CONFORMING CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
Exhibit (g)
Conforming Custodian Agreement (the “Conforming Agreement”) made as of this 23rd
day of August, 2011 by and between GMO Series Trust (the “Series Trust), a business trust
established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and State Street Bank and Trust
Company (as successor by merger to Investors Bank Trust Company) (“State Street”).
WHEREAS, GMO Trust (the “Company”), Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (“GMO”) and State
Street are party to the Custodian Agreement dated August 1, 1991, as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time (the “Agreement”), pursuant to which State Street agrees to
provide certain services to the Company;
WHEREAS, in connection with the creation of the Series Trust, the parties intend to apply the
terms of the Agreement to the Series Trust, without modifying the terms of the Agreement with
respect to the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in connection with the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein set forth, the Series Trust and State Street agree as follows:
1. | The terms of the Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Series Trust as if it were the Company and to each series of the Series Trust as if it were a series of the Company, provided that all obligations of GMO in the Agreement shall be the obligations of the Series Trust. | ||
2. | A list of the series of the Series Trust is set forth in Schedule A, which shall be amended from time to time in writing by mutual agreement of the Series Trust and State Street. | ||
3. | For the avoidance of doubt, the Series Trust and State Street shall be liable to the other to the extent and under the circumstances described in the Agreement. |
[signature page immediately follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF; the parties hereto have caused this Conforming Agreement to be duly
executed as of the day and year first written above.
GMO SERIES TRUST* |
||||
By: | /s/ XX Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | XX Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
* | GMO Series Trust is a Massachusetts business trust and a copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of GMO Series Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Series Trust as Trustees and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement with respect to each series of the Series Trust are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually or any other series, but are binding only upon the assets and property of that series. |
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President |
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SCHEDULE A
LIST OF GMO SERIES TRUST FUNDS 1
LIST OF GMO SERIES TRUST FUNDS 1
GMO U.S. Core Equity Series Fund
1 | As of August 23, 2011 |
3
[This page intentionally left blank.]
Custodian Agreement
Among
GMO trust
and
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co.
and
Investors Bank & Trust Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC | PAGE | |||
1. Bank appointed custodian |
1 | |||
2. Definitions |
1 | |||
2.1 Authorized Person |
1 | |||
2.2 Security |
1 | |||
2.3 Portfolio security |
2 | |||
2.4 Officers’ Certificate |
2 | |||
2.5 Book-Entry System |
2 | |||
2.6 Depository |
2 | |||
3. Proper Instructions |
2 | |||
4. Separate Accounts |
2 | |||
5. Certification as to Authorized Persons |
3 | |||
6. Custody of Cash and Securities |
3 | |||
6.1 Cash |
3 | |||
(a) Purchase of Securities |
3 | |||
(b) Redemptions |
3 | |||
(c) Distributions and Expenses or Fund |
3 | |||
(d) Payment in respect of Securities |
4 | |||
(e) Repayment of loans |
4 | |||
(f) Repayment of Cash |
4 | |||
(g) Foreign Exchange Transactions |
4 | |||
(h) Other Authorized payments |
4 | |||
(i) Termination |
4 | |||
6.2 Securities |
4 | |||
(a) Book-Entry System |
5 | |||
(b) Use of a Depository |
6 | |||
(c) Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper |
8 | |||
(d) Use of Immobilization Programs |
8 | |||
6.3 Options and Futures Transactions |
9 | |||
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges, NASDAQ or
Over-the-Counter |
9 | |||
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on Commodities |
9 | |||
(c) Segregated Account |
10 | |||
6.4 Segregated Account for ”when-issued”, ”forward commitment” and reverse
repurchase agreement transactions |
10 | |||
6.5 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits |
11 | |||
7. Transfer of Securities |
11 | |||
8. Redemptions |
12 |
TOPIC | PAGE | |||
9. Merger, dissolution, etc. of Trust |
13 | |||
10. Actions of Bank without prior Authorization |
13 | |||
11. Maintenance of Records: Fund Evaluation: Accounting Services |
14 | |||
12. Concerning the Bank |
15 | |||
12.1 Performance of Duties |
15 | |||
12.2 Fees and Expenses of Bank |
16 | |||
12.3 Advances by Bank |
17 | |||
13. Termination |
17 | |||
14. Notices |
18 | |||
15. Amendments |
19 | |||
16. Parties |
19 | |||
17. Governing Law |
19 | |||
18. Limitation of Liability |
19 | |||
Schedule A Custody of Foreign Securities |
21 |
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of August, 1991 by and among GMO Trust, a business trust
established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Trust”) on behalf of the GMO
Core Fund, GMO SAF Core Fund, GMO Value Allocation Fund, GMO Growth Fund, GMO Short-Term Income
Fund and any other series of the Trust, currently existing or hereafter created, as shall be
mutually agreed to by the parties hereto to be subject to this Agreement (each such series referred
to herein as the “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”), Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co., a
Massachusetts general partnership, (the “Manager”) and Investors Bank & Trust Company, a
Massachusetts trust company (the “Bank”).
The Trust, an open-end management investment company, desires to place and maintain all of its
portfolio securities and cash in the custody of the Bank. The Bank has at least the minimum
qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as
custodian of the portfolio securities and cash of the Trust, and has indicated its willingness to
so act, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Bank appointed custodian. The Trust hereby appoints the Bank as custodian; of its
portfolio securities and cash delivered to the Bank as hereinafter described and to perform such
duties and provide such services as are set forth on any schedule hereto, and the Bank agrees to
act as such upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. Definitions. Whenever used herein, the terms listed below will have the following meaning:
2.1 Authorized Person. Authorized Person will mean any of the persons duly authorized
to give Proper Instructions or otherwise act on behalf of the Trust by appropriate
resolution of the Trustees of the Trust.
2.2 Security. The term security as used herein will have the same meaning as when such
term is used in the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, including, without limitation, any
note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of
interest or participation in any profit sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate,
preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract,
voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided
interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege
on any security, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (including any
interest therein or based on the value thereof), or any put, call, straddle, option, or
privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to a foreign currency, or,
in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security”, or any certificate of
interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee
of,
or warrant or right to subscribe to, or option contract to purchase or sell any of the
foregoing and futures, forward contracts and options thereon.
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2.3 Portfolio security. Portfolio security will mean any security owned by the Trust.
2.4 Officers’ Certificate. Officers’ Certificate will mean unless otherwise indicated,
any request, direction, instruction, or certification in writing signed by any two
Authorized Persons of the Trust.
2.5 Book-Entry System. Book-Entry System shall mean the Federal Reserve-Treasury
Department Book Entry System for United States government, instrumentality and agency
securities operated by the Federal Reserve Bank, its successor or successors and its nominee
or nominees.
2.6 Depository. Depository shall mean The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), a clearing
agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, its successor or successors and its nominee or nominees.
The term “Depository” shall further mean and include any other person authorized to act as a
depository under the Investment Company Act of 1940, its successor or successors and its
nominee or nominees, specifically identified in a certified copy of a resolution of the
Trustees of the Trust.
3. Proper Instructions. Proper Instructions shall mean (i) instructions regarding the
purchase or sale of securities for the portfolio of the Trust, and payments and deliveries in
connection therewith, given by an Authorized Person as shall have been designated in an Officers’
Certificate, such instructions to be given in such form and manner as the Bank and the Trust shall
agree upon from time to time, and (ii) instructions (which may be continuing instructions)
regarding other matters signed or initialed by such one or more persons from time to time
designated in an Officers’ Certificate as having been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust.
Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Bank reasonably believes them to
have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction
involved. The Trust shall cause all oral instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing. The
Bank shall act upon and comply with any subsequent Proper Instruction which modifies a prior
instruction and the sole obligation of the Bank with respect to any follow-up or confirmatory
instruction shall be to make reasonable efforts to detect any discrepancy between the original
instruction and such confirmation and to report such discrepancy to the Trust. The Trust shall be
responsible, at the Trust’s expense, for taking any action, including any reprocessing, necessary
to correct any such discrepancy or error, and to the extent such action requires the Bank to act
the Trust shall give the Bank specific Proper Instructions as to the action required. Upon receipt
of an Officers’ Certificate as to the authorization by the Trustees of the Trust accompanied by a
detailed description of procedures approved by the Trust, Proper Instructions may include
communication effected directly between electro-mechanical or
electronic devices provided that the Trustees and the Bank are satisfied that such procedures
afford adequate safeguards for the Trust’s assets.
4. Separate Accounts. The Bank will establish a Separate Account for each Fund of the Trust,
and deposit and maintain therein the assets of such Fund (and all investment earnings thereon).
Any references in this Agreement to the Trust shall be deemed to be references to the separate
Funds as appropriate.
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5. Certification as to Authorized Persons. The Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust
will at all times maintain on file with the Bank his certification to the Bank, in such form as may
be acceptable to the Bank, of (i) the names and signatures of the Authorized Persons and (ii) the
names of the members of the Trustees of the Trust, it being understood that upon the occurrence of
any change in the information set forth in the most recent certification on file (including without
limitation any person named in the most recent certification who is no longer an Authorized Person
as designated therein), the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust will sign a new or
amended certification setting forth the change and the new, additional or omitted names or
signatures. The Bank will be entitled to rely and act upon any Officers’ Certificate given to it
by the Trust which has been signed by officers named in the most recent certification.
6. Custody of Cash and Securities. Except as set forth on Schedule A hereto with respect to
assets of the Trust held outside of the U.S., as custodian for the Trust, the Bank will keep safely
all of the portfolio securities delivered to the Bank, and will deposit to the account of the Trust
all of the cash of the Trust delivered to the Bank, as set forth below.
6.1 Cash. The Bank will open and maintain a separate account or accounts in the name
of the Trust or in the name of the Bank, as custodian of the Trust, subject only to draft or
order by the Bank acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Bank will hold in
such account or accounts as custodian, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received
by it, including borrowed funds, for the account of the Trust. Upon receipt by the Bank of
Proper Instructions (which may be continuing instructions) or in the case of payments for
redemptions and repurchases of outstanding shares of common stock of the Trust, notification
from the Trust’s transfer agent as provided in Section 8, requesting such payment,
designating the payee or the account or accounts to which the Bank will release funds for
deposit, and stating that it is for a purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 6.1,
specifying the applicable subsection, or describing such purpose with sufficient
particularity to permit the Bank to ascertain the applicable subsection, the Bank will make
payments of cash held for the accounts of the Trust, insofar as funds are available for that
purpose, only as permitted in (a)-(i) below.
(a) Purchase of Securities: upon the purchase of securities for the Trust, against
contemporaneous receipt of such securities or, where appropriate, satisfactory evidence of
title thereto by the Bank registered in the name of the Trust or in the name of, or properly
endorsed and in form for transfer to, the Bank, or a nominee of the Bank, or
receipt for the account of the Bank through use of (1) the Book-Entry System pursuant
to Section 6.2(a)(3) below, (2) Depository pursuant to 6.2(b) below, or (3) Book Entry Paper
pursuant to Section 62(c) below, each such payment to be made at the purchase price shown in
the Proper Instructions received by the Bank before such payment is made;
(b) Redemptions: in such amount as may be necessary for the repurchase or redemption of
shares of beneficial interest of the Trust offered for repurchase or redemption in
accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement;
(c) Distributions and Expenses or Fund: for the payment on the account of the Trust of
dividends or other distributions to shareholders as may from time to time be declared by the
Trustees of the Trust, interest, taxes, management or supervisory fees,
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distribution fees,
fees of the Bank for its services hereunder and reimbursement of the expenses and
liabilities of the Bank as provided hereunder, fees of any transfer agent, fees for legal,
accounting, and auditing services, or other operating expenses of the Trust;
(d) Payment in respect of Securities: for payments in connection with the conversion,
exchange or surrender of portfolio securities or securities subscribed to by the Trust held
by or to be delivered to the Bank;
(e) Repayment of loans: to repay loans of money made to the Trust, but, in the case of
final payment, only upon redelivery to the Bank of any portfolio securities pledged or
hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of documents evidencing the loan;
(f) Repayment of Cash: to repay the cash delivered to the Trust for the purpose of
collateralizing the obligation to return to the Trust certificates borrowed from the Trust
representing portfolio securities, but only upon redelivery to the Bank of such borrowed
certificates;
(g) Foreign Exchange Transactions: for payments in connection with foreign exchange
contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery
which may be entered into by the Bank on behalf of the Trust upon the receipt of Proper
Instructions, such Proper Instructions to specify the currency broker or banking institution
(which may be the Bank, or any other subcustodian or agent hereunder, acting as principal)
with which the contract or option is made, and the Bank shall have no duty with respect to
the selection of such currency brokers or banking institutions with which the Trust deals or
for their failure to comply with the terms of any contract or option;
(h) Other Authorized payments: for other authorized transactions of the Trust, or other
obligations of the Trust incurred for proper Trust
purposes; provided that before making any such payment the Bank will also receive a
certified copy of a resolution of the Trustees signed by an Authorized Person of the Trust
(other than the Person certifying such resolution) and certified by its Secretary or
Assistant Secretary, naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made, and
either describing the transaction for which payment is to be made and declaring it to be an
authorized transaction of the Trust, or specifying the amount of the obligation for which
payment is to be made, setting forth the purpose for which such obligation was incurred and
declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose; and
(i) Termination: upon the termination of this Agreement as hereinafter set forth
pursuant to Section 9 and Section 13 of this Agreement.
The Bank is hereby authorized to endorse for collection and collect on behalf of and in
the name of the Trust all checks, drafts, or other negotiable or transferable instruments or
other orders for the payment of money received by it for the account of the Trust.
6.2 Securities. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Bank as custodian, will
receive and hold pursuant to the provisions hereof, in a separate account or accounts and
physically segregated at all times from those of other persons, any and all portfolio
securities which may now or hereafter be delivered to it by or for the account of the
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Trust.
All such portfolio securities will be held or disposed of by the Bank for, and subject at
all times to, the instructions of the Trust pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Subject to the specific provisions herein relating to securities that are not physically
held by the Bank, the Bank will register all portfolio securities (unless otherwise directed
by Proper Instructions or an Officers’ Certificate), in the name of a registered nominee of
the Bank as defined in the Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the Treasury
Department issued thereunder, and will execute and deliver all such certificates in
connection therewith as may be required by such laws or regulations or under the laws of any
State. The Bank will use its best efforts to the end that the specific securities held by
it hereunder will be at all times identifiable.
The Bank will use the same care with respect to the safekeeping of portfolio securities
and cash of the Trust held by it as it uses in respect of its own similar property but it
need not maintain any special insurance for the benefit of the Trust.
The Trust will from time to time furnish to the Bank appropriate instruments to enable
it to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of its
registered nominee, any securities which it may hold for the account of the Trust and which
may from time to time be registered in the name of the Trust.
Neither the Bank nor any nominee of the Bank will vote any of the portfolio securities
held hereunder by or for the account of the Trust, except in accordance with Proper
Instructions or an Officers’ Certificate.
The Bank will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Trust
all notices, proxies and proxy soliciting materials with respect to such securities, such
proxies to be executed by the registered holder of such securities (if registered
otherwise than in the name of the Trust), but without indicating the manner in which
such proxies are to be voted.
(a) Book-Entry System. Provided (i) the Bank has received a certified copy of a
resolution of the Trustees of the Trust specifically approving deposits of Trust assets in
the Book-Entry System, and (ii) for each year following such approval, the Trustees of the
Trust have reviewed and approved the arrangement and have not delivered an Officer’s
Certificate to the Bank indicating that the Trustees have withdrawn their approval:
1. The Bank may keep Securities of the Trust in the Book-Entry System provided that
such securities are represented in an account (“Account”) of the Bank (or its agent) in such
System which shall not include any assets of the Bank (or such agent) other than assets held
as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for customers.
2. The records of the Bank (and any such agent) with respect to the Trust’s
participation in the Book-Entry System through the Bank (or any such agent) will identify by
book entry securities belonging to the Trust which are included with other securities
deposited in the Account and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the
Bank (or such agent) be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents
of the Trust. Where securities are transferred to the Trust’s account, the Bank shall also,
by book entry or otherwise, identify as belonging to the Trust a quantity of
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securities in
fusible bulk of securities (i) registered in the name of the Bank or its nominee, or (ii)
shown on the Bank’s account on the books of the Federal Reserve Bank
3. The Bank (or its agent) shall pay for securities purchased for the account of the
Trust or shall pay cash collateral against the return of securities loaned by the Trust upon
(i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System that such Securities have been transferred
to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank (or its agent) to
reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Trust. The Bank (or its agent)
shall transfer securities sold or loaned for the account of the Trust upon
(i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System that payment for
Securities sold or payment of the initial cash collateral against the delivery
of securities loaned by the Trust has been transferred to the Account, and
(ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Bank (or its agent) to
reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Trust. Copies of all
advices from the Book-Entry System of transfers of Securities for the account of
the Trust shall identify the Trust, be maintained for the Trust by the Bank and
shall be provided to the Trust at its request. The Bank shall send the Trust a
confirmation, as defined by Rule 17f-4, under the Investment Company Act of
1940, of any transfers to or from the account of the Trust.
4. The Bank will promptly provide the Trust with any report obtained by the Bank or its
agent on the Book-Entry System’s accounting system, internal accounting control and
procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in the Book-Entry System. The Bank will
provide the Trust and cause any such agent to provide, at such times as the
Trust may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the
accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities,
including Securities deposited in the Book-Entry System, relating to the services provided
by the Bank or such agent under the Agreement.
5. Anything to the contrary in the Agreement notwithstanding, the Bank shall be liable
to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Trust resulting from use of the Book-Entry System
by reason of any negligence, willful misfeasance or bad faith of the Bank or any of its
agents or of any of its or their employees or from any reckless disregard by the Bank or any
such agent of its duty to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against the
Book-Entry System; at the election of the Trust, it shall be entitled to be subrogated for
the Bank in any claim against the Book-Entry System or any other person which the Bank or
its agent may have as a consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that the
Trust has not been made whole for any loss or damage.
(b) Use of a Depository. Provided (i) the Bank has received a certified copy of a
resolution of the Trustees of the Trust specifically approving deposits in DTC or other such
Depository and (ii) for each year following such approval, the Trustees of the Trust have
reviewed and approved the arrangement and have not delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the
Bank indicating that the Trustees have withdrawn their approval:
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1. The Bank may use a Depository to hold, receive, exchange, release, lend, deliver
and otherwise deal with the securities owned by the Trust, including stock dividends,
rights and other items of like nature, and to receive and remit to the Bank on behalf of
the Trust all income and other payments thereon and to take all steps necessary and
proper in connection with the collection thereof.
2. Registration of the Trust’s securities may be made in the name of any nominee or
nominees used by such Depository.
3. Payment for securities purchased and sold may be made through the clearing
medium employed by such Depository for transactions of participants acting through it.
Upon any purchase of securities for the account of the Trust, payment will be made only
upon delivery of the securities to or for the account of the Trust and the Trust shall
pay cash collateral against the return of securities loaned by the Trust only upon
delivery of the securities to or for the account of the Trust; and upon any sale of
securities for the account of the Trust, delivery of the securities will be made only
against payment thereof or, in the event securities are loaned, delivery of securities
will be made only against receipt of the initial cash collateral to or for the account
of the Trust.
4. The Bank shall be subject to the same liability and duty to the Trust and its
shareholders with respect to all securities of the Trust, and all cash, stock dividends,
rights and items of like nature to which the Trust is entitled, held or received by a
central securities system as agent for the Bank, pursuant to the foregoing
authorization, as if the same were held or received by the Bank at its own offices. In
this connection, with respect to the use of the Depository by the Bank but
without limiting the foregoing duty or liability, the Bank, without cost to the
Trust, shall ensure that:
(i) The Depository obtains replacement of any certificated security
deposited with it in the event such security is lost, destroyed, wrongfully
taken or otherwise not available to be returned to the Bank upon its request;
(ii) Any proxy materials received by Depository with respect to securities
of the Trust deposited with such Depository are forwarded immediately to the
Bank for prompt transmittal to the Trust;
(iii) Such Depository immediately forwards to the Bank confirmation of any
purchase or sale of securities for the account of the Trust and of the
appropriate book entry made by such Depository to the Trust’s account;
(iv) Such Depository prepares and delivers to the Bank such records with
respect to the performance of the Bank’s obligations and duties hereunder as may
be necessary for the Trust to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2
thereunder; and
(v) Such Depository delivers to the Bank and the Trust all internal
accounting control reports, whether or not audited by an independent public
Page 7
accountant, as well as such other reports as the Trust may reasonably request in
order to verify the Trust’s securities held by such Depository.
(c) Use of Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper. Provided (i) the Bank has received
a certified copy of a resolution of the Trustees of the Trust specifically approving
participation in a system maintained by the Bank for the holding of commercial paper in
book-entry form (“Book Entry Paper”) and (ii) for each year following such approval the
Trustees of the Trust have received and approved the arrangements, upon receipt of Proper
Instructions and upon receipt of confirmation from an Issuer (as defined below) that the
Trust has purchased such Issuer’s Book Entry Paper, the Bank shall issue and hold in
book-entry form, on behalf of the Trust, commercial paper issued by issuers with whom the
Bank has entered into a book-entry agreement (the “Issuers”). In maintaining its Book Entry
Paper System, the Bank agrees that:
1. the Bank will maintain all Book Entry Paper held by the Trust in an account
of the Bank that includes only assets held by it for customers;
2. the records of the Bank with respect to the Trust’s purchase of Book Entry
Paper through the Bank will identify, by book entry, Commercial Paper belonging to
the Trust which is included in the Book Entry Paper System and shall at all times
during the regular business hours of the Bank be open for inspection by duly
authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust.
3. (a) The Bank shall pay for Book Entry Paper purchased for the account of the
Trust upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice from the Issuer that such sale of
Book Entry Paper has been effected, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records
of the Bank to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Trust.
(b) The Bank shall cancel such Book Entry Paper obligation upon the maturity
thereof upon contemporaneous (i) receipt of advice that payment for such Book Entry
Paper has been transferred to the Trust, and (ii) the making of an entry on the
records of the Bank to reflect such payment for the account of the Trust;
4. the Bank shall transmit to the Trust a transaction journal confirming each
transaction in Book Entry Paper for the account of the Trust on the next business
day following the transactions; and
5. the Bank will send to the Trust such reports on its system of internal
accounting control as the Trust may reasonably request from time to time.
(d) Use of Immobilization Programs. Provided (i) the Bank has received a certified
copy of a resolution of the Trustees of the Trust specifically approving the maintenance of
portfolio securities in an immobilization program operated by a bank which meets the
requirements of Section 26(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (ii) for each
year following such approval the Trustees of the Trust have reviewed and approved the
arrangement and have not delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the Bank indicating that the
Trustees have withdrawn their approval, the Bank shall enter into such immobilization
program with such bank acting as a subcustodian hereunder.
Page 8
6.3 Options and Futures Transactions.
(a) Puts and Calls Traded on Securities Exchanges, NASDAQ or Over-the-Counter.
1. The Bank shall take action as to put options (“puts”) and call
options (“calls”) purchased or sold (written) by the Trust regarding escrow
or other arrangements (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
entered into upon receipt of Proper Instructions between the Bank, any
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and, if
necessary, the Trust relating to the compliance with the rules of the
Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations.
2. Unless another agreement requires it to do so, the Bank shall be
under no duly or obligation to see that the Trust has deposited or
is maintaining adequate margin, if required, with any broker in
connection with any option, nor shall the Bank be under duty or obligation
to present such option to the broker for exercise unless it receives Proper
Instructions from the Trust. The Bank shall have no responsibility for the
legality of any put or call purchased or sold on behalf of the Trust, the
property of any such purchase or sale, or the adequacy of any collateral
delivered to a broker in connection with an option or deposited to or
withdrawn from a Segregated Account as described in subparagraph c of this
Section 6.3. The Bank specifically, but not by way of limitation, shall not
be under any duty or obligation to: (i) periodically check or notify the
Trust that the amount of such collateral held by a broker or held in a
Segregated Account as described in subparagraph (c) of this Section 6.3 is
sufficient to protect such broker of the Trust against any loss; (ii) effect
the return of any collateral delivered to a broker, or (iii) advise the
Trust that any option it holds, has or is about to expire. Such duties or
obligations shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust.
(b) Puts, Calls and Futures Traded on Commodities.
1. The Bank shall take action as to puts, calls and futures contracts
(“Futures”) purchased or sold by the Trust in accordance with the provisions
of any agreement among the Trust, the Bank and a Futures Commission Merchant
registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any Contract
Market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account
deposits in connection with transactions by the Trust.
2. The responsibilities and liabilities of the Bank as to Futures, puts
and calls traded on commodities exchanges, any Futures Commission Merchant
account and the Segregated Amount shall be limited as set forth in
subparagraph (a)(2) of this Section 6.3 as if such
Page 9
subparagraph referred to
Futures Commission Merchants rather than brokers, and Futures and puts and
calls thereon instead of options.
(c) Segregated Account. The Bank shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions
establish and maintain a Segregated Account or Accounts for and on behalf of the
Trust, into which Account or Accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities
including securities maintained in an Account by the Bank pursuant to Section 6.2
hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the
Bank 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 Commodity Futures Trading Commission
or any registered Contract Market, or of any similar organization or organizations
regarding escrow
or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Trust, and (ii)
for the purpose of segregating cash or securities in connection with options
purchased, or written by the Trust or commodity futures purchased or written by the
Trust, and (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Trust with the procedures
required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or
releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of
Segregated Accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for other proper
corporate purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv), upon receipt of, in
addition to Proper Instructions, a certified copy of a resolution of the Trustees of
the Trust, or of the Executive Committee signed by an officer of the Trust and
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, setting forth the purpose or
purposes of such Segregated Account and declaring such purposes to be proper
corporate purposes.
6.4 Segregated Account for “when-issued”, “forward commitment” and reverse repurchase
agreement transactions. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Bank will maintain
a segregated account (the “Segregated Account”) in the name of the Trust (i) for the deposit
of liquid assets, such as cash, U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt
obligations, having a market value (marked to the market on a daily basis) at all times
equal to not less than the aggregate purchase price due on the settlement dates of all the
Trust’s then outstanding forward commitment or “when-issued” agreements relating to the
purchase of portfolio securities and all the Trust’s then outstanding commitments under
reverse repurchase agreements entered into with broker-dealer firms, and (ii) for the
deposit of any portfolio securities which the Trust has agreed to sell on a forward
commitment basis, all in accordance with Investment Company Act Release No. 10666. No
assets shall be deposited in the Segregated Account except pursuant to Proper Instructions.
Assets may be withdrawn from the Segregated Account pursuant to Proper Instructions
only (a) for sale or delivery to meet the Trust’s obligations under outstanding firm
commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase of portfolio securities and under
reverse repurchase agreements, (b) for exchange for other liquid assets of equal or greater
value deposited in the Segregated Account, (c) to the extent that the Trust’s outstanding
forward commitment or when-issued agreements for the purchase of portfolio securities or
reverse repurchase agreements are sold to other parties or the
Page 10
Trust’s obligations
thereunder are met from assets of the Trust other than those in the Segregated Account, or
(d) for delivery upon settlement of a forward commitment agreement for the sale of portfolio
securities.
6.5 Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits. The Bank shall, upon receipt of Proper
Instructions relating to the purchase by the Trust of interest bearing fixed term and call
deposits, transfer cash, by wire or otherwise, in such amounts and to such bank or banks as
shall be indicated in such Proper Instructions. The Bank shall include in its records with
respect to the assets of the Trust appropriate notation as to the amount of each such
deposit, the banking institution with which such deposit is made (the “Deposit Bank”), and
shall retain such forms of advice
or receipt evidencing the deposit, if any, as may be forwarded to the Bank by the
Deposit Bank. Such deposits shall be deemed portfolio securities of the Trust and the
responsibility of the Bank therefore shall be the same as and no greater than the Bank’s
responsibility in respect of other portfolio securities of the Trust.
7. Transfer of Securities. The Bank will transfer, exchange, deliver or release portfolio
securities held by it hereunder, insofar as such securities are available for such purpose,
provided that before making any transfer, exchange, delivery or release under this Section the Bank
will receive Proper Instructions requesting such transfer, exchange or delivery stating that it is
for a purpose permitted under the terms of this Section 7, specifying the applicable subsection, or
describing the purpose of the transaction with sufficient particularity to permit the Bank to
ascertain the applicable subsection, only
(a) upon sales of portfolio securities for the account of the Trust, against
contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of payment therefor in full, each such payment to be in
the amount of the sale price set forth in the Proper Instructions received by the Bank
before such payment is made;
(b) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone or other securities
and cash pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, share split-up,
change in par value, recapitalization or readjustment or otherwise, upon exercise of
subscription, purchase or sale or other similar rights represented by such portfolio
securities, or for the purpose of tendering shares in the event of a tender offer therefor,
provided however that in the event of an offer of exchange, tender offer, or other exercise
of rights requiring the physical tender or delivery of portfolio securities, the Bank shall
have no liability for failure to so tender in a timely manner unless such Proper
Instructions are received by the Bank at least two business days prior to the date required
for tender, and unless the Bank (or its agent or subcustodian hereunder) has actual
possession of such security at least two business days prior to the date of tender;
(c) upon conversion of portfolio securities pursuant to their terms into other
securities;
(d) for the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of the trust upon authorization from
the Trust;
(e) in the case of option contracts owned by the Trust, for presentation to the
endorsing broker;
Page 11
(f) when such portfolio securities are called, redeemed or retired or otherwise become
payable;
(g) for the purpose of effectuating the pledge of portfolio securities held by the Bank
pursuant to this Agreement in order to collateralize loans made to the Trust by any bank,
including the Bank; provided, however, that such portfolio securities will be released only
upon payment to the Bank for the account of the Trust of the monies borrowed, except that in
cases where additional collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made, and such
fact is made to appear in the Proper Instructions, further portfolio securities may be
released for that purpose without any such payment.
In the event that any such pledged portfolio securities are held by the Bank, they will
be so held for the account of the lender, and after notice to the Trust from the lender in
accordance with the normal procedures of the lender, that an event of deficiency or default
on the loan has occurred, the Bank may deliver such pledged portfolio securities to or for
the account of the lender;
(h) for the purpose of releasing certificates representing portfolio securities of the
Trust, against contemporaneous receipt by the Bank of the fair market value of such
security, as set forth in Proper Instructions received by the Bank before such payment is
made;
(i) for the purpose of delivering securities lent by the Trust to a bank or broker
dealer, but only against receipt in accordance with street delivery custom except as
otherwise provided in Subsections 6.2(a) and (b) hereof, of adequate collateral as agreed
upon from time to time by the Trust and the Bank, and upon receipt of payment in connection
with any repurchase agreement relating to such securities entered into by the Trust;
(j) for other authorized transactions of the Trust or for other proper corporate
purposes; provided that before making such transfer, the Bank will also receive a certified
copy of resolutions of the Trustees of the Trust, signed by an authorized officer of the
Trust (other than the officer certifying such resolution) and certified by its Secretary or
Assistant Secretary, specifying the portfolio securities to be delivered, setting forth the
transaction in or purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such transaction
to be an authorized transaction of the Trust or such purpose to be a proper corporate
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;
and
(k) upon termination of this Agreement as hereinafter set forth pursuant to Section 9
and Section 13 of this Agreement.
As to any deliveries made by the Bank pursuant to subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), (f),
(g), (h) and (i) securities or cash receivable in exchange therefor shall be delivered to
the Bank.
8. Redemptions. In the case of payment of assets of the Trust held by the Bank in connection
with redemptions and repurchases by the Trust of outstanding shares of beneficial interest, the
Bank will rely on notification by the Trust’s transfer agent of receipt of a request for redemption
and certificates, if issued, in proper form for redemption before such payment is
Page 12
made. Payment
shall be made in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, from assets available for
said purpose.
9. Merger, dissolution, etc. of Trust. In the case of the following transactions, not in the
ordinary course of business, namely, the merger of the Trust into or the consolidation of the Trust
with another investment company, the sale by the Trust of all, or substantially all, of its assets
to another investment company, or the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust and distribution of
its assets, the Bank will deliver the portfolio securities held by it under this Agreement and
disburse cash only upon the order of the Trust set forth in an Officers’
Certificate, accompanied by a certified copy of a resolution of the Trustees of the Trust
authorizing any of the foregoing transactions. Upon completion of such delivery and disbursement
and the payment of the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Bank, this Agreement will terminate.
10. Actions of Bank without prior Authorization. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, unless and until the Bank receives an Officers’ Certificate to the contrary, it will
without prior authorization or instruction of the Trust or the transfer agent:
10.1 Receive and hold for the account of the Trust hereunder and deposit in the account
or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof, all income, dividends, interest and other
payments or distribution of cash with respect to the portfolio securities held thereunder;
10.2 Present for payment all coupons and other income items held by it for the account
of the Trust which call for payment upon presentation and hold the cash received by it upon
such payment for the account of the Trust account or accounts referred to in Section 6
hereof;
10.3 Receive and hold for the account of the Trust hereunder and deposit in the account
or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof all securities received as a distribution on
portfolio securities as a result of a stock dividend, share split-up, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, readjustment, distribution of rights and similar
securities issued with respect to any portfolio securities held by it hereunder;
10.4 Execute as agent on behalf of the Trust all necessary ownership and other
certificates and affidavits required by the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations of the
Treasury Department issued thereunder, or by the laws of any state, now or hereafter in
effect, inserting the Trust’s name on such certificates as the owner of the securities
covered thereby, to the extent it may lawfully do so and as may be required to obtain
payment in respect thereof. The Bank will execute and deliver such certificates in
connection with portfolio securities delivered to it or by it under this Agreement as may be
required under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and any Regulations of the
Treasury Department issued thereunder, or under the laws of any State;
10.5 Present for payment all portfolio securities which are called, redeemed, retired
or otherwise become payable, and hold cash received by it upon payment for the account of
the Trust in the account or accounts referred to in Section 6 hereof; and
10.6 Exchange interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities.
Page 13
The Bank will use all reasonable effort to collect any funds which may to its knowledge become
collectible arising from such securities, including dividends, interest and other income, and to
transmit to the Trust notice actually received by it of any call for redemption, offer of exchange,
right of subscription, reorganization or other proceedings affecting such securities.
If portfolio securities upon which such income is payable are in default or payment is refused
after due demand or presentation, the Bank will notify the Trust in writing of any default
or refusal to pay within two business days from the day on which it receives knowledge of such
default or refusal. In addition, the Bank will send the Trust a written report once each month
showing any income on any portfolio security held by it which is more than ten days overdue on the
date of such report and which has not previously been reported.
11. Maintenance of Records: Fund Evaluation: Accounting Services. The Bank will maintain
records with respect to transactions for which the Bank is responsible pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, and in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any other applicable laws or rules, and will furnish
the Trust daily with a statement of condition of the Trust. The Bank will furnish to the Trust at
the end of every month, the close of each quarter of the Trust’s fiscal year, and at any other time
upon receipt of reasonable notice, a list of the portfolio securities and the aggregate amount of
cash held by it for the Trust. The books and records of the Bank pertaining to its actions under
this Agreement and reports by the Bank or its independent accountants concerning its accounting
system, procedures for safeguarding securities and internal amounting controls will be open to
inspection and audit at reasonable times by officers of or auditors employed by the Trust and will
be preserved by the Bank in the manner and in accordance With the applicable rules and regulations
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any other applicable laws or rules.
As custodian the Bank shall have and perform the following powers and duties:
11.1 To keep the books of account and render statements or copies from time to time as
reasonably requested by the Treasurer or any executive officer of the Trust.
11.2 To compute and, unless otherwise directed by the Trustees of the Trust, determine
as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange on each day on which said
Exchange is open for unrestricted trading and as of such other hours, if any, as may be
authorized by said Trustees the net asset value and the public offering price of a share of
capital stock of the Trust, such determination to be made in accordance with the provisions
of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust and Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information relating to the Trust, as they may from time to time be amended, and any
applicable resolutions of the Trustees of the Trust at the time in force and applicable; and
promptly to notify the Trust, or such other persons as the Trust may request of the results
of such computation and determination. In computing the net asset value hereunder, the Bank
may rely in good faith upon information furnished to it by any Authorized Person in respect
of (i) the manner of accrual of the liabilities of the Trust and in respect of liabilities
of the Trust not appearing on its books of account kept by the Bank, (ii) reserves, if any,
authorized by the Trustees or that no such reserves have been authorized, (iii) the source
of the quotations to be used in computing the net asset value, (iv) the value to be assigned
to any security for which no price quotations are available, and (v) the method of
computation of the public offering price on the basis of the net
Page 14
asset value of the shares,
and the Bank shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by such reliance or for any
good faith reliance on any quotations received from a source pursuant to (iii) above.
11.3 To assist generally in the preparation of reports to shareholders and others,
audits of accounts, and other ministerial matters of like nature.
12. Concerning the Bank.
12.1 Performance of Duties. In performing its duties hereunder and any other duties
listed on any Schedule hereto, if any, the Bank will be entitled to receive and act upon the
advice of independent counsel of its own selection, which may be counsel for the Trust, and
will be without liability for any action taken or thing done or omitted to be done in
accordance with this Agreement in good faith in conformity with such advice. In the
performance of its duties hereunder, the Bank will be protected and not be liable, and will
be indemnified and saved harmless, by the Manager, for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith reliance upon the terms of this Agreement, any Officers’
Certificate, Proper Instructions, resolution of the Trustees, telegram, notice, request,
certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by the Bank to be genuine and for any
other loss to the Bank or the Trust except in the case of the Bank’s negligence, willful
misfeasance or bad faith in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties hereunder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the
event that the Bank is entitled to indemnification from the Manager pursuant to the terms
hereof and the Bank is not promptly or fully indemnified, the Trust agrees that the Trust
shall indemnify the Bank in accordance with the provisions hereof, and all references to the
Manager in this Section 12.1 shall be deemed to refer to the Trust.
The Bank may employ agents in the performance of its duties hereunder, including, upon receipt
of Proper Instructions, subcustodians, provided that any such subcustodian meets at least the
minimum qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to act as
a custodian of the Trust’s assets; and provided further that the Bank shall have no more or less
responsibility or liability to the Trust on account of any actions or omissions of any subcustodian
so employed than any such subcustodian has to the Bank, and the Bank shall indemnify the Trust for
any loss to the Trust resulting from the acts or omissions of any subcustodian to the extent that
the Bank is so indemnified by the subcustodian.
In order that the indemnification provision contained in this section 12.1 shall apply,
however, it is understood that if in any case the Manager or the Trust may be asked to indemnify or
save the Bank harmless, the Manager and Trust shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent
facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the Bank will use all
reasonable care to identify and notify the Manager and Trust promptly concerning any situation
which presents or appears likely to present the probability of such claim for indemnification. The
Manager or the Trust, as the case may be, shall have the option to defend the Bank against any
claim which may be the subject of this indemnification, and in the event that the Manager or the
Trust so elects it will so notify the Bank and thereupon the Manager or the Trust, as the case may
be, shall take over the complete defense of the claim, and the Bank shall in such situations incur
no further legal or other expenses in connection with such claim, provided however, if the
defendants in any such action include both (i) the Manager or the Trust and (ii) the Bank, and the
Bank shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses
Page 15
available to it which are
different from or additional to those available to the Manager or the Trust, as the case may be,
the Bank shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses and to
otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of the Bank with such cost to be
borne by the party hereto ultimately liable with respect to such claim. The Bank shall in no case
confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the
Manager or the Trust will be asked to indemnify the Bank except with the prior written consent
of the Manager or the Trust, as the case may be, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The Manager or the Trust, as the case may be, shall not settle any claim without the Bank’s prior
written consent, provided however that the Bank shall not unreasonably withhold its consent.
The Trust shall pay all fees and expenses of any subcustodian.
The Bank will be under no duty or obligation to inquire into and will not be liable for:
(a) the validity of the issue of any portfolio securities purchased by or for the
Trust, the legality of the purchases thereof or the propriety of the price incurred
therefor;
(b) the legality of any sale of any portfolio securities by or for the Trust or the
propriety of the amount for which the same are sold;
(c) the legality of an issue or sale of any shares of beneficial interest of the Trust
or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor;
(d) the legality of the repurchase of any shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or
the propriety of the amount to be paid therefore except as specifically set forth on any
Schedule hereto;
(e) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by the Trust or the legality of the
distribution of any portfolio securities as payment in kind of such dividend; or
(f) any property or moneys of the Trust unless and until received by it, and any such
property or moneys delivered or paid by it pursuant to the terms hereof.
Moreover, the Bank will not be under any duty or obligation to ascertain whether any portfolio
securities at any time delivered to or held by it for the account of the Trust are such as may
properly be held by the Trust under the provisions of its Declaration of Trust, any federal or
state statutes or any rule or regulation of any governmental agency.
12.2 Fees and Expenses of Bank. The Manager will pay or reimburse the Bank from time
to time for any transfer taxes payable upon transfer of portfolio securities made hereunder,
and for all necessary proper disbursements, expenses and charges made or incurred by the
Bank in the performance of this Agreement (including any duties listed on any Schedule
hereto, if any) including any indemnities for any loss, liabilities or expense to the Bank
as provided above. For the services rendered by the Bank hereunder, the Manager will pay to
the Bank such compensation or fees at such rate and at such times as shall be agreed upon in
writing by the parties from time to time. The Bank will also be entitled to reimbursement
by the Manager for all reasonable expenses incurred in conjunction with termination of this
Agreement by the Trust. To the extent the Manager is not obligated pursuant to an agreement
with the Trust to pay the fees and
Page 16
expenses of the Bank hereunder, the Trust shall be
responsible for such obligations of the Manager set forth in this section 12.2.
12.3 Advances by Bank. The Bank may, in its sole discretion, advance funds on behalf
of any Fund to make any payment permitted by this Agreement upon receipt of any proper
authorization required by this Agreement for such payments by the Fund. Should such a
payment or payments, with advanced funds, result in an overdraft (due to insufficiencies of
the Fund’s account with the Bank, or for any other reason) this Agreement deems any such or
related indebtedness, a loan made by the Bank to such Fund payable on demand and bearing
interest at the current rate charged by the Bank for such loans unless the Trust shall
provide the Bank with agreed upon compensating balances. Provided, however, that any such
payment or payments by the Bank shall only be deemed a loan made by the Bank to a Fund to
the extent such payment or payments do not exceed 10% of the value (taken at the lower of
cost or current value) of such Fund’s total assets (not including the amount borrowed) at
the time such payment or payments are made, and are made to facilitate the meeting of
redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of portfolio
investments or for extraordinary or emergency purposes. To secure any such payments deemed
to be loans in accordance with the foregoing, the Trust hereby grants to the Bank a security
interest in and pledges to the Bank securities held by the Bank on behalf of the Fund on
whose behalf such payments were made, in an amount not to exceed the lesser of the dollar
amount deemed to constitute a loan or ten percent of such Fund’s total assets (taken at
cost), the specific securities to be designated in writing from time to time by the Trust or
the Manager; and provided, further, that (1) if from time to time neither the Trust nor the
Manager shall have designated in writing specific securities in an amount at least equal to
the lesser of the dollar amount deemed to constitute a loan or ten percent of the particular
Fund’s total assets, or (2) if as a result of the delivery by the Bank out of its custody,
pursuant to Proper Instructions, of any securities previously so designated, the remaining
amount of securities so designated shall be less than the lesser of the dollar amount deemed
to constitute a loan or ten percent of such Fund’s total assets, then the Bank shall have a
security interest in the securities of such Fund, in an amount that, taken together with
amounts of securities from time to time designated in writing by the Trust or the Manager
that have not been delivered out of the custody of the Bank pursuant to Proper Instructions,
does not exceed the lesser of the dollar amount deemed to constitute a loan or ten percent
of such Fund’s total assets. Should the Trust fail to repay promptly any such advances, the
Bank shall be entitled to use available cash and to dispose of pledged securities and
property as is necessary to repay any such advances.
13. Termination.
13.1 This Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty upon sixty days
written notice delivered by either party to the other by means of registered mail, and upon
the expiration of such sixty days this Agreement will terminate; provided, however, that the
effective date of such termination may be postponed to a date not more than ninety days from
the date of delivery of such notice (i) by the Bank in order to prepare for the transfer by
the Bank of all of the assets of the Trust held hereunder, and (ii) by the Trust in order to
give the Trust an opportunity to make suitable arrangements for a successor custodian. At
any time after the termination of this Agreement, the Trust will,
Page 17
at its request, have
access to the records of the Bank relating to the performance of its duties as custodian.
13.2 In the event of the termination of this Agreement, the Bank will immediately upon
receipt or transmittal, as the case may be, of notice of termination, commence and prosecute
diligently to completion the transfer of all cash and the delivery of all portfolio
securities duly endorsed and all records maintained under Section 11 to the successor
custodian when appointed by the Trust. The obligation of the Bank to deliver and transfer
over the assets of the Trust held by it directly to such successor custodian will commence
as soon as such successor is appointed and will continue until completed as aforesaid. If
the Trust does not select a successor custodian within ninety (90) days from the date of
delivery of notice of termination the Bank may, subject to the provisions of subsection 13.3
of this Section, deliver the portfolio securities and cash of the Trust held by the Bank to
a bank or trust company of its own selection which meets the requirements of Section
17(f)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and has a reported capital, surplus and
undivided profits aggregating not less than $25,000,000, to be held as the property of the
Trust under terms similar to those on which they were held by the Bank, whereupon such bank
or trust company so selected by the Bank will become the successor custodian of such assets
of the Trust with the same effect as though selected by the Trustees of the Trust.
13.3 Prior to the expiration of ninety (90) days after notice of termination has been
given, the Trust may furnish the Bank with an order of the Trust advising that a successor
custodian cannot be found willing and able to act upon reasonable and customary terms and
that there has been submitted to the shareholders of the Trust the question of whether the
Trust will be liquidated or will function without a custodian for the assets of the Trust
held by the Bank. In that event the Bank will deliver the portfolio securities and cash of
the Trust held by it, subject as aforesaid, in accordance with one of such alternatives
which may be approved by the requisite vote of shareholders, upon receipt by the Bank of a
copy of the minutes of the meeting of shareholders at which action was taken, certified by
the Trust’s Secretary.
14. Notices. Any notice or other instrument in writing authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given to either party hereto will be sufficiently given if addressed to such party
and mailed or delivered to it at its office at the address set forth below; namely:
(a) | In the case of notices sent to the Trust to: | ||
GMO Trust x/x Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxx & Co. 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx 0xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Xxxxx X. Salem |
|||
(b) | In the case of notices sent to the Bank to: | ||
Investors Bank & Trust Company Financial Product Services One Lincoln Plaza P.O. Box 1537 |
Page 18
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 |
|||
or at such other place as such party may from time to time designate in writing. |
15. Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by an instrument in
writing, executed by both parties, and in the case of the Trust, such alteration or amendment will
be authorized and approved by its Trustees.
16. Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement
will not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of the Bank or by the Bank without
the written consent of the Trust, authorized and approved by its Trustees; and provided further
that termination proceedings pursuant to Section 13 hereof will not be deemed to be an assignment
within the meaning of this provision.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement and all performance hereunder will be governed by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
18. Limitation of Liability. The term GMO Trust means and refers to the Trustees from time to
time serving under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated June 24, 1985, as the
same may subsequently thereto have been, or subsequently hereto be, amended. It is expressly
agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees,
shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust, personally, but shall bind only
the trust property of the Trust as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and
this Agreement has been signed by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither
such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed
to have been made by any of them, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust as provided
in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
Page 19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate and
their respective corporate seals to be affixed hereto as of the date first above written by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
GMO Trust | ||||
By: | /s/ R. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
ATTEST: |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
|
||||
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Salem | |||
ATTEST: |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
|
||||
Investors Bank & Trust Company | ||||
By: | /s/ [signature] | |||
ATTEST: |
||||
/s/ [signature]
|
Page 20
Schedule A
Custody of Foreign Securities
Custody of Foreign Securities
The following provisions govern the maintenance of the Fund’s foreign securities, and cash
incidental to transactions in such securities, which pursuant to this Schedule A shall be held in
the custody of certain foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories acting as
sub-custodians in conformity with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the “Act”):
I. EUROCLEAR
1. Appointment of Euroclear as Sub-Custodian. The Fund hereby authorizes and
instructs the Bank to employ the securities clearance and depository facilities operated by Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York in Brussels, Belgium (“Euroclear”), to act as sub-custodian of
the Fund pursuant to and governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing the Euroclear System (the
“Terms and Conditions”).
2. Assets to be Held. The Bank shall limit the securities and other assets
maintained in Euroclear to those Euroclear eligible securities which are “foreign securities”, as
defined in paragraph (c)(l) of Rule 17f-5 of the Act, and to cash and cash equivalents in such
amounts as the Bank or the Fund may determine to be reasonably necessary to effect the Fund’s
foreign securities transactions through Euroclear.
3. Use of Euroclear. Except as may other wise be agreed upon in writing by the Bank
and the Fund, the Fund authorizes the deposit in Euroclear of all foreign securities of the Fund
eligible for deposit therein and to utilize such securities depository to the extent possible in
connection with settlements of purchases and sales of securities and deliveries and returns of
securities, until notified to the contrary pursuant to Section 9 hereunder.
4. Segregation of Securities. The Bank shall identify on its books as belonging to
the Fund the foreign securities of the Fund held in Euroclear and shall hold all securities of the
Fund in an “Unencumbered Securities Account” with Euroclear.
5. Reports by Bank. The Bank shall supply the Fund from time to time, as mutually
agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and other assets of the Fund held in Euroclear
as shall be made available to the Bank by Euroclear.
6. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account. Transactions with respect to the
securities and other assets of the Fund held in Euroclear shall be effected pursuant to Proper
Instructions from the Fund to the Bank in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
7. Terms and Conditions. The Fund acknowledges that the Bank, as a participant in
Euroclear, is subject to the Terms and Conditions, a copy of which has been made available to the
Fund. The Fund acknowledges that pursuant to such Terms and Conditions, Xxxxxx Guaranty Brussels
shall have the sole right to exercise or assert any and all rights or claims in respect of actions
or omissions of, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, any other depository, clearance system or
custodian utilized by Euroclear in connection with the Fund’s securities and other assets.
Page 21
8. Monitoring Responsibilities. The Bank shall furnish to the Fund information made
available to it by Euroclear concerning the Euroclear system for use by the Fund in evaluating such
system to ensure compliance with the requirements of Rule l7f-5 of the Act. The Bank shall
promptly inform the Fund of any material changes in the circumstances surrounding the foreign
custody arrangements provided by Euroclear as such information shall be made available to the Bank
by Euroclear or otherwise.
9. Termination of Euroclear. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Fund may
instruct the Bank to cease the employment of Euroclear for maintaining custody of the Fund’s
assets, and the Bank shall so cease to employ Euroclear as soon as alternate custodial arrangements
have been implemented.
II. CITIBANK.
1. Appointment of Citibank as Sub-Custodian. The Fund hereby authorizes and
instructs the Bank to employ Citibank, NA, a national bank organized and existing under the laws of
the United States, having its principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx (“Citibank”) which has established a global custody network for the custody of foreign
securities (the “Citibank Network”) as sub-custodian for the Fund’s securities and other assets
maintained outside the United States pursuant to the Sub-Custodial Agreement by and between
Citibank and the Bank (the “Citibank Agreement”) a copy of which has been provided to the Fund.
2. Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians. The Fund hereby authorizes the Bank and
Citibank to employ as sub-custodians for the Fund’s securities and other assets maintained outside
the United States those eligible foreign custodians as such term is defined in Rule 17f-S of the
Act (an “Eligible Foreign Custodian”) or the foreign branch offices of Citibank (a “Branch”) which
are listed on Annex A hereto (the “Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians”) pursuant to agreements between
Citibank and each of such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians (the “Sub-Custodial Agreement”) as shall
have been previously furnished to the Fund by the Bank. Upon receipt of certified resolutions of
the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Bank and the Fund may agree to amend Annex A hereto from time to
time to designate additional Eligible Foreign Sub-Custodians or Branches which are part of the
Citibank Network to act as sub-custodians.
3. Assets to be Held. The Bank shall limit the securities and other assets
maintained through Citibank in the custody of the foreign sub-custodians to: (a) “foreign
securities”, as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 17f-5 under the Act, and (b) cash and cash
equivalents in such amounts as the Bank or the Fund may determine to be reasonably necessary to
effect the Fund’s foreign securities transactions, subject to the provisions of Part I of this
Schedule A, relating to Euroclear eligible securities, and Part III of this Schedule A, relating to
securities to be held in Australia.
4. Foreign Securities Depositories. Except as may other wise be agreed upon in
writing by the Bank and the Fund, the Fund authorizes the deposit in a securities depository which
is a Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian, all securities of the Fund held in the Citibank Network
eligible for deposit therein and to utilize such securities depository to the extent possible in
connection with settlements of purchases and sales of securities and deliveries and returns of
securities.
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5. Segregation of Securities. The Bank shall identify on its books as belonging to
the Fund the foreign securities of the Fund held in the Citibank Network, and Citibank shall
identify in a separate account, pursuant to the Citibank Agreement, all securities and moneys of
the Fund.
6. Agreements with Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians. Upon receiving notification
from Citibank, the Bank shall promptly notify the Fund of any changes in the terms of the
Sub-Custodial Agreements in effect with Citibank with respect to Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians.
7. Reports by Bank. The Bank shall supply the Fund from time to time, as mutually
agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and other assets of the Fund held in the
Citibank Network, including but not limited to the identification of entities having possession of
the Fund’s securities and other assets and advices or notifications of any transfers of securities
to or from each account maintained on behalf of the Fund, as shall be made available to the Bank by
Citibank.
8. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account. Transactions with respect to the
securities and other assets of the Fund held in the Citibank Network shall be effected pursuant to
Proper Instructions from the Fund to the Bank in accordance with the Citibank Agreement If at any
time, at the request of the Fund, any securities of the Fund shall be registered in the name of the
nominee-of the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodian, the Fund agrees to reimburse the Bank for any
expenses to which it may become liable pursuant to the Citibank Agreement by reason of the
registration of such securities in the name of such nominee.
9. Liability of Citibank. The standard of care and the liability of Citibank for
its actions and the actions of Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians in connection with the securities
and other assets of the Fund held in the . Citibank Network is set forth in the Citibank
Agreement.
10. Monitoring Responsibilities. The Bank shall furnish to the Fund information
made available to it by Citibank concerning the Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians for use by the Fund
in evaluating such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians to ensure compliance with the requirements of
Rule 17f-5 of the Act. The Bank shall promptly inform the Fund of any material changes in the
circumstances surrounding the foreign custody arrangements provided by Citibank as such information
shall be made available to the Bank by Citibank.
11. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Fund may instruct the Bank to cease the
employment of any one or more of such Selected Foreign Sub-Custodians for maintaining custody of
the Fund’s assets, or to terminate Citibank as Sub-Custodian of the Fund, and the Bank shall so
cease to employ such sub-custodian as soon as alternate custodial arrangements have been
implemented.
III. NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED.
1. Appointment of National Australia Bank Limited as Sub-Custodian. The Fund hereby
authorizes and instructs the Bank to employ National Australia Bank Limited, a banking institution
organized under the laws of Australia N.A., meeting the requirements of an eligible foreign
custodian as that term is defined in Rule 171-5 of the Act, having its principal office and place
of business in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (“NAB”) as sub-custodian for the Fund’s securities
and other assets maintained in Australia and New Zealand pursuant to the
Page 23
Master Sub-custodian Agreement by and between NAB and the Bank (the “NAB Agreement”), a copy
of which has been made available to the Fund.
2. Assets to be Held. The Bank shall limit the securities and other assets
maintained at NAB to: (a) “foreign securities”, as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 17f-5 under
the Act, the principal trading market for which is in Australia or New Zealand and (b) cash and
cash equivalents in such amounts as the Bank or the Fund may determine to be reasonably necessary
to effect the Fund’s foreign securities transactions, subject to the provisions of Part I of this
Schedule A, relating to Euroclear eligible securities.
3. National Nominees Limited. All securities of the Fund held by NAB shall be
registered in the name of its wholly-owned subsidiary, National Nominees Limited.
4. Segregation of Securities. The Bank shall identify on its books as belonging to
the Fund the foreign securities of the Fund held by NAB, and NAB shall identify in a separate
account, pursuant to the NAB Agreement, all securities and moneys of the Fund.
5. Reports by Bank. The Bank shall supply the Fund from time to time, as mutually
agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and other assets of the Fund held by NAB,
including but not limited to advices or notifications of any transfers of securities to or from
each account maintained on behalf of the Fund, as shall be made available to the Bank by NAB.
6. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account. Transactions with respect to the
securities and other assets of the Fund held by NAB shall be effected pursuant to Proper
Instructions from the Fund to the Bank in accordance with the NAB Agreement
7. Use of Austraclear. Upon receipt of certified resolutions of the Fund’s Board of
Directors authorizing the use of Austraclear, a securities depository, all securities of the Fund
held by NAB and eligible for deposit therein may be so deposited and held therein.
8. Liability of NAB. The standard of care and the liability of NAB for its actions
in connection with the securities and other assets of the Fund held by NAB is set forth in the NAB
Agreement.
9. Monitoring Responsibilities. The Bank shall furnish to the Fund information made
available to it by NAB concerning NAB for use by the Fund in evaluating NAB and to ensure
compliance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5 of the Act. The Bank shall promptly inform the Fund
of any material changes in the circumstances surrounding the foreign custody arrangements provided
by NAB as such information shall be made available to the Bank by NAB.
10. Termination. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Fund may instruct the
Bank to cease the employment of NAB for maintaining custody of the Fund’s assets, and the Bank
shall so cease to employ NAB as soon as alternate custodial arrangements have been implemented.
Page 24
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[IBT LETTERHEAD]
May 30, 2003
GMO Trust
00 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC
00 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Re: Amendment to the Custodian Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated August 1, 1991, by and among GMO
Trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of certain series of the Trust (the “Funds”), Grantham, Mayo, Van
Otterloo & Co. LLC (“GMO”) and Investors Bank & Trust Co. (the “Bank”), as amended.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 15 of the Agreement, this letter amends the Agreement as required by
recently adopted amendments to Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(“Rule 17-4”), governing investment companies’ use of securities depositories. Capitalized terms
used, but not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
The terms “financial assets,” “securities entitlements,” “securities intermediary,” “securities
depository,” and “intermediary custodian,” as used herein, shall have the same meaning as when such
terms are used in Rule 17f-4 for purposes of Rule 17f-4.
The Bank hereby agrees to the following as of the date hereof:
(1) | In addition to, and not in lieu of, any standard of care set forth in the Agreement, the Bank shall be obligated to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards when placing and maintaining financial assets corresponding to the Trust’s securities entitlements with a securities depository or an intermediary custodian; | ||
(2) | In addition to the Bank’s obligations under Section 11 of the Agreement, the Bank shall provide, promptly upon request by |
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the Trust, such reports as are available regarding its internal accounting controls and financial strength; | |||
(3) | In addition to, and not in lieu of, any standard of care set forth in the Agreement that is applicable to an intermediary custodian appointed by the Bank pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, any such intermediary custodian shall be obligated, pursuant to the terms of its agreement or other arrangement with the Bank, at a minimum to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain financial assets, corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders (as defined in U.C.C. Sections 8-102(a)(7) (2002)); | ||
(4) | Notwithstanding requirements to the contrary in Sections 6.2(a) through (c) of the Agreement, the Trustees of the Trust shall not be required to provide prior approval or annual reapproval of the Bank’s use of the Book-Entry System, a Depository, or a system maintained by the Bank for the holding of Book-Entry Paper, and the Trust hereby agrees that the Bank may so use such systems or depositories; and | ||
(5) | The clause “, specifically identified in a certified copy of a resolution of the Trustees of the Trust” in the last sentence of Section 2.6 of the Agreement is hereby deleted. |
This letter agreement shall constitute an amendment to the Agreement and, as such, a binding
agreement among the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, the Manager, and the Bank in accordance with its
terms. The terms of this letter agreement shall be effective as of March 28, 2003.
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Sincerely, INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY |
||||
By: | /S/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
The foregoing is hereby
accepted and agreed.
accepted and agreed.
GMO TRUST, on behalf of the Funds
By: | /S/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary | |||
GRANTHAM, MAYO, VAN OTTERLOO & CO. LLC |
||||
By: | /S/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Associate General Counsel | |||
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