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Exhibit 23(g)
FORM OF AGREEMENT
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
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This Agreement between NEW COVENANT FUNDS a business trust organized
and existing under the laws of Delaware (the "FUND"), and STATE STREET BANK and
TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the "CUSTODIAN"),
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series,
with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends that this Agreement be applicable to four
series, New Covenant Growth Fund, New Covenant Income Fund, New Covenant
Balanced Growth Fund and New Covenant Balanced Income Fund (such series together
with all other series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to
this Agreement in accordance with Section 18, be referred to herein as the
"PORTFOLIO(S)");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of
the Portfolios of the Fund, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of
the applicable Portfolio desires to be held in places within the United States
("DOMESTIC SECURITIES") and securities it desires to be held outside the United
States ("FOREIGN SECURITIES"). The Fund on behalf of the Portfolio(s) agrees to
deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by
it with respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time,
and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund representing interests in the Portfolios
("SHARES") as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not
be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio
and not delivered to the Custodian. With respect to uncertificated shares (the
"UNDERLYING SHARES") of registered investment companies in the same "group of
investment companies" (as defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 ACT")) (hereinafter sometimes
referred to as the "UNDERLYING PORTFOLIOS") the holding of confirmation
statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian's name on
behalf of the Portfolios will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.
Upon receipt of "PROPER INSTRUCTIONS" (as such term is defined in
Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s)
from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United
States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (the "BOARD") on behalf of
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the applicable Portfolio(s), and provided that the Custodian shall have no more
or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or
omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to
the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign
securities on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) the foreign banking
institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B
hereto but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and
4.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND
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 Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by
it in the United States including all domestic securities owned by such
Portfolio, other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section
2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a
book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a
"U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for which State
Street Bank and Trust Company 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 2.9; and (c) the Underlying
Shares owned by the Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10A in an
account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may
from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with
respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the
"UNDERLYING TRANSFER AGENT").
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a
U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in the Custodian's Direct
Paper book entry system account ("DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM ACCOUNT") or in an account
at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on
behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio
and receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the
Portfolio;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities
System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8
hereof;
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4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
provided that, in any such case, the cash or other
consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or
nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name
or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to
Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds,
certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate
face amount or number of units; PROVIDED that, in any such
case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the
Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a
receipt, for examination in accordance with "street delivery"
custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall
have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from
the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for
such securities except as may arise from the Custodian's own
negligence or willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or
readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such
securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained
in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash,
if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that,
in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to
be delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made
by the Portfolio, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate
collateral as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian
and the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, which may be in the
form of cash or obligations issued by the United States
government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be
credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system
authorized by the U.S.
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Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by
the Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by
the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of
assets by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, BUT ONLY
against receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the
Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and a member of The
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"),
relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing
Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Portfolio of the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the
Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under
the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC")
and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or
organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with
transactions by the Portfolio of 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 currently effective prospectus and statement of
additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio
(the "PROSPECTUS"), in satisfaction of requests by holders of
Shares for repurchase or redemption;
15) In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying
Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with
Section 2.10A hereof; and
16) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be
delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery
is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper trust
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made.
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SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Portfolio, UNLESS the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a
nominee to be used in common with other registered investment companies having
the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by
the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall
be in "street name" or other good delivery form. 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 on a best efforts basis only 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 each
Portfolio 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 Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a
bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940
Act. Funds held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its
credit as Custodian in the Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other
banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or
desirable; PROVIDED, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be
qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or
trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company
shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority
of the Board. Such 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 registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each
Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the
securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment
by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof
and shall credit such income, as collected, to such Portfolio's custodian
account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall
detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring
presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on
securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of
the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection
therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as
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may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the
Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions
on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a
Portfolio in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of
the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such
securities or evidence of title to such options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or
any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the
United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act
to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian
as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the
Portfolio or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian
referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for
transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a
U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set
forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of
Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth
in Section 2.10A hereof; (d) in the case of a purchase
involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.9; (e) in the case of
repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund on behalf
of the Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a
broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery
of the securities either in certificate form or through an
entry crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal Reserve
Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the
receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities
owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the
agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from
the Portfolio or (f) for transfer to a time deposit account of
the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such
transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation
from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper
Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2
hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set
forth in Section 5 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments
for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management,
accounting, transfer agent and
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legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not
such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or
treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant
to the governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
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 trust purpose, and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or
trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as
the Custodian may from time to time direct; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities
or liabilities hereunder. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an
agent or subcustodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any
other provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in a U.S.
Securities System provided that such securities are
represented in an account of the Custodian in the U.S.
Securities System (the "U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM ACCOUNT") which
account shall not include any assets of the Custodian other
than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for
customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in a U.S. Securities System
shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the
U.S. Securities System that such securities have been
transferred to the U.S. Securities System 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
Portfolio. The
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Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of
the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S.
Securities System that payment for such securities has been
transferred to the U.S. Securities System 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
Portfolio. Copies of all advices from the U.S. Securities
System of transfers of securities for the account of the
Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be maintained for the
Portfolio by the Custodian and be provided to the Fund at its
request. Upon request, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund on
behalf of the Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or
from the account of the Portfolio in the form of a written
advice or notice and shall furnish to the Fund on behalf of
the Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting
each day's transactions in the U.S. Securities System for the
account of the Portfolio;
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 securities deposited in the U.S. Securities
System;
5) [Reserved.];
6) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding,
the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the benefit of
the Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Portfolio
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, it 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 or damage if and to the extent that the
Portfolio has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
SECTION 2.9 FUND ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in the
Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper
System will be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions
from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
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2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in the
Direct Paper System only if such securities 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 securities of the
Portfolio which are maintained in the Direct Paper System
shall identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
Portfolio;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the
account of the Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the
records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer
of securities to the account of the Portfolio. The Custodian
shall transfer securities sold for the account of the
Portfolio 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 Portfolio;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio confirmation of each transfer to or from the account
of the Portfolio, 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 on behalf of the
Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each
day's transaction in the Direct Paper System for the account
of the Portfolio;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio with any report on its system of internal accounting
control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
SECTION 2.10 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio establish and
maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such
Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or
securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian
pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any
agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the 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 CFTC or any registered
contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding
escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio,
(ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection
with options purchased, sold or written by the Portfolio or commodity futures
contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the
purposes of compliance by the Portfolio with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666,
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or any subsequent release of the SEC, or interpretative opinion of the staff of
the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered
investment companies and (iv) for other proper trust purposes, but only, in the
case of clause (iv), upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf
of the applicable Portfolio, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such
segregated account and declaring such purpose(s) to be a proper trust purpose.
SECTION 2.10A DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRANSFER
AGENT. Underlying Shares shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or
accounts maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent. The Underlying Transfer
Agent shall be deemed to be acting as if it is a "securities depository" for
purposes of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act. The Fund hereby directs the Custodian
to deposit and/or maintain such securities with the Underlying Transfer Agent,
subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian shall keep Underlying Shares owned by a
Portfolio with the Underlying Transfer Agent provided that
such securities are maintained in an account or accounts on
the books and records of the Underlying Transfer Agent in the
name of the Custodian as custodian for the Portfolio.
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to Underlying Shares
which are maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent shall
identify by book-entry those Underlying Shares belonging to
each Portfolio;
3) The Custodian shall pay for Underlying Shares purchased for
the account of a Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the
Portfolio's investment adviser that such Underlying Shares
have been purchased and will be transferred to the account of
the Custodian, on behalf of the Portfolio, on the books and
records of the Underlying Transfer Agent, and (ii) the making
of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such
payment and transfer for the account of the Portfolio. The
Custodian shall receive confirmation from the Underlying
Transfer Agent of the purchase of such securities and the
transfer of such securities to the Custodian's account with
the Underlying Transfer Agent only after such payment is made.
The Custodian shall transfer Underlying Shares redeemed for
the account of a Portfolio (i) upon receipt of an advice from
the Portfolio's investment adviser that such securities have
been redeemed and that payment for such securities will be
transferred to the Custodian and (ii) the making of an entry
on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and
payment for the account of the Portfolio. The Custodian will
receive confirmation from the Underlying Transfer Agent of the
redemption of such securities and payment therefor only after
such securities are redeemed. Copies of all advices from the
Portfolio's investment adviser of purchases and sales of
Underlying Shares for the account of the Portfolio shall
identify the
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Portfolio, be maintained for the Portfolio by the Custodian,
and be provided to the investment adviser at its request;
4) The Custodian shall be not be liable to the Fund or any
Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Fund or any Portfolio
resulting from maintenance of Underlying Shares with
Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses resulting directly
from the negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the
Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their
employees.
SECTION 2.11 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian
shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal
and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments
with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in
connection with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.12 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in
the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without
indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall
promptly deliver to the Portfolio such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials
and all notices relating to such securities.
SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
Fund for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation,
pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of
rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options
written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from
issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to tender
or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Portfolio all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities
whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the
tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires to take action with respect
to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction, the
Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
SECTION 3. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE PORTFOLIOS
SECTION 3.1 DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms shall have the
indicated meanings:
"COUNTRY RISK" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment; economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Mandatory
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Securities Depositories operating in the country); prevailing or developing
custody and settlement practices; and laws and regulations applicable to the
safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.
"ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIAN" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as
defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an
Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate
action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the 1940 Act, except that the term does not include Mandatory Securities
Depositories.
"FOREIGN ASSETS" means any of the Portfolios' investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios'
transactions in such investments.
"FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(2) of Rule
17f-5.
"MANDATORY SECURITIES DEPOSITORY" means a foreign securities depository or
clearing agency that, either as a legal or practical matter, must be used if the
Fund, on the Portfolios' behalf, determines to place Foreign Assets in a country
outside the United States (i) because required by law or regulation; (ii)
because securities cannot be withdrawn from such foreign securities depository
or clearing agency; or (iii) because maintaining or effecting trades in
securities outside the foreign securities depository or clearing agency is not
consistent with prevailing or developing custodial or market practices.
SECTION 3.2 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Fund, by resolution adopted by the Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian with
respect to the Portfolios, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the
responsibilities set forth in this Section 3 with respect to Foreign Assets of
the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts
such delegation, as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.
SECTION 3.3 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Fund with the Agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the
Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time
to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. Mandatory
Securities Depositories are listed on Schedule B to this
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Contract, which Schedule B may be amended from time to time by the Foreign
Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of
Schedules A and B in accordance with Section 3.7 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions
to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios of the
applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody
Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board on behalf of the
Portfolios responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that
country and to have accepted such delegation. Following the receipt of Proper
Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of a
Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of the
Portfolios to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be
deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be
the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period as to which the parties agree in
writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have
no further responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to
the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.
SECTION 3.4 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES.
3.4.1. SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3, the Portfolios' Foreign Custody Manager may place
and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as
Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible
Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign
Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to
custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that
Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified
in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
3.4.2. CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract (or the rules or established practices
or procedures in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian that is a foreign
securities depository or clearing agency) governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
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3.4.3. MONITORING. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such
Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian (or the rules or established practices and procedures in the
case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager
which is a foreign securities depository or clearing agency that is not a
Mandatory Securities Depository). In the event the Foreign Custody Manager
determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it
has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify
the Board in accordance with Section 3.7 hereunder.
SECTION 3.5 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and
determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining
the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Portfolios. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, and
the Board shall be deemed to be monitoring on a continuing basis such Country
Risk to the extent that the Board considers necessary or appropriate. The Fund
and the Custodian each expressly acknowledge that the Foreign Custody Manager
shall not be delegated any responsibilities under this Section 3 with respect to
Mandatory Securities Depositories.
SECTION 3.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE
PORTFOLIOS. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign
Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such
as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management
investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
SECTION 3.7 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall
report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian
and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian
by providing to the Board amended Schedules A or B at the end of the calendar
quarter in which an amendment to either Schedule has occurred. The Foreign
Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other
material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios described
in this Section 3 after the occurrence of the material change.
SECTION 3.8 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17f-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the
Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the
Custodian to perform the responsibilities
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delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios.
SECTION 3.9 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date of execution of this
Agreement and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without
penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating
party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the
non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.3 hereof shall
govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS
HELD OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Section 4 shall have
the following meanings:
"FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEM" means either a clearing agency or a securities
depository listed on Schedule A hereto or a Mandatory Securities Depository
listed on Schedule B hereto.
"FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIAN" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Portfolios 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 Portfolios, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are
maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the
Portfolios and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in
which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so
held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such
Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3 FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country only through
arrangements implemented by the Foreign Sub-Custodian in such country pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.
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SECTION 4.4 TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios
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 Portfolios in
accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the
country where such foreign securities are held or traded,
including, without limitation: (A) delivery against
expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of
a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of the
Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to
foreign securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such
Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number
of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for
examination or trade execution in accordance with market
custom; PROVIDED that in any such case the Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for
any loss arising from the delivery of such 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
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surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for
definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by
the Portfolios requiring a pledge of assets by the Portfolios;
(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 trust
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
such securities shall be made.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF PORTFOLIO MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of
a Portfolio in the following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio,
unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A)
delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor
(or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of
receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in
the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities
System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation
of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the Portfolio;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees
under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign
exchange contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions
executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign
Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
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(vi) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(vii) for any other proper 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 trust purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be
made.
4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received
for the account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for
the account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the
country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without
limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer
therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of
receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect
to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs
a Foreign Sub-Custodian, including without limitation information relating to
Foreign Securities Systems, described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times
set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to
time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided
with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
SECTION 4.5 REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer
securities) shall be registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in
the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the
name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio
agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of
record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian
shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the
terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in
which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies)
deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or
market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the
Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts opened and maintained outside the
United States on behalf of a Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
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SECTION 4.7 COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and
shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the
event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund
and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation
and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities
held pursuant to this Agreement, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial
efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights,
subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist
in the country where such securities are issued. 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 4.9 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 via the
Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the
account of the Portfolios. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information so received by
the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is
sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender,
exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other
property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or
the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign
securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with
regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur
at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
action to exercise such right or power
SECTION 4.10 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 Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the
Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and
to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made whole for any such loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
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SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund, the
Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios 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 with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the
Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The
sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or
refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
SECTION 4.12 CONFLICT. If the Custodian is delegated the
responsibilities of Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Section 3
hereof, in the event of any conflict between the provisions of Sections 3 and 4
hereof, the provisions of Section 3 shall prevail.
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from
the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio
such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to
time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund on
behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of
payments for Shares of such Portfolio.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian
shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds
available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer
Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with
the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt
of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial
bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian
by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the
holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such
procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between
the Fund and the Custodian.
SECTION 6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions as used throughout this Agreement means a writing
signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board shall have
from time to time
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authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type
of transaction involved, including a specific statement of the purpose for which
such action is requested. Oral instructions will be considered Proper
Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a
person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction
involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing.
Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Fund and the
Custodian agree to security procedures, including but not limited to, the
security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum attached
hereto. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include
instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement
which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.10.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of
handling securities or other similar items relating to its
duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments
shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio,
checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in
connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase,
transfer and other dealings with the securities and property
of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed by the Board.
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions,
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by
it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund.
The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund ("CERTIFIED RESOLUTION") as
conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with
such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by
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the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered
as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to
the contrary.
SECTION 9. 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
each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding
Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset
value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the
net income of the Portfolio as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the
Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and,
if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the
Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various
components. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments
maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is
the sole source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it on
behalf of a Portfolio and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings
information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in
performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the
duties set forth in this Section 9 and in Section 10 hereof; provided, however,
that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases
and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations
received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the
Underlying Transfer Agent. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and
the daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described
from time to time in the Prospectus.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio 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 securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and
shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be
agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in
such tabulations.
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SECTION 11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf
of each applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year
to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect
to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's
Form N-1A, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to
any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 12. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the
Portfolios at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by
independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and
options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained
in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System, relating to the
services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be
of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by
the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be
disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for
any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without
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liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund and the Portfolios for any
loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything which is
(A) part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without
limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of
war, revolution, riots or terrorism, or (B) part of the "prevailing country
risk" of the Portfolios, as such term is used in SEC Release Nos. IC-22658;
IS-1080 (May 12, 1997) or as such term or other similar terms are now or in the
future interpreted by the SEC or by the staff of the Division of Investment
Management thereof.
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, work
stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by
the Fund or the Investment Advisor in their instructions to the Custodian
provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii)
the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any 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) any provision of any present or future law or
regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or
any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent
jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any
action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or
which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or
its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment
of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the
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Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an
amount and form satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or
agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited
to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or
in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall
be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly,
the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such
Portfolio's assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or
consequential damages.
SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall
continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may
be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed,
postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner
than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; PROVIDED,
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 Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that the Fund on
behalf of one or more of the Portfolios 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 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 on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due
as of the date of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian
for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
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SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed
by the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor
custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for
transfer, all securities of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder
and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the
securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System or at the
Underlying Transfer Agent.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of
the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in
accordance with such resolution.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the
date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have
the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in
the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of
its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all
securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto
and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each
applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian
all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System or at
the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be
the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services
during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds
and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 17. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on
such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this
Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of
this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a
writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, PROVIDED that no
such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any
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FORM OF AGREEMENT
applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided
in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
SECTION 18. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to New Covenant Growth Fund, New Covenant Income Fund, New Covenant
Balanced Growth Fund and New Covenant Balanced Income Fund, with respect to
which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the
terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian
agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a
Portfolio hereunder.
SECTION 19. 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 20. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all
prior Agreements between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
SECTION 21. 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 the Fund: NEW COVENANT FUNDS
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: __________________
Telephone:__________________
Telecopy: __________________
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FORM OF AGREEMENT
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 22. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, 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 23. DATA ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Data
Access Services Addendum attached hereto.
SECTION 24. 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
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FORM OF AGREEMENT
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 [ ] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name,
address, and share positions.
SECTION 25. YEAR ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will take reasonable steps 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,
and if any changes are required, State Street will make the changes to its
products at no cost to Customer and in a commercially reasonable time frame and
will require third-party suppliers to do likewise.
Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank
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FORM OF AGREEMENT
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to
be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of April ____, 1999.
FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY: NEW COVENANT FUNDS
By:______________________ By: _________________________
Name:____________________ Name: _______________________
Title: _________________ Title: ______________________
SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY
By:_________________________ By:________________________
Name: Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Title: Vice Chairman
30.