EXHIBIT 99.B8a
CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
BETWEEN
AMERICAN NATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC.
AND
SECURITIES MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, INC.
THIS CONTRACT between AMERICAN NATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Maryland, having its principal place
of business at Two ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, hereinafter called
the "Fund", and SECURITIES MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, INC., a Florida
corporation having its principal place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, hereinafter called the "Custodian",
W I T N E S S E T H:
That in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT.
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets
pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation. The Fund agrees
to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash owned by it, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received
by it with respect to all securities owned by the Fund from time to time, and
the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of
capital stock, $1.00 par value ("Shares") of the Fund as may be issued or
sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any
property of the Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the
Custodian.
Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (within the meaning of Section
2.17), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more
sub-custodians, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board
of Directors of the Fund, and provided that the Custodian, while responsible
for the actions for any subcustodian shall have no more or less
responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of the use of the
subcustodian. It is contemplated by the Fund and the Custodian that the
Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the ▇▇▇▇▇ National
Bank of Galveston, a national bank, having it principal place of business at
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
The Custodian shall indemnify and shall hold the Fund harmless for all
acts or omissions of any subcustodian and shall be responsible to the Fund
for all such acts or omissions of a subcustodian had been committed directly
by the Custodian.
2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY THE
CUSTODIAN.
2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property, including
all securities owned by the Fund, other than securities which are
maintained pursuant to Section 2.12 in a clearing agency which acts as a
securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury, collectively referred to herein as
"Securities System".
2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver
securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a Securities
System account of the Custodian only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions,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 Fund and
receipt of payment therefor;
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(2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;
(3) In the case of a sale effected through a Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12 hereof;
(4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for portfolio securities of the Fund;
(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 Fund 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 2.11 or into the name or Nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 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 Fund,
to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for
examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom; PROVIDED
that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility
or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such
securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as
may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct;
(8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant
to any deposit agreement; provided, that in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
(9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; PROVIDED, that in
any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
(10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made
by the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that
in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited
to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by
the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;
(11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by
the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, BUT ONLY against
receipt of amounts borrowed;
(12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act") and a member of The National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of
The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange, or of any similar organization or
organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection
with transactions by the Fund;
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(13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a Futures Commission
Merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to
compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission and/or any Contract Market, or any similar organization
or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with
transactions by the Fund;
(14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent
("Transfer Agent") for the Fund, 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 Fund's
currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by holders
of Shares for repurchase or redemption; and
(15) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt
of, in addition to Proper Instructions, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee
signed by an officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, specifying the securities to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made,
declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes, and naming
the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be
made.
2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Securities held by the Custodian
(other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the
Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund,
UNLESS the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee
to be used in common with other registered investment companies having
the same investment adviser as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name
of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.11 or in the name or
nominee name of any sub- custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1. All
securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the
terms of this Contract shall be in "street name" or other good delivery
form.
2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate
bank account or accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft
or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this
Contract, 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 Fund, other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account
established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund 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 Investment Company Act of 1940 and that each such bank or
trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust
company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian
in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian
only in that capacity.
2.5 PAYMENTS FOR SHARES. The Custodian shall receive from the
distributor for the Fund's Shares or from the Transfer Agent of the Fund
and deposit into the Fund's account such payments as are received for
Shares of the Fund issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The
Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer
Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.
2.6 INVESTMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. Upon mutual
agreement between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon
the receipt of Proper Instructions,
(1) invest in such instruments as may be set forth in such
instructions on the same day as received all federal funds received
after a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and
(2) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times
agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in the
amount of checks received in payment for Shares of the Fund which
are deposited into the Fund's account.
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2.7 COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall collect on a timely
basis all income and other payments with respect to registered
securities held hereunder to which the Fund 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
securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are
held by the Custodian or agent thereof and shall credit such income, as
collected, to the Fund'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 the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.2(10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund.
The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection
therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data
as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely
delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Fund is properly
entitled.
2.8 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the
parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following
cases only:
(1) Upon the purchase of securities, futures contracts or options
on futures contracts for the account of the Fund but only (a)
against the delivery of such securities, or evidence of title to
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 Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, to act as a custodian and has been
designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose)
registered in the name of the Fund 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
Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.12 hereof; or (c) in the case of repurchase agreements
entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or another bank,
or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery
of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry
crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal Reserve Bank with
such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing
purchase by the Fund of securities owned by the Custodian along
with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to
repurchase such securities from the Fund;
(2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;
(3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued by the Fund
as set forth in Section 2.10 hereof;
(4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Fund, including, but not limited to, the following payments for the
account of the Fund: 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 declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
(6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(7) For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of, in
addition to Proper Instructions, a certified copy of a resolution
of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee of the Fund
signed by an officer of the Fund and certified by its Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, specifying the amount of such payment,
setting forth the purpose for which such payment is to be made,
declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose, and naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
2.9 LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF SECURITIES
PURCHASED. Except as specifically stated otherwise in this Contract, in
any and every case where payment for purchase of securities for the
account
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of the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the
securities purchased in the absence of specific written instructions
from the Fund to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely
liable to the Fund for such securities to the same extent as if the
securities had been received by the Custodian, EXCEPT that in the case
of repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund with a bank which is a
member of the Federal Reserve System, the Custodian may transfer funds
to the account of such bank prior to the receipt of written evidence
that the securities subject to such repurchase agreement have been
transferred by book-entry into a segregated non-proprietary account of
the Custodian maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank or of the
safe-keeping receipt, PROVIDED, that such securities have in fact been
so transferred by book-entry.
2.10 PAYMENTS FOR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES OF THE FUND.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose but subject to the
limitations of the Articles of Incorporation and any applicable votes of
the Board of Directors of the Fund pursuant thereto, the Custodian
shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds
available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the
Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares.
In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund,
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 of the Fund, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn
on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished
by the Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in
accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon
from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
2.11 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 Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out
such of the provisions of this Article 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.
2.12 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a clearing
agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a
securities depository, or in the book-entry system authorized by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury and certain federal agencies,
collectively referred to herein as "Securities System" in accordance
with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange
Commission rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the following
provisions:
(1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in a Securities
System PROVIDED that such securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Custodian in the Securities System which shall
not include any assets of the Custodian other than assets held as a
fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers;
(2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Fund which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by
book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund;
(3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities
System that such securities have been transferred to the Account,
and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The
Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of the
Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System that
payment for such securities has been transferred to the Account,
and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.
Copies of all advises from the Securities System of transfers of
securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be
maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be provided to the
Fund at its request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the
Fund confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the
Fund in the form of a written advice or notice and shall furnish to
the Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's
transactions in the Securities System for the account of the Fund.
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(4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by
the Custodian on the Securities System's accounting system, internal
accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities
deposited in the Securities System;
(5) The Custodian shall have received the initial or annual
certificate, as the case may be, required by Article 9 hereof;
(6) Anything to the contrary in this Contract notwithstanding, the
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the
Fund resulting from use of the Securities System by reason of any
negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its
agents or of any of its or their employees or from failure of the
Custodian or any such agent to enforce effectively such rights as it
may have against the Securities System; at the election of the Fund,
it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian
with respect to any claim against the Securities System or any other
person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of any such loss
or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole
for any such loss or damage.
2.13 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper
Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for
and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be
transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an
account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.12 hereof, (i) in accordance
with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a
broker dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD
(or any futures commission merchant registered under The Commodity Exchange
Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing
Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract market),
or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other
arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for
purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with
options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures
contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the
purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or
releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the
maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies
and (iv) for other proper corporate purposes, BUT ONLY, in the case of
clause (iv), upon receipt of, in addition to Proper Instructions, a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors or of the
Executive Committee signed by an officer of the Fund and certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, setting forth the purpose or purposes
of such segregated account and declaring such purposes to be proper
corporate purposes.
2.14 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 securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with
transfers of securities.
2.15 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the 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 Fund or a nominee of the Fund, 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.
2.16 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of
call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from
issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to
tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of
the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or
his agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires
to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any
other similar transaction, the Fund shall notify the Custodian at least
three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
such action.
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2.17 PROPER INSTRUCTIONS. Proper Instructions as used throughout this
Article 2 means a writing signed or initialled by one or more person or
persons as the Board of Directors shall have from time to time authorized.
Each such writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type of
transaction involved, including a specific statement of the purpose for
which such action is requested. Oral instructions will be considered
Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been
given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the
transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be
confirmed in writing. Upon receipt of a certificate of the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary as to the authorization by the Board of Directors
of the Fund accompanied by a detailed description of procedures approved
by the Board of Directors, Proper Instructions may include communications
effected directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided
that the Board of Directors and the Custodian are satisfied that such
procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets. For purposes
of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received
by the Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement which requires a
segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.13.
2.18 ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY. The Custodian may in
its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:
(1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this
Contract, provided, that all such payments shall be accounted for to
the Fund;
(2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
(3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, 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 Fund except as
otherwise directed by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
2.19 EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY. The Custodian shall be protected in acting
upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly
executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may receive and
accept a certified copy of a vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund
as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in
accordance with such vote, or (b) of any determination or of any action
by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation as
described in such vote, and such vote may be considered as in full force
and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the
contrary.
3. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND CALCULATION
OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME.
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to
the entity or entities appointed by the Board of Directors of the Fund to
keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the net asset value per
share of the outstanding shares of the Fund or, if directed in writing to do
so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such
net asset value per share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also
calculate daily the net income of the Fund as described in the Fund's
currently effective prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer
Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in
writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent
periodically of the division of such net income among its various components.
The calculations of the net asset value per share and the daily income of the
Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the
Fund's currently effective prospectus.
4. RECORDS.
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its
activities and obligations under this Contract in such manner as will meet
the obligations of the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, with
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particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2
thereunder, applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or
administrative rules or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. All
such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during
the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents
of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Custodian shall, at the
Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the
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.
5. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT.
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund 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, Form N-SAR or other
annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to
any other requirements of such Commission.
6. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may
reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts,
including securities deposited and/or maintained in a Securities System,
relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Contract; such
reports, which 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, shall so state.
7. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN.
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between
the Fund and the Custodian.
8. 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 Contract and shall be held harmless in
acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party
or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the
terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be
held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of
this Contract, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without
liability to the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
without negligence. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice
of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be
without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such
advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the responsibility of the Custodian
with respect to redemptions effected by check shall be in accordance with a
separate agreement entered into between the Custodian and the Fund.
If the Fund 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 being liable for the payment of money or incurring
liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the
Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an
amount and form satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian to advance cash or securities for any
purpose 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 Contract, except such as may arise
from its or its nominee's own
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negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any
property at any time held for the account of the Fund 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 the
Fund assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
9. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.
This Contract shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue
in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may be
amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed,
postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not
sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery or mailing;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Custodian shall not act under Section 2.12 hereof
in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary that the Board of Directors of the Fund have approved the
initial use of a particular Securities System and the receipt of an annual
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of
Directors have reviewed the use by the Fund of such Securities System, to the
extent required in each case by Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the Fund shall not amend
or terminate this Contract in contravention of any applicable federal or
state regulations, or any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, and
FURTHER PROVIDED, that the Fund may at any time by action of its Board of
Directors (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by
giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately
terminate this Contract in the event of the appointment of a conservator or
receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the
happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory
agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian
such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall
likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
10. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of
the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor
custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for
transfer, all securities then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an
account of the successor custodian all of the Fund's securities held in a
Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the Board of
Directors of the Fund, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer
such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such vote.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
certified copy of a vote of the Board of Directors 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 Investment Company Act of
1940, 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
and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other
property held by it under this Contract and to transfer to an account of such
successor custodian all of the Fund's securities held in any Securities
System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the
Custodian under this Contract.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the certified copy of vote referred to or of
the Board of Directors to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall
be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the
Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties
and the provisions of this Contract relating to the duties and obligations of
the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
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11. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.
In connection with the operation of this Contract, the Custodian and the
Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in
addition to the provisions of this Contract as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Contract. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in writing signed by both parties and shall be
annexed hereto, PROVIDED that no such interpretive or additional provisions
shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision
of the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund. No interpretive or additional
provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be
an amendment of this Contract.
12. TEXAS LAW TO APPLY.
This Contract shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with laws of The State of Texas.
13. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, the Custodian
agrees that, until such time as it receives an opinion of counsel satisfying
to the Fund, that it is not an affiliate (as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and rules and regulations issued thereunder) of the Fund,
the Custodian and any sub-custodian employed by the Custodian agrees to
comply with Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as such rule
may be amended and/or superseded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative on
September 12, 1991.
AMERICAN NATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
President
SECURITIES MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
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