EX-99.j
CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Contract is made as of February __, 2002 between BlackRock
Strategic Bond Trust, a business trust organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware, having its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 hereinafter called the "Fund", and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, having its
principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000,
hereinafter called the "Custodian",
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets
pursuant to the provisions of the Fund's agreement and declaration of trust (the
"Declaration of Trust"). The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all
securities and cash owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of
principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities
owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it
for such new or treasury shares of beneficial interest ("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" (within the meaning of Article
6), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians, but
only in accordance with an applicable vote by the board of trustees of the Fund
(the "Board"), 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 (a) securities which are
maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency registered with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under Section
17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), 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
(each, a "Securities System") and (b) commercial paper of an issuer for
which State Street Bank and Trust Company acts as issuing and paying
agent ("Direct Paper") which is deposited and/or maintained in the
Direct Paper System of the Custodian (the "Direct Paper System")
pursuant to Section 2.9.
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 ("Securities System Account") or in the
Custodian's Direct Paper book entry system account ("Direct Paper
System Account") only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and
only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a 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 of the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided
that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be
delivered to the Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed
pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1; or for exchange for
a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence
representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;
PROVIDED that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund, to
the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for
examination in accordance with "street delivery" custom; provided
that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility
or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such
securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except
as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such
case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim
2.
receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;
provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if
any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by
the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that
in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be
credited to the Custodian's account in the book-entry system
authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian
will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of
securities owned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such
collateral;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, BUT ONLY against
receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under
the 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 (the "CFTC") and/or any Contract Market, or any similar
organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in
connection with transactions by the Fund;
14) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the securities of the Fund to be
delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to
be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper purpose, and naming
the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be
made.
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 2.7 or in the name or
nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1. All
securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the
terms of this Contract shall be in "street name" or other good delivery
form. If, however, the Fund directs the
3.
Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian shall
utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on
such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of
relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of
calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.
2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank
account or accounts in the 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, as amended (the "1940 Act"). 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 1940 Act and that each such
bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank
or trust company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board
of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its
capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only
in that capacity.
2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the
Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments
with respect to 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 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.
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 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
4.
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 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase
involving the Direct Paper System, in accordance with the
conditions set forth in Section 2.11; (d) 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 (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund
in any bank; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a
confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to
Proper Instructions as defined in Article 6;
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 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 fees, accounting
fees, 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;
4) For the payment of any dividends declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
5) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
6) For any other proper purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment, setting forth
the purpose for which such payment is to be made, declaring such
purpose to be a proper purpose, and naming the person or persons
to whom such payment is to be made.
2.7 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
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.
2.8 DEPOSIT OF SECURITIES IN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The Custodian may deposit
and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a Securities System in
accordance with applicable Federal
5.
Reserve Board and SEC 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 a
Securities System Account 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 Securities
System 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 of advice from the Securities
System that payment for such securities has been transferred to
the Securities System 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) 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 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.
6.
2.9 FUND ASSETS HELD IN THE CUSTODIAN'S DIRECT PAPER SYSTEM. The Custodian
may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in the Direct
Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following provisions:
1) No transaction relating to securities in the Direct Paper System
will be effected in the absence of Proper Instructions;
2) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in the Direct Paper
System only if such securities are represented in Direct Paper
System Account which shall not include any assets of the Custodian
other than assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for
customers;
3) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Fund which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund;
4) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
of the Fund upon the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer of securities to
the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer securities
sold for the account of the Fund upon the making of an entry on
the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and receipt
of payment for the account of the Fund;
5) The Custodian shall furnish the Fund confirmation of each transfer
to or from the account of the Fund, in the form of a written
advice or notice, of Direct Paper on the next business day
following such transfer and shall furnish to the Fund copies of
daily transaction sheets reflecting each day's transaction in the
Securities System for the account of the Fund;
6) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report on its system
of internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request
from time to time.
2.10 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper
Instructions from the Fund 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
7.
the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or
any subsequent release or releases of the SEC relating to the
maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies
and (iv) for other proper purposes, BUT ONLY, in the case of clause
(iv), upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund setting forth
the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such
purposes to be proper purposes.
2.11 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 such securities.
2.12 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.
2.13 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 securities and expirations of rights in connection
therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by
the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the
Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers of the 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.
2.14 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 Securities
System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this
Contract; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient
detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund, to provide
reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed
by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.
8.
3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17f-5 AND 17f-7
3.1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Contract shall have the
following 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 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.
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 Contract, 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.
9.
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 Amendment 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 the Contract.
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 reasonably 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.
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).
10.
(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 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 (or at the Board's
delegation, the Fund's duly-authorized investment manager)
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.
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
Contract 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
11.
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.
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
adviser) 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 adviser) 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.
4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
4.1 DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms in this Article 4 shall have the
following meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository
listed on Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as
an Eligible Foreign Custodian.
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.
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.
12.
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 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 or willful
misconduct;
(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;
13.
(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;
(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 Contract, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) For the purchase or sale of foreign exchange 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
14.
(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
Contract 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.
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 terms
of this Contract unless the form of such securities and the manner in
which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market
practice.
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 Contract 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.
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
15.
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.
4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities held
pursuant to this Article 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.
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 least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or
power.
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 election of the Fund, the Fund 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.
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
16.
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.
4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for
any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by
anything which is part of Country Risk.
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 the Contract 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.
5. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from
the Fund's Transfer Agent (the "Transfer Agent") and deposit into the account of
the Fund 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. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian
by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the
holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such
procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between
the Fund and the Custodian.
17.
6. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS
Proper Instructions as used throughout this Contract means a writing
signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board shall have
from time to time authorized. Each such writing shall set forth the specific
transaction or type of transaction involved, including a specific statement of
the purpose for which such action is requested. Oral instructions will be
considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have
been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the
transaction involved. The Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed
in writing. Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly
between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the instructions
are consistent with the security procedures agreed to by the Fund and the
Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the
Fund on the Funds Transfer Addendum to this Contract. For purposes of this
Article, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the
Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement which requires a segregated
asset account in accordance with Section 2.10.
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 Contract, PROVIDED that all such payments shall be accounted
for to the Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in
definitive form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and
other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except
as otherwise directed by the Board.
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 certified copy of a vote of the Board as
conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with
such vote or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board pursuant to
the Declaration of Trust as described in such vote, and such vote may be
considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written
notice to the contrary.
18.
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
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 weekly the net income of the Fund
as described in the Fund's registration statement on Form N-2 under the 1940 Act
as filed with the SEC (the "Registration Statement") and shall advise the Fund
and the Transfer Agent weekly 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 weekly
income of the Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to
time in the Fund's currently effective Registration Statement.
10. RECORDS
The Custodian shall with respect to the Fund 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 1940 Act, with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder.
All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during
the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of
the 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.
11. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
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 Registration Statement, and Form
N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other
requirements of the SEC.
12. 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.
19.
13. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Contract and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Contract, but
shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.
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 and assumed settlement) or in the event that the
Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges,
expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance
of this Contract, except such as may arise from its or its nominee's own
negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any property
at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and
should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be
entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund's assets to the
extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or
consequential damages.
14. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
This Contract shall become effective as of the date of its execution,
shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter
provided, may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto
and may be terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered or
mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect not
sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery or mailing;
PROVIDED, however, that the Fund shall not amend or terminate this Contract in
contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision
of the Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that the Fund may at any time
by action of its Board (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
20.
Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an
appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian
such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall
likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
15. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN
If a successor custodian 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 then
held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian
all of the Fund's securities held in a Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the Board, deliver
at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other
properties in accordance with such vote.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
certified copy of a vote of the Board 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, of
its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all
securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian and all instruments
held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under
this Contract and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of
the Fund's securities held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or
trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Contract.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the certified copy of the vote referred to or of
the Board to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to
fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains
possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of
this Contract relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall
remain in full force and effect.
16. 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
21.
applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Declaration of
Trust. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the
preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Contract.
17. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
This Contract shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
18. 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.
19. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
This Contract and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments
hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm,
micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
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 facsimile to the parties at the following addresses or such
other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.
To the Fund: BlackRock Strategic Bond Trust
c/o BlackRock, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: [Xxxx Xxxx, Vice President]
Telephone: [000-000-0000]
Facsimile: [000-000-0000]
22.
To the Custodian: State Street Bank and Trust Company
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx/XXX 0X
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Vice President
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 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, 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 facsimile 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.
21. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM
The Custodian and the Fund each agree to abide by the terms of the
Remote Access Services Addendum attached hereto.
22. 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.
23.
SIGNATURE PAGE
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 date first above-written.
ATTEST: BLACKROCK STRATEGIC BOND TRUST
By:
-------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Name:
Title:
ATTEST: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY
By:
-------------------------- ---------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Poster, Vice President Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Vice President Executive Vice President
24.
STATE STREET SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Argentina Citibank, N.A.
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation
Austria Erste Bank der Osterreichischen Sparkassen AG
Bahrain HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium Fortis Bank nv-sa
Benin via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited
Bolivia Citibank, N. A.
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited
Brazil Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V.
Burkina Faso via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada
Chile BankBoston, N.A.
People's Republic Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited,
of China Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d
Cyprus The Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd.
Czech Republic Eeskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.
Denmark Danske Bank A/S
Ecuador Citibank, N.A.
Egypt HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Estonia Hansabank
Finland Nordea Bank Finland Plc.
France BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Germany Dresdner Bank AG
Ghana Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited
Greece National Bank of Greece S.A.
Guinea-Bissau via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank
Hungary HVB Bank Hungary Rt.
Iceland Icebank Ltd.
India Deutsche Bank AG
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Indonesia Standard Chartered Bank
Ireland Bank of Ireland
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Italy BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Scotiabank Jamaica Trust and Merchant Bank Ltd.
Japan The Fuji Bank, Limited
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Kazakhstan HSBC Bank Kazakhstan
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Kenya Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Republic of Korea Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Latvia A/s Hansabanka
Lebanon HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas AB
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mali via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Mauritius Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico S.A.
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc
Namibia Standard Bank Namibia Limited
Netherlands Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V.
New Zealand Westpac Banking Corporation
Niger via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Nigeria Stanbic Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited
Norway Nordea Bank Norge ASA
Oman HSBC Bank Middle East
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG
Palestine HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Panama BankBoston, N.A.
Peru Citibank, N.A.
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues
Qatar HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Romania ING Bank N.V.
Russia Credit Suisse First Boston AO - Moscow
(as delegate of Credit Suisse First Boston - Zurich)
Senegal via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Singapore The Development Bank of Singapore Limited
Slovak Republic Eeskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.
Slovenia Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. - Ljubljana
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Spain Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A.
Sri Lanka Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
Switzerland UBS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Trust of China
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank
Togo via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
Turkey Citibank, N.A.
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine
United Arab Emirates HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company, London Branch
Uruguay BankBoston, N.A.
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
------- ------------
Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Limited
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Belgium Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et de
Virements de Titres, S.A.
Banque Nationale de Belgique
Benin Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Brazil Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e Custodia
Sistema Especial de Liquidacao e de Custodia (SELIC)
Central de Custodia e de Liquidacao Financeira de Titulos
Privados (CETIP)
Bulgaria Central Depository AD
Bulgarian National Bank
Burkina Faso Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Canada Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile Deposito Central de Valores S.A.
People's Republic China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation
of China Limited Shanghai Branch
China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation
Limited Shenzhen Branch
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Colombia Deposito Centralizado de Valores
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
Croatia Ministry of Finance
National Bank of Croatia
Sredisnja Depozitarna Agencija d.d.
Czech Republic Stredisko cennych papiru - Ceska republika
Czech National Bank
Denmark Vaerdipapircentralen (Danish Securities Center)
Egypt Misr for Clearing, Settlement, and Depository S.A.E.
Estonia Eesti Vaartpaberite Keskdepositoorium
Finland Finnish Central Securities Depository
France Euroclear France
Germany Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt
Greece Bank of Greece,
System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities in
Book-Entry Form
Apothetirion Titlon AE - Central Securities Depository
Guinea-Bissau Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Hong Kong Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Kozponti Elszamolohaz es Ertektar (Budapest) Rt. (KELER)
Iceland Iceland Securities Depository Limited
India National Securities Depository Limited
Central Depository Services India Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd. (TASE
Clearinghouse)
Italy Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Ivory Coast Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Jamaica Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Japan Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC)
Bank of Japan
Kazakhstan Central Depository of Securities
Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Latvia Latvian Central Depository
Lebanon Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial Instruments
for Lebanon and the Middle East (Midclear) X.X.X.
Banque du Liban
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Malaysian Central Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Bank Negara Malaysia
Mali Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Mauritius Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd.
Bank of Mauritius
Mexico S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V.
Morocco Maroclear
Netherlands Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor
Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. (NECIGEF)
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Niger Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Nigeria Central Securities Clearing System Limited
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Norway Verdipapirsentralen (Norwegian Central Securities
Depository)
Oman Muscat Depository & Securities Registration Company, SAOC
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine Clearing Depository and Settlement, a department
of the Palestine Stock Exchange
Peru Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones, Institucion de
Compensacion y Liquidacion de Valores S.A
Philippines Philippine Central Depository, Inc.
Registry of Scripless Securities (XXXX) of the Bureau
of Treasury
Poland National Depository of Securities
(Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartos'ciowych SA)
Central Treasury Bills Registrar
Portugal INTERBOLSA - Sociedade Gestora de Sistemas de Liquidacao
e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores Mobiliarios, S.A.
Qatar Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a
department of the Doha Securities Market
Romania National Securities Clearing, Settlement and Depository
Company
Bucharest Stock Exchange Registry Division
National Bank of Romania
Russia Vneshtorgbank, Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian
Federation
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Senegal Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Singapore Central Depository (Pte) Limited
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Slovak Republic Stredisko cennych papierov SR, a.s.
National Bank of Slovakia
Slovenia KDD - Centralna klirinsko depotna xxxxxx x.x.
South Africa Central Depository Limited
Share Transactions Totally Electronic (STRATE) Ltd.
Spain Servicio de Compensacion y Liquidacion de Valores, S.A.
Banco de Espana, Central de Anotaciones en Cuenta
Sri Lanka Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited
Sweden Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB
(Swedish Central Securities Depository)
Switzerland SegaIntersettle AG (SIS)
Taiwan - R.O.C. Taiwan Securities Central Depository Co., Ltd.
Thailand Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited
Togo Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
12/31/01
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
------- ------------
Tunisia Societe Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et de Depots des Valeurs Mobilieres
Turkey Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S. (TAKASBANK)
Central Bank of Turkey
Ukraine National Bank of Ukraine
Mizhregionalny Fondovy Souz
United Arab Emirates Clearing and Depository System,
a department of theDubai Financial Market
Venezuela Banco Central de Venezuela
Zambia XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited
Bank of Zambia
TRANSNATIONAL
Euroclear
Clearstream Banking AG
12/31/01
7
SCHEDULE C
MARKET INFORMATION
PUBLICATION/TYPE OF INFORMATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION
(SCHEDULED FREQUENCY)
THE GUIDE TO CUSTODY IN WORLD MARKETS An overview of settlement and
(hardcopy annually and regular safekeeping procedures, custody
website updates) practices and foreign investor
considerations for the markets in which
State Street offers custodial services.
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK REVIEW Information relating to Foreign
(annually) Sub-Custodians in State Street's Global
Custody Network. The Review stands as an
integral part of the materials that
State Street provides to its U.S. mutual
fund clients to assist them in complying
with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also
gives insight into State Street's market
expansion and Foreign Sub-Custodian
selection processes, as well as the
procedures and controls used to monitor
the financial condition and performance
of our Foreign Sub-Custodian banks.
SECURITIES DEPOSITORY REVIEW Custody risk analyses of the Foreign
(annually) Securities Depositories presently
operating in Network markets. This
publication is an integral part of the
materials that State Street provides to
its U.S. mutual fund clients to meet
informational obligations created by SEC
Rule 17f-7.
GLOBAL LEGAL SURVEY With respect to each market in which
(annually) State Street offers custodial services,
opinions relating to whether local law
restricts (i) access of a fund's
independent public accountants to books
and records of a Foreign Sub-Custodian
or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a
fund's ability to recover in the event
of bankruptcy or insolvency of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities
System, (iii) a fund's ability to
recover in the event of a loss by a
Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign
Securities System, and (iv) the ability
of a foreign investor to convert cash
and cash equivalents to U.S. dollars.
SUBCUSTODIAN AGREEMENTS Copies of the contracts that State
(annually) Street has entered into with each
Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains
U.S. mutual fund assets in the markets
in which State Street offers custodial
services.
GLOBAL MARKET BULLETIN Information on changing settlement and
(daily or as necessary) custody conditions in markets where
State Street offers custodial services.
Includes changes in market and tax
regulations, depository developments,
dematerialization information, as well
as other market changes that may impact
State Street's clients.
Foreign Custody Advisories For those markets where State Street
(as necessary) offers custodial services that exhibit
special risks or infrastructures
impacting custody, State Street issues
market advisories to highlight those
unique market factors which might impact
our ability to offer recognized custody
service levels.
Material Change Notices Informational letters and accompanying
(presently on a quarterly materials confirming State Street's
basis or as otherwise necessary) foreign custody arrangements, including
a summary of material changes with
Foreign Sub-Custodians that have
occurred during the previous quarter.
The notices also identify any material
changes in the custodial risks
associated with maintaining assets with
Foreign Securities Depositories.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS WORLDWIDE(SM)
OPERATING GUIDELINES
1. OBLIGATION OF THE SENDER: State Street is authorized to promptly debit
Client's account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the
selected Security Procedure chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money
that State Street has been instructed to transfer. State Street shall execute
payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Client's
instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received
by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment
order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received
after this time will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.
2. SECURITY PROCEDURE: The Client acknowledges that the Security Procedure it
has designated on the Selection Form was selected by the Client from Security
Procedures offered by State Street. The Client agrees that the Security
Procedures are reasonable and adequate for its wire transfer transactions and
agrees to be bound by any payment orders, amendments and cancellations, whether
or not authorized, issued in its name and accepted by State Street after being
confirmed by any of the selected Security Procedures. The Client also agrees to
be bound by any other valid and authorized payment order accepted by State
Street. The Client shall restrict access to confidential information relating to
the Security Procedure to authorized persons as communicated in writing to State
Street. The Client must notify State Street immediately if it has reason to
believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of
any change in the Client's authorized personnel. State Street shall verify the
authenticity of all instructions according to the Security Procedure.
3. ACCOUNT NUMBERS: State Street shall process all payment orders on the basis
of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a
discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account
number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. Financial
institutions that receive payment orders initiated by State Street at the
instruction of the Client may also process payment orders on the basis of
account numbers, regardless of any name included in the payment order. State
Street will also rely on any financial institution identification numbers
included in any payment order, regardless of any financial institution name
included in the payment order.
4. REJECTION: State Street reserves the right to decline to process or delay the
processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in
the account to be charged at the time of State Street's receipt of such payment
order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause State Street, in State
Street's sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network, time,
credit or similar limits upon wire transfers which are applicable to State
Street; or (c) if State Street, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that
the transaction has been properly authorized.
5. CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT: State Street shall use reasonable efforts to act
on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in
compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received
in a timely manner affording State Street reasonable opportunity to act.
However, State Street assumes no liability if the request for amendment or
cancellation cannot be satisfied.
6. ERRORS: State Street shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any
erroneous payment order provided that State Street complies with the payment
order instructions as received and State Street complies with the Security
Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of
authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in
payment orders.
7. INTEREST AND LIABILITY LIMITS: State Street shall assume no responsibility
for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized
payment order, unless State Street is notified of the unauthorized payment order
within thirty (30) days of notification by State Street of the acceptance of
such payment order. In no event shall State Street be liable for special,
indirect or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility of such
damages and even for failure to execute a payment order.
8. AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE ("ACH") CREDIT ENTRIES/PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS: When a
Client initiates or receives ACH credit and debit entries pursuant to these
Guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association
and the New England Clearing House Association, State Street will act as an
Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository
Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by
State Street with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until State
Street receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank.
If State Street does not receive such final settlement, the Client agrees that
State Street shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Client in
connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Client via such
entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.
9. CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS: Confirmation of State Street's execution of payment
orders shall ordinarily be provided within 24 hours. Notice may be delivered
through State Street's proprietary information systems, such as, but not limited
to Horizon and GlobalQuest(R), account statements, advices, or by facsimile or
callback. The Client must report any objections to the execution of a payment
order within 30 days.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS WORLDWIDE(SM)
10. LIABILITY ON FOREIGN ACCOUNTS: State Street shall not be required to repay
any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of State Street, or any deposit made with
State Street and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of such
deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is
prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to: (a) an act of war,
insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or
instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of
any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a defacto or a dejure
government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise
that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of
civil authority; or(c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch of State Street in order
to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of State Street, harm to the employees or
property of State Street. The obligation to repay any such deposit shall not be
transferred to and may not be enforced against any other branch of State Street.
The foregoing provisions constitute the disclosure required by Massachusetts
General Laws, Chapter 167D, Section 36.
While State Street is not obligated to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S.
branch or any deposit denominated in a non-U.S. currency during the period in
which its repayment has been prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked, State
Street will repay such deposit when and if all circumstances preventing,
prohibiting or otherwise blocking repayment cease to exist.
11. MISCELLANEOUS: State Street and the Client agree to cooperate to attempt to
recover any funds erroneously paid to the wrong party or parties, regardless of
any fault of State Street or the Client, but the party responsible for the
erroneous payment shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in trying to effect
such recovery. These Guidelines may not be amended except by a written agreement
signed by the parties.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS WORLDWIDE(SM)
SECURITY PROCEDURE(S) SELECTION FORM
Please select one or more of the funds transfer security procedures indicated
below.
[ ]SWIFT
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a
cooperative society owned and operated by member financial institutions that
provides telecommunication services for its membership. Participation is limited
to securities brokers and dealers, clearing and depository institutions,
recognized exchanges for securities, and investment management institutions.
SWIFT provides a number of security features through encryption and
authentication to protect against unauthorized access, loss or wrong delivery of
messages, transmission errors, loss of confidentiality and fraudulent changes to
messages. SWIFT is considered to be one of the most secure and efficient
networks for the delivery of funds transfer instructions. SELECTION OF THIS
SECURITY PROCEDURE WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR EXISTING SWIFT MEMBERS.
[ ]STANDING INSTRUCTIONS
Standing Instructions may be used where funds are transferred to a broker on the
Client's established list of brokers with which it engages in foreign exchange
transactions. Only the date, the currency and the currency amount are variable.
In order to establish this procedure, State Street will send to the Client a
list of the brokers that State Street has determined are used by the Client. The
Client will confirm the list in writing, and State Street will verify the
written confirmation by telephone. Standing Instructions will be subject to a
mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit,
the Standing Instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution.
[ ]REMOTE BATCH TRANSMISSION
Wire transfer instructions are delivered via Computer-to-Computer (CPU-CPU) data
communications between the Client and State Street. Security procedures include
encryption and or the use of a test key by those individuals authorized as
Automated Batch Verifiers.
CLIENTS SELECTING THIS OPTION SHOULD HAVE AN EXISTING FACILITY FOR COMPLETING
CPU-CPU TRANSMISSIONS. THIS DELIVERY MECHANISM IS TYPICALLY USED FOR HIGH-VOLUME
BUSINESS.
[ ]GLOBAL HORIZON INTERCHANGE(SM) FUNDS TRANSFER SERVICE
Global Horizon Interchange Funds Transfer Service (FTS) is a State Street
proprietary microcomputer-based wire initiation system. FTS enables Clients to
electronically transmit authenticated Fedwire, CHIPS or internal book transfer
instructions to State Street.
THIS DELIVERY MECHANISM IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR CLIENTS WITH A LOW-TO-MEDIUM
NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS (5-75 PER DAY), ALLOWING CLIENTS TO ENTER, BATCH, AND
REVIEW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS ON THEIR PC PRIOR TO RELEASE TO STATE STREET.
[ ]TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION (CALLBACK)
Telephone confirmation will be used to verify all non-repetitive funds transfer
instructions received via untested facsimile or phone. This procedure requires
Clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized
verifiers. State Street will verify that the instruction contains the signature
of an authorized person and prior to execution, will contact someone other than
the originator at the Client's location to authenticate the instruction.
SELECTION OF THIS ALTERNATIVE IS APPROPRIATE FOR CLIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO USE OTHER SECURITY PROCEDURES.
[ ]REPETITIVE WIRES
For situations where funds are transferred periodically (minimum of one
instruction per calendar quarter) from an existing authorized account to the
same payee (destination bank and account number) and only the date and currency
amount are variable, a repetitive wire may be implemented. Repetitive wires will
be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the
established limit, the instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to
execution. Telephone confirmation is used to establish this process. Repetitive
wire instructions must be reconfirmed annually.
THIS ALTERNATIVE IS RECOMMENDED WHENEVER FUNDS ARE FREQUENTLY TRANSFERRED
BETWEEN THE SAME TWO ACCOUNTS.
[ ]TRANSFERS INITIATED BY FACSIMILE
The Client faxes wire transfer instructions directly to State Street Mutual Fund
Services. Standard security procedure requires the use of a random number test
key for all transfers. Every six months the Client receives test key logs from
State Street. The test key contains alpha-numeric characters, which the Client
puts on each document faxed to State Street. This procedure ensures all wire
instructions received via fax are authorized by the Client.
WE PROVIDE THIS OPTION FOR CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BATCH WIRE INSTRUCTIONS AND
TRANSMIT THESE AS A GROUP TO STATE STREET MUTUAL FUND SERVICES ONCE OR SEVERAL
TIMES A DAY.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS WORLDWIDE(SM)
[ ]AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)
State Street receives an automated transmission or a magnetic tape from a Client
for the initiation of payment (credit) or collection (debit) transactions
through the ACH network. The transactions contained on each transmission or tape
must be authenticated by the Client. Clients using ACH must select one or more
of the following delivery options:
[ ]GLOBAL HORIZON INTERCHANGE AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE SERVICE
Transactions are created on a microcomputer, assembled into batches and
delivered to State Street via fully authenticated electronic transmissions in
standard NACHA formats.
[ ]Transmission from Client PC to State Street Mainframe with Telephone Callback
[ ]Transmission from Client Mainframe to State Street Mainframe with Telephone
Callback
[ ]Transmission from DST Systems to State Street Mainframe with Encryption
[ ]Magnetic Tape Delivered to State Street with Telephone Callback
State Street is hereby instructed to accept funds transfer instructions only via
the delivery methods and security procedures indicated. The selected delivery
methods and security procedure(s) will be effective_________________________ for
payment orders initiated by our organization.
KEY CONTACT INFORMATION
Whom shall we contact to implement your selection(s)?
CLIENT OPERATIONS CONTACT ALTERNATE CONTACT
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Name Name
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Address Address
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City/State/Zip Code City/State/Zip Code
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Telephone Number Telephone Number
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Facsimile Number Facsimile Number
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SWIFT Number
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Telex Number
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS WORLDWIDE(SM)
INSTRUCTION(S)
TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION
FUND BLACKROCK STRATEGIC BOND TRUST
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INVESTMENT ADVISOR BLACKROCK ADVISORS, INC.
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SUB-ADVISOR BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
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AUTHORIZED INITIATORS
Please Type or Print
PLEASE PROVIDE A LISTING OF FUND OFFICERS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY
AUTHORIZED TO INITIATE WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO STATE STREET:
NAME TITLE (Specify whether position SPECIMEN SIGNATURE
is with Fund or Investment
Adviser)
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AUTHORIZED VERIFIERS
Please Type or Print
PLEASE PROVIDE A LISTING OF FUND OFFICERS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE
CALLED BACK TO VERIFY THE INITIATION OF REPETITIVE WIRES OF $10 MILLION OR MORE
AND ALL NON-REPETITIVE WIRE INSTRUCTIONS:
NAME CALL BACK PHONE NUMBER DOLLAR LIMITATION (IF ANY)
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REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Contract dated as of February __,
2002 (the "Custodian Agreement") between BlackRock Strategic Bond Trust (the
"Customer") and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries
and affiliates ("State Street").
State Street has developed and utilizes proprietary accounting and
other systems in conjunction with the custodian services which State Street
provides to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain
information in databases under its control and ownership which it makes
available to its customers (the "Remote Access Services").
THE SERVICES
State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment
advisors, consultants or other third parties authorized by State Street
("Authorized Designees") with access to In~Sight(SM) as described in Exhibit A
or such other systems as may be offered from time to time (the "System") on a
remote basis.
SECURITY PROCEDURES
The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply,
with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user
identification or other password control requirements and other security
procedures as may be issued from time to time by State Street for use of the
System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer agrees to advise
State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe
that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access
Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the
Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other
equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and
Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State
Street.
FEES
Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and
related payment terms shall be as set forth in the custody fee schedule in
effect from time to time between the parties. The Customer shall be responsible
for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any government or
governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum,
including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes, use, value added
and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or similar taxes which
may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any claimed exemption from
such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by proper documentary evidence
delivered to State Street.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION/INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases,
computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design
techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, know- how, algorithms,
programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files,
documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State
Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System
and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary rights of State
Street related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and confidential property of
State Street and its relevant licensors (the "Proprietary Information"). The
Customer agrees
on behalf of itself and its Authorized Designees to keep the Proprietary
Information confidential and to limit access to its employees and Authorized
Designees (under a similar duty of confidentiality) who require access to the
System for the purposes intended. The foregoing shall not apply to Proprietary
Information in the public domain or required by law to be made public.
The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with
the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its
employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the
System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use
the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or
for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii)
use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other
investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv)
allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street's databases,
including data from third party sources, available through use of the System or
the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for
other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street's customer.
The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the
System in any way; enhance or otherwise create derivative works based upon the
System, nor will your or your Authorized Designees reverse engineer, decompile
or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or any part of the
System.
The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or
of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will
immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street
inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be
entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened
breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal
remedies which may be available.
LIMITED WARRANTIES
State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and has the right
to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services
contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology
including, but not limited to, the use of the Internet, and the necessity of
relying upon third party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from
third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided "AS IS", and
the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the
investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements
produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant
licensors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any
direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages
arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access
Services, nor shall either party be responsible for delays or nonperformance
under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party's
control.
State Street will take reasonable steps to ensure that its products (and those
of its third-party suppliers) reflect the available state of the art technology
to offer products that are Year 2000 compliant, including, but not limited to,
century recognition of dates, calculations that correctly compute same century
and multi century formulas and date values, and interface values that reflect
the date issues arising between now and December 31, 2099, and if any changes
are required, State Street will make the changes to its products at no cost to
you and in a commercially reasonable time frame and will require third-party
suppliers to do likewise. The Customer will do likewise for its systems.
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS
RELEVANT LICENSORS, EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES
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CONCERNING THE SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
INFRINGEMENT
State Street will defend or, at our option, settle any claim or action brought
against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that
access to the System or use of the Remote Access Services by the Customer under
this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any patent or copyright or
misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State
Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding and cooperates with
State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding. Should the System or
the Remote Access Services or any part thereof become, or in State Street's
opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of infringement or the like
under any applicable patent or copyright or trade secret laws, State Street
shall have the right, at State Street's sole option, to (i) procure for the
Customer the right to continue using the System or the Remote Access Services,
(ii) replace or modify the System or the Remote Access Services so that the
System or the Remote Access Services becomes noninfringing, or (iii) terminate
this Addendum without further obligation.
TERMINATION
Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any
reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days
prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the
Customer or thirty (30) days notice in the case of notice from the Customer to
State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party
to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the
other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event
terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of the Custodian
Agreement. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street
all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession
or in the possession of its Authorized Designees. The foregoing provisions with
respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a
period of three (3) years.
MISCELLANEOUS
This Addendum and the exhibit hereto constitute the entire understanding of the
parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the
Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a
writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer (a) confirms to the
Custodian that it informs all Authorized Designees of the terms of this
Addendum; (b) accepts responsibility for its and its Authorized Designees'
compliance with the terms of this Addendum; and (c) indemnifies and holds the
Custodian harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses,
damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities arising from any
failure of the Customer or any of its Authorized Designees to abide by the terms
of this Addendum.
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EXHIBIT A
TO
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
IN~SIGHT(SM)
System Product Description
In~Sight(SM) provides bilateral information delivery, interoperability, and
on-line access to State Street. In~Sight(SM) allows users a single point of
entry into State Street's diverse systems and applications. Reports and data
from systems such as Investment Policy Monitor(SM), Multicurrency Horizon(SM),
Securities Lending, Performance & Analytics and Electronic Trade Delivery can be
accessed through In~Sight(SM). This Internet-enabled application is designed to
run from a Web browser and perform across low-speed data lines or corporate
high-speed backbones. In~Sight(SM) also offers users a flexible toolset,
including an ad-hoc query function, a custom graphics package, a report
designer, and a scheduling capability. Data and reports offered through
In~Sight(SM) will continue to increase in direct proportion with the customer
roll out, as it is viewed as the information delivery system will grow with
State Street's customers.
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