauritius Bank of Mauritius
Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd.
Mexico S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V.
-00-
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXX XXXXXX
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Morocco Maroclear
Namibia Bank of Namibia
Netherlands Euroclear Nederland
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Niger Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Nigeria Central Securities Clearing System Limited
Norway Verdipapirsentralen (Norwegian Central. Securities
Depository)
Oman Muscat Depository & Securities Registration Company,
SAOC
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine Clearing, Depository and Settlement, a department of the
Palestine Stock Exchange
Panama Central Latinoamericana de Valores, S.A. (LatinClear)
Peru Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones, Instituciun de
Compensaciun y Liquidaciun de Valores S.A
Philippines Philippine Central Depository, Inc.
Registry of Scripless Securities (XXXX) of the Bureau of
Treasury
-33-
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Poland Rejestr Papierow Wartosciowych
Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych S.A.
Portugal INTERBOLSA - Sociedade Gestora de Sistemas de
Liquidacaoe de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores
Mobiliarios, S.A.
Qatar Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a department of
the Doha Securities Market
Romania Bucharest Stock Exchange Registry Division
National Bank of Romania
National Securities Clearing, Settlement and Depository
Company
Russia Vneshtorgbank, Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian
Federation
Senegal Depositaire Central -Banque de Reglement
Serbia Central Registrar and Central Depository for Securities
Singapore The Central Depository (Pte) Limited
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Slovak Republic Naodna banks slovenska
Centralny depozitar cennych papierov SR, a.s.
Slovenia KDD - Centralny khrinsko depotna xxxxxx x.x.
South Africa Share Transactions Totally Electronic (STRATE) Ltd.
-00-
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXX XXXXXX
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
IBERCLEAR
Sri Lanka Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited
Sweden Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB
(Swedish Central Securities Depository)
Switzerland SegaIntersettle AG (SIS)
Taiwan - R.O.C. Taiwan Securities Central Depository Company Limited
Thailand Bank of Thailand
Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited
Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank
Societe Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et de Depots des Valeurs Mobilieres
(STICODEVAM)
Turkey Central Bank of Turkey
Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S. (TAKASBANK)
Uganda Bank of Uganda
Ukraine Mizhregionalny Fondovy Souz
National Bank of Ukraine
United Arab Emirates Clearing and Depository System, a department of the
Dubai Financial Market
-35-
SCHEDULE B
STATE STREET
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
United Kingdom CrestCo.
Uruguay Banco Central del Uruguay
Venezuela Banco Central de Venezuela Caja Venezolana de Valores
Vietnam Securities Registration, Clearing and Settlement,
Depository Department of the Securities Trading Center
Zambia Bank of Zambia
XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited
TRANSNATIONAL
Euroclear
Clearstream Banking, S.A.
-36-
SCHEDULE C
MARKET INFORMATION
Publication/Type of Information Brief Description
------------------------------- -----------------
(scheduled frequency)
The Guide to Custody in World Markets An overview of settlement and safekeeping procedures, custody
------------------------------------- practices and foreign investor considerations for the markets in which
(hardcopy annually and regular website
updates)
State Street offers custodial services.
Global Custody Network Information relating to Foreign Sub-Custodians in State Street's
---------------------- Global Custody Network. The Review stands as an integral part of the
Review (annually) materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients
to assist them in complying with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also gives
insight into State Street's market expansion and Foreign Sub-Custodian
selection processes, as well as the procedures and controls used to
monitor the financial condition and performance of our Foreign
Sub-Custodian banks.
Securities Depository Review Custody risk analyses of the Foreign Securities Depositories presently
---------------------------- operating in Network markets. This publication is an integral part of
(annually) the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund
clients to meet informational obligations created by SEC Rule 17f-7.
Global Legal Survey With respect to each market in which State Street offers custodial
------------------- services, opinions relating to whether local law restricts (i) access
(annually) of a fund's independent public accountants to books and records of a
Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a fund's
ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of a
Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (iii) a fund's
ability to recover in the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian
or Foreign Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a foreign
investor to convert cash and cash equivalents to U.S. dollars.
Subcustodian Agreements Copies of the contracts that State Street has entered into with each
----------------------- Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains U.S. mutual fund assets in the
(annually) markets in which State Street offers custodial services.
Global Market Bulletin Information on changing settlement and custody conditions in markets
---------------------- where State Street offers custodial services. Includes changes in
(daily or as necessary) market and tax regulations, depository developments, dematerialization
information, as well as other market changes that may impact State
Street's clients.
Foreign Custody Advisories For those markets where State Street offers custodial services that
-------------------------- exhibit special risks or infrastructures impacting custody, State
(as necessary) Street issues market advisories to highlight those unique market
factors which might impact our ability to offer recognized custody
service levels.
-37-
Material Change Notices Informational letters and accompanying materials confirming State
(presently on a quarterly basis or as Street's foreign custody arrangements, including a summary of material
otherwise necessary) changes with Foreign Sub-Custodians that have occurred during the
previous quarter. The notices also identify any material changes in
the custodial risks associated with maintaining assets with Foreign
Securities Depositories.
-38-
SCHEDULED
TO
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
SPECIAL SUB-CUSTODIANS
----------------------
*[None/Name of Special Sub-Custodian(s)]
-39-
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
OPERATING GUIDELINES
1. OBLIGATION OF THE SENDER: State Street is authorized to promptly debit
Client's account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the
selected Security Procedure chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money
that State Street has been instructed to transfer. State Street shall execute
payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Client's
instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received
by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment
order specifies a later time. ' All payment orders and communications received
after this time will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.
2. SECURITY PROCEDURE: The Client acknowledges that the Security Procedure it
has designated on the Selection Form was selected by the Client from Security
Procedures offered by State Street. The Client agrees that the Security
Procedures are reasonable and adequate for its wire transfer transactions and
agrees to be bound by any payment orders, amendments and cancellations, whether
or not authorized, issued in its name and accepted by State Street after being
confirmed by any of the selected Security Procedures. The Client also agrees to
be bound by any other valid and authorized payment order accepted by State
Street. The Client shall restrict access to confidential information relating to
the Security Procedure to authorized persons as communicated in writing to State
Street. The Client must notify State Street immediately if it has reason to
believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of
any change in the Client's authorized personnel. State Street shall verify the
authenticity of all instructions according to the Security Procedure.
3. ACCOUNT NUMBERS: State Street shall process all payment orders on the basis
of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a
discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account
number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. Financial
institutions that receive payment orders initiated by State Street at the
instruction of the Client may also process payment orders on the basis of
account numbers, regardless of any name included in the payment order. State
Street will also rely on any financial institution identification numbers
included in any payment order, regardless of any financial institution name
included in the payment order.
4. REJECTION: State Street reserves the right to decline to process or delay the
processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in
the account to be charged at the time of State Street's receipt of such payment
order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause State Street, in State
Street's sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network, time,
credit or similar limits upon wire transfers which are applicable to State
Street; or (c) if State Street, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that
the transaction has been properly authorized.
5. CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT: State Street shall use reasonable efforts to act
on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in
compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received
in a timely manner affording State Street reasonable opportunity to act.
However, State Street assumes no liability if the request for amendment or
cancellation cannot be satisfied.
6. ERRORS: State Street shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any
erroneous payment order provided that State Street complies with the payment
order instructions as received and State Street complies with the Security
Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of
authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in
payment orders.
7. INTEREST AND LIABILITY LIMITS: State Street shall assume no responsibility
for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized
payment order, unless State Street is notified of the unauthorized payment order
within thirty (30) days of notification by State Street of the
-40-
acceptance of such payment order. In no event shall State Street be liable for
special, indirect or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility
of such damages and even for failure to execute a payment order.
8. AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE ("ACH") CREDIT ENTRIESIPROVISIONAL PAYMENTS: When a
Client initiates or receives ACH credit and debit entries pursuant to these
Guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association
and the New England Clearing House Association, State Street will act- as an
Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository
Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by
State Street with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until State
Street receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank.
If State Street does not receive such final settlement, the Client agrees that
State Street shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Client in
connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Client via such
entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.
9. CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS: Confirmation of State Street's execution of payment
orders shall ordinarily be provided within 24 hours. Notice may be delivered
through State Street's proprietary information systems, such as, but not limited
to Horizon and GlobalQuest@, account statements, advises, or by facsimile or
callback. The Client must report any objections to the execution of a payment
order within 30 days.
10. LIABILITY ON FOREIGN ACCOUNTS: State Street shall not be required to repay
any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of State Street, or any deposit made with
State Street and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of such
deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is
prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to: (a) an act of war,
insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or
instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of
any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a defacto or a dejure
government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise
that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of
civil authority; or(c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch of State Street in order
to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of State Street, harm to the employees or
property of State Street. The obligation to repay any such deposit shall not be
transferred to and may not be enforced against any other branch of State Street.
The foregoing provisions constitute the disclosure required by Massachusetts
General Laws, Chapter 167D, Section 36.
While State Street is not obligated to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S.
branch or any deposit denominated in a non-U.S. currency during the period in
which its repayment has been prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked, State
Street will repay such deposit when and if all circumstances preventing,
prohibiting or otherwise blocking repayment cease to exist.
11. MISCELLANEOUS: State Street and the Client agree to cooperate to attempt to
recover any funds erroneously paid to the wrong party or parties, regardless of
any fault of State Street or the Client, but the party responsible for the
erroneous payment shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in trying to effect
such recovery. These Guidelines may not be amended except by a written agreement
signed by the parties.
-41-
Security Procedure(s) Selection Form
------------------------------------
Please select one or more of the funds transfer security procedures indicated
below.
|_| SWIFT
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a
cooperative society owned and operated by member financial institutions that
provides telecommunication services for its membership. Participation is limited
to securities brokers and dealers, clearing and depository institutions,
recognized exchanges for securities, and investment management institutions.
SWIFT provides a number of security features through encryption and
authentication to protect against unauthorized access, loss or wrong delivery of
messages, transmission errors, loss of confidentiality and fraudulent changes to
messages. SWIFT is considered to be one of the most secure and efficient
networks for the delivery of funds transfer instructions.
Selection of this security procedure would be most appropriate for existing
SWIFT members.
|_| Standing Instructions
Standing Instructions may be used where funds are transferred to a broker on the
Clients established list of brokers with which it engages in foreign exchange
transactions. Only the date, the currency and the currency amount are variable.
In order to establish this procedure, State Street will send to the Client a
list of the brokers that State Street has determined are used by the Client. The
Client will confirm the list in writing, and State Street will verify the
written confirmation by telephone. Standing Instructions will be subject to a
mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit,
the Standing Instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution.
|_| Remote Batch Transmission
Wire transfer instructions are delivered via Computer-to-Computer (CPU-CPU) data
communications between the Client and State Street. Security procedures include
encryption and or the use of a test key by those individuals authorized as
Automated Batch Verifiers.
Clients selecting this option should have an existing facility for completing
CPU-CPU transmissions. This delivery mechanism is typically used for high-volume
business.
|_| Global Horizon Interchange(sm) Funds Transfer Service
Global Horizon Interchange Funds Transfer Service (FTS) is a State Street
proprietary microcomputer-based wire initiation system. FTS enables Clients to
electronically transmit authenticated Fedwire, CHIPS or internal book transfer
instructions to State Street.
This delivery mechanism is most appropriate for Clients with a low-to-medium
number of transactions (5-75 per day), allowing Clients to enter, batch, and
review wire transfer instructions on their PC prior to release to State Street.
|_| Telephone Confirmation (Callback)
Telephone confirmation will be used to verify all non-repetitive funds transfer
instructions received via untested facsimile or phone. This procedure requires
Clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized
verifiers. State Street will verify that the instruction contains the signature
of an authorized person and prior to execution, will contact someone other than
the originator at the Clients location to authenticate the instruction.
Selection of this alternative is appropriate for Clients who do not have the
capability to use other security procedures.
-42-
|_| Repetitive Wires
For situations where funds are transferred periodically (minimum of one
instruction per calendar quarter) from an existing authorized account to the
same payee (destination bank and account number) and only the date and currency
amount are variable, a repetitive wire may be implemented. Repetitive wires will
be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the
established limit, the instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to
execution. Telephone confirmation is used to establish this process. Repetitive
wire instructions must be reconfirmed annually.
This alternative is recommended whenever funds are frequently transferred
between the same two accounts.
|_| Transfers Initiated by Facsimile
The Client faxes wire transfer instructions directly to State Street Mutual Fund
Services. Standard security procedure requires the use of a random number test
key for all transfers. Every six months the Client receives test key logs from
State Street. The test key contains alpha-numeric characters, which the Client
puts on each document faxed to State Street. This procedure ensures all wire
instructions received via fax are authorized by the Client.
We provide this option for Clients who wish to batch wire instructions and
transmit these as a group to State Street Mutual Fund Services once or several
times a day.
-43-
|_| Automated Clearing House (ACH)
State Street receives an automated transmission or a magnetic tape from a Client
for the initiation of payment (credit) or collection (debit) transactions
through the ACH network. The transactions contained on each transmission or tape
must be authenticated by the Client. Clients using ACH must select one or more
of the following delivery options:
|_| Global Horizon Interchange Automated Clearing House Service
Transactions are created on a microcomputer, assembled into batches and
delivered to State Street via fully authenticated electronic transmissions in
standard NACHA formats.
|_| Transmission from Client PC to State Street Mainframe with Telephone
Callback
|_| Transmission from Client Mainframe to State Street Mainframe with Telephone
Callback
|_| Transmission from DST Systems to State Street Mainframe with Encryption.
|_| Magnetic Tape Delivered to State Street with Telephone Callback
State Street is hereby instructed to accept funds transfer instructions only via
the delivery methods and security procedures indicated. The selected delivery
methods and security procedure(s) will be effective ________________________ for
payment orders initiated by our organization.
Key Contact Information
Whom shall we contact to implement your selection(s)?
CLIENT OPERATIONS CONTACT ALTERNATE CONTACT
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name Name
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Address Address
------------------------------- -------------------------------
City/State/Zip Code City/State/Zip Code
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Telephone Number Telephone Number
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Facsimile Number Facsimile Number
-------------------------------
SWIFT Number
-------------------------------
Telex Number
-44-
INSTRUCTION(S)
TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION
Fund: The AllianceBernstein Pooling Portfolios
Investment Adviser: Alliance Capital Management L.P.
Authorized Initiators
Please Type or Print
Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who are currently
authorized to INITIATE wire transfer instructions to State Street
NAME TITLE (Specify whether SPECIMEN SIGNATURE
position is with Fund or
Investment Adviser)
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
Authorized Verifiers
Please Type or Print
Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who will be
CALLED BACK to verify the initiation of repetitive wires of $10 million or more
and all non-repetitive wire instructions:
NAME CALLBACK PHONE NUMBER DOLLAR LIMITATION (IF ANY)
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------
-45-
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement dated as of January _, 2005
(the "Custodian Agreement") between The AllianceBernstein Pooling Portfolios
(the "Customer") and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its
subsidiaries and affiliates ("State Street").
State Street has developed and utilizes proprietary accounting and other
systems in conjunction with the custodian services which State Street provides
to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain information in
databases under its control and ownership which it makes available to its
customers (the "Remote Access Services").
The Services
State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment
advisors, consultants or other third parties authorized by State Street
("Authorized Designees") with access to In~SightSM as described in Exhibit A or
such other systems as may be offered from time to time (the "System") on a
remote basis.
Security Procedures
The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply,
with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user
identification or other password control requirements and other security
procedures as may be issued from time to time by State Street for use of the
System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer agrees to advise
State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe
that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access
Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the
Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other
equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and
Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State
Street.
Fees
Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and
related payment terms shall be as set forth in the custody fee schedule in
effect from time to time between the parties. The Customer shall be responsible
for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any government or
governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum,
including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes, use, value added
and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or similar taxes which
may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any claimed exemption from
such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by proper documentary evidence
delivered to State Street.
Proprietary Information/Injunctive Relief
The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases,
computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design
techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, know-how, algorithms,
programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files,
documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State
Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System
and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary rights of State
Street related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and confidential property of
State Street and its relevant licensors (the "Proprietary Information"). The
Customer agrees on behalf of itself and its Authorized Designees to keep the
Proprietary Information confidential and to limit access to its employees and
Authorized Designees (under a similar duty of confidentiality) who require
access to the System for the purposes intended. The foregoing shall not apply to
Proprietary Information in the public domain or required by law to be made
public.
-46-
The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with
the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its
employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the
System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use
the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or
for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii)
use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other
investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv)
allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street's databases,
including data from third parry sources, available through use of the System or
the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for
other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street's customer.
The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the
System in any way; enhance or otherwise create derivative works based upon the
System, nor will the Customer or the Customer's Authorized Designees reverse
engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or
any part of the System.
The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or
of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will
immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street
inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be
entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened
breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal
remedies which may be available.
Limited Warranties
State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and has the right
to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services
contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology
including, but not limited to, the use of the Internet, and the necessity of
relying upon third party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from
third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided "AS IS", and
the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the
investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements
produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant
licensors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any
direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages
arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access
Services, nor shall either party be responsible for delays or nonperformance
under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party's
control.
State Street will take reasonable steps to ensure that its products (and those
of its third-party suppliers) reflect the available state of the art technology
to offer products that are Year 2000 compliant, including, but not limited to,
century recognition of dates, calculations that correctly compute same century
and multi century formulas and date values, and interface values that reflect
the date issues arising between now and December 31, 2099, and if any changes
are required, State Street will make the changes to its products at no cost to
you and in a commercially reasonable time frame and will require third-party
suppliers to do likewise. The Customer will do likewise for its systems.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS
RELEVANT LICENSORS, EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE
SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
INCLUDING, WTTHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Infringement
State Street will defend or, at our option, settle any claim or action brought
against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that
access to the System or use of the Remote Access Services by the Customer under
this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any patent or copyright or
misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State
Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding and cooperates with
State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding.
-47-
Should the System or the Remote Access Services or any part thereof become, or
in State Street's opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of
infringement or the like under any applicable patent or copyright or trade
secret laws, State Street shall have the right, at State Street's sole option,
to (i) procure for the Customer the right to continue using the System or the
Remote Access Services, (ii) replace or modify the System or the Remote Access
Services so that the System or the Remote Access Services becomes noninfringing,
or (iii) terminate this Addendum without further obligation.
Termination
Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any
reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days
prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the
Customer or thirty (30) days notice in the case of notice from the Customer to
State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party
to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the
other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event
terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of the Custodian
Agreement. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street
all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession
or in the possession of its Authorized Designees. The foregoing provisions with
respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a
period of three (3) years.
Miscellaneous
This Addendum and the exhibit hereto constitute the entire understanding of the
parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the
Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a
writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer (a) confirms to State
Street that it informs all Authorized Designees of the terms of this Addendum;
(b) accepts responsibility for its and its Authorized Designees' compliance with
the terms of this Addendum; and (c) indemnifies and holds State Street harmless
from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel
fees, payments and liabilities arising from any failure of the Customer or any
of its Authorized Designees to abide by the terms of this Addendum.
-48-
EXHIBIT A
to
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
IN~SIGHT(SM)
System Product Description
In~Sight(SM) provides bilateral information delivery, interoperability, and
on-line access to State Street. In~Sight(SM) allows users a single point of
entry into State Street's diverse systems and applications. Reports and data
from systems such as Investment Policy Monitorsm, Multicurrency Horizon(SM),
Securities Lending, Performance & Analytics and Electronic Trade Delivery can be
accessed through In~Sight(SM). This Internet-enabled application is designed to
run from a Web browser and perform across low-speed data lines or corporate
high-speed backbones. In~Sight(SM) also offers users a flexible toolset,
including an ad-hoc query function, a custom graphics package, a report
designer, and a scheduling capability. Data and reports offered through
In~Sight(SM) will continue to increase in direct proportion with the customer
roll out, as it is viewed as the information delivery system will grow with
State Street's customers.
-49-
