CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
THIS CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT dated _______, 2000 between AXP Strategy Series Fund,
Inc., a Minnesota corporation, (the "Corporation"), on behalf of its underlying
series AXP Focus Fund and American Express Trust Company, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota with its principal place of
business at Minneapolis, Minnesota (the "Custodian").
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires that its securities and cash be hereafter held
and administered by Custodian pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made, the
Corporation and the Custodian agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
The word "securities" as used herein shall be construed to include, without
being limited to, shares, stocks, treasury stocks, including any stocks of this
Corporation, notes, bonds, debentures, evidences of indebtedness, options to buy
or sell stocks or stock indexes, certificates of interest or participation in
any profit-sharing agreements, collateral trust certificates, preorganization
certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, investment contracts, voting
trust certificates, certificates of deposit for a security, fractional or
undivided interests in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or any certificates of
interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts
for, guarantees of, or warrants or rights to subscribe to or purchase any of the
foregoing, acceptances and other obligations and any evidence of any right or
interest in or to any cash, property or assets and any interest or instrument
commonly known as a security. In addition, for the purpose of this Custodian
Agreement, the word "securities" also shall include other instruments in which
the Corporation may invest including currency forward contracts and commodities
such as interest rate or index futures contracts, margin deposits on such
contracts or options on such contracts.
The words "custodian order" shall mean a request or direction, including a
computer printout, directed to the Custodian and signed in the name of the
Corporation by any two individuals designated in the current certified list
referred to in Section 2.
The word "facsimile" shall mean an exact copy or likeness which is
electronically transmitted for instant reproduction.
Section 2. Names, Titles and Signatures of Authorized Persons
The Corporation will certify to the Custodian the names and signatures of its
present officers and other designated persons authorized on behalf of the
Corporation to direct the Custodian by custodian order as herein before defined.
The Corporation agrees that whenever any change occurs in this list it will file
with the Custodian a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation as having been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors or the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation designating those persons currently authorized on behalf of the
Corporation to direct the Custodian by custodian order, as herein before
defined, and upon such filing (to be accompanied by the filing of specimen
signatures of the designated persons) the persons so designated in said
resolution shall constitute the current certified list. The Custodian is
authorized to rely and act upon the names and signatures of the individuals as
they appear in the most recent certified list from the Corporation which has
been delivered to the Custodian as herein above provided.
Section 3. Use of Subcustodians
The Custodian may make arrangements, where appropriate, with other banks having
not less than two million dollars aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits for the custody of securities. Any such bank selected by the Custodian
to act as subcustodian shall be deemed to be the agent of the Custodian.
The Custodian also may enter into arrangements for the custody of securities
entrusted to its care through foreign branches of United States banks; through
foreign banks, banking institutions or trust companies; through foreign
subsidiaries of United States banks or bank holding companies, or through
foreign securities depositories or clearing agencies (hereinafter also called,
collectively, the "Foreign Subcustodian" or indirectly through an agent,
established under the first paragraph of this section, if and to the extent
permitted by Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, any order
issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any "no-action" letter
received from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission. To the extent
the existing provisions of the Custodian Agreement are consistent with the
requirements of such Section, rules, order or no-action letter, they shall apply
to all such foreign custodianships. To the extent such provisions are
inconsistent with or additional requirements are established by such Section,
rules, order or no-action letter, the requirements of such Section, rules, order
or no-action letter will prevail and the parties will adhere to such
requirements; provided, however, in the absence of notification from the
Corporation of any changes or additions to such requirements, the Custodian
shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire as to any such changes or
additions.
Section 4. Receipt and Disbursement of Money
(1) The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate account or accounts in the
name of the Corporation or cause its agent to open and maintain such account or
accounts subject only to checks, drafts or directives by the Custodian pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian or its agent shall hold in such
account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it
from or for the account of the Corporation. The Custodian or its agent shall
make payments of cash to or for the account of the Corporation from such cash
only:
(a) for the purchase of securities for the portfolio of the
Corporation upon the receipt of such securities by the
Custodian or its agent unless otherwise instructed on behalf
of the Corporation;
(b) for the purchase or redemption of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation;
(c) for the payment of interest, dividends, taxes, management
fees, or operating expenses (including, without limitation
thereto, fees for legal, accounting and auditing services);
(d) for payment of distribution fees, commissions, or redemption
fees, if any;
(e) for payments in connection with the conversion, exchange or
surrender of securities owned or subscribed to by the
Corporation held by or to be delivered to the Custodian;
(f) for payments in connection with the return of securities
loaned by the Corporation upon receipt of such securities or
the reduction of collateral upon receipt of proper notice;
(g) for payments for other proper corporate purposes;
(h) or upon the termination of this Agreement.
Before making any such payment for the purposes permitted under the terms of
items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of paragraph (1) of this section, the
Custodian shall receive and may rely upon a custodian order directing such
payment and stating that the payment is for such a purpose permitted under these
items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) and that in respect to item (g), a
copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation signed by an officer of the
Corporation and certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, specifying
the amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose to be a proper corporate
purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is made.
Notwithstanding the above, for the purposes permitted under items (a) or (f) of
paragraph (1) of this section, the Custodian may rely upon a facsimile order.
(2) The Custodian is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of the Corporation to
endorse and collect all checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money
received by the Custodian for the account of the Corporation and drawn on or to
the order of the Corporation and to deposit same to the account of the
Corporation pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5. Receipt of Securities
Except as permitted by the second paragraph of this section, the Custodian or
its agent shall hold in a separate account or accounts, and physically
segregated at all times from those of any other persons, firms or corporations,
pursuant to the provisions hereof, all securities received by it for the account
of the Corporation. The Custodian shall record and maintain a record of all
certificate numbers. Securities so received shall be held in the name of the
Corporation, in the name of an exclusive nominee duly appointed by the Custodian
or in bearer form, as appropriate.
Subject to such rules, regulations or guidelines as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may adopt, the Custodian may deposit all or any part of the
securities owned by the Corporation in a securities depository which includes
any system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, pursuant to which
system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited
within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by
bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities.
All securities are to be held or disposed of by the Custodian for, and subject
at all times to the instructions of, the Corporation pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement. The Custodian shall have no power or authority to assign,
hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any such securities, except pursuant
to the directive of the Corporation and only for the account of the Corporation
as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
Section 6. Transfer Exchange, Delivery, etc. of Securities
The Custodian shall have sole power to release or deliver any securities of the
Corporation held by it pursuant to this Agreement. The Custodian agrees to
transfer, exchange or deliver securities held by it or its agent hereunder only:
(a) for sales of such securities for the account of the Corporation, upon
receipt of payment therefor;
(b) when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
(c) for examination upon the sale of any such securities in accordance with
"street delivery" custom which would include delivery against interim
receipts or other proper delivery receipts;
(d) in exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone or other
securities and cash whether pursuant to any plan of
(e) merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or readjustment, or
otherwise;
(f) for the purpose of exchanging interim receipts or temporary certificates
for permanent certificates;
(g) upon conversion of such securities pursuant to their terms into other
securities;
(h) upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar rights represented
by such securities; for loans of such securities by the Corporation upon
receipt of collateral; or
(i) for other proper corporate purposes.
As to any deliveries made by the Custodian pursuant to items (a), (b), (c), (d),
(e), (f), (g) and (h), securities or cash received in exchange therefore shall
be delivered to the Custodian, its agent, or to a securities depository. Before
making any such transfer, exchange or delivery, the Custodian shall receive a
custodian order or a facsimile from the Corporation requesting such transfer,
exchange or delivery and stating that it is for a purpose permitted under
Section 6 (whenever a facsimile is utilized, the Corporation will also deliver
an original signed custodian order) and, in respect to item (i), a copy of a
resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation signed by an officer of the Corporation and
certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, specifying the securities,
setting forth the purpose for which such payment, transfer, exchange or delivery
is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and
naming the person or persons to whom such transfer, exchange or delivery of such
securities shall be made.
Section 7. Custodian's Acts Without Instructions
Unless and until the Custodian receives a contrary custodian order from the
Corporation, the Custodian shall or shall cause its agent to:
(a) present for payment all coupons and other income items held by the
Custodian or its agent for the account of the Corporation which call
for payment upon presentation and hold all cash received by it upon
such payment for the account of the Corporation;
(b) present for payment all securities held by it or its agent which mature
or when called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;
(c) ascertain all stock dividends, rights and similar securities to be
issued with respect to any securities held by the Custodian or its
agent hereunder, and to collect and hold for the account of the
Corporation all such securities; and
(d) ascertain all interest and cash dividends to be paid to security
holders with respect to any securities held by the Custodian or its
agent, and to collect and hold such interest and cash dividends for the
account of the Corporation.
Section 8. Voting and Other Action
Neither the Custodian nor any nominee of the Custodian shall vote any of the
securities held hereunder by or for the account of the Corporation. The
Custodian shall promptly deliver to the Corporation all notices, proxies and
proxy soliciting materials with relation to such securities, such proxies to be
executed by the registered holder of such securities (if registered otherwise
than in the name of the Corporation), but without indicating the manner in which
such proxies are to be voted.
Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Corporation all written information
(including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of securities
and expirations of rights in connection therewith) received by the Custodian
from issuers of the securities being held for the Corporation. With respect to
tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
Corporation all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of
the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or his
agents) making the tender or exchange offer.
Section 9. Transfer Taxes
The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Custodian for any transfer taxes
payable upon transfers of securities made hereunder, including transfers
resulting from the termination of this Agreement. The Custodian shall execute
such certificates in connection with securities delivered to it under this
Agreement as may be required, under any applicable law or regulation, to exempt
from taxation any transfers and/or deliveries of any such securities which may
be entitled to such exemption.
Section 10. Custodian's Reports
The Custodian shall furnish the Corporation as of the close of business each day
a statement showing all transactions and entries for the account of the
Corporation. The books and records of the Custodian pertaining to its actions as
Custodian under this Agreement and securities held hereunder by the Custodian
shall be open to inspection and audit by officers of the Corporation, internal
auditors employed by the Corporation's investment adviser, and independent
auditors employed by the Corporation. The Custodian shall furnish the
Corporation in such form as may reasonably be requested by the Corporation a
report, including a list of the securities held by it in custody for the account
of the Corporation, identification of any subcustodian, and identification of
such securities held by such subcustodian, as of the close of business of the
last business day of each month, which shall be certified by a duly authorized
officer of the Custodian. It is further understood that additional reports may
from time to time be requested by the Corporation. Should any report ever be
filed with any governmental authority pertaining to lost or stolen securities,
the Custodian will concurrently provide the Corporation with a copy of that
report.
The Custodian also shall furnish such reports on its systems of internal
accounting control as the Corporation may reasonably request from time to time.
Section 11. Concerning Custodian
For its services hereunder the Custodian shall be paid such compensation at such
times as may from time to time be agreed on in writing by the parties hereto in
a Custodian Fee Agreement. The Custodian shall not be liable for any action
taken in good faith upon any custodian order or facsimile herein described or
certified copy of any resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and may rely on the
genuineness of any such document which it may in good faith believe to have been
validly executed.
The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and its nominee
from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities
(including counsel fees) incurred or assessed against it or its nominee in
connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from
the Custodian's or its nominee's own negligent action, negligent failure to act
or willful misconduct. Custodian is authorized to charge any account of the
Corporation for such items. In the event of any advance of cash for any purpose
made by Custodian resulting from orders or instructions of the Corporation, or
in the event that 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 Corporation shall be
security therefor.
The Custodian shall maintain a standard of care equivalent to that which would
be required of a bailee for hire and shall not be liable for any loss or damage
to the Corporation resulting from participation in a securities depository
unless such loss or damage arises by reason of any negligence, misfeasance, or
willful misconduct of officers or employees of the Custodian, or from its
failure to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against any securities
depository or from use of an agent, unless such loss or damage arises by reason
of any negligence, misfeasance, or willful misconduct of officers or employees
of the Custodian, or from its failure to enforce effectively such rights as it
may have against any agent.
Section 12. Termination and Amendment of Agreement
The Corporation and the Custodian mutually may agree from time to time in
writing to amend, to add to, or to delete from any provision of this Agreement.
The Custodian may terminate this Agreement by giving the Corporation ninety
days' written notice of such termination by registered mail addressed to the
Corporation at its principal place of business.
The Corporation may terminate this Agreement at any time by written notice
thereof delivered, together with a copy of the resolution of the Board of
Directors authorizing such termination and certified by the Secretary of the
Corporation, by registered mail to the Custodian.
Upon such termination of this Agreement, assets of the Corporation held by the
Custodian shall be delivered by the Custodian to a successor custodian, if one
has been appointed by the Corporation, upon receipt by the Custodian of a copy
of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation certified by the
Secretary, showing appointment of the successor custodian, and provided that
such successor custodian is a bank or trust company, organized under the laws of
the United States or of any State of the United States, having not less than two
million dollars aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits. Upon the
termination of this Agreement as a part of the transfer of assets, either to a
successor custodian or otherwise, the Custodian will deliver securities held by
it hereunder, when so authorized and directed by resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, to a duly appointed agent of the successor
custodian or to the appropriate transfer agents for transfer of registration and
delivery as directed. Delivery of assets on termination of this Agreement shall
be effected in a reasonable, expeditious and orderly manner; and in order to
accomplish an orderly transition from the Custodian to the successor custodian,
the Custodian shall continue to act as such under this Agreement as to assets in
its possession or control. Termination as to each security shall become
effective upon delivery to the successor custodian, its agent, or to a transfer
agent for a specific security for the account of the successor custodian, and
such delivery shall constitute effective delivery by the Custodian to the
successor under this Agreement.
In addition to the means of termination herein before authorized, this Agreement
may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Corporation and after written notice of such action to the
Custodian.
Section 13. General
Nothing expressed or mentioned in or to be implied from any provision of this
Agreement is intended to, or shall be construed to give any person or
corporation other than the parties hereto, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any covenant, condition or
provision herein contained, this Agreement and all of the covenants, conditions
and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the parties.
AXP Strategy Series, Inc.
AXP Focus Fund
By:_____________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Vice President
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST COMPANY
By:_____________________
Vice President
