AMENDMENT, dated May 7, 1997, to the Master Custody Agreement ("Agreement")
between each Investment Company listed on Exhibit A to the Agreement and The
Bank of New York dated February 16, 1996.
It is hereby agreed as follows:
A. Unless otherwise provided herein, all terms and conditions of the
Agreement are expressly incorporated herein by reference and, except as
modified hereby, the Agreement is confirmed in all respects. Capitalized
terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Agreement.
B. The Agreement shall be amended to add a new Section 4.10 as
follows:
4.10 Additional Duties With Respect to Russian Securities.
(a) Upon 3 business days prior written notice from a Fund that
it will invest in any security issued by a Russian issuer ("Russian
Security"), the Custodian shall to the extent required and in accordance with
the terms of the Subcustodian Agreement between the Custodian and Credit
Suisse ("Foreign Custodian") dated as of August 8, 1996 (the "Subcustodian
Agreement") direct the Foreign Custodian to enter into a contract ("Registrar
Contract") with the entity providing share registration services to the
Russian issuer ("Registrar") containing substantially the following
protective provisions:
(1) Regular Share Confirmations. Each Registrar Contract
must establish the Foreign Custodian's right to conduct regular share
confirmations on behalf of the Foreign Custodian's customers.
(2) Prompt Re-registrations. Registrars must be
obligated to effect re-registrations within 72 hours (or such other specified
time as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") may
deem appropriate by rule, regulation, order or "no-action" letter) of
receiving the necessary documentation.
(3) Use of Nominee Name. The Registrar Contract must
establish the Foreign Custodian's right to hold shares not held directly in
the beneficial owner's name in the name of the Foreign Custodian's nominee.
(4) Auditor Verification. The Registrar Contract must
allow the independent auditors of the Custodian and the Custodian's clients
to obtain direct access to the share register for the independent auditors of
each of the Foreign Custodian's clients.
(5) Specification of Registrar's Responsibilities and
Liabilities. The
contract must set forth: (1) the Registrar's responsibilities with regard to
corporate actions and
other distributions; (ii) the Registrar's liabilities as established under
the regulations applicable to
the Russian share registration -system and (iii) the procedures for making a
claim against and
receiving compensation from the registrar in the event a loss is incurred.
(b) The Custodian shall, in accordance with the Subcustodian
Agreement, direct the Foreign Custodian to conduct regular share
confirmations, which shall require the Foreign Custodian to (1) request
either a duplicate share extract or some other sufficient evidence of
verification and (2) determine if the Foreign Custodian's records correlate
with those of the Registrar. For at least the first two years following the
Foreign Custodian's first use of a Registrar in connection with a Fund
investment, and subject to the cooperation of the Registrar, the Foreign
Custodian will conduct these share confirmations on at least a quarterly
basis, although thereafter they may be conducted on a less frequent basis,
but no less frequently than annually, if the Fund's Board of Directors, in
consultation with the Custodian, determine it appropriate.
(c) The Custodian shall, pursuant to the Subcustodian
Agreement, direct the Subcustodian to maintain custody of the Fund's share
register extracts or other evidence of verification obtained pursuant to
paragraph (b) above.
(d) The Custodian shall, pursuant to the Subcustodian
Agreement, direct the Foreign Custodian to comply with the rules,
regulations, orders and "no-action" letters of the SEC with respect to
(1) the receipt, holding, maintenance, release and
delivery of Securities; and
(2) providing notice to the Fund and its Board of
Directors of events specified in such rules, regulations, orders and letters.
(e) The Custodian shall have no liability for the action or
inaction of any Registrar or securities depository utilized in connection
with Russian Securities except to the extent that any such action or inaction
was the result of the Custodian's negligence. With respect to any costs,
expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys' and
accountants' fees (collectively, "Losses") incurred by a Fund as a result of
the acts or the failure to act by any Foreign Custodian or its subsidiary in
Russia ("Subsidiary"), the Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover
such Losses from the Foreign Custodian or Subsidiary. The Custodian's sole
responsibility and liability to a Fund with respect to any Losses shall be
limited to amounts so received from the Foreign Custodian or Subsidiary
(exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by the Custodian) except to the
extent that such losses were the result of the Custodian's negligence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date
first above written.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Grunston
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Grunston
Title: Vice President
THE INVESTMENT COMPANIES LISTED ON EXHIBIT A TO THE AGREEMENT
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
Amendment to Master Custody Agreement
The Bank of New York and Xxxxxxxxx Variable Products Series Fund, for itself
and on behalf of its series, hereby amend Schedule A of the Master Custody
Agreement dated as of February 16, 1996, to add the series listed below:
Registered Investment Company Series
Xxxxxxxxx Variable Products Series Fund Franklin Growth Investments Fund
Dated as of: May 1, 1997
XXXXXXXXX VARIABLE PRODUCTS
SERIES FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President &
Assistant Secretary
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Grunston
Title: Vice President
