FORM OF CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This Agreement between RMR F.I.R.E. FUND, a business trust organized and
existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "FUND"), and
STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the
"CUSTODIAN").
WITNESSETH: that in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT
The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets, including
securities which the Fund desires to be held in places within the United States
("DOMESTIC SECURITIES") and securities it desires to be held outside the United
States ("FOREIGN SECURITIES"). The Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all
securities and cash owned by it, and all payments of income, payments of
principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities
owned by it from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for
such new or treasury shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ("SHARES") as may
be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for
any property of the Fund held or received by the Fund and not delivered to the
Custodian.
Upon receipt of "PROPER INSTRUCTIONS" (as such term is defined in Section 7
hereof), the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians
located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "BOARD"). The Custodian may employ as
sub-custodian for the Fund's foreign securities the foreign banking institutions
and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but
only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4. The
Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on
account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any
such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND HELD BY
THE CUSTODIAN IN THE UNITED STATES
SECTION 2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically
segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property, to be held by it in
the United States, including all domestic securities owned by the Fund other
than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing
agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system
authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a "U.S. SECURITIES
System").
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SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and
deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian or in a U.S.
Securities System account of the Custodian, only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by
the parties, and only in the following cases:
1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund and receipt
of payment therefor;
2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;
3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;
4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for securities of the Fund;
5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called,
redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any
such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the
Custodian;
6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the
Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed
pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any
sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a
different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence
representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;
PROVIDED that, in any such case, the new securities are to be
delivered to the Custodian;
7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund, to the
broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in
accordance with "street delivery" custom; provided that in any such
case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for
any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to
receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the
Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct;
8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant
to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new
securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
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9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender
thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar
securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such
case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to
the Custodian;
10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the
Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as agreed upon
from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which may be in the
form (among others) of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to
the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;
11) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the
Fund to a third party lending agent, or the lending agent's
custodian, in accordance with Proper Instructions (which may or may
not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor)
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;
12) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
trading in futures and options on futures contracts entered into by
the Fund;
13) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund, BUT ONLY against
receipt of amounts borrowed;
14) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and a
member of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options
Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding
escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
Fund;
15) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
among the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant
registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance
with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC")
and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or
organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with
transactions by the Fund;
16) Upon further receipt of instructions from the transfer agent for the
Fund (the "TRANSFER AGENT") for delivery to such Transfer Agent or
to the holders of Shares
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in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from
time to time in the Fund's currently effective prospectus and
statement of additional information (the "PROSPECTUS"), in
satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or
redemption;
17) For delivery to one or more co-custodians (each, a "REPO CUSTODIAN")
appointed by the Fund and communicated to the Custodian by Proper
Instructions, including Schedule D (as may be amended from time to
time) attached to this Agreement, duly executed by an authorized
officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase
agreement transactions, which delivery may be made without
contemporaneous receipt by the Custodian of assets in exchange
therefor, and upon which delivery to such Repo Custodian in
accordance with Proper Instructions from the Fund, the Custodian
shall have no further responsibility or obligation to the Fund as a
custodian for the Fund with respect to the securities so delivered
(each such delivery, a "FREE TRADE"), provided that, in preparing
reports of monies received or paid out of the Fund or of assets
comprising the Fund, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon
information received from time to time from the Repo Custodian and
shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of such
information included in the Custodian's reports until such assets
are received by the Custodian; and
18) For any other purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the securities of the Fund to be delivered and naming the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the
Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the
Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the
Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, UNLESS the
Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common
with other registered investment companies having the same investment advisor as
the Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to
Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed
pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the
Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in "street name" or other good
delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain
securities in "street name", the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only
to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund
on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without
limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.
SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a
separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund,
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the
provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund,
other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in
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accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 ACT"). Monies held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by
it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in
such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary
or desirable; PROVIDED, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be
qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or
trust company and the monies to be deposited with each such bank or trust
company shall be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such monies shall
be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be
withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.
SECTION 2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
payments with respect to registered domestic 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 domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer,
such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and shall credit
such income, as collected, to the Fund's custodian account. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment
all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they
become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder.
Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no
duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund
with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in
arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the
Fund is properly entitled.
SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following cases only:
1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts
or options on futures contracts for the account of the Fund but only
(a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to
such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to
the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing
business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the
1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the
Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of
the Fund or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in
Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case
of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in
accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c)
in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund
and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a
member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in
certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's
account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii)
against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of
securities owned by the Custodian
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along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to
repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (d) for transfer to a
time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or
foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a
confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to
Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;
2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities
owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;
3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in
Section 6 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,
administration, shareholder servicing, transfer agent and legal
fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such
expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as
deferred expenses;
5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the
governing documents of the Fund;
6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
7) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
trading in futures and options on futures contracts entered into by
the Fund;
8) For payment of cash to one or more Repo Custodians appointed by the
Fund and communicated to the Custodian by Proper Instructions,
including Schedule D (as may be amended from time to time) attached
to this Agreement, duly executed by an authorized officer of the
Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement
transactions, which payment may be made without contemporaneous
receipt by the Custodian of assets in exchange therefor, and upon
which delivery to such Repo Custodian in accordance with Proper
Instructions from the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further
responsibility or obligation to the Fund as a custodian for the Fund
with respect to the securities so delivered in a Free Trade,
provided that, in preparing reports of monies received or paid out
of the Fund or of assets comprising the Fund, the Custodian shall be
entitled to rely upon information received from time to time from
the Repo Custodian and shall not be responsible for the accuracy or
completeness of such information included in the Custodian's reports
until such assets are received by the Custodian; and
9) For any other purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is to be made.
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SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS. The Custodian may at any time or times
in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust
company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as
its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian
may from time to time direct; PROVIDED, however, that the appointment of any
agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities
hereunder.
SECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The
Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Fund in a U.S.
Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 of the 1940
Act, as amended from time to time.
SECTION 2.9 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of
Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for
and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred
cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the
Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (i) in accordance with the provisions
of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered
under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission
merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance
with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered
national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or
of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other
arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (ii) for purposes of
segregating cash or government securities in connection with swaps arrangements
entered into by the Fund, options purchased, sold or written by the Fund, or
commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund,
(iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by
Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), or interpretative opinion of the
staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by
registered investment companies, and (iv) for any other purpose upon receipt of
Proper Instructions.
SECTION 2.10 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall
execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and
state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with
respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with
transfers of securities.
SECTION 2.11 PROXIES. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic
securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered
holder of such securities, if the securities are registered other than in the
name of the Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication of
the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to
the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating
to such securities.
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SECTION 2.12 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FUND SECURITIES. Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all
written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and
maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection
therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund
and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by
the Custodian from issuers 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 its agents)
making the tender or exchange offer. If the Fund desires to take action with
respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other similar transaction,
the Fund shall notify the Custodian at least three business days prior to the
date on which the Custodian is to take such action. Custodian shall supply, upon
the request of the Fund, written information concerning nonvoluntary corporate
actions such as record and payment dates of dividends.
SECTION 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7
SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:
"Country Risk" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment, economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country),
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country; provided, however, Country Risk shall not include the
custody or settlement practices and procedures of an Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager that are not prevailing practices in the
country in which the Foreign Assets are held.
"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank
(as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of
an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other
appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in
Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx) meeting the requirements of a custodian under
Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities
Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Fund's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
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"Rule 17f-5" means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act, as amended from
time to time.
"Rule 17f-7" means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act, as amended from
time to time
SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.
3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. The
Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian,
subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this
Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and
the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager of the
Fund.
3.2.2 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A to this Contract, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Fund's
assets, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to
time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section
3.2.5 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open
an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening
requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to
have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with
respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this
Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an
account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on
Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously placed or currently maintains
Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the Contract. Following the receipt of
Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account
of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody
Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn,
the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the
Fund with respect to that country, and the Custodian shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to effect the closing of such account.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Sixty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing)
after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no
further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the
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Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of
delegation is withdrawn.
3.2.3 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES:
(a) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the provisions
of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the
Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from
time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody
Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian,
the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be
subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in
the relevant market in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible
Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of
such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule
17f-5(c)(1), as amended from time to time.
(b) CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. The Foreign Custody
Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2), as amended
from time to time.
(c) MONITORING. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager
maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the
Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to
monitor, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c): (i) the
appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign
Custodian and (ii) performance of the contract governing the custody
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the
custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no
longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For
purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board, or at its delegation, the Fund's
investment advisor, shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept
such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets
in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of
the Fund.
3.2.5 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager
shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign
Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign
Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the
calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The
Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any
other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described
in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change as required by
Rule 17f-5(b)(2).
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3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF THE FUND. In
performing the responsibilities delegated to it hereunder, the Foreign Custody
Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a
person having responsibility for the safekeeping of foreign assets of management
investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.
3.2.7 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17F-5. The Foreign
Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in
section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the
Board has determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the
Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Contract to
the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN
CUSTODY MANAGER. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in
effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the
terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination of the Custodian as
Foreign Custody Manager will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by
the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof
shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to designated countries.
SECTION 3.3 ELIGIBLE SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
3.3.1 ANALYSIS AND MONITORING. The Custodian shall (a) provide the
Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) with an
analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the
Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto, as amended from
time to time, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b)
monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its
duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor) of any material change
in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
3.3.2 STANDARD OF CARE. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable
care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section
3.3.1.
SECTION 3.4 ACCESS OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS OF THE FUND. Upon
reasonable request of the Fund, the Custodian will use reasonable efforts to
arrange for the independent accountants for the Fund to be afforded access to
the books and records of any foreign banking institution employed as a Foreign
Sub-Custodian insofar as such books and records relate to the performance of
such foreign banking institution under its agreement with the Custodian as the
Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
11
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE FUND
HELD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian hereunder.
SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books
as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign
securities for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign
Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for
the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the
Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Fund which are maintained in
such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii),
to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is
maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign
Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian
or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.
SECTION 4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be
maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through
arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as
applicable, in such country.
SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.
4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by
the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System
account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing
instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following
cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in accordance
with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where
such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without
limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later
payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign
Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the
operation of the Foreign Securities System;
(ii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar
offers for foreign securities of the Fund;
12
(iii) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are
called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(iv) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of
the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian
or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or
for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other
evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
units;
(v) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination
or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that
in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no
responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery
of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities
except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct;
(vi) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of
the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to
provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant
to any deposit agreement;
(vii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the
surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary
securities for definitive securities;
(viii) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the
Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
(ix) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
trading in options and futures contracts entered into by the Fund;
(x) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities made
by the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to
the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held
liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral;
(xi) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities made
by the Fund to a third party lending agent, or the lending agent's
custodian, in accordance with
13
Proper Instructions (which may not provide for the receipt by the
Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by
the Custodian and the Fund;
(xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the
person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.
4.4.2. PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the
respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money
to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such
seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of
such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected
through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules
governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign
securities of the Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund, including
but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes,
investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this
Contract, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange
contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or
through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;
(v) for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with
futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of
securities sold short;
(vii) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities made
by the Fund, BUT ONLY against receipt of adequate collateral as
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund, which
may be in the form of cash or obligations issued by the United
States government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except that in
connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to
the Custodian's account in the book-entry system authorized by the
U.S. Department
14
of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or
responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Fund prior
to the receipt of such collateral;
(viii) for delivery in connection with any loans of foreign securities made
by the Fund to a third party lending agent, or the lending agent's
custodian, in accordance with Proper Instructions (which may not
provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor)
agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;
(ix) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions
specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or
persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. MARKET CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Contract to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for
the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the
account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established
securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or
market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation,
delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or
an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later
payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer. The Custodian
shall provide to the Board or its duly-authorized designee the information with
respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian
employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or
times set forth on such Schedule.
The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such
revision shall result in the Board or its duly-authorized designee being
provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided
hereunder.
SECTION 4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities
maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer
securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the
Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any
nominee of the foregoing, and, provided that such nominee does not act
negligently, the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any
liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of
the Fund under the terms of this Contract unless the form of such securities and
the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market
practice.
SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies)
deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or
market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the
Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained
outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. All accounts referred to in
this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if
applicable, such Foreign
15
Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash
received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books
of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates),
regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established
under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the
Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall
credit such income, as collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary
measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall
consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the
Custodian relating to such measures.
SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities
held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial
efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights,
subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist
in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that
local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations,
lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the
ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.
SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian
shall transmit promptly to the Fund written information with respect to
materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers
of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund (including,
without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written
information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers
of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party
(or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be
liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power
in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time
held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is
in actual possession or control of such foreign securities or property and (ii)
the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any
such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days
prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such
right or power.
SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement pursuant
to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall require the Foreign
Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and,
to the extent possible, to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian from and
against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in
connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At
the Fund's election, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the
Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a
consequence of
16
any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent
that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense,
liability or claim.
SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or
liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any
state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the
Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the
Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those
mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and
other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and
governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to
such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect
to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which
the Fund has provided such information.
SECTION 4.12. LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall be liable for the
acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in the Contract and, regardless of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a
Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss,
damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other
loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.
SECTION 5. LOAN SERVICING PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1 GENERAL. The following provisions shall apply with respect
to investments, property or assets in the nature of loans, or interests or
participations in loans, including without limitation interests in syndicated
bank loans and bank loan participations, whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S.
(collectively, "LOANS") entered into by the Fund on behalf of one or more of its
Portfolios (referred to in this Section 5 as the "Fund").
SECTION 5.2 SAFEKEEPING. Instruments, certificates, agreements and/or
other documents which the Custodian may receive with respect to Loans, if any
(collectively "FINANCING DOCUMENTS"), from time to time, shall be held by the
Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
SECTION 5.3 DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall accept such
Financing Documents, if any, with respect to Loans as may be delivered to it
from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to
examine the contents or determine the sufficiency of any such Financing
Documents or to provide any certification with respect thereto, whether received
by the Custodian as original documents, photocopies, by facsimile or otherwise.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian is under no duty to examine any
such Financing Documents to determine whether necessary steps have been taken or
requirements met with respect to the assignment or transfer of the related Loan
or applicable interest or participation in such Loan. The Custodian shall be
entitled to assume the genuineness, sufficiency and completeness of any
17
Financing Documents received, and the genuineness and due authority of any
signature appearing on such documents. Notwithstanding any term of this
Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Loans, (i) the Custodian shall be
under no obligation to determine, and shall have no liability for, the
sufficiency of, or to require delivery of, any instrument, document or agreement
constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan, other than to receive such
Financing Documents, if any, as may be delivered or caused to be delivered to it
by the Fund (or its investment manager acting on its behalf), (ii) without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, delivery of any such Loan (including
without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.7 above) may be made to the
Custodian by, and may be represented solely by, delivery to the Custodian of a
facsimile or photocopy of an assignment agreement (an "ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT") or
a confirmation or certification from the Fund (or the investment manager) to the
effect that it has acquired such Loan and/or has received or will receive, and
will deliver to the Custodian, appropriate Financing Documents constituting,
evidencing or representing such Loan (such confirmation or certification,
together with any Assignment Agreement, collectively, an "ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
OR CONFIRMATION"), in any case without delivery of any promissory note,
participation certificate or similar instrument (collectively, an "INSTRUMENT"),
(iii) if an original Instrument shall be or shall become available with respect
to any such Loan, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund (or the
investment manager acting on its behalf) to make or cause delivery thereof to
the Custodian, and the Custodian shall be under no obligation at any time or
times to determine whether any such original Instrument has been issued or made
available with respect to such Loan, and shall not be under any obligation to
compel compliance by the Fund to make or cause delivery of such Instrument to
the Custodian, and (iv) any reference to Financing Documents appearing in this
Section 4 shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any such Instrument
and/or Assignment Agreement or Confirmation.
If payments with respect to a Loan ("LOAN PAYMENT") are not received by the
Custodian on the date on which they are due, as reflected in the Payment
Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 5.4 below) of the Loan ("PAYMENT
DATE"), or in the case of interest payments, not received either on a scheduled
interest payable date, as reported to the Custodian by the Fund (or the
investment manager acting on its behalf) for the Loan (the "INTEREST PAYABLE
DATE"), or in the amount of their accrued interest payable, the Custodian shall
promptly, but in no event later than one business day after the Payment Date or
the Interest Payable Date, give telephonic notice to the party obligated under
the Financing Documents to make such Loan Payment (the "OBLIGOR") of its failure
to make timely payment, and (2) if such payment is not received within three
business days of its due date, shall notify the Fund (or the investment manager
on its behalf) of such Obligor's failure to make the Loan Payment. The Custodian
shall have no responsibility with respect to the collection of Loan Payments
which are past due, other than the duty to notify the Obligor and the Fund (or
the investment manager acting on its behalf) as provided herein.
The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever under this
Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing Documents, except for such
responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve
any rights against prior parties or to exercise any right or perform any
obligation in connection with the Loans or any Financing Documents (including,
without limitation,
18
no obligation to take any action in respect of or upon receipt of any consent
solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any bank agent
or Obligor, except that the Custodian shall undertake reasonable efforts to
forward any such notice to the Fund or the investment manager acting on its
behalf). In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian
may request instructions from the Fund and shall be entitled at all times to
refrain from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from
the Fund or the investment manager and the Custodian shall in all events have no
liability, risk or cost for any action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant
to and in compliance with the Proper Instructions of such parties.
The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan Payments
actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Fund; any and
all credits and payments credited to the Fund, with respect to Loans, shall be
conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment
thereon.
The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, release to the Fund's
investment manager or to any party as the Fund or the Fund's investment manager
may specify, any Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Fund. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be deemed to have or be charged
with knowledge of the sale of any Loan, unless and except to the extent it shall
have received written notice and instruction from the Fund (or the investment
manager acting on its behalf) with respect thereto, and except to the extent it
shall have received the sale proceeds thereof.
In no event shall the Custodian be under any obligation or liability to make any
advance of its own funds with respect to any Loan.
SECTION 6. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OF SHARES.
The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the Shares or from the
Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the Fund such payments as are
received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The
Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of
any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.
SECTION 7. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS.
"PROPER INSTRUCTIONS", which may also be standing instructions, as used
throughout this Agreement shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from
one or more persons or one or more entities as the Board shall have authorized
from time to time. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized
person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication
utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices
or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and
utilities as may be agreed to from time to time by the Custodian and the person
giving such instructions, provided that the Fund has followed any security
procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, including,
but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund in the Funds
Transfer Addendum to this Agreement. Oral instructions will be considered Proper
Instructions if
19
the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized
to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund
shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of
this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the
Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated
asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement. The Fund shall
cause its duly authorized officer to certify to the Custodian in writing the
names and specimen signatures of persons authorized to give Proper Instructions.
The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the identity and authority of such
persons until it receives notice from the Fund to the contrary.
SECTION 8. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY.
The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:
1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this
Agreement, PROVIDED that all such payments shall be accounted for to
the Fund;
2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive
form;
3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and
other negotiable instruments; and
4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other
dealings with the securities and property of the Fund except as
otherwise directed by the Board.
SECTION 9. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY.
The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice,
request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably believed
by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the
Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board,
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund ("CERTIFIED
RESOLUTION"), as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act
in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action
by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be
considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written
notice to the contrary.
SECTION 10. DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND NET INCOME.
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the
entity or entities appointed by the Board to keep the books of account of the
Fund and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or,
if directed in writing to do so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of
account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. If so directed,
20
the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Fund as described
in the currently effective Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer
Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in
writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent
periodically of the division of such net income among its various components.
The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of the
Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the
currently effective Prospectus.
SECTION 11. RECORDS.
The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities
and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations
of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof
and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of
the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the
Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or
agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at
the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by the
Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund
and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the
Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.
SECTION 12. OPINION OF FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT.
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to
time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund's
independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection
with the preparation of the Fund's Form N-2, and Form N-SAR or other annual
reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.
SECTION 13. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may reasonably
require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting
system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities,
futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities
deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities
System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement;
such reports shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may
reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any
material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are
no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
21
SECTION 14. 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 in the Custodian Fee Schedule.
SECTION 15. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN.
So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care and
good faith, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement,
but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for
any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including,
without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall
be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel
for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted in good faith pursuant to such advice. The Custodian
shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk (as defined
in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization,
expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or
terrorism.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence, willful misconduct, or
bad faith or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent,
the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability,
claim or expense resulting from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond
the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities
System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without
limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the
closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological
failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work
stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by
the Fund or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment advisor in
their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions, and Custodian's
reasonable reliance upon them, have been in accordance with this Agreement;
(iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any
delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other
commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian's
sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made
in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company,
corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities
in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian's sub-custodians, nominees
or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to
transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and
22
rights and other accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its
duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any
particular security or Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present
or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any
state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any
court of competent jurisdiction.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian (as defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth
with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.
If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to
securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in
the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to
the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some
other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such
action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form
satisfactory to it.
If the Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to
advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to
securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in
the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any
taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with
the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its
nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct,
any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security
therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian
shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund's assets
to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.
In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, special or consequential
damages.
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution, shall continue in
full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may be amended
at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be terminated by
either party by an instrument in writing delivered or mailed, postage prepaid to
the other party, such termination to take effect not sooner than thirty (30)
days after the date of such delivery or mailing; PROVIDED, however, that the
Fund shall not amend or terminate this Agreement in contravention of any
applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust, and further provided, that the Fund may at any time by
action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the
Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii)
immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a
conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or
upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory
agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
23
Upon termination of the Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian such
compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination and shall likewise
reimburse the Custodian for its reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements.
SECTION 17. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.
If a successor custodian for the Fund shall be appointed by the Board, the
Custodian shall, upon termination and receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver to
such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in
the form for transfer, all securities of the Fund then held by it hereunder and
shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of
the Fund held in a Securities System.
If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like
manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the
Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance
with such alternative arrangements.
In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or
alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before
the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall
have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a "bank" as
defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, or New York,
New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and
undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than
$25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian
hereunder and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all
other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and to
transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Fund's securities
held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be
the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.
In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the Proper Instructions or alternative
arrangements to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled
to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian
retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the
provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the
Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 18. INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund
may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to
the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent
with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional
provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed
hereto, PROVIDED that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall
contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the
Fund's Declaration of Trust. No
24
interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence
shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
SECTION 19. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY.
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under
and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 20. PRIOR AGREEMENTS.
This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior
Agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of the
Fund's assets.
SECTION 21. NOTICES.
Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may
be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during
normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or
telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as
may be notified by any party from time to time.
To the Fund: RMR F.I.R.E. FUND
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
To the Custodian: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx - XXX/0
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served
in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after
posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case
of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business hours
it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when
normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or telecopy on
the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was
properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence
of posting.
25
SECTION 22. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.
This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, attachments and amendments
hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm,
micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
SECTION 23. REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM.
The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access
Services Addendum attached hereto.
SECTION 24. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute but
one and the same instrument.
SECTION 25. SEVERABILITY.
Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such
a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement shall be deemed prohibited or invalid under such applicable
law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
invalidity, and such prohibition or invalidity shall not invalidate the
remainder of such provision or the other provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 26. STATUS OF FUND AS MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST.
A copy of the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby
given that this Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer or
Trustee of the Fund in his or her capacity as an officer or Trustee of the Fund
and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this
Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
SECTION 27. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION.
SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers
to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and
holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank
unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this
information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to
26
indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund's name,
address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund
owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian "no", the Custodian will not provide this
information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian "yes" or
does not check either "yes" or "no" below, the Custodian is required by the rule
to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all
securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund.
For the Fund's protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using
the Fund's name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications.
Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of
the alternatives below.
YES / / The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund's name, address, and
share positions.
NO /X/ The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund's name, address,
and share positions.
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 ____________, 2004.
RMR F.I.R.E. FUND FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: By:
-------------------------- -----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-------------------------- -----------------------
Title: Secretary Title:
-------------------------- -----------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:
By: By:
-------------------------- -----------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
-------------------------- -----------------------
Title: Executive Vice President Title: Counsel
-------------------------- -----------------------
27
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement dated as of ______ __, 2004
(the "Custodian Agreement") between RMR F.I.R.E. (the "Customer") and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates ("State
Street").
State Street has developed and utilizes proprietary accounting and other
systems in conjunction with the custodian services which State Street provides
to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain information in
databases under its control and ownership which it makes available to its
customers (the "Remote Access Services").
THE SERVICES
State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment
advisors, consultants or other third parties authorized by State Street
("Authorized Designees") with access to In~Sight(SM) as described in Exhibit A
or such other systems as may be offered from time to time (the "System") on a
remote basis.
SECURITY PROCEDURES
The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply,
with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user
identification or other password control requirements and other security
procedures as may be issued from time to time by State Street for use of the
System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer agrees to advise
State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe
that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access
Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the
Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other
equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and
Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State
Street.
FEES
Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and
related payment terms shall be as set forth in the Custody Fee Schedule in
effect from time to time between the parties (the "Fee Schedule"). The Customer
shall be responsible for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any
government or governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by
this Addendum, including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes,
use, value added and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or
similar taxes which may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any
claimed exemption from such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by
proper documentary evidence delivered to State Street.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION/INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases,
computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design
techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, knowhow, algorithms,
programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files,
documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State
Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System
and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary rights of State
Street related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and confidential property of
State Street and its relevant licensors (the "Proprietary Information"). The
Customer agrees on behalf of itself and its
i
Authorized Designees to keep the Proprietary Information confidential and to
limit access to its employees and Authorized Designees (under a similar duty of
confidentiality) who require access to the System for the purposes intended. The
foregoing shall not apply to Proprietary Information in the public domain or
required by law to be made public.
The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with
the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its
employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the
System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use
the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or
for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii)
use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other
investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv)
allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street's databases,
including data from third party sources, available through use of the System or
the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for
other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street's customer.
The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the
System in any way; enhance or otherwise create derivative works based upon the
System; nor will the Customer or Customer's Authorized Designees reverse
engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or
any part of the System.
The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or
of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will
immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street
inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be
entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened
breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal
remedies which may be available.
LIMITED WARRANTIES
State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and has the right
to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services
contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology,
including but not limited to the use of the Internet, and the necessity of
relying upon third party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from
third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided "AS IS", and
the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the
investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements
produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant
licensors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any
direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages
arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access
Services, nor shall either party be responsible for delays or nonperformance
under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party's
control.
State Street will take reasonable steps to ensure that its products (and those
of its third-party suppliers) reflect the available state of the art technology
to offer products that are Year 2000 compliant, including, but not limited to,
century recognition of dates, calculations that correctly compute same century
and multi century formulas and date values, and interface values that reflect
the date issues arising between now and the next one-hundred years, and if any
changes are required, State Street will make the changes to its products at no
cost to you and in a commercially reasonable time frame and will require
third-party suppliers to do likewise. The Customer will do likewise for its
systems.
ii
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS
RELEVANT LICENSORS, EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE
SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
INFRINGEMENT
State Street will defend or, at our option, settle any claim or action brought
against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that
access to the System or use of the Remote Access Services by the Customer under
this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any patent or copyright or
misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State
Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding and cooperates with
State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding. Should the System or
the Remote Access Services or any part thereof become, or in State Street's
opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of infringement or the like
under any applicable patent or copyright or trade secret laws, State Street
shall have the right, at State Street's sole option, to (i) procure for the
Customer the right to continue using the System or the Remote Access Services,
(ii) replace or modify the System or the Remote Access Services so that the
System or the Remote Access Services becomes noninfringing, or (iii) terminate
this Addendum without further obligation.
TERMINATION
Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any
reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days'
prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the
Customer or thirty (30) days' notice in the case of notice from the Customer to
State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party
to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the
other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event
terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of the Custodian
Agreement. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street
all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession
or in the possession of its Authorized Designees. The foregoing provisions with
respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a
period of three (3) years.
MISCELLANEOUS
This Addendum and the exhibits hereto constitute the entire understanding of the
parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the
Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a
writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer accepts responsibility
for its and its Authorized Designees' compliance with the terms of this
Addendum.
iii
EXHIBIT A
TO
REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
IN~SIGHT(SM)
System Product Description
In~Sight(SM) provides bilateral information delivery, interoperability, and
on-line access to State Street. In~Sight(SM) allows users a single point of
entry into State Street's diverse systems and applications. Reports and data
from systems such as Investment Policy Monitor(SM), Multicurrency Horizon(SM),
Securities Lending, Performance & Analytics, and Electronic Trade Delivery can
be accessed through In~Sight(SM). This Internet-enabled application is designed
to run from a Web browser and perform across low-speed data lines or corporate
high-speed backbones. In~Sight(SM) also offers users a flexible toolset,
including an ad-hoc query function, a custom graphics package, a report
designer, and a scheduling capability. Data and reports offered through
In~Sight(SM) will continue to increase in direct proportion with the customer
roll out, as it is viewed as the information delivery system will grow with
State Street's customers.
iv
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
[STATE STREET LOGO]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WORLDWIDE (SM)
OPERATING GUIDELINES
1. OBLIGATION OF THE SENDER: State Street is authorized to promptly debit
Client's account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the
selected Security Procedure chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money
that State Street has been instructed to transfer. State Street shall execute
payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Client's
instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received
by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment
order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received
after this time will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.
2. SECURITY PROCEDURE: The Client acknowledges that the Security Procedure it
has designated on the Selection Form was selected by the Client from Security
Procedures offered by State Street. The Client agrees that the Security
Procedures are reasonable and adequate for its wire transfer transactions and
agrees to be bound by any payment orders, amendments and cancellations, whether
or not authorized, issued in its name and accepted by State Street after being
confirmed by any of the selected Security Procedures. The Client also agrees to
be bound by any other valid and authorized payment order accepted by State
Street. The Client shall restrict access to confidential information relating to
the Security Procedure to authorized persons as communicated in writing to State
Street. The Client must notify State Street immediately if it has reason to
believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of
any change in the Client's authorized personnel. State Street shall verify the
authenticity of all instructions according to the Security Procedure.
3. ACCOUNT NUMBERS: State Street shall process all payment orders on the basis
of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a
discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account
number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. Financial
institutions that receive payment orders initiated by State Street at the
instruction of the Client may also process payment orders on the basis of
account numbers, regardless of any name included in the payment order. State
Street will also rely on any financial institution identification numbers
included in any payment order, regardless of any financial institution name
included in the payment order.
4. REJECTION: State Street reserves the right to decline to process or delay
the processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the collected
balance in the account to be charged at the time of State Street's receipt of
such payment order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause State
Street, in State Street's sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar,
network, time, credit or similar limits upon wire transfers which are applicable
to State Street; or (c) if State Street, in good faith, is unable to satisfy
itself that the transaction has been properly authorized.
5. CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT: State Street shall use reasonable efforts to act
on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in
compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received
in a timely manner affording State Street reasonable opportunity to act.
However, State Street assumes no liability if the request for amendment or
cancellation cannot be satisfied.
6. ERRORS: State Street shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect
any erroneous payment order provided that State Street complies with the payment
order instructions as received and State Street complies with the Security
Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of
authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in
payment orders.
7. INTEREST AND LIABILITY LIMITS: State Street shall assume no responsibility
for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized
payment order, unless State Street is notified of the unauthorized payment order
within thirty (30) days of notification by State Street of the acceptance of
such payment order. In no event shall State Street be liable for special,
indirect or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility of such
damages and even for failure to execute a payment order.
8. AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE ("ACH") CREDIT ENTRIES/PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS: When
a Client initiates or receives ACH credit and debit entries pursuant to these
Guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association
and the New England Clearing House Association, State Street will act as an
Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository
Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by
State Street with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until State
Street receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank.
If State Street does not receive such final settlement, the Client agrees that
State Street shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Client in
connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Client via such
entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.
9. CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS: Confirmation of State Street's execution of
payment orders shall ordinarily be provided within 24 hours. Notice may be
delivered through State Street's proprietary information systems, such as, but
not limited to Horizon and GlobalQuest(R), account statements, advices, or by
facsimile or callback. The Client must report any objections to the execution of
a payment order within 30 days.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
[STATE STREET LOGO]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WORLDWIDE (SM)
10. LIABILITY ON FOREIGN ACCOUNTS: State Street shall not be required to repay
any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of State Street, or any deposit made with
State Street and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of such
deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is
prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to: (a) an act of war,
insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or
instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of
any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a defacto or a dejure
government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise
that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of
civil authority; or(c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch of State Street in order
to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of State Street, harm to the employees or
property of State Street. The obligation to repay any such deposit shall not be
transferred to and may not be enforced against any other branch of State Street.
The foregoing provisions constitute the disclosure required by Massachusetts
General Laws, Chapter 167D, Section 36.
While State Street is not obligated to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S.
branch or any deposit denominated in a non-U.S. currency during the period in
which its repayment has been prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked, State
Street will repay such deposit when and if all circumstances preventing,
prohibiting or otherwise blocking repayment cease to exist.
11. MISCELLANEOUS: State Street and the Client agree to cooperate to attempt to
recover any funds erroneously paid to the wrong party or parties, regardless of
any fault of State Street or the Client, but the party responsible for the
erroneous payment shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in trying to effect
such recovery. These Guidelines may not be amended except by a written agreement
signed by the parties.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
[STATE STREET LOGO]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WORLDWIDE (SM)
SECURITY PROCEDURE(S) SELECTION FORM
Please select one or more of the funds transfer security procedures indicated
below.
/ / SWIFT
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a
cooperative society owned and operated by member financial institutions that
provides telecommunication services for its membership. Participation is limited
to securities brokers and dealers, clearing and depository institutions,
recognized exchanges for securities, and investment management institutions.
SWIFT provides a number of security features through encryption and
authentication to protect against unauthorized access, loss or wrong delivery of
messages, transmission errors, loss of confidentiality and fraudulent changes to
messages. SWIFT is considered to be one of the most secure and efficient
networks for the delivery of funds transfer instructions.
SELECTION OF THIS SECURITY PROCEDURE WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR EXISTING
SWIFT MEMBERS.
/ / STANDING INSTRUCTIONS
Standing Instructions may be used where funds are transferred to a broker on the
Client's established list of brokers with which it engages in foreign exchange
transactions. Only the date, the currency and the currency amount are variable.
In order to establish this procedure, State Street will send to the Client a
list of the brokers that State Street has determined are used by the Client. The
Client will confirm the list in writing, and State Street will verify the
written confirmation by telephone. Standing Instructions will be subject to a
mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit,
the Standing Instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution.
/ / REMOTE BATCH TRANSMISSION
Wire transfer instructions are delivered via Computer-to-Computer (CPU-CPU) data
communications between the Client and State Street. Security procedures include
encryption and or the use of a test key by those individuals authorized as
Automated Batch Verifiers.
CLIENTS SELECTING THIS OPTION SHOULD HAVE AN EXISTING FACILITY FOR COMPLETING
CPU-CPU TRANSMISSIONS. THIS DELIVERY MECHANISM IS TYPICALLY USED FOR HIGH-VOLUME
BUSINESS.
/ / GLOBAL HORIZON INTERCHANGE(SM) FUNDS TRANSFER SERVICE
Global Horizon Interchange Funds Transfer Service (FTS) is a State Street
proprietary microcomputer-based wire initiation system. FTS enables Clients to
electronically transmit authenticated Fedwire, CHIPS or internal book transfer
instructions to State Street.
THIS DELIVERY MECHANISM IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR CLIENTS WITH A LOW-TO-MEDIUM
NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS (5-75 PER DAY), ALLOWING CLIENTS TO ENTER, BATCH, AND
REVIEW WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS ON THEIR PC PRIOR TO RELEASE TO STATE STREET.
/ / TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION (CALLBACK)
Telephone confirmation will be used to verify all non-repetitive funds transfer
instructions received via untested facsimile or phone. This procedure requires
Clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized
verifiers. State Street will verify that the instruction contains the signature
of an authorized person and prior to execution, will contact someone other than
the originator at the Client's location to authenticate the instruction.
SELECTION OF THIS ALTERNATIVE IS APPROPRIATE FOR CLIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO USE OTHER SECURITY PROCEDURES.
/ / REPETITIVE WIRES
For situations where funds are transferred periodically (minimum of one
instruction per calendar quarter) from an existing authorized account to the
same payee (destination bank and account number) and only the date and currency
amount are variable, a repetitive wire may be implemented. Repetitive wires will
be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the
established limit, the instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to
execution. Telephone confirmation is used to establish this process. Repetitive
wire instructions must be reconfirmed annually.
THIS ALTERNATIVE IS RECOMMENDED WHENEVER FUNDS ARE FREQUENTLY TRANSFERRED
BETWEEN THE SAME TWO ACCOUNTS.
/ / TRANSFERS INITIATED BY FACSIMILE
The Client faxes wire transfer instructions directly to State Street Mutual Fund
Services. Standard security procedure requires the use of a random number test
key for all transfers. Every six months the Client receives test key logs from
State Street. The test key contains alpha-numeric characters, which the Client
puts on each document faxed to State Street. This procedure ensures all wire
instructions received via fax are authorized by the Client.
WE PROVIDE THIS OPTION FOR CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BATCH WIRE INSTRUCTIONS AND
TRANSMIT THESE AS A GROUP TO STATE STREET MUTUAL FUND SERVICES ONCE OR SEVERAL
TIMES A DAY.
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
[STATE STREET LOGO]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WORLDWIDE (SM)
/ / AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)
State Street receives an automated transmission or a magnetic tape from a Client
for the initiation of payment (credit) or collection (debit) transactions
through the ACH network. The transactions contained on each transmission or tape
must be authenticated by the Client. Clients using ACH must select one or more
of the following delivery options:
/ / GLOBAL HORIZON INTERCHANGE AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE SERVICE
Transactions are created on a microcomputer, assembled into batches and
delivered to State Street via fully authenticated electronic transmissions in
standard NACHA formats.
/ / Transmission from Client PC to State Street Mainframe with Telephone
Callback
/ / Transmission from Client Mainframe to State Street Mainframe with Telephone
Callback
/ / Transmission from DST Systems to State Street Mainframe with Encryption
/ / Magnetic Tape Delivered to State Street with Telephone Callback
State Street is hereby instructed to accept funds transfer instructions only via
the delivery methods and security procedures indicated. The selected delivery
methods and security procedure(s) will be effective ____________________________
for payment orders initiated by our organization.
KEY CONTACT INFORMATION
Whom shall we contact to implement your selection(s)?
CLIENT OPERATIONS CONTACT ALTERNATE CONTACT
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name Name
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Address Address
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
City/State/Zip Code City/State/Zip Code
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Telephone Number Telephone Number
----------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Facsimile Number Facsimile Number
-----------------------------------
SWIFT Number
-----------------------------------
Telex Number
FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM
[STATE STREET LOGO]
SERVING INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WORLDWIDE (SM)
INSTRUCTION(S)
TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION
FUND RMR F.I.R.E. Fund
INVESTMENT ADVISER RMR Advisors Inc.
AUTHORIZED INITIATORS
Please Type or Print
PLEASE PROVIDE A LISTING OF FUND OFFICERS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY
AUTHORIZED TO INITIATE WIRE TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO STATE STREET:
NAME TITLE (Specify whether position SPECIMEN SIGNATURE
is with Fund or Investment
Adviser)
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
AUTHORIZED VERIFIERS
Please Type or Print
PLEASE PROVIDE A LISTING OF FUND OFFICERS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE
CALLED BACK TO VERIFY THE INITIATION OF REPETITIVE WIRES OF $10 MILLION OR MORE
AND ALL NON-REPETITIVE WIRE INSTRUCTIONS:
NAME CALLBACK PHONE NUMBER DOLLAR LIMITATION (IF ANY)
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
___________________ _______________________________ __________________________
STATE STREET SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Argentina Citibank, N.A.
Australia Westpac Banking Corporation
Austria Erste Bank der Osterreichischen Sparkassen AG
Bahrain HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Benin via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda Limited
Botswana Barclays Bank of Botswana Limited
Brazil Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V.
Burkina Faso via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada
Cayman Islands Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company (Cayman) Ltd.
Chile BankBoston, N.A.
People's Republic The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
of China Limited, Shanghai and Shenzhen branches
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d
Cyprus Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd.
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S.
Denmark Danske Bank A/S
Ecuador Banco de la Produccion S.A.
Egypt HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Estonia AS Hansabank
Finland Nordea Bank Finland Plc.
France BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Germany Deutsche Bank XX
Xxxxxxxx Bank AG
Ghana Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited
Greece National Bank of Greece S.A.
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Guinea-Bissau via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank
Hungary HVB Bank Hungary Rt.
Iceland Kaupthing Bunadarbanki hf.
India Deutsche Bank AG
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited
Indonesia Deutsche Bank AG
Ireland Bank of Ireland
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Italy BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.A.
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire
Jamaica Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd.
Japan Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Kazakhstan HSBC Bank Kazakhstan
(as delegate of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Kenya Barclays Bank of Kenya Limited
Republic of Korea Deutsche Bank AG
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited
Latvia A/s Hansabanka
Lebanon HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas AB
Malaysia Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mali via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Malta HSBC Bank Malta Plc.
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico S.A.
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc
Namibia Standard Bank Namibia Limited
Netherlands Deutsche Bank N.V.
KAS BANK N.V.
New Zealand Westpac Banking Corporation
Niger via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Nigeria Stanbic Bank Nigeria Limited
Norway Nordea Bank Norge ASA
Oman HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG
Palestine HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Panama BankBoston, N.A.
Peru Citibank del Peru, S.A.
Philippines Standard Chartered Bank
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues S.A.
Puerto Rico Citibank N.A.
Qatar HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
Romania ING Bank N.V.
Russia ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO, Moscow
Senegal via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Singapore DBS Bank Limited
United Overseas Bank Limited
Slovak Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka, A.S., pobocka
zahranicnej banky v SR
Slovenia Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d. - Ljubljana
South Africa Nedcor Bank Limited
Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Spain Santander Central Hispano Investment S.A.
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Xxxxxx XX
Switzerland UBS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Trust of China
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank
Togo via Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d'Ivoire,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE A
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
SUBCUSTODIANS
COUNTRY SUBCUSTODIAN
Turkey Citibank, A.S.
Uganda Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine
United Arab Emirates HSBC Bank Middle East
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited)
United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company, London Branch
Uruguay BankBoston, N.A.
Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Limited
Zambia Barclays Bank of Zambia Plc.
Zimbabwe Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited
06/30/04 0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
(Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Bahrain Clearing, Settlement, and Depository System of the
Bahrain Stock Exchange
Bangladesh Central Depository Bangladesh Limited
Belgium Banque Nationale de Belgique
Caisse Interprofessionnelle de Depots et de
Virements de Titres, S.A.
Benin Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Bermuda Bermuda Securities Depository
Brazil Central de Custodia e de Liquidacao Financeira de
Titulos Privados (CETIP)
Companhia Brasileira de Liquidacao e Custodia
Sistema Especial de Liquidacao e de Custodia
(SELIC)
Bulgaria Bulgarian National Bank
Central Depository AD
Burkina Faso Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Canada The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile Deposito Central de Valores S.A.
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
People's Republic China Securities Depository and Clearing
of China Corporation Limited Shanghai Branch
China Securities Depository and Clearing
Corporation Limited Shenzhen Branch
Colombia Deposito Central de Valores
Deposito Centralizado de Valores de Colombia S..A.
(DECEVAL)
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
Croatia Ministry of Finance
Sredisnja Depozitarna Agencija d.d.
Cyprus Central Depository and Central Registry
Czech Republic Czech National Bank
Stredisko cennych papiru - Ceska republika
Denmark Vaerdipapircentralen (Danish Securities Center)
Egypt Misr for Clearing, Settlement, and Depository
S.A.E.
Estonia AS Eesti Vaartpaberikeskus
Finland Suomen Arvopaperikeskus
France Euroclear France
Germany Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt
06/30/04
2
STATE STREET SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Greece Apothetirion Titlon AE - Central Securities
Depository
Bank of Greece,
System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities
in Book-Entry Form
Guinea-Bissau Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Hong Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Securities Clearing Company Limited
Hungary Kozponti Elszamolohaz es Ertektar (Budapest) Rt.
(KELER)
Iceland Icelandic Securities Depository Limited
India Central Depository Services (India) Limited
National Securities Depository Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd.
(TASE Clearinghouse)
Italy Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Ivory Coast Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Jamaica Jamaica Central Securities Depository
Japan Bank of Japan - Net System
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC)
Incorporated
Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository
Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository
Latvia Latvian Central Depository
Lebanon Banque du Liban
Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial
Instruments for Lebanon and the Middle East
(Midclear) X.X.X.
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Bank Negara Malaysia
Malaysian Central Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Mali Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Malta Central Securities Depository of the Malta Stock
Exchange
Mauritius Bank of Mauritius
Central Depository and Settlement Co. Ltd.
Mexico S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V.
Morocco Maroclear
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Namibia Bank of Namibia
Netherlands Euroclear Nederland
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Niger Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Nigeria Central Securities Clearing System Limited
Norway Verdipapirsentralen (Norwegian Central Securities
Depository)
Oman Muscat Depository & Securities Registration
Company, SAOC
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine Clearing Depository and Settlement, a department
of the Palestine Stock Exchange
Panama Central Latinoamericana de Valores, S.A.
(LatinClear)
Peru Caja de Valores y Liquidaciones, Institucion de
Compensacion y Liquidacion de Valores S.A
Philippines Philippine Central Depository, Inc.
Registry of Scripless Securities (XXXX) of the
Bureau of Treasury
Poland Rejestr Papierow Wartosciowych
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Krajowy Depozyt Papierow Wartosciowych S.A.
Portugal INTERBOLSA - Sociedade Gestora de Sistemas de
Liquidacao e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores
Mobiliarios, S.A.
Qatar Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a
department of the Doha Securities Market
Romania Bucharest Stock Exchange Registry Division
National Bank of Romania
National Securities Clearing, Settlement and
Depository Company
Russia Vneshtorgbank, Bank for Foreign Trade of the
Russian Federation
Senegal Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Singapore The Central Depository (Pte) Limited
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Slovak Republic Naodna banka slovenska
Centralny depozitar cennych papierov SR, a.s.
Slovenia KDD - Centralna klirinsko depotna xxxxxx x.x.
South Africa Share Transactions Totally Electronic (STRATE) Ltd.
Spain IBERCLEAR
Sri Lanka Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Sweden Vardepapperscentralen VPC AB
(Swedish Central Securities Depository)
Switzerland SegaIntersettle AG (SIS)
Taiwan - R.O.C. Taiwan Securities Central Depository Company
Limited
Thailand Bank of Thailand
Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited
Togo Depositaire Central - Banque de Reglement
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank
Tunisia Societe Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et de Depots des Valeurs Mobilieres
(STICODEVAM)
Turkey Central Bank of Turkey
Takas ve Saklama Bankasi A.S. (TAKASBANK)
Uganda Bank of Uganda
Ukraine Mizhregionalny Fondovy Souz
National Bank of Ukraine
United Arab Emirates Clearing and Depository System,
a department of the Dubai Financial Market
United Kingdom CrestCo.
06/30/04
0
XXXXX XXXXXX SCHEDULE B
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS
COUNTRY DEPOSITORIES
Uruguay Banco Central del Uruguay
Venezuela Banco Central de Venezuela
Vietnam Securities Registration, Clearing and Settlement,
Depository Department of the Securities Trading
Center
Zambia Bank of Zambia
XxXX Central Shares Depository Limited
TRANSNATIONAL
Euroclear
Clearstream Banking, S.A.
06/30/04
8
SCHEDULE C
MARKET INFORMATION
PUBLICATION/TYPE OF INFORMATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION
------------------------------- -----------------
(SCHEDULED FREQUENCY)
THE GUIDE TO CUSTODY IN WORLD MARKETS An overview of settlement and safekeeping
(hardcopy annually and regular procedures, custody practices and foreign investor
website updates) considerations for the markets in which State Street
offers custodial services.
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK REVIEW Information relating to Foreign Sub-Custodians in
(annually) State Street's Global Custody Network. The Review stands
as an integral part of the materials that State Street
provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to assist them
in complying with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also
gives insight into State Street's market expansion and
Foreign Sub-Custodian selection processes, as well as
the procedures and controls used to monitor the
financial condition and performance of our Foreign
Sub-Custodian banks.
SECURITIES DEPOSITORY REVIEW Custody risk analyses of the Foreign Securities
(annually) Depositories presently operating in Network markets.
This publication is an integral part of the materials
that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund
clients to meet informational obligations created by
SEC Rule 17f-7.
GLOBAL LEGAL SURVEY With respect to each market in which State Street offers
(annually) custodial services, opinions relating to whether local
law restricts (i) access of a fund's independent public
accountants to books and records of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a
fund's ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or
insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign
Securities System, (iii) a fund's ability to recover in
the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or
Foreign Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a
foreign investor to convert cash and cash equivalents
to U.S. dollars.
SUBCUSTODIAN AGREEMENTS Copies of the contracts that State Street has entered
(annually) into with each Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains U.S.
mutual fund assets in the markets in which State Street
offers custodial services.
GLOBAL MARKET BULLETIN Information on changing settlement and custody conditions
(daily or as necessary) in markets where State Street offers custodial services.
Includes changes in market and tax regulations,
depository developments, dematerialization information,
as well as other market changes that may impact
State Street's clients.
Foreign Custody Advisories For those markets where State Street offers custodial
(as necessary) services that exhibit special risks or infrastructures
impacting custody, State Street issues market advisories
to highlight those unique market factors which might
impact our ability to offer recognized custody service
levels.
Material Change Notices Informational letters and accompanying materials
(presently on a quarterly confirming State Street's foreign custody arrangements,
basis or as otherwise necessary) including a summary of material changes with Foreign
Sub-Custodians that have occurred during the previous
quarter. The notices also identify any material changes
in the custodial risks associated with maintaining
assets with Foreign Securities Depositories.
