FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of June 25, 2001 between First Investors Special Bond
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and The Bank of New York ("BNY").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint BNY as a Foreign Custody Manager on
the terms and conditions contained herein;
WHEREAS, BNY desires to serve as a Foreign Custody Manager and perform the
duties set forth herein on the terms and conditions contained herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter
contained in this Agreement, the Fund and BNY hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless
the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
1. "BOARD" shall mean the board of directors or board of trustees, as the
case may be, of the Fund.
2. "ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIAN" shall have the meaning provided in the
Rule.
3. "MONITORING SYSTEM" shall mean a system established by BNY to fulfill
the Responsibilities specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Section 1 of Article
III of this Agreement.
4. "RESPONSIBILITIES" shall mean the responsibilities delegated to BNY
under the Rule as a Foreign Custody Manager with respect to each Specified
Country and each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by BNY, as such
responsibilities are more fully described in Article III of this Agreement.
5. "RULE" shall mean Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended on June 12, 2000.
6. "SPECIFIED COUNTRY" shall mean each country listed on Schedule I
attached hereto and each country, other than the United States, constituting the
primary market for a security with respect to which the Fund has given
settlement instructions to The Bank of New York as custodian (the "Custodian")
under its Custody Agreement with the Fund.
ARTICLE II.
BNY AS A FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER
1. The Fund on behalf of its Board hereby delegates to BNY with respect to
each Specified Country the Responsibilities.
2. BNY accepts the Board's delegation of Responsibilities with respect to
each Specified Country and agrees in performing the Responsibilities as a
Foreign Custody Manager to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such
as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of the Fund's assets would
exercise.
3. BNY shall provide to the Board at such times as the Board deems
reasonable and appropriate based on the circumstances of the Fund's foreign
custody arrangements written reports notifying the Board of the placement of
assets of the Fund with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian within a
Specified Country and of any material change in the arrangements (including the
contract governing such arrangements) with respect to assets of the Fund with
any such Eligible Foreign Custodian.
ARTICLE III.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, BNY shall with respect to
each Specified Country select an Eligible Foreign Custodian. In connection
therewith, BNY shall: (a) determine that assets of the Fund held by such
Eligible Foreign Custodian will be subject to reasonable care, based on the
standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market in which such Eligible
Foreign Custodian operates, after considering all factors relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation, those contained in
paragraph (c)(1) of the Rule; (b) determine that the Fund's foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian are governed by a written
contract with the Custodian which will provide reasonable care for the Fund's
assets based on the standards specified in paragraph (c)(1) of the Rule; (c)
determine that each contract with an Eligible Foreign Custodian shall include
the provisions specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of the Rule or,
alternatively, in lieu of any or all of such (c)(2)(i)(A) through (F)
provisions, such other provisions as BNY determines will provide, in their
entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for the assets of
the Fund as such specified provisions; (d) monitor pursuant to the Monitoring
System the appropriateness of maintaining the assets of the Fund with a
particular Eligible Foreign Custodian pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of the Rule
and the performance of the contract governing such arrangement; and (e) advise
the Fund whenever BNY determines under the Monitoring System that an arrangement
(including, any material change in the contract governing such arrangement)
described in preceding clause (d) no longer meets the requirements of the Rule.
2. For purposes of clause (d) of preceding Section 1 of this Article,
BNY's determination of appropriateness shall not include, nor be deemed to
include, any evaluation of Country Risks associated with investment in a
particular country. For purposes hereof, "Country Risks" shall mean systemic
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risks of holding assets in a particular country including but not limited to (a)
an Eligible Foreign Custodian's use of any depositories that act as or operate a
system or a transnational system for the central handling of securities or any
equivalent book-entries; (b) such country's financial infrastructure; (c) such
country's prevailing custody and settlement practices (but not the custody and
settlement practices of any Eligible Foreign Custodian whose custody and
settlement practices are not such prevailing practices); (d) nationalization,
expropriation or other governmental actions; (e) regulation of the banking or
securities industry; (f) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or
fluctuations; and (g) market conditions which affect the orderly execution of
securities transactions or affect the value of securities.
ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS
1. The Fund hereby represents that: (a) this Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, constitutes a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, and no
statute, regulation, rule, order, judgment or contract binding on the Fund
prohibits the Fund's execution or performance of this Agreement; (b) this
Agreement has been approved and ratified by the Board at a meeting duly called
and at which a quorum was at all times present, and (c) the Board or the Fund's
investment adviser (including any investment sub-adviser) has considered the
Country Risks associated with investment in each Specified Country and will have
considered such risks prior to any settlement instructions being given to the
Custodian with respect to any other country.
2. BNY hereby represents that: (a) BNY is duly organized and existing
under the laws of the State of New York, with full power to carry on its
businesses as now conducted, and to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by BNY, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of BNY
enforceable in accordance with its terms, and no statute, regulation, rule,
order, judgment or contract binding on BNY prohibits BNY's execution or
performance of this Agreement; and (c) BNY has established the Monitoring
System.
ARTICLE V.
CONCERNING BNY
1. BNY shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities
or claims, including attorneys' and accountants' fees, sustained or incurred by,
or asserted against, the Fund except to the extent the same arises out of the
failure of BNY to exercise the care, prudence and diligence required by Section
2 of Article II hereof. In no event shall BNY be liable to the Fund, the Board,
or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or for lost
profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement.
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2. The Fund shall indemnify BNY and hold it harmless from and against any
and all costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys'
and accountants' fees, sustained or incurred by, or asserted against, BNY by
reason or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of BNY's
performance hereunder, provided that the Fund shall not indemnify BNY to the
extent any such costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arises out of
BNY's failure to exercise the reasonable care, prudence and diligence required
by Section 2 of Article II hereof.
3. For its services hereunder, the Fund agrees to pay to BNY such
compensation and out-of-pocket expenses as shall be mutually agreed.
4. BNY shall have only such duties as are expressly set forth herein. In
no event shall BNY be liable for any Country Risks associated with investments
in a particular country.
ARTICLE VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Fund and
BNY as a foreign custody manager, and no provision in the Custody Agreement
between the Fund and the Custodian shall affect the duties and obligations of
BNY hereunder, nor shall any provision in this Agreement affect the duties or
obligations of the Custodian under the Custody Agreement.
2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to BNY, shall be sufficiently given if received by it
at its offices at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at
such other place as BNY may from time to time designate in writing.
3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if received
by it at its offices at ATTN: General Counsel, First Investors Corp., 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 or at such other place as the Fund may from time to
time designate in writing.
4. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected
thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a
written agreement executed by both parties. This Agreement shall extend to and
shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns; provided however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either
party without the written consent of the other.
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5. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles
thereof. The Fund and BNY hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or
federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute
arising hereunder. The Fund hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to
the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim
that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum. The Fund and BNY each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to
trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement.
6. The parties hereto agree that in performing hereunder, BNY is acting
solely on behalf of the Fund and no contractual or service relationship shall be
deemed to be established hereby between BNY and any other person by reason of
this Agreement.
7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together,
constitute only one instrument.
8. This Agreement shall terminate simultaneously with the termination of
the Custody Agreement between the Fund and the Custodian, and may otherwise be
terminated by either party giving to the other party a notice in writing
specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not less than thirty
(30) days after the date of such notice.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and BNY have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.
FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL BOND FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Title: Assistant Secretary and General Counsel
Tax Identification No.: 00-0000000
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________
Title: XXX X. XXXXXX
VICE PRESIDENT
Rev. 6/20/01
fcmstd2.doc
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SCHEDULE I
SPECIFIED COUNTRIES
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COUNTRY/ COUNTRY/
MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN(S) MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN(S)
ARGENTINA Banco Rio de la Plata LITHUANIA Vilniaus Bankas
AUSTRALIA National Australia Bank Ltd. LUXEMBOURG Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat
AUSTRIA Bank Austria AG MALAYSIA HongKong Bank Malaysia Berhad
BAHRAIN HSBC Bank Middle East MALI Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire
BANGLADESH Standard Chartered Bank MALTA HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c.
BELGIUM Banque Bruxelles Xxxxxxx MAURITIUS HSBC
BENIN Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire MEXICO Banco Nacional de Mexico
BERMUDA Bank of Bermuda Limited MOROCCO Banque Commerciale du Maroc
BOLIVIA Citibank, N.A. NAMIBIA Stanbic Bank Namibia Limited
BOTSWANA Barclays Bank of Botswana Ltd. NETHERLANDS Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V.
BRAZIL BankBoston, N.A. NEW ZEALAND National Australia Bank Ltd. (National
Nominees Ltd.)
BULGARIA ING Bank NIGER Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire
BURKINA FASO Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire NIGERIA Stanbic Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited
CANADA Royal Bank of Canada NORWAY Den norske Bank ASA
CHILE BankBoston, N.A. OMAN HSBC Bank Middle East
CHINA Standard Chartered Bank PAKISTAN Standard Chartered Bank
COLOMBIA Cititrust Colombia S.A. PALESTINIAN HSBC Bank Middle East
COSTA RICA Banco BCT PANAMA BankBoston, N.A.
CROATIA Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d. PERU Citibank, N.A.
CYPRUS Bank of Cyprus PHILIPPINES HSBC
CZECH REPUBLIC Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka A.S. POLAND Bank Handlowy W Warszawie S.A.
DENMARK Den Danske Bank PORTUGAL Banco Comercial Porlugues
EASDAQ Banque Bruxelles Xxxxxxx QATAR HSBC Bank Middle East
ECUADOR Citibank, N.A. ROMANIA ING Bank
EGYPT Citibank, N.A. RUSSIA .... Vneshtorgbank (Min Fin Bonds only)/
Credit Suisse First Boston AO
ESTONIA Hansabank Limited SENEGAL Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire
EUROMARKET Clearstream SINGAPORE United Overseas Bank Limited/
The Development Bank of Singapore Ltd.
EUROMARKET Euroclear SLOVAK REPUBLIC Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, a.s.
FINLAND Xxxxxx Bank plc SLOVENIA Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. Ljubljana
FRANCE BNP Paribas / Credit Agricole Indosuez SOUTH AFRICA Societe Generale Johannesburg /
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
GERMANY Dresdner Bank AG SOUTH KOREA Standard Chartered Bank
GHANA Barclays Bank of Ghana Ltd. SPAIN Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA)
/ Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH)
GREECE BNP Paribas SRILANKA Standard Chartered Bank
GUINEA BISSAU Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire SWAZILAND Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
HONG KONG HSBC SWEDEN Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
HUNGARY Citibank Budapest Rt. SWITZERLAND Credit Suisse First Boston
ICELAND Landsbanki Islands TAIWAN HSBC
INDIA HSBC / Deutsche Bank AG THAILAND Standard Chartered Bank /
Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited
INDONESIA HSBC TOGO Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'lvoire
IRELAND Allied Irish Banks, plc TRINIDAD & Republic Bank Limited
TOBAGO
ISRAEL Bank Leumi LE - Israel B.M. TUNISIA Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
ITALY Banca Commerciale Italiana / BNP Paribas TURKEY Osmanli Bankasi A.S. (Ottoman Bank)
IVORY COAST Societe Generale - Abidjan UNITED ARAB HSBC Bank Middle fEast, Dubai
JAMAICA CIBC Trust & Merchant Bank Jamaica Ltd. UKRAINE ING Bank
JAPAN The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Limited/ UNITED KINGDOM The Bank of New York /
The Fuji Bank, Limited The Depository & Clearing Centre (DCC)
JORDAN HSBC Bank Middle East UNITED STATES The Bank of New York
KAZAKHSTAN ABN/AMRO URUGUAY BankBoston, N.A.
KENYA Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd. VENEZUELA Citibank, N.A.
LATVIA Hansabanka Limited ZAMBIA Barclays Bank of Zambia Ltd.
LEBANON HSBC Bank Middle East ZIMBABWE Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Ltd.
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