CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.4
EXECUTION
COPY
THIS
AGREEMENT, dated as of March 13, 2006, among UNITED STATES OIL FUND, LP, a
limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Fund), VICTORIA BAY ASSET MANAGEMENT,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and General Partner of the Fund
(the General Partner),
and XXXXX BROTHERS XXXXXXXX
& CO., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of
New York (BBH&Co. or
the Custodian),
WHEREAS,
the General Partner has exclusive responsibility for the management and control
of the business and affairs of the Fund; and
WHEREAS,
the General Partner wishes to employ BBH&Co. to act as custodian for the
Fund’s Investments and to provide related services, all as provided herein, and
BBH&Co. is willing to accept such employment, subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, the Fund and BBH&Co. hereby agree, as follows:
2.1 This
Agreement has been, and at the time of delivery of each Instruction such
Instruction will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund
and the General Partner. This Agreement does not violate any
Applicable Law or conflict with or constitute a default under the Fund's
prospectus or other organic document, agreement, judgment, order or decree to
which the Fund or the General Partner is a party or by which it or
its Investments is bound.
2.2 By
providing an Instruction with respect to the first acquisition of an Investment
in a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, the Fund and the
General Partner shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that the Fund
has (a) made all determinations required to be made by the Fund under Applicable
Law, and (b) appropriately and adequately disclosed to its unitholders and all
persons who have rights in or to such Investments, all material investment
risks, including those relating to the custody and settlement infrastructure or
the servicing of securities in such jurisdiction.
2.3 The
Fund and the General Partner shall safeguard and shall solely be responsible for
the safekeeping of any testkeys, identification codes, passwords, other security
devices or statements of account with which the Custodian provides
it. In furtherance and not limitation of the foregoing, in the event
the Fund and/or the General Partner utilizes any on-line service offered by the
Custodian, the Fund, the General Partner and the Custodian shall be fully
responsible for the security of each party’s respective connecting terminal,
access thereto and the proper and authorized use thereof and the initiation and
application of continuing effective safeguards in respect
thereof. Additionally, if the Fund and/or the General Partner uses
any on-line or similar communications service made available by the Custodian,
the Fund and the General Partner shall be solely responsible for ensuring the
security of its access to the service and for the use of the service, and shall
only attempt to access the service and the Custodian’s computer systems as
directed by the Custodian. If the Custodian provides any computer
software to the Fund and/or the General Partner relating to the services
described in this Agreement, the Fund and/or the General Partner will only use
the software for the purposes for which the Custodian provided the software to
the Fund and/or the General Partner, and will abide by the license agreement
accompanying the software and any other security policies which the Custodian
provides to the Fund and the General Partner.
The Fund hereby designates the
Marketing Agent (as such term is defined under an Authorized Purchaser Agreement
entered into by the General Partner on behalf of the Fund, as approved by the
Custodian (the Authorized
Purchaser Agreement)) as an Authorized Person from whom the Custodian is
hereby authorized to receive Instructions to accept deposits of cash and
securities in connection with the purchase of Units (as such term is defined
under the Authorized Purchaser Agreement) and the distribution of cash and
securities in connection with the redemption of Units.
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4.2.2
Written
Instructions. Instructions may be transmitted in a writing
that bears the manual signature of Authorized Persons.
4.2.3
Other Forms
of Instruction. Instructions may also be transmitted by
another means determined by the Fund, the General Partner or Authorized Persons
and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (subject to the same limits as to
acknowledgements as is contained in Subsection 4.2.1, above) including
Instructions given orally or by SWIFT, telex or telefax (whether tested or
untested).
When an
Instruction is given by means established under Subsections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3,
it shall be the responsibility of the Custodian to use reasonable care to adhere
to any security or other procedures established in writing between the Custodian
and the Authorized Person with respect to such means of Instruction, but such
Authorized Person shall be solely responsible for determining that the
particular means chosen is reasonable under the circumstances. Oral Instructions
shall be binding upon the Custodian only if and when the Custodian takes action
with respect thereto. With respect to telefax instructions, the
parties agree and acknowledge that receipt of legible instructions cannot be
assured, that the Custodian cannot verify that authorized signatures on telefax
instructions are original or properly affixed, and that the Custodian shall not
be liable for losses or expenses incurred through actions taken in reliance on
inaccurately stated, illegible or unauthorized telefax
instructions. The provisions of Section 4A of the Uniform Commercial
Code as currently in effect in the State of New York shall apply to the Fund’s
Transfers performed in accordance with Instructions. The Funds
Transfer Services Schedule and the Electronic and Online Services Schedule to
this Agreement shall each comprise a designation of form of a means of
delivering Instructions for purposes of this Section 4.2.
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4.3.1 The
transaction date and the date and location of settlement;
4.3.2 The
specification of the type of transaction;
4.3.3 A
description of the Investments or moneys in question, including, as
appropriate, quantity, price per unit, amount of money to be received or
delivered and currency information. Where an Instruction is
communicated by electronic means, or otherwise where an Instruction contains an
identifying number such as a CUSIP, SEDOL or ISIN number, the Custodian shall be
entitled to rely on such number as controlling notwithstanding any inconsistency
contained in such Instruction, particularly with respect to Investment
description; and
4.3.4 The
name of the broker or similar entity concerned with execution of the
transaction.
If the Custodian shall determine that
an Instruction is either unclear or incomplete, the Custodian may give prompt
notice of such determination to the Fund and/or the General Partner, and the
Fund and/or the General Partner shall thereupon amend or otherwise reform such
Instruction. In such event, the Custodian shall have no obligation to
take any action in response to the Instruction initially delivered until the
redelivery of an amended or reformed Instruction.
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5
6
7
With
respect to securities issued in the United States of America, the Custodian
o may x may not release the
identity of the Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to
the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct
communications between such issuer and the Fund. IF NO BOX IS
CHECKED, THE CUSTODIAN SHALL RELEASE SUCH
INFORMATION UNTIL IT RECEIVES CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
FUND. With respect to securities issued outside of the United States
of America, information shall be released in accordance with law or custom of
the particular country in which such security is located.
The Custodian shall attend to all
nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale or purchase or other
administration of Investments, except as otherwise directed by an Instruction,
and may make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of administering
Investments under this Agreement; provided that the Fund shall have the right to
request an accounting with respect to such expenses.
In fulfilling the duties set forth in
Sections 6.6 through 6.10 above, the Custodian shall provide to the Fund all
material information pertaining to a corporate action which the Custodian
actually receives; provided that the Custodian shall not be responsible for the
completeness or accuracy of such information. Information relative to any
pending corporate action made available to the Fund via any of the services
described in the Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall constitute the
delivery of such information by the Custodian hereunder. Any advance
credit of cash or shares expected to be received as a result of any corporate
action shall be subject to actual collection and may, when the Custodian deems
collection unlikely, be reversed by the Custodian.
The Custodian may at any time or times
in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) agents (other than
Subcustodians) to carry out some or all of the administrative provisions of this
Agreement (Agents),
provided, however, that the appointment of such agent shall not relieve the
Custodian of its administrative obligations under this
Agreement.
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9
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7.6 Advances.
If, for any reason in connection with this Agreement the Custodian or any
Subcustodian makes an Advance to facilitate settlement or otherwise for the
benefit of the Fund (whether or not any Principal or Agency Account shall be
overdrawn either during, or at the end of, any Business Day (defined as any day
other than a day on which the American Stock Exchange, the New York Mercantile
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange is closed for regular trading)), the
Fund and the General Partner each hereby does:
7.6.1 acknowledge
that the Fund shall have no right, title or interest in or to any Investments
purchased with such Advance or proceeds of such Investments, and that any credit
to an account of Fund shall be provisional, until: (a) the debit of the
Principal or Agency Account by Custodian for an amount equal to Advance Costs;
and/or (b) if such debit produces an overdraft in such account, reimbursement to
the Custodian or Subcustodian for the amount of such
overdraft;
7.6.2 acknowledge
that the Custodian has an automatically perfected statutory security interest in
Investments purchased with any such Advance pursuant to Section 9-206 of
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to
time;
7.6.3 in
addition, in order to secure the obligations of the Fund to pay or perform any
and all obligations of the Fund pursuant to this Agreement, including without
limitation to repay any Advance made pursuant to this Agreement, grant to the
Custodian a security interest in all Investments and proceeds thereof (as
defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the State of
New York); and agree to take, and agree that the Custodian may take, in respect
of the security interest referenced above, any further actions that the
Custodian may reasonably require.
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7.7 Custodian’s
Rights Neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be
obligated to make any Advance or to allow an Advance to occur to the Fund, and
in the event that the Custodian or any Subcustodian does make or allow an
Advance, any such Advance and any transaction giving rise to such Advance shall
be for the account and risk of the Fund and shall not be deemed to be a
transaction undertaken by the Custodian for its own account and
risk. If such Advance shall have been made or allowed by a
Subcustodian or any other person, the Custodian may assign all or part of its
security interest referenced above and any other rights granted to the Custodian
hereunder to such Subcustodian or other person. If the Fund shall
fail to repay the Advance Costs when due, the Custodian or its assignee, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to a portion of the available cash balance in any
Agency or Principal Account equal to such Advance Costs, and the Fund authorizes
the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, to pay an amount equal to such Advance
Costs irrevocably to such Subcustodian or other person, and to dispose of any
property in such Account to the extent necessary to make such
payment. Any Investments and funds credited to accounts subject to
this Agreement created pursuant hereto shall be treated as financial assets
credited to securities accounts under Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial
Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to
time. Accordingly, the Custodian and any Subcustodian shall have the
rights and benefits of a secured creditor that is a securities intermediary
under such Articles 8 and 9.
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8.2 Responsibility
for Subcustodians. The Custodian
shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused by or
resulting from the acts or omissions of any domestic Subcustodian to the extent
that such acts or omissions would be deemed to be negligence, gross negligence
or willful misconduct in accordance with the terms of the relevant subcustodian
agreement under the laws, circumstances and practices prevailing in the place
where the act or omission occurred.
9.1.1 Force
Majeure. Force
Majeure shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond the
reasonable control of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the
Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the
Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations
under its Subcustody Agreement or by any other agent of the Custodian or the
Subcustodian, including any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a) an
act of God, (b) accident, fire, water damage or explosion, (c) any computer,
system or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any computer virus or
the malfunction or failure of any communications medium, (d) any interruption of
the power supply or other utility service, (e) any strike or other work
stoppage, whether partial or total, (f) any delay or disruption resulting from
or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, (g) any disruption of, or
suspension of trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange
markets, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any
Sovereign Risk, (h) any encumbrance on the transferability of a currency or a
currency position on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange
transaction, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any
Sovereign Risk, or (i) any other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control
of the Custodian.
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9.2.1 Failure of Third
Parties. The failure of any third party
including: (a) the General Partner; (b) any futures commission
merchant(s); (c) any issuer of Investments or book-entry or other agent of and
issuer; (d) any counterparty with respect to any Investment, including any
issuer of exchange-traded or other futures, option, derivative or commodities
contract; (e) failure of an Investment Advisor or other agent of the Fund; or
(f) failure of other third parties similarly beyond the control or choice of the
Custodian.
9.2.2 Information
Sources. The Custodian may rely upon information received from
issuers of Investments or agents of such issuers, information received from
Subcustodians and from other commercially reasonable sources such as commercial
data bases and the like, but shall not be responsible for specific inaccuracies
in such information, provided that the Custodian has relied upon such
information in good faith, or for the failure of any commercially
reasonable information provider. To the extent that the Custodian
receives any information from a futures commission merchant(s) with respect to
other the Fund’s investment in Oil Interests and Oil Forward Contracts, the
Custodian may conclusively rely on all such information.
9.2.4 Restricted
Securities. The limitations inherent in the rights,
transferability or similar investment characteristics of a given Investment of
the Fund.
10.1 The
Fund and the General Partner each hereby indemnifies the Custodian and each
Subcustodian, and their respective agents, nominees and the partners, employees,
officers and directors, and agrees to hold each of them harmless from and
against all claims and liabilities, including counsel fees and taxes, reasonably
incurred or assessed against any of them in connection with the performance of
this Agreement and any Instruction.
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10.2 The
Custodian hereby indemnifies the Fund and the General Partner, and their
respective agents, nominees and the partners, employees, officers and directors,
and agrees to hold each of them harmless from and against all claims and
liabilities, including counsel fees and taxes, reasonably incurred or assessed
against any of them as a direct result of the Custodian’s negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith in its performance of this Agreement and any
Instruction.
11.1 create
and maintain records relating to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement;
11.2
make available to the Fund and/or the General
Partner, its auditors, agents and employees, upon reasonable request and during
normal business hours of the Custodian, all records maintained by the Custodian
pursuant to Section 11.1 above, subject, however, to all reasonable security
requirements of the Custodian then applicable to the records of its custody
customers generally; and
11.3 make
available to the Fund all Electronic Reports; it being understood that the
Custodian shall not be liable hereunder for the inaccuracy or incompleteness
thereof or for errors in any information included therein.
The Fund and the General Partner shall
examine all records, howsoever produced or transmitted, promptly upon receipt
thereof and notify the Custodian promptly of any discrepancy or error
therein. Unless the Fund or the General Partner delivers written
notice of any such discrepancy or error within a reasonable time after its
receipt thereof, such records shall be deemed to be true and
accurate. It is understood that the Custodian now obtains and
will in the future obtain information on the value of assets from outside
sources which may be utilized in certain reports made available to the Fund and
the General Partner. The Custodian deems such sources to be reliable but it is
acknowledged and agreed that the Custodian does not verify nor represent nor
warrant as to the accuracy or completeness of such information and accordingly
shall be without liability in selecting and using such sources and furnishing
such information.
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(1) if
to General Partner, to:
Victoria Bay Asset Management,
LLC
x/x Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
(2) if
to the Custodian, to:
Xxxxx Brothers Xxxxxxxx &
Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
00000
Attn: Manager, Securities
Department
16
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
or such
other address as the Fund or the Custodian may have designated in writing to the
other.
All such
notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been delivered and
received (i) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by a
nationally-recognized express courier, on the date of such delivery if delivered
during business hours on a Business Day or, if not delivered during business
hours on a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter, and (ii) in the case
of mailing or delivery by facsimile, upon receipt by the intended
party.
12.8.1 All
questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the
domestic laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice or
conflict of law provision or rule (whether in the State of New York or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of New York. In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal
law of the State of New York will control the interpretation and construction of
this Agreement, even if under such jurisdiction's choice of law or conflict of
law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would ordinarily or
necessarily apply.
12.8.2 Each party
irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the other parties, that any
legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to its obligations,
liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement or any related agreement may be brought in the courts of the State of
New York and hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with
respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself and in respect of its
properties, assets and revenues. Each party irrevocably waives any immunity to
jurisdiction to which it may otherwise be entitled or become entitled (including
sovereign immunity, immunity to pre-judgment attachment and execution) in any
legal suit, action or proceeding against it arising out of or based on this
Agreement or any related agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby which is instituted in any court of the State of New York.
The
provisions of this Section 12.8 shall survive any termination of this Agreement,
in whole or in part.
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13.1 Advance(s)
shall mean any extension of credit by or through the Custodian or by or through
any Subcustodian and shall include, without limitation, amounts due to the
Custodian as the principal counterparty to any foreign exchange transaction with
the Fund as described in Section 7.4.2 hereof, or paid to third parties for
account of the Fund or in discharge of any expense, tax or other item payable by
the Fund.
13.2 Advance Costs
shall mean any Advance, interest on the Advance and any related expenses,
including without limitation any xxxx to market loss of the Custodian or
Subcustodian on any Investment to which Section 7.6.1 applies.
13.4 Agent(s)
shall have the meaning set forth in the last sentence of Section 6.
13.5 Applicable
Law shall mean with respect to each jurisdiction, all (a) laws, statutes,
treaties, regulations, guidelines (or their equivalents); (b) orders,
interpretations, licenses and permits; and (c) judgments, decrees, injunctions,
writs, orders and similar actions by a court of competent jurisdiction;
compliance with which is required or customarily observed in such
jurisdiction.
13.7 Book-entry
Agent shall mean an entity acting as agent for the issuer of Investments
for purposes of recording ownership or similar entitlement to Investments,
including without limitation a transfer agent or registrar.
13.8 Clearing
Corporation shall mean any entity or system established for purposes of
providing securities settlement and movement and associated functions
for a given market.
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13.10 Electronic
Reports shall mean any reports prepared by the Custodian and remitted to
the Fund, the General Partner or its authorized representative via the internet
or electronic mail.
13.11 Funds Transfer
Services Schedule shall mean any separate agreement entered into among
the Custodian, the General Partner and the Fund or its authorized representative
with respect to certain matters concerning the processing of payment orders from
Principal Accounts of the Fund.
13.12 Instruction(s)
shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4.
13.13 Investment
Advisor shall mean any person or entity who is an Authorized Person to
give Instructions with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's
Investments.
13.14 Investment(s)
shall mean any investment asset of the Fund issued in the United States of
America, including without limitation: securities, bonds, notes, and debentures
as well as receivables, derivatives, contractual rights or entitlements and
other intangible assets, but excluding Oil Forwards Contracts and Oil Interests
(each as defined in the Fund’s prospectus).
13.15 Margin Account
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.
13.17 Safekeeping
Account shall mean an account established on the books of the Custodian
or any Subcustodian for purposes of segregating the interests of the Fund (or
clients of the Custodian or Subcustodian) from the assets of the Custodian or
any Subcustodian.
13.18 Securities
Depository shall mean a central or book entry system or agency
established under Applicable Law for purposes of recording the ownership and/or
entitlement to investment securities for a given market.
13.20 Tri-Party
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4
hereof.
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The
undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this
document.
XXXXX
BROTHERS XXXXXXXX & CO.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Title:
Managing Director
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Date:
March 29, 0000
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XXXXXX
XXXXXX OIL FUND, LP
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By: Victoria
Bay Asset Management, LLC, as General Partner
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Director
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Date:
April 3, 2006
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VICTORIA
BAY ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title:
Director
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Date:
April 3, 2006
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FUNDS
TRANSFER SERVICES SCHEDULE TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
1. Execution of Payment
Orders. Xxxxx Brothers Xxxxxxxx & Co. (the Custodian) is
hereby instructed by United States Oil Fund, LP (the Fund) and Victoria Bay
Asset Management, LLC (the General Partner) to execute each payment order,
whether denominated in United States dollars or other applicable currencies,
received by the Custodian in the Fund’s name as sender and authorized and
confirmed by an Authorized Person as defined in a Custodian Agreement dated as
of March 13, 2006 by and among the Custodian, the General Partner and the Fund,
as amended or restated from time thereafter (the Agreement), provided that the
Fund has sufficient available funds on deposit in a Principal Account as defined
in the Agreement and provided that the order (i) is received by the Custodian in
the manner specified in this Funds Transfer Services Schedule or any amendment
hereafter; (ii) complies with any written instructions and restrictions of the
Fund as set forth in this Funds Transfer Services Schedule or any amendment
hereafter; (iii) is authorized by the Fund or is verified by the Custodian in
compliance with a security procedure set forth in Paragraph 2 below for
verifying the authenticity of a funds transfer communication sent to the
Custodian in the name of the Fund or for the detection of errors set forth in
any such communication; and (iv) contains sufficient data to enable the
Custodian to process such transfer.
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¨
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BIDS and BIDS
Worldview Payment Products. BIDS and BIDS Worldview
Payment Products, are on-line payment order authorization facilities with
built-in authentication procedures. The Custodian, the General Partner and
the Fund shall each be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of
passwords or other codes to be used by them in connection with BIDS. The
Custodian will act on instructions received through BIDS without duty of
further confirmation unless the Fund and/or the General Partner notifies
the Custodian that its password is not
secure.
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x
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SWIFT. The
Custodian, the General Partner and the Fund shall comply with SWIFT’s
authentication procedures. The Custodian will act on instructions received
via SWIFT provided the instruction is authenticated by the SWIFT
system.
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¨
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Tested
Telex. The Custodian will accept payment orders sent by
tested telex, provided the test key matches the algorithmic key the
Custodian, the General Partner and Fund have agreed to
use.
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¨
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Computer
Transmission. The Custodian is able to accept
transmissions sent from the Fund’s and/or the General Partner’s computer
facilities to the Custodian’s computer facilities provided such
transmissions are encrypted and digitally certified or are otherwise
authenticated in a reasonable manner based on available
technology. Such procedures shall be established in an
operating protocol among the Custodian, the General Partner and the
Fund.
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¨
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Telefax
Instructions. A payment order transmitted to the Custodian by
telefax transmission shall transmitted by the Fund and/or the General
Partner to a telephone number specified from time to time by the Custodian
for such purposes. If it detects no discrepancies, the
Custodian will then either:
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1.
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If
the telefax requests a repetitive payment order, the Custodian may call
the Fund and/or the General Partner at its last known telephone number,
request to speak to the Fund, the General Partner or Authorized Person,
and confirm the authorization and details of the payment order (a
Callback); or
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2.
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If
the telefax requests a non-repetitive order, the Custodian will perform a
Callback.
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All faxes
must be accompanied by a fax cover sheet which indicates the sender’s name, Fund
name, telephone number, fax number, number of pages, and number of transactions
or instructions attached.
¨ Telephonic. A
telephonic payment order shall be called into the Custodian at the telephone
number designated from time to time by the Custodian for that purpose. The
caller shall identify herself/himself as an Authorized Person. The
Custodian shall obtain the payment order data from the caller. The
Custodian shall then:
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1.
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If
a telephonic repetitive payment order, the Custodian may perform a
Callback; or
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2.
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If
a telephonic non-repetitive payment order, the Custodian will perform a
Callback.
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In the
event the Fund and the General Partner chooses a procedure which is not a
Security Procedure as described above, the Fund and the General Partner agree to
be bound by any payment order (whether or not authorized) issued in its name and
accepted by the Custodian in compliance with the procedure selected by the Fund
and the General Partner.
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_____________________________________________
OPTIONAL: The
Custodian will perform a Callback if instructions are sent by
telefax
or telephonic means as provided in Paragraph 2. THE FUND AND/OR
THE
GENERAL PARTNER MAY, AT ITS OWN RISK
AND BY HEREBY
AGREEING TO INDEMNIFY THE CUSTODIAN
AND ITS PARTNERS,
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR ALL LOSSES
THEREFROM, ELECT TO
WAIVE A
CALLBACK BY THE CUSTODIAN BY INITIALING HERE:____
_____________________________________________
The
undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this
document.
Accepted
and agreed:
XXXXX
BROTHERS XXXXXXXX & CO.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
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Title:
Managing Director
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Date:
March 29, 0000
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XXXXXX
XXXXXX OIL FUND, LP
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By: Victoria
Bay Asset Management, LLC, as General Partner
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By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Title:
Director
|
||||
Date:
April 3, 2006
|
||||
VICTORIA
BAY ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Title:
Director
|
||||
Date:
April 3, 2006
|
26
This
Electronic and On-Line Services Schedule (this Schedule) to a Custodian
Agreement dated as of March 13, 2006 (as amended from time to time hereafter,
the Agreement) by and
among Xxxxx Brothers Xxxxxxxx & Co. (we, us our), Victoria Bay
Asset Management, LLC (the General
Partner) and United States Oil Fund, LP (the Fund) (the General Partner and
the Fund collectively, you,
your), provides general provisions governing your use of and access to
the Services (as hereinafter defined) provided to you by us via the Internet (at
xxx.xxxxx.xxx
or such other
URL as we may instruct you to use to access our products) and via a
direct dial-up connection between your computer and our computers, as of
March 13, 2006 (the Effective
Date). Use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the terms
and conditions of this Schedule, any Appendices hereto, the Terms and Conditions
posted on our web site, and any terms and conditions specifically governing a
particular Service or our other products, which may be set forth in the
Agreement or in a separate related agreement (collectively, the Related
Agreements).
You will
be granted access to our suite of online products, which may include, but shall
not be limited to the following services via the Internet or dial-up connection
(each separate service is a Service; collectively referred
to as the Services):
1.1.
|
BIDS®
and BIDS WorldView, a system for effectuating securities and fund trade
instruction and execution, processing and handling instructions, and for
the input and retrieval of other
information;
|
1.2.
|
F/X
WorldView, a system for executing foreign exchange
trades;
|
1.3.
|
Fund
WorldView, a system for receiving fund and prospectus
information;
|
1.4.
|
BBHCOnnect,
a system for placing securities trade instructions and following the
status and detail of trades;
|
1.5.
|
ActionViewSM,
a system for receiving certain corporate action
information;
|
1.6.
|
Risk
View, an interactive portfolio risk analysis tool;
and
|
1.7.
|
Such
other services as we shall from time to time
offer.
|
2.1.
|
A
digital certificate and/or an encryption key may be required to access
certain Services. You may apply for a digital certificate
and/or an encryption key by following the procedures set forth at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx/xxxxx/. You also will need
an identification code (ID) and password(s)
(Password) to
access the Services.
|
2.2.
|
You
agree to safeguard your digital certificate and/or encryption key, ID, and
Password and not to give or make available, intentionally or otherwise,
your digital certificate, ID, and/or Password to any unauthorized
person. You must immediately notify us in writing if you
believe that your digital certificate and/or encryption key, Password, or
ID has been compromised or if you suspect unauthorized access to your
account by means of the Services or otherwise, or when a person to whom a
digital certificate and/or an encryption key, Password, or ID has been
assigned leaves or is no longer permitted to access the
Services.
|
27
2.3.
|
We
will not be responsible for any breach of security, or for any
unauthorized trading or theft by any third party, caused by your failure
(be it intentional, unintentional, or negligent) to maintain the
confidentiality of your ID and/or Password and/or the security of your
digital certificate and/or encryption
key.
|
3.1.
|
Proper
instructions under this Schedule shall be provided as designated in the
Related Agreements (Instructions).
|
3.2.
|
The
following additional provisions apply to Instructions provided via the
Services:
|
|
a.
|
Instructions
sent by electronic mail will not be accepted or acted
upon.
|
|
b.
|
You
authorize us to act upon Instructions received through the Services
utilizing your digital certificate, ID, and/or Password as though they
were duly authorized written instructions, without any duty of
verification or inquiry on our part, and agree to hold us harmless for any
losses you experience as a result.
|
|
c.
|
From
time to time, the temporary unavailability of third party
telecommunications or computer systems required by the Services may result
in a delay in processing Instructions. In such an event, we
shall not be liable to you or any third party for any liabilities, losses,
claims, costs, damages, penalties, fines, obligations, or expenses of any
kind (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys', accountants',
consultants', or experts' fees and disbursements) that you experience due
to such a delay.
|
We may
make periodic statements, disclosures, notices, and other documents available to
you electronically, and, subject to any delivery and receipt verification
procedures required by law, you agree to receive such documents electronically
and to check the statements for accuracy. If you believe any such
statement contains incorrect information, you must follow the procedures set
forth in the Related Agreement(s).
You
understand and agree that you will be responsible for the introduction (by you,
your employees, agents, or representatives) into the Services, whether
intentional or unintentional, of (i) any virus or other code, program, or
sub-program that damages or interferes with the operation of the computer system
containing the code, program or sub-program, or halts, disables, or interferes
with the operation of the Services themselves; or (ii) any device, method, or
token whose knowing or intended purpose is to permit any person to circumvent
the normal security of the Services or the system containing the software code
for the Services (Malicious
Code). You agree to take all necessary actions and precautions
to prevent the introduction and proliferation of any Malicious Code into those
systems that interact with the Services.
28
For
avoidance of doubt, you hereby agree that the provisions in the Related
Agreement(s) related to your indemnification of us and any limitations on our
liability and responsibilities to you shall be applicable to this Agreement, and
are hereby expressly incorporated herein. You agree that the Services are
comprised of telecommunications and computer systems, and that it is possible
that Instructions, information, transactions, or account reports might be added
to, changed, or omitted by electronic or programming malfunction, unauthorized
access, or other failure of the systems which comprise the Services, despite the
security features that have been designed into the Services. You agree that we
will not be liable for any action taken or not taken in complying with the terms
of this Schedule, except for our willful misconduct or gross
negligence. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
termination of this Schedule and the Related Agreements.
7.
|
You may
be charged for services hereunder as set forth in a fee schedule from time to
time agreed by us.
8.1.
|
This
Schedule is effective as of the date you sign it or first use the
Services, whichever is first, and continues in effect until such time as
either you or we terminate the Schedule in accordance with this Section 8
and/or until your off-line use of the Services is
terminated.
|
8.2.
|
We
may terminate your access to the Services at any time, for any reason,
with five (5) Business Days prior notice; provided that we may terminate
your access to the Services with no prior notice (i) if your account with
us is closed, (ii) if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this
Agreement, (iii) if we believe that your continued access to the Services
poses a security risk, or (iv) if we believe that you are violating or
have violated applicable laws, and we will not be liable for any loss you
may experience as a result of such termination. You may
terminate your access to the Services at any time by giving us ten (10)
Business Days notice. Upon termination, we will cancel all your
Passwords and IDs and any in-process or pending Instructions will be
carried out or cancelled, at our sole
discretion.
|
9.1.
|
Notices. All
notices, requests, and demands (other than routine operational
communications, such as Instructions) shall be in such form and effect as
provided in the Related
Agreement(s).
|
9.2.
|
Inconsistent
Provisions. Each Service may be governed by separate
terms and conditions in addition to this Schedule and the Related
Agreement(s). Except where specifically provided to the
contrary in this Schedule, in the event that such separate terms and
conditions conflict with this Schedule and the Related Agreement(s), the
provisions of this Schedule shall prevail to the extent this Schedule
applies to the transaction in
question.
|
9.3.
|
Binding Effect; Assignment;
Severability. This Schedule shall be binding on you,
your employees, officers and agents. We may assign or delegate
our rights and duties under this Schedule at any time without notice to
you. Your rights under this Schedule may not be assigned
without our prior written consent. In the event that any provision of this
Schedule conflicts with the law under which this Schedule is to be
construed or if any such provision is held invalid or unenforceable by a
court with jurisdiction over you and us, such provision shall be deemed to
be restated to effectuate as nearly as possible the purposes of the
Schedule in accordance with applicable law. The remaining
provisions of this Schedule and the application of the challenged
provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby, and each such
provision shall be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by
law.
|
29
9.4.
|
Choice of Law; Jury
Trial. This Schedule shall be governed by and construed, and the
legal relations between the parties shall be determined, in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws. Each party agrees to waive its right to
trial by jury in any action or proceeding based upon or related to this
Agreement. The parties agree that all actions and proceedings
based upon or relating to this Schedule shall be litigated exclusively in
the federal and state courts located within New York City, New
York.
|
9.5.
|
Confidentiality.
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and all information provided by
each party to the other regarding its business and
operations. All confidential information provided by a party
hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of
rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as
may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to
any third party without the prior consent of such providing
party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information
that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly
available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is
required to be disclosed by or to any bank examiner of the Custodian or
any Subcustodian, any Regulatory Authority, any auditor of the parties
hereto, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by
Applicable Law.
|
30
The
undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this
document.
XXXXX
BROTHERS XXXXXXXX & CO.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
|
||
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
|
|||
Title:
Managing Director
|
|||
Date:
March 29, 0000
|
XXXXXX
XXXXXX OIL FUND, LP
|
||||
By: Victoria
Bay Asset Management, LLC, as General Partner
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Title:
Director
|
||||
Date:
April 3, 2006
|
||||
VICTORIA
BAY ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Title:
Director
|
||||
Date:
April 3, 2006
|
31