CUSTODY AGREEMENT dated as of June 16, 2022 by and between FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND (“Company”) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Custodian”)
Exhibit 99.(j)
dated as of June 16, 2022
by and
between
FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND
(“Company”)
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(“Custodian”)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| 1. | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| 2. | APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN | 5 |
| 3. | DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN | 5 |
| 4. | REPORTING | 12 |
| 5. | DEPOSIT IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS | 12 |
| 6. | RESERVED. | 13 |
| 7. | CERTAIN GENERAL TERMS | 13 |
| 8. | COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN | 15 |
| 9. | RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN | 15 |
| 10. | SECURITY CODES | 18 |
| 11. | TAX LAW | 18 |
| 12. | EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT | 19 |
| 13. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 20 |
| 14. | PARTIES IN INTEREST; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFIT | 21 |
| 15. | NOTICES | 21 |
| 16. | CHOICE OF LAW AND JURISDICTION | 22 |
| 17. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT; COUNTERPARTS | 22 |
| 18. | AMENDMENT; WAIVER | 23 |
| 19. | SUCCESSOR AND ASSIGNS | 23 |
| 20. | SEVERABILITY | 23 |
| 21. | REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS | 23 |
| 22. | OTHER BUSINESS | 24 |
| 23. | REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS | 24 |
| 24. | MISCELLANEOUS | 24 |
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THIS CUSTODY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 16, 2022 and is by and between FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND (and any successor or permitted assign), a Delaware statutory trust, having its principal place of business at ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (or any successor or permitted assign acting as custodian hereunder, the “Custodian”), a national banking association having a place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company (as defined below) desires to retain U.S. Bank National Association to act as custodian for the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Company’s Securities (as defined below) and cash be held and administered by the custodian pursuant to this Agreement; and
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | DEFINITIONS |
1.1 Defined Terms. In addition to terms expressly defined elsewhere herein, the following words shall have the following meanings as used in this Agreement:
“Account” or “Accounts” means the Cash Account, the Securities Account, any Subsidiary Cash Account and any Subsidiary Securities Account, collectively.
“Agreement” means this Custody Agreement (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof).
“Authorized Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
“Business Day” means a day on which the Custodian is open for business in the market or country in which a transaction is to take place.
“Cash Account” means the accounts to be established at the Custodian to which the Custodian shall deposit and hold any cash Proceeds received by it from time to time from or with respect to the Securities or the sale of the common stock of the Company, as applicable, which accounts shall be designated the “Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund Cash Interest Proceeds Account” and the “Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund Cash Principal Proceeds Account”.
“Company” means Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund, its successors or permitted assigns.
“Confidential Information” means any databases, computer programs, screen formats, screen designs, report formats, interactive design techniques, and other similar or related information that may be furnished to the Company by the Custodian from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.
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“Custodian” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Eligible Investment” means any investment that at the time of its acquisition is one or more of the following:
(a) United States government and agency obligations;
(b) commercial paper having a rating assigned to such commercial paper by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services or ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investor Service, Inc. (or, if neither such organization shall rate such commercial paper at such time, by any nationally recognized rating organization in the United States of America) equal to one of the two highest ratings assigned by such organization, it being understood that as of the date hereof such ratings by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services are “A1+” and “A1” and such ratings by ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investor Service, Inc. are “P1” and “P2”;
(c) interest bearing deposits in United States dollars in United States or Canadian banks with an unrestricted surplus of at least U.S. $250,000,000, maturing within one year; and
(d) money market funds (including funds of the bank serving as Custodian or its affiliates) or United States government securities funds designed to maintain a fixed share price and high liquidity.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Federal Reserve Bank Book-Entry System” means a depository and securities transfer system operated by the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States on which are eligible to be held all United States Government direct obligation bills, notes and bonds.
“Loan” means any U.S. dollar denominated commercial loan, or Participation therein, made by a bank or other financial institution that by its terms provides for payments of principal and/or interest, including discount obligations and payment- in-kind obligations, acquired by the Company from time to time.
“Non-Public Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.
“Participation” means an interest in a Loan that is acquired indirectly by way of a participation from a selling institution.
“Participating Plan” means an employee benefit plan that the Fund has accepted for participation in the Fund.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust (including any beneficiary thereof) unincorporated organization, or any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
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“Plan-assets Vehicle” means an investment contract, product, or entity that holds plan assets (as determined pursuant to ERISA §§3(42) and 401 and 29 CFR §2510.3-101).
“Proceeds” means, collectively, (i) all cash distributions, earnings, dividends, fees and other cash payments paid on the Securities (or, as applicable, Subsidiary Securities) by or on behalf of the issuer or obligor thereof, or applicable paying agent, (ii) the net cash proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the Securities (or, as applicable, Subsidiary Securities) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (and any Reinvestment Earnings from investment of the foregoing, as defined in Section 3.6(b) hereof) and (iii) the net cash proceeds to the Company of any borrowing or other financing by the Company.
“Proper Instructions” means instructions (including Trade Confirmations) received by the Custodian in form acceptable to it, from the Company, or any Person duly authorized by the Company in any of the following forms acceptable to the Custodian:
(a) in writing signed by an Authorized Person (and delivered by hand, by mail, by overnight courier or by PDF);
| (b) | by electronic mail from an Authorized Person; |
| (c) | in tested communication; |
(d) in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro mechanical or electronic devices; or
(e) such other means as may be agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the party giving such instructions, including oral instructions.
“Securities” means, collectively, the (i) investments, including Loans, acquired by the Company and delivered to the Custodian by the Company from time to time during the term of, and pursuant to the terms of, this Agreement and (ii) all dividends in kind (e.g., non-cash dividends) from the investments described in clause (i), all of which shall be in U.S. denomination.
“Securities Account” means the segregated account to be established at the Custodian to which the Custodian shall deposit or credit and hold the Securities (other than Loans) received by it pursuant to this Agreement, which account shall be designated the “Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund Securities Custody Account”.
“Securities Depository” means The Depository Trust Company and any other clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), which acts as a system for the central handling of Securities where all Securities of any particular class or series of an issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of the Securities.
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“Securities System” means the Federal Reserve Book-Entry System, a clearing agency which acts as a Securities Depository, or another book entry system for the central handling of securities.
“Street Delivery Custom” means a custom of the United States securities market to deliver securities which are being sold to the buying broker for examination to determine that the securities are in proper form.
“Street Name” means the form of registration in which the securities are held by a broker who is delivering the securities to another broker for the purposes of sale, it being an accepted custom in the United States securities industry that a security in Street Name is in proper form for delivery to a buyer and that a security may be re-registered by a buyer in the ordinary course.
“Subsidiary Cash Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b).
“Subsidiary Securities” collectively, the (i) investments, including Loans, acquired by a Subsidiary and delivered to the Custodian from time to time during the term of, and pursuant to the terms of, this Agreement and (ii) all dividends in kind (e.g., non-cash dividends) from the investments described in clause (i).
“Subsidiary Securities Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“Subsidiary” means, collectively, any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company identified to the Custodian by the Company.
“Trade Confirmation” means a confirmation to the Custodian from the Company of the Company’s acquisition of a Loan, and setting forth applicable information with respect to such Loan, which confirmation may be in a form agreed to between the parties from time to time.
| 1.2 | Construction. In this Agreement unless the contrary intention appears: |
| (a) | any reference to this Agreement or another agreement or instrument refers to such agreement or instrument as the same may be amended, modified or otherwise rewritten from time to time; |
| (b) | a reference to a statute, ordinance, code or other law includes regulations and other instruments under it and consolidations, amendments, re-enactments or replacements of any of them; |
| (c) | any term defined in the singular form may be used in, and shall include, the plural with the same meaning, and vice versa; |
| (d) | a reference to a Person includes a reference to the Person’s executors, successors and permitted assigns; |
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| (e) | an agreement, representation or warranty in favor of two or more Persons is for the benefit of them jointly and severally; |
| (f) | an agreement, representation or warranty on the part of two or more Persons binds them jointly and severally; |
| (g) | a reference to the term “including” means “including, without limitation,” and |
| (h) | a reference to any accounting term is to be interpreted in accordance with generally accepted principles and practices in the United States, consistently applied, unless otherwise instructed by the Company. |
| 1.3 | Headings. Headings are inserted for convenience and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. |
| 2. | APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN |
2.1 Appointment and Acceptance. The Company hereby appoints the Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries (as applicable) at any time during the period of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (which shall include any addendum hereto which is hereby incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement), and the Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement with respect to it subject to and in accordance with the provisions hereof.
2.2 Instructions. The Company agrees that it shall from time to time provide, or cause to be provided, to the Custodian all necessary instructions and information, and shall respond promptly to all inquiries and requests of the Custodian, as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Custodian to perform its duties hereunder.
2.3 Company Responsible For Directions. The Company is solely responsible for directing the Custodian with respect to deposits to, withdrawals from and transfers to or from the Account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian has no responsibility for compliance with any restrictions, covenants, limitations or obligations to which the Company may be subject or for which it may have obligations to third-parties in respect of the Account, and the Custodian shall have no liability for the application of any funds made at the direction of the Company. The Company shall be solely responsible for properly instructing all applicable payors to make all appropriate payments to the Custodian for deposit to the Account, and for properly instructing the Custodian with respect to the allocation or application of all such deposits.
| 3. | DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN |
3.1 Segregation. All Securities and non-cash property held by the Custodian, as applicable, for the account of the Company (other than Securities maintained in a Securities Depository or Securities System) shall be physically segregated from other Securities and non-cash property in the possession of the Custodian (including the Securities and non-cash property of the other series of the Company, if applicable) and shall be identified as subject to this Agreement.
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3.2 Securities Custody Account. The Custodian shall open and maintain in its corporate trust department a segregated account in the name of the Company, subject only to order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry, subject to Section 3.3 (b), all Securities (other than Loans), cash and other assets of the Company which are delivered to it in accordance with this Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, the Custodian shall not be required to credit or deposit Loans in the Securities Account but shall instead maintain a register (in book-entry form or in such other form as it shall deem necessary or desirable) of such Loans, containing such information as the Company and the Custodian may reasonably agree.
| 3.3 | Delivery of Securities to Custodian. |
| (a) | The Company may deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian any of the Company’s Securities, cash and other investment assets, including any payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions received by the Company with respect to such Securities, cash or other assets owned by the Company at any time during the period of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may not deliver, or cause to be delivered, all of its assets to the Custodian. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, delivery of Securities to the Custodian shall be in Street Name or other good delivery form. The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually delivered to, and received by, it. With respect to Securities (other than Loans) held by the Custodian in its capacity as a “securities intermediary” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York), the Custodian shall be obligated to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties as a securities intermediary to obtain and maintain such Securities. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding any term hereof or elsewhere to the contrary, (a) it is hereby expressly acknowledged that (i) interests in Loans may be acquired by the Company from time to time which are not evidenced by, or accompanied by delivery of, a “Security” or an instrument, as that term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(4a) of the UCC, and may be evidenced solely by delivery to the Custodian of a facsimile copy of an assignment agreement (“Assignment”) in favor of the Company as assignee, (ii) any such Assignment (and the registration of the related Loan on the books and records of the applicable obligor or bank agent) shall be registered in the name of the Company (or its nominee), and (iii) the Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the physical custody of any Loan. In connection with its acquisition of a Loan or other delivery of a Security constituting a Loan, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian a properly completed Trade Confirmation containing such information in respect of such Loan as the Custodian may reasonably require in order to enable the Custodian to perform its duties hereunder in respect of such Loan on which the Custodian may conclusively rely without further inquiry or investigation and an Assignment. Nothing herein shall require the Custodian to credit to the Securities Account or to treat as a financial asset (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC) any such Loan or other asset in the nature of a general intangible (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(42) of the UCC) or to “maintain” a sufficient quantity thereof. The Custodian shall have no obligation at any time to determine whether any such original security or instrument has been or is required to be issued or made available in respect of any Loan or to compel or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian. In addition, the Custodian shall have no obligation to accept delivery or hold any original notes, instruments or other documentation evidencing such Loan. |
| (c) | Contemporaneously with the acquisition of any Loan, the Company shall (A) if requested by the Custodian, provide to the Custodian an amortization schedule of principal payments and a schedule of the interest payable date(s) identifying the amount and due dates of all scheduled principal and interest payments for such Loan; (B) take all actions necessary for the Company to acquire good title to such Loan; and (C) take all actions as may be necessary (including appropriate payment notices and instructions to bank agents or other applicable paying agents) to cause (x) all payments in respect of the Loan to be made to the Custodian and (y) all notices, solicitations and other communications in respect of such Loan to be directed to the Company. The Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Company to provide necessary information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof, or for any delay or failure on the part of the Company to give such effective payment instruction to bank agents and other paying agents, in respect of the Loans. 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, or from the Company, and shall be entitled to update its records (as it may deem necessary or appropriate) on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information. |
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| 3.4 | Release of Securities. |
| (a) | The Custodian shall release and ship for delivery, or direct its agents or sub-custodian to release and ship for delivery, as the case may be, Securities of the Company held by the Custodian, its agents or its sub-custodian from time to time upon receipt of Proper Instructions (which shall, among other things, specify the Securities to be released, with such delivery and other information as may be necessary to enable the Custodian to perform), which may be standing instructions (in form acceptable to the Custodian) in the following cases: |
| (i) | upon sale of such Securities by or on behalf of the Company and, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions: |
| (A) | in accordance with the customary or established practices and procedures in the jurisdiction or market where the transactions occur, including delivery to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent of such purchaser or dealer) against expectation of receiving later payment; or |
| (B) | in the case of a sale effected through a Securities System, in accordance with Section 5 hereof; |
| (ii) | upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities; |
| (iii) | to a depositary agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities; |
| (iv) | to the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; |
| (v) | to an issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or into the name of any of its agents or sub-custodian or their nominees or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units (unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, the new Securities and cash, if any, is to be delivered to the Custodian its agent or its sub-custodian); |
| (vi) | to brokers clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination in accordance with the Street Delivery Custom; |
| (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 any deposit agreement (unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian, its agents or its sub-custodian); |
| (viii) | 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 (unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian, its agents or its sub-custodian); and/or |
| (ix) | for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions and an officer’s certificate signed by an officer of the Company (which officer shall not have been the Authorized Person providing the Proper Instructions) stating (i) the specified securities to be delivered, (ii) the purpose for such delivery, (iii) that such purpose is a proper corporate purpose and (iv) naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made. |
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| 3.5 | Registration of Securities. All Securities held for the Company that are issued or issuable only in bearer form shall be held by the Custodian in that form, provided that any such Securities shall be held in a Securities System if eligible therefor. Securities held by the Custodian, its sub-custodian (other than bearer securities or Securities that are Loans) shall be registered in the name of the Company or its nominee; or, at the option of the Custodian, in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the Custodian, or in the name of its sub-custodian or their nominees; or in the name of a Securities System or Securities Depository or nominee thereof; or if directed by the Company by Proper Instruction, may be maintained in Street Name. The Custodian and its sub-custodian shall not be obligated to accept Securities on behalf of the Company under the terms of this Agreement unless such Securities are in Street Name or other good deliverable form. |
| 3.6 | Bank Accounts and Management of Cash |
| (a) | Proceeds from the Securities received by the Custodian from time to time shall be credited to the Cash Account. All amounts credited to the Cash Account shall be subject to clearance and receipt of final payment by the Custodian. |
| (b) | Amounts held in the Cash Account from time to time may be invested in Eligible Investments pursuant to specific written Proper Instructions (which may be standing instructions) received by the Custodian from an Authorized Person acting on behalf of the Company. Such investments shall be subject to availability and the Custodian’s then applicable transaction charges (which shall be at the Company’s expense). The Custodian shall have no liability for any loss incurred on any such investment. Absent receipt of such written instruction from the Company, the Custodian shall have no obligation to invest (or otherwise pay interest on) amounts on deposit in the Cash Account. In no instance will the Custodian have any obligation to provide investment advice to the Company. Any earnings from such investment of amounts held in the Cash Account from time to time (collectively, “Reinvestment Earnings”) shall be redeposited in the Cash Account (and may be reinvested at the written direction of the Company). |
| (c) | In the event that the Company shall at any time request a withdrawal of amounts from the Cash Account, the Custodian shall be entitled to liquidate, and shall have no liability for any loss incurred as a result of the liquidation of, any investment of the funds credited to such account as needed to provide necessary liquidity. Investment instructions may be in the form of standing instructions (in the form of Proper Instructions acceptable to Custodian). |
| (d) | The Company acknowledges that cash deposited or invested with any bank (including the bank acting as Custodian) may make a margin or generate banking income for which such bank shall not be required to account to the Company. |
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| (e) | The Custodian shall be authorized to open such additional accounts as may be necessary or convenient for administration of its duties hereunder. |
| 3.7 | [Reserved.] |
3.8 Collection of Income. The Custodian, its agents or its sub-custodian shall use reasonable efforts to collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to the Securities held hereunder to which the Company shall be entitled, to the extent consistent with usual custom in the securities custodian business in the United States. Such efforts shall include collection of interest income, dividends and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities if on the record date with respect to the date of payment by the issuer the Security is registered in the name of the Custodian or its nominee (or in the name of its agent or sub-custodian, or their nominee); and interest income, dividends 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 sub-custodian or agent; provided, however, that in the case of Securities held in Street Name, the Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts only to timely collect income. In no event shall the Custodian’s agreement herein to collect income be construed to obligate the Custodian to commence, undertake or prosecute any legal proceedings.
| 3.9 | Payment of Moneys. |
(a) Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be standing instructions, the Custodian shall pay out from the Cash Account (or remit to its agents or its sub-custodian, and direct them to pay out) moneys of the Company on deposit therein in the following cases:
| (i) | upon the purchase of Securities for the Company pursuant to such Proper Instruction; and such purchase may, unless and except to the extent otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, be carried out by the Custodian: |
| (A) | in accordance with the customary or established practices and procedures in the jurisdiction or market where the transactions occur, including delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or any agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such securities; or |
| (B) | in the case of a purchase effected through a Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Securities System; |
| (ii) | [reserved]; and |
(iii) for any other purpose directed by the Company, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment, and naming the Person or Persons to whom such payment is to be made.
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(b) At any time or times, the Custodian shall be entitled to pay (i) itself from the Cash Account, whether or not in receipt of express direction or instruction from the Company, any amounts due and payable to it pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and (ii) as otherwise permitted by Section 7.5, 9.4 or Section 12.5 below, provided, however, that in each case all such payments shall be accounted for to the Company.
3.10 Proxies. The Custodian will, with respect to the Securities held hereunder, use reasonable efforts to cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such Securities proxies received by the Custodian from its agents or its sub-custodian or from issuers of the Securities being held for the Company, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and upon receipt of Proper Instructions shall promptly deliver such proxies, proxy soliciting materials and notices relating to such Securities. In the absence of such Proper Instructions, or in the event that such Proper Instructions are not received in a timely fashion, the Custodian shall be under no duty to act with regard to such proxies.
3.11 Communications Relating to Securities. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company all written information (including pendency of calls and maturities of Securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian, from its agents or its sub-custodian or from issuers of the Securities being held for the Company. The Custodian shall have no obligation or duty to exercise any right or power, or otherwise to preserve rights, in or under any Securities unless and except to the extent it has received timely Proper Instruction from the Company in accordance with the next sentence. The Custodian will not be liable for any untimely exercise of any right or power in connection with Securities at any time held by the Custodian, its agents or sub-custodian unless:
| (i) | the Custodian has received Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power; and |
| (ii) | the Custodian, or its agents or sub-custodian are in actual possession of such Securities, |
in each case, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which such right or power is to be exercised. It will be the responsibility of the Company to notify the Custodian of the Person to whom such communications must be forwarded under this Section.
3.12 Records. (a) The Custodian shall create and maintain complete and accurate records including ledgers (or other records), if any, relating to its activities under this Agreement with respect to the Securities, cash or other property held for the Company under this Agreement.
(b) All such records shall be the property of the Company 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 Company and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon reasonable request and prior notice and at the Company’s expense.
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3.13 Access to Information.
(a) Each party shall keep confidential any non-public information relating to the other party’s business (“Non-Public Information”). Non-Public Information may include: (i) any data or information that is competitively sensitive material, and not generally known to the public, including, but not limited to, information about product plans, marketing strategies, finances, operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, customer lists, sales estimates, business plans, and internal performance results relating to the past, present or future business activities of the Company or the Custodian, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies; (ii) any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula, or improvement that is commercially valuable and secret in the sense that its confidentiality affords the Company or the Custodian a competitive advantage of its competitors; (iii) all confidential or proprietary concepts, documentation, reports, data, specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow charts, databases, documentation, reports, data, specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow charts, databases, inventions, know-how, and trade secrets, whether or not patentable or copyrightable; and (iv) anything designated as confidential. Non-Public Information shall not include information which (i) is disclosed in a publication available to the public, is otherwise in the public domain at the time of disclosure, or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act on the part of the recipient, (ii) is obtained by the recipient in good faith from a third party source having the right to disclose such information, or (iii) was known by the receiving party, without any obligation of confidentiality, prior to the disclosure of such information.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recipient may disclose Non-Public Information (i) to regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Custodian, as required by law or regulation, and (ii) to the Custodian’s directors, officers, employees, attorneys, accountants, agents or advisors who have a need to know such information in the course of the performance of its duties hereunder.
(c) The recipient may disclose Non-Public Information to the extent and as required by applicable law or regulation in connection with oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, any informal or formal investigation by any governmental entity, or pursuant to a judicial, administrative or legal proceeding in which either party is involved; provided that the recipient will, to the extent permitted to do so, provide prompt notice to the other party of such request and give the other party the opportunity to contest such request or seek a protective order, as necessary, prior to disclosing such Non-Public Information under this Section 3.14(c). In the event that no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, or in the absence of such protective order, other remedy or the waiver by the other party and where the receiving party has been advised by counsel that it is legally compelled to disclose the Non-Public Information, the receiving party and/or its counsel will furnish only that portion of the Non-Public Information that the receiving party is advised by its counsel is legally required.
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| 4. | REPORTING |
| (a) | If requested by the Company, the Custodian shall render to the Company a monthly report of (i) all deposits to and withdrawals from the Cash Account during the month, and the outstanding balance (as of the last day of the preceding monthly report and as of the last day of the subject month) and (ii) an itemized statement of the Securities held pursuant to this Agreement as of the end of each month, as well as a list of all Securities transactions that remain unsettled at that time, and (iii) such other matters as the parties may agree from time to time. |
| (b) | For each Business Day, the Custodian shall render to the Company a daily report of (i) all deposits to and withdrawals from the Cash Account for such Business Day and the outstanding balance as of the end of such Business Day, and (ii) a report of settled trades of Securities for such Business Day. |
| (c) | The Custodian shall have no duty or obligation to undertake any market valuation of the Securities under any circumstance. |
| 5. | DEPOSIT IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS |
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Securities in a Securities System within the United States in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations and subject to the following provisions:
| (a) | The Custodian may keep domestic Securities in a U.S. Securities System provided that such Securities are represented in an account of the Custodian in the U.S. Securities System which shall not include any assets of the Custodian other than assets held by it as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers; |
| (b) | The records of the Custodian with respect to Securities which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall identify by book-entry those Securities belonging to the Company; |
| (c) | If requested by the Company, the Custodian shall provide to the Company copies of all notices received from the U.S. Securities System of transfers of Securities for the account of the Company; and |
| (e) | Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall not be liable to the Company for any direct loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim to the Company resulting from use of any Securities System. |
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| 6. | RESERVED. |
7. CERTAIN GENERAL TERMS
7.1 No Duty to Examine Underlying Instruments. Nothing herein shall obligate the Custodian to review or examine the terms of any underlying instrument, certificate, credit agreement, indenture, loan agreement, promissory note, or other financing document evidencing or governing any Security to determine the validity, sufficiency, marketability or enforceability of any Security (and shall have no responsibility for the genuineness or completeness thereof), or otherwise.
7.2 Resolution of Discrepancies. In the event of any discrepancy between the information set forth in any report provided by the Custodian to the Company and any information contained in the books or records of the Company, the Company shall promptly notify the Custodian thereof and the parties shall cooperate to diligently resolve the discrepancy.
7.3 Improper Instructions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian shall not be obligated to take any action (or forebear from taking any action), which it reasonably determines (at its sole option) to be contrary to the terms of this Agreement or applicable law. In no instance shall the Custodian be obligated to provide services on any day that is not a Business Day.
7.4 Proper Instructions
(a) The Company will give a notice to the Custodian, in form acceptable to the Custodian, specifying the names and specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions (collectively, “Authorized Persons” and each is an “Authorized Person”) which notice shall be signed by an Authorized Person previously certified to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such persons until it receives written notice from an Authorized Person of the Company to the contrary. The initial Authorized Persons are set forth on the “Authorized Persons – BSP Public Funds” that has been provided separately and may be modified from time to time by written notice from the Company to the Custodian; and the Company hereby represents and warrants that the true and accurate specimen signatures of such initial Authorized Persons are set forth on the “funds transfer authorization” documentation that has been provided separately to the Custodian by the Company. If such person elects to give the Custodian email instructions and the Custodian in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Custodian’s reasonable understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Custodian shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Custodian’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflicting with or being inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. Any person providing such instructions or directions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Custodian, including without limitation the risk of the Custodian acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
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(b) The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company (or any other person or entity), and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company, in the event that a subsequent written confirmation of an oral instruction fails to conform to the oral instructions received by the Custodian. The Custodian shall not have an obligation to act in accordance with purported instructions to the extent that they conflict with applicable law or regulations, local market practice or the Custodian’s operating policies and practices. The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss resulting from a delay while it obtains clarification of any Proper Instructions.
7.5 Actions Permitted Without Express Authority. The Custodian may, at its discretion, without express authority from the Company:
(a) make payments to itself as described in or pursuant to Section 3.9(b), or to make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Company;
| (b) | surrender Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form; |
| (c) | endorse for collection cheques, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and |
| (d) | in general attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Company. |
7.6 Evidence of Authority. The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate instrument or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed or otherwise given by or on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Person. The Custodian may receive and accept a certificate signed by any Authorized Person as conclusive evidence of:
| (a) | the authority of any person to act in accordance with such certificate; or |
| (b) | any determination or of any action by the Company as described in such certificate, |
and such certificate may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary from an Authorized Person of the Company.
7.7 Receipt of Communications .. Any communication received by the Custodian on a day which is not a Business Day or after 3:30 p.m., Eastern time (or such other time as is agreed by the Company and the Custodian from time to time), on a Business Day will be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day (but in the case of communications so received after 3:30 p.m., Eastern time, on a Business Day the Custodian will use its best efforts to process such communications as soon as possible after receipt).
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| 8. | COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN |
8.1 Fees. The Custodian shall be entitled to compensation for its services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time).
8.2 Expenses. The Company agrees to pay or reimburse to the Custodian upon its request from time to time all costs, disbursements, advances, expenses and indemnification amounts (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, agents and experts) incurred, and any disbursements and advances made (including any account overdraft resulting from any settlement or assumed settlement, provisional credit, chargeback, returned deposit item, reclaimed payment or claw-back, or the like), in connection with the preparation or execution of this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or the administration of this Agreement or performance by the Custodian of its duties and services under this Agreement, from time to time (including costs and expenses of any action deemed necessary by the Custodian to collect any amounts owing to it under this Agreement) or to enforce its rights hereunder.
| 9. | RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN |
9.1 General Duties. The Custodian shall have no duties, obligations or responsibilities under this Agreement or with respect to the Securities or Proceeds except for such duties as are expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement, and the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement. No implied duties, obligations or responsibilities shall be read into this Agreement against, or on the part of, the Custodian.
9.2 Instructions
(a) The Custodian shall be entitled to refrain from taking any action unless it has such instruction (in the form of Proper Instructions) from the Company as it reasonably deems necessary, and shall be entitled to require, upon notice to the Company, that Proper Instructions to it be in writing. The Custodian shall have no liability for any action (or forbearance from action) taken pursuant to the Proper Instruction of the Company.
(b) Whenever the Custodian is entitled or required to receive or obtain any communications or information pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement, it shall be entitled to receive the same in writing, in form, content and medium reasonably acceptable to it and otherwise in accordance with any applicable terms of this Agreement; and whenever any report or other information is required to be produced or distributed by the Custodian it shall be in form, content and medium reasonably acceptable to it and the Company, and otherwise in accordance with any applicable terms of this Agreement.
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9.3 General Standards of Care. Notwithstanding any terms herein contained to the contrary, the acceptance by the Custodian of its appointment hereunder is expressly subject to the following terms, which shall govern and apply to each of the terms and provisions of this Agreement (whether or not so stated therein):
(a) The Custodian may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, statement, certificate, request, waiver, consent, opinion, report, receipt or other paper or document furnished to it (including any of the foregoing provided to it by telecopier or electronic means), not only as to its due execution and validity, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information therein contained, which it in good faith believes to be genuine and signed or presented by the proper person (which in the case of any instruction from or on behalf of the Company shall be an Authorized Person); and the Custodian shall be entitled to presume the genuineness and due authority of any signature appearing thereon. The Custodian shall not be bound to make any independent investigation into the facts or matters stated in any such notice, instruction, statement, certificate, request, waiver, consent, opinion, report, receipt or other paper or document, provided, however, that if the form thereof is specifically prescribed by the terms of this Agreement, the Custodian shall examine the same to determine whether it substantially conforms on its face to such requirements hereof.
Neither the Custodian nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall be liable to anyone for any error of judgment, or for any act done or step taken or omitted to be taken by it (or any of its directors, officers of employees), or for any mistake of fact or law, or for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection herewith, unless such action constitutes gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part and in breach of the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be within powers conferred upon it, or taken by it pursuant to any direction or instruction by which it is governed hereunder, or omitted to be taken by it by reason of the lack of direction or instruction required hereby for such action.
(b) In no event shall the Custodian be liable for any indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages (including lost profits) whether or not it has been advised of the likelihood of such damages.
(c) The Custodian may consult with, and obtain advice from, legal counsel selected in good faith with respect to any question as to any of the provisions hereof or its duties hereunder, or any matter relating hereto, and the written opinion or advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Custodian in good faith in accordance with the opinion and directions of such counsel; the reasonable cost of such services shall be reimbursed pursuant to Section 8.2 above.
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(d) The Custodian shall not be deemed to have notice of any fact, claim or demand with respect hereto unless actually known by an officer working in its Corporate Trust Services group and charged with responsibility for administering this Agreement or unless (and then only to the extent received) in writing by the Custodian at the applicable address(es) as set forth in Section 15 and specifically referencing this Agreement.
(e) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Custodian to expend or risk its own funds, or to take any action (or forbear from action) hereunder which might in its judgment involve any expense or any financial or other liability unless it shall be furnished with acceptable indemnification. Nothing herein shall obligate the Custodian to commence, prosecute or defend legal proceedings in any instance, whether on behalf of the Company or on its own behalf or otherwise, with respect to any matter arising hereunder, or relating to this Agreement or the services contemplated hereby.
(f) The permissive right of the Custodian to take any action hereunder shall not be construed as duty.
(g) The Custodian may act or exercise its duties or powers hereunder through agents or attorneys, and the Custodian shall not be liable or responsible for the actions or omissions of any such agent or attorney appointed with reasonable due care.
(h) All indemnifications contained in this Agreement in favor of the Custodian shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
9.4 Indemnification; Custodian’s Lien.
The Company shall and does hereby indemnify and hold harmless each of the Custodian and each of its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents, advisors, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons” and each an “Indemnified Person”) for and from any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, agents and experts), and any and all losses, damages, claims and liabilities, that may arise, be brought against or incurred by an Indemnified Person whether brought by or involving any third party or the Company, and any advances or disbursements made by an Indemnified Person (including in respect of any Account overdraft, returned deposit item, chargeback, provisional credit, settlement or assumed settlement, reclaimed payment, claw-back or the like), as a result of, relating to, or arising out of this Agreement, or the administration or performance of the Custodian’s duties hereunder, the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, or the relationship between the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary) and the Custodian created hereby, other than such liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses as are directly caused by the Custodian’s own actions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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(a) The Custodian shall have and is hereby granted a continuing lien upon and security interest in, and right of set-off against, the Account, and any funds (and investments in which such funds may be invested) held therein or credited thereto from time to time, whether now held or hereafter required, and all proceeds thereof, to secure the payment of any amounts that may be owing to the Custodian under or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, whether now existing or hereafter arising.
9.5 Force Majeure. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Company for any damage or loss resulting from or caused by events or circumstances beyond the Custodian’s reasonable control including nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, the interruption, disruption or suspension of the normal procedures and practices of any securities market, power, mechanical, communications or other technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or the like, fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters, civil and military disturbance, acts of war or terrorism, riots, revolution, acts of God, work stoppages, strikes, national disasters of any kind, or other similar events or acts; errors by the Company (including any Authorized Person) in its instructions to the Custodian; or changes in applicable law, regulation or orders.
| 10. | SECURITY CODES |
If the Custodian issues to the Company, security codes, passwords or test keys in order that it may verify that certain transmissions of information, including Proper Instructions, have been originated by the Company, the Company shall safeguard any security codes, passwords, test keys or other security devices which the Custodian shall make available.
| 11. | TAX LAW |
11.1 Domestic Tax Law. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Company or the Custodian as custodian of the Securities or the Proceeds, by the tax law of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof. The Custodian shall be kept indemnified by and be without liability to the Company for such obligations including taxes, (but excluding any income taxes assessable in respect of compensation paid to the Custodian pursuant to this agreement) withholding, certification and reporting requirements, claims for exemption or refund, additions for late payment interest, penalties and other expenses (including legal expenses) that may be assessed against the Company, or the Custodian as custodian of the Securities or Proceeds.
| 11.2 | [Reserved.] |
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| 12. | EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT |
12.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective as of its due execution and delivery by each of the parties. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided. This Agreement may only be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto. This Agreement may be terminated by the Custodian or the Company pursuant to Section 12.2.
12.2 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest of (a) occurrence of the effective date of termination specified in any written notice of termination given by either party to the other not later than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of termination specified therein, (b) such other date of termination as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing, (c) by either party upon giving written notice to the other party upon the breach by such other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party or
(d) by the Company immediately, at any time in the event the Company believes the Custodian is or may become insolvent or that the financial condition of the Custodian is deteriorating in any material respect, or following the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by regulatory authorities or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
12.3 Resignation. The Custodian may at any time resign under this Agreement by giving not less than ninety (90) days advance written notice thereof to the Company.
12.4 Successor. Prior to the effective date of termination of this Agreement, or the effective date of the resignation of the Custodian, as the case may be, the Company shall give Proper Instruction to the Custodian designating a successor Custodian, if applicable. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian, on such specified date of termination (i) deliver directly to the successor custodian all assets of the Company (other than Securities held in a Securities System or Securities Depository) held by the Custodian and (ii) transfer any Securities held in a Securities System or Securities Depository to an account of or for the benefit of the Company at the successor custodian. In addition, the Custodian shall transfer to such successor custodian all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by the Custodian under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (if such form differs from the form in which the Custodian has maintained the same, the Company shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities. Upon such specified date of termination, the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein.
12.5 Payment of Fees, etc. Upon termination of this Agreement or resignation of the Custodian, the Company shall pay to the Custodian such compensation, and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements, as may be due as of the date of such termination or resignation (or removal, as the case may be).
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All indemnifications in favor of the Custodian under this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement, or any resignation or removal of the Custodian.
13.6 Final Report. In the event of any resignation or removal of the Custodian, the Custodian shall provide to the Company a complete final report or data file transfer of any Confidential Information as of the date of such resignation or removal.
| 13. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
13.1 Representations of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Custodian that:
| (a) | it has the power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and it has duly authorized and executed this Agreement so as to constitute its valid and binding obligation; and |
| (b) | in giving any instructions which purport to be “Proper Instructions” under this Agreement, the Company will act in accordance with the provisions of its certificate of trust and trust agreement and any applicable laws and regulations. |
| (c) | ERISA Status. The Fund hereby represents and warrants as follows: |
(i) ERISA. The Fund is currently a Plan-assets Vehicle and may continue to be a Plan-assets Vehicle from time to time.
(ii) Fiduciary. To the extent that the Fund is or remains a Plan-assets Vehicle, the Fund is a “fiduciary” with respect to the participating plan(s) within the meaning of ERISA §3(21)(a) (a “Fiduciary”).
(iii) Directions; Prohibited Transactions. Any direction provided under this Agreement by the Fund is made according to the terms of the governing document and the subscription document and is not contrary to ERISA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Fund is subject to ERISA §406 (Prohibited Transactions), and the Fund maintains and follows procedures for identifying potential prohibited transactions under ERISA and, if prohibited, for identifying the statutory, individual or class exemption applicable to the directed transaction. Upon the Bank’s request, the Fund will (i) cite the exemption and (ii) represent and warrant that the transaction satisfies the requirements of, and is entitled to full exemptive relief under, that exemption.
(iv) Fidelity Bond. To the extent required by ERISA, the Fund maintains a fidelity bond that complies with ERISA §412.
(v) Manager. At any time that the Fund remains a Plan-assets vehicle, the Manager (i) is an “investment manager” within the meaning of ERISA §3(38) with respect to Participating Plans to the extent of their investment in the Fund; (ii) has been delegated the authority to manage, acquire, and dispose of the Fund’s assets pursuant to ERISA §402(c)(3); and (iii) has acknowledged in writing that it is a fiduciary to the extent it exercises discretion with respect to the Fund in that regard.
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| (d) | The Fund hereby acknowledges that: |
(i) The Custodian is not a “named fiduciary” with respect to the Fund within the meaning of ERISA Section 402(a).The Custodian does not provide any services under this Agreement as a “fiduciary” with respect to any Participating Plan within the meaning of ERISA §3(21).
(ii) The Custodian has no duty to (i) provide a Participating Plan’s “administrator” within the meaning of ERISA §3(16)(A), or its participants, or beneficiaries with any plan-related, investment-related, fee-and-expense, or other information in connection with the Account, this Agreement, or the Fund, including, but not limited to, any information required for compliance with the reporting and disclosure requirements of ERISA or any description of the services to be provided or of the compensation to be received therefor; (ii) establish, maintain, or reconcile to any individual accounts; or (iii) receive investment, distribution, or other directions from participants or beneficiaries.
| 13.2 | Representations of the Custodian. The Custodian hereby represents and warrants to the Company that: |
| (a) | it has the power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
| (b) | it has duly authorized and executed this Agreement so as to constitute its valid and binding obligations; |
| (c) | it maintains business continuity policies and standards that include data file backup and recovery procedures that comply with all applicable regulatory requirements; and |
| (d) | it is a “qualified custodian” as defined in Rule 206(4)(2) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. |
| 14. | PARTIES IN INTEREST; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFIT |
This Agreement is not intended for, and shall not be construed to be intended for, the benefit of any third parties and may not be relied upon or enforced by any third parties (other than successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 19).
| 15. | NOTICES |
Any Proper Instructions shall be given to the following address (or such other address as either party may designate by written notice to the other party), and otherwise any notices, approvals and other communications hereunder shall be sufficient if made in writing and given to the parties at the following address (or such other address as either of them may subsequently designate by notice to the other), given by (i) certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, (ii) recognized courier or delivery service, (iii) electronic mail or (iv) confirmed facsimile, with a duplicate sent on the same day by first class mail, postage prepaid:
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(a) if to the Company, to
Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: [▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇]
Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
(b) if to the Custodian, to
U.S. Bank ▇.▇.
▇.▇. Bank Tower
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | CN-OH-W6TC
Attn: Global Fund Custody Support Services
Phone: ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇
Fax: ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇
| 16. | CHOICE OF LAW AND JURISDICTION |
This Agreement shall be construed, and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York for all purposes (without regard to its choice of law provisions).
| 17. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT; COUNTERPARTS |
17.1 Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive agreement of the parties with regard to the matters addressed herein and supersedes and terminates as of the date hereof, all prior agreements, agreements or understandings, oral or written between the parties to this Agreement relating to such matters.
17.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
17.3 Electronic Signatures. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or e-mail transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the parties transmitted by e-mail or facsimile shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
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| 18. | AMENDMENT; WAIVER |
18.1 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an express written instrument duly executed by each of the Company and the Custodian.
18.2 Waiver. In no instance shall any delay or failure to act be deemed to be or effective as a waiver of any right, power or term hereunder, unless and except to the extent such waiver is set forth in an expressly written instrument signed by the party against whom it is to be charged.
| 19. | SUCCESSOR AND ASSIGNS |
19.1 Successors Bound. The covenants and agreements set forth herein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither party shall be permitted to assign their rights under this Agreement without the written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Custodian to delegate certain duties or services to or perform them through agents or attorneys appointed with due care as expressly provided in this Agreement.
19.2 Merger and Consolidation. Any corporation or association into which the Custodian may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Custodian shall be a party, or any corporation or association to which the Custodian transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business, shall be the successor of the Custodian hereunder, and shall succeed to all of the rights, powers and duties of the Custodian hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
| 20. | SEVERABILITY |
The terms of this Agreement are hereby declared to be severable, such that if any term hereof is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remaining terms.
| 21. | REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS |
If, in performing its duties under this Agreement, the Custodian is required to decide between alternative courses of action, the Custodian may (but shall not be obliged to) request written instructions from the Company as to the course of action desired by it. If the Custodian does not receive such instructions within two (2) Business Days after it has requested them, the Custodian may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking any such courses of action. The Custodian shall act in accordance with instructions received from the Company in response to such request after such two (2) Business Day period except to the extent it has already taken, or committed itself to take, action inconsistent with such instructions.
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| 22. | OTHER BUSINESS |
Nothing herein shall prevent the Custodian or any of its affiliates from engaging in other business, or from entering into any other transaction or financial or other relationship with, or receiving fees from or from rendering services of any kind to the Company or any other Person. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute the Company and/or the Custodian (and/or any other Person) as members of any partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate, unincorporated business or similar assignment as a result of or by virtue of the engagement or relationship established by this Agreement.
| 23. | REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS |
This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto 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 production shall likewise be admissible in evidence.
| 24. | MISCELLANEOUS |
The Company acknowledges receipt of the following notice:
“ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For a non-individual person such as a business entity, a charity, a trust or other legal entity the Custodian will ask for documentation to verify its formation and existence as a legal entity. The Custodian may also ask to see financial statements, licenses, identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming authority to represent the entity or other relevant documentation."
[PAGE INTENTIONALLY ENDS HERE. SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE.]
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer as of the date written above.
| FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as | ||
| Custodian | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Senior Vice President | ||
EXHIBIT A
to the Custody Agreement - Fee Schedule for Domestic and Global Services
EXHIBIT B
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ACT AUTHORIZATION
FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND
The Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 requires banks and trust companies to make an effort to permit direct communication between a company which issues securities and the shareholder who votes those securities.
Unless you specifically require us to NOT release your name and address to requesting companies, we are required by law to disclose your name and address.
Your “yes” or “no” to disclosure will apply to all U.S. securities Custodian holds for you now and in the future, unless you change your mind and notify us in writing. A “no” election may prevent Custodian from obtaining, on your behalf, the most favorable tax rate for American Depository Receipts (ADRs) held in your account.
| x | YES | U.S. Bank is authorized to provide the Fund’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Fund. |
| ¨ | NO | U.S. Bank is NOT authorized to provide the Fund’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Fund. |
FRANKLIN BSP PRIVATE CREDIT FUND
| By: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: | 06/16/2022 |