EXHIBIT 8(a)(1)
CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Contract between Xxxxxxx Development Fund, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, hereinafter called the "Fund", and Xxxxx
Brothers Xxxxxxxx & Co., hereinafter called the "Custodian",
WITNESSETH: That in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
I. 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 Certificate of Incorporation. The Fund agrees
to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash owned by it, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by
it with respect to all securities owned by the Fund from time to time, and the
cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of Capital
Stock, $1.00 par value, ("Shares") of the Fund as may be issued or sold from
time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the
Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian.
The Custodian may from time to time employ one or more subcustodians, but
only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Directors of the Fund, and
provided that the Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or
liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any
sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.
II. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held by the
Custodian
A. Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for
the account of the Fund all non-cash property, including all securities
owned by the Fund, other than securities which are maintained pursuant to
Section L of Article II in a clearing agency which acts as a securities
depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of
the Treasury, collectively referred to herein as "Securities Systems".
B. Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release and deliver securities
owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a Securities System account
of the Custodian only upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in
the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and
receipt of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund.
3) In the case of a sale effected through a Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section L hereof.
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for portfolio securities of the Fund.
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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 K of Article II or into the name or nominee
name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article I; or for
exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to
be delivered to the Custodian;
7) To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with
the "street delivery" custom; provided that the Custodian shall
adopt such procedures, as the Fund from time to time shall
approve, to ensure their prompt return to the Custodian by the
broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
of the securities of the
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Issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for
conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any
deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the
Custodian;
9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in
any such case, the new securities and cash, if any are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by
the Fund, but only against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund,
which may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the
United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, but only against
receipt of amounts borrowed;
12) Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent ("Transfer
Agent") for the Fund, for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to
holders of shares in con-
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nection with distributions in kind, as may be described from time
to time in the Fund's currently effective prospectus, in
satisfaction of requ6sts by holders of Shares for repurchase or
redemption; and
13) For any other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt
of, in addition to proper instructions, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Directors or of the Executive Committee signed
by an officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, specifying the securities to be delivered,
setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made,
declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes, and
naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities
shall be made.
C. 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 K of Article II or in the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian
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appointed pursuant to Article I. All securities accepted by the Custodian
on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Contract shall be in "street"
or other good delivery form.
D. Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank
account or accounts in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order
by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Contract, and shall
hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all
cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund, other than cash
maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance
with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the
Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in
the Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust
companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable;
provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified
to act as a custodian under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that
each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each
such bank or trust company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the
Directors of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in
its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only
in that capacity.
E. Payments for Shares. The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of
the Fund's Shares or from the Transfer Agent of the Fund and deposit into
the Fund's account such payments
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as are received for Shares of the Fund issued or sold from time to time by
the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and
the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.
F. Investment and Availability of Federal Funds. Upon mutual agreement between
the Fund and the Custodian, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of proper
instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate
by the parties,
1) invest in such instruments as may be set forth in such
instructions on the same day as received all federal funds
received after a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the
Fund; and
2) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times
agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian in
the amount of checks received in payment for Shares of the Fund
which are deposited into the Fund's account.
G. Collection of Income. The Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all
income and other payments with respect to registered securities held
hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to
custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all
income and other payments with respect to bearer securities if on the date
of payment by the Issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or
agent thereof and shall credit such income, as
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collected, to the Fund1s 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.
H. Payment of Fund Moneys. Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may be
continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out moneys of the Fund in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of securities for the account of the Fund but
only (a) against the delivery of such securities to the Custodian
(or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the
United States or abroad which is qualified under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, to act as a custodian and has
been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose)
registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee of
the Custodian referred to in Section C of Article II 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 L of Article II hereof or (c) in the case of
repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and the
Custodian, or another bank, (i) against delivery of the
securities either in
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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 or other bank along with
written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian or other bank
to repurchase such securities from the Fund;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section B of Article
II hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued by the Fund as
set forth in Section J of Article II hereof;
4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund,
including but not limited to the following payments for the
account of the Fund: interest, taxes management, accounting,
transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund
whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part
capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
6) For any other proper purposes, but only upon receipt of, in
addition to proper instructions, a certified
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copy of a resolution of the Directors or of the Executive
Committee of the Fund signed by an officer of the Fund and
certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, specifying
the amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which
such payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is
to be made.
I. Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased. In any
and every case where payment for purchase of securities for the account of
the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the securities
purchased in the absence of specific written instructions from the Fund to
so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely liable to the Fund for
such securities to the same extent as if the securities had been received
by the Custodian, except that in the case of repurchase agreements entered
into by the Fund with a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve
System, the Custodian may transfer funds to the account of such bank prior
to the receipt of written evidence that the securities subject to such
repurchase agreement have been transferred by book-entry into a segregated
non-proprietary account of the Custodian maintained with the Federal
Reserve Bank of Boston or of the safe-keeping receipt, provided that such
securities have in fact been so transferred by book-entry.
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J. Payments for Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares of the Fund. From such
funds as may be available for the purpose but subject to the limitations of
the Certificate of Incorporation and any applicable votes of the Directors
of the Fund pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of
instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to
holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for
redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption
or repurchase of Shares of the Fund, the Custodian, if authorized by the
Directors of the Fund, may, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer
Agent, wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the
redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of
Shares of the Fund, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper
instructions, 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.
K. 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 Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the
provisions of this Article II as the Custodian may from time to time
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direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not
relieve the Custodian of any of its responsibilities or liabilities
hereunder.
L. Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems. The Custodian may deposit
and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a clearing agency
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities depository,
or in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury and certain federal agencies, collectively referred to herein as
"Securities Systems" in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board
and Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, if any, and
subject to the following provisions:
1) The Custodian may keep securities of the Fund in a Securities
System provided that such securities are represented in an
account ("Account") of the Custodian in the Securities System
which shall not include any assets of the Custodian other than
assets held as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for
customers.
2) The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
Fund which are maintained in a Securities System shall identify
by book-entry those securities belonging to the Fund.
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3) The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
of the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System
that such securities have been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund.
The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the account of
the Fund upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System
that payment for such securities has been transferred to the
Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the
Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of
the Fund. Copies of all advices from the Securities System of
transfers of securities for the account of the Fund shall
identify the Fund, be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian
and be provided to the Fund at its request. 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 on the next business day.
4) The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by
the Custodian on the Securities System's
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accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for
safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System.
5) The Custodian shall have received the initial or annual
certificate, as the case may be, required by Article IX hereof.
6) Anything to the contrary in this Contract notwithstanding, the
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to
the Fund resulting from use of the Securities System by reason of
any negligence, misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any
of its agents or of any of its or their employees or from any
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.
M. 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
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the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.
N. 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.
0. Communications Relating to Fund Portfolio Securities. The Custodian shall
transmit promptly to the Fund all written information (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities and expirations
of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian from issuers
of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all
written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the
securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his
agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires to take
action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other
similar transaction, the Fund shall notify the Custodian at least three
business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such
action.
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P. Proper Instructions. "Proper instructions" as used throughout this Article
II means a writing signed or initialled by one or more person or persons as
the Directors 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. Upon receipt of a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary as to the authorization by the Directors of the Fund accompanied
by a detailed description of procedures approved by the Directors, "proper
instructions" may include communications effected directly between
electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Directors and
the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford adequate safeguards
for the Fund's assets.
Q. 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 relating to its duties under this
contract, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for
to the Fund;
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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 Directors of the Fund.
R. 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 Directors of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of
the authority of any person to act in accordance with such vote or (b) of
any determination or of any action by the Directors pursuant to the
Certificate of Incorporation as described in such vote, and such vote may
be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of
written notice to the contrary.
III. Duties of Custodian with Respect to Books of Account and Calculation of Net
Asset Value and Net Income
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the
entity or entities appointed by the Directors of the Fund to keep the books of
account of the Fund and/or com-
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pute 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. The calculations of the
net asset value per share of the Fund shall be made at the time or times
described from time to time in the Fund's currently effective prospectus.
IV. Records
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its
activities and obligations under this Contract in such manner as will meet the
obligations of the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-l and 31a-2 thereunder,
applicable federal and state tax laws and any other law or administrative rules
or procedures which may be applicable to the Fund. All such records shall be the
property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of
the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or
agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Custodian shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a
tabulation of securities owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian and shall,
when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed
upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such
tabulations.
V. Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time
to time request, to obtain from year to year favor-
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able opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect to its
activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's Form N-l,
and Form N-1R or other annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission
and with respect to any other requirements of such Commission.
VI. Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may
reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding
securities, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a Securities
System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Contract;
such reports, which shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as
may reasonably be required by the Fund, to provide reasonable assurance that any
material inadequacies would be disclosed, shall state in detail material
inadequacies disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such
inadequacies, shall so state.
VII. 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.
VIII. 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
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title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Contract and
shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request1 consent, certificate
or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by
the proper party or parties. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of
reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Contract, but shall be
kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be entitled to
rely on and may act upon 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
responsibility of the Custodian with respect to redemptions effected by check
shall be in accordance with a separate Agreement entered into between the
Custodian and the Fund.
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.
IX. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment
This Contract shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in
full force and effect until terminated as here-
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inafter 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 Custodian shall not act under Section L
of Article II hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Directors of the Fund have approved
the initial use of a particular Securities System and the receipt of an annual
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Directors have
reviewed the use by the Fund of such Securities System, as required in each case
by Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; provided
further, however, that the Fund shall not amend or terminate this Contract in
contravention of any applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation, and further provided, that the Fund may at
any time by action of its Directors (i) substitute another bank or trust company
for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii)
immediately terminate this Contract in the event of the appointment of a
conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or
upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory
agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian such
compensation as may be due as of the date of such
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termination and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses
and disbursements.
X. Successor Custodian
If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Directors of the Fund,
the Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at
the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all
securities then held by it hereunder.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in
like manner, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the Directors of the
Fund, deliver at the office of the Custodian such securities, funds and other
properties in accordance with such vote.
In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
certified copy of a vote of the Directors shall have been delivered to the
Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective,
then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company,
which is a "bank" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, doing
business in Boston, Massachusetts, of its own selection, having an aggregate
capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report,
of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by
the Custodian and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all
other property held by it under this Contract. Thereafter, such bank or trust
company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Contract.
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In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the certified copy of vote referred to or of the
Directors to appoint a successor custodian, the 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.
XI. Interpretive and Additional Provisions
In connection with the operation of this Contract, the Custodian and the
Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in
addition to the provisions of this Contract as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Contract. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be
annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions
shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Fund. No interpretive or additional
provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an
amendment of this Contract.
XII. Massachusetts Law to Apply
This Contract shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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XIII. 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.
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 1st day of April, 1980.
SEAL XXXXXXX DEVELOPMENT FUND
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
-------------------------------------
SEAL per pro XXXXX BROTHERS XXXXXXXX & CO.
By /s/ C.A. Xxxxx
-------------------------------------
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