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Exhibit 23(g)
Form of Custody Agreement
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C-8
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This Custody Agreement is dated March 31, 1995 between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
TRUST COMPANY, a New York State Chartered trust company (the "Custodian") and
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS III, a Delaware business trust (the "Client"), on behalf of
each investment portfolio of the Client listed in Appendix 2 (each hereinafter
referred to as "the Accounts"), as such appendix may be amended from time to
time.
1. Appointment and Acceptance: Accounts. (1) The Client hereby appoints
the Custodian as a custodian of Property (as defined below) owned or under the
control of the Client that are delivered to the Custodian, or any Subcustodian
as appointed below, from time to time to be held in custody for the benefit of
the Client.
(b) Prior to the delivery of any Property by the Client to the
Custodian, the Client shall deliver to the Custodian each document and other
item listed in Appendix 1. In addition, the Client shall deliver to the
Custodian any additional documents or items as the Custodian may deem necessary
for the performance of its duties under this Agreement.
(c) The Client instructs the Custodian to establish on the books and
records of the Custodian the accounts listed in Appendix 2 (the "Accounts') in
the name of the Client. Upon receipt of Authorized Instructions (as defined
below) and appropriate documentation, the Custodian shall open additional
Accounts for the Client. Upon the Custodian's confirmation to the Client of the
opening of such additional Accounts, or of the closing of Accounts, Appendix 2
shall be deemed automatically amended or supplemented accordingly. The Custodian
shall record in the Accounts and shall have general responsibility for the
safekeeping of all securities ("Securities"), cash, cash equivalents and other
property (all such Securities, cash, cash equivalents and other property being
collectively the "Property") of the Client that are delivered to the Custodian
for custody.
(d) The procedures the Custodian and the Client will use in performing
activities in connection with this Agreement are set forth in a client services
guide provided to the Client by the Custodian, as such guide may be amended from
time to time by the Custodian by written notice to the Client (the "Client
Services Guide").
2. Subcustodians. The Property may be held in custody and deposit
accounts that have been established by the Custodian with one or more domestic
or foreign banks or other institutions as listed on Exhibit A (the
"Subcustodians"), as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time by the
Custodian by written notice to the Client, or through the facilities of one or
more securities depositories or clearing agencies. The Custodian shall hold
Property through a Subcustodian, securities depository or clearing agency only
if (a) such Subcustodian and any securities depository or clearing agency in
which such Subcustodian or the Custodian holds
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Property, or any of their creditors, may not assert any right, charge, security
interest, lien, encumbrance or other claim of any kind to such Property except a
claim of payment for its safe custody or administration and (b) beneficial
ownership of such Property may be freely transferred without the payment of
money or value other than for safe custody or administration. Any Subcustodian
may hold Property in a securities depository and may utilize a clearing agency.
3. Records. With respect to Property held by a Subcustodian:
(a) The Custodian may hold Property for all of its customers with a
Subcustodian in a single account identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers;
(b) The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the
Client any Property held by a Subcustodian for the Custodian's account;
(c) The Custodian shall require that Property held by the Subcustodian
for the Custodian's account be identified on the Subcustodian's books as
separate from any other property held by the Subcustodian other than property of
the Custodian's customers held solely for the benefit of customers of the
Custodian; and
(d) In the event the Subcustodian holds Property in a securities
depository or clearing agency, such Subcustodian shall be required by its
agreement with the Custodian to identify on its books such Property as being
held for the account of the Custodian as custodian for its customers or in such
other manner as is required by local law or market practice.
4. Access to Records. The Custodian shall allow the Client's
accountants reasonable access to the Custodian's records relating to the
Property held by the Custodian as such accountants may reasonably require in
connection with their examination of the Client's affairs. The Custodian shall
also obtain from any Subcustodian (and shall require each Subcustodian to use
reasonable efforts to obtain from any securities depository or clearing agency
in which it deposits Property) an undertaking, to the extent consistent with
local practice and the laws of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions to which such
Subcustodian, securities depository or clearing agency is subject, to permit
independent public accountants such reasonable access to the records of such
Subcustodian, securities depository or clearing agency as may be reasonably
required in connection with the examination of the Client's affairs or to take
such other action as the Custodian in its judgment may deem sufficient to ensure
such reasonable access.
5. Reports. The Custodian shall provide such reports and other
information to the Client and to such persons as the Client directs as the
Custodian and the Client may agree from time to time.
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6. Payment of Monies. The Custodian shall make, or cause any
Subcustodian to make, payments from monies being held in the Accounts only in
accordance with Authorized Instructions or as provided in Sections 9, 13 and 17.
The Custodian may act as the Client's agent or act as a principal in
foreign exchange transactions at such rates as are agreed from time to time
between the Client and the Custodian.
7. Transfer of Securities. The Custodian shall make, or cause any
Subcustodian to make, transfers, exchanges or deliveries of Securities only in
accordance with Authorized Instructions or as provided in Sections 9, 13 and 17.
8. Corporate Action. (a) The Custodian shall notify the Client of
details of all corporate actions affecting the Client's Securities promptly upon
its receipt of such information.
(b) The Custodian shall take, or cause any Subcustodian to take, such
corporate action only in accordance with Authorized Instructions or as provided
in this Section 8 or Section 9.
(c) In the event the Client does not provide timely Authorized
Instructions to the Custodian, the Custodian shall act in accordance with the
default option provided by local market practice and/or the issuer of the
Securities.
(d) Fractional shares resulting from corporate action activity shall be
treated in accordance with local market practices.
9. General Authority. In the absence of Authorized Instructions to the
contrary, the Custodian may, and may authorize any Subcustodian to:
(a) make payments to itself or others for expenses of handling Property
or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided
that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Client;
(b) receive and collect all income and principal with respect to
Securities and to credit cash receipts to the Accounts;
(c) exchange Securities when the exchange is purely ministerial
(including, without limitation, the exchange of interim receipts or temporary
securities for securities in definitive form and the exchange of warrants, or
other documents of entitlement to securities, for the securities themselves);
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(d) surrender Securities at maturity or when called for redemption upon
receiving payment therefor;
(e) execute in the Client's name such ownership and other certificates
as may be required to obtain the payment of income from Securities;
(f) pay or cause to be paid, from the Accounts, any and all taxes and
levies in the nature of taxes imposed on Property by any governmental authority
in connection with custody of and transactions in such Property;
(g) endorse for collection, in the name of the Client, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments;
(h) take non-discretionary action on mandatory corporate actions; and
(i) in general, attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection
with the custody, sale, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the Property.
10. Authorized Instructions; Authorized Persons. (a) Except as
otherwise provided in Sections 6 through 9, 13 and 17, all payments of monies,
all transfers, exchanges or deliveries of Property and all responses to
corporate actions shall be made or taken only upon receipt by the Custodian of
Authorized Instructions; provided that such Authorized Instructions are timely
received by the Custodian. "Authorized Instructions" of the Client means
instructions from an Authorized Person received by telecopy, tested telex,
electronic link or other electronic means or by such other means as may be
agreed in writing between the Client and the Custodian.
(b) "Authorized Person" means each of the persons or entities
identified on Appendix 3 as amended from time to time by written notice from the
Client to the Custodian. The Client represents and warrants to the Custodian
that each Authorized Person listed in Appendix 3, as amended from time to time,
is authorized to issue Authorized Instructions on behalf of the Client. Prior to
the delivery of the Property to the Custodian, the Custodian shall provide a
list of designated system user ID numbers and passwords that the Client shall be
responsible for assigning to Authorized Persons. The Custodian shall assume that
an electronic transmission received and identified by a system user ID number
and password was sent by an Authorized Person. The Custodian agrees to provide
additional designated system user ID numbers and passwords as needed by the
Client. The Client authorizes the Custodian to issue new system user ID numbers
upon the request of a previously existing Authorized Person. Upon the issuance
of additional system user ID numbers by the Custodian to the Client, Appendix 3
shall be deemed automatically amended accordingly. The Client authorizes the
Custodian to receive, act and rely upon any Authorized Instructions received by
the Custodian which have been issued, or purport to have been issued, by an
Authorized Person.
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(c) Any Authorized Person may cancel/correct or otherwise amend any
Authorized Instruction received by the Custodian, but the Client agrees to
indemnify the Custodian for any liability, loss or expense incurred by the
Custodian and its Subcustodians as a result of their having relied upon or acted
on any prior Authorized Instruction. An amendment or cancellation of an
Authorized Instruction to deliver or receive any security or funds in connection
with a trade will not be processed once the trade has settled.
11. Registration of Securities. (a) In the absence of Authorized
Instructions to the contrary, Securities which must be held in registered form
shall be registered in the name of the Custodian or the Custodian's nominee or,
in the case of Securities in the custody of an entity other than the Custodian,
in the name of the Custodian, its Subcustodian or any such entity's nominee. The
Custodian may, without notice to the Client, cause any Securities to be
registered or re-registered in the name of the Client.
(b) Where the Custodian has been instructed by the Client to hold any
Securities in the name of any person or entity other than the Custodian, its
Subcustodian or any such entity's nominee, the Custodian shall not be
responsible for any failure to collect such dividends or other income or
participate in any such corporate action with respect to such Securities.
12. Deposit Accounts. All cash received by the Custodian for the
Accounts shall be held by the Custodian as a short-term credit balance in favor
of the Client and, if the Custodian and the Client have agreed in writing in
advance that such credit balances shall bear interest, the Client shall earn
interest at the rates and times as agreed between the Custodian and the Client.
The Client acknowledges that any such credit balances shall not be accompanied
by the benefit of any governmental insurance.
13. Short-term Credit Extensions. (a) From time to time, the Custodian
may extend or arrange short-ten-n credit for the Client which is (i) necessary
in connection with payment and clearance of securities and foreign exchange
transactions or (ii) pursuant to an agreed schedule, as and if set forth in the
Client Services Guide, of credits for dividends and interest payments on
Securities. All such extensions of credit shall be repayable by the Client on
demand.
(b) The Custodian shall be entitled to charge the Client interest for
any such credit extension at rates to be agreed upon from time to time or, if
such credit is arranged by the Custodian with a third party on behalf of the
Client, the Client shall reimburse the Custodian for any interest charge. In
addition to any other remedies available, the Custodian shall be entitled to a
fight of set-off against the Property to satisfy the repayment of such credit
extensions and the payment of, or reimbursement for, accrued interest thereon.
14. Representations and Warranties. (a) The Client represents and
warrants
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that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, the ability to obtain the short-term extensions of credit in
accordance with Section 13) are within the Client's power and authority and have
been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise) of the
Client and of the beneficial owner of the Property, if other than the Client,
and (ii) this Agreement and each extension of short-term credit extended to or
arranged for the benefit of the Client in accordance with Section 13 shall at
all times constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Client
enforceable against the Client in accordance with their respective terms, except
as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other singular laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights in general and subject to the effect of general
principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(b) The Custodian represents and warrants that (i) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement are within the Custodian's power and
authority and have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or
otherwise) of the Custodian and (ii) this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Custodian enforceable against the Custodian in
accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights in general and
subject to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
15. Standard of Care, Indemnification. (a) The Custodian shall be
responsible for the performance of only such duties as are set forth in this
Agreement or contained in Authorized Instructions given to the Custodian which
are not contrary to the provisions of any relevant law or regulation. The
Custodian shall be liable to the Client for any loss, liability or expense
incurred by the Client in connection with this Agreement to the extent that any
such loss, liability or expense results from the negligence or willful
misconduct of the Custodian or any Subcustodian, provided that the Custodian
shall have no greater or lesser responsibility or liability to the Client on
account of any actions or omissions of any Subcustodian than the responsibility
or liability such Subcustodian has to the Custodian.
(b) The Client acknowledges that the Property may be physically held
outside the United States. The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss,
liability or expense resulting from events beyond the reasonable control of the
Custodian, including, but not limited to, force majeure.
(c) In addition, the Client shall indemnify the Custodian and
Subcustodians and any nominee for, and hold each of them harmless from, any
liability, loss or expense (including attorneys' fees and disbursements)
incurred in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation, (i) as
a result of the Custodian having acted or relied upon any Authorized
Instructions or (ii) arising out of any such person acting as a nominee or
holder of record of Securities.
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16. Fees; Liens. The Client shall pay to the Custodian from time to
time such compensation for its services pursuant to this Agreement as may be
mutually agreed upon as well as the Custodian's out-of-pocket and incidental
expenses. The Client shall hold the Custodian harmless from any liability or
loss resulting from any taxes or other governmental charges, and any expenses
related thereto, which may be imposed or assessed with respect to the Accounts
or any Property held therein. The Custodian is, and any Subcustodians are,
authorized to charge the Accounts for such items and the Custodian shall have a
lien, charge and security interest on any and all Property for any amount owing
to the Custodian from time to time under this Agreement.
17. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Client or the
Custodian by 60 days written notice to the other, sent by registered mail. If
notice of termination is given, the Client shall, within 30 days following the
giving of such notice, deliver to the Custodian a statement in writing
specifying the successor custodian or other person to whom the Custodian shall
transfer the Property. In either event, the Custodian, subject to the
satisfaction of any lien it may have, shall transfer the Property to the person
so specified. If the Custodian does not receive such statement the Custodian, at
its election, may transfer the Property to a bank or trust company established
under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to be held and disposed
of pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or may continue to hold the
Property until such a statement is delivered to the Custodian. In such event the
Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such
period as the Custodian remains in possession of any Property and the provisions
of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall
remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that the Custodian shall
have no obligation to settle any transactions in Securities for the Accounts.
The provisions of Sections 15 and 16 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
18. Investment Advice. The Custodian shall not supervise, recommend or
advise the Client relative to the investment, purchase, sale, retention or other
disposition of any Property held under this Agreement.
19. Confidentiality. The Custodian, its agents and employees shall
maintain the confidentiality of information concerning the Property held in the
Client's account, including in dealings with affiliates of the Custodian. In the
event the Custodian or any Subcustodian is requested or required to disclose any
confidential information concerning the Property, the Custodian shall, to the
extent practicable and legally permissible, promptly notify the Client of such
request or requirement so that the Client may seek a protective order or waive
any objection to the Custodian's or such Subcustodian's compliance with this
Section 19. In the absence of such a waiver, if the Custodian or such
Subcustodian is compelled, in the opinion of its counsel, to disclose any
confidential information, the Custodian or such Subcustodian may disclose such
information to such persons as, in the opinion of counsel, is so required.
20. Notices. Any notice or other communication from the Client to the
Custodian, unless otherwise provided by this Agreement or the Client Services
Guide, shall be
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sent by certified or registered mail to _____________________________,
Attention: President, and any notice from the Custodian to the Client is to be
mailed postage prepaid, addressed to the Client at the address appearing below,
or as it, may hereafter be changed on the Custodian's records in accordance with
written notice from the Client.
21. Assignment. This contract may not be assigned by either party
without the prior written approval of the other.
22. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall bind the successors and
assigns of the Client and the Custodian.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of ________ without regard to its conflicts
of law rules and to the extent not preempted by federal law. The Custodian and
the Client hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
___________ State court or any United States District Court located in the State
of _______ in any action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement and hereby
irrevocably waive any objection to the venue of any such action or proceeding
brought in any such court or any defense of an inconvenient forum.
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have set their hands as of the
date first above written.
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS III,
on behalf of each investment portfolio
listed in Appendix 2
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address for record: ____________________
____________________
____________________
Accepted:
___________________________
By: _______________________
Authorized Signature
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