CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT CAPITAL CORP. a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (the
"FUND"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts-chartered
trust company (the "CUSTODIAN"),
WITNESSETH: that in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets,
including loans and participation and other interests in loans ("LOANS") and
securities (which securities may include certain debt securities) which the Fund
desires to be held in places within the United States ("DOMESTIC SECURITIES")
and securities (which securities may include certain debt securities) which the
Fund desires to be held outside the United States ("FOREIGN SECURITIES").
Subject to the terms of the attached Loan Services Addendum, the term "domestic
securities" shall include "Loans." 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 it from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for
such new or treasury shares of common stock of the Fund ("SHARES") 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 such term is defined in
Section 6 hereof), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more
sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an
applicable vote by the Board of Directors of the Fund (the "BOARD"). The
Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign securities the
foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in
Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions
of Sections 3 and 4. 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.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND
HELD BY THE CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property to be held by it in
the United States, including all documents, certificates and other such
instruments including any schedule of payments ("FINANCING DOCUMENTS") as are
received by the Custodian, and all domestic securities owned by the Fund other
than securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing
agency which acts as a
securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury (each, a "U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEM").
SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a U.S.
Securities System account of the Custodian only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for securities held by the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided
that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be
delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed
pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for
a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence
representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund, to
the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for
examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom; provided
that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility
or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such
securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except
as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such
case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
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9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in
any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by
the Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that
in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be
credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system
authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian
will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of
securities owned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such
collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, but only against
receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and a
member of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations,
regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with
transactions by the Fund;
13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant
registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to
compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission ("CFTC") and/or any contract market, or any similar
organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in
connection with transactions by the Fund;
14) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the Fund
(the "TRANSFER AGENT") for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to
the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as
may be described from time to time in the Fund's currently
effective prospectus and statement of additional information or
private offering memorandum, as applicable (the "PROSPECTUS"), in
satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or
redemption; and
15) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the securities of the Fund to be delivered
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
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SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
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 or business development companies
having the same investment advisor as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name
of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of
any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by
the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be
in "street name" or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the
Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall utilize
its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities
and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate
actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or
exchange offers.
SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund,
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the
provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the 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, as amended
(the "1940 ACT"). Monies 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 1940 Act and that each such bank or
trust company and the monies to be deposited with each such bank or trust
company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such monies shall
be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be
withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
SECTION 2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.3 and the Loan Services Addendum attached hereto, the Custodian shall collect
on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered
domestic securities held hereunder and payments with respect to Loans 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 domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer,
such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit
such income, as collected, to the Fund's custodian account. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment
all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they
become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder.
Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no
duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund
with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in
arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the
Fund is properly entitled.
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SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following
cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the
Fund but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or
evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on
futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or
trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which
is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been
designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose)
registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee of
the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form
for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a
U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set
forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of repurchase
agreements entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or
another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i)
against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or
through an entry crediting the Custodian's account at the Federal
Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the
receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of securities owned by the
Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the
Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (d) for
transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank,
whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior
to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable
bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined
herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities
owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in
Section 5 hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund,
including but not limited to the following payments for the
account of the Fund: interest, taxes, management, administration,
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 on Shares declared pursuant to
the governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) For the fulfillment of the Fund's obligations with respect to
unfunded commitments incurred in connection with Loans; and
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8) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the
person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or
times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or
trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a
custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as
the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the
appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities
or liabilities hereunder.
SECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a U.S.
Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940
Act, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 2.9 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for
and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred
cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the
Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions
of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered
under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission
merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance
with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered
national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or
of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other
arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of
segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased,
sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon
purchased or sold by the Fund, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund
with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any
subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance
of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (iv) for any
other purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions.
SECTION 2.10 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian
shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal
and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments
with respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection
with transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.11 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in
the name of the Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication
of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver
to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices
relating to such securities.
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SECTION 2.12 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FUND SECURITIES. Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all
written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and
maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection
therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund
and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by
the Custodian from issuers (which term, for this purpose, includes sellers of
Loans) 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 (which term, for this
purpose, includes sellers of Loans) of the securities whose tender or exchange
is sought and from the party (or its 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.
SECTION 2.13 SERVICES RELATED TO LOANS. The Custodian shall perform
certain additional services with the respect to the Fund's Loans as described on
the Loan Services Addendum hereto.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the
following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:
"Country Risk" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment, economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country),
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank
(as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of
an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other
appropriate action of the SEC, or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in
Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under
Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities
Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Fund's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
"Rule 17f-5" means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.
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"Rule 17f-7" means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.
SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
The Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian,
subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this
Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and
the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager of the
Fund.
3.2.2 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Fund's
assets, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to
time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section
3.2.5 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open
an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening
requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to
have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with
respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this
Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an
account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on
Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains
Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Following the receipt of
Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn
and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of
the Fund with respect to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing)
after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no
further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund
with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation
is withdrawn.
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3.2.3 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES:
(a) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the provisions
of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the
Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from
time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody
Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian,
the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be
subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in
the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign
Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such
assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
(b) CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
(c) MONITORING. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such
Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the performance of the contract governing
the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the
Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines
that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected
are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and
determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining
the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.5 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager
shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign
Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign
Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the
calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The
Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any
other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described
in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.
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3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE FUND.
In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager
agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person
having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
3.2.7 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17F-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the
Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the
Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement
to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS
FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written
notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will
become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of
such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation
to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with
respect to designated countries.
SECTION 3.3 ELIGIBLE SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
3.3.1 ANALYSIS AND MONITORING. The Custodian shall (a) provide
the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with
an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the
Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance
with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a
continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized
investment manager or investment advisor) of any material change in such risks,
in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
3.3.2 STANDARD OF CARE. The Custodian agrees to exercise
reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in
Section 3.3.1.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the
following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
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"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its
books as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign
securities for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Fund which are maintained in
such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii)
to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is
maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign
Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian
or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through
arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as
applicable, in such country.
SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by
the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System
account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing
instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following
cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in
accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the
country where such foreign securities are held or traded,
including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation
of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale
effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with
the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities
System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities
are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name
of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign
Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different
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number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing
the same aggregate face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for
examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom;
provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall
have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from
the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for
such securities except as may arise from the Foreign
Sub-Custodian's own negligence , willful misconduct or
fraudulent act;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant
to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
pursuant to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities,
the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights
or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of
the Fund in the following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering
money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent
for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving
later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of
a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of such
Foreign Securities System;
12
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees
under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign currency or foreign exchange
contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or
through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect
of securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming
the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets
received for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained
for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary
established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the
country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without
limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer
therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of
receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody
and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign
Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on
such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided
that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with
substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
SECTION 4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer
securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the
Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any
nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless
from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The
Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities
on behalf of the Fund under the
13
terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in
which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.
SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies)
deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or
market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the
Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained
outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian.
All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order
by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the
account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including
its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination,
is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of,
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall
credit such income, as collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary
measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall
consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the
Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities
held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial
efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights,
subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist
in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that
local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations,
lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the
ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect
to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from
issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund
(including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign
securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to
tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund
written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from
issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the
party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall
not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right
or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at
any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and
(ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of
any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at
14
least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
action to exercise such right or power.
SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement
pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the
extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care
in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the
Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim
arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of
such obligations. At the Fund's election, it shall be entitled to be subrogated
to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign
Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense,
liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole
for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any
state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the
Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those
mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and
other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and
governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to
such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect
to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which
the Fund has provided such information.
SECTION 4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall be liable for
the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement and, regardless of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a
Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other
loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.
SECTION 5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from
the Transfer Agent and deposit into the Fund's account such payments as are
received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The
Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of
any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.
From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian
shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds
available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer
Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with
the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt
of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial
bank designated by the redeeming shareholders.
15
SECTION 6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions, which may also be standing instructions, as used
throughout this Agreement, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian
from the Fund, the Fund's investment manager, or a person or entity duly
authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the
authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a
communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or
electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary
systems and utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and
the person or entity giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has
followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the
Custodian, including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by
the Fund in the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Agreement. 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. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall
include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party
agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section
2.10 of this Agreement. The Fund or the Fund's investment manager shall cause
its duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the names and
specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions. The
Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such
persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.
SECTION 7. 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 to the Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and
other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except
as otherwise directed by the Board.
16
SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions,
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by
it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund.
The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board,
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund ("CERTIFIED
RESOLUTION"), as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act
in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action
by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be
considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written
notice to the contrary.
SECTION 9. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to
the entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of
the Fund and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares
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 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 Prospectus.
SECTION 10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its
activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the
obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section
31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. To the extent that the
Custodian, in its sole opinion, is able to do so, the Custodian shall provide
assistance to the Fund (at the Fund's reasonable request made from time to time)
by providing sub-certifications regarding certain of its services performed
hereunder to the Fund in connection with the Fund's Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002
certification requirements. All such records shall be the property of the Fund
and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be
open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund
and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request,
supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by 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.
17
SECTION 11. 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-2, and Forms 10-Q and 10-K
or other reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 12. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may
reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding
securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including
securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign
Securities System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this
Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail,
as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that
any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there
are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
SECTION 13. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the
Fund.
SECTION 14. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for
any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including,
without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall
be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel
for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted in good faith pursuant to such advice. The Custodian
shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by any force majeure event or anything which is part of
Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation
nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war,
revolution, riots or terrorism.
18
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence, willful
misconduct or fraud, or the negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of a
sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for
any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by: (i) events or
circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any
sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the
foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or
restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or
other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or
communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar
events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly-authorized investment
manager or investment advisor in their instructions to the Custodian; provided
such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the
insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or
failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially
prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's sub-custodian
or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection
with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or
other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of
the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees or agents or
any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such
securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other
accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to
any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or
Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or
regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or
any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent
jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to
securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in
the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to
the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some
other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such
action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form
satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or
agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited
to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or
in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security
therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian
shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund's assets
to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or
consequential damages.
19
SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall
continue in full force and effect for an indefinite term (subject to the
termination provisions hereof), and may be amended at any time by mutual
agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by either party by an
instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party,
such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the date
of such delivery or mailing; provided, however, that the Fund shall not amend or
terminate this Agreement in contravention of any applicable federal or state
regulations, or any provision of the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, and
further 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, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement
in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian
by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the
direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent
jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund 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 reasonable costs, expenses and
disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 16. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian for the Fund shall be appointed by the Board,
the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at
the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all
securities of the Fund then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an
account of the successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in a
Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a Certified Resolution, deliver at the office of
the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in
accordance with such resolution.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
Certified Resolution shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the
date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have
the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as defined in
the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York, New York, of
its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000 (or such
other amount as may be required under the 1940 Act), all securities, funds and
other properties held by the Custodian hereunder and all instruments held by the
Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this
Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and
20
to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund's
securities held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company
shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the Certified Resolution to appoint a successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services
during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds
and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties
and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 17. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and
the Fund 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 Fund's Articles of Incorporation. No interpretive or additional provisions
made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of
this Agreement.
SECTION 18. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, excluding the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
SECTION 19. PRIOR AGREEMENTS
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all
prior agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of
the Fund's assets.
SECTION 20. NOTICES.
Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given
hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth
herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by
telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or contact
information or such other addresses or contact information as may be notified by
any party from time to time.
21
To the Fund: TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT CAPITAL CORP.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Vice President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have
been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five
business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after
dispatch and, in the case of telex or telecopy, immediately on dispatch and if
delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received
at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the
case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof.
Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post
shall be conclusive evidence of posting.
SECTION 21. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, attachments and
amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm,
micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
SECTION 22. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote
Access Services Addendum attached hereto.
22
SECTION 23. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION
SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of
customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names,
addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by
the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of
this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund
to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name,
address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund
owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide this
information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or
does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule
to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund.
For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using
the Fund's name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications.
Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of
the alternatives below.
YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's name, address, and
share positions.
NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name, address,
and share positions.
SECTION 24. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the
parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
23
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 ________________, 2003.
TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT CAPITAL CORP. FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: _______________________________ By: _______________________________
Name: _____________________________ Name: _____________________________
Title: ____________________________ Title: [Secretary/Asst. Sec.]
----------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: _______________________________ By: ________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: J. Xxxxx XxXxxxxx, Jr.
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Title: Executive Vice President Title: Vice President & Counsel
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LOAN SERVICES ADDENDUM
TO
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF [ ] 2003
BY AND BETWEEN
TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT CAPITAL CORP.
AND
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
(THE "AGREEMENT")
In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and in the
Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Fund and the Custodian hereby agree as follows with respect to Loans.
Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein are used as defined in the
Agreement.
1. Safekeeping. All Financing Documents shall be held by the
Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
2. Duties of the Custodian.
a) The Custodian shall accept such Financing Documents as may be
delivered to it from time to time by the Fund.
b) If payments with respect to a Loan ("Loan Payment") are not received
by the Custodian on the date on which they are due ("Payment Date") as reflected
in the Payment Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 3(b) below) of the
Loan, or in the case of interest payments, not received either on the interest
payable date (the "Interest Payable Date") of the Loan or in the amount of their
accrued interest payable, the Custodian shall promptly, but in no event later
than one business day after the Payment Date or the Interest Payable Date, give
telephonic notice to (i) the party obligated under the Financing Documents to
make such Loan Payment (the "Obligor") and (ii) the Fund, Attention: Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx (Telephone: (000) 000-0000), of such party's failure to make timely
payment, and (2) if such payment is not received within three business days of
its due date, shall again notify the Fund of such Obligor's continuing failure
to make the Loan Payment. The Custodian shall have no responsibility with
respect to the collection of Loan Payments which are past due, other than the
duty to notify the Obligor and the Fund as provided herein.
c) The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever
under this Addendum or in the Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing
Documents, except for such responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein
and in the Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve any rights against prior parties
or to exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loans.
In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian may
request instructions from the Fund and shall be entitled at all times to refrain
from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Fund
and the Custodian shall in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any
action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant to and in compliance with Proper
Instructions.
d) The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan
Payments actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Fund;
any and all credits and payments credited to the Fund, with respect to Loans,
shall be conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final
payment thereon.
e) The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, release to
the Fund's investment adviser or to any party as the Fund may specify, any
Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Fund.
3. Responsibilities of the Fund. With respect to each Loan held by the
Custodian hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Fund shall (a)
cause the Financing Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the
Custodian; (b) include with such Financing Documents an amortization schedule of
payments (the "Payment Schedule") identifying the amount and due dates of
scheduled principal payments; and (c) cause the Custodian to be named as its
nominee for payment purposes under the Financing Documents or otherwise provide
for the direct payment of the Payments to the Custodian.
4. Instructions; Authority to Act. The certificate of the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Fund, identifying certain individuals to be
officers of the Fund or employees of the investment adviser of the Fund
authorized to sign any such instructions, may be received and accepted as
conclusive evidence of the incumbency and authority of such to act and may be
considered by the Custodian to be in full force and effect until it receives
written notice to the contrary from the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Addendum or the Agreement, the
Custodian shall have no responsibility to ensure that any investment by the Fund
with respect to Loans has been authorized.
5. Amendment and Termination. This Addendum may be amended by the Fund
and the Custodian at any time, but only in writing by an instrument signed by
both parties. This Addendum shall terminate upon the terms provided for in the
Agreement with respect to its termination, or upon the termination of the
Agreement, provided that the Fund has the express right to terminate this
Addendum upon 30 days' written notification.
6. Attachment. In case any portion of the Loans or the Financing
Documents shall be attached or levied upon pursuant to an order of court, or the
delivery or disbursement thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of
court, or any other order, judgment or decrees shall be made or entered by any
court affecting the property of the Fund or any act of the Custodian relating
thereto, the Custodian is hereby expressly authorized in its sole discretion to
obey and comply with all orders, judgments or decrees so entered or issued,
without the necessity of inquiring whether such court had jurisdiction, and, in
case the Custodian obeys or complies with any such order, judgment or decree, it
shall not be liable to anyone by reason of such compliance.
7. Parties in Interest; No Third Party Benefit. This Addendum shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the
parties hereto. This Addendum is not intended for, and shall not be construed to
be intended for, the benefit of any third parties and may not be relied upon or
enforced by any third parties.
8. Notices, etc. Any notice, application and other communications
hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth
below during normal business hours or delivered by a prepaid recognized
overnight delivery service or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses
or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time:
(i) if to the Fund at the address provided in Section 20 of the
Agreement, or such other address as may have been furnished to the Custodian in
writing by the Fund; and
(ii) if to the Custodian, at STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY ,
Lafayette Corporate Center, 2 Avenue de Lafayette, LCC5, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Loan Servicing
Unit, Telephone Number: (000) 000-0000; Telecopy Number: (000) 000-0000, or at
such other address as may have been furnished to the Fund by the Custodian in
writing, with a copy to the Custodian as per Section 20 of the Agreement.
Such notice, application or other communications shall be deemed to
have been given or made when delivered by prepaid recognized overnight delivery
service or, in the case of telecopy, immediately on dispatch, provided that if
any such notice, application or communication is delivered outside normal
business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after
delivery when normal business hours commence, and in the case of telecopy on the
business day after the receipt thereof.
9. Examination of Securities and Related Documents. Upon reasonable
prior notice to the Custodian, the Fund's accountants, attorneys, auditors and
agents will be permitted to examine the Financing Documents then in the physical
possession of the Custodian and any records pertaining thereto during normal
business hours.
10. Headings. The headings set forth in this Addendum appear for
convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Addendum.
11. Governing Law. This Addendum shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with, and rights of the parties shall be governed by, the internal
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
12. Severability. If any term hereof is determined to be invalid or
unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remaining terms.
13. Non-Assignability. The rights and obligations of the parties to
this Addendum are non-assignable.
