Exhibit No. 7
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Between
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ RMA TAX-FREE FUND, INC.
and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held By It . . . . . . . . . .1
2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund
Held by the Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.1 Holding Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.2 Delivery of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.3 Registration of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2.4 Bank Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2.5 Payments for Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2.6 Investment and Availability of Federal Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2.7 Collection of Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2.8 Payment of Fund Moneys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
2.9 Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased .9
2.10 Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares of the Fund. . . .9
2.11 Appointment of Agents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2.12 Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities System. . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.13 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.14 Proxies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.15 Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities . . . . . . . 12
2.16 Proper Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.17 Actions Permitted Without Express Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.18 Evidence of Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3. Duties of Custodian With Respect to the Books of Account
and Calculation of Net AssetValue and Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4. Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6. Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants . . . . . . . . . . . 15
7. Compensation of Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
8. Responsibility of Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
10. Successor Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
11. Interpretive and Additional Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
12. Massachusetts Law to Apply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
13. Prior Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14. Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
15. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Contract between ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ RMA Tax-Free Fund, Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of Maryland, having its principal place of
business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, hereinafter called the
"Fund", and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company,
having its principal place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, hereinafter called the "Custodian",
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual convenants 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
pursuant to the provisions of the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and the terms
and provisions hereof. 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, $.001 par value, ("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 or received by the Fund and not
delivered to the Custodian.
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions as defined in Section 2.16, the
Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians, but only in
accordance with an applicable vote by the Directors 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.
2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY THE
CUSTODIAN
2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for
the account of the Fund all non-cash property, including all securities
owned by the Fund, other than securities which are maintained pursuant to
Section 2.12 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,
collectively referred to herein as "Securities System".
2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver securities
owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a Securities System account
of the Custodian 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 Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12 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;
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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 2.11 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) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with
the "street delivery" custom;
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;
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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;
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) 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, in satisfaction of requests by holders of
Shares for repurchase or redemption; and
13) For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of,
in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Directors or of the Executive Committee signed
by an officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, specifying the securities to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made,
declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes, and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities
shall be made.
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2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. 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 2.11 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" or other good delivery
form.
2.4 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 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
Directors 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.
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2.5 PAYMENTS FOR SHARES. 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.
2.6 INVESTMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS. Upon mutual agreement
between the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the
receipt of proper instructions,
1) invest in such 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.
2.7 COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall collect on a timely basis
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 collect on a
timely basis 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. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach
and present for
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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.
2.8 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 for the account of the Fund but
only (a) against the delivery of such securities 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
Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in
Section 2.12 hereof or (c) in the case of repurchase agreements
entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or another bank
or other financial institutions, (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 (notwithstanding that the written agreement
to repurchase will be received subsequently)
or (ii) if the agreement is with the Custodian, against
delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of
securities owned by the
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Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the
Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund;
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 Section 2.10 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 any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of, in
addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a resolution
of the Directors or of the Executive Committee of the Fund signed
by an officer of the Fund and certified by its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, 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.
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2.9 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
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, EXCEPT that in the case
of repurchase agreements 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 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 of
the safe-keeping receipt, provided that such securities have in fact
been so transferred by book-entry.
2.10 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 Articles of Incorporation and any applicable votes of
the Directors of the Fund pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon
receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available
for payment to holders of Shares or their agent(s) 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 or their agent(s).
2.11 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
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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.
2.12 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN SECURITIES SYSTEM. The Custodian may deposit
and/or maintain 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 "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 Securities
System provided that such securities are represented in an
account ("Account") of the Custodian in the 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 securities of the
Fund which are maintained in a 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 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 transfer securities sold for the account of
the Fund upon (i) receipt
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of 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 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
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 Securities System for the account of the Fund.
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the
Custodian on the Securities System's accounting system, internal
accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited
in the Securities System;
5) The Custodian shall have received the initial or annual certificate, as
the case may be, required by Article 9 hereof;
6) 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 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
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 Securities System or any other person which the Custodian
may have as a
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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.
2.13 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 securities of the Fund held by it and in
connection with transfers of securities.
2.14 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the 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 FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian
from issuers of the 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 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.
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2.16 PROPER INSTRUCTIONS. Proper Instructions as used throughout this
Article 2 means a writing signed by one or more person or persons as the
Fund 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 believed them to have been given by a person
authorized in writing to give oral instructions with respect to the
transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be
confirmed in writing. Upon receipt of a certificate of the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary as to the authorization by the Directors of the
Fund accompanied by a detailed description of procedures approved by the
Directors, Proper Instructions may include communications effected
directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that
the Fund and the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford
adequate safeguards for the Fund's assets.
2.17 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
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securities and property of the Fund except as otherwise directed
by the Directors of the Fund.
2.18 EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY. The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon
any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or
paper reasonably 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 Directors 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 Directors pursuant to the Articles of
Incorporation 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.
3. 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 Directors 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 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.
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4. 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,
applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or administrative rules
or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. 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.
5. 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-1, and Form N-lR or other
annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any
other requirements of such Commission.
6. 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, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a Securities
System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this
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Contract; such reports, which 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, shall so state.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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 the
reasonable 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.
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
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Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in a
reasonable amount and form satisfactory to it.
9. 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 sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing; PROVIDED,
however that the Custodian shall not act under Section 2.12 hereof in the
absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary that the Directors of the Fund have approved the initial use of a
particular Securities System and the receipt of an annual certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Directors have reviewed the use by
the Fund of such Securities System, as required in each case by Rule 17f-4 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; PROVIDED FURTHER, 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 Articles of
Incorporation, and further provided, that the Fund may at any time by action of
its Directors (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.
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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 as
contemplated by this Contract.
10. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Directors 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, funds and other properties then held by it hereunder.
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 Directors of
the Fund, deliver at the office of the Custodian 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 Directors 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 held by
it under this Contract. 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 vote referred to or of the
Directors to appoint a successor custodian, the
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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.
11. 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 Articles of Incorporation 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.
12. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Contact shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with with laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
13. 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. This Contract may not be assigned by the Custodian except as
expressly provided for in Section 10 hereof, without the prior written consent
of the Fund.
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14. HEADINGS
The Headings of the Sections of this Contract are inserted for reference
and convenience only, and shall not affect the construction of this Contract.
15. NOTICES
All notices and communications, including Proper Instructions
(collectively referred to as "Notice" or "Notices" in this paragraph), hereunder
shall be in writing or by confirming telegram, cable or telex. Notices shall be
addressed (a) if to the Custodian at its address, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, marked for the attention of the Custody and Shareholders
Services Division, (b) if to the Fund, at the address of the Fund, or (c) if to
neither of the foregoing, at such other address as shall have been notified to
the sender of any such Notice. If the location of the sender of a Notice and
the address of the addressee thereof are, at the time of sending, more than 100
miles apart, the Notice shall be sent by airmail, in which case it shall be
deemed given three days after it is sent, or by confirming telegram, cable or
telex, in which case it shall be deemed given immediately, and, if the location
of the sender of a Notice and the address of the addressee thereof are, at the
time of sending, not more than 100 miles apart, the Notice may be sent by
first-class mail, in which case it shall be deemed given two days after it is
sent, or by messenger, in which case it shall be deemed given on the day it is
delivered, or by confirming telegram or telex, in which case it shall be deemed
given immediately. All postage, cable, telegram and telex charges arising from
the sending of a Notice hereunder shall be paid by the sender.
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 29th day of September, 1982.
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SEAL ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ RMA TAX-FREE ATTEST
FUND, INC.
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------- -------------------------
SEAL STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
ATTEST COMPANY
/s/ By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------- -------------------------
Assistant Secretary Vice President
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