Exhibit (j)(1)
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND
October 17, 2005
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Credit Opportunities Fund hereby adopts and agrees to become a party
to the attached Custodian Agreement as amended and extended with Investors Bank
& Trust Company.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Treasurer, and not Individually
Accepted and agreed to:
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Managing Director
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
between
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP OF FUNDS
and
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Definitions......................................................... 1-2
2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be held by it............... 2-3
3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to
Property of the Fund................................................ 3
A. Safekeeping and Holding of Property.............................. 3
B. Delivery of Securities........................................... 3-6
C. Registration of Securities....................................... 6
D. Bank Accounts.................................................... 6
E. Payments for Shares of the Fund.................................. 6
F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds..................... 7
G. Collections...................................................... 7
H. Payment of Fund Moneys........................................... 8-9
I. Liability for Payment in Advance of
Receipt of Securities Purchased.................................. 9
J. Payments for Repurchases of Redemptions
of Shares of the Fund............................................ 9
K. Appointment of Agents by the Custodian........................... 10
L. Deposit of Fund Portfolio Securities in Securities Systems....... 10-12
M. Deposit of Fund Commercial Paper in an Approved Book-Entry
System for Commercial Paper...................................... 12-13
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Account............................................... 14
O. Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes.......................... 14
P. Proxies.......................................................... 14
Q. Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities............. 14
R. Exercise of Rights; Tender Offers................................ 15
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S. Depository Receipts.............................................. 15
T. Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits........................... 15-16
U. Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions..... 16-17
V. Actions Permitted Without Express Authority...................... 17
4. Duties of Bank with Respect to Books of Account and
Calculations of Net Asset Value..................................... 18
5. Records and Miscellaneous Duties.................................... 18
6. Opinion of Fund`s Independent Public Accountants.................... 19
7. Compensation and Expenses of Bank................................... 19
8. Responsibility of Bank.............................................. 19-20
9. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Fund......................... 20
10. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment; Successor Custodian.... 21
11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions.............................. 21
12. Notices............................................................. 21
13. Massachusetts Law to Apply.......................................... 21-22
14. Adoption of the Agreement by the Fund............................... 22
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MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between each investment company advised by ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ Management which has adopted this Agreement in the manner provided herein
and Investors Bank & Trust Company (hereinafter called "Bank", "Custodian" and
"Agent"), a trust company established under the laws of Massachusetts with a
principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Whereas, each such investment company is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and has appointed the Bank to act as Custodian of its
property and to perform certain duties as its Agent, as more fully hereinafter
set forth; and
Whereas, the Bank is willing and able to act as each such investment
company's Custodian and Agent, subject to and in accordance with the provisions
hereof;
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, each such investment company and the
Bank agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless
the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Fund" shall mean the investment company which has adopted this
Agreement. If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, it may in the future
establish and designate other separate and distinct series of shares, each of
which may be called a "portfolio"; in such case, the term "Fund" shall also
refer to each such separate series or portfolio.
(b) "Board" shall mean the board of directors/trustees/managing general
partners/director general partners of the Fund, as the case may be.
(c) "The Depository Trust Company", 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 and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board.
(d) "Participants Trust Company", 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 and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Fund by the Board.
(e) "Approved Clearing Agency" shall mean any other domestic 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 BUT
ONLY if the Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board
approving such clearing agency as a securities depository for the Fund.
(f) "Federal Book-Entry System" shall mean the book-entry system referred
to in Rule 17f-4(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for United States
and federal agency securities (i.e., as provided in Subpart O of Treasury
Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, and the book-entry
regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O).
(g) "Approved Foreign Securities Depository" shall mean a foreign
securities depository or clearing agency referred to in Rule 17f-4 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 for foreign securities BUT ONLY if the Custodian
has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving such depository
or clearing agency as a foreign securities depository for the Fund.
(h) "Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper" shall mean a system
maintained by the Custodian or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof for the holding of commercial paper in book-entry form BUT ONLY if the
Custodian has received a certified copy of a vote of the Board approving the
participation by the Fund in such system.
(i) The Custodian shall be deemed to have received "proper instructions" in
respect of any of the matters referred to in this Agreement upon receipt of
written or facsimile instructions signed by such one or more person or persons
as the Board shall have from time to time authorized to give the particular
class of instructions in question. Electronic instructions for the purchase and
sale of securities which are transmitted by ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Management to the
Custodian through the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ equity trading system and the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
fixed income trading system shall be deemed to be proper instructions; the Fund
shall cause all such instructions to be confirmed in writing. Different persons
may be authorized to give instructions for different purposes. A certified copy
of a vote of the Board may be received and accepted by the Custodian as
conclusive evidence of the authority of any such person to act and may be
considered as in full force and effect until receipt of written notice to the
contrary. Such instructions may be general or specific in terms and, where
appropriate, may be standing instructions. Unless the vote delegating authority
to any person or persons to give a particular class of instructions specifically
requires that the approval of any person, persons or committee shall first have
been obtained before the Custodian may act on instructions of that class, the
Custodian shall be under no obligation to question the right of the person or
persons giving such instructions in so doing. 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. The Fund authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all
telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian. Upon receipt of a
certificate signed by two officers of the Fund as to the authorization by the
President and the Treasurer of the Fund accompanied by a detailed description of
the communication procedures approved by the President and the Treasurer of the
Fund, "proper instructions" may also include communications effected directly
between electromechanical or electronic devices provided that the President and
Treasurer of the Fund and the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures
afford adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets. In performing its duties
generally, and more particularly in connection with the purchase, sale and
exchange of securities made by or for the Fund, the Custodian may take
cognizance of the provisions of the governing documents and registration
statement of the Fund as the same may from time to time be in effect (and votes,
resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders or the Board), but, nevertheless,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Custodian may assume unless
and until notified in writing to the contrary that so-called proper instructions
received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions
of such governing documents and registration statement, or votes, resolutions or
proceedings of the shareholders or the Board.
2. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby appoints and employs the Bank as its Custodian and Agent in
accordance with and subject to the provisions hereof, and the Bank hereby
accepts such appointment and employment. The Fund agrees to deliver to the
Custodian all securities, participation interests, cash and other assets
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owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of principal and capital
distributions and adjustments received by it with respect to all securities and
participation interests owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash
consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares ("Shares") of the
Fund as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be
responsible for any property of the Fund held by the Fund and not delivered by
the Fund to the Custodian. The Fund will also deliver to the Bank from time to
time copies of its currently effective charter (or declaration of trust or
partnership agreement, as the case may be), by-laws, prospectus, statement of
additional information and distribution agreement with its principal
underwriter, together with such resolutions, votes and other proceedings of the
Fund as may be necessary for or convenient to the Bank in the performance of its
duties hereunder.
The Custodian may from time to time employ one or more subcustodians to
perform such acts and services upon such terms and conditions as shall be
approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any such subcustodian so
employed by the Custodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian, and
the Custodian shall remain primarily responsible for the securities,
participation interests, moneys and other property of the Fund held by such
subcustodian. Any foreign subcustodian shall be a bank or trust company which is
an eligible foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and the foreign custody arrangements shall be
approved by the Board of Directors and shall be in accordance with and subject
to the provisions of said Rule. For the purposes of this Agreement, any property
of the Fund held by any such subcustodian (domestic or foreign) shall be deemed
to be held by the Custodian under the terms of this Agreement.
3. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND
A. SAFEKEEPING AND HOLDING OF PROPERTY The Custodian shall keep safely all
property of the Fund and on behalf of the Fund shall from time to time receive
delivery of Fund property for safekeeping. The Custodian shall hold, earmark and
segregate on its books and records for the account of the Fund all property of
the Fund, including all securities, participation interests and other assets of
the Fund (1) physically held by the Custodian, (2) held by any subcustodian
referred to in Section 2 hereof or by any agent referred to in Paragraph K
hereof, (3) held by or maintained in The Depository Trust Company or in
Participants Trust Company or in an Approved Clearing Agency or in the Federal
Book-Entry System or in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository, each of which
from time to time is referred to herein as a "Securities System", and (4) held
by the Custodian or by any subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof and
maintained in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
B. DELIVERY OF SECURITIES The Custodian shall release and deliver securities or
participation interests owned by the Fund held (or deemed to be held) by the
Custodian or maintained in a Securities System account or in an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper 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 or participation interests for the account of
the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of payment therefor; if delivery is made in
Boston or New York City, payment therefor shall be made in accordance with
generally accepted clearing house procedures or by use of Federal Reserve Wire
System procedures; if delivery is made elsewhere payment therefor shall be in
accordance with the then current
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"street delivery" custom or in accordance with such procedures agreed to in
writing from time to time by the parties hereto; if the sale is effected through
a Securities System, delivery and payment therefor shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of Paragraph L hereof; if the sale of commercial paper is to
be effected through an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, delivery
and payment therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions of
Paragraph M hereof; if the securities are to be sold outside the United States,
delivery may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing from
time to time by the parties hereto; for the purposes of this subparagraph, the
term "sale" shall include the disposition of a portfolio security (i) upon the
exercise of an option written by the Fund and (ii) upon the failure by the Fund
to make a successful bid with respect to a portfolio security, the continued
holding of which is contingent upon the making of such a bid;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement or
reverse repurchase agreement relating to such securities and entered into by the
Fund;
3) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for
portfolio securities of the Fund;
4) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities or participation
interests 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 or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
5) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Fund
or into the name of any nominee of the Custodian or into the name or nominee
name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or into the name or
nominee name of any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof; 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 or participation interests are to be
delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof;
6) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with the "street
delivery" custom; PROVIDED that the Custodian shall adopt such procedures as the
Fund from time to time shall approve to ensure their prompt return to the
Custodian by the broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them;
7) 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 of such securities,
or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
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PROVIDED that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be
delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof;
8) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof
in connection with 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 or any subcustodian employed pursuant
to Section 2 hereof;
9) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund
(such loans to be made pursuant to the terms of the Fund's current registration
statement), 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 securities 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 Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities loaned by the Fund prior to
the receipt of such collateral;
10) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund
requiring a pledge or hypothecation of assets by the Fund (if then permitted
under circumstances described in the current registration statement of the
Fund), provided, that the securities shall be released only upon payment to the
Custodian of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional
collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, further securities
may be released for that purpose; upon receipt of proper instructions, the
Custodian may pay any such loan upon redelivery to it of the securities pledged
or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing the
loan;
11) When required for delivery in connection with any redemption or repurchase
of Shares of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J hereof;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the
Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof) and a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, if
necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange, or of
any similar organization or organizations, regarding deposit or escrow or other
arrangements in connection with options transactions by the Fund;
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13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the
Fund, the Custodian (or a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof),
and a futures commissions merchant, relating to compliance with the rules of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market or
commodities exchange or similar organization, regarding futures margin account
deposits or payments in connection with futures transactions by the Fund;
14) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of, in
addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board
specifying the securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which
such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be proper corporate
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities
shall be made.
C. REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES Securities held by the Custodian (other than
bearer securities) for the account of the Fund 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, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to
Paragraph K hereof, or in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian employed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof, or in the name or nominee name of The Depository
Trust Company or Participants Trust Company or Approved Clearing Agency or
Federal Book-Entry System or Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper;
provided, that securities are held in an account of the Custodian or of such
agent or of such subcustodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets
held by the Custodian or such agent or such subcustodian as a custodian or
subcustodian or in a fiduciary capacity for customers. All certificates for
securities accepted by the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian on behalf
of the Fund shall be in "street" or other good delivery form or shall be
returned to the selling broker or dealer who shall be advised of the reason
thereof.
D. BANK ACCOUNTS The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account
or accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the
Custodian acting in pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in
such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by
it from or for the account of the Fund other than cash maintained by the Fund in
a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the
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 the Custodian 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 in writing by
two officers of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its
capacity as Custodian and shall be subject to withdrawal only by the Custodian
in that capacity.
E. PAYMENT FOR SHARES OF THE FUND The Custodian shall make appropriate
arrangements with the Transfer Agent and the principal underwriter of the Fund
to enable the Custodian to make certain it promptly receives the cash or other
consideration due to the Fund for
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such new or treasury Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time by the
Fund, in accordance with the governing documents and offering prospectus and
statement of additional information of the Fund. The Custodian will provide
prompt notification to the Fund of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of
the Fund.
F. INVESTMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS Upon agreement between the Fund
and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of proper instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties,
1) invest in such securities and instruments as may be set forth in such
instructions on the same day as received all federal funds received after a time
agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and
2) 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.
G. COLLECTIONS The Custodian shall promptly collect all income and other
payments with respect to registered securities held hereunder to which the Fund
shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities
business, and shall promptly collect all income and other payments with respect
to bearer securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities
are held by the Custodian or agent thereof and shall credit such income, as
collected, to the Fund's custodian account.
The Custodian shall do all things necessary and proper in connection with such
prompt collections and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Custodian shall
1) Present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring
presentations;
2) Present for payment all securities which may mature or be called, redeemed,
retired or otherwise become payable;
3) Endorse and deposit for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts
or other negotiable instruments;
4) Credit income from securities maintained in a Securities System or in an
Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper at the time funds become
available to the Custodian; in the case of securities maintained in The
Depository Trust Company funds shall be deemed available to the Fund not later
than the opening of business on the first business day after receipt of such
funds by the Custodian.
The Custodian shall notify the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable whenever
income due on any security is not promptly collected. In any case in which the
Custodian does not receive any due and unpaid income after it has made demand
for the same, it shall immediately so notify the Fund in writing, enclosing
copies of any demand letter, any
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written response thereto, and memoranda of all oral responses thereto and to
telephonic demands, and await instructions from the Fund; the Custodian shall in
no case have any liability for any nonpayment of such income provided the
Custodian meets the standard of care set forth in Section 8 hereof. The
Custodian shall not be obligated to take legal action for collection unless and
until reasonably indemnified to its satisfaction.
The Custodian shall also receive and collect all stock dividends, rights and
other items of like nature, and deal with the same pursuant to proper
instructions relative thereto.
H. PAYMENT OF FUND MONEYS Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian
shall pay out moneys of the Fund in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of securities, participation interests, options, futures
contracts, forward contracts and options on futures contracts purchased for the
account of the Fund but only (a) against the receipt of
(i) such securities registered as provided in Paragraph C hereof or in proper
form for transfer or
(ii) detailed instructions signed by an officer of the Fund regarding the
participation interests to be purchased or
(iii) written confirmation of the purchase by the Fund of the options, futures
contracts, forward contracts or options on futures contracts
by the Custodian (or by a subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof or
by a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the
Custodian is a member or by any bank, banking institution or trust company doing
business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian and which has been designated by the
Custodian as its agent for this purpose or by the agent specifically designated
in such instructions as representing the purchasers of a new issue of privately
placed securities); (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a Securities
System, upon receipt of the securities by the Securities System in accordance
with the conditions set forth in Paragraph L hereof; (c) in the case of a
purchase of commercial paper effected through an Approved Book-Entry System for
Commercial Paper, upon receipt of the paper by the Custodian or subcustodian in
accordance with the conditions set forth in Paragraph M hereof; (d) in the case
of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and another bank or a
broker-dealer, against receipt by the Custodian of the securities underlying the
repurchase agreement either in certificate form or through an entry crediting
the Custodian's segregated, non-proprietary account at the Federal Reserve Bank
of Boston with such securities along with written evidence of the agreement by
the bank or broker-dealer to repurchase
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such securities from the Fund; or (e) with respect to securities purchased
outside of the United States, in accordance with written procedures agreed to
from time to time in writing by the parties hereto;
2) When required in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Paragraph B hereof;
3) When required for the redemption or repurchase of Shares of the Fund in
accordance with the provisions of Paragraph J 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: advisory
fees, distribution plan payments, interest, taxes, management compensation and
expenses, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and other 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 or other distributions to holders of Shares
declared or authorized by the Board; and
6) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of, in addition
to proper instructions, a certified copy of a vote of the Board, 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 corporate purpose, and naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
I. LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF SECURITIES PURCHASED In any
and every case where payment for purchase of 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 signed by two officers of 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; EXCEPT that in the case of a repurchase agreement entered into by
the Fund with a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System, the
Custodian may transfer funds to the account of such bank prior to the receipt of
(i) the securities in certificate form subject to such repurchase agreement or
(ii) written evidence that the securities subject to such repurchase agreement
have been transferred by book-entry into a segregated non-proprietary account of
the Custodian maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston or (iii) the
safekeeping receipt, PROVIDED that such securities have in fact been so
transfered by book-entry and the written repurchase agreement is received by the
Custodian in due course; AND EXCEPT that if the securities are to be purchased
outside the United States, payment may be made in accordance with procedures
agreed to in writing from time to time by the parties hereto.
J. PAYMENTS FOR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES OF THE FUND From such funds
as may be available for the purpose, bt subject to any applicable votes of the
Board and the current redemption and repurchase procedures of the Fund, the
Custodian shall, upon
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receipt of written instructions from the Fund or from the Fund's transfer agent
or from the principal underwriter, make funds and/or portfolio securities
available for payment to holders of Shares who have caused their Shares to be
redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or for the Fund's account by its transfer
agent or principal underwriter.
The Custodian may maintain a special checking account upon which special checks
may be drawn by shareholders of the Fund holding Shares for which certificates
have not been issued. Such checking account and such special checks shall be
subject to such rules and regulations as the Custodian and the Fund may from
time to time adopt. The Custodian or the Fund may suspend or terminate use of
such checking account or such special checks (either generally or for one or
more shareholders) at any time. The Custodian and the Fund shall notify the
other immediately of any such suspension or termination.
K. APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS BY THE CUSTODIAN The Custodian may at any time or times
in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust
company (PROVIDED such bank or trust company is itself qualified under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as a custodian or is itself an eligible
foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under said Act) as the agent
of the Custodian to carry out such of the duties and functions of the Custodian
described in this Section 3 as the Custodian may from time to time direct;
PROVIDED, however, that the appointment of any such agent shall not relieve the
Custodian of any of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder, and as
between the Fund and the Custodian the Custodian shall be fully responsible for
the acts and omissions of any such agent. For the purposes of this Agreement,
any property of the Fund held by any such agent shall be deemed to be held by
the Custodian hereunder.
L. DEPOSIT OF FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES IN SECURITIES SYSTEMS The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund
(1) in The Depository Trust Company;
(2) in Participants Trust Company;
(3) in any other Approved Clearing Agency;
(4) in the Federal Book-Entry System; or
(5) in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository
in each case only in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and
Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, and at all times
subject to the following provisions:
(a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians
employed pursuant to Section 2 keep securities of the Fund in a Securities
System provided that such securities are maintained in a non-proprietary account
("Account") of
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the Custodian or such subcustodian in the Securities System which shall not
include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or any other person
other than assets held by the Custodian or such subcustodian as a fiduciary,
custodian, or otherwise for its customers.
(b) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the Fund which
are maintained in a Securities System shall identify by book-entry those
securities belonging to the Fund, and the Custodian shall be fully and
completely responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of
accurately and currently stating the Fund's holdings maintained in each such
Securities System.
(c) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased in book-entry form for the
account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice from the
Securities System that such securities have been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of any entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such
payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer
securities sold for the account of the Fund only upon (i) receipt of notice or
advice from the 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 notices or advices from the Securities System of transfers of
securities for the account of the Fund shall identify the Fund, be maintained
for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Fund at its
request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund confirmation of each
transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of a written advice or
notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the Fund copies of daily
transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System
for the account of the Fund on the next business day.
(d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other
communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to the Securities
System's accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures
for safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System; the Custodian
shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to
the Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding
securities deposited in any Securities System; and the Custodian shall ensure
that any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian
employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Fund and to the
Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's or
subcustodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding
securities deposited in any Securities System. The Custodian's books and records
relating to the Fund's participation in each Securities System will at all times
during regular business hours be open to the inspection of the Fund's authorized
officers, employees or agents.
(e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph L in the absence of receipt
of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use
of a particular Securities System; the Custodian shall also obtain appropriate
assurance from the officers of the Fund that the Board has annually reviewed the
continued use by the Fund of each Securities System, and the Fund shall promptly
notify the Custodian if the use of a Securities System is to be discontinued; at
the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the use of any such
Securities System as promptly as practicable.
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(f) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian
shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from
use of the Securities System by reason of any negligence, misfeasance or
misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or subcustodians or of any of
its or their employees or from any failure of the Custodian or any such agent or
subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the
Securities System or any other person; 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 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.
M. DEPOSIT OF FUND COMMERCIAL PAPER IN AN APPROVED BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM FOR
COMMERCIAL PAPER Upon receipt of proper instructions with respect to each issue
of direct issue commercial paper purchased by the Fund, the Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain direct issue commercial paper owned by the Fund in any
Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, in each case only in accordance
with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations, and
no-action correspondence, and at all times subject to the following provisions:
(a) The Custodian may (either directly or through one or more subcustodians
employed pursuant to Section 2) keep commercial paper of the Fund in an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, provided that such paper is issued in
book entry form by the Custodian or subcustodian on behalf of an issuer with
which the Custodian or subcustodian has entered into a book-entry agreement and
provided further that such paper is maintained in a non-proprietary account
("Account") of the Custodian or such subcustodian in an Approved Book-Entry
System for Commercial Paper which shall not include any assets of the Custodian
or such subcustodian or any other person other than assets held by the Custodian
or such subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers.
(b) The records of the Custodian with respect to commercial paper of the Fund
which is maintained in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper shall
identify by book-entry each specific issue of commercial paper purchased by the
Fund which is included in the System and shall at all times during regular
business hours be open for inspection by authorized officers, employees or
agents of the Fund. The Custodian shall be fully and completely responsible for
maintaining a recordkeeping system capable of accurately and currently stating
the Fund's holdings of commercial paper maintained in each such System.
(c) The Custodian shall pay for commercial paper purchased in book-entry form
for the account of the Fund only upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of notice or
advice from the issuer that such paper has been issued, sold and transferred to
the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
reflect such purchase, payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The
Custodian shall transfer such commercial paper which is sold or cancel such
commercial paper which is redeemed for the account of the Fund only upon
contemporaneous (i) receipt of notice or advice that payment for such paper has
been transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records
of the Custodian to reflect such transfer or redemption and payment
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for the account of the Fund. Copies of all notices, advices and confirmations of
transfers of commercial paper for the account of the Fund shall identify the
Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian and be promptly provided to
the Fund at its request. The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund
confirmation of each transfer to or from the account of the Fund in the form of
a written advice or notice of each such transaction, and shall furnish to the
Fund copies of daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transactions in
the System for the account of the Fund on the next business day.
(d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Fund any report or other
communication received or obtained by the Custodian relating to each System's
accounting system, system of internal accounting controls or procedures for
safeguarding commercial paper deposited in the System; the Custodian shall
promptly send to the Fund any report or other communication relating to the
Custodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding
commercial paper deposited in any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial
Paper; and the Custodian shall ensure that any agent appointed pursuant to
Paragraph K hereof or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof
shall promptly send to the Fund and to the Custodian any report or other
communication relating to such agent's or subcustodian's internal accounting
controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in any Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
(e) The Custodian shall not act under this Paragraph M in the absence of receipt
of a certificate of an officer of the Fund that the Board has approved the use
of a particular Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; the Custodian
shall also obtain appropriate assurance from the officers of the Fund that the
Board has annually reviewed the continued use by the Fund of each Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper, and the Fund shall promptly notify the
Custodian if the use of an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper is to
be discontinued; at the request of the Fund, the Custodian will terminate the
use of any such System as promptly as practicable.
(f) The Custodian (or subcustodian, if the Approved Book-Entry System for
Commercial Paper is maintained by the subcustodian) shall issue physical
commercial paper or promissory notes whenever requested to do so by the Fund or
in the event of an electronic system failure which impedes issuance, transfer or
custody of direct issue commercial paper by book-entry.
(g) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian
shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from
use of any Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper by reason of any
negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or
subcustodians or of any of its or their employees or from any failure of the
Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such rights
as it may have against the System, the issuer of the commercial paper or any
other person; 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 System, the
issuer of the commercial paper 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.
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N. 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
Paragraph L hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among
the Fund, the Custodian and any registered broker-dealer (or any futures
commission merchant), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or of any contract market or
commodities exchange), or of any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or deposit or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or U.S.
Government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by
the Fund or 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
purposes, BUT ONLY, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in addition to
proper instructions, a certificate signed by two officers of the Fund, setting
forth the purpose such segregated account and declaring such purpose to be a
proper purpose.
O. 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 securities
of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.
P. PROXIES The Custodian shall, with respect to the securities held by it
hereunder, cause to be promptly delivered to the Fund all forms of proxies and
all notices of meetings and any other notices or announcements or other written
information affecting or relating to the securities, and upon receipt of proper
instructions shall execute and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and
deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. Neither the
Custodian nor its nominee shall vote upon any of the securities or execute any
proxy to vote thereon or give any consent or take any other action with respect
thereto (except as otherwise herein provided) unless ordered to do so by proper
instructions.
Q. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES The Custodian shall
deliver promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without
limitation, pendency of call and maturities of securities and participation
interests 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
and other persons relating to the securities and participation interests being
held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian
shall deliver promptly to the Fund all written information received by the
Custodian from issuers and other persons relating to the securities and
participation interests whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party
(or his agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
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R. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; TENDER OFFERS In the case of tender offers, similar
offers to purchase or exercise rights (including, without limitation, pendency
of calls and maturities of securities and participation interests and
expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call
and put options and the maturity of futures contracts) affecting or relating to
securities and participation interests held by the Custodian under this
Agreement, the Custodian shall have responsibility for promptly notifying the
Fund of all such offers in accordance with the standard of reasonable care set
forth in Section 8 hereof. For all such offers for which the Custodian is
responsible as provided in this Paragraph R, the Fund shall have responsibility
for providing the Custodian with all necessary instructions in timely fashion.
Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall timely deliver to the
issuer or trustee thereof, or to the agent of either, warrants, puts, calls,
rights or similar securities for the purpose of being exercised or sold upon
proper receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the
Custodian that the new securities and cash, if any, acquired by such action are
to be delivered to the Custodian or any subcustodian employed pursuant to
Section 2 hereof. Upon receipt of proper instructions, the Custodian shall
timely deposit securities upon invitations for tenders of securities upon proper
receipt therefor and upon receipt of assurances satisfactory to the Custodian
that the consideration to be paid or delivered or the tendered securities are to
be returned to the Custodian or subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
Custodian shall take all necessary action, unless otherwise directed to the
contrary by proper instructions, to comply with the terms of all mandatory or
compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar rights of security
ownership, and shall thereafter promptly notify the Fund in writing of such
action.
S. DEPOSITORY RECEIPTS The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions,
surrender or cause to be surrendered foreign securities to the depository used
by an issuer of American Depository Receipts or International Depository
Receipts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "ADRs") for such securities,
against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such securities and
written evidence satisfactory to the Custodian that the depository has
acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue with respect to such securities
ADRs in the name of a nominee of the Custodian or in the name or nominee name of
any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, for delivery to the
Custodian or such subcustodian at such place as the Custodian or such
subcustodian may from time to time designate. The Custodian shall, upon receipt
of proper instructions, surrender ADRs to the issuer thereof against a written
receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence
satisfactory to the Custodian that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged
receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the securities
underlying such ADRs to the Custodian or to a subcustodian employed pursuant to
Section 2 hereof.
T. INTEREST BEARING CALL OR TIME DEPOSITS The Custodian shall, upon receipt of
proper instructions, place interest bearing fixed term and call deposits with
the banking department of such banking institution (other than the Custodian)
and in such amounts as the Fund may designate. Deposits may be denominated in
U.S. Dollars or other currencies. The Custodian shall include in its records
with respect to the assets of the Fund appropriate notation as to the amount and
currency of each such deposit, the accepting banking institution and other
appropriate details and shall retain such forms of
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advice or receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the
Custodian by the banking institution. Such deposits shall be deemed portfolio
securities of the applicable Fund for the purposes of this Agreement, and the
Custodian shall be responsible for the collection of income from such accounts
and the transmission of cash to and from such accounts.
U. OPTIONS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
1. OPTIONS. The Custodians shall, upon receipt of proper instructions and in
accordance with the provisions of any agreement between the Custodian, any
registered broker-dealer and, if necessary, the Fund, relating to compliance
with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation or of any registered national
securities exchange or similar organization or organizations, receive and retain
confirmations or other documents, if any, evidencing the purchase or writing of
an option on a security or securities index or other financial instrument or
index by the Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account for each Fund
separately, either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System,
securities subject to a covered call option written by the Fund; and release
and/or transfer such securities or other assets only in accordance with a notice
or other communication evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of
such covered option furnished by the Options Clearing Corporation, the
securities or options exchange on which such covered option is traded or such
other organization as may be responsible for handling such options transactions.
The Custodian and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for the sufficiency of
assets held in each Fund's segregated account in compliance with applicable
margin maintenance requirements.
2. FUTURES CONTRACTS The Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper instructions,
receive and retain confirmations and other documents, if any, evidencing the
purchase or sale of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract by the
Fund; deposit and maintain in a segregated account, for the benefit of any
futures commission merchant, assets designated by the Fund as initial,
maintenance or variation "margin" deposits (including mark-to-market payments)
intended to secure the Fund's performance of its obligations under any futures
contracts purchased or sold or any options on futures contracts written by Fund,
in accordance with the provisions of any agreement or agreements among the Fund,
the Custodian and such futures commission merchant, designed to comply with the
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of any contract market
or commodities exchange or similar organization regarding such margin deposits
or payments; and release and/or transfer assets in such margin accounts only in
accordance with any such agreements or rules. The Custodian and the futures
commission merchant shall be responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in
the segregated account in compliance with the applicable margin maintenance and
mark-to-market payment requirements.
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3. FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS The Custodian shall, pursuant to proper
instructions, enter into or cause a subcustodian to enter into foreign exchange
contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future
delivery on behalf and for the account of the Fund. Such transactions may be
undertaken by the Custodian or subcustodian with such banking or financial
institutions or other currency brokers, as set forth in proper instructions.
Foreign exchange contracts and options shall be deemed to be portfolio
securities of the Fund; and accordingly, the responsibility of the Custodian
therefor shall be the same as and no greater than the Custodian's responsibility
in respect of other portfolio securities of the Fund. The Custodian shall be
responsible for the transmittal to and receipt of cash from the currency broker
or banking or financial institution with which the contract or option is made,
the maintenance of proper records with respect to the transaction and the
maintenance of any segregated account required in connection with the
transaction. The Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the selection of
the currency brokers or banking or financial institutions with which the Fund
deals or for their failure to comply with the terms of any contract or option.
Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that upon receipt of proper
instructions and insofar as funds are made available to the Custodian for the
purpose, the Custodian may (if determined necessary by the Custodian to
consummate a particular transaction on behalf and for the account of the Fund)
make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of U.S. dollars or foreign
currency before receiving confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or
confirmation that the countervalue currency completing the foreign exchange
contact has been delivered or received. The Custodian shall not be responsible
for any costs and interest charges which may be incurred by the Fund or the
Custodian as a result of the failure or delay of third parties to deliver
foreign exchange; provided that the Custodian shall nevertheless be held to the
standard of care set forth in, and shall be liable to the Fund in accordance
with, the provisions of Section 8.
V. 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 Agreement, PROVIDED,
that all such payments shall be accounted for by the Custodian to the Treasurer
of 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 nondiscretionary 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 Fund.
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4. DUTIES OF BANK WITH RESPECT TO BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND CALCULATIONS OF NET ASSET
VALUE
The Bank shall as Agent (or as Custodian, as the case may be) keep such
books of account (including records showing the adjusted tax costs of the Fund's
portfolio securities) and render as at the close of business on each day a
detailed statement of the amounts received or paid out and of securities
received or delivered for the account of the Fund during said day and such other
statements, including a daily trial balance and inventory of the Fund's
portfolio securities; and shall furnish such other financial information and
data as from time to time requested by the Treasurer or any executive officer of
the Fund; and shall compute and determine, as of the close of business of the
New York Stock Exchange, or at such other time or times as the Board may
determine, the net asset value of a Share in the Fund, such computation and
determination to be made in accordance with the governing documents of the Fund
and the votes and instructions of the Board at the time in force and applicable,
and promptly notify the Fund and its investment adviser and such other persons
as the Fund may request of the result of such computation and determination. In
computing the net asset value the Custodian may rely upon security quotations
received by telephone or otherwise from sources or pricing services designated
by the Fund by proper instructions, and may further rely upon information
furnished to it by any authorized officer of the Fund relative (a) to
liabilities of the Fund not appearing on its books of account, (b) to the
existence, status and proper treatment of any reserve or reserves, (c) to any
procedures established by the Board regarding the valuation of portfolio
securities, and (d) to the value to be assigned to any bond, note, debenture,
Treasury bill, repurchase agreement, subscription right, security, participation
interests or other asset or property for which market quotations are not readily
available.
5. RECORDS AND MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES
The Bank shall create, maintain and preserve all records relating to its
activities and obligations under this Agreement 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,
applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or administrative rules
or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. All books of account and
records maintained by the Bank in connection with the performance of its duties
under this Agreement shall be the property of the Fund, shall at all times
during the regular business hours of the Bank be open for inspection by
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund, and in the event of
termination of this Agreement shall be delivered to the Fund or to such other
person or persons as shall be designated by the Fund. Disposition of any account
or record after any required period of preservation shall be only in accordance
with specific instructions received from the Fund. The Bank shall assist
generally in the preparation of reports to shareholders, to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including Forms N-SAR and N-1Q, to state "blue sky"
authorities and to others, audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of
like nature; and, upon request, shall furnish the Fund's auditors with an
attested inventory of securities held with appropriate information as to
securities in transit or in the process of purchase or sale and with such other
information as said auditors may from time to time request. The Custodian shall
also maintain records of all receipts, deliveries and locations of such
securities, together with a current inventory thereof, and shall conduct
periodic verifications (including sampling counts at the Custodian) of
certificates representing bonds and other securities for which it is responsible
under this Agreement in such manner as the Custodian shall determine from time
to time to be advisable in order to verify the accuracy of such inventory. The
Bank shall not disclose or use any books or records it has prepared or
maintained by reason of this Agreement in any manner except as expressly
authorized herein or directed by the Fund, and the Bank shall keep confidential
any information obtained by reason of this Agreement.
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6. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time
to time request, to enable the Fund to obtain from year to year favorable
opinions from the Fund's independent public accountants with respect to its
activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's
registration statement and Form N-SAR or other periodic reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any other requirements of
such Commission.
7. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF BANK
The Bank shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services as
Custodian and Agent, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the
Bank. The Bank shall be entitled to receive from the Fund on demand
reimbursement for its cash disbursements, expenses and charges, including
counsel fees, in connection with its duties as Custodian and Agent hereunder,
but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.
8. RESPONSIBILITY OF BANK
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care,
the Bank as Custodian and Agent 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.
The Bank as Custodian and Agent 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.
The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held to the exercise of reasonable
care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement but shall be liable only
for its own negligent or bad faith acts or failures to act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to nor shall it be
construed to modify the standards of care and responsibility set forth in
Section 2 hereof with respect to subcustodians and in subparagraph f of
Paragraph L of Section 3 hereof with respect to Securities Systems and in
subparagraph g of Paragraph M of Section 3 hereof with respect to an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.
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
subcustodians generally in Section 2 hereof, provided that, regardless of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a foreign banking institution, a
foreign securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank, the Custodian shall
not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting
from, or caused by, the direction of or authorization by the Fund to maintain
custody of any securities or cash of the Fund in a foreign county including, but
not limited to, losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, acts of war, civil war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution,
military or usurped powers, nuclear fission, fusion or radiation, earthquake,
storm or other disturbance of nature or acts of God.
-19-
If the Fund requires the Bank in any capacity to take any action with
respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which
action may, in the opinion of the Bank, result in the Bank 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.
9. PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO ASSETS OF THE FUND
(i) No trustee, director, general partner, officer, employee or agent of
the Fund shall have physical access to the assets of the Fund held by the
Custodian or be authorized or permitted to withdraw any investments of the Fund,
nor shall the Custodian deliver any assets of the Fund to any such person. No
officer or director, employee or agent of the Custodian who holds any similar
position with the Fund or the investment adviser of the Fund shall have access
to the assets of the Fund.
(ii) Access to assets of the Fund held hereunder shall only be available to
duly authorized officers, employees, representatives or agents of the Custodian
or other persons or entities for whose actions the Custodian shall be
responsible to the extent permitted hereunder, or to the Fund's independent
public accountants in connection with their auditing duties performed on behalf
of the Fund.
(iii) Nothing in this Section 9 shall prohibit any officer, employee or
agent of the Fund or of the investment adviser of the Fund from giving
instructions to the Custodian or executing a certificate so long as it does not
result in delivery of or access to assets of the Fund prohibited by paragraph
(i) of this Section 9.
10. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT; SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue
in full force and effect until terminated by either party after August 31, 2000
by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other
party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the
date of such delivery or mailing; PROVIDED, that the Fund may at any time by
action of its Board, (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the
Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian in the event the
Custodian assigns this Agreement to another party without consent of the
noninterested Trustees of the Funds, or (ii) immediately terminate this
Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the
Custodian by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by the Banking
Commissioner of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or upon the happening of a
like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of
competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund shall pay to
the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination
(and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and
disbursements).
This Agreement may be amended at any time by the written agreement of the
parties hereto. If a majority of the non-interested trustees of any of the Funds
determines that the performance of the Custodian has been unsatisfactory or
adverse to the interests of shareholders of any Fund or Funds or that the terms
of the Agreement are no longer consistent with publicly available industry
standards, then the Fund or Funds shall give written notice to the Custodian of
such determination and the Custodian shall
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have 60 days to (1) correct such performance to the satisfaction of the
non-interested trustees or (2) renegotiate terms which are satisfactory to the
non-interested trustees of the Funds. If the conditions of the preceding
sentence are not met then the Fund or Funds may terminate this Agreement on
sixty (60) days written notice.
The Board of the Fund shall, forthwith, upon giving or receiving notice of
termination of this Agreement, appoint as successor custodian, a bank or trust
company having the qualifications required by the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the Rules thereunder. The Bank, as Custodian, Agent or otherwise, shall,
upon termination of the Agreement, deliver to such successor custodian, all
securities then held hereunder and all funds or other properties of the Fund
deposited with or held by the Bank hereunder and all books of account and
records kept by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, and all documents held by
the Bank relative thereto. In the event that no written order designating a
successor custodian shall have been delivered to the Bank on or before the date
when such termination shall become effective, then the Bank shall not deliver
the securities, funds and other properties of the Fund to the Fund but shall
have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company doing business in Boston,
Massachusetts of its own selection meeting the above required qualifications,
all funds, securities and properties of the Fund held by or deposited with the
Bank, and all books of account and records kept by the Bank pursuant to this
Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto. Thereafter such
bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this
Agreement.
11. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the
Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in
addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be
annexed hereto, PROVIDED that no such interpretive or additional provisions
shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of
the governing instruments of the Fund. No interpretive or additional provisions
made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of
this Agreement.
12. NOTICES
Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Fund
addressed to ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or to such other
address as the Fund may have designated to the Bank, in writing, or to Investors
Bank & Trust Company, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, shall be
deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective
addressees.
13. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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If the Fund is a Massachusetts business trust, the Custodian expressly
acknowledges the provision in the Fund's declaration of Trust limiting the
personal liability of the trustees and shareholders of the Fund; and the
Custodian agrees that it shall have recourse only to the assets of the Fund for
the payment of claims or obligations as between the Custodian and the Fund
arising out of this Agreement, and the Custodian shall not seek satisfaction of
any such claim or obligation from the trustees or shareholders of the Fund.
14. ADOPTION OF THE AGREEMENT BY THE FUND
The Fund represents that its Board has approved this Agreement and has duly
authorized the Fund to adopt this Agreement, such adoption to be evidenced by a
letter agreement between the Fund and the Bank reflecting such adoption, which
letter agreement shall be dated and signed by a duly authorized officer of the
Fund and duly authorized officer of the Bank. This Agreement shall be deemed to
be duly executed and delivered by each of the parties in its name and behalf by
its duly authorized officer as of the date of such letter agreement, and this
Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and terminate, as of the date of such
letter agreement, all prior agreements between the Fund and the Bank relating to
the custody of the Fund's assets.
* * * * *
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