CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Contract between ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Institutional Floating
Rate Income Fund, a business trust organized and existing
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereinafter
called the "Fund", and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a
Massachusetts trust company, hereinafter called the "Custodian",
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian
of its assets, including securities which it desires to be held in
places within the United States ("domestic securities") pursuant
to the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust. The Fund
agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash owned
by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal or
capital distributions received by it with respect to all
securities owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash
consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of
capital stock ("Shares") of the Fund, as may be issued from time
to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property
of the Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the
Custodian. 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) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (the "▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Funds") the holding of confirmation statements that identify
shares as being recorded in the Custodian's name on behalf of the
Fund will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.
Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (within the
meaning of Article 5), the Custodian shall 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, 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-custodians for the Fund's securities and other
assets the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities
depositories designated in Schedule "A" hereto but only in
accordance with the provisions of Article 3.
2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the
Fund Held By the Custodian in the United States
2.1 Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and
physically segregate for the account of the Fund
all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United
States including all domestic securities owned by
the Fund, other than (a) securities which are
maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 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 and certain federal agencies (each, a U.S.
Securities System") (b) commercial paper of an issuer for
which the Custodian acts as issuing and paying agent ("Direct
Paper") which is deposited and/or maintained in the Direct
Paper System of the Custodian (the "Direct Paper System")
pursuant to Section 2.11; and (c) the Underlying Shares owned
by the Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10A in
an account with Liberty Funds Services, Inc. or such other
entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent
for the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Funds and with respect to which the
Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the "▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ Transfer Agent").
2.2 Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release
and deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund 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") only upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when
deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the
following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the
Fund and receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any
repurchase agreement related to such securities
entered into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S.
Securities System, in accordance with the provisions
of Section 2.10 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or
other similar offers for portfolio securities of the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such
securities are called, redeemed, retired or
otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such
case, the cash or other consideration is to be
delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer
into the name of the Fund or into the name of
any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the
name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant
to Section 2.9 or into the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1;
or for exchange for a different number of bonds,
certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units; provided
that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of
the Fund, to the broker or its clearing agent,
against a receipt, for examination in accordance
with "street delivery" custom; provided that in any
such case, the Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any loss arising
from the delivery of such securities prior to
receiving payment for such securities except as may
arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of
merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reorganization or readjustment of the securities of
the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such
securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities
and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the
Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar
securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of
such warrants, rights or similar securities or the
surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities; provided that,
in any such case, the new securities and cash, if
any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of
securities made by the Fund, but only against
receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon from
time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or
obligations issued by the United States government,
its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to
be credited to the Custodian's account in the book-
entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of
the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable
or responsible for the delivery of securities owned
by the Fund prior to the receipt of such
collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any
borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets
by the Fund, but only against receipt of amounts
borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of
any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and a
member of The National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to compliance with
the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of
any registered national securities exchange, or of
any similar organization or organizations, regarding
escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of
any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a
Futures Commission Merchant registered under the
Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with
the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission and/or any contract market, or any
similar organization or organizations, regarding
account deposits in connection with transactions by
the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent
("Transfer Agent") for the Fund, for delivery to
such Transfer Agent or to the holders of shares in
connection with distributions in kind, as may be
described from time to time in the Fund's currently
effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("Prospectus"), in satisfaction of requests by
holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;
15) In the case of a sale processed through the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with
Section 2.10A hereof; and
16) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only
upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the securities to be delivered setting forth
the purpose for which such delivery is to be made,
declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose,
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
2.3 Registration of Securities. Domestic securities held
by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall
be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name
of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the
Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively
to the Fund, unless the Fund has authorized in writing
the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with
other registered investment companies having the same
investment adviser as the Fund, or in the name or
nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section
2.9 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian
appointed pursuant to Article 1. All securities
accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under
the terms of this Contract shall be in "street name" or
other good delivery form. 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.
2.4 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the United States
in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order
by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this
Contract, and shall hold in such account or accounts,
subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by
it from or for the account of the Fund, other than cash
maintained by the Fund in a bank account established
and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the
Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its
credit as Custodian in the Banking Department of the
Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as
it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable;
provided, however, that every such bank or trust
company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that each such
bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited
with each such bank or trust company shall be approved by
vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its
capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the
Custodian only in that capacity.
2.5 Availability of Federal Funds. Upon mutual agreement
between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian
shall, upon the receipt of Proper Instructions,
make federal funds available to the Fund as of
specified times agreed upon from time to time by the
Fund and the Custodian in the amount of checks received
in payment for Shares of the Fund which are deposited
into the Fund's account.
2.6 Collection of Income. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely
basis all income and other payments with respect to
United States registered securities held hereunder to which
the Fund shall be entitled either by law or
pursuant to custom in the securities business, and
shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
payments with respect to United States bearer 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 Fund's
custodian account. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present
for payment all coupons and other income items
requiring presentation as and when they become due and
shall collect interest when due on securities held
hereunder. Income due the Fund on United States securities
loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall
be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will
have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith,
other than to provide the Fund with such information or
data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in
arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of
the income to which the Fund is properly entitled.
2.7 Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing
instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties,
the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the
following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options,
futures contracts or options on futures contracts
for the account of the Fund but only (a) against the
delivery of such securities or evidence of title to
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
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to act
as a custodian and has been designated by the
Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered
in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee
of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof
or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a
purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System,
in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.10 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase
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 2.11; (e) in the
case of repurchase agreements entered into between the
Fund and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-
dealer which is a member of the NASD, (i) against delivery
of the securities either in certificate form or through an
entry crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal
Reserve Bank with such securities or(ii) against delivery
of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of
securities owned by the Custodian along with written
evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase
such securities from the Fund or (f) for transfer to a
time deposit account of the fund in any bank, whether
domestic of 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 in Article 5;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender
of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in
Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued by
the Fund as set forth in Article 4 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred
by the Fund, including but not limited to the
following payments for the account of the Fund:
interest, taxes, management, accounting, transfer
agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the
Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole
or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in
respect of securities sold short;
7) For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt
of 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
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such
payment is to be made.
2.8 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of
Securities Purchased. Except as specifically stated
otherwise in this Contract, in any and every case where
payment for purchase of domestic securities for the
account of the Fund is made by the Custodian in
advance of receipt of the securities purchased in the
absence of specific written instructions from the Fund
to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely
liable to the Fund for such securities to the same
extent as if the securities had been received by the
Custodian.
2.9 Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time
or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time
remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself
qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry
out such of the provisions of this Article 2 as the
Custodian may from time to time direct; provided,
however, that the appointment of any agent shall not
relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or
liabilities hereunder. The ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent shall
not be deemed an agent or subcustodian of the Custodian for
purposes of this Section 2.9 or any other provision of this
Contract.
2.10 Deposit of Securities in U.S. Securities Systems.
The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic securities
owned by the Fund in a clearing agency registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
which acts as a securities depository, or in the book-
entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury and certain federal agencies, collectively
referred to herein as "U.S. Securities System" in
accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and
regulations, if any, and subject to the following
provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in
a U.S. Securities System provided that such
securities are represented in an account ("Account")
of the Custodian in the U.S. Securities System which
shall not include any assets of the Custodian other
than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or
otherwise for customers;
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to domestic
securities of the Fund which are maintained in a
U.S. Securities System shall identify by book-entry
those securities belonging to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for
the account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of
advice from the U.S. Securities System that such
securities have been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for
the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall tranfer
domestic securities sold for the account of the
Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the U.S.
Securities System that payment for such securities
has been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the
making of an entry on the records of the Custodian
to reflect such transfer and payment for the account
of the Fund. Copies of all advices from the U.S.
Securities System of transfers of domestic securities for
the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be
maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be
provided to the Fund at its request. Upon request,
the Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of
each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in
the form of a written advice or notice and shall
furnish to the Fund copies of daily transaction
sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the
U.S. Securities System for the account of the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Custodian on the U.S. Securities
System's accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding domestic
securities deposited in the U.S. Securities System;
5) Anything to the contrary in this Contract
notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to
the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund
resulting from use of the 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 Fund has not
been made whole for any such loss or damage.
2.10A Deposit of Fund Assets with the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent.
Underlying Shares shall be deposited and/or maintained in an
account or accounts maintained with the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer
Agent. The ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ 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
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent, subject to the following
provisions:
1) The Custodian shall keep Underlying Shares owned by the
Fund with the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent provided that such
securities are maintained in an account or accounts on the
books and records of the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent in the
name of the Custodian as custodian for the Fund.
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to Underlying
Shares which are maintained with the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer
Agent shall identify by book-entry those Underlying Shares
belonging to the Fund;
3) The Custodian shall pay for Underlying Shares purchased
for the account of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice
from the Fund's investment adviser that such Underlying
Shares have been purchased and will be transferred to the
account of the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, on the
books and records of the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ 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 Fund. The Custodian shall receive
confirmation from the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent of the
purchase of such securities and the transfer of such
securities to the Custodian's account with the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Transfer Agent only after such payment is made. The
Custodian shall transfer Underlying Shares redeemed for
the account of the Fund (i) upon receipt of an advice from
the Fund'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 Fund. The
Custodian will receive confirmations from the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Transfer Agent of the redemption of such securities and
payment therefor only after such securities are redeemed.
Copies of all advices from the Fund's investment adviser
of purchases and sales of Underlying Shares for the
account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained
for the Fund by the Custodian, and be provided to the
investment adviser at its request;
4) The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss
or damage to the Fund resulting from maintenance of
Underlying Shares with ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ 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.
2.11 Fund Assets Held in the Custodian's Direct Paper
System. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain
securities owned by the Fund 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;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in
the Direct Paper System only if such securities are
represented in an account ("Account") of the
Custodian in the Direct Paper System which 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 Fund which are maintained in
the Direct Paper System shall identify by book-entry
those securities belonging to the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for
the account of the Fund upon the making of an
entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect
such payment and transfer of securities to the
account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer
securities sold for the account of the Fund upon
the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt of
payment for the account of the Fund;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of
each transfer to or from the account of the Fund, in
the form of a written advice or notice, of Direct
Paper on the next business day following such
transfer and shall furnish to the Fund copies of
daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's
transaction in the U.S. Securities System for the
account of the Fund;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
on its system of internal accounting control as the
Fund may reasonably request from time to time.
2.12 Segregated Account. The Custodian shall upon receipt
of Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated
account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which
account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or
securities, including securities maintained in an account by
the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, (i) in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the
Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures
commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange
Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission or any registered contract market), or of any
similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or
other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government
securities in connection with options purchased, sold or
written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options
thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes
of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent
release or releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by
registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper
corporate purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv),
upon receipt of Proper Instructions setting forth the purpose
or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such
purposes to be proper corporate purposes.
2.13 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 the Fund held by
it and in connection with transfers of securities.
2.14 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 Fund or a nominee of the Fund,
all proxies, without indication of the manner in which
such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly
deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting
materials and all notices relating to such securities.
2.15 Communications Relating to Portfolio Securities.
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund for the Fund
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 and the maturity of futures contracts
purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the
Custodian from issuers of the domestic securities being held
for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers,
the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all
written information received by the Custodian from
issuers of the domestic securities whose tender or exchange
is sought and from the party (or his agents) making the
tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires to take
action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer
or any other similar transaction, the Fund shall notify
the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action.
2.16 Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants. The
Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund
may reasonably require, with reports by independent public
accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures
contracts and options on futures contracts, including
domestic securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S.
Securities System, relating to the services provided by the
Custodian under this Contract; 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.
3. [Reserved]
4. Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares of the Fund
From such funds as may be available for the purpose but
subject to the limitations of the Declaration of Trust and
any applicable votes of the Board of Trustees of the Fund
pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available
each quarter for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered
to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of
their Shares. In connection with the redemption or
repurchase of Shares of the Fund, the Custodian is
authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer
Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank
designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection
with the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund, the
Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a
holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the
Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in
accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually
agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the
Fund's Shares or from the Transfer Agent of the Fund and deposit
into the Fund's account such payments as are received for Shares
of the Fund issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The
Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the
Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the
Fund.
5. Proper Instructions
Proper Instructions as used herein means a writing signed or
initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board of
Trustees shall have from time to time authorized. Each such
writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type of
transaction involved, including a specific statement of the
purpose for which such action is requested. Oral instructions
will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably
believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give
such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The
Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in
writing. Proper Instructions may include communications effected
directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices
provided that the instructions are consistent with the security
procedures agreed to by the Fund and the Custodian including, but
not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund on
the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Contract. 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 2.12.
6. Actions Permitted without Express Authority
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express
authority from the Fund:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses
of handling securities or other similar items
relating to its duties under this Contract, provided
that all such payments shall be accounted for to the
Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for
securities in definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund,
checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details
in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution,
purchase, transfer and other dealings with the
securities and property of the Fund except as
otherwise directed by the Board of Trustees of the
Fund.
7. Evidence of Authority
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any
instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have
been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The
Custodian may receive and accept a certified copy of a vote
of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as conclusive evidence
(a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with
such vote or (b) of any determination or of any action by
the Board of Trustees pursuant to the Declaration of Trust
as described in such vote, and such vote may be considered
as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian
of written notice to the contrary.
8. Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of
Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary
information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board
of Trustees of the Fund to keep the books of account of the
Fund and/or compute the net asset value per share of the
outstanding shares of the Fund or, if directed in writing to
do so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of account
and/or compute such net asset value per share. If so
directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net
income of the Fund as described in the Fund's currently
effective prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer
Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if
instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall
advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net
income among its various components. The Fund acknowledges and
agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ Transfer Agent, the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent is the sole
source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by it
on behalf of the Fund and that the Custodian has the right to rely
on holdings information furnished by the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent
to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Contract,
including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section
8 and in Section 9 hereof; provided, however, that the Custodian
shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchase and
sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and
confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any
discrepancies to the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent. The calculations
of the net asset value per share and the daily income of the Fund
shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in
the Fund's currently effective prospectus.
9. Records
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating
to its activities and obligations under this Contract in such
manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, with 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
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Custodian shall, at
the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of
securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian
and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such
compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and
the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such
tabulations.
10. Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the
Fund may from time to time request, to obtain from year to
year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent
accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in
connection with the preparation of the Fund's Form N-1A, and
Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the Securities and
Exchange Commission and with respect to any other
requirements of such Commission.
11. Compensation of Custodian
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as
agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
12. Responsibility of Custodian
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise
of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible
for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or
evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it
pursuant to this Contract and shall be held harmless in
acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or
other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and
to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any
futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of
a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian
shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying
out the provisions of this Contract, but shall be kept
indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund
for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without
negligence. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act
upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on
all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
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, nationalization or expropriation, imposition of
currency controls or restrictions, 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, acts of war or terrorism, riots,
revolutions, 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
Contract; (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 banking institution to the same extent as set
forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this
Contract.
If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action
with respect to securities, which action involves the
payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the
Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned
to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or
incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a
prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and
form satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, 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
Contract, except such as may arise from its or its nominee's
own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful
misconduct, any property at any time held for the account of
the Fund shall be security therefor and should the Fund
fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be
entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the
Fund assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect,
special or consequential damages.
13. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment
This Contract shall become effective as of its
execution, shall continue in full force and effect until
terminated as hereinafter provided, may be amended at any
time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party,
such termination to take effect not sooner than thirty (30)
days after the date of such delivery or mailing; provided,
however that the Fund shall not amend or terminate
this Contract in contravention of any applicable federal or
state regulations, or any provision of the Declaration of
Trust, and further provided, that the Fund may at any time
by action of its Board of Trustees (i) substitute another
bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as
described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately
terminate this Contract in the event of the appointment of a
conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller
of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the
direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of
competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund shall pay to
the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date
of such termination and shall likewise reimburse the
Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
14. Successor Custodian
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon termination,
deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the
Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all
securities then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an
account of the successor custodian all of the Fund's securities
held in a Securities System or at the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the
Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of a certified
copy of a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, deliver
at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities,
funds and other properties in accordance with such vote.
In the event that no written order designating a
successor custodian or certified copy of a vote of the Board
of Trustees shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or
before the date when such termination shall become
effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to
deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, doing
business in Boston, Massachusetts, of its own selection,
having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided
profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less
than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties
held by the Custodian and all instruments held by the Custodian
relative thereto and all other property held by it under this
Contract and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian
all of the Fund's securities held in any Securities System or at
the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust
company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this
Contract.
In the event that securities, funds and other
properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after
the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund
to procure the certified copy of the vote referred to or of
the Board of Trustees to appoint a successor custodian, the
Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its
services during such period as the Custodian retains
possession of such securities, funds and other properties
and the provisions of this Contract relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force
and effect.
15. Interpretive and Additional Provisions
In connection with the operation of this Contract, the
Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such
provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions
of this Contract as may in their joint opinion be consistent
with the general tenor of this Contract. Any such
interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing
signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided
that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall
contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or
any provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund. No
interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in
the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of
this Contract.
16. Massachusetts Law to Apply
This Contract shall be construed and the provisions
thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
17. Prior Contracts
This Contract supersedes and terminates, as of the date
hereof, all prior contracts between the Fund and the
Custodian relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.
18. Reproduction of Documents
This Contract and all schedules, exhibits, attachments
and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic,
photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic
or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree
that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence
as the original itself in any judicial or administrative
proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and
whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the
regular course of business, and that any enlargement,
facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence.
19. Shareholder Communications Election
Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 14b-2 requires
banks which hold securities for the account of customers to
respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names,
addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of
that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has
expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In
order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund
to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide
the Fund's name, address, and share position to requesting
companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund
tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide
this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells
the Custodian "yes" or does not check either "yes" or "no"
below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the
Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established
by the Fund. For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the
requesting company from using the Fund's name and address
for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please
indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by
checking one of the alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's
name, address, and share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the
Fund's name, address, and share positions.
20. Data Access Services Addendum
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of
the Data Access Services Addendum attached hereto.
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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 the 17th day of December, 1998.
ATTEST ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ INSTITUTIONAL FLOATING RATE
INCOME FUND
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Assistant Secretary President
ATTEST STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By [SIGNATURE]
Executive Vice President