CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Contract between , a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of , having its
principal place of business at hereinafter called the
"Fund", and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts
trust company, having its principal place of business at 000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, hereinafter called
the "Custodian",
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of
its assets pursuant to the provisions of the Declaration of
Trust. The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all
securities and cash owned by it, and all payments of income,
payments of principal or capital distributions received by it
with respect to all securities owned by the Fund from time to
time, and the cash consideration received by it for such new or
treasury shares of capital stock, $ par value, ("Shares")
of the Fund as may be issued or sold from time to time. The
Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund
held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian.
Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (within the meaning of
Section 3), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or
more sub-custodians, but only in accordance with an applicable
vote by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and provided that the
Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability
to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-
custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the
Custodian.
2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund
Held By the Custodian
2.1 Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property,
including all securities owned by the Fund, other than (a)
securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 in
a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or
in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of
the Treasury, collectively referred to herein as "Securities
System" and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for which
State Street Bank and Trust Company acts as issuing and
paying agent ("Direct Paper") which is deposited and/or
maintained in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian
pursuant to Section 2.11.
2.2 Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release and
deliver securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian
or in a Securities System account of the Custodian or in the
Custodian's Direct Paper book entry system account ("Direct
Paper System Account") only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following
cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the
Fund and receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any
repurchase agreement related to such securities entered
into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a Securities
System, in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.10 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or
other similar offers for securities of the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities
are called, redeemed, or otherwise become payable;
provided that, in any such case, the cash or other
consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent. for transfer into
the name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee or
nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee
name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 or
into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian
appointed pursuant to Article 1; or for exchange for a
different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or
number of units; provided that, in any such case, the
new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the
Fund, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a
receipt, for examination in accordance with "street
delivery" custom; provided that in any such case, the
Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for
any loss arising from the delivery of such securities
prior to receiving payment for such securities except
as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or
willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization
or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such
securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion
contained in such securities, or pursuant to any
deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the
new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities,
the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants,
rights or similar securities or the surrender of
interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive
securities; provided that, in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the
Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities
made by the Fund, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the form of
cash or obligations issued by the United States
government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except
that in connection with any loans for which collateral
is to be credited to the Custodian's account in the
book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of
the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or
responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any
borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by
the Fund, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-
dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act") and a member of The National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"),
relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange, or of any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements
in connection with transactions by the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a Futures
Commission Merchant registered under the Commodity
Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any
Contract Market, or any similar organization or
organizations, regarding account deposits in connection
with transactions by the Fund;
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 of Trustees
or of the Executive Committee signed by an officer and
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
specifying the securities of the Fund to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper
corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to
whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
2.3 Registration of Securities. Securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered
in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the
Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall
be assigned exclusively to the Fund, unless the Fund has
authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be
used in common with other registered investment companies
having the same investment adviser as the Fund, or in the
name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to
Section 2.9 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-
custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1. All securities
accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the
terms of this Contract shall be in "street name" or other
good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the
Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the
Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely
collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify
the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate
actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls,
maturities, tender or exchange offers.
2.4 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the name of the Fund,
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting
pursuant to the terms of this Contract, 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 Fund,
other than cash maintained by the Fund 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 Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as
Custodian in the Banking Department of the Custodian or in
such other banks or trust companies as it may in its
discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however,
that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to
act as a custodian under the 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 by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in
its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the
Custodian only in, that capacity.
2.5 Availability of Federal Funds. Upon mutual agreement
between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall,
upon the receipt of Proper Instructions, make federal funds
available to the Fund as of specified times agreed upon from
time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in the amount of
checks received in payment for Shares of the Fund which are
deposited into the Fund's account.
2.6 Collection of Income. Subject to provisions of Section 2.3,
the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and
other payments with respect to registered securities held
hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law
or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall
collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with
respect to bearer securities if, on the date of payment by
the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its
agent thereof and shall credit such income, as collected, to
the Fund's custodian account. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and
present for payment all coupons and other income items
requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall
collect interest when due on securities held hereunder.
Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.2(10) shall be the responsibility of
the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility
in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with
such information or data as may be necessary to assist the
Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian
of the income to which the Fund is properly entitled.
2.7 Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay
out monies of the Fund in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of securities, options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts for the
account of the Fund but only (a) against the delivery
of such securities or evidence of title to such
options, futures contracts or options on futures
contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm
or trust company doing business in the United States or
abroad which is qualified under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, to act as a custodian and has
been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this
purpose) registered in the name of the Fund or in the
name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in
Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b)
in the case of a purchase effected through a Securities
System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.10 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase
involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with
the conditions set forth in Section 2.11; (d) in the
case of repurchase agreements entered into between the
Fund and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-
dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery
of the securities either in certificate form or through
an entry crediting the Custodian's account at the
Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii)
against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by
the Fund of securities owned by the Custodian along
with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian
to repurchase such securities from the Fund or (e) for
transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any
bank; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of
a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank
pursuant to Proper Instructions as defined in Section 3;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section
2.2 hereof;
3) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by
the Fund, including but not limited to the following
payments for the account of the Fund: interest, taxes,
management, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees,
and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such
expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or
treated as deferred expenses;
4) For the payment of any dividends declared pursuant to
the governing documents of the Fund;
5) For payment of the amount of dividends received in
respect of securities sold short;
6) For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of,
in addition to Proper Instructions, a certified copy of
a resolution of the Board of Trustees or of the
Executive Committee of the Fund signed by an officer of
the Fund and certified by its Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, specifying the amount of such payment,
setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose,
and naming the person or persons to whom such payment
is to be made.
2.8 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities
Purchased. Except as specifically stated otherwise in this
Contract, in any and every case where payment for purchase
of securities for the account of the Fund is made by the
Custodian in advance of receipt of the securities purchased
in the absence of specific written instructions from the
Fund to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely
liable to the Fund for such securities to the same extent as
if the securities had been received by the Custodian.
2.9 Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove)
any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to act
as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the
provisions of this Article 2 as the Custodian may from time
to time direct; provided however, that the appointment of
any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its
responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.
2.10 Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems. The Custodian
may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in
a clearing agency registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities depository,
or in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury and certain federal agencies,
collectively referred to herein as "Securities System" in
accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if
any, and subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in a
Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account ("Account") of the Custodian
in the Securities System which shall not include any
assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities
of the Fund which are maintained in a Securities System
shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging
to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay the securities purchased for
the account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from
the Securities System that such securities have been
transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such
payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The
Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the
Securities System that payment for such securities has
been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of
an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect
such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.
Copies of all advices from the Securities System of
transfers of securities for the account of the Fund
shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by
the Custodian and be provided to the Fund at its
request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the
Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the
account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or
notice and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions
in the Securities System for the account of the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Custodian on the Securities System's
accounting system, internal accounting control and
procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in the
Securities System;
5) The Custodian shall have received the initial
certificate required by Article 12 hereof;
6) Anything to the contrary in this Contract
notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the
Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from
use of the Securities System by reason of any
negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian
or any of its agents or of any of its or their
employees or from failure of the Custodian or any such
agent to enforce effectively such rights as it may have
against the Securities System; at the election of the
Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the
rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim
against the Securities System or any other person which
the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such
loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has
not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
2.11 Fund Assets Held in the Custodian's Direct Paper System.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned
by the Fund in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian
subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct
Paper System will be effected in the absence of Proper
Instructions;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in the
Direct Paper System only if such securities are
represented in an account ("Account") of the Custodian
in the Direct Paper System which shall not include any
assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities
of the Fund which are maintained in the Direct Paper
System shall identify by book-entry those securities
belonging to the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for
the account of the Fund upon the making of an entry on
the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment
and transfer of securities to the account of the Fund.
The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
account of the Fund upon the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and
receipt of payment for the account of the Fund;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of
each transfer to or from the account of the Fund, in
the form of a written advice or notice, of Direct Paper
on the next business day following such transfer and
shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction
sheets reflecting each day's transaction in the
Securities System for the account of the Fund;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report on
its system of internal accounting control as the Fund
may reasonably request from time to time.
2.12 Segregated Account. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated
account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into
which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or
securities, including securities maintained in an account by
the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, (i) in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures
commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange
Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or any registered contract market), or of any
similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or
other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government
securities in connection with options purchased, sold or
written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or
options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the
purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures
required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the Securities and
Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of
segregated accounts by registered investment companies and
(iv) for other proper corporate purposes, but only, in the
case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in addition to Proper
Instructions, a certified copy of a resolution of the Board
of Trustees or of the Executive Committee signed by an
officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, setting forth the purpose or purposes
of such segregated account and declaring such purposes to be
proper corporate purposes.
2.13 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The Custodian
shall execute ownership and other certificates and
affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in
connection with receipt of income or other payments with
respect to securities of the Fund held by it and in
connection with transfers of such securities.
2.14 Proxies. The Custodian shall, with respect to the
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by
the registered holder of such securities, if the securities
are registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund or a
nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication of the
manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall
promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy
soliciting materials and all notices relating to such
securities.
2.15 Communications Relating to Fund Securities. Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit
promptly to the Fund all written information (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of
securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith
and notices of exercise of call and put options written by
the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or
sold by the Fund) 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 Fund 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. If the Fund desires to take
action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or
any other similar transaction, the Fund shall notify the
Custodian at least three business days prior to the date on
which the Custodian is to take such action.
2.16 Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accounts. The
Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund
may reasonably require, with respect by independent public
accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures
contracts and options on futures contracts, including
securities deposited and/or maintained in a Securities
System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian
under this Contract; such reports, shall be of sufficient
scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be
required by the Fund, to provide reasonable assurance that
any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such
examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.
3. Proper Instructions
Proper Instructions as used herein means a writing signed or
initialled by one or more person or persons as the Board of
Trustees shall have from time to time authorized. Each such
writing shall set forth the specified transaction or type of
transaction involved, including a specific statement of the
purpose for which such action is requested. Oral instructions
will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian
reasonably believes them to have been given by a person
authorized to give such instructions with respect to the
transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions
to be confirmed in writing. Upon receipt of a certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary as to the authorization by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund accompanied by a detailed
description of procedures approved by the Board of Trustees,
Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly
between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that
the Board of Trustees and the Custodian are satisfied that such
procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets. For
purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include
instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three-
party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in
accordance with Section 2.12.
4. Actions Permitted without Express Authority
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express
authority from the Fund:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of
handling securities or other similar items relating to
its duties under this Contract, provided that all such
payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities
in definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund,
checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in
connection with the sale, exchange, substitution,
purchase, transfer and other dealings with the
securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise
directed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
5. Evidence of Authority
The Custodian shall be protected in action upon any
instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been
properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may
receive and accept a certified copy of a vote of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority
of any person to act in accordance with such vote or (b) of any
determination or of any action by the Board of Trustees pursuant
to the Declaration of Trust as described in such vote, and such
vote may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt
by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.
6. Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and
Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary
information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund to keep the books of account of the Fund
and/or compute the net asset value per share of the outstanding
shares of the Fund or, if directed in writing to do so by the
Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such
net asset value per share. If so directed, the Custodian shall
also calculate weekly the net income of the Fund as described in
the Fund's currently effective prospectus and shall advise the
Fund and the Transfer Agent weekly of the total amounts of such
net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the
Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of
the division of such net income among its various components.
The calculations of the net asset value per share and the weekly
income of the Fund shall be made at the time or times described
from time to time in the Fund's currently effective prospectus.
7. Records
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating
to its activities and obligations under this Contract in such
manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, with particular attention to
Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All
such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all
times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open
for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents
of the Fund and employees and agents of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request,
supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the Fund
and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by
the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon
between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers
in such tabulations.
8. Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund
may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year
favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with
respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the
preparation of the Fund's Form N-2, and Form N-SAR or other
annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and with
respect to any other requirements of such Commission.
9. Compensation of Custodian
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation
for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from
time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
10. Responsibility of Custodian
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of
reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the
title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of
title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this
Contract and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party
or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting
pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options
agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of
reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Contract,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability
to the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
without negligence. It shall be entitle to rely on and may act
upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all
matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably
taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
If the Fund requires that Custodian to take any action with
respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money
or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in
the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable
for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other
form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to
take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an
amount and form satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates,
subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any
purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements and
assumed settlement) or in the event that the Custodian or its
nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses,
assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the
performance of this Contract, 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 therefor and should the
Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be
entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund's
assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
11. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment
This Contract shall become effective as of its execution,
shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as
hereinafter provided, may be amended at any time by mutual
agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by either
party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage
prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not
sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery or
mailing; provided, however that the Custodian shall not act under
Section 2.10 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the
Board of Trustees of the Fund has approved the initial use of a
particular Securities System, as required by Rule 17f-4 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and that the Custodian
shall not act under Section 2.11 hereof in the absence of receipt
of an initial certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary that the Board of Trustees has approved the initial use
of the Direct Paper System; provided, further, however, that the
Fund shall not amend or terminate this Contract in contravention
of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision
of the Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that the Fund
may at any time by action of its Board of Trustees (i) substitute
another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice
as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately
terminate this Contract in the event of the appointment of a
conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of
the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the
direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of
competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund shall pay to the
Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such
termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its
costs, expenses and disbursements.
12. Successor Custodian
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon termination,
deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the
Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all
securities then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an
account of the successor custodian all of the Fund's securities
held in a Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the
Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a certified copy
of a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, deliver at the
office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and
other properties in accordance with such vote.
In the event that no written order designating a successor
custodian or certified copy of a vote of the Board of Trustees
shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date
when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian
shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which
is a "bank" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, of its own selection,
having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as
shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000,
all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian
and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and
all other property held by it under this Contract and to transfer
to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund's
securities held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank
or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under
this Contract.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties
remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of
termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to procure the
certified copy of the vote referred to or of the Board of
Trustees to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be
entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period
as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and
other properties and the provisions of this contract relating to
the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full
force and effect.
13. Interpretive and Additional Provisions
In connection with the operation of this Contract, the
Custodian and the Fund, may from time to time agree on such
provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of
this Contract as may in their joint opinion be consistent with
the general tenor of this Contract. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in writing signed by both parties
and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive
or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal
or state regulations or any provision of the Declaration of Trust
of the Fund. No interpretive or additional provisions made as
provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an
amendment of this Contract.
14. Massachusetts Law to Apply
This Contract shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
15. Prior Contracts
This Contract supersedes and terminates, as of the date
hereof, all prior contracts between the Fund and the Custodian
relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
16. Shareholder Communications Election
Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 14b-2 requires banks
which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to
requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and
holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held
by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to
disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the
rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it
authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name, address, and
share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund
owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will
not provide this information to requesting companies. If the
Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes" or
"no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the
Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established
by the Fund. For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the
requesting company from using the Fund's name and address for any
purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate
below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the
alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the
Fund's name, address, and share positions.
NO [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release
the Fund's name, address and share positions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this
instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly
authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed as
of the day of , 199.
ATTEST NAME OF FUND
By
ATTEST STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By
Executive Vice President
CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
BETWEEN
(NAME OF TRUST, COMPANY, FUND)
AND
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It . 1
2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the
Fund Held By the Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.1 Holding Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.2 Delivery of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 Registration of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 Bank Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 Availability of Federal Funds . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.6 Collection of Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.7 Payment of Fund Monies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.8 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of
Securities Purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.9 Appointment of Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.10 Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems . . . 7
2.11 Fund Assets Held in the Custodian's Direct Paper
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.12 Segregated Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.13 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes . . . . . . 10
2.14 Proxies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.15 Communications Relating to Fund Securities . . . . 10
2.16 Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accounts . . 10
3. Proper Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4. Actions Permitted without Express Authority . . . . . . 11
5. Evidence of Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6. Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of
Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net
Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
7. Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8. Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant . . . . . . . . 13
9. Compensation of Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
10. Responsibility of Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
11. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment . . . . . . 14
12. Successor Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
13. Interpretive and Additional Provisions . . . . . . . . . 15
14. Massachusetts Law to Apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
15. Prior Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
16. Shareholder Communications Election . . . . . . . . . . 16
