The Custodian Agreement dated January 28, 1998, between State Street Bank
and Trust Company and ▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Funds, as amended January 31, 1998.
Custodian Agreement
This Agreement is made as of January 28, 1998 by and between
each entity set forth on Appendix A hereto (as such Appendix A
may be amended from time to time) which executes a copy of this
Agreement (each referred to herein as the "Fund"), and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company with
its principal place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Custodian").
Witnesseth:
Whereas, each Fund desires to retain the Custodian to act as
custodian of certain of the assets of the Fund, and the Custodian
is willing to provide such services to each Fund, upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
Whereas, except as otherwise set forth herein, this Agreement
is intended to supersede that certain custodian contract among
the parties hereto dated September 28, 1987, as amended; and
Whereas, the Funds have retained Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. to
act as the Funds' custodian with respect to the assets of each
such Fund to be held outside of the United States of America
(except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) pursuant to a
written custodian agreement (the "Foreign Custodian Agreement"),
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained, each of the parties hereto
agrees as follows:
Section 1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It.
Each Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of
certain of its assets, including those securities it desires to
be held within the United States of America ("domestic
securities") and those securities it desires to be held outside
the United States of America (the "United States") which are (i)
not held on the Funds' behalf by Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. pursuant
to the Foreign Custodian Agreement and (ii) described with
greater particularity in Section 3 hereof (such securities shall
be referred to herein as "foreign securities"). Each Fund agrees
to deliver to the Custodian all domestic securities, foreign
securities and cash owned by it from time to time, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital
distributions received by it with respect to securities held by
it hereunder, and the cash consideration received by it for such
new or treasury shares of capital stock of each Fund as may be
issued or sold from time to time ("Shares"). The Custodian shall
not be responsible for any property of any Fund held or received
by such Fund (i) not delivered to the Custodian, or (ii) held in
the custody of Chase Manhattan Bank N.A.
The Custodian is authorized to employ one or more
sub-custodians located within the United States, provided that
the Custodian shall have obtained the written acknowledgment of
the Fund with respect to such employment. The Custodian is
authorized to employ sub-custodians located outside the United
States as noted on Schedule A attached hereto (as such Schedule A
may be amended from time to time). The Custodian shall have no
more or less responsibility or liability to any Fund on account
of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than
any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian and shall not release
any sub-custodian from any responsibility or liability unless so
agreed in writing by the Custodian and the applicable Fund. With
the exception of State Street Bank and Trust Company (London
branch), the Custodian shall not be liable for losses arising
from the bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership of any
sub-custodian located outside the United States.
Section 2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Funds
Held By the Custodian in the United States.
Section 2.1 Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and
physically segregate for the account of each Fund all non-cash
property to be held by it in the United States, including all
domestic securities owned by the Fund other than (a) securities
which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.9 in a clearing agency
which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system
authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury and
certain federal agencies (each, a "U.S. Securities System") and
(b) commercial paper of an issuer for which the Custodian acts as
issuing and paying agent ("Direct Paper") which is deposited
and/or maintained in the Direct Paper system of the Custodian
(the "Direct Paper System") pursuant to Section 2.10.
Section 2.2 Delivery of Investments. The Custodian shall
release and deliver domestic investments owned by a Fund held by
the Custodian or in a U.S. Securities System account of the
Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct Paper System account
("Direct Paper System Account") only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when agreed to
by the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such investments for the account of the
Fund and receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any
repurchase agreement related to such investments
entered into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S.
Securities System, in accordance with the provisions
of Section 2.9 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or
other similar offers for portfolio investments of
the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such
investments 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 2.8 or into the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1;
or for exchange for a different number of bonds,
certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units; provided
that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such investments for the account of
the Fund, to the broker or its clearing agent,
against a receipt, for examination in accordance
with usual "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 investments prior to
receiving payment for such investments 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 investments of
the issuer of such investments, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such
investments, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
provided that, in any such case, the new investments
and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the
Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar
investments, the surrender thereof in the exercise
of such warrants, rights or similar investments or
the surrender of interim receipts or temporary
investments for definitive investments; provided
that, in any such case, the new investments and
cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian
or against a receipt;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of
investments made on behalf of the Fund, but only
against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed
upon from time to time by the Fund or its duly-
appointed agent (which may be in the form of cash or
obligations issued by the United States government,
its agencies or instrumentalities, or such other
property as the Fund may agree), 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
investments owned by the Fund prior to the receipt
of such collateral in the absence of the Custodian's
negligence or willful misconduct;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any
borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets
by the Fund, but only against receipt of amounts
borrowed, except where additional collateral is
required to secure a borrowing already made, subject
to Proper Instructions, further securities may be
released and delivered for that purpose;
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, the
rules of any registered national securities exchange
or of any similar organization or organizations, or
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time (the "1940 Act"), regarding escrow
or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Fund;
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, or under the
1940 Act, regarding account deposits in connection
with transactions by the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent
for the Fund (the "Transfer Agent"), for delivery to
such Transfer Agent or to the holders of shares in
connection with distributions in kind, as may be
described from time to time in the Fund's currently
effective prospectus, statement of additional
information or other offering documents (all, as
amended, supplemented or revised from time to time,
the "Prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by
holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption; and
15) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of
Proper Instructions specifying (a) the investments
to be delivered, (b) setting forth the purpose for
which such delivery is to be made, and (c) naming
the person or persons to whom delivery of such
investments shall be made.
Section 2.3 Registration of Investments. Domestic investments
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 2.8 or in the name or
nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section
1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the
Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in good
deliverable form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to
maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall utilize
its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on
such securities and to notify the Fund of relevant corporate
actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls,
maturities, tender or exchange offers.
Section 2.4 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and
maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States
in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the
Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and
shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions
hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the
Fund, other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account
established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940
Act. Monies held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited
by the Custodian 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
in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided, however,
that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act
as a custodian under the 1940 Act, and that each such bank or
trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank
or trust company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the
board of directors or the board of trustees of the applicable
Fund (as appropriate and in each case, the "Board"). Such funds
shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as custodian
and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
Section 2.5 Collection of Income. Subject to the provisions
of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all
income and other payments with respect to United States
registered investments held hereunder to which the Fund shall be
entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the investments
business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and
other payments with respect to United States bearer investments
if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such investments are
held by the Custodian or its 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, collect
interest when due on investments held hereunder, and receive and
collect all stock dividends, rights and other items of like
nature as and when they become due and payable. With respect to
income due the Fund on United States investments of the Fund
loaned (pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10)) in
accordance with a separate agreement between the Fund and the
Custodian in its capacity as lending agent, collection thereof
shall be in accordance with the terms of such agreement. Except
as otherwise set forth in the immediately preceding sentence,
income due the Fund on United States investments of the Fund
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.
Section 2.6 Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when agreed to
by the parties, the Custodian shall, from monies of the Fund held
by the Custodian, pay out such monies in the following cases
only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic investments, options,
futures contracts or options on futures contracts
for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the
delivery of such investments, or evidence of title
to such options, futures contracts or options on
futures contracts, to the Custodian (or any bank,
banking firm or trust company doing business in the
United States or abroad which is qualified under the
1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been
designated by the Custodian as its agent for this
purpose in accordance with Section 2.8) 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 U.S. Securities System,
in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.9 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase
involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance
with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10
hereof; or (d) for transfer to a time deposit
account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or
foreign, such transfer may be effected prior to
receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the
applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender
of investments owned by the Fund as set forth in
Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares as set
forth in Section 4 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 fees, accounting fees,
transfer agent fees, 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 by the
Board;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in
respect of investments sold short;
7) For repayment of a loan upon redelivery of pledged
securities and upon surrender of the note(s), if
any, evidencing the loan; or
8) In connection with any repurchase agreement entered
into by the Fund with respect to which the
collateral is held by the Custodian, the Custodian
shall act as the Fund s "securities intermediary"(
as that term is defined in Part 5 of Article 8 of
the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, as
amended), and, as securities intermediary, the
Custodian shall take the following steps on behalf
of the Fund: (a) provide the Fund with notification
of the receipt of the purchased securities, and (b),
by book-entry identify on the books of the Custodian
as belonging to the Fund uncertificated securities
registered in the name of the Fund and held in the
Custodian s account at the Federal Reserve Bank. In
connection with any repurchase agreement entered
into by the Fund with respect to which the
collateral is not held by the Custodian, the
Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund with such
notification as it may receive with respect to such
collateral, and (b), by book-entry or otherwise,
identify as belonging to the Fund securities as
shown in the Custodian s account on the books of the
entity appointed by the Fund to hold such
collateral.
9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of
Proper Instructions specifying (a) the amount of
such payment, (b) setting forth the purpose for
which such payment is to be made, and (c) naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be
made.
Section 2.7 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of
Securities Purchased. In any and every case where payment for
purchase of domestic securities for the account 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.
Section 2.8 Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any
time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time
remove) any other bank or trust company, which is itself
qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent
to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the
Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that
the appointment of any such agent shall not relieve the Custodian
of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.
Section 2.9 Deposit of Investments in U.S. Securities Systems.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic investments
owned by the Fund in a U.S. Securities System in accordance with
applicable Federal Reserve Board and United States Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules and regulations, if any,
subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep domestic investments of the
Fund in a U.S. Securities System provided that such
investments are represented in an account of the
Custodian in the U.S. Securities System ("Account")
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
domestic investments of the Fund which are
maintained in a U.S. Securities System shall
identify by book-entry those investments belonging
to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay for domestic investments
purchased for the account of the Fund upon (i)
receipt of advice from the U.S. Securities System
that such investments 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 domestic investments sold for the
account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from
the U.S. Securities System that payment for such
investments 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 advices from
the U.S. Securities System of transfers of domestic
investments 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 U.S. Securities System for
the account of the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Custodian on the U.S. Securities
System's accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding domestic
investments deposited in the U.S. Securities System;
5) The Custodian shall have received from the Fund the
initial or annual certificate, as the case may be,
described in Section 10 hereof; and
6) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement
notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to
the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund
resulting from use of the U.S. 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 U.S.
Securities System. At the election of the Fund, the
Fund shall be entitled to be subrogated to the
rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim
against the U.S. Securities System or any other
person which the Custodian may have as a consequence
of any such loss, expense or damage if and to the
extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any
such loss, expense or damage.
Section 2.10 Fund Assets Held in the Direct Paper System. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain investments owned by the
Fund in the Direct Paper System subject to the following
provisions:
1) No transaction relating to investments in the Direct
Paper System will be effected in the absence of
Proper Instructions;
2) The Custodian may keep investments of the Fund in
the Direct Paper System only if such investments are
represented in the Direct Paper System Account,
which account shall not include any assets of the
Custodian other than assets held as a fiduciary,
custodian or otherwise for customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to
investments of the Fund which are maintained in the
Direct Paper System shall identify by book-entry
those investments belonging to the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall pay for investments purchased
for the account of the Fund upon the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect
such payment and transfer of investments to the
account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer
investments sold for the account of the Fund upon
the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt of
payment for the account of the Fund;
5) 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, of Direct
Paper on the next business day following such
transfer and shall furnish to the Fund copies of
daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's
transaction in the Direct Paper System for the
account of the Fund; and
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
on its system of internal accounting control as the
Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
Section 2.11 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
investments, including investments maintained in an account by
the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.10 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 investments
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 1940 Act Release No. 10666,
or any other procedures subsequently required under the 1940 Act
relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered
investment companies, and (iv) for other purposes, but only, in
the case of clause (iv) upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying (a) the investments to be delivered, (b) setting forth
the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, and (c) naming
the person or persons to whom delivery of such investments shall
be made.
Section 2.12 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The
Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and
affidavits for all United States federal and state tax purposes
in connection with receipt of income or other payments with
respect to domestic investments of the Fund held by it hereunder
and in connection with transfers of such investments.
Section 2.13 Proxies. The Custodian shall, with respect to
the domestic investments held hereunder, cause to be promptly
executed by the registered holder of such investments, if the
investments 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
received by the Custodian and all notices received relating to
such investments.
Section 2.14 Communications Relating to Fund Investments. Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit
promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic
investments 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 in connection with the domestic
investments being held for the Fund pursuant to this Agreement.
With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall
transmit to the Fund all written information received by the
Custodian, any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, or
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1 hereof, from
issuers of the domestic investments 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 two (2)
New York Stock Exchange business days prior to the time such
action must be taken under the terms of the tender, exchange
offer or other similar transaction, and it will be the
responsibility of the Custodian to timely transmit to the
appropriate person(s) such notice. Where the Fund provides the
Custodian with less than two (2) New York Stock Exchange business
days notice of its desired action, the Custodian shall use its
best efforts to timely transmit the Fund's notice to the
appropriate person. It is expressly noted that the parties may
agree to alternative procedures with respect to such two (2) New
York Stock Exchange business days notice period on a selective
and individual basis.
Section 2.15 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 investments, futures contracts
and options on futures contracts, including domestic investments
deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System, relating
to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement.
Such reports shall be of sufficient scope and detail, as may
reasonably be required by the Fund, to provide reasonable
assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by
such examination, and if there are no such inadequacies the
reports shall so state.
Section 3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Certain Property of
the Funds Held Outside of the United States
Section 3.1 Definitions. The following capitalized terms
shall have the respective following meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means a clearing agency or a
securities depository listed on Schedule A hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution set
forth on Schedule A hereto.
Section 3.2 Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify
on its books as belonging to the Funds the foreign securities
held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System.
The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its
customers, including the Funds, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in
an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the
records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of
the Funds which are maintained in such account shall identify
those securities as belonging to the Funds and (ii) the Custodian
shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-
Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-
Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
Section 3.3 Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities
shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a
designated country only through arrangements implemented by the
Foreign Sub-Custodian in such country pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement.
Section 3.4 Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.
3.4.1. Delivery of Foreign Securities. The Custodian or a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign
securities of the Funds held by such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in
a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed
appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the
Funds in accordance with reasonable market practice
in the country where such foreign securities are
held or traded, including, without limitation: (A)
delivery against expectation of receiving later
payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected
through a Foreign Securities System in accordance
with the rules governing the operation of the
Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related
to foreign securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or
other similar offers for foreign securities of the
Funds;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign
securities are called, redeemed, retired or
otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer
into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the
respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee
of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or
for exchange for a different number of bonds,
certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents
for examination or trade execution in accordance
with market custom; provided that in any such case
the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any loss arising
from the delivery of such securities prior to
receiving payment for such securities except as may
arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of
merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reorganization or readjustment of the securities of
the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such
securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign
securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of
such warrants, rights or similar securities or the
surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities;
(ix) or delivery as security in connection with any
borrowing by the Funds requiring a pledge of assets
by the Funds;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures
contracts, including delivery as original margin and
variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign
securities; and
(xii) for any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt
of Proper Instructions specifying the foreign
securities to be delivered, setting forth the
purpose for which such delivery is to be made,
declaring such purpose to be a proper Fund purpose,
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made.
3.4.2. 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, or
direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective
Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of a Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the
Fund, unless otherwise directed by Proper
Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller
thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for
such seller or dealer) against expectation of
receiving later delivery of such foreign securities;
or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a
Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the
rules governing the operation of such Foreign
Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or
surrender of foreign securities of the Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the
Fund, including but not limited to the following
payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory
fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this
Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or
foreign exchange contracts for the Fund, including
transactions executed with or through the Custodian
or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures
contracts, including delivery as original margin and
variation margin;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of
foreign securities; and
(viii) for any other proper Fund purpose, but only upon
receipt of Proper Instructions 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 Fund purpose, and naming the person
or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
3.4.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for
foreign securities received for the account of the Funds and
delivery of foreign securities maintained for the account of the
Funds may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or processing practices and
procedures in the country or market in which the transaction
occurs, including, without limitation, delivering foreign
securities to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or
an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of
receiving later payment for such foreign securities from such
purchaser or dealer.
Section 3.5 Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign
securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Custodian
(other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of
the applicable Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the
name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee
of the foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee
harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign
securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not
be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Fund under the
terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and
the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with
reasonable market practice.
Section 3.6 Bank Accounts. A bank account or bank accounts
opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of a
Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall be subject only to draft
or order by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, acting
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by
or from or for the account of the Fund.
Section 3.7 Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use
reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other
payments with respect to the foreign securities held hereunder to
which the Funds shall be entitled and shall credit such income,
as collected, to the applicable Fund. In the event that
extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the
Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as
to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to
such measures.
Section 3.8 Proxies. With respect to the foreign
securities held under this Section 3, the Custodian will use
reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of
voting and other shareholder proxy rights, subject always to the
laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the
country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges
that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous
procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have
the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to
exercise shareholder rights.
Section 3.9 Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information
(including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities
of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection
therewith) received by the Custodian in connection with the
foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund. With
respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall
transmit promptly to the Fund written information so received by
the Custodian in connection with the foreign securities whose
tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents)
making the tender or exchange offer.
Section 3.10 Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians and Foreign
Securities Systems. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian
employs as a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible,
require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in
the performance of its duties and, to the extent possible, to
indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any
loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or
in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of
such obligations. At the Fund's election, the Funds shall be
entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with
respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim if and to the extent that the Funds have not been made
whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim.
Section 3.11 Tax Law. The Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter
imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Funds by
the tax law of the United States or of any state or political
subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund
to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or
the Custodian as custodian of the Funds by the tax law of
countries set forth on Schedule A hereto, including
responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or
other governmental charges, certifications and governmental
reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard
to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the
Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the
tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
Section 4. Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions and Sales of Shares.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the
Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer
Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares
which have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for
redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the
redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized
upon receipt of, and in accordance with, instructions from the
Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank
designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the
redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor
checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks
have been furnished by the Fund to the holder of Shares, when
presented to the Custodian in accordance with such written
procedures and controls as may be mutually agreed upon from time
to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the
Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit to the account of
the Fund such payments as are received by the distributor or the
Transfer Agent, as the case may be, for Shares issued or sold
from time to time. The Custodian will notify the Fund and the
Transfer Agent of any payments for Shares received by it from
time to time.
Section 5. Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and
Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income.
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary
information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board to
keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the net
asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares 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 (i) calculate daily the net
income of the Fund as described in the Prospectus and shall
advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts
of such net income, and/or (ii) 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 Prospectus.
Section 6. Proper Instructions.
"Proper Instructions," as such term is used throughout this
Agreement, means either (i) a writing, including a facsimile
transmission, signed by one or more persons as set forth on, and
in accordance with, an "Authorized Persons List," as such term is
defined herein (each such instruction a "Written Proper
Instruction"), (ii) a "Client Originated Electronic Financial
Instruction," as such term is defined in the Data Access Services
Addendum hereto, given in accordance with the terms of such
Addendum, or (iii) instructions received by the Custodian from a
third party in accordance with any three-party agreement which
requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section
2.11.
Each Written Proper Instruction shall set forth a brief
description of the type of transaction involved (choosing from
among the types of transactions set forth on the Authorized
Persons List), including a specific statement of the purpose for
which such action is requested, and any modification to a Written
Proper Instruction must itself be a Written Proper Instruction
and subject to all the provisions herein relating to Written
Proper Instructions. The Fund will provide the Custodian with an
"Authorized Persons List," which list shall set forth (a) the
names of the individuals (each an "Authorized Person") who are
authorized by the Board to give Written Proper Instructions with
respect to the transactions described therein, and (b) the number
of Authorized Persons whose signature or approval, as the case
may be, is necessary for the Custodian to be able to act in
accordance with such Written Proper Instructions with respect to
a particular type of transaction. The Custodian may accept oral
instructions or instructions delivered via electronic mail as
Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes such
instructions to have been given by an Authorized Person or
Persons (as appropriate to the type of transaction); provided,
however, that in no event will instructions delivered orally or
via electronic mail be considered Proper Instructions with
respect to transactions involving the movement of cash,
securities or other assets of a Fund. The Custodian shall be
entitled to rely upon instructions given in accordance with an
Authorized Persons List until it actually receives written notice
from the Board of the applicable Fund to the contrary.
Section 7. Evidence of Authority.
Subject to Section 9 hereof, the Custodian shall be
protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request,
consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably and
in good faith believed by it to be genuine and to have been
properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may
receive and accept a copy of a vote of the Board, certified by
the secretary or an assistant secretary of the applicable 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 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.
Section 8. Actions Permitted without Express Authority.
The Custodian may in its discretion and without express
authority from the Fund:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of
handling investments or other similar items relating to
its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such
payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;
2) surrender investments in temporary form for investments
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
investments and property of the Fund except as
otherwise directed by the Board.
Section 9. Responsibility of Custodian.
The Custodian shall not be responsible for the title,
validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title
thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this
Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party
or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting
pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options
agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in
carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, and it 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. In order for the indemnification provision contained
in this Section to apply, it is understood that if in any case
the Fund may be asked by the Custodian to indemnify or hold the
Custodian harmless, the Fund shall be fully and promptly advised
of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and
it is further understood that the Custodian will use reasonable
care to identify, and notify the Fund promptly concerning, any
situation which presents or appears likely to present the
probability of such a claim for indemnification. The Fund shall
have the option to defend the Custodian against any claim which
may be the subject of a claim for indemnification hereunder, and
in the event that the Fund so elects, it will notify the
Custodian thereof and, thereupon, (i) the Fund shall take over
complete defense of the claim and (ii) the Custodian shall
initiate no further legal or other expenses with respect to such
claim. The Custodian shall in no case confess any claim or make
any compromise with respect to any claim for which it will seek
indemnity from the Fund except with the Fund's prior written
consent. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit any right or
cause of action on the part of the Custodian under this Agreement
which is independent of any right or cause of action on the part
of the Fund. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may
act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund or
other such counsel as agreed to by the parties) on all matters,
and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or
omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be entitled
to rely upon, and shall have no duty of inquiry with respect to,
the accuracy of any representation or warranty given to it by the
Fund or any duly-authorized employee or agent thereof, and shall
be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted
by it in reliance thereon. Regardless of whether assets held
pursuant to this Agreement are maintained in the custody of a
foreign banking institution, a foreign securities depository, or
a branch or affiliate of a U.S. bank, the Custodian shall not be
liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim
resulting from, or caused by, the direction of or authorization
by the Fund to maintain custody of any securities or cash or
other property of the Fund in a foreign country including, but
not limited to, losses resulting from the nationalization or
expropriation of assets, the imposition of currency controls or
restrictions, acts of war or terrorism or civil unrest, riots,
revolutions, work stoppages, natural disasters or other similar
events or acts.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or
willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability
to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting
from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond the
reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or
Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the
foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption,
suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any
securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications
disruptions; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly-appointed
investment advisor in their instructions to the Custodian
provided such instructions have been given in accordance with
this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a
Securities System; (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent
or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent
payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's sub-
custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or
payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or
failure of any company, corporation or other body in charge of
registering or transferring securities in the name of the
Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees or
agents, or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or
failure to transfer such securities, including non-receipt of
bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits;
(vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any
disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular
security or Securities System; and (vii) changes to any provision
of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United
States, or any state thereof, or of any other country or
political subdivision thereof, or any order of any court of
competent jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a
foreign banking institution acting as a sub-custodian hereunder
to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians
generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with
respect to investments, which action involves the payment of
money or which action may, in the reasonable 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 Custodian, or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or
agents, advances cash or investments to the Fund for any purpose
(including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign
exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that
the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in
connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as
may arise from its or its nominee's own negligent action,
negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any property at
any time held for the account of the 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, provided that the Custodian gives the Fund
reasonable notice to repay such cash or securities advanced, and
provided further that such notice requirement shall not preclude
the Custodian's right to assert and execute on such lien.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or
willful misconduct, or the negligence or willful misconduct of a
subcustodian or agent appointed by the Custodian, the Fund agrees
to indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any
and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, reasonable
counsel fees, payments and liabilities which may be asserted
against the Custodian (i) acting in accordance with any Proper
Instruction, or (ii) for any acts or omissions of Chase Manhattan
Bank N.A.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the
extent the Custodian is found to be liable hereunder for any
loss, liability, claim, expense or damage, the Custodian shall be
liable only for such loss, liability, claim, expense or damage
which was reasonably foreseeable.
Section 10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment.
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date 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 in the case of a termination by the Fund, and
not sooner than one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of
such delivery or mailing in the case of termination by the
Custodian; provided, however that the Custodian shall not act
under Section 2.9 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial
certificate of a Fund's secretary, or an assistant secretary
thereof, that the Board has approved the initial use of a
particular U.S. Securities System, as required by the 1940 Act or
any applicable Rule thereunder, and that the Custodian shall not
act under Section 2.10 hereof in the absence of receipt of an
initial certificate of a Fund's secretary, or an assistant
secretary thereof, that the Board has approved the initial use of
the Direct Paper System; provided further, however, that the Fund
shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of
any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision of
the Fund's articles of incorporation, agreement of trust, by-laws
and/or registration statement (as applicable, the "Governing
Documents"); and further provided that the Fund may at any time
by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust
company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to
the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement in
the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the
Custodian by the United States Comptroller of the Currency or
upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an
appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund 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
reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements, provided that the
Custodian shall not incur any costs, expenses or disbursements
specifically in connection with such termination unless it has
received prior approval from the Fund, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld.
Section 11. Successor Custodian.
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board,
the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor
custodian at the offices of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in
the form for transfer, all investments and other properties then
held by it hereunder, and shall transfer to an account of the
successor custodian all of the Fund's investments held in a
Securities System. If no such successor custodian shall be
appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a
copy of a vote of the Board, certified by the secretary or an
assistant secretary of the applicable Fund, deliver at the
offices of the Custodian and transfer such investments, 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 shall have been delivered to the
Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall
become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to
deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined
in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New
York, New York, of its own selection and having an aggregate
capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last
published report, of not less than $100,000,000, all property
held by the Custodian under this Agreement and to transfer to an
account of such successor custodian all of the Fund's investments
held in any Securities System; thereafter, such bank or trust
company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this
Agreement.
In the event that any property held pursuant to this
Agreement remains in the possession of the Custodian after the
date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to
procure the certified copy of the vote referred to or of the
Board 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 property, and the
provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and
obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and
effect.
Section 12. General.
Section 12.1 Compensation of Custodian. The Custodian shall
be entitled to compensation for its services and reimbursement of
its expenses as Custodian as agreed upon from time to time
between the Fund and the Custodian.
Section 12.2 Massachusetts Law to Apply. This Agreement shall
be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in
accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 12.3 Records. The Custodian shall create and
maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations
under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations
of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to
Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All
such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all
times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open
for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents
of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian
shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation
of investments owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian
hereunder, and shall, when requested to do so by an officer of
the Fund, and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon
between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers
in such tabulations.
Section 12.4 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, the preparation of the Fund's Form N-SAR,
the preparation of any other annual reports to the SEC with
respect to the Fund, and with respect to any other requirements
of the SEC.
Section 12.5 Interpretive and Additional Provisions. In
connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian
and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions
interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this
Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the
general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both
parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such
interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any
applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the
Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions
made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be
an amendment of this Agreement.
Section 12.6 Bond. The Custodian shall at all times
maintain a bond in such form and amount as is acceptable to the
Fund, which shall be issued by a reputable fidelity insurance
company authorized to do business in the place where such bond is
issued, against larceny and embezzlement, covering each officer
and employee of the Custodian who may, singly or jointly with
others, have access to securities or funds of the Fund, either
directly or through authority to receive and carry out any
certificate instruction, order request, note or other instrument
required or permitted by this Agreement. The Custodian agrees
that it shall not cancel, terminate or modify such bond insofar
as it adversely affects the Fund except after written notice
given to the Fund not less than 10 days prior to the effective
date of such cancellation, termination or modification. The
Custodian shall, upon request, furnish to the Fund a copy of each
such bond and each amendment thereto.
Section 12.7 Confidentiality. The Custodian agrees to treat
all records and other information relative to the Fund and its
prior, present or future shareholders as confidential, and the
Custodian, on behalf of itself and its employees, agrees to keep
confidential all such information except, after prior
notification to and approval in writing by the Fund, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or criminal
contempt proceedings for failure to comply when requested to
divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when
so requested by the Fund.
Section 12.8 Exemption from Lien. Except as set forth in
Section 9 hereof, the securities and other assets held by the
Custodian hereunder shall not be subject to lien or charge of any
kind in favor of the Custodian or any person claiming through the
Custodian. Nothing herein shall be deemed to deprive the
Custodian of its right to invoke any and all remedies available
at law or equity to collect amounts due it under this Agreement.
Section 12.9 Assignment. This Agreement may not be
assigned by either party without the written consent of the
other, except that either party may assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to a party controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with such party.
Section 12.10 Prior Agreements. Without derogating the rights
established thereunder prior to the date of this Agreement, this
Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all
prior agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to
the custody of Fund assets.
Section 12.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, and all such counterparts taken together shall
constitute but one and the same Agreement.
Section 12.12 Notices. Any notice, instruction or other
instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in
person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during
normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by
telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following
addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party
from time to time.
To any Fund: c/o ▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Associates, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇/8830
To the Custodian: State Street Bank and Trust Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.▇.
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed
to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the
expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of
cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex,
immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business
hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time
after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the
case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the
receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was properly
addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive
evidence of posting.
Section 12.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all
schedules, appendices, exhibits and attachments hereto)
constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof.
Section 12.14 Headings Not Controlling. Headings used in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not be deemed
a part of this Agreement.
Section 12.15 Survival. All provisions regarding
indemnification, confidentiality, warranty, liability and limits
thereon shall survive following the expiration or termination of
this Agreement.
Section 12.16 Severability. In the event any provision of this
Agreement is held illegal, void or unenforceable, the balance
shall remain in effect.
Section 12.17 The Parties. All references herein to the "Fund"
are to each of the funds listed on Appendix A hereto
individually, as if this Agreement were between such individual
Fund and the Custodian. In the case of a series fund or trust,
all references to the "Fund" are to the individual series or
portfolio of such fund or trust, or to such fund or trust on
behalf of the individual series or portfolio, as appropriate.
Any reference in this Agreement to "the parties" shall mean the
Custodian and such other individual Fund as to which the matter
pertains. Each Fund hereby represents and warranties that (i) it
has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and
its Governing Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement,
(ii) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement, and (iii) its entrance
into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in
material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the
Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it.
Section 12.18 Directors and Trustees. It is understood and is
expressly stipulated that neither the holders of Shares nor any
member of the Board be personally liable hereunder. Whenever
reference is made herein to an action required to be taken by the
Board, such action may also be taken by the Board's executive
committee.
Section 12.19 Massachusetts Business Trust. With respect to any
Fund which is a party to this Agreement and which is organized as
a Massachusetts business trust, the term "Fund" means and refers
to the trustees from time to time serving under the applicable
trust agreement of such trust, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Declaration of Trust"). It is expressly
agreed that the obligations of any such Fund hereunder shall not
be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees,
officers, agents or employees of the Fund personally, but bind
only the trust property of the Fund as set forth in the
applicable Declaration of Trust. In the case of each Fund which
is a Massachusetts business trust (in each case, a "Trust"), the
execution and delivery of this Agreement on behalf of the Trust
has been authorized by the trustees, and signed by an authorized
officer, of the Trust, in each case acting in such capacity and
not individually, and neither such authorization by the trustees
nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed
to have been made by any of them individually, but shall bind
only the trust property of the Trust as provided in its
Declaration of Trust.
Section 12.20 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 all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be
admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or
administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in
existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any
enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such
reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.
Section 12.21 Shareholder Communications Election. SEC Rule 14b-2
requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers
to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names,
addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that
issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly
objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply
with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether
it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name, address,
and share position to requesting companies whose securities the
Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian
will not provide this information to requesting companies. If
the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes"
or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the
Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established
by the Fund. For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the
requesting company from using the Fund's name and address for any
purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate
below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the
alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's
name, address, and share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the
Fund's name, address, and share positions.
DATA ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Addendum to the Custodian Agreement (as defined below)
between each fund listed on Appendix A to the Custodian
Agreement, as such Appendix A is amended from time to time (each
such fund listed on Appendix A shall be individually referred to
herein as the "Fund"), and State Street Bank and Trust Company
("State Street").
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS, State Street has been appointed as custodian of
certain assets of the Fund pursuant to a certain Custodian
Agreement (the "Custodian Agreement") dated as of January 28,
1998, and amended thereafter from time to time;
WHEREAS, State Street has developed and utilizes proprietary
accounting and other systems, including State Street's
proprietary Multicurrency HORIZON (registered trademark)
Accounting System, in its role as custodian of the Fund, and
maintains certain Fund-related data ("Fund Data") in databases
under the control and ownership of State Street (the "Data Access
Services"); and
WHEREAS, State Street makes available to the Fund (and
certain of the Fund' agents as set forth herein) certain Data
Access Services solely for the benefit of the Fund, and intends
to provide additional services, consistent with the terms and
conditions of this Addendum.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the parties agree as follows:
1. SYSTEM AND DATA ACCESS SERVICES
a. System. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Addendum and solely for the purpose of providing access to Fund
Data as set forth herein, State Street hereby agrees to provide
the Fund, or certain third parties approved by State Street that
serve as the Fund's investment advisors, investment managers or
fund accountants (the "Fund Accountants") or as the Fund's
independent auditors (the "Auditor"), with access to State
Street's Multicurrency HORIZON (registered trademark) Accounting
System and the other information systems described in Attachment
A (collectively, the "System") on a remote basis solely on the
computer hardware, system software and telecommunication links
described in Attachment B (the "Designated Configuration") or on
any designated substitute or back-up equipment configuration
consented to in writing by State Street, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld.
b. Data Access Services. State Street agrees to make
available to the Fund the Data Access Services subject to the
terms and conditions of this Addendum and such data access
operating standards and procedures as may be issued by State
Street from time to time. The Fund shall be able to access the
System to (i) originate electronic instructions to State Street
in order to (a) effect the transfer or movement of cash or
securities held under custody by State Street or (b) transmit
accounting or other information (the transactions described in
(i)(a) and (i)(b) above are referred to herein as "Client
Originated Electronic Financial Instructions"), and (ii) access
data for the purpose of reporting and analysis, which shall all
be deemed to be Data Access Services for purposes of this
Addendum.
c. Additional Services. State Street may from time to
time agree to make available to the Fund additional Systems that
are not described in the attachments to this Addendum. In the
absence of any other written agreement concerning such additional
systems, the term "System" shall include, and this Addendum shall
govern, the Fund's access to and use of any additional System
made available by State Street and/or accessed by the Fund.
2. NO USE OF THIRD PARTY SYSTEMS-LEVEL SOFTWARE
State Street and the Fund acknowledge that in connection
with the Data Access Services provided under this Addendum, the
Fund will have access, through the Data Access Services, to Fund
Data and to functions of State Street's proprietary systems;
provided, however that in no event will the Fund have direct
access to any third party systems-level software that retrieves
data for, stores data from, or otherwise supports the System.
3. LIMITATION ON SCOPE OF USE
a. Designated Equipment; Designated Locations. The System
and the Data Access Services shall be used and accessed solely on
and through the Designated Configuration at the offices of the
Fund or the Fund Accountants in ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ("Designated Locations").
b. Designated Configuration; Trained Personnel. State
Street and the Fund shall be responsible for supplying,
installing and maintaining the Designated Configuration at the
Designated Locations. State Street and the Fund agree that each
will engage or retain the services of trained personnel to enable
both parties to perform their respective obligations under this
Addendum. State Street agrees to use commercially reasonable
efforts to maintain the System so that it remains serviceable,
provided, however, that State Street does not guarantee or assure
uninterrupted remote access use of the System.
c. Scope of Use. The Fund will use the System and the
Data Access Services only for the processing of securities
transactions, the keeping of books of account for the Fund and
accessing data for purposes of reporting and analysis. The Fund
shall not, and shall cause its employees and agents not to (i)
permit any unauthorized third party to use the System or the Data
Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use the
System or the Data Access Services in the operation of a service
bureau or for any purpose other than as expressly authorized
under this Addendum, (iii) use the System or the Data Access
Services for any fund, trust or other investment vehicle), other
than as set forth herein, without the prior written consent of
State Street, (iv) allow access to the System or the Data Access
Services through terminals or any other computer or
telecommunications facilities located outside the Designated
Locations, (v) allow or cause any information (other than
portfolio holdings, valuations of portfolio holdings, and other
information reasonably necessary for the management or
distribution of the assets of the Fund) transmitted from State
Street's databases, including data from third party sources,
available through use of the System or the Data Access Services
to be redistributed or retransmitted to another computer,
terminal or other device for other than use for or on behalf of
the Fund or (vi) modify the System in any way, including without
limitation developing any software for or attaching any devices
or computer programs to any equipment, system, software or
database which forms a part of or is resident on the Designated
Configuration.
d. Other Locations. Except in the event of an emergency
or of a planned System shutdown, the Fund's access to services
performed by the System or to Data Access Services at the
Designated Locations may be transferred to a different location
only upon the prior written consent of State Street. In the
event of an emergency or System shutdown, the Fund may use any
back-up site included in the Designated Configuration or any
other back-up site agreed to by State Street, which agreement
will not be unreasonably withheld. The Fund may secure from
State Street the right to access the System or the Data Access
Services through computer and telecommunications facilities or
devices complying with the Designated Configuration at additional
locations only upon the prior written consent of State Street and
on terms to be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
e. Title. Title and all ownership and proprietary rights
to the System, including any enhancements or modifications
thereto, whether or not made by State Street, are and shall
remain with State Street.
f. No Modification. Without the prior written consent of
State Street, the Fund shall not modify, enhance or otherwise
create derivative works based upon the System, nor shall the Fund
reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the
source code for all or any part of the System.
g. Security Procedures. The Fund shall comply with data
access operating standards and procedures and with user
identification or other password control requirements and other
security procedures as may be issued from time to time by State
Street for use of the System on a remote basis and to access the
Data Access Services. The Fund shall have access only to the
Fund Data and authorized transactions agreed upon from time to
time by State Street and, upon notice from State Street, the Fund
shall discontinue remote use of the System and access to Data
Access Services for any security reasons cited by State Street;
provided, that, in such event, State Street shall, for a period
not less than 180 days (or such other shorter period specified by
the Fund) after such discontinuance, assume responsibility to
provide accounting services under the terms of the Custodian
Agreement.
h. Inspections. State Street shall have the right to
inspect the use of the System and the Data Access Services by the
Fund, the Fund Accountants and the Auditor to ensure compliance
with this Addendum. The on-site inspections shall be upon prior
written notice to Fund, the Fund Accountants and the Auditor and
at reasonably convenient times and frequencies so as not to
result in an unreasonable disruption of the Fund's or the Fund
Accountants' or the Auditor respective businesses.
4. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
a. Proprietary Information. The Fund acknowledges and
State Street represents that the System and the databases,
computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive
design techniques, documentation and other information made
available to the Fund by State Street as part of the Data Access
Services and through the use of the System constitute
copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information of
substantial value to State Street. Any and all such information
provided by State Street to the Fund shall be deemed proprietary
and confidential information of State Street (hereinafter
"Proprietary Information"). The Fund agrees that it will hold
such Proprietary Information in the strictest confidence and
secure and protect it in a manner consistent with its own
procedures for the protection of its own confidential information
and to take appropriate action by instruction or agreement with
its employees or agents who are permitted access to the
Proprietary Information to satisfy its obligations hereunder.
The Fund further acknowledges that State Street shall not be
required to provide the Fund Accountants or the Auditor with
access to the System unless it has first received from the Fund
Accountants and the Auditor an undertaking with respect to State
Street's Proprietary Information in the form of Attachment C
and/or Attachment C-1 to this Addendum. The Fund shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to assist State Street in
identifying and preventing any unauthorized use, copying or
disclosure of the Proprietary Information or any portions thereof
or any of the logic, formats or designs contained therein.
b. Cooperation. Without limitation of the foregoing, the
Fund shall advise State Street immediately in the event the Fund
learns or has reason to believe that any person to whom the Fund
has given access to the Proprietary Information, or any portion
thereof, has violated or intends to violate the terms of this
Addendum, and the Fund will, at its reasonable expense, cooperate
with State Street in seeking injunctive or other equitable relief
in the name of the Fund or State Street against any such person.
c. Injunctive Relief. The Fund acknowledges that the
disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or of any information
which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will
immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State
Street inadequately compensable in damages at law. In addition,
State Street shall be entitled to obtain immediate injunctive
relief against the breach or threatened breach of any of the
foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal remedies
which may be available.
d. Survival. The provisions of this Section 4 shall
survive the termination of this Addendum.
5. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY
a. Standard of Care and Limitation on Amount and Time for
Bringing Action. State Street shall be held to a standard of
reasonable care with respect to all of its duties and obligations
under this Addendum. The Fund agrees that any liability of State
Street to the Fund or any third party arising with respect to the
System or State Street's provision of Data Access Services under
this Data Access Services Addendum shall be limited to the amount
paid by the Fund for the preceding 24 months for such services.
The foregoing limitation shall relate solely to State Street's
provision of the Data Access Services pursuant to this Addendum
and is not intended to limit State Street's responsibility to
perform in accordance with the Custodian Agreement, including its
duty to act in accordance with Proper Instructions. In no event
shall State Street be liable to the Fund or any other party
pursuant to this Addendum for any special, indirect, punitive or
consequential damages even if advised of the possibility of such
damages. No action, regardless of form, arising out of the terms
of this Addendum may be brought by the Fund more than two years
after the Fund has knowledge that the cause of action has arisen.
b. Limited Warranties. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, ARE MADE BY STATE STREET.
c. Third-Party Data. Organizations from which State
Street may obtain certain data included in the System or the Data
Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such
data, and State Street shall have no liability for claims arising
out of the contents of such third-party data, including, but not
limited to, the accuracy thereof.
d. Regulatory Requirements. As between State Street and
the Fund, the Fund shall be solely responsible for the accuracy
of any accounting statements or reports produced using the Data
Access Services and the System and the conformity thereof with
any requirements of law.
e. Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for any
costs or damages due to delay or nonperformance under this Data
Access Services Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond
such party's control, including, without limitation, cessation of
services hereunder or any damages resulting therefrom to the
other party as a result of work stoppage, power or other
mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster,
governmental action, or communication disruption.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold State Street harmless
from any loss, damage or expense including reasonable attorney's
fees, (a "loss") suffered by State Street arising from (i) the
negligence or willful misconduct in the use by the Fund of the
Data Access Services or the System, including any loss incurred
by State Street resulting from a security breach at the
Designated Locations or committed by the Fund's employees or
agents or the Fund Accountants or the and Auditor, and (ii) any
loss resulting from incorrect Client Originated Electronic
Financial Instructions. State Street shall be entitled to rely
on the validity and authenticity of Client Originated Electronic
Financial Instructions without undertaking any further inquiry as
long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with
security procedures established by State Street from time to
time.
7. FEES
Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Data
Access Services and related payment terms shall be as set forth
in the custody fee schedule in effect from time to time between
the parties (the "Fee Schedule"). Any tariffs, duties or taxes
imposed or levied by any government or governmental agency by
reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum,
including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes,
use, value added and personal property taxes (other than income,
franchise or similar taxes which may be imposed or assessed
against State Street) shall be borne by the Fund. Any claimed
exemption from such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported
by proper documentary evidence delivered to State Street.
8. TRAINING, IMPLEMENTATION AND CONVERSION
a. Training. State Street agrees to provide training, at
a designated State Street training facility or at the Designated
Locations, to the Fund's personnel in connection with the use of
the System on the Designated Configuration. The Fund agrees that
it will set aside, during regular business hours or at other
times agreed upon by both parties, sufficient time to enable all
operators of the System and the Data Access Services, designated
by the Fund, to receive the training offered by State Street
pursuant to this Addendum.
b. Installation and Conversion. State Street and the Fund
shall be responsible for the technical installation and
conversion ("Installation and Conversion") of the Designated
Configuration. The Fund shall have the following
responsibilities in connection with Installation and Conversion
of the System:
(i) The Fund shall be solely responsible for the timely
acquisition and maintenance of the hardware and
software that attach to the Designated Configuration
in order to use the Data Access Services at the
Designated Locations, and
(ii) State Street and the Fund each agree that they will
assign qualified personnel to actively participate
during the Installation and Conversion phase of the
System implementation to enable both parties to perform
their respective obligations under this Addendum.
9. SUPPORT
During the term of this Addendum, State Street agrees to
provide the support services set out in Attachment D to this
Addendum.
10. TERM
a. Term. This Addendum shall become effective on the date
of its execution by State Street and shall remain in full force
and effect until terminated as herein provided.
b. Termination. Either party may terminate this Addendum
(i) for any reason by giving the other party at least one-
hundred and eighty (180) days' prior written notice in the case
of notice of termination by State Street to the Fund or thirty
(30) days' notice in the case of notice from the Fund to State
Street of termination; or (ii) immediately for failure of the
other party to comply with any material term and condition of the
Addendum by giving the other party written notice of termination.
In the event the Fund shall cease doing business, shall become
subject to proceedings under the bankruptcy laws (other than a
petition for reorganization or similar proceeding) or shall be
adjudicated bankrupt, this Addendum and the rights granted
hereunder shall, at the option of State Street, immediately
terminate with notice to the Fund. This Addendum shall in any
event terminate as to any Fund within ninety (90) days after the
termination of the Custodian Agreement.
c. Termination of the Right to Use. Upon termination of
this Addendum for any reason, any right to use the System and
access to the Data Access Services shall terminate and the Fund
shall immediately cease use of the System and the Data Access
Services. Immediately upon termination of this Addendum for any
reason, the Fund shall return to State Street all copies of
documentation and other Proprietary Information in its
possession; provided, however, that in the event that either
party terminates this Addendum or the Custodian Agreement for any
reason other than the Fund's breach, State Street shall provide
the Data Access Services for a period of time and at a price to
be agreed upon in writing by the parties.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
a. Year ▇▇▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will take all steps necessary
to ensure that its products (and those of its third-party
suppliers) reflect the available state of the art technology to
offer products that are Year 2000 compliant, including, but not
limited to, century recognition of dates, calculations that
correctly compute same century and multi-century formulas and
date values, and interface values that reflect the date issues
arising between now and the next one-hundred years. If any
changes are required, State Street will make the changes to its
products at no cost to the Fund and in a commercially reasonable
time frame and will require third-party suppliers to do likewise.
b. Assignment; Successors. This Addendum and the rights
and obligations of the Fund and State Street hereunder shall not
be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of
the other party, except that State Street may assign this
Addendum to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its
business, or to a party controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with State Street.
c. Survival. All provisions regarding indemnification,
warranty, liability and limits thereon, and confidentiality
and/or protection of proprietary rights and trade secrets shall
survive the termination of this Addendum.
d. Entire Agreement. This Addendum and the attachments
hereto constitute the entire understanding of the parties hereto
with respect to the Data Access Services and the use of the
System and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous
representations or agreements, whether oral or written, between
the parties as such may relate to the Data Access Services or the
System, and cannot be modified or altered except in a writing
duly executed by the parties. This Addendum is not intended to
supersede or modify the duties and liabilities of the parties
hereto under the Custodian Agreement or any other agreement
between the parties hereto except to the extent that any such
agreement specifically refers to the Data Access Services or the
System. No single waiver or any right hereunder shall be deemed
to be a continuing waiver.
e. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this
Addendum shall be held to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable,
the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
f. Governing Law. This Addendum shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to the conflict of
laws provisions thereof.
ATTACHMENT A
Multicurrency HORIZON (registered trademark) Accounting System
System Product Description
I. The Multicurrency HORIZON (registered trademark)
Accounting System is designed to provide lot level portfolio and
general ledger accounting for SEC and ERISA type requirements and
includes the following services: 1) recording of general ledger
entries; 2) calculation of daily income and expense; 3)
reconciliation of daily activity with the trial balance, and 4)
appropriate automated feeding mechanisms to (i) domestic and
international settlement systems, (ii) daily, weekly and monthly
evaluation services, (iii) portfolio performance and analytic
services, (iv) customer's internal computing systems and (v)
various State Street provided information services products.
II. GlobalQuest (registered trademark) GlobalQuest
(registered trademark) is designed to provide customer access to
the following information maintained on The Multicurrency
HORIZON (registered trademark) Accounting System: 1) cash
transactions and balances; 2) purchases and sales; 3) income
receivables; 4) tax refund; 5) daily priced positions; 6) open
trades; 7) settlement status; 8) foreign exchange transactions;
9) trade history; and 10) daily, weekly and monthly evaluation
services.
III. HORIZON (registered trademark) Gateway. HORIZON
(registered trademark) Gateway provides customers with the
ability to (i) generate reports using information maintained on
the Multicurrency HORIZON (registered trademark) Accounting
System which may be viewed or printed at the customer's location;
(ii) extract and download data from the Multicurrency HORIZON
(registered trademark) Accounting System; and (iii) access
previous day and historical data. The following information
which may be accessed for these purposes: 1) holdings; 2)
holdings pricing; 3) transactions, 4) open trades; 5) income;
6) general ledger and 7) cash.
IV. State Street Interchange. State Street Interchange is an
open information delivery architecture wherein proprietary
communication products, data formats and workstation tools are
replaced by industry standards and is designed to enable the
connection of State Street's network to customer networks,
thereby facilitating the sharing of information.
ATTACHMENT C
Undertaking
(Fund Accountants)
The undersigned understands that in the course of its
employment as Fund Accountant to each fund listed on Appendix A
(as amended from time to time) to that certain Custodian
Agreement dated as of January 28, 1998 (the "Fund"), it will have
access to State Street Bank and Trust Company's Multicurrency
HORIZON Accounting System and other information systems
(collectively, the "System").
The undersigned acknowledges that the System and the
databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats,
interactive design techniques, documentation, and other
information made available to the Undersigned by State Street
Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") as part of the Data
Access Services provided to the Fund and through the use of the
System constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary
information of substantial value to State Street. Any and all
such information provided by State Street to the Undersigned
shall be deemed proprietary and confidential information of State
Street (hereinafter "Proprietary Information"). The undersigned
agrees that it will hold such Proprietary Information in
confidence and secure and protect it in a manner consistent with
its own procedures for the protection of its own confidential
information and to take appropriate action by instruction or
agreement with its employees who are permitted access to the
Proprietary Information to satisfy its obligations hereunder.
The undersigned will not attempt to intercept data, gain
access to data in transmission, or attempt entry into any system
or files for which it is not authorized. It will not
intentionally adversely affect the integrity of the System
through the introduction of unauthorized code or data, or through
unauthorized deletion.
Upon notice by State Street for any reason, any right to use
the System and access to the Data Access Services shall terminate
and the Undersigned shall immediately cease use of the System and
the Data Access Services. Immediately upon notice by State
Street for any reason, the undersigned shall return to State
Street all copies of documentation and other Proprietary
Information in its possession.
[The Fund Accountants]
By: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________
ATTACHMENT C-1
Undertaking
(Auditor)
The undersigned understands that in the course of its
employment as Auditor to each fund listed on Appendix A (as
amended from time to time) to that certain Custodian Agreement
dated as of January 28, 1998 (the "Fund") it will have access to
State Street Bank and Trust Company's Multicurrency HORIZON
Accounting System and other information systems (collectively,
the "System").
The undersigned acknowledges that the System and the
databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats,
interactive design techniques, documentation, and other
information made available to the Undersigned by State Street
Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") as part of the Data
Access Services provided to the Fund and through the use of the
System constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary
information of substantial value to State Street. Any and all
such information provided by State Street to the Undersigned
shall be deemed proprietary and confidential information of State
Street (hereinafter "Proprietary Information"). The undersigned
agrees that it will hold such Proprietary Information in
confidence and secure and protect it in a manner consistent with
its own procedures for the protection of its own confidential
information and to take appropriate action by instruction or
agreement with its employees who are permitted access to the
Proprietary Information to satisfy its obligations hereunder.
The undersigned will not attempt to intercept data, gain
access to data in transmission, or attempt entry into any system
or files for which it is not authorized. It will not
intentionally adversely affect the integrity of the System
through the introduction of unauthorized code or data, or through
unauthorized deletion.
Upon notice by State Street for any reason, any right to use
the System and access to the Data Access Services shall terminate
and the Undersigned shall immediately cease use of the System and
the Data Access Services. Immediately upon notice by State
Street for any reason, the undersigned shall return to State
Street all copies of documentation and other Proprietary
Information in its possession.
[The Auditor]
By: ______________________________
Title: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________
ATTACHMENT D
Support
During the term of this Addendum, State Street agrees to
provide the following on-going support services:
a. Telephone Support. The Fund Designated Persons may
contact State Street's HORIZON (registered trademark) Help Desk
and Fund Assistance Center between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
(Eastern time) on all business days for the purpose of obtaining
answers to questions about the use of the System, or to report
apparent problems with the System. From time to time, the Fund
shall provide to State Street a list of persons who shall be
permitted to contact State Street for assistance (such persons
being referred to as the "Fund Designated Persons").
b. Technical Support. State Street will provide technical
support to assist the Fund in using the System and the Data
Access Services. The total amount of technical support provided
by State Street shall not exceed 10 resource days per year.
State Street shall provide such additional technical support as
is expressly set forth in the fee schedule in effect from time to
time between the parties (the "Fee Schedule"). Technical
support, including during installation and testing, is subject to
the fees and other terms set forth in the Fee Schedule.
c. Maintenance Support. State Street shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to correct system functions that
do not work according to the System Product Description as set
forth on Attachment A in priority order in the next scheduled
delivery release or otherwise as soon as is practicable.
d. System Enhancements. State Street will provide to the
Fund any enhancements to the System developed by State Street and
made a part of the System; provided that State Street offer the
Fund reasonable training on the enhancement. Charges for system
enhancements shall be as provided in the Fee Schedule. State
Street retains the right to charge for related systems or
products that may be developed and separately made available for
use other than through the System.
e. Custom Modifications. In the event the Fund desires
custom modifications in connection with its use of the System,
the Fund shall make a written request to State Street providing
specifications for the desired modification. Any custom
modifications may be undertaken by State Street in its sole
discretion in accordance with the Fee Schedule.
f. Limitation on Support. State Street shall have no
obligation to support the Fund's use of the System: (1) for use
on any computer equipment or telecommunication facilities which
does not conform to the Designated Configuration or (ii) in the
event the Fund has modified the System in breach of this
Addendum.
In Witness Whereof, each of the parties has caused this
instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its
duly authorized representative as of the date and year first
written above.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Growth Stock Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Horizons Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Era Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Prime Reserve Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Discovery Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price European Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Asia Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Global Government Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Japan Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Latin America Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Emerging Markets Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Global Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Exempt Money Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Short-Intermediate Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price High Yield Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free High Yield Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New America Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price GNMA Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Capital Appreciation Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price State Tax-Free Income Trust
Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund
Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Money Fund
Virginia Tax-Free Bond Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
New Jersey Tax-Free Bond Fund
Georgia Tax-Free Bond Fund
Florida Insured Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price California Tax-Free Income Trust
California Tax-Free Bond Fund
California Tax-Free Money Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Science & Technology Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
Institutional International Funds, Inc.
Foreign Equity Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price U.S. Treasury Funds, Inc.
U.S. Treasury Intermediate Fund
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Fund
U.S. Treasury Money Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Index Trust, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Index 500 Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Extended Equity Market Index Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Total Equity Market Index Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Spectrum Fund, Inc.
Spectrum Growth Fund
Spectrum Income Fund
Spectrum International Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Balanced Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Short-Term U.S. Government Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Insured Intermediate Bond Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Dividend Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Blue Chip Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Cash Reserves Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Limited-Term Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit GNMA Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Money Market Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Intermediate Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Income Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New America Growth Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Balanced Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Stock Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Balanced Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Value Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Capital Opportunity Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Corporate Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Health Sciences Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
Institutional Domestic Equity Funds, Inc.
Mid-Cap Equity Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Diversified Small-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Financial Services Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Real Estate Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small Cap Stock Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small Cap Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Media & Telecommunications Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax Efficient Balanced Fund, Inc.
Reserve Investment Funds, Inc.
Government Reserve Investment Fund
Reserve Investment Fund
Signature attested to: Executed on Behalf of each Fund:
/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
By: _____________________ By: _____________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Legal Assistant Title: Treasurer for each of
the foregoing
Signature Attested to: State Street Bank and Trust
Company
/s/▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
By: ____________________ By: _____________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: VP & Assoc. Counsel Title: Executive Vice
President
Schedule A
Country Subcustodian Central Depository
United Kingdom State Street Bank None;
and Trust Company The Bank of England,
The Central Gilts Office (CGO);
The Central Moneymarkets
Office (CMO)
Euroclear (The Euroclear System)/ State Street London Limited
Appendix A
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Growth Stock Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Horizons Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Era Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Prime Reserve Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Discovery Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price European Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New Asia Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Global Government Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Japan Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Latin America Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Emerging Markets Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Global Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Growth & Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Short-Term Bond Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Exempt Money Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Short-Intermediate Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price High Yield Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free High Yield Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New America Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price GNMA Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Capital Appreciation Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price State Tax-Free Income Trust
Maryland Tax-Free Bond Fund
Maryland Short-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Bond Fund
New York Tax-Free Money Fund
Virginia Tax-Free Bond Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-Term Tax-Free Bond Fund
New Jersey Tax-Free Bond Fund
Georgia Tax-Free Bond Fund
Florida Insured Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price California Tax-Free Income Trust
California Tax-Free Bond Fund
California Tax-Free Money Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Science & Technology Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
Institutional International Funds, Inc.
Foreign Equity Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price U.S. Treasury Funds, Inc.
U.S. Treasury Intermediate Fund
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Fund
U.S. Treasury Money Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Index Trust, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Index 500 Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Extended Equity Market Index Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Total Equity Market Index Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Spectrum Fund, Inc.
Spectrum Growth Fund
Spectrum Income Fund
Spectrum International Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Balanced Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Short-Term U.S. Government Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax-Free Insured Intermediate Bond Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Dividend Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Blue Chip Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Cash Reserves Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Limited-Term Bond Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit GNMA Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Money Market Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Intermediate Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Summit Municipal Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Equity Income Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price New America Growth Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Balanced Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price International Stock Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Funds, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Balanced Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Personal Strategy Income Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Value Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Capital Opportunity Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Corporate Income Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Health Sciences Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Mid-Cap Value Fund, Inc.
Institutional Domestic Equity Funds, Inc.
Mid-Cap Equity Growth Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Diversified Small-Cap Growth Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Financial Services Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Real Estate Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small Cap Stock Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Small Cap Stock Fund
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Media & Telecommunications Fund, Inc.
▇. ▇▇▇▇ Price Tax Efficient Balanced Fund, Inc.
Reserve Investment Funds, Inc.
Government Reserve Investment Fund
Reserve Investment Fund