CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between AMERICAN SELECT FUNDS, a business trust organized
and existing under the laws of Massachusetts with its principal place of
business at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 76155(the "TRUST"),
and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company with its
principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
(the "CUSTODIAN"),
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to offer shares in the series set forth on
Schedule D hereto (such series, together with all other series subsequently
established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with
Section 20 and as of the effective date set forth on Schedule D, shall be
referred to herein as the "PORTFOLIO(S)"); and
WHEREAS, each Portfolio intends to invest all of its investable assets
in the portfolio of AMR INVESTMENT SERVICES TRUST, an open-end, diversified
management investment company, with which it shares its investment objectives,
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Trust hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of
the Portfolios of the Trust, including securities which the Trust, on behalf of
the applicable Portfolio desires to be held in places within the United States
("DOMESTIC SECURITIES") and securities it desires to be held outside the United
States ("FOREIGN SECURITIES") pursuant to the provisions of the Trust's
Declaration of Trust. The Trust on behalf of the Portfolio(s) agrees to deliver
to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios, and all payments of
income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with
respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time, and the
cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of each class
of beneficial interest of the Trust representing interests in the Portfolios
("SHARES") as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not
be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio
and not delivered to the Custodian. Upon receipt of "PROPER INSTRUCTIONS" (as
such term is defined in Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio(s) from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians,
located in the United States but only in accordance with an applicable vote by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "BOARD OF TRUSTEES") on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio(s), and provided that the Custodian shall have no more or
less responsibility or liability to the Trust on account of any actions or
omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to
the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for the Trust's foreign
securities on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) the foreign banking
institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B
hereto but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and
4.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE TRUST
HELD BY THE CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by
it in the United States including all domestic securities owned by such
Portfolio, other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section
2.9 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a
book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a
"U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for which State
Street Bank and Trust Company acts as issuing and paying agent ("DIRECT PAPER")
which is deposited and/or maintained in the Direct Paper System of the Custodian
(the "DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM") pursuant to Section 2.10.
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a
U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct
Paper book entry system account ("DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM ACCOUNT") only upon
receipt of Proper Instructions from the Trust on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the
parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to suc securities entered into by the
Portfolio;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.9 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided
that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be
delivered to the Custodian;
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6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name
of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of
the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent
appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 or into the name or nominee
name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for
exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to
be delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the
Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a
receipt, for examination in accordance with "street delivery"
custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have
no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the
delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such
securities except as may arise from the Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant
to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such
case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in
any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by
the Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Trust on
behalf of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of cash or
obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies
or instrumentalities, except that in connection with any loans
for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian's account
in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible
for the delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to
the receipt of such collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Trust on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by
the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio, but only against receipt of
amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
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DRAFT -- FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY
among the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and a member of The National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to
compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and
of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar
organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other
arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio of
the Trust;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian, and a
Futures Commission Merchant registered under the Commodity
Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any Contract Market,
or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account
deposits in connection with transactions by the Portfolio of the
Trust;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the
Trust (the "TRANSFER AGENT") for delivery to such Transfer Agent
or to the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in
kind, as may be described from time to time in the currently
effective prospectus and statement of additional information of
the Trust related to the Portfolio (the "PROSPECTUS"), in
satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or
redemption; and
15) For any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of
written Proper Instructions specifying the securities of the
Portfolio to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which
such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a
proper trust purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom
delivery of such securities shall be made.
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio
or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Portfolio, unless the Trust has authorized in writing the appointment of
a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having
the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by
the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall
be in "street name" or other good delivery form. If, however, the Trust directs
the Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall
utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Trust on such
securities and to notify the Trust on a best efforts basis only of relevant
corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities,
tender or exchange offers.
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SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each
Portfolio of the Trust, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or
accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for
the account of the Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a
bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Trusts held by the
Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in
the Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust
companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided,
however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a
custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the
funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall on behalf of
each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the Board of
Trustees. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as
Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
SECTION 2.5 AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. Upon mutual agreement between
the Trust, on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, and the Custodian, the
Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Proper Instructions from the Trust, make
federal funds available to such Portfolio as of specified times agreed upon from
time to time by the Trust and the Custodian in the amount of checks received in
payment for Shares of such Portfolio which are deposited into the Portfolio's
account.
SECTION 2.6 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments
with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each
Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the
securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment
by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof
and shall credit such income, as collected, to such Portfolio's custodian
account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall
detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring
presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on
securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of
the Trust. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection
therewith, other than to provide the Trust with such information or data as may
be necessary to assist the Trust in arranging for the timely delivery to the
Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.7 PAYMENT OF TRUST MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions
from the Trust on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing
instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out
monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:
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1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the
Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or
evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options
on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm
or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad
which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and
has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this
purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or in the name
of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof
or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase
effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.9 hereof; (c) in the case of a
purchase involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with
the conditions set forth in Section 2.10; (d) in the case of
repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust on behalf of
the Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a
broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery of
the securities either in certificate form or through an entry
crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal Reserve Bank
with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt
evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by the
Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the
Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Portfolio or (e)
for transfer to a time deposit account of the Trust in any bank,
whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior
to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable
bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Trust as defined
herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2
hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in
Section 5 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments
for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management,
accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses
of the Trust whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or
part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to
the governing documents of the Trust;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect
of securities sold short;
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7) For any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of
written Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such
payment, setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.8 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or
trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as
the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the
appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities
or liabilities hereunder.
SECTION 2.9 DEPOSIT OF TRUST ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a
clearing agency registered with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") under Section 17A of the Exchange Act , which acts as a
securities depository, or in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury and certain federal agencies, collectively referred
to herein as "U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM" in accordance with applicable Federal
Reserve Board and SEC rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the
following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System provided that such securities are represented
in an account of the Custodian in the U.S. Securities System (the
"U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM ACCOUNT") which account shall not include
any assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S.
Securities System that such securities have been transferred to
the U.S. Securities System Account, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and
transfer for the account of the Portfolio. The Custodian shall
transfer securities sold for the account of the Portfolio upon
(i) receipt of advice from the U.S. Securities System that
payment for such securities has been transferred to the U.S.
Securities System Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for
the account of the Portfolio. Copies of all advices from the U.S.
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Securities System of transfers of securities for the account of
the Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be maintained for the
Portfolio by the Custodian and be provided to the Trust at its
request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the Trust on
behalf of the Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or from
the account of the Portfolio in the form of a written advice or
notice and shall furnish to the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio
copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's
transactions in the U.S. Securities System for the account of the
Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Trust for the Portfolio with any
report obtained by the Custodian on the U.S. Securities System's
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding securities deposited in the U.S. Securities System;
5) The Custodian shall have received from the Trust on behalf of the
Portfolio the initial or annual certificate, as the case may be,
required by Section 15 hereof;
6) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the
Custodian shall be liable to the Trust for the benefit of the
Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Portfolio resulting from
use of the U.S. Securities System by reason of any negligence,
misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents
or of any of its or their employees or from failure of the
Custodian or any such agent to enforce effectively such rights as
it may have against the U.S. Securities System; at the election
of the Trust, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights
of the Custodian with respect to any claim against the U.S.
Securities System or any other person which the Custodian may
have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the
extent that the Portfolio has not been made whole for any such
loss or damage; the Custodian agrees to provide reasonable
cooperation in connection with such subrogation.
SECTION 2.10 TRUST ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in the
Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper System
will be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions from the
Trust on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in the Direct
Paper System only if such securities are represented in the
Direct Paper System Account, which account shall not include any
assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a fiduciary,
custodian or otherwise for customers;
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3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
of the Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the records of
the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer of securities
to the account of the Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer
securities sold for the account of the Portfolio upon the making
of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such
transfer and receipt of payment for the account of the Portfolio;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio
confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the
Portfolio, in the form of a written advice or notice, of Direct
Paper on the next business day following such transfer and shall
furnish to the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transaction in the
Direct Paper System for the account of the Portfolio;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio
with any report on its system of internal accounting control as
the Trust may reasonably request from time to time.
SECTION 2.11 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions from the Trust on behalf of each applicable Portfolio
establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of
each such Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash
and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the
Custodian pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions
of any agreement among the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any
futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act),
relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of
any registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or
government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by
the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or
sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio
with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the SEC relating to the maintenance of
segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper
trust purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of written
Proper Instructions from the Trust on behalf of the applicable Portfolio setting
forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such
purpose(s) to be a proper trust purpose.
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SECTION 2.12 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian
shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal
and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments
with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in
connection with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.13 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in
the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without
indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall
promptly deliver to the Portfolio such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials
and all notices relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.14 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
Trust for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation,
pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of
rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options
written by the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from
issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to tender
or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Portfolio all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities
whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the
tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires to take action with respect
to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction, the
Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
SECTION 3. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE PORTFOLIOS
SECTION 3.1 DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms shall have
the indicated meanings:
"COUNTRY RISK" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment; economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Mandatory Securities Depositories operating in the country);
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices; and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country.
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"ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIAN" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the 1940 Act, except that the term does not include Mandatory Securities
Depositories. "FOREIGN ASSETS" means any of the Portfolios' investments
(including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the
United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to
effect the Portfolios' transactions in such investments.
"FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2)of Rule
17f-5.
"MANDATORY SECURITIES DEPOSITORY" means a foreign securities depository or
clearing agency that, either as a legal or practical matter, must be used if the
Trust, on the Portfolios' behalf, determines to place Foreign Assets in a
country outside the United States (i) because required by law or regulation;
(ii) because securities cannot be withdrawn from such foreign securities
depository or clearing agency; or (iii) because maintaining or effecting trades
in securities outside the foreign securities depository or clearing agency is
not consistent with prevailing or developing custodial or market practices.
SECTION 3.2 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Trust, by resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees, hereby delegates to the
Custodian with respect to the Portfolios, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5,
the responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager set forth in this Section 3 with
respect to Foreign Assets of the Portfolios held outside the United States, and
the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation, as the Portfolios' Foreign Custody
Manager.
SECTION 3.3 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A of this Contract, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Trust with the agreement of the Custodian. The Foreign
Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the
Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time
to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. Mandatory
Securities Depositories are listed on Schedule B to this Agreement, which may be
amended from time to time by the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager will provide amended versions of Schedules A and B in accordance with
Section 3.7 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions
to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
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Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Trust on behalf of the Portfolios of the
applicable account opening requirements for the country, the Foreign Custody
Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board of Trustees on
behalf of the Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect
to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Following the receipt of
Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board of Trustees
on behalf of the Portfolios to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that
country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall
immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with
respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Trust. Thirty days (or such longer period as to which the parties agree in
writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Trust, the Custodian shall have
no further responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager to the Trust with respect
to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation is
withdrawn.
SECTION 3.4 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
3.4.1 Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3, the Portfolios' Foreign Custody Manager may place
and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time.
In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager
to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the
Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject
to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the
country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign
Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such
assets, including, without limitation, the factors specified in Rule
17f-5(c)(1).
3.4.2 Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract (or the rules or established practices
or procedures in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian that is a foreign
securities depository or clearing agency) governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
3.4.3 Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such
Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody
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arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian (or the rules or established practices and procedures in the
case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager
which is a foreign securities depository or clearing agency that is not a
Mandatory Securities Depository). In the event the Foreign Custody Manager
determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it
has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify
the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 3.7 hereunder.
SECTION 3.5 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3, the Board of Trustees shall be deemed to have
considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing
and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is
serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios. The Trust, on behalf of
the Portfolios, and the Custodian each expressly acknowledge that the Foreign
Custody Manager shall not be delegated any responsibilities under this Section 3
with respect to Mandatory Securities Depositories.
SECTION 3.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE
PORTFOLIOS. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign
Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such
as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management
investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
SECTION 3.7 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall
report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian
and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian
by providing to the Board of Trustees amended Schedules A or B at the end of the
calendar quarter in which an amendment to either Schedule has occurred. The
Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of
Trustees of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the
Portfolios described in this Article 3 after the occurrence of the material
change.
SECTION 3.8 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17f-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Trust that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Trust represents to the Custodian that the
Board of Trustees has determined that it is reasonable for the Board of Trustees
to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to
this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the
Portfolios.
SECTION 3.9 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board of Trustees' delegation to the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date of execution
of this Agreement and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time,
without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the
13
non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after
receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section
3.3 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 4.
DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE
PORTFOLIOS HELD OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Section 4 shall have
the following meanings:
"FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEM" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities Depository
listed on Schedule B hereto.
"FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIAN" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign
securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are
maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the
Portfolios and (ii) the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the
Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3 FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country only through
arrangements implemented by the Foreign Sub-Custodian in such country pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 4.4 TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1 Delivery of Foreign Securities. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios
held by such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account,
only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions
when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolios in
accordance with market practice generally accepted by
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institutional investors in the country where such foreign
securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A)
delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B)
in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities
System in accordance with the rules governing the operation of
the Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities
are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name
of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign
Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds,
certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate
face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for
examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom;
provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall
have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the
delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such
securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian's
own negligence or willful misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant
to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
pursuant to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities,
the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities;
(ix) or delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Portfolios requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
15
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of
written Proper Instructions specifying the foreign securities to
be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery
is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made.
4.4.2 Payment of Portfolio Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the
respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of Portfolio in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio, unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering
money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent
for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later
delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a
purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign
Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign
securities of the Portfolio;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under
this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating
expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange
contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions executed with
or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other proper trust purpose, but only upon receipt of
written Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such
payment, setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
16
4.4.3 Market Conditions; Market Information. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign
Assets received for the account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets
maintained for the account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with
the customary established securities trading or processing practices and
procedures generally accepted by institutional investors in the country or
market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation,
delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or
an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later
payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
The Custodian will provide the Trust the information with respect to
custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a
Foreign Sub-Custodian, including without limitation information relating to
Foreign Securities Systems, described on Schedule E hereto at the time or times
set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule E from time to
time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Trust being provided
with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
SECTION 4.5 REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Custodian (other than bearer securities)
shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of
the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any
nominee of the foregoing, and the Trust on behalf of such Portfolio agrees to
hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such
foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be
obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the terms of this
Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are
delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to a Portfolio cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies)
deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or
market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the
Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts opened and maintained outside the
United States on behalf of a Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall be
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian,
acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from
or for the account of the Portfolio.
SECTION 4.7 COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and
shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the
event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Trust
and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation
and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities
held pursuant to this Agreement, the Custodian will use its reasonable
commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder
proxy rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints
that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Trust
acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous
procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of
severely limiting the ability of the Trust to exercise shareholder rights.
17
SECTION 4.9 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Trust written information (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian via the
Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the
account of the Portfolios. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Trust written information so received
by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange
is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender,
exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other
property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or
the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign
securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with
regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur
at least three (3) business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to
take such action to exercise such right or power.
SECTION 4.10 LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS AND FOREIGN SECURITIES
SYSTEMS. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs as a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian
to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and, to the extent
possible, to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any
loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection
with the institution's performance of such obligations. At the election of the
Trust, the Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the
Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and
to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made whole for any such loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Trust, the
Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the
United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the
responsibility of the Trust to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed
on the Trust with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the
18
Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The
sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
reasonable efforts to assist the Trust with respect to any claim for exemption
or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Trust has provided such
information.
SECTION 4.12 CONFLICT. If the Custodian is delegated the
responsibilities of Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Section 3
hereof, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of Sections 3 and 4
hereof, the provisions of Section 3 shall prevail.
SECTION 4(A). CONTRACTUAL SETTLEMENT
SECTION 4(A).1 SCHEME OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) below and Sections 4.4.1, 4.4.2
and 4.4.3 hereof, the Custodian shall credit or debit the
appropriate account of each Portfolio in connection with (i) the
purchases of, (ii) income or dividends associated with, or (iii)
proceeds of the sale, maturity, redemption, or other disposition
of, securities and other assets held for the time being on behalf
of a Portfolio on a contractual settlement basis.
(b) The Custodian may make available provisional credit of
settlement, maturity, redemption proceeds on a contractual
settlement basis in the markets set forth on Schedule C hereto
when the Custodian has a reasonable expectation that the
transaction will settle in due course. The Custodian reserves the
right to reverse any such crediting at any time before actual
receipt of the item associated with the credit when the Custodian
determines that such transaction will not settle in accordance
with its terms or that amounts due pursuant thereto will not be
collectable, or the Custodian has not been provided with Proper
Instructions with respect thereto. In such instances, the
Custodian may charge the appropriate account of the applicable
Portfolio for the expense of providing funds associated with such
advance in an amount not to exceed a commercially reasonable
rate.
(c) With respect to the markets set forth on Schedule C hereto, the
consideration payable in connection with a purchase transaction
shall be debited from the appropriate account of the applicable
Portfolio upon the contractual settlement date for the relevant
purchase transaction. The Custodian shall promptly recredit such
amount at the time that the Portfolio notifies the Custodian by
Proper Instruction that such transaction has been canceled.
19
SECTION 4(A).2 MARKETS ELIGIBLE FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. The
services described in Section 4(A).1 hereof (for the purposes of this Section
4(A), the "Services") shall be provided with respect to the applicable
securities transactions in the countries set forth on Schedule C attached
hereto.
SECTION 4(A).3 OBLIGATIONS. All payments made under this Section 4(A)
are made subject to actual collection; the Custodian shall not be liable to the
Trust or the Portfolios for any amount that is not actually collected in
accordance with the terms hereof. The provision of the Services is intended to
facilitate settlement in ordinary course. The Custodian may terminate provision
of Services under Section 4(A)1(b) immediately upon notice to Trust,
particularly with respect to the occurrence of force majeure events affecting
settlement, any disorder in markets, or other changed external business
circumstances.
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from
the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio
such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to
time by the Trust. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Trust
on behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of
payments for Shares of such Portfolio.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose but subject to the
limitations of the Trust's Declaration of Trust and any applicable votes of the
Board of Trustees pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to
holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for
redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or
repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions
from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated
by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase
of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder
of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Trust to the holder of
Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and
controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between the Trust and the
Custodian.
SECTION 6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions as used throughout this Agreement means a writing
signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board of Trustees
shall have from time to time authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the
20
specific transaction or type of transaction involved, including a specific
statement of the purpose for which such action is requested. Oral instructions
will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them
to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect
to the transaction involved. The Trust shall cause all oral instructions to be
confirmed in writing. Upon receipt of a certificate of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary as to the authorization by the Board of Trustees accompanied
by a detailed description of procedures approved by the Board of Trustees,
Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Board of Trustees and
the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards for
the Portfolios' assets. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall
include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three - party
agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section
2.11.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the
Trust on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under
this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be
accounted for to the Trust on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks,
drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and
other dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio
except as otherwise directed by the Board of Trustees.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions,
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf
of the Trust. The Custodian may receive and accept a Certified Resolution as
conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with
such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board of
Trustees pursuant to the Trust's Declaration of Trust as described in such
21
resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect
until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.
SECTION 9. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to
the entity or entities appointed by the Board of Trustees to keep the books of
account of each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the
outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Trust on behalf of
the Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net
asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily
the net income of the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus related to such
Portfolio and shall advise the Trust and the Transfer Agent daily of the total
amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the
Trust to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of
such net income among its various components. The calculations of the net asset
value per Share and the daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time
or times described from time to time in the Prospectus related to such
Portfolio.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain
all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in
such manner as will meet the obligations of the Trust under the 1940 Act, with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder.
All such records shall be the property of the Trust and shall at all times
during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by
duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust and employees and
agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Trust's request, supply the Trust
with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the
Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Trust and for such
compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Trust and the Custodian,
include certificate numbers in such tabulations.
SECTION 11. OPINION OF TRUST'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Trust on behalf
of each applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year
to year favorable opinions from the Trust's independent accountants with respect
to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Trust's
Form N-1A, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to
any other requirements thereof.
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SECTION 12. REPORTS TO TRUST BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Trust, on behalf of each of the
Portfolios at such times as the Trust may reasonably require, with reports by
independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and
options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained
in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (collectively
referred to herein as the "SECURITIES SYSTEMS"), relating to the services
provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of
sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the
Trust to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be
disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the
Trust on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Trust for
any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Trust) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be
without liability to the Trust and the Portfolios for any loss, liability, claim
or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is (A) part of Country
Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war,
revolution, riots or terrorism, or (B) part of the "prevailing country risk" of
23
the Portfolios, as such term is used in SEC Release Nos. IC-22658; IS-1080 (May
12, 1997) or as such term or other similar terms are now or in the future
interpreted by the SEC or by the staff of the Division of Investment Management
thereof.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent,
the Custodian shall be without liability to the Trust for any loss, liability,
claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond
the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities
System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without
limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the
closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work
stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by
the Trust or the Investment Advisor in their instructions to the Custodian
provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii)
the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or
failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially
prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's sub-custodian
or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection
with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or
other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of
the Custodian, the Trust, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees or agents or
any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such
securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other
accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to
any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or
Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or
regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or
any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent
jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Trust on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any
action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or
which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or
its nominee assigned to the Trust or the Portfolio being liable for the payment
of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Trust on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to
it.
If the Trust requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or
agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited
to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or
in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
24
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall
be security therefor and should the Trust fail to repay the Custodian promptly,
the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such
Portfolio's assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or
consequential damages.
SECTION 15. MITIGATION BY CUSTODIAN
Upon the occurrence of any event connected with the Custodian under this
Agreement which causes or may cause any loss, damage or expense to the Trust or
any Portfolio, the Custodian shall, and shall exercise reasonable efforts to
cause any Foreign Sub-Custodian to, use reasonable efforts under the
circumstances to mitigate the effect of such event and to avoid continuing harm
to the Trust and the Portfolios.
SECTION 16. NOTIFICATION OF LITIGATION; RIGHT TO PROCEED
In any case in which the Trust may be asked to indemnify or hold the
Custodian harmless, the Trust shall be fully and promptly advised of all
pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further
understood that the Custodian will use all reasonable care to identify and
notify the Trust promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears
likely to present the probability of such claim for indemnification against the
Trust; provided, however, that the failure to so advise, identify or notify the
Trust shall not in any way limit the Trust's liability for indemnification under
this Agreement with respect to any such claim to the extent that the defense
thereof is not materially prejudiced by such failure. If the Trust acknowledges
in writing that the Custodian is entitled to indemnification, the Trust shall
have the option to defend the Custodian against any claim which may be the
subject of this indemnification, and in the event that the Trust so elects, it
will so notify the Custodian, and thereupon the Trust shall take over complete
defense of the claim. In the event the Trust elects to assume the control of the
defense of the claim, the Custodian may participate in such proceeding and
retain additional counsel but shall bear all fees and expenses of such retention
of such counsel, unless (i) the Trust shall have specifically authorized the
retention of such counsel, or (ii) if the Trust and the Custodian agree that the
retention of such counsel is required as a result of a conflict of interest. In
the event the Trust assumes control of any proceeding, the Trust shall keep the
Custodian notified of the progress of such proceeding and, upon request, consult
with the Custodian and counsel. The Trust will, upon request by the Custodian,
either pay in the first instance or reimburse the Custodian for any expenses
subject to indemnity hereunder. The Trust shall not settle or compromise any
proceeding without the prior written consent of the Custodian unless (i) such
settlement or compromise involves no admission of guilt, wrongdoing, or
misconduct by the Custodian, (ii) such settlement or compromise does not impose
any obligations or restrictions on the Custodian other than obligations to pay
money that are subject to indemnity under this Agreement, and (iii) the Trust
shall have paid, or made arrangements satisfactory to the Custodian for payment
of amounts payable by the Custodian in connection with such settlement. The
Custodian shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case
in which the Trust will be asked to indemnify the Custodian except with the
Trust's prior written consent.
SECTION 17. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall
continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may
be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed,
postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner
than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided,
however that the Custodian shall not with respect to a Portfolio act under
Section 2.9 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of Trustees has approved the
initial use of a particular Securities System by such Portfolio, as required by
Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act and that the Custodian shall not with respect to a
Portfolio act under Section 2.10 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of
Trustees has approved the initial use of the Direct Paper System by such
Portfolio; provided further, however, that the Trust shall not amend or
terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable federal or state
regulations, or any provision of the Trust's Declaration of Trust, and further
provided, that the Trust on behalf of one or more of the Portfolios may at any
25
time by action of its Board of Trustees (i) substitute another bank or trust
company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian,
or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of
a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency
or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate
regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Trust on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due
as of the date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian
for its reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 18. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for the Trust, of one or more of the Portfolios
shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Custodian shall, upon
termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian,
26
duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities of each applicable
Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the
successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in a
Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of
the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in
accordance with such resolution.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the
date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have
the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in
the 1940 Act doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, of its own selection,
having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its
last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and
other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each applicable Portfolio
and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other
property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each applicable Portfolio
and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities
of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or
trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Trust to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services
during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds
and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 19. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Trust on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on
such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this
Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of
this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a
writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no
such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable
federal or state regulations or any provision of the Trust's Declaration of
Trust. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the
preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
27
SECTION 20. ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIOS
In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares
with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services as
custodian pursuant to the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in
writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such
series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder and Schedule D hereto shall
be revised to so reflect.
SECTION 21. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 22. RECOURSE AGAINST SHAREHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
This Agreement is executed by the officers of the Trust in their
capacity as such and not individually. Any responsibility or liability of the
Trust (or a particular Portfolio) under any provision of this Contract shall be
satisfied solely from the assets of the Trust or the particular Portfolio,
tangible or intangible, realized or unrealized, and in no event shall the
Custodian, a sub-custodian or agent have any recourse against the shareholders,
officers or Trustees of the Trust under this Contract or against any one
Portfolio for the obligations of any other Portfolio. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement have been authorized by the Board of Trustees, and this
Agreement has been executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Trust
acting as such; neither such authorization by the Trustees nor execution and
delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them
individually or to impose any liability on them personally, but shall only bind
the assets and property of the Trust.
SECTION 23. CONFIDENTIALITY.
None of the parties hereto shall, unless compelled to do so by any court
of competent jurisdiction either before or after the termination of this
Agreement, disclose to any person not authorized by the relevant party to
receive the same any information relating to such party and to the affairs of
such party of which the party disclosing the same shall have become possessed
during the period of this Agreement and each party shall use its best endeavors
to prevent any such disclosure as aforesaid.
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SECTION 24. ASSIGNMENT.
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the written
consent of the other.
SECTION 25. SEVERABILITY.
In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, void or
unenforceable, the balance shall remain in effect.
SECTION 26. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all
prior Agreements between the Trust on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Trust's assets.
SECTION 27. NOTICES.
Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given
hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth
herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by
telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other
addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time:
To the Trust: AMERICAN SELECT FUNDS
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Maildrop 5645
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Building
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
29
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have
been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five
business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after
dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered
outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the
next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of
cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence
that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be
conclusive evidence of posting.
SECTION 28. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments
hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm,
micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
SECTION 29. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION
SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of
customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names,
addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by
the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of
this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the
Trust to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Trust's
name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the
Trust owns. If the Trust tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not
provide this information to requesting companies. If the Trust tells the
Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is
required by the rule to treat the Trust as consenting to disclosure of this
information for all securities owned by the Trust or any funds or accounts
established by the Trust. For the Trust's protection, the Rule prohibits the
requesting company from using the Trust's name and address for any purpose other
than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Trust consents
or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Trust's name,
address, and share positions.
NO [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Trust's
name, address, and share positions.
30
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of [ ], 1999.
AMERICAN SELECT FUNDS
By:______________________________
Its: President
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:______________________________
Its: Vice Chairman
SCHEDULE C
COUNTRIES/SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH
CONTRACTUAL SETTLEMENT MAY BE PROVIDED
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Euroclear
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
SCHEDULE D
PORTFOLIOS
Name of Portfolio Effective Date
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AMERICAN SELECT CASH RESERVE FUND [ ]
