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Custody & Fund Accounting
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Between
BJB INVESTMENT FUNDS
and
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Bank Appointed Custodian .................................... 1
2. Definitions.................................................. 1
2.1 Authorized Person.......................... 1
2.2 Security................................... 1
2.3 Portfolio Security......................... 1
2.4 Officers' Certificate...................... 2
2.5 Book-Entry System.......................... 2
2.6 Depository................................. 2
2.7 Proper Instructions........................ 2
3. Separate Accounts............................................ 2
4. Certification as to Authorized Persons....................... 3
5. Custody of Cash.............................................. 3
5.1 Purchase of Securities..................... 3
5.2 Redemptions................................ 3
5.3 Distributions and Expenses of Fund......... 3
5.4 Payment in Respect of Securities........... 4
5.5 Repayment of Loans......................... 4
5.6 Repayment of Cash.......................... 4
5.7 Foreign Exchange Transactions.............. 4
5.8 Other Authorized Payments.................. 4
5.9 Termination................................ 4
6. Securities................................................... 4
6.1 Segregation and Registration............... 4
6.2 Voting and Proxies......................... 5
6.3 Book-Entry System.......................... 5
6.4 Use of a Depository........................ 6
6.5 Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial
Paper...................................... 7
6.6 Use of Immobilization Programs............. 8
6.7 Eurodollar CDs............................. 8
6.8 Options and Futures Transactions........... 8
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities
Exchanges, NASDAQ or
Over-the-Counter.................. 8
(b) Puts, Calls, and Futures Traded
on Commodities Exchanges........ 9
6.9 Segregated Account......................... 9
6.10 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits..... 11
6.11 Transfer of Securities..................... 11
7. Redemptions.................................................. 13
8. Merger, Dissolution, etc., of Fund........................... 13
9. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization.................. 13
10. Collections and Defaults..................................... 14
11. Maintenance of Records and Accounting Services............... 14
12. Fund Evaluation.............................................. 14
13. Concerning the Bank.......................................... 15
13.1 Performance of Duties and Standard of Care.. 15
13.2 Agents and Subcustodians with Respect to
Property of the Fund Held in the United
States.................................... 16
13.3 Duties of the Bank with Respect to Property
Held Outside of the United States......... 16
13.4 Insurance.................................. 19
13.5 Fees and Expenses of Bank................. 19
13.6 Advances by Bank.......................... 20
14. Termination................................................... 20
15. Confidentiality............................................... 21
16. Notices....................................................... 21
17. Amendments.................................................... 22
18. Parties....................................................... 22
19. Liabilities of Officers and Trustees.......................... 22
20. Governing Law................................................. 22
21. Counterparts.................................................. 22
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 30th day of January, 1995, between BJB INVESTMENT
FUNDS, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund") and INVESTORS BANK & TRUST
COMPANY (the "Bank").
The Fund, an open-end management investment company, desires to place and
maintain all of its portfolio securities and cash in the custody of the Bank.
The Bank has at least the minimum qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to act as custodian of the
portfolio securities and cash of the Fund, and has indicated its willingness to
so act, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Bank Appointed Custodian. The Fund hereby appoints the Bank as
custodian of its portfolio securities and cash delivered to the Bank as
hereinafter described and the Bank agrees to act as such upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, the terms listed below will have
the following meaning:
2.1 Authorized Person. Authorized Person will mean any of the
persons duly authorized to give Proper Instructions or otherwise act on behalf
of the Fund by appropriate resolution of its Board of Trustees (the "Board"),
and set forth in a certificate as required by Section 4 hereof.
2.2 Security. The term security as used herein will have the same
meaning as when such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
including, without limitation, any note, stock, treasury stock, bond,
debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation
in any profit sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization
certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract,
voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional
undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call,
straddle, option, or privilege on any security, certificate of deposit, or
group or index of securities (including any interest therein or based on the
value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into
on a national securities exchange relating to a foreign currency, or, in
general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a "security", or any
certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate
for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to, or option
contract to purchase or sell any of the foregoing, and futures, forward
contracts and options thereon.
2.3 Portfolio Security. Portfolio Security will mean any security
owned by the Fund.
2.4 Officers' Certificate. Officers' Certificate will mean,
unless otherwise indicated, any request, direction, instruction, or
certification in writing signed by any two Authorized Persons of the Fund.
2.5 Book-Entry System. Book-Entry System shall mean the Federal
Reserve-Treasury Department Book Entry System for United States government,
instrumentality and agency securities operated by the Federal Reserve Bank,
its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees.
2.6 Depository. Depository shall mean The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), a clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange
Act"), its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees. The term
"Depository" shall further mean and include any other person authorized to act
as a depository under the 1940 Act, its successor or successors and its
nominee or nominees, specifically identified in a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board.
2.7 Proper Instructions. Proper Instructions shall mean (i)
instructions regarding the purchase or sale of Portfolio Securities, and
payments and deliveries in connection therewith, given by an Authorized Person
as shall have been designated in an Officers' Certificate, such instructions
to be given in such form and manner as the Bank and the Fund shall agree upon
from time to time, and (ii) instructions (which may be continuing
instructions) regarding other matters signed or initialed by such one or more
persons from time to time designated in an Officers' Certificate as having
been authorized by the Board. Oral instructions will be considered Proper
Instructions if the Bank 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 promptly confirmed
in writing. The Bank shall act upon and comply with any subsequent Proper
Instruction which modifies a prior instruction and the sole obligation of the
Bank with respect to any follow-up or confirmatory instruction shall be to
make reasonable efforts to detect any discrepancy between the original
instruction and such confirmation and to report such discrepancy to the Fund.
The Fund shall be responsible, at the Fund's expense, for taking any action,
including any reprocessing, necessary to correct any such discrepancy or
error, and to the extent such action requires the Bank to act the Fund shall
give the Bank specific Proper Instructions as to the action required. Upon
receipt of an Officers' Certificate as to the authorization by the Board
accompanied by a detailed description of procedures approved by the Fund,
Proper Instructions may include communication effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Board and the Bank
are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's
assets.
3. Separate Accounts. If the Fund has more than one series or portfolio,
the Bank will segregate the assets of each series or portfolio to which this
Agreement relates into a separate account for each such series or portfolio
containing the assets of such series or portfolio (and all investment earnings
thereon).
4. Certification as to Authorized Persons. The Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Fund will at all times maintain on file with the Bank his or
her certification to the Bank, in such form as may be acceptable to the Bank,
of (i) the names and signatures of the Authorized Persons and (ii) the names
of the Board, it being understood that upon the occurrence of any change in
the information set forth in the most recent certification on file (including
without limitation any person named in the most recent certification who is no
longer an Authorized Person as designated therein), the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of the Fund, will sign a new or amended certification setting forth
the change and the new, additional or omitted names or signatures. The Bank
will be entitled to rely and act upon any Officers' Certificate given to it by
the Fund which has been signed by Authorized Persons named in the most recent
certification.
5. Custody of Cash. As custodian for the Fund, the Bank will open and
maintain a separate account or accounts in the name of the Fund or in the name
of the Bank, as Custodian of the Fund, and will deposit to the account of the
Fund all of the cash of the Fund, except for cash held by a subcustodian
appointed pursuant to Section 13.2 hereof, including borrowed funds, delivered
to the Bank, subject only to draft or order by the Bank acting pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. Upon receipt by the Bank of Proper Instructions
(which may be continuing instructions) or in the case of payments for
redemptions and repurchases of outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund,
notification from the Fund's transfer agent as provided in Section 7,
requesting such payment, designating the payee or the account or accounts to
which the Bank will release funds for deposit, and stating that it is for a
purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 5, specifying the applicable
subsection, the Bank will make payments of cash held for the accounts of the
Fund, insofar as funds are available for that purpose, only as permitted in
subsections 5.1-5.9 below.
5.1 Purchase of Securities. Upon the purchase of securities for the
Fund, against contemporaneous receipt of such securities by the Bank or,
against delivery of such securities to the Bank in accordance with generally
accepted settlement practices and customs in the jurisdiction or market in
which the transaction occurs, registered in the name of the Fund or in the
name of, or properly endorsed and in form for transfer to, the Bank, or a
nominee of the Bank, or receipt for the account of the Bank pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6 below, each such payment to be made at the purchase
price shown on a broker's confirmation (or transaction report in the case of
Book Entry Paper) of purchase of the securities received by the Bank before
such payment is made, as confirmed in the Proper Instructions received by the
Bank before such payment is made.
5.2 Redemptions. In such amount as may be necessary for the
repurchase or redemption of common shares of the Fund offered for repurchase
or redemption in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement.
5.3 Distributions and Expenses of Fund. For the payment on the
account of the Fund of dividends or other distributions to shareholders as may
from time to time be declared by the Board, interest, taxes, management or
supervisory fees, distribution fees, fees of the Bank for its services
hereunder and reimbursement of the expenses and liabilities of the Bank as
provided hereunder, fees of any transfer agent, fees for legal, accounting,
and auditing services, or other operating expenses of the Fund.
5.4 Payment in Respect of Securities. For payments in connection
with the conversion, exchange or surrender of Portfolio Securities or
securities subscribed to by the Fund held by or to be delivered to the Bank.
5.5 Repayment of Loans. To repay loans of money made to the Fund,
but, in the case of final payment, only upon redelivery to the Bank of any
Portfolio Securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of
documents evidencing the loan;
5.6 Repayment of Cash. To repay the cash delivered to the Fund for
the purpose of collateralizing the obligation to return to the Fund
certificates borrowed from the Fund representing Portfolio Securities, but
only upon redelivery to the Bank of such borrowed certificates.
5.7 Foreign Exchange Transactions. For payments in connection with
foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies
for spot and future delivery which may be entered into by the Bank on behalf
of the Fund upon the receipt of Proper Instructions, such Proper Instructions
to specify the currency broker or banking institution (which may be the Bank,
or any other subcustodian or agent hereunder, acting as principal) with which
the contract or option is made, and the Bank shall have no duty with respect
to the selection of such currency brokers or banking institutions with which
the Fund deals or for their failure to comply with the terms of any contract
or option.
5.8 Other Authorized Payments. For other authorized transactions of
the Fund, or other obligations of the Fund incurred for proper Fund purposes;
provided that before making any such payment the Bank will also receive a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board signed by an Authorized Person
(other than the Person certifying such resolution) and certified by its
Secretary or Assistant Secretary, naming the person or persons to whom such
payment is to be made, and either describing the transaction for which payment
is to be made and declaring it to be an authorized transaction of the Fund, or
specifying the amount of the obligation for which payment is to be made,
setting forth the purpose for which such obligation was incurred and declaring
such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose.
5.9 Termination. upon the termination of this Agreement as
hereinafter set forth pursuant to Section 8 and Section 14 of this Agreement.
6. Securities.
6.1 Segregation and Registration. Except as otherwise provided
herein, and except for securities to be delivered to any subcustodian
appointed pursuant to Section 13.2 hereof, the Bank as custodian, will receive
and hold pursuant to the provisions hereof, in a separate account or accounts
and physically segregated at all times from those of other persons, any and
all Portfolio Securities which may now or hereafter be delivered to it by or
for the account of the Fund. All such Portfolio Securities will be held or
disposed of by the Bank for, and subject at all times to, the instructions of
the Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Subject to the specific
provisions herein relating to Portfolio Securities that are not physically
held by the Bank, the Bank will register all Portfolio Securities (unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions or an Officers' Certificate), in the
name of a registered nominee of the Bank as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code and any Regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder, and
will execute and deliver all such certificates in connection therewith as may
be required by such laws or regulations or under the laws of any state.
The Fund will from time to time furnish to the Bank appropriate
instruments to enable it to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to
register in the name of its registered nominee, any Portfolio Securities which
may from time to time be registered in the name of the Fund.
6.2 Voting and Proxies. Neither the Bank nor any nominee of the Bank
will vote any of the Portfolio Securities held hereunder, except in accordance
with Proper Instructions or an Officers' Certificate. The Bank will execute
and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Fund all notices,
proxies and proxy soliciting materials with respect to such Securities, such
proxies to be executed by the registered holder of such Securities (if
registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund), but without indicating the
manner in which such proxies are to be voted.
6.3 Book-Entry System. Provided (i) the Bank has received a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving deposits of
Fund assets in the Book-Entry System, and (ii) for any subsequent changes to
such arrangements following such approval, the Board has reviewed and approved
the arrangement and has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank
indicating that the Board has withdrawn its approval:
(a) The Bank may keep Portfolio Securities in the Book-Entry
System provided that such Portfolio Securities are represented in an account
("Account") of the Bank (or its agent) in such System which shall not include
any assets of the Bank (or such agent) other than assets held as a fiduciary,
custodian, or otherwise for customers;
(b) The records of the Bank (and any such agent) with respect to
the Fund's participation in the Book-Entry System through the Bank (or any such
agent) will identify by book entry Portfolio Securities which are included with
other securities deposited in the Account and shall at all times during the
regular business hours of the Bank (or such agent) be open for inspection by
duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund. Where securities are
transferred to the Fund's account, the Bank shall also, by book entry or
otherwise, identify as belonging to the Fund a quantity of securities in
fungible bulk of securities (i) registered in the name of the Bank or its
nominee, or (ii) shown on the Bank's account on the books of the Federal Reserve
Bank;
(c) The Bank (or its agent) shall pay for securities purchased
for the account of the Fund or shall pay cash collateral against the return of
Portfolio Securities loaned by the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the
Book-Entry System that such Securities have been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank (or its agent) to reflect
such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Bank (or its agent)
shall transfer securities sold or loaned for the account of the Fund upon
(i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System that payment
for securities sold or payment of the initial cash collateral against the
delivery of securities loaned by the Fund has been transferred to the Account;
and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank (or its
agent) to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund. Copies
of all advices from the Book-Entry System of transfers of securities for the
account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the
Bank and shall be provided to the Fund at its request. The Bank shall send the
Fund a confirmation, as defined by Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act, of any transfers
to or from the account of the Fund;
(d) The Bank will promptly provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Bank or its agent on the Book-Entry System's accounting system,
internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited
in the Book-Entry System;
(e) The Bank shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to
the Fund resulting from use of the Book-Entry System by reason of any
negligence, willful misfeasance or bad faith of the Bank or any of its agents or
of any of its or their employees or from any reckless disregard by the Bank or
any such agent of its duty to use its best efforts to enforce such rights as it
may have against the Book-Entry System; at the election of the Fund, it shall be
entitled to be subrogated for the Bank in any claim against the Book-Entry
System or any other person which the Bank or its agent may have as a consequence
of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made
whole for any loss or damage;
6.4 Use of a Depository. Provided (i) the Bank has received a certified
copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving deposits in DTC or
other such Depository and (ii) for any subsequent changes to such arrangements
following such approval, the Board has reviewed and approved the arrangement and
has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank indicating that the Board
has withdrawn its approval:
(a) The Bank may use a Depository to hold, receive, exchange,
release, lend, deliver and otherwise deal with Portfolio Securities including
stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature, and to receive and remit
to the Bank on behalf of the Fund all income and other payments thereon and to
take all steps necessary and proper in connection with the collection thereof;
(b) Registration of Portfolio Securities may be made in the
name of any nominee or nominees used by such Depository;
(c) Payment for securities purchased and sold may be made through
the clearing medium employed by such Depository for transactions of participants
acting through it. Upon any purchase of Portfolio Securities, payment will be
made only upon delivery of the securities to or for the account of the Fund and
the Fund shall pay cash collateral against the return of Portfolio Securities
loaned by the Fund only upon delivery of the Securities to or for the account of
the Fund; and upon any sale of Portfolio Securities, delivery of the Securities
will be made only against payment thereof or, in the event Portfolio Securities
are loaned, delivery of Securities will be made only against receipt of the
initial cash collateral to or for the account of the Fund; and
(d) The Bank shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to
the Fund resulting from use of a Depository by reason of any negligence, willful
misfeasance or bad faith of the Bank or its employees or from any reckless
disregard by the Bank of its duty to use its best efforts to enforce such rights
as it may have against a Depository. In this connection, the Bank shall use its
best efforts to ensure that:
(i) The Depository obtains replacement of any certificated
Portfolio Security deposited with it in the event such Security is lost,
destroyed, wrongfully taken or otherwise not available to be returned to the
Bank upon its request;
(ii) Any proxy materials received by a Depository with respect
to Portfolio Securities deposited with such Depository are forwarded immediately
to the Bank for prompt transmittal to the Fund;
(iii) Such Depository immediately forwards to the Bank
confirmation of any purchase or sale of Portfolio Securities and of the
appropriate book entry made by such Depository to the Fund's account;
(iv) Such Depository prepares and delivers to the Bank such
records with respect to the performance of the Bank's obligations and duties
hereunder as may be necessary for the Fund to comply with the recordkeeping
requirements of Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 31(a) thereunder; and
(v) Such Depository delivers to the Bank and the Fund all
internal accounting control reports, whether or not audited by an independent
public accountant, as well as such other reports as the Fund may reasonably
request in order to verify the Portfolio Securities held by such Depository.
6.5 Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. Provided (i) the
Bank has received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically
approving participation in a system maintained by the Bank for the holding of
commercial paper in book-entry form ("Book-Entry Paper") and (ii) for each year
following such approval the Board has received and approved the arrangements,
upon receipt of Proper Instructions and upon receipt of confirmation from an
Issuer (as defined below) that the Fund has purchased such Issuer's Book-entry
Paper, the Bank shall issue and hold in book-entry form, on behalf of the Fund,
commercial paper issued by issuers with whom the Bank has entered into a
book-entry agreement (the "Issuers"). In maintaining its Book-entry Paper
System, the Bank agrees that:
(a) the Bank will maintain all Book-Entry Paper held by the Fund
in an account of the Bank that includes only assets held by it for customers;
(b) the records of the Bank with respect to the Fund's purchase of
Book-entry Paper through the Bank will identify, by book-entry, Commercial Paper
belonging to the Fund which is included in the Book-entry Paper System and shall
at all times during the regular business hours of the Bank be open for
inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund;
(c) the Bank shall pay for Book-Entry Paper purchased for the
account of the Fund upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice from the Issuer
that such sale of Book-Entry Paper has been effected, and (ii) the making of an
entry on the records of the Bank to reflect such payment and transfer for the
account of the Fund;
(d) the Bank shall cancel such Book-Entry Paper obligation upon
the maturity thereof upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice that payment for
such Book-Entry Paper has been transferred to the Fund, and (ii) the making of
an entry on the records of the Bank to reflect such payment for the account of
the Fund;
(e) the Bank shall transmit to the Fund a transaction journal
confirming each transaction in Book-Entry Paper for the account of the Fund on
the next business day following the transaction; and
(f) the Bank will send to the Fund such reports on its system of
internal accounting control with respect to the Book-Entry Paper System as the
Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
6.6 Use of Immobilization Programs. Provided (i) the Bank has
received a certified copy of a resolution of the Board specifically approving
the maintenance of Portfolio Securities in an immobilization program operated by
a bank which meets the requirements of Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act, and
(ii) for each year following such approval the Board has reviewed and approved
the arrangement and has not delivered an Officer's Certificate to the Bank
indicating that the Board has withdrawn its approval, the Bank shall enter into
such immobilization program with such bank acting as a subcustodian hereunder.
6.7 Eurodollar CDs. Any Portfolio Securities which are Eurodollar
CDs may be physically held by the European branch of the U.S. banking
institution that is the issuer of such Eurodollar CD (a "European Branch"),
provided that such Securities are identified on the books of the Bank as
belonging to the Fund and that the books of the Bank identify the European
Branch holding such Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, except as stated in the first sentence of this
subsection 6.7, the Bank shall be under no other duty with respect to such
Eurodollar CDs belonging to the Fund, and shall have no liability to the Fund or
its shareholders with respect to the actions, inactions, whether negligent or
otherwise of such European Branch in connection with such Eurodollar CDs, except
for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from the Bank's own negligence,
willful misfeasance or bad faith in the performance of its duties hereunder.
6.8 Options and Futures Transactions.
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges, NASDAQ or
Over-the-Counter.
1. The Bank shall take action as to put options ("puts") and
call options ("calls") purchased or sold (written) by the Fund regarding escrow
or other arrangements (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
entered into upon receipt of Proper Instructions between the Bank, any
broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), and, if necessary, the
Fund relating to the compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing
Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any
similar organization or organizations.
2. Unless another agreement requires it to do so, the Bank
shall be under no duty or obligation to see that the Fund has deposited or is
maintaining adequate margin, if required, with any broker in connection with any
option, nor shall the Bank be under duty or obligation to present such option to
the broker for exercise unless it receives Proper Instructions from the Fund.
The Bank shall have no responsibility for the legality of any put or call
purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, the propriety of any such purchase or
sale, or the adequacy of any collateral delivered to a broker in connection with
an option or deposited to or withdrawn from a Segregated Account (as defined in
subsection 6.9 below). The Bank specifically, but not by way of limitation,
shall not be under any duty or obligation to: (i) periodically check or notify
the Fund that the amount of such collateral held by a broker or held in a
Segregated Account is sufficient to protect such broker of the Fund against any
loss; (ii) effect the return of any collateral delivered to a broker; or (iii)
advise the Fund that any option it holds, has or is about to expire. Such duties
or obligations shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on Commodities Exchanges
1. The Bank shall take action as to puts, calls and futures
contracts ("Futures") purchased or sold by the Fund in accordance with the
provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Bank and a Futures Commission
Merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance
with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any Contract
Market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits
in connection with transactions by the Fund.
2. The responsibilities and liabilities of the Bank as to
futures, puts and calls traded on commodities exchanges, any Futures Commission
Merchant account and the Segregated Account shall be limited as set forth in
subparagraph (a)(2) of this Section 6.8 as if such subparagraph referred to
Futures Commission Merchants rather than brokers, and Futures and puts and calls
thereon instead of options.
6.9 Segregated Account. The Bank 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 upon
receipt of Proper Instructions cash and/or Portfolio Securities:
(a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Fund, the Bank 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 organizations regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection
with transactions by the Fund;
(b) for the purpose of segregating cash or securities in
connection with options purchased or written by the Fund or commodity futures
purchased or written by the Fund;
(c) for the deposit of liquid assets, such as cash, U.S.
Government securities or other high grade debt obligations, having a market
value (marked to market on a daily basis) at all times equal to not less than
the aggregate purchase price due on the settlement dates of all the Fund's then
outstanding forward commitment or "when-issued" agreements relating to the
purchase of Portfolio Securities and all the Fund's then outstanding commitments
under reverse repurchase agreements entered into with broker-dealer firms;
(d) for the deposit of any Portfolio Securities which the
Fund has agreed to sell on a forward commitment basis, all in accordance with
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666;
(e) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the
procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the maintenance of Segregated Accounts by registered investment
companies;
(f) for other proper corporate purposes, but only, in the case of
this clause (f), upon receipt of, in addition to Proper Instructions, a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board, or of the Executive Committee
signed by an officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such Segregated Account and
declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes.
(g) Assets may be withdrawn from the Segregated Account
pursuant to Proper Instructions only
(i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreements
referenced in (a) or (b) above;
(ii) for sale or delivery to meet the Fund's obligations
under outstanding firm commitment or when-issued agreements for
the purchase of Portfolio Securities and under reverse repurchase
agreements;
(iii) for exchange for other liquid assets of equal or
greater value deposited in the Segregated Account;
(iv) to the extent that the Fund's outstanding forward
commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase of portfolio
securities or reverse repurchase agreements are sold to other
parties or the Fund's obligations thereunder are met from assets
of the Fund other than those in the Segregated Account; or
(v) for delivery upon settlement of a forward commitment
agreement for the sale of Portfolio Securities.
6.10 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits. The Bank shall, upon
receipt of Proper Instructions relating to the purchase by the Fund of
interest-bearing fixed-term and call deposits, transfer cash, by wire or
otherwise, in such amounts and to such bank or banks as shall be indicated in
such Proper Instructions. The Bank shall include in its records with respect to
the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount of each such
deposit, the banking institution with which such deposit is made (the "Deposit
Bank"), and shall retain such forms of advice or receipt evidencing the deposit,
if any, as may be forwarded to the Bank by the Deposit Bank. Such deposits shall
be deemed Portfolio Securities of the Fund and the responsibility of the Bank
therefore shall be the same as and no greater than the Bank's responsibility in
respect of other Portfolio Securities of the Fund.
6.11 Transfer of Securities. The Bank will transfer, exchange, deliver
or release Portfolio Securities held by it hereunder, insofar as such Securities
are available for such purpose, provided that before making any transfer,
exchange, delivery or release under this Section the Bank will receive Proper
Instructions requesting such transfer, exchange or delivery stating that it is
for a purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 6.11, specifying the
applicable subsection, or describing the purpose of the transaction with
sufficient particularity to permit the Bank to ascertain the applicable
subsection, only
(a) upon sales of Portfolio Securities for the account of the
Fund, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of payment therefor in full,
or, against payment to the Bank in accordance with generally accepted settlement
practices and customs in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction
occurs, each such payment to be in the amount of the sale price shown in a
broker's confirmation of sale of the Portfolio Securities received by the Bank
before such payment is made, as confirmed in the Proper Instructions received by
the Bank before such payment is made;
(b) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone
or other securities and cash pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation,
reorganization, share split-up, change in par value, recapitalization or
readjustment or otherwise, upon exercise of subscription, purchase or sale or
other similar rights represented by such Portfolio Securities, or for the
purpose of tendering shares in the event of a tender offer therefor, provided
however that in the event of an offer of exchange, tender offer, or other
exercise of rights requiring the physical tender or delivery of Portfolio
Securities, the Bank shall have no liability for failure to so tender in a
timely manner unless such Proper Instructions are received by the Bank at least
two business days prior to the date required for tender, and unless the Bank (or
its agent or subcustodian hereunder) has actual possession of such Security at
least two business days prior to the date of tender;
(c) upon conversion of Portfolio Securities pursuant to their
terms into other securities;
(d) for the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of the Fund
upon authorization from the Fund;
(e) in the case of option contracts owned by the Fund, for
presentation to the endorsing broker;
(f) when such Portfolio Securities are called, redeemed or
retired or otherwise become payable;
(g) for the purpose of effectuating the pledge of Portfolio
Securities held by the Bank in order to collateralize loans made to the Fund
by any bank, including the Bank; provided, however, that such Portfolio
Securities will be released only upon payment to the Bank for the account of
the Fund of the moneys borrowed, except that in cases where additional
collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, and such fact is
made to appear in the Proper Instructions, further Portfolio Securities may be
released for that purpose without any such payment. In the event that any such
pledged Portfolio Securities are held by the Bank, they will be so held for
the account of the lender, and after notice to the Fund from the lender in
accordance with the normal procedures of the lender, that an event of
deficiency or default on the loan has occurred, the Bank may deliver such
pledged Portfolio Securities to or for the account of the lender;
(h) for the purpose of releasing certificates representing
Portfolio Securities, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of the fair
market value of such security, as set forth in the Proper Instructions
received by the Bank before such payment is made;
(i) for the purpose of delivering securities lent by the Fund
to a bank or broker dealer, but only against receipt in accordance with street
delivery custom except as otherwise provided herein, of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Bank, and upon receipt of
payment in connection with any repurchase agreement relating to such
securities entered into by the Fund;
(j) for other authorized transactions of the Fund or for other
proper corporate purposes; provided that before making such transfer, the Bank
will also receive a certified copy of resolutions of the Board, signed by an
authorized officer of the Fund (other than the officer certifying such
resolution) and certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, specifying
the Portfolio Securities to be delivered, setting forth the transaction in or
purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such transaction to
be an authorized transaction of the Fund or such purpose to be a proper
corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made; and
(k) upon termination of this Agreement as hereinafter set
forth pursuant to Section 8 and Section 14 of this Agreement.
As to any deliveries made by the Bank pursuant to subsections (a), (b),
(c), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) securities or cash receivable in exchange
therefor shall be delivered to the Bank.
7. Redemptions. In the case of payment of assets of the Fund held by
the Bank in connection with redemptions and repurchases by the Fund of
outstanding common shares, the Bank will rely on notification by the Fund's
transfer agent of receipt of a request for redemption and certificates, if
issued, in proper form for redemption before such payment is made. Payment shall
be made in accordance with the Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") and
By-laws of the Fund, from assets available for said purpose.
8. Merger, Dissolution, etc. of Fund. In the case of the following
transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, namely, the merger of the
Fund into or the consolidation of the Fund with another investment company, the
sale by the Fund of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another
investment company, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund and
distribution of its assets, the Bank will deliver the Portfolio Securities held
by it under this Agreement and disburse cash only upon the order of the Fund set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, accompanied by a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board authorizing any of the foregoing transactions. Upon
completion of such delivery and disbursement and the payment of the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Bank, this Agreement will terminate.
9. Actions of Bank Without Prior Authorization.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless and until the Bank
receives an Officers' Certificate to the contrary, it will without prior
authorization or instruction of the Fund or the transfer agent:
9.1 Endorse for collection and collect on behalf of and in the
name of the Fund all checks, drafts, or other negotiable or transferable
instruments or other orders for the payment of money received by it for the
account of the Fund and hold for the account of the Fund all income, dividends,
interest and other payments or distribution of cash with respect to the
Portfolio Securities held thereunder;
9.2 Present for payment all coupons and other income items held by
it for the account of the Fund which call for payment upon presentation and hold
the cash received by it upon such payment for the account of the Fund;
9.3 Receive and hold for the account of the Fund all securities
received as a distribution on Portfolio Securities as a result of a stock
dividend, share split-up, reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, readjustment, distribution of rights and similar securities
issued with respect to any Portfolio Securities held by it hereunder.
9.4 Execute as agent on behalf of the Fund all necessary ownership
and other certificates and affidavits required by the Internal Revenue Code or
the regulations of the Treasury Department issued thereunder, or by the laws of
any state, now or hereafter in effect, inserting the Fund's name on such
certificates as the owner of the securities covered thereby, to the extent it
may lawfully do so and as may be required to obtain payment in respect thereof.
The Bank will execute and deliver such certificates in connection with Portfolio
Securities delivered to it or by it under this Agreement as may be required
under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the
Treasury Department issued thereunder, or under the laws of any state;
9.5 Present for payment all Portfolio Securities which are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable, and hold cash received by it upon
payment for the account of the Fund; and
9.6 Exchange interim receipts or temporary securities for
definitive securities.
10. Collections and Defaults. The Bank will use all reasonable efforts to
collect any funds which may to its knowledge become collectible arising from
Portfolio Securities, including dividends, interest and other income, and to
transmit to the Fund notice actually received by it of any call for redemption,
offer of exchange, right of subscription, reorganization or other proceedings
affecting such Securities. If Portfolio Securities upon which such income is
payable are in default or payment is refused after due demand or presentation,
the Bank will notify the Fund in writing of any default or refusal to pay within
two business days from the day on which it receives knowledge of such default or
refusal. In addition, the Bank will send the Fund a written report once each
month showing any income on any Portfolio Security held by it which is more than
ten days overdue on the date of such report and which has not previously been
reported.
11. Maintenance of Records and Accounting Services. The Bank will maintain
records with respect to transactions for which the Bank is responsible pursuant
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in compliance with the
applicable rules and regulations of the 1940 Act and will furnish the Fund daily
with a statement of condition of the Fund. The Bank will furnish to the Fund at
the end of every month, and at the close of each quarter of the Fund's fiscal
year, a list of the Portfolio Securities and the aggregate amount of cash held
by it for the Fund. The books and records of the Bank pertaining to its actions
under this Agreement and reports by the Bank or its independent accountants
concerning its accounting system, procedures for safeguarding securities and
internal accounting controls will be open to inspection and audit at reasonable
times by officers of or auditors employed by the Fund and will be preserved by
the Bank in the manner and in accordance with the applicable rules and
regulations under the 1940 Act.
The Bank shall keep the books of account and render statements or copies
from time to time as reasonably requested by the Treasurer or any executive
officer of the Fund.
The Bank shall assist generally in the preparation of reports to
shareholders and others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of
like nature.
12. Fund Evaluation. The Bank shall compute and, unless otherwise directed
by the Board, determine as of the close of business on the New York Stock
Exchange on each day on which said Exchange is open for unrestricted trading and
as of such other hours, if any, as may be authorized by the Board the net asset
value and the public offering price of a share of capital stock of the Fund,
such determination to be made in accordance with the provisions of the
Declaration and By-laws of the Fund and Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information relating to the Fund, as they may from time to time be amended, and
any applicable resolutions of the Board at the time in force and applicable; and
promptly to notify the Fund, the proper exchange and the NASD or such other
persons as the Fund may request of the results of such computation and
determination. In computing the net asset value hereunder, the Bank may rely in
good faith upon information furnished to it by any Authorized Person in respect
of (i) the manner of accrual of the liabilities of the Fund and in respect of
liabilities of the Fund not appearing on its books of account kept by the Bank,
(ii) reserves, if any, authorized by the Board or that no such reserves have
been authorized, (iii) the source of the quotations to be used in computing the
net asset value, (iv) the value to be assigned to any security for which no
price quotations are available, and (v) the method of computation of the public
offering price on the basis of the net asset value of the shares, and the Bank
shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by such reliance or for any
good faith reliance on any quotations received from a source pursuant to (iii)
above.
13. Concerning the Bank..
13.1 Performance of Duties and Standard of Care.
In performing its duties hereunder and any other duties listed on any
Schedule hereto, if any, the Bank will be entitled to receive and act upon the
advice of independent counsel of its own selection, which may be counsel for the
Fund, and will be without liability for any action taken or thing done or
omitted to be done in accordance with this Agreement in good faith in conformity
with such advice. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Bank will be
protected and not be liable, and will be indemnified and held harmless for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith reliance upon the terms
of this Agreement, any Officers' Certificate, Proper Instructions, resolution of
the Board, telegram, notice, request, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by the Bank to be genuine and for any other loss to the Fund except in
the case of its negligence, willful misfeasance or bad faith in the performance
of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.
The Bank will be under no duty or obligation to inquire into and will not
be liable for:
(a) the validity of the issue of any Portfolio Securities
purchased by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchases thereof or the
propriety of the price incurred therefor;
(b) the legality of any sale of any Portfolio Securities
by or for the Fund or the propriety of the amount for which the same are
sold;
(c) the legality of an issue or sale of any common shares of the
Fund or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor;
(d) the legality of the repurchase of any common shares of the
Fund or the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor;
(e) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by the Fund
or the legality of the distribution of any Portfolio Securities as payment in
kind of such dividend; and
(f) any property or moneys of the Fund unless and until received
by it, and any such property or moneys delivered or paid by it pursuant to the
terms hereof.
Moreover, the Bank will not be under any duty or obligation to ascertain
whether any Portfolio Securities at any time delivered to or held by it for the
account of the Fund are such as may properly be held by the Fund under the
provisions of its Declaration, By-laws, any federal or state statutes or any
rule or regulation of any governmental agency.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event
shall the Bank be liable hereunder or to any third party:
(a) for any losses or damages of any kind resulting from acts of
God, earthquakes, fires, floods, storms or other disturbances of nature,
epidemics, strikes, riots, nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, acts of war, civil war or terrorism, insurrection, nuclear fusion,
fission or radiation, the interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities,
transportation, or computers (hardware or software) and computer facilities, the
unavailability of energy sources and other similar happenings or events except
as results from the Bank's own gross negligence; or
(b) for special, punitive or consequential damages arising from
the provision of services hereunder, even if the Bank has been advised of the
possibility of such damages.
13.2 Agents and Subcustodians with Respect to Property of the Fund Held
in the United States. The Bank may employ agents in the performance of its
duties hereunder and shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of such
agents as if performed by the Bank hereunder.
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Bank may employ certain
subcustodians, provided that any such subcustodian meets at least the minimum
qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian of the Fund's assets with respect to property of the Fund held in the
United States. The Bank shall have no liability to the Fund or any other person
by reason of any act or omission of such subcustodian and the Fund shall
indemnify the Bank and hold it harmless from and against any and all actions,
suits and claims, arising directly or indirectly out of the performance of such
subcustodian. Upon request of the Bank, the Fund shall assume the entire defense
of any action, suit, or claim subject to the foregoing indemnity. The Fund shall
pay all fees and expenses of such subcustodian.
13.3 Duties of the Bank with Respect to Property of the Fund
Held Outside of the United States.
(a) Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians. The Fund hereby
authorizes and instructs the Bank to employ as sub-custodians for the Fund's
Portfolio Securities and other assets maintained outside the United States the
foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated on
the Schedule attached hereto (each, a "Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian"). Upon
receipt of Proper Instructions, together with a certified resolution of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, the Bank and the Fund may agree to designate
additional foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories to
act as Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians hereunder. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, the Fund may instruct the Bank to cease the employment of any one
or more such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians for maintaining custody of the
Fund's assets, and the Bank shall so cease to employ such sub-custodian as soon
as alternate custodial arrangements have been implemented.
(b) Foreign Securities Depositories. Except as may otherwise be
agreed upon in writing by the Bank and the Fund, assets of the Fund shall be
maintained in foreign securities depositories only through arrangements
implemented by the foreign banking institutions serving as Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodians pursuant to the terms hereof. Where possible, such arrangements
shall include entry into agreements containing the provisions set forth in
subparagraph (d) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as may
otherwise be agreed upon in writing by the Bank and the Fund, the Fund
authorizes the deposit in Euro-clear, the securities clearance and depository
facilities operated by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Guaranty Trust Company of New York in Brussels,
Belgium, of Foreign Portfolio Securities eligible for deposit therein and to
utilize such securities depository in connection with settlements of purchases
and sales of securities and deliveries and returns of securities, until
notified to the contrary pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereunder.
(c) Segregation of Securities. The Bank shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Fund the Foreign Portfolio Securities held by each
Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian. Each agreement pursuant to which the Bank
employs a foreign banking institution shall require that such institution
establish a custody account for the Bank and hold in that account, Foreign
Portfolio Securities and other assets of the Fund, and, in the event that such
institution deposits Foreign Portfolio Securities in a foreign securities
depository, that it shall identify on its books as belonging to the Bank the
securities so deposited.
(d) Agreements with Foreign Banking Institutions. Each of the
agreements pursuant to which a foreign banking institution holds assets of the
Fund (each, a "Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement") shall be substantially in the
form previously made available to the Fund and shall provide that: (a) the
Fund's assets will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest,
lien or claim of any kind in favor of the foreign banking institution or its
creditors or agent, except a claim of payment for their safe custody or
administration (including, without limitation, any fees or taxes payable upon
transfers or reregistration of securities); (b) beneficial ownership of the
Fund's assets will be freely transferable without the payment of money or
value other than for custody or administration (including, without limitation,
any fees or taxes payable upon transfers or reregistration of securities); (c)
adequate records will be maintained identifying the assets as belonging to
Bank; (d) officers of or auditors employed by, or other representatives of the
Bank, including to the extent permitted under applicable law, the independent
public accountants for the Fund, will be given access to the books and records
of the foreign banking institution relating to its actions under its agreement
with the Bank; and (e) assets of the Fund held by the Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodian will be subject only to the instructions of the Bank or its
agents.
(e) Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon request
of the Fund, the Bank will use its best efforts to arrange for the independent
accountants of the Fund to be afforded access to the books and records of any
foreign banking institution employed as a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian
insofar as such books and records relate to the performance of such foreign
banking institution under its Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement.
(f) Reports by Bank. The Bank will supply to the Fund from time
to time, as mutually agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and
other assets of the Fund held by Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians, including
but not limited to an identification of entities having possession of the
Foreign Portfolio Securities and other assets of the Fund.
(g) Transactions in Foreign Custody Account. Transactions with
respect to the assets of the Fund held by a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian
shall be effected pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund to the Bank
and shall be effected in accordance with the applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian
Agreement. If at any time any Foreign Portfolio Securities shall be registered
in the name of the nominee of the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian, the Fund
agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability by reason of the
registration of such securities in the name of such nominee.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
settlement and payment for Foreign Portfolio Securities received for the
account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Portfolio Securities maintained
for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or securities processing practices and
procedures in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction occurs,
including, without limitation, delivering securities to the purchaser thereof
or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) against a
receipt with the expectation of receiving later payment for such securities
from such purchaser or dealer.
In connection with any action to be taken with respect to the
Foreign Portfolio Securities held hereunder, including, without limitation,
the exercise of any voting rights, subscription rights, redemption rights,
exchange rights, conversion rights or tender rights, or any other action in
connection with any other right, interest or privilege with respect to such
Securities (collectively, the "Rights"), the Bank shall promptly transmit to
the Fund such information in connection therewith as is made available to the
Bank by the Foreign Sub-Custodian, and shall promptly forward to the
applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian any instructions, forms or certifications
with respect to such Rights, and any instructions relating to the actions to
be taken in connection therewith, as the Bank shall receive from the Fund
pursuant to Proper Instructions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank shall
have no further duty or obligation with respect to such Rights, including,
without limitation, the determination of whether the Fund is entitled to
participate in such Rights under applicable U.S. and foreign laws, or the
determination of whether any action proposed to be taken with respect to such
Rights by the Fund or by the applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian will comply with
all applicable terms and conditions of any such Rights or any applicable laws
or regulations, or market practices within the market in which such action is
to be taken or omitted.
(h) Liability of Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each Foreign
Sub-Custodian Agreement with a foreign banking institution shall require the
institution to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and
to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Bank and each Fund from and against
certain losses, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or claims arising out of
or in connection with the institution's performance of such obligations, all
as set forth in the applicable Foreign Sub-Custodian Agreement. The Fund
acknowledges that the Bank, as a participant in Euro-clear, is subject to the
Terms and Conditions Governing the Euro-Clear System, a copy of which has been
made available to the Fund. The Fund acknowledges that pursuant to such Terms
and Conditions, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Guaranty Brussels shall have the sole right to exercise
or assert any and all rights or claims in respect of actions or omissions of,
or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, any other depository, clearance system or
custodian utilized by Euro-clear in connection with the Fund's securities and
other assets.
(i) Liability of Bank. The Bank shall have no more or less
responsibility or liability on account of the acts or omissions of any
Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian employed hereunder than any such Selected
Foreign Sub-Custodian has to the Bank and, without limiting the foregoing, the
Bank shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or
acts of war or terrorism, political risk (including, but not limited to,
exchange control restrictions, confiscation, insurrection, civil strife or
armed hostilities) other losses due to Acts of God, nuclear incident or any
loss where the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian has otherwise exercised
reasonable care.
(j) Monitoring Responsibilities. The Bank shall furnish
annually to the Fund, information concerning the Selected Foreign
Sub-Custodians employed hereunder for use by the Fund in evaluating such
Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians to ensure compliance with the requirements of
Rule 17f-5 of the Act. In addition, the Bank will promptly inform the Fund in
the event that the Bank is notified by a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian that
there appears to be a substantial likelihood that its shareholders' equity
will decline below $200 million (U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof) or
that its shareholders' equity has declined below $200 million (in each case
computed in accordance with generally accepted U.S. accounting principles) or
any other capital adequacy test applicable to it by exemptive order, or if the
Bank has actual knowledge of any material loss of the assets of the Fund held
by a Foreign Sub-Custodian.
(k) Tax Law. The Bank shall have no responsibility or liability
for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Bank as
custodian of the Fund by the tax laws of any jurisdiction, and it shall be the
responsibility of the Fund to notify the Bank of the obligations imposed on
the Fund or the Bank as the custodian of the Fund by the tax law of any
non-U.S. jurisdiction, 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
jurisdictions for which the Fund has provided such information.
13.4 Insurance. The Bank shall use the same care with respect to the
safekeeping of Portfolio Securities and cash of the Fund held by it as it uses
in respect of its own similar property but it need not maintain any special
insurance for the benefit of the Fund.
13.5. Fees and Expenses of Bank. The Fund will pay or reimburse the
Bank from time to time for any transfer taxes payable upon transfer of Portfolio
Securities made hereunder, and for all necessary proper disbursements, expenses
and charges made or incurred by the Bank in the performance of this Agreement
(including any duties listed on any Schedule hereto, if any) including any
indemnities for any loss, liabilities or expense to the Bank as provided above.
For the services rendered by the Bank hereunder, the Fund will pay to the Bank
such compensation or fees at such rate and at such times as shall be agreed upon
in writing by the parties from time to time. The Bank will also be entitled to
reimbursement by the Fund for all reasonable expenses incurred in conjunction
with termination of this Agreement by the Fund.
13.6 Advances by Bank. The Bank may, in its sole discretion, advance
funds on behalf of the Fund to make any payment permitted by this Agreement upon
receipt of any proper authorization required by this Agreement for such payments
by the Fund. Should such a payment or payments, with advanced funds, result in
an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of the Fund's account with the Bank, or for
any other reason) this Agreement deems any such overdraft or related
indebtedness, a loan made by the Bank to the Fund payable on demand and bearing
interest at the current rate charged by the Bank for such loans unless the Fund
shall provide the Bank with agreed upon compensating balances. The Fund agrees
that the Bank shall have a continuing lien and security interest to the extent
of any overdraft or indebtedness, in and to any property at any time held by it
for the Fund's benefit or in which the Fund has an interest and which is then in
the Bank's possession or control (or in the possession or control of any third
party acting on the Bank's behalf). The Fund authorizes the Bank, in its sole
discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with
interest due thereon against any balance of account standing to the credit of
the Fund on the Bank's books.
14. Termination.
14.1 This Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty upon
sixty days written notice delivered by either party to the other by means of
registered mail, and upon the expiration of such sixty days this Agreement will
terminate; provided, however, that the effective date of such termination may be
postponed to a date not more than ninety days from the date of delivery of such
notice (i) by the Bank in order to prepare for the transfer by the Bank of all
of the assets of the Fund held hereunder, and (ii) by the Fund in order to give
the Fund an opportunity to make suitable arrangements for a successor custodian.
At any time after the termination of this Agreement, the Fund will, at its
request, have access to the records of the Bank relating to the performance of
its duties as custodian.
14.2 In the event of the termination of this Agreement, the Bank will
immediately upon receipt or transmittal, as the case may be, of notice of
termination, commence and prosecute diligently to completion the transfer of all
cash and the delivery of all Portfolio Securities duly endorsed and all records
maintained under Section 11 to the successor custodian when appointed by the
Fund. The obligation of the Bank to deliver and transfer over the assets of the
Fund held by it directly to such successor custodian will commence as soon as
such successor is appointed and will continue until completed as aforesaid. If
the Fund does not select a successor custodian within ninety (90) days from the
date of delivery of notice of termination the Bank may, subject to the
provisions of subsection (14.3), deliver the Portfolio Securities and cash of
the Fund held by the Bank to a bank or trust company of its own selection which
meets the requirements of Section 17(f)(1) of the 1940 Act and has a reported
capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating not less than $2,000,000, to
be held as the property of the Fund under terms similar to those on which they
were held by the Bank, whereupon such bank or trust company so selected by the
Bank will become the successor custodian of such assets of the Fund with the
same effect as though selected by the Board.
14.3 Prior to the expiration of ninety (90) days after notice of
termination has been given, the Fund may furnish the Bank with an order of the
Fund advising that a successor custodian cannot be found willing and able to act
upon reasonable and customary terms and that there has been submitted to the
shareholders of the Fund the question of whether the Fund will be liquidated or
will function without a custodian for the assets of the Fund held by the Bank.
In that event the Bank will deliver the Portfolio Securities and cash of the
Fund held by it, subject as aforesaid, in accordance with one of such
alternatives which may be approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, upon
receipt by the Bank of a copy of the minutes of the meeting of shareholders at
which action was taken, certified by the Fund's Secretary and an opinion of
counsel to the Fund in form and content satisfactory to the Bank.
15. Confidentiality. Both parties hereto agree than any non-public
information obtained hereunder concerning the other party is confidential and
may not be disclosed to any other person without the consent of the other party,
except as may be required by applicable law or at the request of a governmental
agency. The parties further agree that a breach of this provision would
irreparably damage the other party and accordingly agree that each of them is
entitled, without bond or other security, to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent breaches of this provision.
16. Notices. Any notice or other instrument in writing authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given to either party hereto will be
sufficiently given if addressed to such party and mailed or delivered to it at
its office at the address set forth below; namely:
(a) In the case of notices sent to the Fund to:
BJB Investment Funds
c/o Bank ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
(b) In the case of notices sent to the Bank to:
Investors Bank & Trust Company
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
or at such other place as such party may from time to time designate in
writing.
17. Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered or amended,
except by an instrument in writing, executed by both parties, and in the case
of the Fund, such alteration or amendment will be authorized and approved
by its Board.
18. Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that this Agreement will not be assignable by the Fund
without the written consent of the Bank or by the Bank without the written
consent of the Fund, authorized and approved by its Board; and provided
further that termination proceedings pursuant to Section 14 hereof will not be
deemed to be an assignment within the meaning of this provision.
19. Liabilities of Officers and Trustees. This Agreement has been
executed on behalf of the Fund by the undersigned officer of the Fund solely
in such officer's capacity as an officer of the Fund. The obligations of this
Agreement shall be binding on the assets and property of the Fund only and
shall not be binding upon any trustee, officer or shareholder of the Fund
individually.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement and all performance hereunder
will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such
counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day
and year first written above.
BJB Investment Funds
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: CFO
ATTEST:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Investors Bank & Trust Company
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
ATTEST:
-----------------------------
DATE:
----------------------