Exhibit (g)
SMALL-CAP PORTFOLIO
December 10, 2001
Small-Cap Portfolio hereby adopts and agrees to become a party to the attached
Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company.
SMALL-CAP PORTFOLIO
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
President
Accepted and agreed to:
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Senior Director
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
between
XXXXX XXXXX HUB PORTFOLIOS
and
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
1. Definitions.........................................................1-2
2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It...............2-3
3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to
Property of the Trust.................................................3
A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property...............................3
B. Delivery of Securities..........................................3-5
C. Registration of Securities........................................6
D. Bank Accounts.....................................................6
E. Payments for Interests, or Increases in Interests,
in the Trust...................................................6
F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds......................6
G. Collections.....................................................6-7
H. Payment of Trust Monies.........................................7-8
I. Liability for Payment in Advance of
Receipt of Securities Purchased.................................8-9
J. Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions
of Interests of the Trust.........................................9
K. Appointment of Agents by the Custodian............................9
L. Deposit of Trust Portfolio Securities in Securities
Systems ....................................................9-11
M. Deposit of Trust Commercial Paper in an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.....................11-12
X. Xxxxxxxxxx Account...............................................13
O. Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes..........................13
P. Proxies..........................................................13
Q. Communications Relating to Trust Portfolio ......................13
Securities
i
R. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers.............................14
S. Depository Receipts...........................................14
T. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits.....................14-15
U. Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign
Currency Transactions......................................15-16
V. Actions Permitted Without Express Authority...................16
W. Advances by the Bank..........................................16
4. Duties of Bank with Respect to Books of Account and
Calculations of Net Asset Value......................................17
5. Records and Miscellaneous Duties..................................17-18
6. Opinion of Trust's Independent Public Accountants....................18
7. Compensation and Expenses of Bank....................................18
8. Responsibility of Bank............................................18-19
9. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Trust.........................19
10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment;
Successor Custodian...............................................19-20
11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions...............................20
12. Notices..............................................................20
13. Massachusetts Law to Apply...........................................20
14. Adoption of the Agreement by the Trust...............................21
ii
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between each investment company advised by Boston
Management and Research which has adopted this Agreement in the manner provided
herein and Investors Bank & Trust Company (hereinafter called "Bank",
"Custodian" and "Agent"), a trust company established under the laws of
Massachusetts with a principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Whereas, each such investment company is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and has appointed the Bank to act as Custodian of its
property and to perform certain duties as its Agent, as more fully hereinafter
set forth; and
Whereas, the Bank is willing and able to act as each such investment
company's Custodian and Agent, subject to and in accordance with the provisions
hereof;
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, each such investment company and the
Bank agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless
the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Trust" shall mean the investment company which has adopted this
Agreement.
(b) "Board" shall mean the board of trustees of the Trust.
(c) "The Depository Trust Company", 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 and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Trust by the Board.
(d) "Participants Trust Company", 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 and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Trust by the Board.
(e) "Approved Clearing Agency" shall mean any other domestic 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 but
only if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board
approving such clearing agency as a securities depository for the Trust.
(f) "Federal Book-Entry System" shall mean the book-entry system referred
to in Rule 17f-4(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for United States
and federal agency securities (i.e., as provided in Subpart O of Treasury
Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, and the book-entry
regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O).
(g) "Approved Foreign Securities Depository" shall mean a foreign
securities depository or clearing agency referred to in Rule 17f-4 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 for foreign securities but only if the Custodian
has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board approving such
depository or clearing agency as a foreign securities depository for the Trust.
1
(h) "Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper" shall mean a system
maintained by the Custodian or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof for the holding of commercial paper in book-entry form but only if the
Custodian has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board approving
the participation by the Trust in such system.
(i) The Custodian shall be deemed to have received "proper instructions" in
respect of any of the matters referred to in this Agreement upon receipt of
written or facsimile instructions signed by such one or more person or persons
as the Board shall have from time to time authorized to give the particular
class of instructions in question. Different persons may be authorized to give
instructions for different purposes. A certified copy of a resolution of the
Board may be received and accepted by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of
the authority of any such person to act and may be considered as in full force
and effect until receipt of written notice to the contrary. Such instructions
may be general or specific in terms and, where appropriate, may be standing
instructions. Unless the resolution delegating authority to any person or
persons to give a particular class of instructions specifically requires that
the approval of any person, persons or committee shall first have been obtained
before the Custodian may act on instructions of that class, the Custodian shall
be under no obligation to question the right of the person or persons giving
such instructions in so doing. 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 Trust shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in
writing. The Trust authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all
telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian. Upon receipt of a
certificate signed by two officers of the Trust as to the authorization by the
President and the Treasurer of the Trust accompanied by a detailed description
of the communication procedures approved by the President and the Treasurer of
the Trust, "proper instructions" may also include communications effected
directly between electromechanical or electronic devices provided that the
President and Treasurer of the Trust and the Custodian are satisfied that such
procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Trust's assets. In performing its
duties generally, and more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale
and exchange of securities made by or for the Trust, the Custodian may take
cognizance of the provisions of the governing documents and registration
statement of the Trust as the same may from time to time be in effect (and
resolutions or proceedings of the holders of interests in the Trust or the
Board), but, nevertheless, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the
Custodian may assume unless and until notified in writing to the contrary that
so-called proper instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any
way contrary to any provisions of such governing documents and registration
statement, or resolutions or proceedings of the holders of interests in the
Trust or the Board.
(j) The term "Vote" when used with respect to the Board or the Holders of
Interests in the Trust shall include a vote, resolution, consent, proceeding and
other action taken by the Board or Holders in accordance with the Declaration of
Trust or By-Laws of the Trust.
2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It
The Trust hereby appoints and employs the Bank as its Custodian and Agent
in accordance with and subject to the provisions hereof, and the Bank hereby
accepts such appointment and employment. The Trust agrees to deliver to the
Custodian all securities, participation interests, cash and other assets owned
by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal and capital
distributions and adjustments received by it with respect to all securities and
participation interests owned by the Trust from time to time, and the cash
consideration received by it from time to time in exchange for an interest in
the Trust or for an increase in such an interest. The Custodian shall not be
responsible for any property of the Trust held by the Trust and not delivered by
the Trust to the Custodian. The Trust will also deliver to the Bank from time to
time copies of its currently effective declaration of trust, by-laws,
2
registration statement and placement agent agreement with its placement agent,
together with such resolutions, and other proceedings of the Trust as may be
necessary for or convenient to the Bank in the performance of its duties
hereunder.
The Custodian may from time to time employ one or more subcustodians to
perform such acts and services upon such terms and conditions as shall be
approved from time to time by the Board. Any such subcustodian so employed by
the Custodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian, and the
Custodian shall remain primarily responsible for the securities, participation
interests, moneys and other property of the Trust held by such subcustodian. Any
foreign subcustodian shall be a bank or trust company which is an eligible
foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, and the foreign custody arrangements shall be approved by the Board
and shall be in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Rule. For
the purposes of this Agreement, any property of the Trust held by any such
subcustodian (domestic or foreign) shall be deemed to be held by the Custodian
under the terms of this Agreement.
3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Trust
A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property The Custodian shall keep safely
all property of the Trust and on behalf of the Trust shall from time
to time receive delivery of Trust property for safekeeping. The
Custodian shall hold, earmark and segregate on its books and records
for the account of the Trust all property of the Trust, including all
securities, participation interests and other assets of the Trust (1)
physically held by the Custodian, (2) held by any subcustodian
referred to in Section 2 hereof or by any agent referred to in
Paragraph K hereof, (3) held by or maintained in The Depository Trust
Company or in Participants Trust Company or in an Approved Clearing
Agency or in the Federal Book-Entry System or in an Approved Foreign
Securities Depository, each of which from time to time is referred to
herein as a "Securities System", and (4) held by the Custodian or by
any subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof and maintained in any
Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
B. Delivery of Securities The Custodian shall release and deliver
securities or participation interests owned by the Trust held (or
deemed to be held) by the Custodian or maintained in a Securities
System account or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial
Paper account only upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and
only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities or participation interests for
the account of the Trust, but only against receipt of payment
therefor; if delivery is made in Boston or New York City, payment
therefor shall be made in accordance with generally accepted
clearing house procedures or by use of Federal Reserve Wire
System procedures; if delivery is made elsewhere payment therefor
shall be in accordance with the then current "street delivery"
custom or in accordance with such procedures agreed to in writing
from time to time by the parties hereto; if the sale is effected
through a Securities System, delivery and payment therefor shall
be made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph L hereof;
if the sale of commercial paper is to be effected through an
Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, delivery and
payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions
of Paragraph M hereof; if the securities are to be sold outside
the United States, delivery may be made in accordance with
procedures agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties
3
hereto; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "sale"
shall include the disposition of a portfolio security (i) upon
the exercise of an option written by the Trust and (ii) upon the
failure by the Trust to make a successful bid with respect to a
portfolio security, the continued holding of which is contingent
upon the making of such a bid;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement or reverse repurchase agreement relating to such
securities and entered into by the Trust;
3) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for portfolio securities of the Trust;
4) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities or
participation interests 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
or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
5) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Trust or into the name of any nominee of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed
pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or into the name or nominee name
of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 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 or
participation interests are to be delivered to the Custodian or
any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
6) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance
with the "street delivery" custom; provided that the Custodian
shall adopt such procedures as the Trust from time to time shall
approve to ensure their prompt return to the Custodian by the
broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them;
7) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant
to provisions for conversion of 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
or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
8) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in connection with 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 or any
subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
4
9) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made
by the Trust (such loans to be made pursuant to the terms of the
Trust's current registration statement), but only against receipt
of adequate collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Trust, 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
securities 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 Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities loaned by
the Trust prior to the receipt of such collateral;
10) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by
the Trust requiring a pledge or hypothecation of assets by the
Trust (if then permitted under circumstances described in the
current registration statement of the Trust), provided, that the
securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian
of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional
collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made,
further securities may be released for that purpose; upon receipt
of proper instructions, the Custodian may pay any such loan upon
redelivery to it of the securities pledged or hypothecated
therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing the
loan;
11) When required for delivery in connection with any redemption
or repurchase of an interest in the Trust in accordance with the
provisions of Paragraph J hereof;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement between the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof) and a broker-dealer registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if necessary, the
Trust, relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations,
regarding deposit or escrow or other arrangements in connection
with options transactions by the Trust;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Trust, the Custodian (or a subcustodian
employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof), and a futures commissions
merchant, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or
commodities exchange or similar organization, regarding futures
margin account deposits or payments in connection with futures
transactions by the Trust;
14) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt
of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board specifying the securities to be
delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is
to be made, declaring such purpose to be proper corporate
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made.
5
C. Registration of Securities Securities held by the Custodian (other
than bearer securities) for the account of the Trust shall be
registered in the name of the Trust or in the name of any nominee of
the Trust or of any nominee of the Custodian, or in the name or
nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof, or
in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to
Section 2 hereof, or in the name or nominee name of The Depository
Trust Company or Participants Trust Company or Approved Clearing
Agency or Federal Book-Entry System or Approved Book-Entry System for
Commercial Paper; provided, that securities are held in an account of
the Custodian or of such agent or of such subcustodian containing only
assets of the Trust or only assets held by the Custodian or such agent
or such subcustodian as a custodian or subcustodian or in a fiduciary
capacity for customers. All certificates for securities accepted by
the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian on behalf of the Trust
shall be in "street" or other good delivery form or shall be returned
to the selling broker or dealer who shall be advised of the reason
thereof.
D. Bank Accounts The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank
account or accounts in the name of the Trust, subject only to draft or
order by the Custodian acting in 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 Trust other than cash maintained by the Trust in a bank account
established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the Custodian for the
Trust 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 the Custodian 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 Investment Company Act of
1940 and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be
deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved in
writing by two officers of the Trust. Such funds shall be deposited by
the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be subject to
withdrawal only by the Custodian in that capacity.
E. Payments for Interests, or Increases in Interests, in the Trust The
Custodian shall make appropriate arrangements with the Transfer Agent
of the Trust to enable the Custodian to make certain it promptly
receives the cash or other consideration due to the Trust for payment
of interests in the Trust, or increases in such interests, in
accordance with the governing documents and registration statement of
the Trust. The Custodian will provide prompt notification to the Trust
of any receipt by it of such payments.
F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds Upon agreement between
the Trust and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of
proper instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed
appropriate by the parties, invest in such securities and instruments
as may be set forth in such instructions on the same day as received
all federal funds received after a time agreed upon between the
Custodian and the Trust.
G. Collections The Custodian shall promptly collect all income and other
payments with respect to registered securities held hereunder to which
the Trust shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the
securities business, and shall promptly collect all income and other
payments with respect to bearer securities if, on the date of payment
6
by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or agent
thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Trust's
custodian account. The Custodian shall do all things necessary and
proper in connection with such prompt collections and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall
1) Present for payment all coupons and other income items
requiring presentations;
2) Present for payment all securities which may mature or be
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
3) Endorse and deposit for collection, in the name of the Trust,
checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments;
4) Credit income from securities maintained in a Securities
System or in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper
at the time funds become available to the Custodian; in the case
of securities maintained in The Depository Trust Company funds
shall be deemed available to the Trust not later than the opening
of business on the first business day after receipt of such funds
by the Custodian.
The Custodian shall notify the Trust as soon as reasonably
practicable whenever income due on any security is not promptly
collected. In any case in which the Custodian does not receive any due
and unpaid income after it has made demand for the same, it shall
immediately so notify the Trust in writing, enclosing copies of any
demand letter, any written response thereto, and memoranda of all oral
responses thereto and to telephonic demands, and await instructions
from the Trust; the Custodian shall in no case have any liability for
any nonpayment of such income provided the Custodian meets the
standard of care set forth in Section 8 hereof. The Custodian shall
not be obligated to take legal action for collection unless and until
reasonably indemnified to its satisfaction.
The Custodian shall also receive and collect all stock dividends,
rights and other items of like nature, and deal with the same pursuant
to proper instructions relative thereto.
H. Payment of Trust Monies Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may
be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out monies of the Trust in the following cases
only:
1) Upon the purchase of securities, participation interests,
options, futures contracts, forward contracts and options on
futures contracts purchased for the account of the Trust but only
(a) against the receipt of
(i) such securities registered as provided in Paragraph C
hereof or in proper form for transfer or
(ii) detailed instructions signed by an officer of the Trust
regarding the participation interests to be purchased or
7
(iii)written confirmation of the purchase by the Trust of
the options, futures contracts, forward contracts or options on
futures contracts by the Custodian (or by a subcustodian employed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof or by a clearing corporation of a
national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member
or by any bank, banking institution or trust company doing
business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian and
which has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this
purpose or by the agent specifically designated in such
instructions as representing the purchasers of a new issue of
privately placed securities); (b) in the case of a purchase
effected through a Securities System, upon receipt of the
securities by the Securities System in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Paragraph L hereof; (c) in the case of a
purchase of commercial paper effected through an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, upon receipt of the paper
by the Custodian or subcustodian in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Paragraph M hereof; (d) in the case of
repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust and another
bank or a broker-dealer, against receipt by the Custodian of the
securities underlying the repurchase agreement either in
certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's
segregated, non-proprietary account at the Federal Reserve Bank
of Boston with such securities along with written evidence of the
agreement by the bank or broker-dealer to repurchase such
securities from the Trust; or (e) with respect to securities
purchased outside of the United States, in accordance with
written procedures agreed to from time to time in writing by the
parties hereto;
2) When required in connection with the conversion, exchange or
surrender of securities owned by the Trust as set forth in
Paragraph B hereof;
3) When required for the reduction or redemption of an interest
in the Trust in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J
hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Trust, including but not limited to the following payments for
the account of the Trust: advisory fees, interest, taxes,
management compensation and expenses, accounting, transfer agent
and legal fees, and other operating expenses of the Trust whether
or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or
treated as deferred expenses;
5) For distributions or payment to Holders of Interest in the
Trust; and
6) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt
of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board, 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 corporate purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
I. Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased In
any and every case where payment for purchase of securities for the
account of the Trust is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of
the securities purchased in the absence of specific written
instructions signed by two officers of the Trust to so pay in advance,
8