FORM OF CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORPORATE SHARES a business trust
organized and existing under the laws of Massachusetts (the "Fund"), and STATE
STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the "Custodian"),
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with
each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities
and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends that this Agreement be applicable to its series,
AllianceBernstein Corporate Income Shares (such series together with all other
series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement
in accordance with Section 18, being referred to herein as the "Portfolio(s)");
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 Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets of the
Portfolio(s), including securities which the Fund, 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"). The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio(s), agrees to
deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolio(s), 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
beneficial interest of the Fund representing interests in the Portfolio(s)
("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 Fund (the
"Board") on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s). The Custodian may employ as
sub-custodian for the Fund'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. The Custodian shall have no more
or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or
omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to
the Custodian.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND 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 securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 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").
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, only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions 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 such 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 2.8 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;
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 2.7 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 Fund 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
Fund on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the
Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, but only against receipt of amounts
borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund 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;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund 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 ("CFTC") and/or any contract market, or any
similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in
connection with transactions by the Portfolio;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer and dividend
distributing agent for the Fund (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
each Portfolio's currently effective prospectus and statement of
additional information (the "Prospectus"), in satisfaction of
requests by holders of Shares for redemption or repurchase;
15) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the
Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, to a third party lending agent, or
the lending agent's custodian, in accordance with Proper
Instructions (which may not provide for the receipt by the Custodian
of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio;
16) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio; and
17) For delivery to one or more co-custodians (each, a "Repo Custodian")
appointed by the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, and communicated to
the Custodian by Proper Instructions, including Schedule D (as may
be amended from time to time) attached to this Agreement, duly
executed by an authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of
engaging in repurchase agreement transactions, which delivery may be
made without contemporaneous receipt by the Custodian of assets in
exchange therefor, and upon which delivery to such Repo Custodian in
accordance with Proper Instructions from the Fund, the Custodian
shall have no further responsibility or obligation to the Fund or
the Portfolio as a custodian for the Fund with respect to the
securities so delivered (each such delivery, a "Free Trade"),
provided that, in preparing reports of monies received or paid out
of the Portfolio or of assets comprising the Portfolio, the
Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon information received from
time to time from the Repo Custodian and shall not be responsible
for the accuracy or completeness of such information included in the
Custodian's reports until such assets are received by the Custodian;
and
18) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying the
securities of the Portfolio to be delivered 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(s) or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio(s) or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned
exclusively to the Portfolio(s), unless the Fund has authorized in writing the
appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered investment
companies having the same investment advisor as the Portfolio(s), or in the name
or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 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(s) under the
terms of this Agreement shall be in "street name" or other good delivery form.
If, however, a Portfolio directs the Custodian to maintain securities in "street
name", the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect
income due the Portfolio on such securities and to notify the Portfolio on a
best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without
limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.
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 Fund, 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").
Monies 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 monies 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. Such monies 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 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 a
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 Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection
therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may
be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the
Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions on
behalf of a Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed
appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Portfolio
in the following cases only:
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 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of repurchase agreements entered
into between the Fund 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
(d) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Portfolio 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 Fund 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 Portfolio 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 Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received with respect to
securities sold short;
7) For the payment of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures and options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio;
8) For payment of cash to one or more Repo Custodians appointed by the
Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and communicated to the Custodian by
Proper Instructions, including Schedule D (as may be amended from
time to time) attached to this Agreement, duly executed by an
authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in
repurchase agreement transactions, which payment may be made without
contemporaneous receipt by the Custodian of assets in exchange
therefor, and upon which delivery to such Repo Custodian in
accordance with Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility or
obligation to the Fund or Portfolio as a custodian for the Fund with
respect to the securities so delivered in a Free Trade, provided
that, in preparing reports of monies received or paid out of the
Fund or of assets comprising the Portfolio, the Custodian shall be
entitled to rely upon information received from time to time from
the Repo Custodian and shall not be responsible for the accuracy or
completeness of such information included in the Custodian's reports
until such assets are received by the Custodian; and
9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.7 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 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940
Act, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 2.9 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper
Instructions on behalf of a Portfolio establish and maintain a segregated
account or accounts for and on behalf of 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 2.8 hereof, (i) in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund 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 CFTC 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 U.S. cash, U.S.
Government securities, or other securities in connection with swaps arrangements
entered into by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, 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 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the
maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (iv)
for any other purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio.
SECTION 2.10 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 2.11 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 aPortfolio or a nominee of a 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 2.12 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund
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 Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Fund on behalf of 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 its 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. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, 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 Eligible Securities Depository 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.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned direct 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; the term does not include any Eligible Securities
Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"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)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
"Rule 17f-5" means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.
"Rule 17f-7" means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.
SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian,
subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this
Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Portfolios held outside the
United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign
Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.
3.2.2 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 to this Agreement, which list
of countries may be amended from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of
the Foreign Custody Manager. 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. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A
in accordance with Section 3.2.5 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
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, of the
applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody
Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board on behalf of the
Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that
country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the
Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place
or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A in which the
Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant
to the terms of the Agreement. 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 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
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing)
after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no
further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund
with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation
is withdrawn.
3.2.3 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES:
(a) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the provisions of
this Section 3.2, the 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).
(b) CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract 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).
(c) 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
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian. 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 in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board 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.
3.2.5 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 an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar
quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material
change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios described in this
Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.
3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF A PORTFOLIO. 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.
3.2.7 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17F-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the
Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board 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.
3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written
notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will
become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of
such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation
to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios
with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 3.3 ELIGIBLE SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
3.3.1 ANALYSIS AND MONITORING. The Custodian shall (a) provide the
Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with an
analysis of the
custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities
Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto, in accordance with section
(a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis,
and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or
investment advisor) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with
section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
3.3.2 STANDARD OF CARE. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable
care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section
3.3.1.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS
HELD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible 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 Portfolio(s), 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 Portfolio(s)
which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as
belonging to the Portfolio(s) and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in
the market in which the account is maintained, 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 through
arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as
applicable, in such country.
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 Portfolio(s)
held by the Custodian or 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 a Portfolio in
accordance with commercially reasonable market practice 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 a Portfolio;
(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) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a
Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;
(x) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund
on behalf of a Portfolio;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities;
(xii) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities
made by a Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and
the Fund, which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued
by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities,
except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is
to be credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system
authorized by
the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be
held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by
the Portfolio(s) prior to the receipt of such collateral;
(xiii) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities
made by a Portfolio, to a third party lending agent, or the
lending agent's custodian, in accordance with Proper Instructions
(which may not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of
collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio; and
(xiv) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered 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
a 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) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund
on behalf of the Portfolio;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities;
(viii) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities
made the Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by
the Custodian and the Fund 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;
(ix) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities
made by the Portfolio, to a third party lending agent, or the
lending agent's custodian, in accordance with Proper Instructions
(which may not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of
collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the
Custodian and the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio; and
(x) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received
for the account of the Portfolio(s) and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained
for the account of the Portfolio(s) may be effected in accordance with the
customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures
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 shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody
and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign
Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on
such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided
that no such revision shall result in the Board 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 Sub-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 Fund 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 the Fund 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 shall be opened and maintained
outside the United States on behalf of a Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-
Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to
draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, 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. Cash maintained on the books of the
Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of
currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and
subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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 Portfolio(s) 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 Fund
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 Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial
efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights,
subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist
in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund 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 Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to
materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers
of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolio(s)
(including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign
securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to
tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund
written information with respect to materials 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
business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to
exercise such right or power.
SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement pursuant
to which the Custodian employs 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 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 Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such
obligations. At the Fund's election, the Portfolio(s) 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 Portfolio(s) 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 Fund, the
Portfolio(s) or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolio(s) by the tax law of
the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be
the responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations
imposed on the Fund with respect to the Portfolio(s) or the Custodian as
custodian of the Portfolio(s) 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 Fund with respect
to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which
the Fund has provided such information.
SECTION 4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall be liable for
the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in the Agreement and, regardless of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a
Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other
loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.
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(s) such
payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by
the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund 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, 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 Fund 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 Fund and the Custodian.
SECTION 6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
"Proper Instructions", which may also be standing instructions, as used
throughout this Agreement shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from
the Fund, the Fund's investment manager, or a person or entity duly authorized
by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized
person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a
communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or
electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary
systems and utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and
the person or entity giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has
followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the
Custodian, including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by
the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Agreement. Oral instructions
will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them
to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect
to the transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be
confirmed in writing. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall
include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party
agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section
2.9 of this Agreement. The Fund or the Fund's investment manager shall cause its
duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the names and
specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions. The
Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such
persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund 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 Fund 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.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be
genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The
Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board, certified
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund ("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
as described in such 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 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 Fund 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 and shall advise the Fund and
the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if
instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the
Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various
components. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily
income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from time
to time in the Prospectus.
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 Fund and the Portfolio(s) 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 Fund and shall
at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for
inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and
employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request,
supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held
by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such
compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include
certificate numbers in such tabulations.
SECTION 11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year
favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect to its
activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's Form N-1A,
and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other
requirements thereof.
SECTION 12. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios, at
such times as the Fund 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 (either system, a "Securities System")
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 Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any
material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination,
and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from
AllianceBernstein L.P. for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed
upon from time to time between AllianceBernstein L.P., on behalf of the Fund and
each applicable Portfolio, and the Custodian, as specified in the fee schedule.
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 Fund for any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without
limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be
without liability to the Fund and the Portfolios for any loss, liability, claim
or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is 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.
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 Fund 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 Fund or
its duly-authorized investment manager or 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 Fund,
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 Fund 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 Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment of
money or incurring liability of some other form, 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 Fund 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
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 Portfolio 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, the Fund, or any Portfolio be liable for
indirect, special or consequential damages.
SECTION 15. 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 Fund
shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable
federal or state regulations, or any provision of the Fund's Declaration of
Trust, and further provided, that the Fund on behalf of one or more of the
Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or
trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described below 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 Fund 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
costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the
Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor
custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for
transfer, all securities 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, or New York, New York, 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 Fund 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 17. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund,
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 Fund'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.
SECTION 18. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition
to AllianceBernstein Corporate Income Shares, with respect to which it desires
to have the Custodian render services as custodian under 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.
SECTION 19. 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 20. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior
Agreements between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
SECTION 21. 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 Fund: AllianceBernstein Corporate Shares
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
0 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxx, XXX/0X
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
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 22. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, 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 23. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access
Services Addendum attached hereto.
SECTION 24. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute but
one and the same instrument.
SECTION 25. SEVERABILITY
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such
a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement shall be deemed prohibited or invalid under such applicable
law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
invalidity, and such prohibition or invalidity shall not invalidate the
remainder of such provision or the other provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 26. 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 Fund to
indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide a Portfolio's name,
address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the
Portfolio owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not
provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the
Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is
required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this
information for all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) or any funds or
accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits
the requesting company from using the Portfolio's name and address for any
purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the
Fund, on behalf of its Portfolio(s), consents or objects by checking one of the
alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Portfolio's name, address,
and share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Portfolio's name,
address, and share positions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of _______________________, 2006.
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN CORPORATE SHARES FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By:_____________________________ By: ____________________________
Name: __________________________ Name: __________________________
Title: _________________________ Title: _________________________
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By:_____________________________ By: ____________________________
Name: __________________________ Name: __________________________
Title: _________________________ Title: _________________________
