AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER CUSTODIAN AND FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.(g)
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER CUSTODIAN AND FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES
This Agreement is made as of , 2012 by and among each management investment company identified on Appendix A hereto, severally and not jointly (each such investment company and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18.5 below, shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Fund”), and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Custodian”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Avenue Income Credit Strategies Fund and the Custodian are parties to a Master Custodian and Fund Accounting Services Agreement dated December 15, 2010, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Original Custodian Agreement”), pursuant to which the Custodian agrees to provide certain services to Avenue Income Credit Strategies Fund;
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Custodian desire to replace the Original Custodian Agreement, as amended, with this Agreement;
WHEREAS, each Fund may or may not be authorized to issue shares of common stock or shares of beneficial interest in separate series (“Shares”), with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, each Fund so authorized intends that this Agreement be applicable to each of its series set forth on Appendix A hereto (such series together with all other series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18.6 below, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Portfolio(s)”).
WHEREAS, each Fund not so authorized intends that this Agreement be applicable to it and all references hereinafter to one or more “Portfolio(s)” shall be deemed to refer to such Fund(s);
WHEREAS, each Fund desires to appoint the Custodian as its custodian, in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to such Fund, under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (including any Schedules or Appendices hereto), and the Custodian has agreed to act as custodian for such Fund;
WHEREAS, each Fund desires to retain the Custodian to furnish fund accounting services to the Fund, and the Custodian is willing to furnish such services, on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
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.
Each Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the Portfolios, 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”). Each Fund, on behalf of its 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 Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Portfolio which is not received by it or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof) including, without limitation, Portfolio property (i) held by brokers, private bankers or other entities on behalf of the Portfolio (each a “Local Agent”), (ii) held by Special Sub-Custodians (as such term is defined in Section 5 hereof), (iii) held by entities which have advanced monies to or on behalf of the Portfolio and which have received Portfolio property as security for such advance(s) (each a “Pledgee”), or (iv) delivered or otherwise removed from the custody of the Custodian (a) in connection with any Free Trade (as such term is defined in Sections 2.2(14) and 2.6(7) hereof) or (b) pursuant to Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof). With respect to uncertificated shares (the “Underlying Shares”) of registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time (the “1940 Act”)), whether in the same “group of investment companies” (as defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the 0000 Xxx) or otherwise, including pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Underlying Portfolios”) the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Portfolios will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, 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 or the Board of Directors of the Fund (as appropriate, and in each case, the “Board”) on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), and provided that the Custodian shall, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, be responsible and liable to any Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed to the extent that such sub-custodian is responsible or liable to the Custodian. The Custodian may place and maintain each Fund’s foreign securities with foreign banking institution sub-custodians employed by the Custodian and/or foreign securities depositories, all as designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS TO BE HELD 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 2.8 in an account of the Custodian with a clearing agency which acts as a securities
depository or with a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “U.S. Securities System”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by each Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account of the Custodian with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”).
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held (i) by the Custodian, (ii) in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or (iii) in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, 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 or reverse 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, willful misfeasance 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 (a) against receipt of collateral as agreed from time to time by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, 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 or (b) to the lending agent, or the lending agent’s custodian, in accordance with written Proper Instructions (which may or may not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;
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 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”, formerly known as The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a 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 (the “CFTC”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;
14) Upon the sale or other delivery of such investments (including, without limitation, to one or more (a) Special Sub-Custodians or (b) additional custodians appointed by the Fund, and communicated to the Custodian from time to time via a writing duly executed by an authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in
repurchase agreement or reverse repurchase agreement transactions, each a “Repo Custodian”), and prior to receipt of payment therefor, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such delivery in advance of payment, along with payment in advance of delivery made in accordance with Section 2.6(7), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall set forth (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;
15) Upon receipt of instructions from the Fund’s transfer agent (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 Fund related to the Portfolio (the “Prospectus”), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;
16) In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof;
17) 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
18) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) 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 a Fund on behalf of the Portfolio or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Portfolio, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered management investment companies having the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 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 under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form, provided that the Custodian will hold all such assets in an account of the Custodian as custodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets held by the Custodian as fiduciary or custodian for its customers; provided further, that the Custodian’s records will at all times indicate the Fund and other customers for which such assets are held and their respective interest therein. If, however, a Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers and declaration, record and payment dates of any dividend.
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 each 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 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. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14) or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and 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 applicable 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 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:
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 a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the
case of repurchase agreements or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the applicable Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, (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 Fund 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 6 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 Fund 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 Fund’s articles of incorporation or organization and by-laws or agreement or declaration of trust, as applicable, and Prospectus (collectively, “Governing Documents”);
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;
7) Upon the purchase of domestic investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement or reverse repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), and prior to receipt of such investments, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such payment in advance of delivery, along with delivery in advance of payment made in accordance with Section 2.2(14), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall also set forth (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is made;
8) For payment 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
9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) 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. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.
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 under 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 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 2.8 hereof, (a) 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 FINRA (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, (b) 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, (c) 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 management investment companies, and (d) for any other purpose in accordance with Proper Instructions.
SECTION 2.10 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRANSFER AGENT. Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:
1) Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of a Portfolio, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of such Portfolio.
2) In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of such Portfolio as so
directed, and record such payment from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.
3) In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.
The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund or any Portfolio resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses resulting directly from the fraud, negligence, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees.
SECTION 2.11 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 2.12 PROXIES. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), 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 Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable 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 applicable Fund 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. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic 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. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable
Fund for each Portfolio all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio securities or other property issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-ofclaim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.13.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7.
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below 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; 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” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2) of Rule 17f-5.
“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, as amended from time to time.
“Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. Each 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 any 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 each Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by such Fund’s Board on behalf of such Portfolio(s) responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by each 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. 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 such Portfolio 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 with respect to such Portfolio 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. Forty-five days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing and the Custodian shall not unreasonably withhold its agreement) 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 (including but not limited to Section 3.2.2), 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 have established a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the performance of the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian under Rule 17f-5(c)(2). 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 each Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5 and is otherwise eligible to serve as a Foreign Custody Manager under Rule 17f-5. Each Fund represents to the Custodian that its Board has determined that it is reasonable for such 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. Each 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 forty-five (45) 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 adviser) 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 adviser) 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 TO BE HELD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:
“Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.
“Foreign Sub-Custodian” means an Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities placed with and maintained 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), 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. (Foreign Securities Systems and U.S. Securities Systems are collectively referred to herein as “Securities Systems”)
SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios 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 the 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 or reverse 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 foreign securities prior to receiving payment for such foreign securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence, willful misfeasance 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 Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;
(x) In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) Upon the sale or other delivery of such foreign securities (including, without limitation, to one or more Special Sub-Custodians or Repo Custodians) as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery shall be made;
(xii) In connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xiii) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) 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, independent accountant 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;
(vi) Upon the purchase of foreign investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement or reverse repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom payment shall be made;
(vii) For payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;
(viii) In connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and
(ix) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the amount of such payment and (B) 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 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 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 each Board the information described on Schedule C hereto with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian or uses Foreign Securities System 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 a 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, provided, however, that any such registration in the name of the Custodian, Foreign Sub-Custodian or nominee indicates such securities are being held for the benefit of customers and not, in any event, for the benefit of the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian or any nominee thereof, and the applicable 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 applicable 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 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 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 shall 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. Each 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 such Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable 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 Portfolios (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 applicable 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. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian via a Foreign Sub-Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.
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 a Fund’s election, 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 any Fund, the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios (i.e. other than its general business presence in any jurisdiction) by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of each Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on such Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the 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 Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which such 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 this 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. SPECIAL SUB-CUSTODIANS.
Upon receipt of Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the Custodian shall, on behalf of one or more Portfolios, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such transactions as may be designated by a Fund in Special Instructions. Each such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a “Special Sub-Custodian.” Each such duly appointed Special Sub-Custodian shall be listed on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by a Fund, with the acknowledgment of the Custodian. In connection with the appointment of any Special Sub-Custodian, and in accordance with Special Instructions, the Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the Fund and the Special Sub-Custodian in form and substance approved by such Fund, provided that such agreement shall in all events comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 6. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES.
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of 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 applicable Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to such 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 a 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 such Fund and the Custodian.
SECTION 6A. LOAN SERVICING PROVISIONS
SECTION 6A.1 GENERAL. The following provisions shall apply with respect to investments, property or assets in the nature of loans, or interests or participations in loans, including without limitation interests in syndicated bank loans and bank loan participations, whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S. (collectively, “Loans”) entered into by a Fund (referred to in this Section 6A as the “Fund”). As used in this Section 6A, the term “Fund”, includes a Portfolio on whose behalf the Fund acts with respect to the Loan.
SECTION 6A.2 SAFEKEEPING. Instruments, certificates, agreements and/or other documents which the Custodian may receive with respect to Loans, if any (collectively “Financing Documents”), from time to time, shall be held by the Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
SECTION 6A.3 DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall accept such Financing Documents, if any, with respect to Loans as may be delivered to it from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to examine the contents or determine the sufficiency of any such Financing Documents or to provide any certification with respect thereto, whether received by the Custodian as original documents, photocopies, by facsimile or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian is under no duty to examine any such Financing Documents to determine whether necessary steps have been taken or requirements met with respect to the assignment or transfer of the related Loan or applicable interest or participation in such Loan. The Custodian shall be entitled to assume the genuineness, sufficiency and completeness of any Financing Documents received, and the genuineness and due authority of any signature appearing on such documents. Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Loans, (i) the Custodian shall be under no obligation to determine, and shall have no liability for, the sufficiency of, or to require delivery of, any instrument, document or agreement constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan, other than to
receive such Financing Documents, if any, as may be delivered or caused to be delivered to it by the Fund (or its investment manager acting on its behalf), (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, delivery of any such Loan (including without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.8 above) may be made to the Custodian by, and may be represented solely by, delivery to the Custodian of a facsimile or photocopy of an assignment agreement (an “Assignment Agreement”) or a confirmation or certification from the Fund (or the investment manager) to the effect that it has acquired such Loan and/or has received or will receive, and will deliver to the Custodian, appropriate Financing Documents constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan (such confirmation or certification, together with any Assignment Agreement, collectively, an “Assignment Agreement or Confirmation”), in any case without delivery of any promissory note, participation certificate or similar instrument (collectively, an “Instrument”), (iii) if an original Instrument shall be or shall become available with respect to any such Loan, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) to make or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall be under no obligation at any time or times to determine whether any such original Instrument has been issued or made available with respect to such Loan, and shall not be under any obligation to compel compliance by the Fund to make or cause delivery of such Instrument to the Custodian, and (iv) any reference to Financing Documents appearing in this Section 6A shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any such Instrument and/or Assignment Agreement or Confirmation.
If payments with respect to a Loan (“Loan Payment”) are not received by the Custodian on the date on which they are due, as reflected in the Payment Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 6A.4 below) of the Loan (“Payment Date”), or in the case of interest payments, not received either on a scheduled interest payable date, as reported to the Custodian by the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) for the Loan (the “Interest Payable Date”), or in the amount of their accrued interest payable, the Custodian shall promptly, but in no event later than one business day after the Payment Date or the Interest Payable Date, give telephonic notice to the party obligated under the Financing Documents to make such Loan Payment (the “Obligor”) of its failure to make timely payment, and (2) if such payment is not received within three business days of its due date, shall notify the Fund (or the investment manager on its behalf) of such Obligor’s failure to make the Loan Payment. The Custodian shall have no responsibility with respect to the collection of Loan Payments which are past due, other than the duty to notify the Obligor and the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) as provided herein.
The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever under this Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing Documents, except for such responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve any rights against prior parties or to exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loans or any Financing Documents (including, without limitation, no obligation to take any action in respect of or upon receipt of any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any bank agent or Obligor, except that the Custodian shall undertake commercially reasonable efforts to forward any such notice to the Fund or the investment manager acting on its behalf). In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian may request instructions from the Fund and shall be entitled at all times to refrain from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Fund or the investment manager and the Custodian shall in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant to and in compliance with the Proper
Instructions of such parties.
The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan Payments actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Fund; any and all credits and payments credited to the Fund, with respect to Loans, shall be conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment thereon.
The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Fund’s request, release to the Fund’s investment manager or to any party as the Fund or the Fund’s investment manager may specify, any Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Fund. Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be deemed to have or be charged with knowledge of the sale of any Loan, unless and except to the extent it shall have received written notice and instruction from the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) with respect thereto, and except to the extent it shall have received the sale proceeds thereof.
In no event shall the Custodian be under any obligation or liability to make any advance of its own funds with respect to any Loan.
SECTION6A.4 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FUND. With respect to each Loan held by the Custodian hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Fund shall (a) cause the Financing Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the Custodian; (b) include with such Financing Documents an amortization schedule of payments (the “Payment Schedule”) identifying the amount and due dates of scheduled principal payments, the Interest Payable Date(s) and related payment amount information, and such other information with respect to the related Loan and Financing Documents as the Custodian reasonably may require in order to perform its services hereunder (collectively, “Loan Information”), in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require; (c) take, or cause the investment manager to take, all actions necessary to acquire good title to such Loan (or the participation in such Loan, as the case may be), as and to the extent intended to be acquired; and (d) cause the Custodian to be named as its nominee for payment purposes under the Financing Documents or otherwise provide for the direct payment of the Payments to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the Loan Information provided to it by the Fund (or the investment manager acting on its behalf) without any obligation on the part of the Custodian independently to verify, investigate, recalculate, update or otherwise confirm the accuracy or completeness thereof; and the Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Fund in providing necessary Loan Information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof. With respect to each such Loan, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information and notices it may receive from time to time from the related bank agent, Obligor or similar party with respect to the related Loan, and shall be entitled to update its records on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information.
SECTION 6A.5 INSTRUCTIONS; AUTHORITY TO ACT. The certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund, identifying certain individuals approved by the Fund’s Board to be officers of the Fund or employees of the Fund’s investment manager and authorized to sign any such instructions, may be received and accepted as conclusive evidence of the incumbency and authority of such to act and may be considered by the Custodian to be in full force and effect until it receives written notice to the contrary from the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to ensure that any investment by the Fund with respect to Loans has been authorized.
SECTION 6A.6 ATTACHMENT. In case any portion of the Loans or the Financing Documents shall be attached or levied upon pursuant to an order of court, or the delivery or disbursement thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of court, or any other order, judgment or decrees shall be made or entered by any court affecting the property of the Fund or any act of the Custodian relating thereto, the Custodian is hereby expressly authorized in its sole discretion to obey and comply with all orders, judgments or decrees so entered or issued, without the necessity of inquire whether such court had jurisdiction, provided that the Custodian shall endeavor to notify the Fund of any such order, judgment or decree as soon as reasonably practicable, provided that the Custodian’s failure to so notify the Fund shall not give rise to any liability hereunder. In case the Custodian obeys or complied with any such order, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to anyone by reason of such compliance.
SECTION 6A.7 SECURITY INTEREST.
The provisions of this Section 6A.7 shall constitute a security agreement. Terms used in this Section 6A.7 which are defined or otherwise set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall have the same meanings in this Section 6A.7 as in the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If a term is defined or otherwise set forth in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in another Article as well, the term as defined or otherwise set forth in Article 9 shall control.
SECTION 6A.7.1 COLLATERAL. To secure the due and punctual payment of all liabilities, whether actual or contingent (“Liabilities”), of the Fund to the Custodian now or hereafter arising or incurred under or in connection with this Agreement, the Fund hereby grants to the Custodian a security interest in the following, whether now existing or hereafter acquired or created (collectively, the “Collateral”):
(i) all of the Fund’s cash, deposit accounts, securities and other investment property, promissory notes and other instruments, chattel paper and other assets in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians;
(ii) all of the Fund’s promissory notes and chattel paper (A) copies of which are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (B) assigned to the Fund and for which originals or copies of confirmations or other evidences of the assignment are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (C) in which the Fund holds participations and for which originals or copies of the participation agreements or certificates are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, or (D) assigned to the Fund or in which such Fund holds participations and for which instructions have been given to make payments of principal, interest or other amounts thereon to any of the
Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians;
(iii) all of the Fund’s payment intangibles (A) evidenced by or created under written or electronic agreements originals or copies of which are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (B) assigned to the Fund and for which originals or copies of confirmations or other evidences of the assignment are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, (C) in which the Fund holds participations and for which originals or copies of the participation agreements or certificates are in the possession or under the control of any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians, or (D) assigned to the Fund or in which such Fund holds participations and for which instructions have been given to make payments of principal, interest or other amounts thereon to any of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians; and
(iv) any and all proceeds of any thereof.
The Liabilities include, without limitation, (a) the obligations of the Fund to the Custodian in relation to any overdraft or other advance of cash or securities for any purpose including in connection with any pre-determined income or assumed settlements; (b) the obligations of the Fund to the Custodian (in its capacity as foreign exchange provider or otherwise) in relation to any spot or forward foreign exchange contracts or any other foreign exchange contract or facility entered into with such Fund; and (c) the obligations of the Fund to reimburse the Custodian for any taxes, interest, charges, expense, assessments, or other liabilities that may be assessed against or imposed on the Custodian under or in connection with this Agreement for such Fund.
SECTION 6A.7.2 FAILURE TO SATISFY LIABILITIES. In the event that the Fund fails to satisfy any of the Liabilities promptly when due and payable, the failure shall constitute a default under this Section 6A.7, and the Custodian shall then have with respect to the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies arising hereunder or under applicable law, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Without prejudice to the Custodian’s rights under applicable law, the Custodian shall be entitled, without notice to the Fund, to withhold delivery of any Collateral, sell or otherwise realize on any Collateral and to apply the money or other proceeds and any other monies credited to the cash accounts in satisfaction of such Liabilities. The Fund acknowledges that, in the Custodian exercising any such rights or remedies against any Collateral, it will be commercially reasonable for the Custodian (i) to accelerate or cause the acceleration of the maturity of any fixed term deposits comprised in the Collateral and (ii) to effect such currency conversions as may be necessary at its current rates for the sale and purchase of the relevant currencies.
SECTION 6A.7.3 UCC FILINGS.The Fund hereby irrevocably authorizes the Custodian at any time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the
Collateral as described in Section 6A.7.1 or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) provide any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of any applicable Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether the Fund is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish any such information to the Custodian promptly upon the Custodian’s request. The Fund also ratifies its authorization for the Custodian to have filed in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any like initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.
SECTION 6A.7.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE. The Fund represents and warrants to the Custodian that the Fund’s chief executive office is located at the address set forth in this Agreement. The Fund covenants to provide to the Custodian at least 30 days’ prior written notice of any change of location of the chief executive office.
SECTION 6A.7.5 PERFECTED SECURITY INTEREST. The Fund agrees to take such actions as the Custodian may from time to time reasonably request in order to insure that the Custodian has a first perfected security interest in the Collateral and that the Custodian has the ability to enforce its security interest. Without limitation upon the foregoing, for such purposes the Fund (a) shall promptly deliver to the possession or control of the Custodian or its designee originals of any instruments (including promissory notes) and chattel paper comprised in the Collateral and not already in the possession or under the control of the Custodian and its agents, affiliates and subcustodians (to the extent in the possession or control of the Fund or able to be in such possession or control as a practical matter), (b) shall promptly obtain termination amendments of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or terminations or subordinations of security interests or other liens, in form and substance satisfactory to Custodian, where the failure to take such action could result in a competing security in or other lien on any of the Collateral having priority over the security interest of the Custodian in the Collateral, and (c) shall promptly execute and file such notices and registrations and take such other actions, including actions required under the law of any foreign jurisdiction, which are, in the reasonable opinion of the Custodian, necessary or advisable to assure the attachment, perfection, priority and ability of the Custodian to enforce the security interest and (d) further authorizes the Custodian to take such action as in the reasonable opinion of the Custodian may be necessary or advisable under any foreign law including making an appropriate entry in any security interest, charge or lien registry in the country whose laws the Fund is organized or in which the Fund maintains an office.
SECTION 7. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
“Proper Instructions,” which may also be standing instructions, as such term is used throughout this Agreement shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from a Fund, a Fund’s duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser, 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 from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such
instruction, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the applicable Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum hereto, the terms of which are hereby agreed to. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to provide 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 hereof.
“Special Instructions,” as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means Proper Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the applicable Fund or any other person designated in writing by the Treasurer of such Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be (a) included on the same instrument containing the Proper Instructions or on a separate instrument clearly relating thereto and (b) delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian agree in writing.
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, each Fund shall deliver to the Custodian, duly certified by such Fund’s Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a certificate setting forth: (i) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund and (ii) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to give Special Instructions. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of a similar certificate to the contrary.
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 applicable Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of any Fund 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 applicable 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. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY.
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the applicable 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 the Custodian has not received prior written notice from the Fund that such payment has been
disputed in good faith by the Fund and provided further 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 applicable Board.
SECTION 10. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME.
SECTION 10.1 ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS. The Custodian will prepare and maintain, under the direction of each Fund, in complete, accurate and current form such accounts and records: (1) required to be maintained by such Fund with respect to portfolio transactions under Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations from time to time adopted thereunder; (2) relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of each Fund under the 1940 Act, including Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder; (3) required to be maintained as a basis for calculation of the Fund’s net asset value; and (4) as otherwise agreed upon by the parties. Each Fund will advise the Custodian in writing of all applicable record retention requirements, other than those set forth in the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder. Each Fund will furnish, via Proper Instructions, accurate and timely information needed by the Custodian to complete such accounts and records, including corporate actions, when such information is not readily available from generally accepted securities industry services or publications.
The Custodian shall, at a Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by such Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. Each Fund acknowledges that, in creating and maintaining the records as set forth herein with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.
SECTION 10.2 DELIVERY OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS. Each Fund will turn over or cause to be turned over to the Custodian all accounts and records needed by the Custodian to fully and properly perform its duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Custodian may rely conclusively on the completeness and correctness of such accounts and records.
SECTION 10.3 ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS PROPERTY OF FUND. The Custodian acknowledges that all of the accounts and records maintained by the Custodian pursuant hereto are the property of the applicable Fund and at all times during the Custodian’s regular business hours, shall be open for inspection and reproduction by duly authorized officers, employees and agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
SECTION 10.4 ADOPTION OF PROCEDURES. The Custodian and each Fund may from time to time adopt such procedures as they agree upon, and the Custodian may conclusively assume that no procedure approved or directed by the Fund conflicts with or violates any requirements of the Governing Documents, any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any order, decree or agreement by which the Fund may be bound. Each Fund will be responsible for notifying the Custodian of any changes in its Governing Documents and any statutes, regulations, rules, requirements or policies applicable to the Fund which may impact the Custodian’s responsibilities hereunder or any of its procedures relevant hereto.
SECTION 10.5 CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. The Custodian will calculate each Fund’s net asset value in accordance with the Fund’s Governing Documents and valuation policies utilizing prices obtained from sources designated by such Fund (“Pricing Sources”) on a Price Source Authorization substantially in the form attached hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time, or otherwise designated by means of Proper Instructions.
SECTION 10.6 INVESTMENT WITH UNDERLYING TRANSFER AGENT. Each Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it on behalf of a Portfolio and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section 10; provided, however, that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying Transfer Agent and the Fund. 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. Each Fund acknowledges that, in keeping the books of account of the Portfolio and/or making the calculations described herein with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.
SECTION 11. RESERVED.
SECTION 12. OPINION OF FUND’S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT.
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as a Fund with respect to a 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 or Form N-2, as applicable, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 13. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
The Custodian shall provide the applicable Fund, on behalf of each of the Portfolios at such times as such 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 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 14. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN.
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as custodian, record keeper and fund accounting agent, as agreed upon in writing from time to time between each Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 15. 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. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.2.6 and Section 3.3.1 hereof, 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 any Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct, including, without limitation, acting reasonably in accordance with any Proper Instruction or Special Instructions. The Custodian 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 the advice of (i) counsel for a Fund or (ii) at the expense of the Custodian, such other counsel as the Custodian may choose. The Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund or Portfolio for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything that is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, insolvency of a Foreign Sub-custodian, acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.
Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct or the negligence, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to any 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 any Fund or its duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser 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 act or omission of a Special Sub-Custodian including, without limitation, reliance on reports prepared by a Special Sub-Custodian; (v) 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; (vi) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, any 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; (vii) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (viii) 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 have no more or less responsibility or liability to any Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the 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 this Agreement.
The Custodian shall enter into and shall maintain in effect, at all times during the term of this Agreement, with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Funds; and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement.
The Custodian shall provide to each Fund: (a) sub-certifications in connection with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 certification requirements; and (b) periodic reports and reasonable documentation for delivery to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the services contemplated by this Agreement and the Custodian’s compliance with its operating policies and procedures related thereto.
If a 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, such Fund 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 a Fund requires the Custodian or any of 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, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct, or if a Fund fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 14 hereof, any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Portfolio’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence, willful misfeasance or willful misconduct, each Fund shall indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities which may be asserted against the Custodian (a) acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction or Special Instruction including, without limitation, any Proper Instruction with respect to Free Trades including, but not limited to, cost, expense, loss, damage, liability, tax, charge, assessment or claim resulting from (i) the failure of the applicable Fund to receive income with respect to purchased investments, (ii) the failure of the applicable Fund to recover amounts invested on maturity of purchased investments, (iii) the failure of the Custodian to respond to or be aware of notices or other corporate communications with respect to purchased investments, or (iv) the Custodian’s reliance upon information provided by the applicable Fund, such Fund’s counterparty(ies) or the agents of either of them with respect to Fund property released, delivered or purchased pursuant to either of Section 2.2(14) or Section 2.6(7) hereof; (b) for the acts or omissions of any Special Sub-Custodian; or (c) for the acts or omissions of any Local Agent or Pledgee.
In no event shall any party be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.
This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending on the two-year anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph with respect to any Fund or Portfolio, the applicable Fund shall pay Custodian its compensation due and shall reimburse Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements for which the Custodian is entitled to reimbursement hereunder.
In the event of: (i) any Fund’s termination of this Agreement with respect to such Fund or its Portfolio(s) for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the Custodian is not retained to
continue providing services hereunder to a Fund or Portfolio (or its respective successor), the applicable Fund shall pay the Custodian its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by Custodian with respect to such Fund or Portfolio) and shall reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements. Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, the Custodian will deliver such Fund’s or Portfolio’s securities and cash as set forth hereinbelow. For the avoidance of doubt, no payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph in the event of any transaction such as (a) the liquidation or dissolution of a Fund or Portfolio and distribution of such Fund’s or Portfolio’s assets as a result of the Board’s determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Fund or Portfolio is no longer viable (b) a merger of a Fund or Portfolio into, or the consolidation of a Fund or Portfolio with, another entity, or (c) the sale by a Fund or Portfolio of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where the Custodian is retained to continue providing services to such Fund or Portfolio (or its respective successor) on substantially the same terms as this Agreement.
Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund or Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio. The provisions of Sections 4.11, 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.
This Agreement may be amended at any time in writing by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.
SECTION 17. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the applicable Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination and receipt of Proper Instructions, 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 or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, 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 Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements 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 or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. 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 any Fund to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, 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 18. GENERAL.
SECTION 18.1 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 18.2 PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior Agreements between each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the Custodian relating to the custody of such Fund’s assets.
SECTION 18.3 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) any Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of each applicable Fund.
SECTION 18.4 INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and each 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 all 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 a Fund’s Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
SECTION 18.5 ADDITIONAL FUNDS. In the event that any management investment company in addition to those listed on Appendix A hereto 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 management investment company shall become a Fund hereunder and be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof including, without limitation, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 18.7 below.
SECTION 18.6 ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIOS. In the event that any Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to those set forth on Appendix A hereto 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 18.7 THE PARTIES. All references herein to the “Fund” are to each of the management investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto, and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 18.5 above, individually, as if this Agreement were between such individual Fund and the Custodian. In the case of a series corporation, trust or other entity, all references herein to the “Portfolio” are to the individual series or portfolio of such corporation, trust or other entity, or to such corporation, trust or other entity on behalf of the individual series or portfolio, as appropriate. Any reference in this Agreement to “the parties” shall mean the Custodian and such other individual Fund as to which the matter pertains. Each Fund hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization; (b) it has the requisite power and authority under applicable law and its Governing Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement; (c) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and (e) its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it. The Custodian hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is duly organized under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (b) it has the requisite power and authority under applicable law and its governing documents to enter into and perform this Agreement; (c) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement, and (e) its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach of any law or regulation applicable to it relating to the provision of services hereunder.
SECTION 18.8 REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM. The Custodian and each Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.
SECTION 18.9 NOTICES. Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered (i) in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours, (ii) by prepaid registered mail or (iii) by facsimile to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.
To any Fund: (FUND NAME)
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx 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) a registered letter, at the expiration of five business days after posting and (b) a facsimile transmission, immediately on dispatch and, if delivered outside normal business hours, such facsimile shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.
SECTION 18.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
SECTION 18.11 SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
SECTION 18.12 CONFIDENTIALITY. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iii) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian and its affiliates may report and use nonpublic portfolio holdings information of its clients, including a Fund or Portfolio, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to any Fund or Portfolio.
SECTION 18.13 REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, 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 18.14 REGULATION GG. Each Fund hereby represents and warrants that it does not engage in an “Internet gambling business,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) (“Regulation GG”). Each Fund hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, each Fund is hereby notified that “restricted transactions,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto.
SECTION 18.15 DATA PRIVACY. The Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Funds’ shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.
SECTION 18.16 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 each Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide such Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If a Fund tells the Custodian “no,” the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If a Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For a Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.
YES o |
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The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions. |
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NO x |
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The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions. |
Execution Version
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above-written.
EACH OF THE ENTITIES
SET FORTH ON APPENDIX A HERETO
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: |
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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Executive Vice President |
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APPENDIX A
TO
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES REGISTERED WITH THE SEC AND PORTFOLIOS THEREOF, IF ANY
Avenue Income Credit Strategies Fund
Avenue Credit Strategies Fund
ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement between the Fund (the “Customer”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates (“State Street”).
State Street has developed and/or utilizes proprietary or third-party accounting and other systems in conjunction with the services that State Street provides to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain information in databases under its ownership and/or control that it makes available to its customers (the “Remote Access Services”).
The Services
State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment advisors, consultants or other third parties who agree to abide by the terms of this Addendum (“Authorized Designees”) with access to State Street proprietary and third-party systems as may be offered by State Street from time to time (each, a “System”) on a remote basis.
Security Procedures
The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply, with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user identification or other password control requirements and other security devices and procedures as may be issued or required from time to time by State Street or its third-party vendors for use of the System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer is responsible for any use and/or misuse of the System and Remote Access Services by its Authorized Designees. The Customer agrees to advise State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State Street and State Street may restrict access of the System and Remote Access Services by the Customer or any Authorized Designee for security reasons or noncompliance with the terms of this Addendum at any time.
Fees
Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and related payment terms shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in effect from time to time between the parties. The Customer shall be responsible for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any government or governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum, including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes, use, value added and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or similar taxes which may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any claimed exemption from such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by proper documentary evidence delivered to State Street.
Proprietary Information/Injunctive Relief
The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, knowhow, algorithms, programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files, documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary and intellectual property rights of State Street and third-party vendors related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and
confidential proprietary property of State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors (the “Proprietary Information”). The Customer agrees on behalf of itself and its Authorized Designees to keep the Proprietary Information confidential and to limit access to its employees and Authorized Designees (under a similar duty of confidentiality) who require access to the System for the purposes intended. The foregoing shall not apply to Proprietary Information in the public domain or required by law to be made public.
The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii) use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv) allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street’s databases, including data from third-party sources, available through use of the System or the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street’s customer.
The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the System in any way; enhance, copy or otherwise create derivative works based upon the System; nor will the Customer or Customer’s Authorized Designees reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or any part of the System.
The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street or its third-party licensors and vendors inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.
Limited Warranties
State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and/or has the right to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology, including but not limited to the use of the Internet, and the necessity of relying upon third-party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided “AS IS” without warranty express or implied including as to availability of the System, and the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the use of the System and Remote Access Services and investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access Services, nor shall any party be responsible for delays or nonperformance under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party’s control.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS RELEVANT LICENSORS AND THIRD-PARTY VENDORS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Infringement
State Street will defend or, at its option, settle any claim or action brought against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that access to or use of State Street proprietary systems by the Customer under this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any United States patent or copyright or misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding, cooperates with State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding and allows
Xxxxx Xxxxxx sole control over such claim or proceeding. Should the State Street proprietary system or any part thereof become, or in State Street’s opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of infringement or the like under any applicable patent, copyright or trade secret laws, State Street shall have the right, at State Street’s sole option, to (i) procure for the Customer the right to continue using the State Street proprietary system (ii) replace or modify the State Street proprietary system so that the State Street proprietary system becomes noninfringing, or (iii) terminate this Addendum without further obligation. This section constitutes the sole remedy available to the Customer for the matters described in this section.
Termination
Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days’ prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the Customer or thirty (30) days’ notice in the case of notice from the Customer to State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of any service agreement applicable to the Customer. The Customer’s use of any third-party System is contingent upon its compliance with any terms and conditions of use of such System imposed by such third party and State Street’s continued access to, and use of, such third-party System. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession or in the possession of its Authorized Designees and immediately cease access to the System and Remote Access Services. The foregoing provisions with respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a period of three (3) years.
Miscellaneous
This Addendum constitutes the entire understanding of the parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer: (a) confirms to State Street that it informs all Authorized Designees of the terms of this Addendum; (b) accepts responsibility for its and its Authorized Designees’ compliance with the terms of this Addendum; and (c) indemnifies and holds State Street harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities arising from any failure of the Customer or any of its Authorized Designees to abide by the terms of this Addendum.
SUBCUSTODIANS - SCHEDULE A
MARKET |
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SUBCUSTODIAN |
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Argentina |
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Citibank, N.A. |
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Australia |
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Citigroup Pty. Limited |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Austria |
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UniCredit Bank Austria AG |
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Bahrain |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Bangladesh |
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Standard Chartered Bank |
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Belgium |
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Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Brussels branch) |
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Benin |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Bermuda |
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HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited |
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Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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UniCredit Bank d.d. |
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Botswana |
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Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Limited |
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Brazil |
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Citibank, N.A. |
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Bulgaria |
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ING Bank N.V. |
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UniCredit Bulbank AD |
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Burkina Faso |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Canada |
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State Street Trust Company Canada |
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Chile |
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Banco Itaú Chile |
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People’s Republic of China |
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HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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China Construction Bank Corporation (for A-share market only) |
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Colombia |
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Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria |
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Costa Rica |
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Banco BCT S.A. |
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Croatia |
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Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d. |
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Zagrebacka Banka d.d. |
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Cyprus |
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BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A., Greece (operating through its Athens branch) |
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Czech Republic |
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Československá obchodní banka, a.s. |
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UniCredit Bank Czech Republic a.s. |
LIMITED ACCESS
Denmark |
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Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX (publ), Sweden (operating through its Copenhagen branch) |
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Ecuador |
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Banco de la Producción S.A. PRODUBANCO |
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Egypt |
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HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E. |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Estonia |
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AS SEB Pank |
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Finland |
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Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX (publ), Sweden (operating through its Helsinki branch) |
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France |
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Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Paris branch) |
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Republic of Georgia |
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JSC Bank of Georgia |
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Germany |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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Ghana |
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Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited |
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Greece |
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BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A. |
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Guinea-Bissau |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Hong Kong |
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Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited |
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Hungary |
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UniCredit Bank Hungary Zrt. |
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Iceland |
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Landsbankinn hf. |
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India |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Indonesia |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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Ireland |
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State Street Bank and Trust Company, United Kingdom branch |
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Israel |
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Bank Hapoalim B.M. |
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Italy |
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Deutsche Bank S.p.A. |
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Ivory Coast |
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Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire |
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Japan |
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Mizuho Corporate Bank Limited |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Jordan |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Kazakhstan |
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SB HSBC Bank Kazakhstan JSC |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Kenya |
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Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited |
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Republic of Korea |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Kuwait |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Latvia |
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AS SEB banka |
Lebanon |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Lithuania |
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AB SEB bankas |
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Malaysia |
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Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad |
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Mali |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Malta |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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(operating through its subsidiary HSBC Bank Malta Plc., Valletta) |
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Mauritius |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Mexico |
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Banco Nacional de México, S.A. |
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Morocco |
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Citibank Maghreb |
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Namibia |
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Standard Bank Namibia Limited |
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Netherlands |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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New Zealand |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Niger |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Nigeria |
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Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. |
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Norway |
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Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX (publ), Sweden (operating through its Oslo branch) |
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Oman |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Pakistan |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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Palestine |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Peru |
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Citibank del Perú, S.A. |
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Philippines |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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Poland |
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Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A. |
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Portugal |
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BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A., Paris (operating through its Lisbon branch with support from its Paris branch) |
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Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Lisbon branch) |
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Puerto Rico |
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Citibank N.A. |
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Qatar |
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HSBC Bank Middle East Limited |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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Romania |
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ING Bank N.V. |
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Russia |
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ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO |
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Senegal |
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via Société Générale de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx |
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UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC |
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Singapore |
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Citibank N.A. |
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United Overseas Bank Limited |
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Slovak Republic |
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Československá obchodná banka, a.s. |
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UniCredit Bank Slovakia a.s. |
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Slovenia |
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UniCredit Banka Slovenija d.d. |
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South Africa |
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FirstRand Bank Limited |
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Standard Bank of South Africa Limited |
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Spain |
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Deutsche Bank S.A.E. |
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Sri Lanka |
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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited |
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Republic of Srpska |
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UniCredit Bank d.d. |
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Swaziland |
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Standard Bank Swaziland Limited |
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Sweden |
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Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX (publ) |
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Switzerland |
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Credit Suisse AG |
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UBS AG |
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Taiwan - R.O.C. |
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Deutsche Bank AG |
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Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited |
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Thailand |
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Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited |
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Togo |
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xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx de Banques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
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Trinidad & Tobago |
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Republic Bank Limited |
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Tunisia |
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Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie |
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Turkey |
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Citibank, A.S. |
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Uganda |
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Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited |
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Ukraine |
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ING Bank Ukraine |
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United Arab Emirates — HSBC Bank Middle East Limited | ||
Dubai Financial Market |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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United Arab Emirates — HSBC Bank Middle East Limited | ||
Dubai International |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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United Arab Emirates — HSBC Bank Middle East Limited | ||
Abu Dhabi |
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(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) |
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United Kingdom |
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State Street Bank and Trust Company, United Kingdom branch |
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Uruguay |
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Banco Itaú Uruguay S.A. |
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Venezuela |
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Citibank, N.A. |
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Vietnam |
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HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited |
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS - SCHEDULE B
MARKET |
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DEPOSITORY |
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Argentina |
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Caja de Valores S.A. |
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Australia |
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Austraclear Limited |
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Austria |
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Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (Wertpapiersammelbank Division) |
|
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Bahrain |
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Clearing, Settlement, Depository and Registry System of the Bahrain Bourse |
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Bangladesh |
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Central Depository Bangladesh Limited |
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Belgium |
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Euroclear Belgium |
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National Bank of Belgium |
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Benin |
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Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
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Bermuda |
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Bermuda Securities Depository |
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Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Registar vrijednosnih papira u Federaciji Bosne i Hercegovine, d.d. |
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Botswana |
|
Central Securities Depository Company of Botswana Ltd. |
|
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Brazil |
|
Central de Custódia e de Liquidação Financeira de Títulos Privados (CETIP) |
|
|
Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia |
|
|
Sistema Especial de Liquidação e de Custódia (SELIC) |
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Bulgaria |
|
Bulgarian National Bank |
|
|
Central Depository AD |
|
|
|
Burkina Faso |
|
Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Canada |
|
The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited |
|
|
|
Chile |
|
Depósito Central de Valores S.A. |
|
|
|
People’s Republic of China |
|
China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, Shanghai Branch |
|
|
|
Colombia |
|
Depósito Central de Valores |
|
|
Depósito Centralizado de Valores de Colombia S.A. (DECEVAL) |
|
|
|
Costa Rica |
|
Central de Valores S.A. |
|
|
|
Croatia |
|
Središnje klirinško depozitarno društvo d.d. |
|
|
|
Cyprus |
|
Central Depository and Central Registry |
|
|
|
Czech Republic |
|
Centrální depozitář cenných papírů, a.s. |
|
|
Czech National Bank |
|
|
|
Denmark |
|
VP Securities A/S |
Egypt |
|
Central Bank of Egypt |
|
|
Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry S.A.E. |
|
|
|
Estonia |
|
AS Eesti Väärtpaberikeskus |
|
|
|
Finland |
|
Euroclear Finland |
|
|
|
France |
|
Euroclear France |
|
|
|
Republic of Georgia |
|
Georgian Central Securities Depository |
|
|
National Bank of Georgia |
|
|
|
Germany |
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX, Xxxxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Xxxxx |
|
Central Securities Depository (Ghana) Limited |
|
|
GSE Securities Depository Company Limited |
|
|
|
Greece |
|
Bank of Greece, System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities in Book-Entry Form |
|
|
Kentriko Apothetirio Aksion, a department of Hellenic Exchanges S.A. Holding |
|
|
|
Guinea-Bissau |
|
Dépositaire Central - Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Hong Xxxx |
|
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx |
|
|
Xxxx Xxxx Securities Clearing Company Limited |
|
|
|
Hungary |
|
Központi Elszámolóház és Értéktár (Budapesti) Zrt. (KELER) |
|
|
|
Iceland |
|
Icelandic Securities Depository Limited |
|
|
|
India |
|
Central Depository Services (India) Limited |
|
|
National Securities Depository Limited |
|
|
Reserve Bank of India |
|
|
|
Indonesia |
|
Bank Indonesia |
|
|
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia |
|
|
|
Ireland |
|
Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited * |
|
|
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. |
|
|
|
Israel |
|
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd. (TASE Clearing House) |
|
|
|
Italy |
|
Monte Titoli S.p.A. |
|
|
|
Ivory Coast |
|
Dépositaire Central - Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Japan |
|
Bank of Japan - Financial Network System |
|
|
Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC) Incorporated |
|
|
|
Jordan |
|
Securities Depository Center |
|
|
|
Kazakhstan |
|
Central Securities Depository |
|
|
|
Kenya |
|
Central Bank of Kenya |
|
|
Central Depository and Settlement Corporation Limited |
|
|
|
Republic of Korea |
|
Korea Securities Depository |
|
|
|
Kuwait |
|
Kuwait Clearing Company |
|
|
|
Latvia |
|
Latvian Central Depository |
|
|
|
Lebanon |
|
Banque du Liban |
|
|
Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial Instruments for Lebanon and the Middle East (Midclear) X.X.X. |
|
|
|
Lithuania |
|
Central Securities Depository of Lithuania |
|
|
|
Malaysia |
|
Bank Negara Malaysia |
|
|
Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn. Bhd. |
|
|
|
Mali |
|
Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Malta |
|
Central Securities Depository of the Malta Stock Exchange |
|
|
|
Mauritius |
|
Bank of Mauritius |
|
|
Central Depository and Settlement Co. Limited |
|
|
|
Mexico |
|
S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
|
Morocco |
|
Maroclear |
|
|
|
Namibia |
|
Bank of Namibia |
|
|
|
Netherlands |
|
Euroclear Nederland |
|
|
|
New Zealand |
|
New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited |
|
|
|
Niger |
|
Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Nigeria |
|
Central Bank of Nigeria |
|
|
Central Securities Clearing System Limited |
|
|
|
Norway |
|
Verdipapirsentralen |
|
|
|
Oman |
|
Muscat Clearing & Depository Company S.A.O.C. |
|
|
|
Pakistan |
|
Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited |
|
|
State Bank of Pakistan |
|
|
|
Palestine |
|
Clearing, Depository and Settlement system, a department of the Palestine Securities Exchange |
|
|
|
Peru |
|
CAVALI S.A. Xxxxxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxxxx x Xxxxxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx |
|
|
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx |
|
Philippine Depository & Trust Corporation |
|
|
Registry of Scripless Securities (XXXX) of the Bureau of the Treasury |
|
|
|
Poland |
|
Rejestr Papierów Wartościowych |
|
|
Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych, S.A. |
|
|
|
Portugal |
|
INTERBOLSA - Sociedad Gestora de Sistemas |
|
|
de Liquidação e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores Mobiliários, S.A. |
|
|
|
Qatar |
|
Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a department of the Qatar Exchange |
|
|
|
Romania |
|
National Bank of Romania |
|
|
S.C. Depozitarul Central S.A. |
|
|
|
Russia |
|
National Settlement Depository |
|
|
Vneshtorgbank, Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian Federation |
|
|
|
Senegal |
|
Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Serbia |
|
Central Registrar, Depository and Clearinghouse |
Singapore |
|
Monetary Authority of Singapore |
|
|
The Central Depository (Pte.) Limited |
|
|
|
Slovak Republic |
|
Centrálny depozitár cenných papierov SR, a.s. |
|
|
|
Slovenia |
|
KDD - Centralna klirinško depotna xxxxxx x.x. |
|
|
|
South Africa |
|
Strate Limited |
|
|
|
Spain |
|
IBERCLEAR |
|
|
|
Sri Lanka |
|
Central Bank of Sri Lanka |
|
|
Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited |
|
|
|
Republic of Srpska |
|
Central Registry of Securities in the Republic of Srpska JSC |
|
|
|
Sweden |
|
Euroclear Sweden |
|
|
|
Switzerland |
|
SIX SIS AG |
|
|
|
Taiwan - R.O.C. |
|
Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) |
|
|
Taiwan Depository and Clearing Corporation |
|
|
|
Thailand |
|
Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited |
|
|
|
Togo |
|
Dépositaire Central — Banque de Règlement |
|
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
|
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago |
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago Central Depository Limited |
|
|
|
Tunisia |
|
Société Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la |
|
|
Compensation et le Dépôt des Valeurs Mobilières (STICODEVAM) |
|
|
|
Turkey |
|
Central Bank of Turkey |
|
|
Central Registry Agency |
|
|
|
Uganda |
|
Bank of Uganda |
|
|
Securities Central Depository |
|
|
|
Ukraine |
|
All-Ukrainian Securities Depository |
|
|
National Bank of Ukraine |
|
|
|
United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi |
|
Clearing, Settlement, Depository and Registry department of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange |
|
|
|
United Arab Emirates - Dubai Financial Market |
|
Clearing and Depository System, a department of the Dubai Financial Market |
|
|
|
United Arab Emirates - Dubai International Financial Center |
|
Central Securities Depository, owned and operated by NASDAQ Dubai Limited |
|
|
|
United Kingdom |
|
Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited * |
|
|
|
Uruguay |
|
Banco Central del Uruguay |
|
|
|
Venezuela |
|
Banco Central de Venezuela |
|
|
Caja Xxxxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxxxx |
|
Xxxxxxx Securities Depository |
|
|
|
Zambia |
|
Bank of Zambia |
|
|
XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited |
|
|
|
TRANSNATIONAL |
|
|
|
|
|
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. | ||
Clearstream Banking, S.A. |
** Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited (EUI) serves as depository for GBP- and EUR-denominated money market instruments. Also, EUI utilizes its CREST system to facilitate settlement for eligible securities in the UK and Ireland, with securities ownership recorded at the relevant issuer’s registrar.
SCHEDULE C
Publication/Type of Information |
|
Brief Description |
(scheduled frequency) |
|
|
|
|
|
The Guide to Custody in World Markets |
|
An overview of settlement and safekeeping procedures, custody practices and foreign investor considerations for the markets in which State Street offers custodial services. |
|
|
|
Global Custody Network Review |
|
Information relating to Foreign Sub-Custodians in State Street’s Global Custody Network. The Review stands as an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to assist them in complying with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also gives insight into State Street’s market expansion and Foreign Sub-Custodian selection processes, as well as the procedures and controls used to monitor the financial condition and performance of our Foreign Sub-Custodian banks. |
|
|
|
Securities Depository Review |
|
Custody risk analyses of the Foreign Securities Depositories presently operating in Network markets. This publication is an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to meet informational obligations created by SEC Rule 17f-7. |
|
|
|
Global Legal Survey |
|
With respect to each market in which State Street offers custodial services, opinions relating to whether local law restricts (i) access of a fund’s independent public accountants to books and records of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a fund’s ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (iii) a fund’s ability to recover in the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a foreign investor to convert cash and cash equivalents to U.S. dollars. |
|
|
|
Subcustodian Agreements |
|
Copies of the contracts that State Street has entered into with each Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains U.S. mutual fund assets in the markets in which State Street offers custodial services. |
|
|
|
Global Market Bulletin |
|
Information on changing settlement and custody conditions in markets where State Street offers custodial services. Includes changes in market and tax regulations, depository developments, dematerialization information, as well as other market changes that may impact State Street’s clients. |
|
|
|
Foreign Custody Advisories |
|
For those markets where State Street offers custodial services that exhibit special risks or infrastructures impacting custody, State Street issues market advisories to highlight those unique market factors which might impact our ability to offer recognized custody service levels. |
|
|
|
Material Change Notices |
|
Informational letters and accompanying materials confirming State Street’s foreign custody arrangements, including a summary of material changes with Foreign Sub-Custodians that have occurred during the previous quarter. The notices also identify any material changes in the custodial risks associated with maintaining assets with Foreign Securities Depositories |