CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN TRUST a diversified open-end
management investment 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 in separate series, 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 four (4)
series, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN SMALL CAP VALUE FUND, ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN VALUE FUND,
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND AND ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN GLOBAL VALUE
FUND (such series together with all other series subsequently established by the
Fund and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18, 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:
1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of the
Portfolios of the Fund, 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 Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio(s), agrees
to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by
it with respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time,
and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund representing interests in the Portfolios
("Shares") as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not
be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio
and not delivered to the Custodian.
Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (as such term is defined in Section 6
hereof), 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 subcustodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as
sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign securities on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio(s) the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities
depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4.
2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY THE
CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES
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 2.9 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 and certain federal agencies
(each, a "U.S. Securities System") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for
which the Custodian acts as issuing and paying agent ("Direct Paper") which is
deposited and/or maintained in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian (the
"Direct Paper System") pursuant to Section 2.10.
2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver
domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a U.S.
Securities System account of the Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct Paper
book-entry system account (the "Direct Paper System Account") 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 2.9 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 2.8 or into the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 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;
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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;
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, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed
upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund on behalf of
the Portfolio, which may be in the form of cash or obligations
issued by the United States government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, 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;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the
Fund on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the
Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, but only against receipt of amounts
borrowed;
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. ("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 Portfolio of the Fund;
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
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rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and/or
any Contract Market, or any similar organization or organizations,
regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the
Portfolio of the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent (the "Transfer
Agent") for the Fund, 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 Fund's currently effective
prospectus and statement of additional information (the
"Prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for
repurchase or redemption; and
15) For any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be
delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities
shall be made.
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 investment companies having
the same investment advisor as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 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.
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 Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (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 of Trustees of the
Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as
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Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
2.5 AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. Upon mutual agreement between the Fund
and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Proper Instructions,
make federal funds available to the applicable Portfolio as of specified times
agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in the amount of
checks received in payment for Shares which are deposited into the Portfolio's
account.
2.6 COLLECTION OF INCOME. 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.
2.7 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 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 2.9 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase involving the
Direct Paper System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.10; (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
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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 in Article
6;
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 by the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio(s) as set forth in Article 5 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
governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short; and
7) For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment, setting forth
the purpose for which such payment is to be made, declaring such
purpose to be a proper purpose, and naming the person or persons to
whom such payment is to be made.
2.8 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 Article 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.
2.9 DEPOSIT OF SECURITIES IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain domestic securities owned by the Portfolio(s) in a
clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities
depository, or in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury and certain federal agencies, collectively referred to herein as "U.S.
Securities System" in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if any, and subject to
the following provisions:
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1) The Custodian may keep domestic securities of the Portfolio in a
U.S. Securities System provided that such securities are represented
in an account ("Account") of the Custodian in the U.S. Securities
System which shall not include any assets of the Custodian other
than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for
customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to domestic securities of
the Portfolio which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Portfolio;
3) The Custodian shall pay for domestic securities purchased for the
account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S.
Securities System that such securities have been transferred to the
Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of
the Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer domestic securities sold
for the account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the
U.S. Securities System that payment for such securities has been
transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for
the account of the Portfolio. Copies of all advices from the U.S.
Securities System of transfers of domestic securities for the
account of the Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be maintained
for the Portfolio by the Custodian and be provided to the Fund at
its request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or from the
account of the Portfolio in the form of a written advice or notice
and shall furnish to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio copies of
daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the
U.S. Securities System for the account of the Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian on the U.S. Securities System's accounting system,
internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding
securities deposited in the U.S. Securities System; and
5) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the benefit of the
Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Portfolio resulting from use
of the U.S. Securities System by reason of any negligence,
misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or
of any of its or their employees or from failure of the Custodian or
any such agent to enforce effectively such rights as it may have
against the U.S. Securities System; at the election of the Fund, it
shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian
with respect to any claim against the U.S. Securities System or any
other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any
such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Portfolio has not
been made whole for any such loss or damage.
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2.10 FUND ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Portfolio(s) in
the Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper System
will be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio(s) in the Direct
Paper System only if such securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Custodian in the Direct Paper System which shall
not include any assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio(s) which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio(s);
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account of
the Portfolio(s) upon the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer of securities to the
account of the Portfolio(s). The Custodian shall transfer securities
sold for the account of the Portfolio(s) upon the making of an entry
on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt
of payment for the account of the Portfolio(s);
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of each transfer
to or from the account of the Portfolio(s), in the form of a written
advice or notice, of Direct Paper on the next business day following
such transfer and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transaction in the U.S.
Securities System for the account of the Portfolio(s); and
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report on its system
of internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request
from time to time.
2.11 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 may be transferred cash and/or securities, including
securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.9
hereof, (i) 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 Commodities Futures Trading Commission or any
registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in
connection with options purchased, sold or written
8
by the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or
sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio
with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases 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 investment companies, and (iv)
for other proper trust purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon
receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio setting
forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such
purposes to be proper trust purposes.
2.12 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall execute
ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax
purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to
domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in connection with
transfers of such securities.
2.13 PROXIES. 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
Portfolio such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating
to such securities.
2.14 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. 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 Portfolio) received by the Custodian from issuers of
the domestic securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Portfolio all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the domestic
securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents)
making the tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires to take action
with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar
transaction, the Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least three business
days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7
3.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms
set for 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
9
applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in
that country.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")), or a foreign
branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the
requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does
not include any Eligible Securities Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Fund's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
3.2 THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The Fund, by
resolution adopted by its Board of Trustees (the "Board"), hereby delegates to
the Custodian, in accordance with 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 Portfolio(s), which list
of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole
discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will
provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open
an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund, on behalf of the 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
the Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that
country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Amendment by the
Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place
or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A in which the
Custodian has previously placed or currently
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maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. 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 the Portfolio(s) to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that
country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall
immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolio(s) 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. Sixty (60) 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 in accordance with Rule 17f-5(c)(3), (i) the appropriateness of
maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the
contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody
Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody
Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign
Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager
shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder. In such event
where the Foreign Custody Manager has selected an alternative Eligible Foreign
Custodian in accordance with Section 3.2.3(a) herein, the Foreign Custody
Manager will arrange the transfer of the affected Foreign Assets to such
11
Eligible Foreign Custodian as soon as reasonably practicable.
3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For purposes of
this Article 3, the Foreign Custody Manager shall have no responsibility for
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 and upon Proper Instructions to the Fund's investment
adviser 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 and upon Proper Instructions the Fund's
investment adviser of any other material change in the foreign custody
arrangements of the Portfolio(s) described in this Section 3.2 after the
occurrence of the material change.
3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE FUND. In
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 Contract to the
Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY
MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of
the Portfolio(s) 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 sixty (60) 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 Portfolio(s)
with respect to designated countries.
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 a list of
Eligible Securities Depositories on Schedule B hereto, as amended from time to
time by the Custodian and 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-
12
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. The risk analysis provided by the Custodian may include consideration of
the following, as deemed appropriate and relevant by the Custodian: a
depository's expertise and market reputation, the quality of its services, its
financial strength (including the level of settlement guarantee funds,
collateral requirements, lines of credit, or insurance as compared with
participants' daily settlement obligations), any insurance or indemnification
arrangements, the extent and quality of regulation and independent examination
of the depository, its standing in published ratings, its internal controls and
other procedures for safeguarding investments, and any related legal
protections.
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.
4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO FUND PROPERTY HELD OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES.
4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms
set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the Portfolio(s) 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 Portfolio(s), 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 Portfolio(s)
which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as
belonging to the Portfolio(s) and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in
the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that
securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any
assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign
Sub-Custodian.
4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be maintained in
a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements
implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such
country.
4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall
13
release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolio(s) held by the Custodian
or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only
upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolio(s) 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;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for foreign securities of the Portfolio(s);
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian
or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or
for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination
or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that
in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery
of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities
except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence
or willful misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant
to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Portfolio(s) requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
14
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which
may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the
respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio(s), 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(s);
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio(s),
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(s), including transactions executed with
or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities;
and
(viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the amount of such payment setting forth the purpose of
such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose,
and naming the person or persons to
15
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 Portfolio(s) and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the
account of the Portfolio(s) 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 that have been generally
accepted by Institutional Clients, 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. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term "Institutional Clients" means U.S. registered investment
companies or major U.S. commercial banks, insurance companies, pension funds or
substantially similar institutions which as part of their ordinary business
operations purchase or sell securities and make use of global custody services.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody
and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign
Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on
such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided
that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with
substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities maintained
in 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 except to the extent such Portfolio incurs loss or damage due
to the failure of such nominee to meet its standard of care set forth in the
relevant contract. 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.
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.
16
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 Portfolio(s) 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.
4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities held
pursuant to this Article 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts
to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject
always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the
country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local
conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack
of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability
of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian shall
transmit 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 Portfolio(s) (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written
information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers
of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party
(or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. Subject to the standard of
care to which the Custodian is held hereunder, 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 Portfolio(s) at any
time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian
is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the
Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such
right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior
to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or
power.
4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement pursuant to
which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent
possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the
performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian
from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out
of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such
obligations. At the election of the Fund, the Portfolio(s) 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 Portfolio(s) has not
been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
4.11 TAX LAW. Except to the extent that imposition of any tax liability
arises from the Custodian's failure to perform in accordance with the terms of
this section 4.11, the Custodian
17
shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter
imposed on the Fund, or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolio(s), 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 Portfolio(s) or the
Custodian as custodian of the Portfolio(s), by the tax law of countries other
than the United States, including responsibility for withholding and other
taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and
governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to
such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect
to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which
the Fund has provided such information.
4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. Except as may arise from the Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct, or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any
loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is
part of Country Risk.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians
generally in the 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 loss where the sub-custodian has otherwise
exercised reasonable care. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph 4.12, (i) in delegating custody duties to State Street London Ltd.,
the Custodian shall not be relieved of any responsibility to the Fund for any
loss due to such delegation, except such loss as may result from (a) political
risk (including, but not limited to, exchange control restrictions,
confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, insurrection, civil strife or
armed hostilities) or (b) other losses (excluding a bankruptcy or insolvency of
State Street London Ltd. not caused by political risk) due to Acts of God,
nuclear incident or other losses under circumstances where the Custodian and
State Street London Ltd. have exercised reasonable care; and (ii) the delegation
by State Street Bank and Trust Company to its affiliate, State Street Trust
Company Canada, of sub-custody duties in Canada shall not relieve State Street
Bank and Trust Company of any responsibility for any loss due to the delegation
to State Street Trust Company Canada, except (a) such loss as may result from
political risk (e.g., exchange control restrictions, confiscation,
expropriation, nationalization, insurrection, civil strife or armed hostilities)
and (b) other losses (excluding losses resulting from a bankruptcy or insolvency
of State Street Trust Company Canada not caused by political risk) under
circumstances where State Street Bank and Trust Company and State Street Trust
Company Canada have exercised reasonable care (including, without limitation,
Acts of God, nuclear incident and the like).
5. PAYMENTS FOR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS AND SALES OF SHARES OF THE FUND
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, but subject to the
limitations of the Declaration of Trust and any applicable votes of the Board of
Trustees of the fund pursuant
18
thereto, 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 of the Portfolio(s), 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.
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Portfolio(s)' Shares or
from the Transfer Agent of the Portfolio(s) and deposit into the Portfolio(s)'
account such payments as are received for Shares of the Portfolio(s) issued or
sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely
notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments
for Shares of the Portfolio.
6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions as used herein means a writing signed or initialed by one or
more person or persons as the Board of Trustees shall have from time to time
authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type
of transaction involved, including a specific statement of the purpose for which
such action is requested. Oral instructions will be considered Proper
Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a
person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction
involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing.
Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the instructions are
consistent with the security procedures agreed to by the Fund and the Custodian
including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund on
the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Agreement. For purposes of this Section,
Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian
pursuant to any three-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account
in accordance with Section 2.11.
7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund on
behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
1) 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;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive
form;
19
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and
4) 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 of Trustees of the Fund.
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 certified copy of a vote of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person
to act in accordance with such vote or (b) of any determination or of any action
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund pursuant to the Declaration of Trust as
described in such vote, and such vote may be considered as in full force and
effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.
9. 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 of Trustees of the Fund to keep the
books of account of each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share
of the outstanding Shares of the Fund or, if directed in writing to do so by the
Fund on behalf of the 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 Fund's
currently effective 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 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 Fund's currently
effective Prospectus.
10. 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 31a-1 and 31a-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 Securities Exchange Commission. 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
20
by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund
and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.
11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf of each
applicable 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-1A,
and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the Securities Exchange Commission and
with respect to any other requirements of such Commission.
12. 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.
13. 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. 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.
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,
nationalization or expropriation, imposition of currency controls or
restrictions, the interruption, suspension or restriction or trading on or the
closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, acts
of war or terrorism, riots, revolutions, work stoppages, natural disasters or
other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or the Investment Advisor
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 delay or failure of any broker, agent or
intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing
system
21
to deliver to the Custodian's sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in
the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) 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;
(vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market
infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and
(vii) 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 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.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential
damages.
14. 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 thirty (30)
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
Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that the Fund on behalf of one or
more of the Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board of Trustees (i)
substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as
22
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.
15. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the
Board of Directors of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon termination, 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.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like
manner, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the Board of Trustees of
Fund, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds
and other properties in accordance with such vote
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
certified copy of a vote of the Board of Trustees 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, 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. 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 procure the certified copy of the vote referred to or of
the Board of Trustees to appoint a successor custodian, 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.
16. 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
23
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 Declaration of Trust. No interpretive or additional provisions made
as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this
Agreement.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, 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.
20. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access
Services Addendum attached hereto.
21. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION
Securities Exchange Commission 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
24
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 |_| The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name, address,
and share positions.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
25
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 January 31, 2001.
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN TRUST FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: ___________________________ By: ____________________________
Name: ___________________________ Name: ____________________________
Title: ___________________________ Title: *[secretary/ass't secretary]
----------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: ___________________________ By: ____________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name:
--------------------------- ----------------------------
Title: Vice Chairman & Title:
--------------------------- ----------------------------
Chief Operating Officer
---------------------------
00
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Argentina Citibank, N.A.
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation
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 Fortis Bank nv-sa
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited
Bolivia Citibank, N. A.
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited
Brazil Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V.
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada
Chile Citibank, N.A.
People's Republic The Hongkong and Shanghai
of China Banking Corporation Limited,
Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d
Cyprus The Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd.
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni
Banka, A.S.
Denmark Den Danske Bank
Ecuador Citibank, N.A.
Egypt Egyptian British Bank S.A.E.
(as delegate of The Hongkong
and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited)
Estonia Hansabank
Finland Xxxxxx Bank Plc.
France BNP Paribas, S.A.
Germany Dresdner Bank AG
Ghana Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited
Greece National Bank of Greece S.A.
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xx.
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Iceland Icebank Ltd.
India Deutsche Bank AG
The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Standard Chartered Bank
Ireland Bank of Ireland
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Italy BNP Paribas, Italian Branch
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques
en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Scotiabank Jamaica Trust and Merchant
Bank Ltd.
Japan The Fuji Bank, Limited
The Sumitomo Bank, Limited
Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Kazakhstan HSBC Bank Kazakhstan
Kenya Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited
Republic of Korea The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
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
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Citibank Mexico, S.A.
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc
Namibia Standard Bank Namibia Limited -
Netherlands Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V.
New Zealand ANZ Banking Group (New Zealand) Limited
Nigeria Stanbic Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited
Norway Christiania Bank og Kreditkasse ASA
Oman HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG
Palestine HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Panama BankBoston, N.A.
Peru Citibank, N.A.
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank
Poland Citibank (Poland) S.A.
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues
Qatar HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Romania ING Bank N.V.
Russia Credit Suisse First Boston AO - Moscow
(as delegate of Credit Suisse
First Boston - Zurich)
Singapore The Development Bank of Singapore Limited
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.
Slovenia Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. - Ljubljana
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Spain Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A.
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
Country Subcustodian
Switzerland UBS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Trust of China
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
Turkey Citibank, N.A.
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company,
London Branch
Uruguay BankBoston, N.A.
Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Reserve Bank Information and
Transfer System
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Belgium Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et
de Virements de Titres, S.A.
Banque Nationale de Belgique
Brazil Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e Custodia
Bulgaria Central Depository AD
Bulgarian National Bank
Canada Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile Deposito Central de Valores S.A.
People's Republic Shanghai Securities Central Clearing &
of China Registration Corporation
Shenzhen Securities Central Clearing Co., Ltd.
Colombia Deposito Centralizado de Valores
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Croatia Ministry of Finance
National Bank of Croatia
Sredisnja Depozitarna Agencija d.d.
Czech Republic Stredisko cennych papiru
Czech National Bank
Denmark Vaerdipapircentralen (Danish Securities Center)
Egypt Misr for Clearing, Settlement, and Depository
Estonia Eesti Vaartpaberite Keskdepositoorium
Finland Finnish Central Securities Depository
France Societe Interprofessionnelle pour la Compensation
des Valeurs Mobilieres
Germany Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt
Greece Bank of Greece,
System for Monitoring Transactions in
Securities in Book-Entry Form
Apothetirion Titlon AE - Central Securities
Depository
Hong Kong Central Clearing and Settlement System
Central Moneymarkets Unit
Hungary Kozponti Elszamolohaz es Ertektar
(Budapest) Rt. (KELER)
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
India National Securities Depository Limited
Central Depository Services India Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Ireland Central Bank of Ireland
Securities Settlement Office
Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing
House Ltd. (TASE Clearinghouse)
Italy Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Banca d'Italia
Ivory Coast Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Jamaica Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Japan Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC)
Bank of Japan Net System
Kazakhstan Central Depository of Securities
Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository
Latvia Latvian Central Depository
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Lebanon Custodian and Clearing Center of
Financial Instruments for Lebanon
and the Middle East (Midclear) X.X.X.
Banque du Liban
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Malaysian Central Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Bank Negara Malaysia,
Scripless Securities Trading and Safekeeping
System
Mauritius Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd.
Bank of Mauritius
Mexico S.D. INDEVAL
(Instituto para el Deposito de Valores)
Morocco Maroclear
Netherlands Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor
Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. (NECIGEF)
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities
Depository Limited
Nigeria Central Securities Clearing System Limited
Norway Verdipapirsentralen (Norwegian Central
Securities Depository)
Oman Muscat Depository & Securities
Registration Company, SAOC
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine Clearing Depository and Settlement, a department
of the Palestine Stock Exchange
Peru Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones, Institucion de
Compensacion y Liquidacion de Valores S.A
Philippines Philippine Central Depository, Inc.
Registry of Scripless Securities
(XXXX) of the Bureau of Treasury
Poland National Depository of Securities
(Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych SA)
Central Treasury Bills Registrar
Portugal Central de Valores Mobiliarios
Qatar Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a
department of the Doha Securities Market
Romania National Securities Clearing, Settlement and
Depository Company
Bucharest Stock Exchange Registry Division
National Bank of Romania
Singapore Central Depository (Pte) Limited
Monetary Authority of Singapore
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
Slovak Republic Stredisko cennych papierov
National Bank of Slovakia
Slovenia Klirinsko Depotna Xxxxxx x.x.
South Africa Central Depository Limited
Share Transactions Totally Electronic
(STRATE) Ltd.
Spain Servicio de Compensacion y
Liquidacion de Valores, S.A.
Banco de Espana, Central de Anotaciones en Cuenta
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 Co., Ltd.
Thailand Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited
Tunisia Societe Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et de Depots des Valeurs Mobilieres
Turkey Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S. (TAKASBANK)
Central Bank of Turkey
Ukraine National Bank of Ukraine
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
Country Depositories
United Kingdom Central Gilts Office and
Central Moneymarkets Office
Venezuela Banco Central de Venezuela
Zambia XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited
Bank of Zambia
TRANSNATIONAL
Euroclear
Clearstream Banking AG
SCHEDULE C
MARKET INFORMATION
Publication/Type of Information Brief Description
=============================== =================
(Frequency)
The Guide to Custody in World Markets An overview of safekeeping and
(annually) settlement practices and procedures
in each market in which State Street
Bank and Trust Company offers
custodial services.
Global Custody Network Review Information relating to the
(annually) operating history and structure of
depositories and subcustodians
located in the markets in which
State Street Bank and Trust Company
offers custodial services, including
transnational depositories.
Global Legal Survey With respect to each market in which
(annually) State Street Bank and Trust Company
offers custodial services, opinions
relating to whether local law
restricts (i) access of a fund's
independent public accountants to
books and records of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities
System, (ii) the Fund's ability to
recover in the event of bankruptcy
or insolvency of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities
System, (iii) the 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 subcustodian contracts
(annually) State Street Bank and Trust Company
has entered into with each
subcustodian in the markets in which
State Street Bank and Trust Company
offers subcustody services to its US
mutual fund clients.
Network Bulletins (weekly): Developments of interest to
investors in the markets in which
State Street Bank and Trust Company
offers custodial services.
Foreign Custody Advisories (as
necessary): With respect to markets in which
State Street Bank and Trust Company
offers custodial services which
exhibit special custody risks,
developments which may impact State
Street's ability to deliver expected
levels of service.
Funds Transfer Addendum
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement dated as of *[date] (the
"Custodian Agreement") between AllianceBernstein Trust (the "Customer") and
State Street Bank and Trust Company.
State Street Bank and Trust Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates
(collectively, "State Street") has developed and utilized 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 who
agree to abide by the terms of this Addendum ("Authorized Designees") with
access to In~Sight(SM) 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 "Fee Schedule"). 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
i
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.
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 party sources, available through use of the System or
the Remote Access Services, to be 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 its 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
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, 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 the next one-hundred years, 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 WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
ii
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 United States 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. 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 the patent or copyright or trade secret laws of the United
States, 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 constitutes 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, for itself and its
Authorized Designees, accepts the terms of this Addendum
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EXHIBIT A
to
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
IN~SIGHT(SM)
System Product Description
In-Sight(SM) provides information delivery and on-line access to State Street.
In-Sight(SM) allows users a single point of entry into the many views of data
created by the diverse systems and applications. Reports and data from systems
such as Investment Policy Monitor(SM), Multicurrency Horizon(SM), Securities
Lending, Performance & Analytics 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 line 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.
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