CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
THIS CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT dated as of July 10, 2003, is between AXP(R) Variable
Portfolio - Partners Series, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, (the "Corporation"),
on behalf of its underlying series: AXP(R) Variable Portfolio - Partners Select
Value Fund (the "Fund") and American Express Trust Company, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota with its principal place of
business at Minneapolis, Minnesota (the "Custodian").
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires that its securities and cash be hereafter held
and administered by Custodian pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made, the
Corporation and the Custodian agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
The word "securities" as used herein shall be construed to include, without
being limited to, shares, stocks, treasury stocks, including any stocks of the
Fund, notes, bonds, debentures, evidences of indebtedness, options to buy or
sell stocks or stock indexes, certificates of interest or participation in any
profit-sharing agreements, collateral trust certificates, preorganization
certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, investment contracts, voting
trust certificates, certificates of deposit for a security, fractional or
undivided interests in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or any certificates of
interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts
for, guarantees of, or warrants or rights to subscribe to or purchase any of the
foregoing, acceptances and other obligations and any evidence of any right or
interest in or to any cash, property or assets and any interest or instrument
commonly known as a security. In addition, for the purpose of this Custodian
Agreement, the word "securities" also shall include other instruments in which
the Fund may invest including currency forward contracts and commodities such as
interest rate or index futures contracts, margin deposits on such contracts or
options on such contracts.
The words "custodian order" shall mean a request for direction, including a
computer printout directed to the Custodian and signed in the name of the
Corporation on behalf of the Fund by any two individuals designated in the
current certified list referred to in Section 2.
The word "facsimile" shall mean an exact copy or likeness, which is
electronically transmitted for instant reproduction.
Section 2. Names, Titles and Signatures of Authorized Persons
The Corporation will certify to the Custodian the names and signatures of its
present officers and other designated persons authorized on behalf of the
Corporation to direct the Custodian by custodian order as herein before defined.
The Corporation agrees that whenever any change occurs in this list it will file
with the Custodian a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation as having been duly adopted by the
Corporation's board of directors (the "Board") or the Executive Committee of the
Board designating those persons currently authorized on behalf of the
Corporation to direct the Custodian by custodian order and upon such filing (to
be accompanied by the filing of specimen signatures of the designated persons)
the persons so designated in such resolution shall constitute the current
certified list. The Custodian is authorized to rely and act upon the names and
signatures of the individuals as they appear in the most recent certified list
from the Corporation which has been delivered to the Custodian as herein above
provided.
Section 3. Use of Subcustodians
The Custodian may make arrangements, where appropriate, with other banks having
not less than two million dollars aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits for the custody of securities. Any such bank selected by the Custodian
to act as subcustodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian.
The Custodian also may enter into arrangements for the custody of securities
entrusted to its care through foreign branches of U.S. banks; through foreign
banks, banking institutions or trust companies; through foreign subsidiaries of
U.S. banks or bank holding companies; or through foreign securities depositories
or clearing agencies (hereinafter also called, collectively, the "Foreign
Subcustodian") or indirectly through an agent, established under the first
paragraph of this section, if and to the extent permitted by Section 17(f) of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and the rules promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder, or any
"no-action" letter received from the staff of the SEC. To the extent the
existing provisions of the Custodian Agreement are consistent with the
requirements of such Section, rules, order or no-action letter, they shall apply
to all such foreign custodianships. To the extent such provisions are
inconsistent with or additional requirements are established by such section,
rules, order or no-action letter, the requirements of such section, rules, order
or no-action letter will prevail and the parties will adhere to such
requirements; provided, however, in the absence of notification from the
Corporation of any changes or additions to such requirements, the Custodian
shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire as to any such changes or
additions.
Section 4. Receipt and Disbursement of Money
(1) The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate account or accounts in
the name of the Fund or cause its agent to open and maintain such account
or accounts subject only to checks, drafts or directives by the Custodian
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian or its agent shall
hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all
cash received by it from or for the account of the Funds. The Custodian or
its agent shall make payments of cash to or for the account of the Fund
from such cash only:
(a) for the purchase of securities for the portfolio of the Fund upon
the receipt of such securities by the Custodian or its agent unless
otherwise instructed on behalf of the Funds;
(b) for the purchase or redemption of shares of capital stock of the
Fund;
(c) for the payment of interest, dividends, taxes, management fees, or
operating expenses (including, without limitation thereto, fees for
legal, accounting and auditing services);
(d) for payment of distribution fees, commissions, or redemption fees,
if any;
(e) for payments in connection with the conversion, exchange or
surrender of securities owned or subscribed to by the Fund held by,
or to be delivered to, the Custodian;
(f) for payments in connection with the return of securities loaned by
the Fund upon receipt of such securities or the reduction of
collateral upon receipt of proper notice;
(g) for payments for other proper corporate purposes; or
(h) upon the termination of this Agreement.
Before making any such payment for the purposes permitted under these
items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of paragraph (1) of this
section, the Custodian shall receive and may rely upon a custodian order
directing such payment and stating that the payment is for such a purpose
permitted under these items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) or, where
appropriate, a trade affirmation report, and that in respect to item (g),
a copy of a resolution of the Board or of the Executive Committee signed
by an officer of the Corporation and certified by its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, specifying the amount of such payment, setting forth
the purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is made. Notwithstanding the above, for the
purposes permitted under items (a) or (f) of paragraph (1) of this
section, the Custodian may rely upon a facsimile order.
(2) The Custodian is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of the Corporation
to endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders for the payment
of money received by the Custodian for the account of the Fund and drawn
on or to the order of the Fund and to deposit same to the account of the
Fund pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5. Receipt of Securities
Except as permitted by the second paragraph of this section, the Custodian or
its agent shall hold in a separate account or accounts, and physically
segregated at all times from those of any other persons, firms or corporations,
pursuant to the provisions hereof, all securities received by it for the account
of the Fund. The Custodian shall record and maintain a record of all certificate
numbers. Securities so received shall be held in the name of the Fund, in the
name of an exclusive nominee duly appointed by the Custodian or in bearer form,
as appropriate.
Subject to such rules, regulations or guidelines as the SEC may adopt, the
Custodian may deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Fund in a
"securities depository" which includes any system for the central handling of
securities established by a national securities exchange or a national
securities association registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, pursuant to
which system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer
deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or
pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities.
All securities are to be held or disposed of by the Custodian for, and subject
at all times to the instructions of, the Corporation pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement. The Custodian shall have no power or authority to assign,
hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any such securities, except pursuant
to the directive of the Fund and only for the account of the Fund as set forth
in Section 6 of this Agreement.
Section 6. Transfer, Exchange, and Delivery of Securities
The Custodian shall have sole power to release or deliver any securities of the
Fund held by it pursuant to this Agreement. The Custodian agrees to transfer,
exchange or deliver securities held by it or its agent hereunder only:
(a) for sales of such securities for the account of the Fund, upon
receipt of payment therefore;
(b) when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise
become payable;
(c) for examination upon the sale of any such securities in accordance
with "street delivery" custom which would include delivery against
interim receipts or other proper delivery receipts;
(d) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone or
other securities and cash whether pursuant to any plan of;
(e) merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or
readjustment, or otherwise;
(f) for the purpose of exchanging interim receipts or temporary
certificates for permanent certificates;
(g) upon conversion of such securities pursuant to their terms into
other securities;
(h) upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar rights
represented by such securities; for loans of such securities by the
Fund upon receipt of collateral; or
(i) for other proper corporate purposes.
As to any deliveries made by the Custodian pursuant to items (a), (b), (c), (d),
(e), (f), (g) and (h), securities or cash received in exchange therefore shall
be delivered to the Custodian, its agent, or to a securities depository. Before
making any such transfer, exchange or delivery, the Custodian shall receive a
custodian order or a facsimile from the Corporation requesting such transfer,
exchange or delivery and stating that it is for a purpose permitted under
Section 6, or, where appropriate, a trade affirmation report, (whenever a
facsimile is utilized, the Fund will also deliver an original signed custodian
order) and, in respect to item (i), a copy of a resolution of the Board or of
the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors signed by an officer of the
Corporation and certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, specifying
the securities, setting forth the purpose for which such payment, transfer,
exchange or delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper
corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such transfer,
exchange or delivery of such securities shall be made.
Section 7. Custodian's Acts Without Instructions
Unless and until the Custodian receives a contrary custodian order from the
Fund, the Custodian shall or shall cause its agent to:
(a) present for payment all coupons and other income items held by the
Custodian or its agent for the account of the Fund which call for
payment upon presentation and hold all cash received by it upon such
payment for the account of the Fund;
(b) present for payment all securities held by it or its agent which
mature or when called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
(c) ascertain all stock dividends, rights and similar securities to be
issued with respect to any securities held by the Custodian or its
agent hereunder, and to collect and hold for the account of the Fund
all such securities; and
(d) ascertain all interest and cash dividends to be paid to security
holders with respect to any securities held by the Custodian or its
agent, and to collect and hold such interest and cash dividends for
the account of the Fund.
Section 8. Voting and Other Action
Neither the Custodian nor any nominee of the Custodian shall vote any of the
securities held hereunder by or for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall
promptly deliver to the Corporation all notices, proxies and proxy soliciting
materials with relation to such securities such proxies to be executed by the
registered holder of such securities (if registered otherwise than in the name
of the Corporation) but without indicating the manner in which such proxies are
to be voted.
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Corporation all written information
(including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities
and expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian
from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender
or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Corporation all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities
whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the
tender or exchange offer.
Section 9. Transfer Taxes
The Corporation shall, on behalf of the Fund, pay or reimburse the Custodian for
any transfer taxes payable upon transfers of securities made hereunder,
including transfers resulting from the termination of this Agreement. The
Custodian shall execute such certificates in connection with securities
delivered to it under this Agreement as may be required, under any applicable
law or regulation, to exempt from taxation any transfers and/or deliveries of
any such securities which may be entitled to such exemption.
Section 10. Custodian's Reports
The Custodian shall, on behalf of the Fund, furnish the Corporation as of the
close of business each day a statement showing all transactions and entries for
the account of the Fund. The books and records of the Custodian pertaining to
its actions as Custodian under this Agreement and securities held hereunder by
the Custodian shall be open to inspection and audit by officers of the
Corporation, internal auditors employed by the Corporation's investment adviser,
and independent auditors employed by the Corporation. The Custodian shall
furnish the Corporation in such form as may reasonably be requested by the
Corporation a report, including a list of the securities held by it in custody
for the account of the Fund, and identification of any subcustodian and
identification of such securities held by such subcustodian, as of the close of
business of the last business day of each month, which shall be certified by a
duly authorized officer of the Custodian. It is further understood that
additional reports may from time to time be requested by the Corporation. Should
any report ever be filed with any governmental authority pertaining to lost or
stolen securities, the Custodian will concurrently provide the Corporation with
a copy of that report.
The Custodian also shall furnish such reports on its systems of internal
accounting control as the Corporation may reasonably request from time to time.
Section 11. Concerning Custodian
For its services hereunder the Custodian shall be paid such compensation at such
times as may from time to time be agreed on in writing by the parties hereto in
a Custodian Fee Agreement.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any action taken in good faith upon any
custodian order or facsimile herein described, trade affirmation report, or
certified copy of any resolution of the Board or of the Executive Committee of
the Board, and may rely on the genuineness of any such document which it may, in
good faith, believe to have been validly prepared or executed.
The Corporation, on behalf of the Fund, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Custodian and its nominee from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments,
claims and liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or assessed against it
or its nominee in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such
as may arise from the Custodian's or its nominee's own negligent action,
negligent failure to act or willful misconduct. The Custodian is authorized to
charge any account of the Corporation for such items. In the event of any
advance of cash for any purpose made by the Custodian resulting from orders or
instructions of the Corporation, 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 Fund shall be security therefore.
The Custodian shall maintain a standard of care equivalent to that which would
be required of a bailee for hire and shall not be liable for any loss or damage
to the Corporation resulting from participation in a securities depository
unless such loss or damage arises by reason of any negligence, misfeasance, or
willful misconduct of officers or employees of the Custodian, or from its
failure to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against any securities
depository or from use of an agent, unless such loss or damage arises by reason
of any negligence, misfeasance, or willful misconduct of officers or employees
of the Custodian, or from its failure to enforce effectively such rights as it
may have against any agent.
Section 12. Termination and Amendment of Agreement
The Corporation and the Custodian mutually may agree from time to time in
writing to amend, to add to, or to delete from, any provision of this Agreement.
The Custodian may terminate this Agreement by giving the Corporation ninety
days' written notice of such termination by registered mail addressed to the
Corporation at its principal place of business.
The Corporation may terminate this Agreement at any time by written notice
thereof delivered, together with a copy of the resolution of the Board
authorizing such termination and certified by the Secretary of the Corporation,
by registered mail to the Custodian.
Upon such termination of this Agreement, assets of the Fund held by the
Custodian shall be delivered by the Custodian to a successor custodian, if one
has been appointed by the Corporation, upon receipt by the Custodian of a copy
of the resolution of the Board certified by the Secretary, showing appointment
of the successor custodian, and provided that such successor custodian is a bank
or trust company, organized under the laws of the United States or of any State
of the United States, having not less than two million dollars aggregate
capital, surplus and undivided profits. Upon the termination of this Agreement
as a part of the transfer of assets, either to a successor custodian or
otherwise, the Custodian will deliver Securities held by it hereunder, when so
authorized and directed by resolution of the Board, to a duly appointed agent of
the successor custodian or to the appropriate transfer agents for transfer of
registration and delivery as directed. Delivery of assets on termination of this
Agreement shall be effected in a reasonable, expeditious and orderly manner; and
in order to accomplish an orderly transition from the Custodian to the successor
custodian, the Custodian shall continue to act as such under this Agreement as
to assets in its possession or control. Termination as to each security shall
become effective upon delivery to the successor custodian, its agent, or to a
transfer agent for a specific security for the account of the successor
custodian, and such delivery shall constitute effective delivery by the
Custodian to the successor under this Agreement.
In addition to the means of termination herein before authorized, this Agreement
may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Fund and after written notice of such action to the Custodian.
Section 13. General
Nothing expressed or mentioned in or to be implied from any provision of this
Agreement is intended to, or shall be construed to give any person or
corporation other than the parties hereto, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any covenant, condition or
provision herein contained, this Agreement and all of the covenants, conditions
and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and the Custodian have caused this agreement
to be executed as of the date first above written by their respective officers
thereunto duly authorized.
AXP(R) VARIABLE PORTFOLIO - PARTNERS SERIES, INC.
AXP Variable Portfolio - Partners Select Value Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Vice President
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
