CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Custody Agreement made as of March 24, 1993 between
PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC., a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Maryland, having its principal
office and place of business at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000 (hereinafter called the "Fund"),
and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York corporation authorized to do
a banking business, having its principal office and place of
business at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
(hereinafter called the "Custodian").
W I T N E S S E T H :
that for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter
set forth the Fund and the Custodian agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and
phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the
following meanings:
1. "Authorized Person" shall be deemed to include the
Treasurer, the Controller or any other person, whether or not any
such person is an Officer or employee of the Fund, duly authorized
by the Directors of the Fund to give Oral Instructions and Written
Instructions on behalf of the Fund and listed in the Certificate
annexed hereto as Appendix A or such other Certificate as may be
received by the Custodian from time to time.
2. "Available Balance" shall mean for any given day
during a calendar year the aggregate amount of Federal Funds held
in the Fund's custody account(s) at The Bank of New York, or its
successors, as of the close of such day or, if such day is not a
business day, the close of the preceding business day.
3. "Bankruptcy" shall mean with respect to a party such
party's making a general assignment, arrangement or composition
with or for the benefit of its creditors, or instituting or having
instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of
insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief under
the Federal bankruptcy law or any other relief under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting
creditors' rights, or if a petition is presented for the winding
up or liquidation of the party or a resolution is passed for its
winding up or liquidation, or it seeks, or becomes subject to, the
appointment of an administrator, receiver, trustee, custodian or
other similar official for it or for all or substantially all of
its assets or its taking any action in furtherance of, or
indicating its consent to approval of, or acquiescence in, any of
the foregoing.
4. "Book-Entry System" shall mean the Federal Reserve/
Treasury book-entry system for United States and Federal agency
securities, its successor or successors and its nominee or
nominees.
5. "Call Option" shall mean an exchange traded option
with respect to Securities other than Stock Index Options, Futures
Contracts and Futures Contract Options entitling the holder, upon
timely exercise and payment of the exercise price, as specified
therein, to purchase from the writer thereof the specified
underlying Securities.
6. "Certificate" shall mean any notice, instruction, or
other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given to the Custodian, which is actually received
by the Custodian and signed on behalf of the Fund by any two
Officers of the Fund.
7. "Clearing Member" shall mean a registered broker-
dealer which is a clearing member under the rules of O.C.C. and a
member of a national securities exchange qualified to act as a
custodian for an investment company, or any broker-dealer
reasonably believed by the Custodian to be such a clearing member.
8. "Collateral Account" shall mean a segregated account
so denominated and pledged to the Custodian as security for, and
in consideration of, the Custodian's issuance of (a) any Put
Option guarantee letter or similar document described in para-
graph 8 of Article V herein, or (b) any receipt described in
Article V or VIII herein.
9. "Consumer Price Index" shall mean the U.S. Consumer
Price Index, all items and all urban consumers, U.S. city average
l982-84 equals 100, as first published without seasonal adjustment
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Labor,
without regard to subsequent revisions or corrections by such
Bureau.
10. "Covered Call Option" shall mean an exchange traded
option entitling the holder, upon timely exercise and payment of
the exercise price, as specified therein, to purchase from the
writer thereof the specified Securities (excluding Futures
Contracts) which are owned by the writer thereof and subject to
appropriate restrictions.
11. "Depository" shall mean The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), a clearing agency registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, its successor or successors and its
nominee or nominees, provided the Custodian has received a
certified copy of a resolution of the Fund's Directors
specifically approving deposits in DTC. The term "Depository"
shall further mean and include any other person authorized to act
as a depository under the Investment Company Act of 1940, its
successor or successors and its nominee or nominees, specifically
identified in a certified copy of a resolution of the Fund's
Directors specifically approving deposits therein by the
Custodian.
12. "Earnings Credit" shall mean for any given day
during a calendar year the product of (a) the Federal Funds Rate
for such date minus .25%, and (b) 82% of the Available Balance.
13. "Federal Funds" shall mean immediately available
same day funds.
14. "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any day, the
Federal Funds (Effective) interest rate so denominated as
published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) and
applicable to such day and each succeeding day which is not a
business day.
15. "Financial Futures Contract" shall mean the firm
commitment to buy or sell fixed income securities, including,
without limitation, U.S. Treasury Bills, U.S. Treasury Notes, U.S.
Treasury Bonds, domestic bank certificates of deposit, and
Eurodollar certificates of deposit, during a specified month at an
agreed upon price.
16. "Futures Contract" shall mean a Financial Futures
Contract and/or Stock Index Futures Contracts.
17. "Futures Contract Option" shall mean an option with
respect to a Futures Contract.
18. "Margin Account" shall mean a segregated account in
the name of a broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or
Clearing Member, or in the name of the Fund for the benefit of a
broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing Member, or
otherwise, in accordance with an agreement between the Fund, the
Custodian and a broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or
Clearing Member (a "Margin Account Agreement"), separate and
distinct from the custody account, in which certain Securities
and/or money of the Fund shall be deposited and withdrawn from
time to time in connection with such transactions as the Fund may
from time to time determine. Securities held in the Book-Entry
System or the Depository shall be deemed to have been deposited
in, or withdrawn from, a Margin Account upon the Custodian's
effecting an appropriate entry on its books and records.
19. "Merger" shall mean (a) with respect to the Fund,
the consolidation or amalgamation with, merger into, or transfer
of all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity,
where the Fund is not the surviving entity, and (b) with respect
to the Custodian, any consolidation or amalgamation with, merger
into, or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to,
another entity, except for any such consolidation, amalgamation,
merger or transfer of assets between the Custodian and The Bank of
New York Company, Inc. or any subsidiary thereof, or the Irving
Bank Corporation or any subsidiary thereof, provided that the
surviving entity agrees to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement.
20. "Money Market Security" shall be deemed to include,
without limitation, debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the government of the United States or
agencies or instrumentalities thereof, commercial paper,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances, repurchase and
reverse repurchase agreements with respect to the same and bank
time deposits, where the purchase and sale of such securities
normally requires settlement in Federal funds on the same date as
such purchase or sale.
21. "O.C.C." shall mean Options Clearing Corporation, a
clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, its successor or successors, and its nominee
or nominees.
22. "Officers" shall be deemed to include the
President, any Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the
Controller, any Assistant Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or
any other person or persons duly authorized by the Directors of
the Fund to execute any Certificate, instruction, notice or other
instrument on behalf of the Fund and listed in the Certificate
annexed hereto as Appendix B or such other Certificate as may be
received by the Custodian from time to time.
23. "Option" shall mean a Call Option, Covered Call
Option, Stock Index Option and/or a Put Option.
24. "Oral Instructions" shall mean verbal instructions
actually received by the Custodian from an Authorized Person or
from a person reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an
Authorized Person.
25. "Put Option" shall mean an exchange traded option
with respect to Securities other than Stock Index Options, Futures
Contracts, and Futures Contract Options entitling the holder, upon
timely exercise and tender of the specified underlying Securities,
to sell such Securities to the writer thereof for the exercise
price.
26. "Reverse Repurchase Agreement" shall mean an
agreement pursuant to which the Fund sells Securities and agrees
to repurchase such Securities at a described or specified date and
price.
27. "Security" shall be deemed to include, without
limitation, Money Market Securities, Call Options, Put Options,
Stock Index Options, Stock Index Futures Contracts, Stock Index
Futures Contract Options, Financial Futures Contracts, Financial
Futures Contract Options, Reverse Repurchase Agreements, common
stock and other instruments or rights having characteristics
similar to common stocks, preferred stocks, debt obligations
issued by state or municipal governments and by public authorities
(including, without limitation, general obligation bonds, revenue
bonds and industrial bonds and industrial development bonds),
bonds, debentures, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any
certificates, receipts, warrants or other instruments representing
rights to receive, purchase, sell or subscribe for the same, or
evidencing or representing any other rights or interest therein,
or any property or assets.
28. "Segregated Security Account" shall mean an account
maintained under the terms of this Agreement as a segregated
account, by recordation or otherwise, within the custody account
in which certain Securities and/or other assets of the Fund shall
be deposited and withdrawn from time to time in accordance with
Certificates received by the Custodian in connection with such
transactions as the Fund may from time to time determine.
29. "Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock of
the Fund, each of which, in the case of a Fund having Series, is
allocated to a particular Series.
30. "Stock Index Futures Contract" shall mean a
bilateral agreement pursuant to which the parties agree to take or
make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar
amount times the difference between the value of a particular
stock index at the close of the last business day of the contract
and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.
31. "Stock Index Option" shall mean an exchange traded
option entitling the holder, upon timely exercise, to receive an
amount of cash determined by reference to the difference between
the exercise price and the value of the index on the date of
exercise.
32. "Written Instructions" shall mean written
communications actually received by the Custodian from an
Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by the
Custodian to be an Authorized Person by telex or any other such
system whereby the receiver of such communications is able to
verify by codes or otherwise with a reasonable degree of certainty
the authenticity of the sender of such communication.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN
1. The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the
Custodian as custodian of all the Securities and moneys at any
time owned by the Fund during the period of this Agreement, except
that (a) if the Custodian fails to provide for the custody of any
of the Fund's Securities and moneys located or to be located
outside the United States in a manner satisfactory to the Fund,
the Fund shall be permitted to arrange for the custody of such
Securities and moneys located or to be located outside the United
States other than through the Custodian at rates to be negotiated
and borne by the Fund and (b) if the Custodian fails to continue
any existing sub-custodial or similar arrangements on
substantially the same terms as exist on the date of this
Agreement, the Fund shall be permitted to arrange for such or
similar services other than through the Custodian at rates to be
negotiated and borne by the Fund. The Custodian shall not charge
the Fund for any such terminated services after the date of such
termination.
2. The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such
custodian and agrees to perform the duties thereof as hereinafter
set forth.
ARTICLE III
CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES
1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 7 of this
Article and in Article VIII, the Fund will deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Custodian all Securities and all moneys owned by
it, including cash received for the issuance of its shares, at any
time during the period of this Agreement. The Custodian will not
be responsible for such Securities and such moneys until actually
received by it. The Custodian will be entitled to reverse any
credits made on the Fund's behalf where such credits have been
previously made and moneys are not finally collected. The Fund
shall deliver to the Custodian a certified resolution of the
Directors of the Fund approving, authorizing and instructing the
Custodian on a continuous and on-going basis to deposit in the
Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and
to utilize the Book-Entry System to the extent possible in
connection with its performance hereunder, including, without
limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales
of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of
Securities collateral. Prior to a deposit of Securities of the
Fund in the Depository the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
certified resolution of the Directors of the Fund approving,
authorizing and instructing the Custodian on a continuous and on-
going basis until instructed to the contrary by a Certificate
actually received by the Custodian to deposit in the Depository
all Securities eligible for deposit therein and to utilize the
Depository to the extent possible in connection with its
performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in
connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities,
loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of Securities
collateral. Securities and moneys of the Fund deposited in either
the Book-Entry System or the Depository will be represented in
accounts which include only assets held by the Custodian for
customers, including, but not limited to, accounts in which the
Custodian acts in a fiduciary or representative capacity. Prior
to the Custodian's accepting, utilizing and acting with respect to
Clearing Member confirmations for Options and transactions in
Options as provided in this Agreement, the Custodian shall have
received a certified resolution of the Fund's Board of Directors
approving, authorizing and instructing the Custodian on a
continuous and on-going basis, until instructed to the contrary by
a Certificate actually received by the Custodian, to accept,
utilize and act in accordance with such confirmations as provided
in this Agreement.
2. The Custodian shall credit to a separate account in
the name of the Fund all moneys received by it for the account of
the Fund, and shall disburse the same only:
(a) In payment for Securities purchased, as provided in
Article IV hereof;
(b) In payment of dividends or distributions, as
provided in Article XI hereof;
(c) In payment of original issue or other taxes, as
provided in Article XII hereof;
(d) In payment for Shares redeemed by it, as provided
in Article XII hereof;
(e) Pursuant to Certificates setting forth the name and
address of the person to whom the payment is to be made, and the
purpose for which payment is to be made; or
(f) In payment of the fees and in reimbursement of the
expenses and liabilities of the Custodian, as provided in Article
XV hereof.
3. Promptly after the close of business on each day,
the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with confirmations and a
summary of all transfers to or from the account of the Fund during
said day. Where Securities are transferred to the account of the
Fund, the Custodian shall also by book-entry or otherwise identify
as belonging to the Fund a quantity of Securities in a fungible
bulk of Securities registered in the name of the Custodian (or its
nominee) or shown on the Custodian's account on the books of the
Book-Entry System or the Depository. At least monthly and from
time to time, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a detailed
statement of the Securities and moneys held for the Fund under
this Agreement.
4. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 7 of this
Article and in Article VIII, all Securities held for the Fund,
which are issued or issuable only in bearer form, except such
Securities as are held in the Book-Entry System, shall be held by
the Custodian in that form; all other Securities held for the Fund
may be registered in the name of the Fund, in the name of any duly
appointed registered nominee of the Custodian as the Custodian may
from time to time determine, or in the name of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository or their successor or successors, or
their nominee or nominees. The Fund agrees to furnish to the
Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold
or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name
of its registered nominee or in the name of the Book-Entry System
or the Depository, any Securities which it may hold for the
account of the Fund and which may from time to time be registered
in the name of the Fund. The Custodian shall hold all such
Securities which are not held in the Book-Entry System or in the
Depository in a separate account in the name of the Fund
physically segregated at all times from those of any other person
or persons.
5. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and
unless otherwise instructed to the contrary by a Certificate, the
Custodian by itself, or through the use of the Book-Entry System
or the Depository with respect to Securities therein deposited,
shall with respect to all Securities held for the Fund in
accordance with this Agreement:
(a) Collect all income due or payable and, in any
event, if the Custodian receives a written notice from the Fund
specifying that an amount of income should have been received by
the Custodian within the last 90 days, the Custodian will provide
a conditional payment of income within 60 days from the date the
Custodian received such notice, unless the Custodian reasonably
concludes that such income was not due or payable to the Fund,
provided that the Custodian may reverse any such conditional
payment upon its reasonably concluding that all or any portion of
such income was not due or payable, and provided further that the
Custodian shall not be liable for failing to collect on a timely
basis the full amount of income due or payable in respect of a
"floating rate instrument" or "variable rate instrument" (as such
terms are defined under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended) if it has acted in good faith, without
negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) Present for payment and collect the amount payable
upon such Securities which are called, but only if either (i) the
Custodian receives a written notice of such call, or (ii) notice
of such call appears in one or more of the publications listed in
Appendix C annexed hereto, which may be amended at any time by the
Custodian upon five business days' prior notification to the Fund;
(c) Present for payment and collect the amount payable
upon all Securities which may mature;
(d) Surrender Securities in temporary form for
definitive Securities;
(e) Execute, as Custodian, any necessary declarations
or certificates of ownership under the Federal Income Tax Laws or
the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or
hereafter in effect; and
(f) Hold directly, or through the Book-Entry System or
the Depository with respect to Securities therein deposited, for
the account of the Fund all rights and similar securities issued
with respect to any Securities held by the Custodian hereunder.
6. Upon receipt of a Certificate and not otherwise, the
Custodian, directly or through the use of the Book-Entry System or
the Depository, shall:
(a) Execute and deliver to such persons as may be
designated in such Certificate proxies, consents, authorizations,
and any other instruments whereby the authority of the Fund as
owner of any Securities may be exercised;
(b) Deliver any Securities held for the Fund in
exchange for other Securities or cash issued or paid in connection
with the liquidation, reorganization, refinancing, merger,
consolidation or recapitalization of any corporation, or the
exercise of any conversion privilege;
(c) Deliver any Securities held for the Fund to any
protective committee, reorganization committee or other person in
connection with the reorganization, refinancing, merger,
consolidation, recapitalization or sale of assets of any
corporation, and receive and hold under the terms of this
Agreement such certificates of deposit, interim receipts or other
instruments or documents as may be issued to it to evidence such
delivery;
(d) Make such transfers or exchanges of the assets of
the Fund and take such other steps as shall be stated in said
order to be for the purpose of effectuating any duly authorized
plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or
recapitalization of the Fund; and
(e) Present for payment and collect the amount payable
upon Securities not described in preceding paragraph 5(b) of this
Article which may be called as specified in the Certificate.
7. Notwithstanding any provision elsewhere contained
herein, the Custodian shall not be required to obtain possession
of any instrument or certificate representing any Futures
Contract, Option or Futures Contract Option until after it shall
have determined, or shall have received a Certificate from the
Fund stating, that any such instruments or certificates are
available. The Fund shall deliver to the Custodian such a
Certificate no later than the business day preceding the
availability of any such instrument or certificate. Prior to such
availability, the Custodian shall comply with Section 17(f) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, in connection with the
purchase, sale, settlement, closing out or writing of Futures
Contracts, Options or Futures Contract Options by making payments
or deliveries specified in Certificates received by the Custodian
in connection with any such purchase, sale, writing, settlement or
closing out upon its receipt from a broker, dealer or futures
commission merchant of a statement or confirmation reasonably
believed by the Custodian to be in the form customarily used by
brokers, dealers, or futures commission merchants with respect to
such Futures Contracts, Options or Futures Contract Options, as
the case may be, confirming that such Security is held by such
broker, dealer or futures commission merchant, in book-entry form
or otherwise, in the name of the Custodian (or any nominee of the
Custodian) as custodian for the Fund, provided, however, that
payments to or deliveries from the Margin Account shall be made in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement. Whenever any such instruments or certificates are
available, the Custodian shall, notwithstanding any provision in
this Agreement to the contrary, make payment for any Futures
Contract, Option or Futures Contract Option for which such
instruments or such certificates are available only against the
delivery to the Custodian of such instrument or such certificate,
and deliver any Futures Contract, Option or Futures Contract
Option for which such instruments or such certificates are
available only against receipt by the Custodian of payment
therefor. Any such instrument or certificate delivered to the
Custodian shall be held by the Custodian hereunder in accordance
with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND OTHER THAN OPTIONS,
FUTURES CONTRACTS, FUTURES CONTRACT OPTIONS AND REVERSE
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
1. Promptly after each purchase of Securities by the
Fund, other than a purchase of any Option, Futures Contract,
Futures Contract Option or Reverse Repurchase Agreement, the Fund
shall deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each purchase
of Securities which are not Money Market Securities, a
Certificate, and (ii) with respect to each purchase of Money
Market Securities, a Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions, specifying with respect to each such purchase: (a)
the name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (b) the
number of shares or the principal amount purchased and accrued
interest, if any; (c) the date of purchase and settlement; (d) the
purchase price per unit; (e) the total amount payable upon such
purchase; (f) the name of the person from whom or the broker
through whom the purchase was made, and the name of the clearing
broker, if any; and (g) the name of the broker to which payment is
to be made. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of Securities
purchased by or for the Fund, pay out of the moneys held for the
account of the Fund the total amount payable to the person from
whom, or the broker through whom, the purchase was made, provided
that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in
such Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.
2. Promptly after each sale of Securities by the Fund,
other than a sale of any Option, Futures Contract, Futures
Contract Option or Reverse Repurchase Agreement, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each sale of
Securities which are not Money Market Securities, a Certificate,
and (ii) with respect to each sale of Money Market Securities, a
Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, specifying
with respect to each such sale: (a) the name of the issuer and
the title of the Security; (b) the number of shares or principal
amount sold, and accrued interest, if any; (c) the date of sale;
(d) the sale price per unit; (e) the total amount payable to the
Fund upon such sale; (f) the name of the broker through whom or
the person to whom the sale was made, and the name of the clearing
broker, if any; and (g) the name of the broker to whom the
Securities are to be delivered. The Custodian shall deliver the
Securities upon receipt of the total amount payable to the Fund
upon such sale, provided that the same conforms to the total
amount payable as set forth in such Certificate, Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian
may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it,
and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance
with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.
ARTICLE V
OPTIONS
1. Promptly after the purchase of any Option by the
Fund, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to each Option purchased: (a) the type of
Option (put or call); (b) the name of the issuer and the title and
number of shares subject to such Option or, in the case of a Stock
Index Option, the stock index to which such Option relates and the
number of Stock Index Options purchased; (c) the expiration date;
(d) the exercise price; (e) the dates of purchase and settlement;
(f) the total amount payable by the Fund in connection with such
purchase; (g) the name of the Clearing Member through which such
Option was purchased; and (h) the name of the broker to whom
payment is to be made. The Custodian shall pay, upon receipt of a
Clearing Member's statement confirming the purchase of such Option
held by such Clearing Member for the account of the Custodian (or
any duly appointed and registered nominee of the Custodian) as
custodian for the Fund, out of moneys held for the account of the
Fund, the total amount payable upon such purchase to the Clearing
Member through whom the purchase was made, provided that the same
conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such
Certificate.
2. Promptly after the sale of any Option purchased by
the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof, the Fund shall deliver to
the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such
sale: (a) the type of Option (put or call); (b) the name of the
issuer and the title and number of shares subject to such Option
or, in the case of a Stock Index Option, the stock index to which
such Option relates and the number of Stock Index Options sold;
(c) the date of sale; (d) the sale price; (e) the date of
settlement; (f) the total amount payable to the Fund upon such
sale; and (g) the name of the Clearing Member through which the
sale was made. The Custodian shall consent to the delivery of the
Option sold by the Clearing Member which previously supplied the
confirmation described in preceding paragraph 1 of this Article
with respect to such Option against payment to the Custodian of
the total amount payable to the Fund, provided that the same
conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such
Certificate.
3. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Call
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof, the
Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with
respect to such Call Option: (a) the name of the issuer and the
title and number of shares subject to the Call Option; (b) the
expiration date; (c) the date of exercise and settlement; (d) the
exercise price per share; (e) the total amount to be paid by the
Fund upon such exercise; and (f) the name of the Clearing Member
through which such Call Option was exercised. The Custodian
shall, upon receipt of the Securities underlying the Call Option
which was exercised, pay out of the moneys held for the account of
the Fund the total amount payable to the Clearing Member through
whom the Call Option was exercised, provided that the same
conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such
Certificate.
4. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Put
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof, the
Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with
respect to such Put Option: (a) the name of the issuer and the
title and number of shares subject to the Put Option; (b) the
expiration date; (c) the date of exercise and settlement; (d) the
exercise price per share; (e) the total amount to be paid to the
Fund upon such exercise; and (f) the name of the Clearing Member
through which such Put Option was exercised. The Custodian shall,
upon receipt of the amount payable upon the exercise of the Put
Option, deliver or direct the Depository to deliver the
Securities, provided the same conforms to the amount payable to
the Fund as set forth in such Certificate.
5. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Stock
Index Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof,
the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying
with respect to such Stock Index Option: (a) the type of Stock
Index Option (put or call); (b) the number of Options being
exercised; (c) the stock index to which such Option relates;
(d) the expiration date; (e) the exercise price; (f) the total
amount to be received by the Fund in connection with such
exercise; and (g) the Clearing Member from which such payment is
to be received.
6. Whenever the Fund writes a Covered Call Option, the
Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Covered Call Option: (a) the name
of the issuer and the title and number of shares for which the
Covered Call Option was written and which underlie the same;
(b) the expiration date; (c) the exercise price; (d) the premium
to be received by the Fund; (e) the date such Covered Call Option
was written; and (f) the name of the Clearing Member through which
the premium is to be received. The Custodian shall deliver or
cause to be delivered, in exchange for receipt of the premium
specified in the Certificate with respect to such Covered Call
Option, such receipts as are required in accordance with the
customs prevailing among Clearing Members dealing in Covered Call
Options and shall impose, or direct the Depository to impose, upon
the underlying Securities specified in the Certificate such
restrictions as may be required by such receipts. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Custodian has the right, upon prior written
notification to the Fund, at any time to refuse to issue any
receipts for Securities in the possession of the Custodian and not
deposited with the Depository underlying a Covered Call Option.
7. Whenever a Covered Call Option written by the Fund
and described in the preceding paragraph of this Article is
exercised, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate instructing the Custodian to deliver, or to direct the
Depository to deliver, the Securities subject to such Covered Call
Option and specifying: (a) the name of the issuer and the title
and number of shares subject to the Covered Call Option; (b) the
Clearing Member to whom the underlying Securities are to be
delivered; and (c) the total amount payable to the Fund upon such
delivery. Upon the return and/or cancellation of any receipts
delivered pursuant to paragraph 6 of this Article, the Custodian
shall deliver, or direct the Depository to deliver, the underlying
Securities as specified in the Certificate for the amount to be
received as set forth in such Certificate.
8. Whenever the Fund writes a Put Option, the Fund
shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying
with respect to such Put Option: (a) the name of the issuer and
the title and number of shares for which the Put Option is written
and which underlie the same; (b) the expiration date; (c) the
exercise price; (d) the premium to be received by the Fund;
(e) the date such Put Option is written; (f) the name of the
Clearing Member through which the premium is to be received and to
whom a Put Option guarantee letter is to be delivered; (g) the
amount of cash, and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if any,
to be deposited in the Segregated Security Account; and (h) the
amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities to be
deposited into the Collateral Account. The Custodian shall, after
making the deposits into the Collateral Account specified in the
Certificate, issue a Put Option guarantee letter substantially in
the form utilized by the Custodian on the date hereof, and deliver
the same to the Clearing Member specified in the Certificate
against receipt of the premium specified in said Certificate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall be under no
obligation to issue any Put Option guarantee letter or similar
document if it is unable to make any of the representations
contained therein.
9. Whenever a Put Option written by the Fund and
described in the preceding paragraph is exercised, the Fund shall
promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying:
(a) the name of the issuer and title and number of shares subject
to the Put Option; (b) the Clearing Member from which the
underlying Securities are to be received; (c) the total amount
payable by the Fund upon such delivery; (d) the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities to be withdrawn from the
Collateral Account; and (e) the amount of cash and/or the amount
and kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the
Segregated Security Account. Upon the return and/or cancellation
of any Put Option guarantee letter or similar document issued by
the Custodian in connection with such Put Option, the Custodian
shall pay out of the moneys held for the account of the Fund the
total amount payable to the Clearing Member specified in the
Certificate as set forth in such Certificate, and shall make the
withdrawals specified in such Certificate.
10. Whenever the Fund writes a Stock Index Option, the
Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Stock Index Option: (a) whether
such Stock Index Option is a put or a call; (b) the number of
Options written; (c) the stock index to which such Option relates;
(d) the expiration date; (e) the exercise price; (f) the Clearing
Member through which such Option was written; (g) the premium to
be received by the Fund; (h) the amount of cash and/or the amount
and kind of Securities, if any, to be deposited in the Segregated
Security Account; (i) the amount of cash and/or the amount and
kind of Securities, if any, to be deposited in the Collateral
Account; and (j) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be deposited in a Margin Account, and the
name in which such account is to be or has been established. The
Custodian shall, upon receipt of the premium specified in the
Certificate, make the deposits, if any, into the Segregated
Security Account specified in the Certificate, and either (1)
deliver such receipts, if any, which the Custodian has
specifically agreed to issue, which are in accordance with the
customs prevailing among Clearing Members in Stock Index Options
and make the deposits into the Collateral Account specified in the
Certificate, or (2) make the deposits into the Margin Account
specified in the Certificate.
11. Whenever a Stock Index Option written by the Fund
and described in the preceding paragraph of this Article is
exercised, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to such Stock Index Option:
(a) such information as may be necessary to identify the Stock
Index Option being exercised; (b) the Clearing Member through
which such Stock Index Option is being exercised; (c) the total
amount payable upon such exercise, and whether such amount is to
be paid by or to the Fund; (d) the amount of cash and/or amount
and kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Margin
Account; and (e) the amount of cash and/or amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Segregated Security
Account and the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Collateral Account.
Upon the return and/or cancellation of the receipt, if any,
delivered pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Article, the
Custodian shall pay to the Clearing Member specified in the
Certificate the total amount payable, if any, as specified
therein.
12. Whenever the Fund purchases any Option identical to
a previously written Option described in paragraphs 6, 8 or 10 of
this Article in a transaction expressly designated as a "Closing
Purchase Transaction" in order to liquidate its position as a
writer of an Option, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to the Option
being purchased: (a) that the transaction is a Closing Purchase
Transaction; (b) the name of the issuer and the title and number
of shares subject to the Option, or, in the case of a Stock Index
Option, the stock index to which such Option relates and the
number of Options held; (c) the exercise price; (d) the premium to
be paid by the Fund; (e) the expiration date; (f) the type of
Option (put or call); (g) the date of such purchase; (h) the name
of the Clearing Member to which the premium is to be paid; and (i)
the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if
any, to be withdrawn from the Collateral Account, a specified
Margin Account or the Segregated Security Account. Upon the
Custodian's payment of the premium and the return and/or
cancellation of any receipt issued pursuant to paragraphs 6, 8 or
10 of this Article with respect to the Option being liquidated
through the Closing Purchase Transaction, the Custodian shall
remove, or direct the Depository to remove, the previously imposed
restrictions on the Securities underlying the Call Option.
13. Upon the expiration or exercise of, or consummation
of a Closing Purchase Transaction with respect to, any Option
purchased or written by the Fund and described in this Article,
the Custodian shall delete such Option from the statements
delivered to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article III
herein, and upon the return and/or cancellation of any receipts
issued by the Custodian, shall make such withdrawals from the
Collateral Account, the Margin Account and/or the Segregated
Security Account as may be specified in a Certificate received in
connection with such expiration, exercise, or consummation.
ARTICLE VI
FUTURES CONTRACTS
1. Whenever the Fund shall enter into a Futures
Contract, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Futures Contract (or with respect
to any number of identical Futures Contract(s)): (a) the category
of Futures Contract (the name of the underlying stock index or
financial instrument); (b) the number of identical Futures
Contracts entered into; (c) the delivery or settlement date of the
Futures Contract(s); (d) the date the Futures Contract(s) was
(were) entered into and the maturity date; (e) whether the Fund is
buying (going long) or selling (going short) on such Futures
Contract(s); (f) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be deposited in the Segregated Security
Account; (g) the name of the broker, dealer or futures commission
merchant through which the Futures Contract was entered into; and
(h) the amount of fee or commission, if any, to be paid and the
name of the broker, dealer or futures commission merchant to whom
such amount is to be paid. The Custodian shall make the deposits,
if any, to the Margin Account in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement. The Custodian shall
make payment of the fee or commission, if any, specified in the
Certificate and deposit in the Segregated Security Account the
amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities specified
in said Certificate.
2. (a) Any variation margin payment or similar payment
required to be made by the Fund to a broker, dealer or futures
commission merchant with respect to an outstanding Futures
Contract shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
(b) Any variation margin payment or similar payment
from a broker, dealer or futures commission merchant to the Fund
with respect to an outstanding Futures Contract shall be received
and dealt with by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
3. Whenever a Futures Contract held by the Custodian
hereunder is retained by the Fund until delivery or settlement is
made on such Futures Contract, the Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a) the Futures Contract; (b)
with respect to a Stock Index Futures Contract, the total cash
settlement amount to be paid or received, and with respect to a
Financial Futures Contract, the Securities and/or amount of cash
to be delivered or received; (c) the broker, dealer or futures
commission merchant to or from which payment or delivery is to be
made or received; and (d) the amount of cash and/or Securities to
be withdrawn from the Segregated Security Account. The Custodian
shall make the payment or delivery specified in the Certificate
and delete such Futures Contract from the statements delivered to
the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article III herein.
4. Whenever the Fund shall enter into a Futures
Contract to offset a Futures Contract held by the Custodian
hereunder, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying: (a) the items of information required in a
Certificate described in paragraph 1 of this Article, and (b) the
Futures Contract being offset. The Custodian shall make payment
of the fee or commission, if any, specified in the Certificate and
delete the Futures Contract being offset from the statements
delivered to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article III
herein, and make such withdrawals from the Segregated Security
Account as may be specified in such Certificate. The withdrawals,
if any, to be made from the Margin Account shall be made by the
Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Margin Account Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
FUTURES CONTRACT OPTIONS
1. Promptly after the purchase of any Futures Contract
Option by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to such Futures Contract
Option: (a) the type of Futures Contract Option (put or call);
(b) the type of Futures Contract and such other information as may
be necessary to identify the Futures Contract underlying the
Futures Contract Option purchased; (c) the expiration date; (d)
the exercise price; (e) the dates of purchase and settlement; (f)
the amount of premium to be paid by the Fund upon such purchase;
(g) the name of the broker or futures commission merchant through
which such option was purchased; and (h) the name of the broker or
futures commission merchant to whom payment is to be made. The
Custodian shall pay the total amount to be paid upon such purchase
to the broker or futures commission merchant through whom the
purchase was made, provided that the same conforms to the amount
set forth in such Certificate.
2. Promptly after the sale of any Futures Contract
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof, the
Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to each such sale: (a) the type of
Futures Contract Option (put or call); (b) the type of Futures
Contract and such other information as may be necessary to
identify the Futures Contract underlying the Futures Contract
Option; (c) the date of sale; (d) the sale price; (e) the date of
settlement; (f) the total amount payable to the Fund upon such
sale; and (g) the name of the broker or futures commission
merchant through which the sale was made. The Custodian shall
consent to the cancellation of the Futures Contract Option being
closed against payment to the Custodian of the total amount
payable to the Fund, provided the same conforms to the total
amount payable as set forth in such Certificate.
3. Whenever a Futures Contract Option purchased by the
Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 is exercised by the Fund, the Fund
shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying:
(a) the particular Futures Contract Option (put or call) being
exercised; (b) the type of Futures Contract underlying the Futures
Contract Option; (c) the date of exercise; (d) the name of the
broker or futures commission merchant through which the Futures
Contract Option is exercised; (e) the net total amount, if any,
payable by the Fund; (f) the amount, if any, to be received by the
Fund; and (g) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities to be deposited in the Segregated Security Account.
The Custodian shall make the payments, if any, and the deposits,
if any, into the Segregated Security Account as specified in the
Certificate. The deposits, if any, to be made to the Margin
Account shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
4. Whenever the Fund writes a Futures Contract Option,
the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Futures Contract Option: (a) the
type of Futures Contract Option (put or call); (b) the type of
Futures Contract and such other information as may be necessary to
identify the Futures Contract underlying the Futures Contract
Option; (c) the expiration date; (d) the exercise price; (e) the
premium to be received by the Fund; (f) the name of the broker or
futures commission merchant through which the premium is to be
received; and (g) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be deposited in the Segregated Security
Account. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the premium
specified in the Certificate, make the deposits into the
Segregated Security Account, if any, as specified in the
Certificate. The deposits, if any, to be made to the Margin
Account shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
5. Whenever a Futures Contract Option written by the
Fund which is a call is exercised, the Fund shall promptly deliver
to the Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a) the particular
Futures Contract Option exercised; (b) the type of Futures
Contract underlying the Futures Contract Option; (c) the name of
the broker or futures commission merchant through which such
Futures Contract Option was exercised; (d) the net total amount,
if any, payable to the Fund upon such exercise; (e) the net total
amount, if any, payable by the Fund upon such exercise; and (f)
the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities to be
deposited in the Segregated Security Account. The Custodian
shall, upon its receipt of the net total amount payable to the
Fund, if any, specified in such Certificate make the payments, if
any, and the deposits, if any, into the Segregated Security
Account as specified in the Certificate. The deposits, if any, to
be made to the Margin Account shall be made by the Custodian in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement.
6. Whenever a Futures Contract Option which is written
by the Fund and which is a Put Option is exercised, the Fund shall
promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a)
the particular Futures Contract Option exercised; (b) the type of
Futures Contract underlying such Futures Contract Option; (c) the
name of the broker or futures commission merchant through which
such Futures Contract Option is exercised; (d) the net total
amount, if any, payable to the Fund upon such exercise; (e) the
net total amount, if any, payable by the Fund upon such exercise;
and (f) the amount and kind of Securities and/or cash to be
withdrawn from or deposited in the Segregated Security Account, if
any. The Custodian shall, upon its receipt of the net total
amount payable to the Fund, if any, specified in the Certificate,
make the payments, if any, and the deposits, if any, into the
Segregated Security Account as specified in the Certificate. The
deposits to and/or withdrawals from the Margin Account, if any,
shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
7. Whenever the Fund purchases any Futures Contract
Option identical to a previously written Futures Contract Option
described in this Article in order to liquidate its position as a
writer of such Futures Contract Option, the Fund shall promptly
deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to
the Futures Contract Option being purchased: (a) that the
transaction is a closing transaction; (b) the type of Futures
Contract and such other information as may be necessary to
identify the Futures Contract underlying the Futures Contract
Option; (c) the exercise price; (d) the premium to be paid by the
Fund; (e) the expiration date; (f) the name of the broker or
futures commission merchant to which the premium is to be paid;
and (g) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Segregated Security
Account. The Custodian shall effect the withdrawals from the
Segregated Security Account specified in the Certificate. The
withdrawals, if any, to be made from the Margin Account shall be
made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Margin Account Agreement.
8. Upon the expiration or exercise of, or consummation
of a closing transaction with respect to, any Futures Contract
Option written or purchased by the Fund and described in this
Article, the Custodian shall (a) delete such Futures Contract
Option from the statements delivered to the Fund pursuant to para-
graph 3 of Article III herein, and (b) make such withdrawals from,
and/or, in the case of an exercise, such deposits into, the
Segregated Security Account as may be specified in a Certificate.
The deposits to and/or withdrawals from the Margin Account, if
any, shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
9. Futures Contracts acquired by the Fund through the
exercise of a Futures Contract Option described in this Article
shall be subject to Article VI hereof.
ARTICLE VIII
SHORT SALES
1. Promptly after any short sale, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a) the name
of the issuer and the title of the Security; (b) the number of
shares or principal amount sold, and accrued interest or
dividends, if any; (c) the dates of the sale and settlement; (d)
the sale price per unit; (e) the total amount credited to the Fund
upon such sales, if any; (f) the amount of cash and/or the amount
and kind of Securities, if any, which are to be deposited in a
Margin Account and the name in which such Margin Account has been
or is to be established; (g) the amount of cash and/or the amount
and kind of Securities, if any, to be deposited in a Segregated
Security Account; and (h) the name of the broker through which
such short sale was made. The Custodian shall upon its receipt of
a statement from such broker confirming such sale and that the
total amount credited to the Fund upon such sale, if any, as
specified in the Certificate is held by such broker for the
account of the Custodian (or any nominee of the Custodian) as
custodian of the Fund, issue a receipt or make the deposits into
the Margin Account and the Segregated Security Account specified
in the Certificate.
2. In connection with the closing-out of any short
sale, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to each such closing-out: (a)
the name of the issuer and the title of the Security; (b) the
number of shares or the principal amount, and accrued interest or
dividends, if any, required to effect such closing-out to be
delivered to the broker; (c) the dates of the closing-out and
settlement; (d) the purchase price per unit; (e) the net total
amount payable to the Fund upon such closing-out; (f) the net
total amount payable to the broker upon such closing-out; (g) the
amount of cash and the amount and kind of Securities to be
withdrawn, if any, from the Margin Account; (h) the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn
from the Segregated Security Account; and (i) the name of the
broker through which the Fund is effecting such closing-out. The
Custodian shall, upon receipt of the net total amount payable to
the Fund upon such closing-out and the return and/or cancellation
of the receipts, if any, issued by the custodian with respect to
the short sale being closed-out, pay out of the moneys held for
the account of the Fund to the broker the net total amount payable
to the broker, and make the withdrawals from the Margin Account
and the Segregated Security Account, as the same are specified in
the Certificate.
ARTICLE IX
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
1. Promptly after the Fund enters into a Reverse
Repurchase Agreement with respect to Securities and money held by
the Custodian hereunder, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate or in the event such Reverse Repurchase Agreement is a
Money Market Security, a Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions specifying: (a) the total amount payable to the Fund
in connection with such Reverse Repurchase Agreement; (b) the
broker or dealer through or with which the Reverse Repurchase
Agreement is entered; (c) the amount and kind of Securities to be
delivered by the Fund to such broker or dealer; (d) the date of
such Reverse Repurchase Agreement; and (e) the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if any, to be deposited
in a Segregated Security Account in connection with such Reverse
Repurchase Agreement. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the
total amount payable to the Fund specified in the Certificate,
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions make the delivery to the
broker or dealer, and the deposits, if any, to the Segregated
Security Account, specified in such Certificate, Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions.
2. Upon the termination of a Reverse Repurchase
Agreement described in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Fund shall
promptly deliver a Certificate or, in the event such Reverse
Repurchase Agreement is a Money Market Security, a Certificate,
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions to the Custodian
specifying: (a) the Reverse Repurchase Agreement being
terminated; (b) the total amount payable by the Fund in connection
with such termination; (c) the amount and kind of Securities to be
received by the Fund in connection with such termination; (d) the
date of termination; (e) the name of the broker or dealer with or
through which the Reverse Repurchase Agreement is to be
terminated; and (f) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind
of Securities to be withdrawn from the Segregated Security
Account. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the amount and kind
of Securities to be received by the Fund specified in the
Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, make the
payment to the broker or dealer, and the withdrawals, if any, from
the Segregated Security Account, specified in such Certificate,
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions.
ARTICLE X
CONCERNING MARGIN ACCOUNTS, SEGREGATED SECURITY
ACCOUNTS AND COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
1. The Custodian shall, from time to time, make such
deposits to, or withdrawals from, a Segregated Security Account as
specified in a Certificate received by the Custodian. Such
Certificate shall specify the amount of cash and/or the amount and
kind of Securities to be deposited in, or withdrawn from, the
Segregated Security Account. In the event that the Fund fails to
specify in a Certificate the name of the issuer, the title and the
number of shares or the principal amount of any particular
Securities to be deposited by the Custodian into, or withdrawn
from, a Segregated Securities Account, the Custodian shall be
under no obligation to make any such deposit or withdrawal and
shall so notify the Fund.
2. The Custodian shall make deliveries or payments from
a Margin Account to the broker, dealer, futures commission
merchant or Clearing Member in whose name, or for whose benefit,
the account was established as specified in the Margin Account
Agreement.
3. Amounts received by the Custodian as payments or
distributions with respect to Securities deposited in any Margin
Account shall be dealt with in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
4. The Custodian shall have a continuing lien and
security interest in and to any property at any time held by the
Custodian in any Collateral Account described herein. In
accordance with applicable law, the Custodian may enforce its lien
and realize on any such property whenever the Custodian has made
payment or delivery pursuant to any Put Option guarantee letter or
similar document or any receipt issued hereunder by the Custodian.
In the event the Custodian should realize on any such property net
proceeds which are less than the Custodian's obligations under any
Put Option guarantee letter or similar document or any receipt,
such deficiency shall be a debt owed the Custodian by the Fund
within the scope of Article XIII herein.
5. On each business day, the Custodian shall furnish
the Fund with a statement with respect to each Margin Account in
which money or Securities are held specifying as of the close of
business on the previous business day: (a) the name of the Margin
Account; (b) the amount and kind of Securities held therein; and
(c) the amount of money held therein. The Custodian shall make
available upon request to any broker, dealer or futures commission
merchant specified in the name of a Margin Account a copy of the
statement furnished the Fund with respect to such Margin Account.
6. Promptly after the close of business on each
business day in which cash and/or Securities are maintained in a
Collateral Account, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a
Statement with respect to such Collateral Account specifying the
amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities held
therein. No later than the close of business next succeeding the
delivery to the Fund of such statement, the Fund shall furnish to
the Custodian a Certificate or Written Instructions specifying the
then market value of the securities described in such statement.
In the event such then market value is indicated to be less than
the Custodian's obligation with respect to any outstanding Put
Option, guarantee letter or similar document, the Fund shall
promptly specify in a Certificate the additional cash and/or
Securities to be deposited in such Collateral Account to eliminate
such deficiency.
ARTICLE XI
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS
1. The Fund shall furnish to the Custodian a copy of
the resolution of the Directors, certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary, either (i) setting forth the date of the
declaration of a dividend or distribution, the date of payment
thereof, the record date as of which shareholders entitled to
payment shall be determined, the amount payable per share to the
shareholders of record as of that date and the total amount
payable to the Dividend Agent of the Fund on the payment date, or
(ii) authorizing the declaration of dividends and distributions on
a daily basis and authorizing the Custodian to rely on Oral
Instructions, Written Instructions or a Certificate setting forth
the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the
date of payment thereof, the record date as of which shareholders
entitled to payment shall be determined, the amount payable per
share to the shareholders of record as of that date and the total
amount payable to the Dividend Agent on the payment date.
2. Upon the payment date specified in such resolution,
Oral Instructions, Written Instructions or Certificate, as the
case may be, the Custodian shall pay out of the moneys held for
the account of the Fund the total amount payable to the Dividend
Agent of the Fund.
ARTICLE XII
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
1. Whenever the Fund shall sell any of its Shares, it
shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate duly specifying:
(a) The number of Shares sold, trade date, and price;
and
(b) The amount of money to be received by the Custodian
for the sale of such Shares.
2. Upon receipt of such money from the Transfer Agent,
the Custodian shall credit such money to the account of the Fund.
3. Upon issuance of any of the Fund's Shares in
accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article, the
Custodian shall pay, out of the money held for the account of the
Fund, all original issue or other taxes required to be paid by the
Fund in connection with such issuance upon the receipt of a
Certificate specifying the amount to be paid.
4. Except as provided hereinafter, whenever the Fund
shall hereafter redeem any of its Shares, it shall furnish to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying:
(a) The number of Shares redeemed; and
(b) The amount to be paid for the Shares redeemed.
5. Upon receipt from the Transfer Agent of an advice
setting forth the number of Shares received by the Transfer Agent
for redemption and that such Shares are valid and in good form for
redemption, the Custodian shall make payment to the Transfer Agent
out of the moneys held for the account of the Fund of the total
amount specified in the Certificate issued pursuant to the
foregoing paragraph 4 of this Article.
6. Notwithstanding the above provisions regarding the
redemption of any of the Fund's Shares, whenever its Shares are
redeemed pursuant to any check redemption privilege which may from
time to time be offered by the Fund, the Custodian, unless
otherwise instructed by a Certificate, shall, upon receipt of an
advice from the Fund or its agent setting forth that the
redemption is in good form for redemption in accordance with the
check redemption procedure, honor the check presented as part of
such check redemption privilege out of the money held in the
account of the Fund for such purposes.
ARTICLE XIII
OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS
1. If the Custodian should in its sole discretion
advance funds on behalf of the Fund which results in an overdraft
because the moneys held by the Custodian for the account of the
Fund shall be insufficient to pay the total amount payable upon a
purchase of Securities as set forth in a Certificate or Oral
Instructions issued pursuant to Article IV, or which results in an
overdraft for some other reason, or if the Fund is for any other
reason indebted to the Custodian (except a borrowing for
investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities
as collateral pursuant to a separate agreement and subject to the
provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article XIII), such overdraft or
indebtedness shall be deemed to be a loan made by the Custodian to
the Fund payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date
incurred at a rate per annum (based on a 360-day year for the
actual number of days involved) equal to the Federal Funds Rate
plus l/2%, such rate to be adjusted on the effective date of any
change in such Federal Funds Rate but in no event to be less than
6% per annum, except that any overdraft resulting from an error by
the Custodian shall bear no interest. Any such overdraft or
indebtedness shall be reduced by an amount equal to the total of
all amounts due the Fund which have not been collected by the
Custodian on behalf of the Fund when due because of the failure of
the Custodian to make timely demand or presentment for payment.
In addition, the Fund hereby agrees that the Custodian shall have
a continuing lien and security interest in and to any property at
any time held by it for the benefit of the Fund or in which the
Fund may have an interest which is then in the Custodian's
possession or control or in possession or control of any third
party acting in the Custodian's behalf. The Fund authorizes the
Custodian, in its sole discretion, at any time to charge any such
overdraft or indebtedness together with interest due thereon
against any balance of account standing to the Fund's credit on
the Custodian's books. For purposes of this Section 1 of
Article XIII, "overdraft" shall mean a negative Available Balance.
2. The Fund will cause to be delivered to the Custodian
by any bank (including, if the borrowing is pursuant to a separate
agreement, the Custodian) from which it borrows money for
investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities
as collateral for such borrowings, a notice or undertaking in the
form currently employed by any such bank setting forth the amount
which such bank will loan to the Fund against delivery of a stated
amount of collateral. The Fund shall promptly deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such
borrowing: (a) the name of the bank; (b) the amount and terms of
the borrowing, which may be set forth by incorporating by
reference an attached promissory note, duly endorsed by the Fund,
or other loan agreement; (c) the time and date, if known, on which
the loan is to be entered into; (d) the date on which the loan
becomes due and payable; (e) the total amount payable to the Fund
on the borrowing date; (f) the market value of Securities to be
delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the
issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal amount
of any particular Securities; and (g) a statement specifying
whether such loan is for investment purposes or for temporary or
emergency purposes and that such loan is in conformance with the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Fund's prospectus. The
Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date specified in a
Certificate the specified collateral and the executed promissory
note, if any, against delivery by the lending bank of the total
amount of the loan payable, provided that the same conforms to the
total amount payable as set forth in the Certificate. The
Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such
collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject
to all rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any
promissory note or loan agreement. The Custodian shall deliver
such Securities as additional collateral as may be specified in a
Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described in
this paragraph. The Fund shall cause all Securities released from
collateral status to be returned directly to the Custodian, and
the Custodian shall receive from time to time such return of
collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event that the Fund
fails to specify in a Certificate the name of the issuer, the
title and number of shares or the principal amount of any
particular Securities to be delivered as collateral by the
Custodian, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to
deliver any Securities.
ARTICLE XIV
LOAN OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES OF THE FUND
1. If the Fund is permitted by the terms of its
Articles of Incorporation and as disclosed in its most recent and
currently effective prospectus to lend its portfolio Securities,
within 24 hours after each loan of portfolio Securities the Fund
shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to each such loan: (a) the
name of the issuer and the title of the Securities; (b) the number
of shares or the principal amount loaned; (c) the date of loan and
delivery; (d) the total amount to be delivered to the Custodian
against the loan of the Securities, including the amount of cash
collateral and the premium, if any, separately identified; and (e)
the name of the broker, dealer or financial institution to which
the loan was made. The Custodian shall deliver the Securities
thus designated to the broker, dealer or financial institution to
which the loan was made upon receipt of the total amount
designated as to be delivered against the loan of Securities. The
Custodian may accept payment in connection with a delivery
otherwise than through the Book-Entry System or Depository only in
the form of a certified or bank cashier's check payable to the
order of the Fund or the Custodian drawn on New York Clearing
House funds and may deliver Securities in accordance with the
customs prevailing among dealers in securities.
2. Promptly after each termination of the loan of
Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect
to each such loan termination and return of Securities: (a) the
name of the issuer and the title of the Securities to be returned;
(b) the number of shares or the principal amount to be returned;
(c) the date of termination; (d) the total amount to be delivered
by the Custodian (including the cash collateral for such
Securities minus any offsetting credits as described in said
Certificate); and (e) the name of the broker, dealer or financial
institution from which the Securities will be returned. The
Custodian shall receive all Securities returned from the broker,
dealer, or financial institution to which such Securities were
loaned and upon receipt thereof shall pay, out of the moneys held
for the account of the Fund, the total amount payable upon such
return of Securities as set forth in the Certificate.
ARTICLE XV
CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN
1. Except as hereinafter provided, neither the
Custodian nor its nominee shall be liable for any loss or damage,
including counsel fees, resulting from its action or omission to
act or otherwise, either hereunder or under any Margin Account
Agreement, except for any such loss or damage arising out of its
own negligence or willful misconduct. The Custodian may, with
respect to questions of law arising hereunder or under any Margin
Account Agreement, apply for and obtain the advice and opinion of
counsel to the Fund or of its own counsel, at the expense of the
Fund, and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done
or omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice or
opinion. The Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss
or damage resulting from the use of the Book-Entry System or any
Depository arising by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or
willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any of its
employees or agents.
2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Custodian shall be under no obligation to inquire into, and
shall not be liable for:
(a) The validity of the issue of any Securities
purchased, sold or written by or for the Fund, the legality of the
purchase, sale or writing thereof, or the propriety of the amount
paid or received therefor;
(b) The legality of the issue or sale of any of the
Fund's Shares, or the sufficiency of the amount to be received
therefor;
(c) The legality of the redemption of any of the Fund's
Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor;
(d) The legality of the declaration or payment of any
dividend by the Fund;
(e) The legality of any borrowing by the Fund using
Securities as collateral;
(f) The legality of any loan of portfolio Securities
pursuant to Article XIV of this Agreement, nor shall the Custodian
be under any duty or obligation to see to it that any cash
collateral delivered to it by a broker, dealer or financial
institution or held by it at any time as a result of such loan of
portfolio Securities of the Fund is adequate collateral for the
Fund against any loss it might sustain as a result of such loan.
The Custodian specifically, but not by way of limitation, shall
not be under any duty or obligation periodically to check or
notify the Fund that the amount of such cash collateral held by it
for the Fund is sufficient collateral for the Fund, but such duty
or obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund. In
addition, the Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to
see that any broker, dealer or financial institution to which
portfolio Securities of the Fund are lent pursuant to Article XIV
of this Agreement makes payment to it of any dividends or interest
which are payable to or for the account of the Fund during the
period of such loan or at the termination of such loan, provided,
however, that the Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in the
event that such dividends or interest are not paid and received
when due; or
(g) The sufficiency or value of any amounts of money
and/or Securities held in any Margin Account, Segregated Security
Account or Collateral Account in connection with transactions by
the Fund. In addition, the Custodian shall be under no duty or
obligation to see that any broker, dealer, futures commission
merchant or Clearing Member makes payment to the Fund of any
variation margin payment or similar payment which the Fund may be
entitled to receive from such broker, dealer, futures commission
merchant or Clearing Member, to see that any payment received by
the Custodian from any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant
or Clearing Member is the amount the Fund is entitled to receive,
or to notify the Fund of the Custodian's receipt or non-receipt of
any such payment; provided however that the Custodian, upon the
Fund's written request, shall, as Custodian, demand from any
broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing Member
identified by the Fund the payment of any variation margin payment
or similar payment that the Fund asserts it is entitled to receive
pursuant to the terms of a Margin Account Agreement or otherwise
from such broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing
Member.
3. The Custodian shall not be liable for, or considered
to be the Custodian of, any money, whether or not represented by
any check, draft or other instrument for the payment of money,
received by it on behalf of the Fund until the Custodian actually
receives and collects such money directly or by the final
crediting of the account representing the Fund's interest at the
Book-Entry System or the Depository.
4. The Custodian shall have no responsibility and shall
not be liable for ascertaining or acting upon any calls,
conversions, exchange, offers, tenders, interest rate changes or
similar matters relating to Securities held in the Depository,
unless the Custodian shall have actually received timely notice
from the Depository. In no event shall the Custodian have any
responsibility or liability for the failure of the Depository to
collect, or for the late collection or late crediting by the
Depository of any amount payable upon Securities deposited in the
Depository which may mature or be redeemed, retired, called or
otherwise become payable. However, upon receipt of a Certificate
from the Fund of an overdue amount on Securities held in the
Depository, the Custodian shall make a claim against the
Depository on behalf of the Fund, except that the Custodian shall
not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any
action, suit or proceeding in respect to any Securities held by
the Depository which in its opinion may involve it in expense or
liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense
and liability be furnished as often as may be required.
5. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or
obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount due
to the Fund from the Transfer Agent of the Fund nor to take any
action to effect payment or distribution by the Transfer Agent of
the Fund of any amount paid by the Custodian to the Transfer Agent
of the Fund in accordance with this Agreement.
6. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or
obligation to take action to effect collection of any amount, if
the Securities upon which such amount is payable are in default,
or if payment is refused after due demand or presentation, unless
and until (i) it shall be directed to take such action by a
Certificate and (ii) it shall be assured to its satisfaction of
reimbursement of its costs and expenses in connection with any
such action.
7. The Custodian may appoint one or more banking
institutions as Depository or Depositories or as Sub-Custodian or
Sub-Custodians, including, but not limited to, banking
institutions located in foreign countries, of Securities and
moneys at any time owned by the Fund, upon terms and conditions
approved in a Certificate, which shall, if requested by the
Custodian, be accompanied by an approving resolution of the Fund's
Board of Directors adopted in accordance with Rule 17f-5 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the
Custodian shall hold harmless and indemnify the Fund from and
against any losses, actions, claims, demands, expenses and
proceedings, including counsel fees, that occur as a result of any
act or omission of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or Depository with
respect to the safekeeping of moneys and securities of the Fund.
8. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or
obligation to ascertain whether any Securities at any time
delivered to or held by it for the account of the Fund are such as
properly may be held by the Fund under the provisions of its
Articles of Incorporation.
9. (a) The Custodian shall be entitled to receive and
the Fund agrees to pay to the Custodian all reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses and such compensation and fees as are specified on
Schedule A hereto. The Custodian shall not deem amounts payable
in respect of foreign custodial services to be out-of-pocket
expenses, it being the parties' intention that all fees for such
services shall be as set forth on Schedule B hereto and shall be
provided for the term of this Agreement without any automatic or
unilateral increase. The Custodian shall have the right to
unilaterally increase the figures on Schedule A on or after
March 1, 1994 and on or after each succeeding March 1 thereafter
by an amount equal to 50% of the increase in the Consumer Price
Index for the calendar year ending on the December 31 immediately
preceding the calendar year in which such March 1 occurs,
provided, however, that during each such annual period commencing
on a March 1, the aggregate increase during such period shall not
be in excess of 10%. Any increase by the Custodian shall be
specified in a written notice delivered to the Fund at least
thirty days prior to the effective date of the increase. The
Custodian may charge such compensation and any expenses incurred
by the Custodian in the performance of its duties pursuant to such
agreement against any money held by it for the account of the
Fund. The Custodian shall also be entitled to charge against any
money held by it for the account of the Fund the amount of any
loss, damage, liability or expense, including counsel fees, for
which it shall be entitled to reimbursement under the provisions
of this Agreement. The expenses which the Custodian may charge
against the account of the Fund include, but are not limited to,
the expenses of Sub-Custodians and foreign branches of the
Custodian incurred in settling outside of New York City
transactions involving the purchase and sale of Securities of the
Fund.
(b) The Fund shall receive a credit for each
calendar month against such compensation and fees of the Custodian
as may be payable by the Fund with respect to such calendar month
in an amount equal to the aggregate of its Earnings Credit for
such calendar month. In no event may any Earnings Credits be
carried forward to any fiscal year other than the fiscal year in
which it was earned, or, unless permitted by applicable law,
transferred to, or utilized by, any other person or entity,
provided that any such transferred Earnings Credit can be used
only to offset compensation and fees of the Custodian for services
rendered to such transferee and cannot be used to pay the
Custodian's out-of-pocket expenses. For purposes of this sub-
section (b), the Fund is permitted to transfer Earnings Credits
only to The Dreyfus Corporation, its affiliates and/or any
investment company now or in the future sponsored by The Dreyfus
Corporation or any of its affiliates or for which The Dreyfus
Corporation or any of its affiliates acts as the sole investment
adviser or as the principal distributor. For purposes of this
sub-section (b), a fiscal year shall mean the twelve-month period
commencing on the effective date of this Agreement and on each
anniversary thereof.
10. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
Certificate, notice or other instrument in writing received by the
Custodian and reasonably believed by the Custodian to be a
Certificate. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
Oral Instructions and any Written Instructions actually received
by the Custodian pursuant to Article IV or XI hereof. The Fund
agrees to forward to the Custodian a Certificate or facsimile
thereof, confirming such Oral Instructions or Written Instructions
in such manner so that such Certificate or facsimile thereof is
received by the Custodian, whether by hand delivery, telex or
otherwise, by the close of business of the same day that such Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions are given to the Custodian.
The Fund agrees that the fact that such confirming instructions
are not received by the Custodian shall in no way affect the
validity of the transactions or enforceability of the transactions
hereby authorized by the Fund. The Fund agrees that the Custodian
shall incur no liability to the Fund in acting upon Oral
Instructions given to the Custodian hereunder concerning such
transactions, provided such instructions reasonably appear to have
been received from an Authorized Person.
11. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
instrument, instruction or notice received by the Custodian and
reasonably believed by the Custodian to be given in accordance
with the terms and conditions of any Margin Account Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian
shall be under no duty to inquire into, and shall not be liable
for, the accuracy of any statements or representations contained
in any such instrument or other notice including, without
limitation, any specification of any amount to be paid to a
broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing Member.
12. The books and records pertaining to the Fund which
are in the possession of the Custodian shall be the property of
the Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained
as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and
other applicable securities laws and rules and regulations. The
Fund, or the Fund's authorized representatives, shall have access
to such books and records during the Custodian's normal business
hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any
such books and records shall be provided by the Custodian to the
Fund or the Fund's authorized representative at the Fund's
expense.
13. The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any
report obtained by the Custodian on the system of internal
accounting control of the Book-Entry System or the Depository, or
O.C.C., and with such reports on its own systems of internal
accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to
time.
14. The Fund agrees to indemnify the Custodian against
and save the Custodian harmless from all liability, claims, losses
and demands whatsoever, including attorney's fees, howsoever
arising or incurred because of or in connection with the
Custodian's payment or non-payment of checks pursuant to paragraph
6 of Article XII as part of any check redemption privilege program
of the Fund, except for any such liability, claim, loss and demand
arising out of the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct.
15. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Agreement, the Custodian may deliver and receive Securities, and
receipts with respect to such Securities, and arrange for payments
to be made and received by the Custodian in accordance with the
customs prevailing from time to time among brokers or dealers in
such Securities.
16. The Custodian shall have no duties or responsi-
bilities whatsoever except such duties and responsibilities as are
specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no covenant or
obligation shall be implied in this Agreement against the
Custodian.
ARTICLE XVI
TERMINATION
1. (a) Except as provided in subparagraphs (b), (c)
and (d) herein, neither party may terminate this Agreement until
May 25, 1993. Any such termination may be effected only by the
terminating party giving to the other party a notice in writing
specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not less
than two hundred seventy (270) days after the date of giving of
such notice.
(b) The Fund may at any time terminate this
Agreement if the Custodian has materially breached its obligations
under this Agreement and such breach has remained uncured for a
period of thirty days after the Custodian's receipt from the Fund
of written notice specifying such breach.
(c) Either party, immediately upon written notice
to the other party, may terminate this Agreement upon the Merger
or Bankruptcy of the other party.
(d) The Fund may at any time terminate this
Agreement if the Custodian has materially breached its obligations
under the "Amendment to Transfer Agency Agreements" dated August
18, 1989 and has not cured such breach as promptly as practicable
and in any event within seven days of its receipt of written
notice of such breach, provided that the Custodian shall not be
permitted to cure any such material breach arising from the
willful misconduct of the Custodian.
In the event notice of termination is given by the Fund,
it shall be accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Directors
of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating a
successor custodian or custodians, each of which shall be a bank
or trust company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate
capital, surplus and undivided profits. In the event notice of
termination is given by the Custodian, the Fund shall, on or
before the termination date, deliver to the Custodian a copy of a
resolution of its Directors, certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary, designating a successor custodian or
custodians. In the absence of such designation by the Fund, the
Custodian may designate a successor custodian which shall be a
bank or trust company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate
capital, surplus and undivided profits. Upon the date set forth
in such notice, this Agreement shall terminate and the Custodian
shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor
custodian, on that date deliver directly to the successor
custodian all Securities and moneys then owned by the Fund and
held by it as Custodian, after deducting all fees, expenses and
other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall
then be entitled.
2. If a successor custodian is not designated by the
Fund or the Custodian in accordance with the preceding paragraph,
the Fund shall, upon the date specified in the notice of
termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by the
Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities held in the
Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Fund) and
moneys then owned by the Fund, be deemed to be its own custodian,
and the Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and
responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement, other than the duty
with respect to Securities held in the Book-Entry System, in any
Depository or by a Clearing Member which cannot be delivered to
the Fund, to hold such Securities hereunder in accordance with
this Agreement.
ARTICLE XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Annexed hereto as Appendix A is a Certificate
setting forth the names of the present Authorized Persons. The
Fund agrees to furnish to the Custodian a new Certificate in
similar form in the event that any such present Authorized Person
ceases to be an Authorized Person or in the event that other or
additional Authorized Persons are elected or appointed. Until
such new Certificate shall be received, the Custodian shall be
fully protected in acting under the provisions of this Agreement
upon Oral Instructions or signatures of the present Authorized
Persons as set forth in the last delivered Certificate.
2. Annexed hereto as Appendix B is a Certificate signed
by two of the present Officers of the Fund setting forth the names
of the present Officers of the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish
to the Custodian a new Certificate in similar form in the event
any such present Officer ceases to be an Officer of the Fund, or
in the event that other or additional Officers are elected or
appointed. Until such new Certificate shall be received, the
Custodian shall be fully protected in acting under the provisions
of this Agreement upon the signatures of the Officers as set forth
in the last delivered Certificate.
3. Any notice or other instrument in writing,
authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the
Custodian, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the
Custodian and mailed or delivered to it at its offices at 000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at
such other place as the Custodian may from time to time designate
in writing.
4. Any notice or other instrument in writing,
authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Fund,
shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Fund and mailed or
delivered to it at its offices at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000, or at such other place as the Fund
may from time to time designate in writing.
5. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties with
the same formality as this Agreement and approved by a resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Fund.
6. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding
upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be
assignable by the Fund without the written consent of the
Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent of the
Fund, authorized or approved by a resolution of its Board of
Directors.
7. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.
8. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective Officers, thereunto
duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
By:
Attest:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
Attest:
Appendix A
PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES:
CASH ACCOUNT AND/OR CUSTODIAN ACCOUNT
FOR PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
Group I Group II
All current Fund officers, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Brensic, Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Cash Account
1. Fees payable to The Bank of New York pursuant to written
agreement with the Fund for services rendered in its capacity
as Custodian or agent of the Fund, or to The Shareholder
Services Group, Inc. in its capacity as Transfer Agent or
agent of the Fund:
Two (2) signatures required, one of which must be from
Group II, except that an officer of the Fund who also is
listed in Group II shall sign only once.
2. Other expenses of the Fund, $5,000 and under:
Any combination of two (2) signatures from either Group
I or Group II, or both such Groups, except that an
officer of the Fund who also is listed in Group II shall
sign only once.
3. Other expenses of the Fund, over $5,000 but not over $25,000:
Two (2) signatures required, one of which must be from
Group II, except that an officer of the Fund who also is
listed in Group II shall sign only once.
4. Other expenses of the Fund, over $25,000:
Two (2) signatures required, one from Group I or Group
II, including any one of the following: Xxxx Xxxxx,
Xx., Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx or Xxxx
Xxxxxx, except that no individual shall be authorized to
sign more than once.
Custodian Account for Portfolio Securities Transactions
Two (2) signatures required from any of the following:
All current Fund officers, and Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Oh, Xxxx
Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxx:
PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
APPENDIX B
The undersigned Officers of the Fund do hereby certify
that the following individuals, whose specimen signatures are on
file with The Bank of New York, have been duly elected or
appointed by the Fund's Board to the position set forth opposite
their names and have qualified therefor:
Name Position
Xxxxxx Xxxxx President and Investment
Officer
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Vice President and Investment
Officer
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Vice President
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Vice President and Treasurer
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Controller
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Secretary
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Assistant Secretary
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Assistant Secretary
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx Investment Officer
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Investment Officer
Xxxxxx Xxxx Investment Officer
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Investment Officer
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Officer
Title: Title:
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
APPENDIX C
The following are designated publications for purposes
of paragraph 5(b) of Article III:
The Bond Buyer
Depository Trust Company Notices
Financial Daily Card Service
New York Times
Standard & Poor's Called Bond Record
Wall Street Journal
Schedule A
The fees payable to the Custodian with respect to
securities held in domestic custody are annexed hereto.
PREMIER GROWTH FUND, INC.
Domestic Custody Fees
Basic Fee: 1/100 of 1% per annum of the first $500, and 1/200
of 1% of the excess over $500 per annum of the
total market value of domestic securities held.
Custodial Transactions:
$8.00 per transaction for each receipt and delivery
of book entry securities through DTC/FRB.
$20.00 per transaction for physical settlements,
municipal sub-custodian settlements, writing
options (preparation of depository or escrow
receipts) and initial futures transactions.
$5.00 for futures variation margin maintenance.
Schedule B
The fees payable to the Custodian with respect to
securities held in foreign custody are as set forth in a letter
dated October 7, 1992 from Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx of The Bank of New
York to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx of The Dreyfus Corporation.
