0001193125-22-010075.txt : 20220118 0001193125-22-010075.hdr.sgml : 20220118 20220114175253 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-22-010075 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS EX PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 20220118 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20220114 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20220118 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PIONEER HIGH INCOME FUND, INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001166258 IRS NUMBER: 020563892 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 0331 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS EX SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-258554 FILM NUMBER: 22532909 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 STATE ST. STREET 2: 5TH FL. CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 617-742-7825 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 STATE ST STREET 2: 5TH FL CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PIONEER HIGH INCOME TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20020129 POS EX 1 d125550dposex.htm PIONEER HIGH INCOME FUND, INC. PIONEER HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2022

1933 Act File No. 333-258554

1940 Act File No. 811-21043

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-2

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  
   Pre-Effective Amendment No.       
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 1  

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940  
   Amendment No. 13  

 

 

Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc.

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter

 

 

60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(617) 742-7825

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

Terrence Cullen

Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service

Copies of Communications to: Roger P. Joseph, Esq.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

One Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

Check box if any securities being registered on the Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

This post-effective amendment will become effective immediately pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-258554 and 811-21043) of Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc. (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of filing exhibits to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration Statement on Form N-2 setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.


PART C - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Part A: Financial Highlights. The Registrant’s financial highlights for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are included in Part A.

Part B: Financial Statements. Incorporated into Part B by reference to the Registrant’s Certified Shareholder Report dated March 31, 2021 on Form N-CSR on June  4, 2021, and the Registrant’s Certified Shareholder Report dated September  30, 2021 on Form N-CSR filed on December 3, 2021 (File No. 811-21043).

2. Exhibits.

 

(a)   Articles of Incorporation (2)
(b)   Bylaws (2)
(c)   Not Applicable
(d)   See Bylaws cited under Item 25(b)
(e)   Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (1)
(f)   Not Applicable
(g)   Investment Advisory Agreement (2)
(h)(1)   Distribution Agreement (4)
(h)(2)   Sub-Placement Agent Agreement (4)
(i)   Not Applicable
(j)   Custodian Agreement (4)
(k)(1)   Administration Agreement (2)
(k)(2)   Administrative Agency Agreement (2)
(k)(3)   Transfer Agency Agreement (2)
(l)   Opinion of Counsel (3)
(m)   Not Applicable
(n)   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (3)
(o)   Not applicable.
(p)   Subscription Agreement (1)
(q)   Not applicable
(r)   Code of Ethics (2)
(s)   Powers of Attorney (2)

 

 

(1)

Previously filed. Incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits filed in Pre-Effective Amendment No 2 to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-83402) as filed with the SEC on April 25, 2002 (Accession No. 0001166258-02-000003).

(2)

Previously filed. Incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits filed on Form N-2 to the Registration Statement (File No. 811-21043) as filed with the SEC on August 6, 2021 (Accession No. 0001193125-21-239005).

(3)

Previously filed. Incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits filed on Form N-2 to the Registration Statement (File No. 811-21043) as filed with the SEC on September 17, 2021 (Accession No. 0001193125-21-276170).

(4)

Filed herewith.

Item 26. Marketing Arrangements

Reference is made to the Distribution Agreement and Sub-Placement Agent Agreement filed as exhibits in a post-effective amendment to the Registrant’s Registration Statement and the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” contained in Registrant’s Prospectus incorporated by reference herein.

Item 27. Other Expenses and Distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement.


Registration fees

   $ 6,000.50  

FINRA Fees

   $ 650  

New York Stock Exchange Fee

   $ 10,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 5,000  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 115,000  

Total

   $ 136,650.50  

Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control

None

Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities

To the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, as of January 11, 2022, Cede & Co., a nominee for participants in the Depository Trust Company, P.O. Box 20, Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10004, held of record 29,341,635 shares, equal to approximately 99.87% of the Registrant’s outstanding Common Shares.

 

Title of Class

   Number of Record
Holders
 

Common Stock ($0.001 per share)

     1  

Item 30. Indemnification

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Registrant’s charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

The Registrant’s charter obligates the Registrant, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while serving as a director or officer of the Registrant and at the Registrant’s request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, trustee, employee or agent and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The Registrant’s charter also permits the Registrant to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of the Registrant in any of the capacities described above and any of the Registrant’s employees or agents or any employees or agents of the Registrant’s predecessor. In accordance with the 1940 Act, the Registrant will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer in advance of final disposition of a proceeding upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

 

2


Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Amundi Asset Management US, Inc. (“Amundi US”) is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Amundi and Amundi’s wholly owned subsidiary, Amundi Holdings US, Inc. Amundi US manages investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates or charitable organizations and other corporations or business entities. Prior to January 1, 2021, Amundi US was known as Amundi Pioneer Asset Management, Inc.

To the knowledge of the Registrant, none of Amundi US’s directors or executive officers is or has been during their employment with Amundi US engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for the past two fiscal years. Certain directors and officers, however, may hold or may have held various positions with, and engage or have engaged in business for, the investment companies that Amundi US manages and/or other Amundi subsidiaries.

Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records

The accounts and records are maintained at the Registrant’s office at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109; contact the Treasurer.

Item 33. Management Services

Not applicable.

Item 34. Undertakings

1. Not applicable.

2. Not applicable.

3. The Registrant undertakes:

(a) to file, during a period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post- effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs a(1), a(2), and a(3) of this section do not apply to the extent the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment to this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

 

3


(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B [17 CFR 230.430B]:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;

(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

4. The Registrant undertakes:

a. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

5. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

4


6. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

7. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prominent delivery within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request the Registrant’s statement of additional information.

 

5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 14th day of January, 2022.

 

PIONEER HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
By:  

/s/ Lisa M. Jones

  Lisa M. Jones
  President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on January 14, 2022.

 

Signature

  

Title

    

/s/ Lisa M. Jones 

Lisa M. Jones

   President (Principal Executive Officer)
and Trustee
  

/s/ Anthony J. Koenig, Jr.

Anthony J. Koenig, Jr.

   Treasurer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
  

John E. Baumgardner, Jr.* 

John E. Baumgardner, Jr.

   Trustee   

Diane Durnin* 

Diane Durnin

   Trustee   

Benjamin M. Friedman* 

Benjamin M. Friedman

   Trustee   

Craig C. MacKay* 

Craig C. MacKay

   Trustee   

Lorraine H. Monchak* 

Lorraine H. Monchak

   Trustee   

Thomas J. Perna* 

Thomas J. Perna

   Chairman of the Board
and Trustee
  

Marguerite A. Piret* 

Marguerite A. Piret

   Trustee   

Fred J. Ricciardi* 

Fred J. Ricciardi

   Trustee   

Kenneth J. Taubes* 

Kenneth J. Taubes

   Trustee   

 

*By:  

/s/ Lisa M. Jones 

Lisa M. Jones

Attorney-In-Fact

      January 14, 2022


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Document Title

(h)(1)   Distribution Agreement
(h)(2)   Sub-Placement Agent Agreement
(j)   Custodian Agreement
EX-99.(H)(1) 2 d125550dex99h1.htm DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT Distribution Agreement

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

PIONEER HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

September 22, 2021

Amundi Distributor US, Inc.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

 

Re:

Distribution Agreement Relating to At-the-Market Offerings

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc. is a Maryland corporation operating as a closed-end management investment company (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”). The Fund has filed a registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-258554 and 811-21043) (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), to register additional common shares of the Fund, which may be issued and sold from time to time through various specified transactions, including at-the-market (“ATM”) offerings.

You have informed us that Amundi Distributor US, Inc. is registered as a broker-dealer under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and is a member in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). You have indicated your desire to act as distributor for the Fund’s common shares issued pursuant to the Registration Statement. We have been authorized by the Fund to execute and deliver this Agreement to you by a resolution of our Board of Directors (the “Directors”) adopted at a meeting of the Directors, at which a majority of Directors, including a majority of our Directors who are not otherwise interested persons of our investment manager or its related organizations, were present and voted in favor of said resolution approving this Agreement.

1. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. Upon the execution of this Agreement and in consideration of the agreements on your part herein expressed and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, we hereby appoint you as the distributor of common shares of the Fund with an aggregate offering price not to exceed $55,000,000, to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Registration Statement through ATM offerings (the “Shares”) and agree that we will issue such Shares as you may sell. You agree to use reasonable efforts to identify opportunities for the sale of Shares, but you are not obligated to sell any specific number of the Shares. The Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be agreed to by you and the Fund.

2. SELECTED DEALERS. You may enter into selected dealer agreements, on such terms and conditions as you determine are not inconsistent with this Agreement, with broker-dealers to act as your agent to effect the sale of the Shares. Such selected broker-dealers shall sell Shares only at market prices subject to a minimum price to be established each day by you and the Fund (see paragraph 3 below). This Agreement shall not be construed as authorizing any dealer or other person to accept orders for sale on our behalf or to otherwise act as our agent for any purpose. You shall not be responsible for the acts of other dealers or agents except as and to the extent that they shall be acting for you or under your direction or authority.


3. SHARE PRICE. The price per Share shall be determined by reference to trades on the Fund’s primary exchange. In no event shall the price be less than the current net asset value per share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to you (the “Minimum Price”). You shall suspend the sale of Shares if the per share price of the Shares is less than the Minimum Price.

4. SALES COMMISSION.

(a) You shall be entitled to receive a sales commission from the Fund in an amount equal to 1.00% of the gross sales price per Share, of which 0.80% will be re-allowed to the sub-sales agent.

(b) You may pay to selected broker-dealers such selling agent commissions (not exceeding 80% of the total sales commission) (the “ATM Sales Agent Commission”) as you shall deem advisable, which shall be payable from the commissions payable to you under Section 4(a) above.

5. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION. We will furnish you with copies of the Registration Statement, and we warrant that the statements therein contained are true and correct as of the date of the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time. We will also furnish you with such other information that you may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of the Shares, including, at least annually, audited financial statements of our books and accounts certified by independent public accountants.

6. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Other than the currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, you will not use any sales materials or statements except literature or advertising that conforms to the requirements of federal and state securities laws and regulations and that have been filed, where necessary, with the appropriate regulatory authorities. You will furnish us with copies of all material prior to their use and no such material shall be published if we shall reasonably and promptly object.

You shall comply with the applicable federal and state laws and regulations where our shares are offered for sale and conduct your affairs with us and with dealers, brokers or investors in accordance with the Conduct Rules of FINRA.

7. INDEMNIFICATION.

(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold you, your officers, and Directors, and any person who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands or liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which you, your officers, Directors or any such controlling persons may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund’s Registration Statement or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by you to the Fund for use in the Registration Statement, (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund’s advertisement or sales literature or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either thereof or necessary to make the statements in either thereof not misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by you to the Fund for use in such advertisement or sales literature or (iii) any action taken or omitted by the Fund prior to the date of this Agreement. You agree to comply with all of the applicable terms and provisions of the 1934 Act.


(b) You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold the Fund, its officers, Directors, employees shareholders and agents, and any person who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending against such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Fund, its Directors, officers, employees, shareholders and agents, or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or under common law or otherwise arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by you to the Fund for use in the Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated in the Registration Statement necessary to make such information not misleading.

A party seeking indemnification hereunder (“Indemnitee”) shall give prompt written notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought (“Indemnitor”) of a written assertion or claim of any threatened or pending legal proceeding which may be subject to indemnity under this Section; provided, however, that failure to notify the Indemnitor of such written assertion or claim shall not relieve the indemnitor of any liability arising from this Section. The Indemnitor shall be entitled, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce a claim subject to this Agreement and such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Indemnitor and satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided, however, that if the defendants include both the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor, and the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnitor (“conflict of interest”), the Indemnitor shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such claim on behalf of the Indemnitee. In the event that the Indemnitor elects to assume the defense of any suit pursuant to the preceding sentence and retains counsel satisfactory to the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee shall bear the fees and expenses of additional counsel retained by it except for reasonable investigation costs which shall be borne by the Indemnitor. If the Indemnitor (i) does not elect to assume the defense of a claim, (ii) elects to assume the defense of a claim but chooses counsel that is not satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (iii) has no right to assume the defense of a claim because of a conflict of interest, the Indemnitor shall advance or reimburse the Indemnitee, at the election of the Indemnitee, reasonable fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by Indemnitee, including reasonable investigation costs.

8. OTHER ACTIVITIES. Your services pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive and you may render similar services and act as an underwriter, distributor, or dealer for other investment companies in the offering of their shares.

9. SUSPENSION OF SALES. We reserve the right at all times to suspend or limit the offering of the shares upon written notice to you and to reject any order in whole or in part.

10. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

(a) You shall bear all expenses incurred by you in connection with your duties and activities under this Agreement including the payment to selected dealers of any sales commissions for sales of the Fund’s Shares.

(b) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including expenses (including legal fees) pertaining to the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and expenses pertaining to the preparation, printing and distribution of any reports or communications to shareholders, including Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information, annual and interim reports, or proxy materials.


11. TERMINATION. This Agreement (i) may be terminated by the Fund at any time without the payment of any penalty and (ii) may be terminated by you at any time without the payment of any penalty. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to this provision or by the mutual agreement of the parties.

12. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement shall be subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall be interpreted and construed to further and promote the operation of the Fund as a closed-end management investment company.

13. STANDARD OF CARE. You shall be responsible for exercising reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement.

If the foregoing meets with your approval, please acknowledge your acceptance by signing each of the enclosed counterparts hereof and returning such counterparts to us, whereupon this shall constitute a binding agreement as of the date first above written.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Anthony J. Koenig, Jr.

Name: Anthony J. Koenig, Jr.
Title: Managing Director, Chief Operations Officer & Fund Treasurer
Amundi Distributor US, Inc.

/s/ Laura J. Palmer

Name: Laura J. Palmer
Title: Senior Vice President, Head of U.S. Intermediary Distribution
EX-99.(H)(2) 3 d125550dex99h2.htm SUB-PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT Sub-Placement Agent Agreement

SUB-PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT

Amundi Distributor US, Inc.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02101

January 14, 2022

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

 

RE:

At-the-Market Offerings by Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

From time to time Amundi Distributor US, Inc. (the “Distributor,” “we” or “us”) will act as manager of registered at-the-market offerings by Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”), of up to $55 million of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Fund (the “Common Stock”). In the case of such offerings, the Fund has agreed with the Distributor to issue and sell through the Distributor, as sales agent, the Shares (the “Distribution Agreement”).

We hereby agree to retain UBS Securities LLC (the “Agent” or “you”) as a sub-placement agent with respect to the offerings of the Shares to be issued and sold by the Fund (the “Offerings”) as the Fund and the Distributor may indicate from time to time, and you agree to act in such capacity, all upon, and subject to, the terms and conditions set forth below:

SECTION 1. Description of Offerings.

(a)    The Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be determined by the Fund together with the Distributor or the Agent on any day (each, an “Offering Date”) that is a trading day for the exchange on which the Fund’s Shares are listed and primarily trade (the “Stock Exchange”) (other than a day on which the Stock Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time). Promptly after the Fund together with the Distributor or the Agent have determined the maximum amount of the Shares to be distributed by the Distributor for any Offering Date, which shall not in any event exceed the amount available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement (as defined herein) (the “Maximum Daily Amount”), and the minimum price per Share below which the Shares may not be sold by the Agent on any Offering Date (the “Minimum Daily Price”), the Distributor shall advise the Agent of the Maximum Daily Amount and the Minimum Daily Price. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Agent shall use its reasonable best efforts to sell all of the Shares designated in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined herein); provided, however, that in no event shall the Agent sell Shares in excess of the Maximum Daily Amount or for a price per Share below the Minimum Daily Price. The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 1(a) shall be the market price at which the Agent sells such Shares.


(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Distributor or the Fund may instruct the Agent by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail or other electronic means) of a revised Minimum Daily Price and/or a revised Maximum Daily Amount and the Agent shall not sell Shares for a price per Share below such revised Minimum Daily Price, or in a quantity in excess of such revised Maximum Daily Amount, after the giving of such notice. In addition, the Distributor or the Fund may, upon notice to the Agent by telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail or other electronic means), suspend the offering of the Shares at any time; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

(c)    The Agent agrees not to make any sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 1, other than through transactions for which compliance with Rule 153 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), will satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act.

(d)    The compensation to the Agent, as a sub-placement agent for each sale of the Shares pursuant to this Section 1, shall be the Applicable Selling Agent Commission (as set forth on the Addendum hereto) with respect to the Shares sold, multiplied by the Gross Sales Proceeds (the “Agent Compensation”), as further described in the Addendum to this Sub-Placement Agent Agreement (the “Agreement”). The Agent shall not be responsible for any fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization on the Fund or the Distributor in respect of such sales. The Distributor may pay the Agent Compensation to the Agent, or may authorize the Agent to retain the Agent Compensation from the Gross Sales Proceeds. The Agent Compensation shall be payable solely out of the compensation the Distributor receives from the Fund pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (the “Related Compensation”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other provision of this Agreement (or, for the avoidance of doubt, in the Addendum hereto), the Distributor shall have no obligation to pay any portion of the Agent Compensation to the Agent, or authorize the retention by the Agent of any portion of the Agent Compensation from the Gross Sales Proceeds, until the Distributor receives at least an equivalent amount of Related Compensation, and the Distributor’s obligation to the Agent for the Agent Compensation is limited solely to amounts payable out of the Related Compensation.

(e)    The Agent shall provide written confirmation to the Distributor following the close of trading on the Stock Exchange on each Offering Date setting forth for each sale the number of Shares sold, the time of sale, the Gross Sales Price per Share, and the compensation that the Agent is owed with respect to such sales.

(f)    Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 1 will occur on the second business day following the date on which such sales are made (each such day, a “Settlement Date”). On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through the Agent for settlement on such date shall be delivered by the Fund at the request of the Distributor to the Agent against payment of (i) the Gross Sales Proceeds for the sale of such Shares or (ii) to the extent authorized by the Distributor, the Gross Sales Proceeds, less the Related Compensation. If the Agent is authorized by the Distributor to retain the Agent Compensation from the Gross Sales Proceeds for the sale of the Shares, then the Agent shall (i) pay to the Distributor an amount equal to the Related Compensation minus the Agent Compensation in same day funds delivered to the account(s) designated by the Distributor and (ii) remit to the Fund the Gross Sales Proceeds, less

 

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the Related Compensation. If the Distributor shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, subject to the terms of Section 5 herein, the Distributor shall (A) hold the Agent harmless against any reasonable loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Distributor and (B) pay the Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If the Agent breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver proceeds on any Settlement Date for the Shares delivered by the Distributor, subject to the terms of Section 5 herein, the Agent shall (A) hold the Distributor harmless against any reasonable loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Agent, (B) deliver such proceeds to the Distributor as soon as practicable and (C) pay the Distributor interest based on the effective overnight Federal Funds rate.

(g)    In connection with this Agreement and the Offerings, the Distributor shall, no more than once per calendar quarter in which the Fund and the Distributor have requested, or anticipate requesting, that the Agent sell Shares pursuant to an Offering, provide to the Agent such certificates and other documents, in any case, as the Agent may reasonably request upon reasonable notice (but in no event upon notice of less than five business days) relating to authorization, capacity, enforceability and compliance matters. Any such certifications shall be made as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the calendar quarter in which such request by the Agent is made.

(h)    In connection with this Agreement and the Offerings, the Agent will promptly notify the Distributor of any material non-confidential claim or complaint, any material enforcement action or other material proceeding by a regulatory authority with respect to the Fund, the Shares or the Offerings against or directed at or to the Agent or its principals, affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents, or any person who controls the Agent, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act.

(i)    In connection with this Agreement and the Offerings, the Agent will promptly notify the Distributor of any examination by any regulatory agency or self-regulatory organization that has resulted in a material compliance deficiency in connection with the Offerings.

SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties by the Distributor. The Distributor represents, warrants to and agrees with the Agent, as of the date hereof and as of each Offering Date and Settlement Date, that:

(a)    A registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-258554 and 811-21043) (the “Registration Statement”) (i) has been prepared by the Fund in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “1940 Act”) in all material respects; (ii) has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act; and (iii) heretofore became, and is, effective; the Registration Statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains additional information concerning the Fund and its business; no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Basic Prospectus (as defined herein), the Prospectus Supplement (as defined herein) or the Prospectus (as defined herein), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no

 

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proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Fund’s knowledge, have been threatened by the Commission. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means, collectively, the various parts of the registration statement, as amended at the time of effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act (the “Effective Time”), as such section applies to the Distributor, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, and (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed to be part of the registration statement at the Effective Time. “Basic Prospectus,” as used herein, means the final prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the related statement of additional information, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of the Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus Supplement,” as used herein, means the final prospectus supplement, including the related statement of additional information, relating to the Shares, filed by the Fund with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, in the form furnished by the Fund to the Distributor in connection with the offering of the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein.

(b)    The Fund is duly registered under the 1940 Act as a closed-end management investment company. A notification of registration of the Fund as an investment company under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A (the1940 Act Notification”) has been prepared by the Fund in conformity with the 1940 Act and has been filed with the Commission and, at the time of filing thereof and at the time of filing any amendment or supplement thereto, conformed in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund has not received any notice in writing from the Commission pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act with respect to the 1940 Act Notification or the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement to either of them). No person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, provided that for purposes of the foregoing representation with respect to officers and directors of the Fund, the Fund shall be entitled to rely on representations from such officers and directors.

(c)    The Registration Statement, the 1940 Act Notification and the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or supplemented, each complied when it became effective or was filed (as the case may be), complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, will comply, at each time of purchase of Shares in connection with each Offering, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act; the Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of the Basic Prospectus and the date the Basic Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the later of each time of purchase of Shares in connection with each Offering, and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in

 

4


connection with any sale of Shares, did or will the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Distributor does not make any representation or warranty with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by the Agent or on the Agent’s behalf to the Distributor or the Fund expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (the “Agent Provided Information”). The Agent confirms that (i) the Agent’s name on the front cover and under the headings “Prospectus Supplement Summary” and “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement and (ii) the ninth and tenth paragraphs under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement was the only information furnished in writing to the Distributor or the Fund by or on behalf of the Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

(d)    The financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly in all materials respects the financial position of the Fund as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Fund for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), and in conformity in all material respects with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are accurately and fairly presented, in all material respects, and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Fund in all material respects; there are no financial statements that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, the 1940 Act or the Exchange Act that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; and the Fund does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto).

(e)    Based upon the representations made by the Fund to the Distributor in the Distribution Agreement, as of the date of this Agreement, the Fund has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus and, with respect to any issuance and sale under this Agreement, the Fund shall have as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Fund have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in material compliance with all applicable securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.

(f)    The Fund has been duly formed, has legal existence as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of Maryland, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares as contemplated herein. The Fund is

 

5


duly qualified to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Fund.

(g)    The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights. The Shares, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be free of any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Fund is a party. The Common Stock, including the Shares, conform in all material respects to the description thereof, if any, contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus. The certificates for the Shares, if any, are in due and proper form. The Fund is in material compliance with the rules of the Stock Exchange, including, without limitation, the requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on the Stock Exchange and the Fund has not received any written notice from the Stock Exchange regarding the delisting of the Common Stock from the Stock Exchange. The Shares will be duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Stock Exchange.

(h)    The Distributor has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Distributor. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Agent, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Distributor and is enforceable against the Distributor in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and moratorium laws in effect from time to time and by equitable principles restricting the availability of equitable remedies.

(i)    No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the Stock Exchange), or approval of the shareholders of the Fund that has not already been obtained, is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Fund of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, which has been effected, (ii) the listing of the Shares with the Stock Exchange, upon official notice of issuance, (iii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered through the Agent or (iv) any necessary qualification pursuant to the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

6


SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties by the Agent. The Agent represents, warrants to and agrees with the Distributor, as of the date hereof and as of each Offering Date and Settlement Date, that:

(a)    The Agent has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Agent. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Distributor, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Agent and is enforceable against the Agent in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and moratorium laws in effect from time to time and by equitable principles restricting the availability of equitable remedies.

(b)    The Agent Provided Information is or will be complete and accurate in all material respects and does not or will not, as from time to time amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c)    The Agent has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of federal and state securities laws, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance by each registered representative of the Agent.

SECTION 4. Additional Covenants.

(a)    The Agent hereby confirms that it is actually engaged in the investment banking and securities business and is a member in good standing with FINRA and hereby agrees that it will undertake to comply with all applicable FINRA rules (as amended from time to time, including without limitation, any successor provision) in connection with acting as sub-placement agent for the sale of the Shares. The Agent further agrees that in acting as sub-placement agent for the sale of the Shares, it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the applicable rules and regulations of any state or any securities exchange or self-regulatory organization having jurisdiction over the relevant Offering.

(b)    The Agent hereby agrees that in acting as sub-placement agent for the sale of the Shares, it will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) concerning any Offering, other than the Prospectus. The Agent further agrees that in acting as sub-placement agent for the sale of the Shares, it is not authorized by the Distributor or the Fund or any other seller of the Shares offered pursuant to the Prospectus to give any information or to make any representation not contained in the Prospectus in connection with the sale of such Shares.

(c)    The Distributor shall not be under any obligation to the Agent except for obligations assumed hereunder or in writing by the Distributor in connection with any Offering. Nothing contained herein or in any communication in writing from us shall constitute the Distributor and the Agent an association or partners with one another. If such parties should be deemed to constitute a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, then the Agent elects to be

 

7


excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and agrees not to take any position inconsistent with that election. The Agent authorizes the Distributor, in its discretion, to execute and file on its behalf such evidence of that election as may be required by the Internal Revenue Service. In connection with any Offering, each party shall be liable for its proportionate amount of any tax, claim, demand or liability that may be asserted against it alone, based upon the claim that either of them constitutes an association, an unincorporated business or other entity, including, in each case, its proportionate amount of any expense incurred in defending against any such tax, claim, demand or liability.

(d)    The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split effected with respect to the Shares.

(e)    The Agent shall at all times comply with the offering requirements as set forth herein and under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus.

SECTION 5. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)    The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Agent, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any reasonable loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which the Agent or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (or any actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Distributor contained in this Agreement, (ii) any material violation by the Distributor of any law, rule or regulation (including any rule of any self-regulatory organization) applicable to the Offerings, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact appearing in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent such statements were included in the Registration Statement or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent Provided Information.

(b)    The Agent agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Distributor, the Fund, their directors and officers, and any person who controls the Distributor or the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which the Distributor, the Fund or any such other person may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (or any actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Agent contained in this Agreement or (ii) any material violation by the Agent of any law, rule or regulation (including any rule of any self-regulatory organization), or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent Provided Information.

 

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(c)    An indemnified person under Section 5 of this Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give written notice to the other party (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim in respect of which the Indemnifying Party has a duty to indemnify such Indemnified Party under Section 5(a) or (b) of this Agreement (a “Claim”), specifying in reasonable detail the nature of the loss, damage, expense, liability or claim for which indemnification is sought, except that any delay or failure so to notify such Indemnifying Party shall only relieve such Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder to the extent, if at all, that such Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure.

(d)    If a Claim results from any action, suit or proceeding brought or asserted against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in such action, suit or proceeding and participate in such defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Indemnifying Party has failed within a reasonable time to assume the defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by its counsel that representation of such Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential differing interests between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party). It is understood, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall, in connection with any one action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties not having actual or potential differing interests with the Indemnifying Party or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by an authorized representative of such parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such written consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Party from and against any loss, liability, damage or expense by reason by such settlement or judgment.

(e)    With respect to any Claim not within Paragraph (d) of Section 5 hereof, the Indemnifying Party shall have 20 days from receipt of notice from the Indemnified Party of such Claim within which to respond thereto. If the Indemnifying Party does not respond within such twenty-day period, it shall be deemed to have accepted responsibility to make payment and shall have no further right to contest the validity of such Claim. If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within such twenty-day period that it rejects such Claim in whole or in part, the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party under applicable law.

 

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(f)    If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each applicable Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnified Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnifying Party, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares; or (ii) if, but only if, the allocation provided for in clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Indemnified Party, on the one hand, and of the Indemnifying Party, on the other, in connection with any statements or omissions or other matters which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Distributor, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total compensation received by the Distributor from sales of the Shares bears to the total compensation received by the Agent from sales of the Shares. The relative fault of the parties hereto shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by such party, on one hand, or by the other party, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party hereto as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection (f). No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection (f), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement, and the Distributor shall not be required to contribute more than the total compensation received by the Distributor from the sale of shares.

(g)    The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the parties contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Distributor, its directors or officers or any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares.

 

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(h)    IN NO EVENT WILL ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES.

SECTION 6. Termination.

(a)    This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until terminated by either party, including by written instruction by the Fund to the Distributor, by five days’ written notice to the other party; provided, that if this Agreement has become effective with respect to any Offering pursuant to this Agreement, this Agreement may not be terminated by either party with respect to such Offering.

(b)    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect.

(c)    Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that in any event such termination shall not be effective until any earlier than the close of business on the fifth day after receipt of such notice by the Distributor or the Agent, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Agreement.

SECTION 7. Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand, overnight courier, mail or email and shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to:

If to the Distributor:

Amundi Distributor US, Inc.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02101

Attn: Lisa M. Jones, President

Email: lisa.jones@amundi.com

with a copy to:

Amundi Distributor US, Inc.

60 State Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02101

Attn: Terrence J. Cullen, Esq., General Counsel

Email: terrence.cullen@amundi.com

 

11


If to the Agent:

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Saawan Pathange

Email: saawan.pathange@ubs.com

Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

SECTION 8. Parties in Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Distributor, the Fund and the Agent and, to the extent provided in Section 5 of this Agreement, the directors, officers and controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) referred to in such section, and their respective successors and assigns. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from the Distributor) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

SECTION 9. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Distributor hereby acknowledges that the Agent is acting solely as sub-placement agent in connection with the sale of the Shares and that the Agent is acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis, and in no event do the parties intend that the Agent act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Distributor or the Fund, their respective management, shareholders or creditors, or any other person in connection with any activity that the Agent may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the sale of the Shares, either before or after the date hereof.

SECTION 10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 11. Counterparts; Heading. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

SECTION 12. Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Dispute”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 13. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no Dispute may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and each party hereto consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each party hereto hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and

 

12


venue in any court in which any Dispute arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against any Indemnified Party. Each party hereto (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon such party and may be enforced in any other courts of the jurisdiction of which such party is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

SECTION 14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Distributor and the Agent and their successors and permitted assigns and any successor or permitted assign of any substantial portion of the Distributor’s or the Agent’s respective businesses and/or assets.

This Agreement may not be transferred or assigned without the consent of the non-transferring or non-assigning party; provided, however, that no such consent shall be required to transfer or assign this Agreement to an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the transferring or assigning party.

SECTION 15. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If, however, any provision of this Agreement is held, under applicable law, to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired in any way and shall be interpreted to give effect to the intent of the parties manifested thereby.

SECTION 16. Investigations and Proceedings. The parties to this Agreement agree to cooperate fully in any securities regulatory investigation or proceeding or any judicial proceeding with respect to each party’s activities under this Agreement and promptly to notify the other party of any such investigation or proceeding.

SECTION 17. Modification, Waiver and Amendment. No modification, alteration or amendment of this Agreement will be valid or binding unless in writing and signed by all parties. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement will be construed as a waiver of any other term or condition; nor will any waiver of any default or breach under this Agreement be construed as a waiver of any other default or breach. No waiver will be binding unless in writing and signed by the party waiving the term, condition, default or breach. Any failure or delay by any party to enforce any of its rights under this Agreement will not be deemed a continuing waiver or modification hereof and such party, within the time provided by law, may commence appropriate legal proceedings to enforce any or all of such right.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]

 

13


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Distributor and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between the Distributor and the Agent. Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Distributor and the acceptance by or on behalf of the Agent may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.

 

Very truly yours,
AMUNDI DISTRIBUTOR US, INC.
By: /s/ Laura J. Palmer                            

Name: Laura J. Palmer

Title: Senior Managing Director, Head of U.S. Intermediary Distribution

 

ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

UBS SECURITIES LLC

(as sub-placement agent)

By: /s/ Saawan Pathange                        

Name: Saawan Pathange

Title: Managing Director

By: /s/ Henry Du Pont                            

Name: Henry Du Pont

Title: Associate Director


ADDENDUM

TO

SUB-PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

AMUNDI DISTRIBUTOR US, INC.

AND

UBS SECURITIES LLC

Compensation payable to the Agent for acting as a sub-placement agent with respect to a specified sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be determined by multiplying the Gross Sales Proceeds by the Applicable Selling Agent Commission as set forth below:

 

Applicable
Selling Agent
Commission
0.80%

Where:

“Gross Sales Proceeds” with respect to each sale of Shares shall be the Gross Sales Price multiplied by the number of Shares sold;

“Gross Sales Price” with respect to each sale of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be the gross sales price per share of such Shares.

EX-99.(J) 4 d125550dex99j.htm CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT Custodian Agreement

LOGO

CUSTODY AGREEMENT

By and Between

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

And

EACH INVESTMENT COMPANY

LISTED ON APPENDIX I


BNY MELLON AND CUSTOMER CONFIDENTIAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.   DEFINITIONS    1
2.   APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS    4
  2.1    Appointment of Custodian    4
  2.2    Establishment of Accounts    5
  2.3    Registration Document Completion Service    5
3.   AUTHORIZED PERSONS AND INSTRUCTIONS; ELECTRONIC ACCESS    5
  3.1    Authorized Persons    5
  3.2    Instructions    5
  3.3    BNY Mellon Actions Without Instructions    6
  3.4    Funds Transfers    7
  3.5    Electronic Access    8
4.   SUBCUSTODIANS, DEPOSITORIES AND AGENTS    8
  4.1    Use of Subcustodians and Depositories    8
  4.2    Liability for Subcustodians    9
  4.3    Liability for Depositories    9
  4.4    Use of Agents    9
5.   CORPORATE ACTIONS    10
  5.1    Notification    10
  5.2    Exercise of Rights    10
  5.3    Partial Redemptions, Payments, Etc.    10
6.   SETTLEMENT    10
  6.1    Settlement Instructions    10
  6.2    Settlement Funds    10
  6.3    Settlement Practices    11
7.   TAX MATTERS    11
  7.1    Tax Obligations    11
  7.2    Responsibility for Taxes    11
  7.3    Payments    12
8.   CREDITS AND ADVANCES    12
  8.1    Contractual Settlement and Income    12
  8.2    Advances    12
  8.3    Repayment    12
  8.4    Securing Repayment    12
  8.5    Setoff    13
9.   STATEMENTS; BOOKS AND RECORDS; THIRD PARTY DATA    13
  9.1    Statements    13
  9.2    Books and Records    14
  9.3    Third Party Data    14
10.       DISCLOSURES    15
  10.1    Required Disclosure    15
  10.2    Foreign Exchange Transactions    15
  10.3      Investment of Cash    16


11.   REGULATORY MATTERS    16
  11.1    USA PATRIOT Act    16
  11.2    Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering    16
  11.3    Notice of Certain Regulatory Matters    17
12.   COMPENSATION    18
  12.1    Fees and Expenses    18
  12.2    Other Compensation    18
13.   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS    18
  13.1    BNY Mellon    18
  13.2    Customer    19
14.   LIABILITY    19
  14.1    Standard of Care    19
  14.2    Limitation of Liability    19
  14.3    Force Majeure    20
  14.4    Indemnification    21
  14.5    Limitation of Customer Liabilities    22
15.   CONFIDENTIALITY    23
  15.1    Confidentiality Obligations    23
  15.2    Exceptions    23
  15.3    Information Security    24
16.   TERM AND TERMINATION    24
  16.1    Term    24
  16.2    Termination    25
  16.3    Effect of Termination    28
  16.4    Survival    28
17.       GENERAL    29
  17.1    Non-Custody Assets    29
  17.2    Assignment    29
  17.3    Amendment; New Customers or New Series    30
  17.4    Governing Law/Forum    31
  17.5    Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery    31
  17.6    Non-Fiduciary Status    31
  17.7    Notices    31
  17.8    Entire Agreement    31
  17.9    No Third Party Beneficiaries    32
  17.10    Counterparts/Facsimile    32
  17.11    Interpretation    32
  17.12    No Waiver    32
  17.13    Headings    32
  17.14      Severability    32

Appendix I

   34

Exhibit A

   36

 

ii


CUSTODY AGREEMENT

This Custody Agreement is made and entered into as of January 19, 2021 by and between THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York state chartered bank (“BNY Mellon”), and EACH INVESTMENT COMPANY LISTED ON APPENDIX I (each, a “Customer” and collectively, the “Customers”). BNY Mellon and each Customer are collectively referred to as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”. This Agreement shall be effective on November 1, 2021 or on such other date as the Parties may agree in writing (the “Effective Date”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, each Customer wishes to appoint BNY Mellon as the custodian of certain of its assets, and BNY Mellon is willing to provide such services on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties agree as follows.

 

1.

DEFINITIONS

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words have the meanings set forth below:

1940 Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Account” or “Accounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(a).

Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, any other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or under common control with such entity.

Agreement” means, collectively, this Custody Agreement, any Appendices and Exhibits hereto and any other documents incorporated herein by reference.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means all anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws, rules, regulations, executive orders and requirements administered by any governmental authority of the United States (including the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, and regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department which implement such acts) or any other applicable domestic or foreign authority over a Customer.

Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section Error! Reference source not found..

Assets Under Management” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(b)(iv).

Authorized Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

BNY Mellon” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

BNY Mellon TA” means BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

 

1


Breach Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(a).

Breach Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(a).

Cash” means the money and currency of any jurisdiction which BNY Mellon accepts for deposit in an Account.

Confidential Information” means, with respect to a Party, the terms of this Agreement and all non-public business and financial information of such Party (including, with respect to the Customers, information regarding the Accounts and including, with respect to BNY Mellon, information regarding its practices and procedures related to the services provided hereunder) disclosed to the other Party in connection with this Agreement.

Customer” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Data Terms Website” means http://www.bnymellon.com/products/assetservicing/vendoragreement.pdf or any successor website the address of which is provided by BNY Mellon to the Customers.

Defaulting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(a).

Depository” means the Depository Trust Company, Euroclear, Clearstream Banking S.A., the Canadian Depository System, CLS Bank and any other securities depository, book-entry system or clearing agency authorized to act as a system for the central handling of securities pursuant to the laws of the applicable jurisdiction, and any successors to, and/or nominees of, any of the foregoing.

Early Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(b).

Early Termination Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(b)(i).

Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

Electronic Access Services” means such services made available by BNY Mellon or a BNY Mellon Affiliate to the Customers to electronically access information relating to the Accounts and/or transmit Instructions.

FAA Agreement” means that certain Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2021, by and between BNY Mellon and Amundi Asset Management US, Inc. and each of the Customers.

Foreign Depository” means an “Eligible Securities Depository” (as defined in Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act) identified by BNY Mellon to the Customers from time to time.

Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(a).

Instructions” means, with respect to this Agreement, instructions issued to BNY Mellon by way of (a) one of the following methods (each as and to the extent specified by BNY Mellon as available for use in connection with the services hereunder): (i) the Electronic Access Services; (ii) third-party electronic communication services containing, where applicable, appropriate authorization codes, passwords or authentication keys, which

 

2


BNY Mellon reasonably believes to have been transmitted by an Authorized Person in accordance with such testing and authentication procedures as may be agreed to from time to time by the Parties, or (iii) third-party institutional trade matching utilities used to effect transactions in accordance with such utility’s customary procedures or (b) such other method as may be agreed upon by the Parties and that is in accordance with such testing and authentication procedures as may be agreed to from time to time by the Parties.

Market Data” means pricing, valuations or other commercially sourced data applicable to any Security. Market Data also includes security identifiers, bond ratings and classification data.

Market Data Providers” means vendors and analytics providers and any other Person providing Market Data to BNY Mellon.

New Customer” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(b).

New Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.3(c).

Non-Custody Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.1.

Non-Defaulting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(a).

Non-Renewal Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(b).

Oral Instructions” means oral instructions received by BNY Mellon under permissible circumstances agreed by the Funds and BNY Mellon, all in such manner and in accordance with such testing and authentication procedures as the Parties shall agree upon from time to time, and reasonably believed by BNY Mellon to be from an Authorized Person.

Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in in the introductory paragraph.

Person” or “Persons” means any entity or individual.

Pioneer Fund Agreement” means each of the Agreement, the FAA Agreement and the TA Agreement.

Regulatory Matters” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.

Removed Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2(b)(iv).

Renewal Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1(b).

Sanctions” means all economic sanctions laws, rules, regulations, executive orders and requirements administered by any governmental authority of the United States (including the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury) or any other applicable domestic or foreign authority with jurisdiction over a Customer.

Securities” means all (a) debt and equity securities and (b) other financial instruments and investments, including rights to receive, subscribe to or purchase the foregoing; in

 

3


each case as may be agreed upon from time to time by BNY Mellon and the Customers and which are from time to time delivered to or received by BNY Mellon and/or any Subcustodian for deposit in an Account.

Series” means the respective portfolios, if any, of the Customers listed on Appendix I to this Agreement. If no portfolios are listed on Appendix I to this Agreement then a reference to a Series means the Customer itself.

Standard of Care” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.

Subcustodian” means a bank or other financial institution (other than a Depository) that is selected and used by BNY Mellon or a BNY Mellon Affiliate in connection with the settlement of transactions and/or custody of Assets hereunder, and any successors to, and/or nominees of, any of the foregoing.

TA Agreement” means that certain Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2021, by and between BNY Mellon TA and certain of the Customers.

Tax Obligations” means taxes, withholding, certification and reporting requirements, claims for exemptions or refund, interest, penalties, additions to tax and other related expenses.

Third Party Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).

 

2.

APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS

 

2.1

Appointment of Custodian

 

  (a)

Each Customer hereby appoints BNY Mellon as custodian of all Securities and Cash to be held under, and in accordance with the terms of, this Agreement (collectively, “Assets”), and BNY Mellon hereby accepts such appointment. BNY Mellon shall keep safely all Assets of each Customer delivered to BNY Mellon pursuant to this Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in accordance with applicable statutes, laws, rules and regulations which by their respective terms require BNY Mellon’s compliance with the same. BNY Mellon agrees to perform its duties under this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in accordance with applicable statutes, laws, rules and regulations which by their respective terms require BNY Mellon’s compliance with the same in connection with BNY Mellon’s performance of the services set forth in this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that BNY Mellon’s duties pursuant to this Agreement will be limited solely to those duties expressly undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, BNY Mellon has no obligation:

 

  (i)

With respect to any Assets until they are actually received in an Account;

 

  (ii)

To inquire into, make recommendations, supervise or determine the suitability of any transactions affecting any Account;

 

4


  (iii)

To determine the adequacy of title to, or the validity or genuineness of, any Assets received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

  (iv)

With respect to any matters related to: the establishment, maintenance operation or termination of a Customer or a Series; or the offer, sale or distribution of the shares of, or interests in, a Customer or a Series.

 

  (c)

Cash held hereunder may be subject to additional deposit terms and conditions issued by BNY Mellon or the applicable Subcustodian from time to time, including rates of interest and deposit account access.

 

  (d)

If a Customer engages in securities lending activities, such activities will be subject to certain additional and/or modified terms to be set forth in a separate written agreement between the Customer and BNY Mellon or a BNY Mellon Affiliate.

 

2.2

Establishment of Accounts

BNY Mellon will establish and maintain a separate account for each Series in which BNY Mellon will hold Assets relating to the relevant Series as provided herein (each, an “Account,” and collectively, the “Accounts”). The Account of each Series established under this Agreement shall be maintained separately from the Account of each other Series. For each Series, pursuant to Instructions, BNY Mellon shall create a separate deposit account to hold any cash of such Series, such that the Series would be entitled to a depositor preference in the event of the insolvency of BNY Mellon.

 

2.3

Registration Document Completion Service

BNY Mellon will facilitate registration document completion services for agreed markets for each Customer pursuant to Instructions.

 

3.

AUTHORIZED PERSONS AND INSTRUCTIONS; ELECTRONIC ACCESS

 

3.1

Authorized Persons

Promptly following the Effective Date, each Customer and/or its designee (including any of its investment managers) will furnish BNY Mellon with one or more written lists or other documentation acceptable to BNY Mellon specifying the names and titles of, or otherwise identifying, all Persons authorized to act on behalf of the Customer (with respect to a particular Series, if applicable) with respect to this Agreement (each, an “Authorized Person”). The Customer will be responsible for keeping such lists and/or other documentation current, and will update such lists and/or other documentation, as necessary from time to time, pursuant to Instructions.

 

3.2

Instructions

 

  (a)

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, BNY Mellon will have no obligation to take any action hereunder unless and until it receives Instructions issued in accordance with this Agreement.

 

  (b)

The Customer will be responsible for ensuring that all Authorized Persons safeguard and treat with extreme care any user and authorization codes, passwords and authentication keys used in connection with the issuance of Instructions.

 

5


  (c)

BNY Mellon will be entitled to deal with any Authorized Person until notified otherwise pursuant to Instructions and, subject to the Standard of Care, BNY Mellon will be entitled to act and rely upon any Instruction received by BNY Mellon.

 

  (d)

All Instructions must include all information necessary, and must be delivered using such methods as are described in the definition of “Instructions” and in such format as BNY Mellon may reasonably require and be received within BNY Mellon’s established cut-off times, all as communicated in writing via Nexen (or a successor system) from time to time by BNY Mellon to the Customers.

 

  (e)

BNY Mellon may in its sole discretion, and subject to the Standard of Care, decline to act upon any Instructions that do not comply with requirements set forth in Section 3.2(d) or that conflict with applicable law or regulations or BNY Mellon’s operating policies and practices (all as communicated in writing via Nexen (or a successor system) from time to time by BNY Mellon to the Customers), in which event BNY Mellon will promptly notify the relevant Customer.

 

  (f)

Each Customer acknowledges that while it is not part of BNY Mellon’s normal practices and procedures to accept Oral Instructions, BNY Mellon may in certain limited circumstances accept Oral Instructions in accordance with the Standard of Care. In such event, such Oral Instructions will be deemed to be Instructions for purposes of this Agreement. An Authorized Person issuing such an Oral Instruction will promptly confirm such Oral Instruction to BNY Mellon in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Customer agrees that the fact that such written confirmation is not received by BNY Mellon, will in no way affect (i) BNY Mellon’s reliance on such Oral Instruction in accordance with the Standard of Care, or (ii) the validity or enforceability of transactions authorized by such Oral Instruction and effected by BNY Mellon.

 

  (g)

Each Customer acknowledges and agrees that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to BNY Mellon and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method selected by the sender. Each Customer agrees that the security procedures, if any, to be followed by the Customer and BNY Mellon with respect to the transmission and authentication of Instructions provide to the Customer a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances.

 

3.3

BNY Mellon Actions Without Instructions

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, and subject to BNY Mellon acting in accordance with the Standard of Care, each Customer hereby authorizes BNY Mellon, without Instructions, to take any administrative or ministerial actions with respect to the Accounts that it deems reasonably necessary or appropriate to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the following:

 

  (a)

Receive income and other payments due to the Accounts; provided, however, that BNY Mellon will have no duty to pursue collection of any amount due to an Account, including for Securities in default, if such amount is not paid when due;

 

6


  (b)

Carry out any exchanges of Securities or other corporate actions not requiring discretionary decisions;

 

  (c)

Facilitate access by the Customer or its designee to ballots or online systems to assist it in the voting of proxies received by BNY Mellon in its capacity as custodian for eligible positions of Securities held in the Accounts (excluding bankruptcy matters), all of which will be exercised by the Customer or its designee and not by BNY Mellon;

 

  (d)

Forward to the Customer or its designee information (or summaries of information) that BNY Mellon receives in its capacity as custodian from Depositories or Subcustodians concerning Securities in the Accounts (excluding bankruptcy matters);

 

  (e)

Forward to the Customer or its designee an initial notice of bankruptcy cases relating to Securities held in the Accounts and a notice of any required action related to such bankruptcy cases as may be received by BNY Mellon in its capacity as custodian. BNY Mellon will take no further action nor provide further notification related to the bankruptcy case;

 

  (f)

Unless otherwise elected by the Customer, and in accordance with BNY Mellon’s standard terms and conditions, provide class action filing services for settled claims related to Securities with industry recognized identifiers;

 

  (g)

Endorse for collection checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments received on behalf of the Accounts;

 

  (h)

Execute and deliver, solely in its capacity as custodian, certificates, documents or instruments incidental to BNY Mellon’s performance under this Agreement; and

 

  (i)

Upon presentment of a check pursuant to a check redemption process agreed between the Customer and BNY Mellon, unless otherwise instructed pursuant to instructions, charge the amount of the check against the cash held in the Account of the relevant Series. If BNY Mellon receives timely instructions that a check is not to be honored, BNY Mellon will return the check unpaid.

 

3.4

Funds Transfers

With respect to each Instruction for a Cash transfer, when the Instruction is to credit or pay a party by both a name and a unique numeric or alpha-numeric identifier (e.g., IBAN or ABA or account number), BNY Mellon and any other bank participating in the Cash transfer will be entitled to rely solely on such numeric or alpha-numeric identifier, even if it identifies a party different from the party named. Such reliance on an identifier will apply to beneficiaries named in the Instruction, as well as any financial institution that is designated in the Instruction to act as an intermediary in such Cash transfer. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties will be bound by the rules of any transfer system used to effect a Cash transfer under this Agreement.

 

7


3.5

Electronic Access

If the Customers elect to use the Electronic Access Services in connection with this Agreement, the use thereof will be subject to any terms and conditions contained in a separate written agreement between the Parties or their Affiliates. If an Authorized Person elects, with BNY Mellon’s prior consent, to transmit Instructions through a third-party electronic communications service, BNY Mellon will not be responsible or liable for the reliability or availability of any such service.

 

4.

SUBCUSTODIANS, DEPOSITORIES AND AGENTS

 

4.1

Use of Subcustodians and Depositories

 

  (a)

BNY Mellon will be entitled to utilize Subcustodians and Depositories in connection with its performance hereunder; provided that BNY Mellon will not utilize a Subcustodian that is an “Eligible Foreign Custodian” (as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act) to hold “Foreign Assets” (as defined in such Rule 17f-5) until after BNY Mellon is informed, pursuant to such means as determined by BNY Mellon, that a Customer’s board of directors or similar governing body or “Foreign Custody Manager” (as defined in such Rule 17f-5) (which may be BNY Mellon) has determined that utilization of such Subcustodian satisfies the applicable requirements of such Rule 17f-5.

 

  (b)

BNY Mellon will only utilize Subcustodians that have entered into an agreement with BNY Mellon or a BNY Mellon Affiliate, and Assets held through a Subcustodian will be held subject to the terms and conditions of such Subcustodian’s respective agreement.

 

  (c)

Assets deposited in a Depository will be held subject to the rules, procedures, terms and conditions of such Depository. Subcustodians may hold Assets in Depositories in which such Subcustodians participate.

 

  (d)

In connection with each Depository utilized by BNY Mellon that is a “securities depository” (as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act), BNY Mellon (i) will exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain Securities or financial assets deposited or held in such Depository and (ii) will provide, promptly upon request by a Customer, such reports as are available concerning the internal accounting controls and financial strength of BNY Mellon.

 

  (e)

With respect to each Foreign Depository, BNY Mellon will exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence to (i) provide each Customer with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Foreign Depository and (ii) monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis and promptly notify each Customer of any material change in such risks. Each Customer acknowledges and agrees that such analysis and monitoring will be made on the basis of, and limited by, information gathered from certain Subcustodians or through publicly available information otherwise obtained by BNY Mellon, and will not include any evaluation of the matters referenced in Section 14.2(b)(i).

 

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  (f)

Unless otherwise required by local law or practice or a particular Subcustodian agreement, Assets deposited with Subcustodians or Depositories may be held in a commingled account in the name of, as applicable, BNY Mellon, a BNY Mellon Affiliate or the applicable Subcustodian, for its clients.

 

4.2

Liability for Subcustodians

 

  (a)

BNY Mellon will exercise the Standard of Care in selecting, retaining and monitoring Subcustodians.

 

  (b)

With respect to Assets held by a Subcustodian, BNY Mellon will be liable to a Customer for the activities of such Subcustodian under this Agreement to the extent that BNY Mellon would have been liable to the Customer under this Agreement if BNY Mellon had performed such activities itself in the relevant market in which such Subcustodian is located; provided, however, that with respect to Securities held by a Subcustodian that is not a BNY Mellon Affiliate:

 

  (i)

BNY Mellon will be liable for the activities of such Subcustodian to the extent such Subcustodian is liable for such activities under the terms of its agreement with BNY Mellon;

 

  (ii)

BNY Mellon will be liable if BNY Mellon failed to exercise the Standard of Care in selecting, retaining, and monitoring such Subcustodian; and

 

  (iii)

To the extent that BNY Mellon is not liable pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(i) or 4.2(b)(ii), BNY Mellon’s sole responsibility to the Customer will be to: (A) take reasonable and appropriate action to recover from such Subcustodian, and (B) forward to the Customer any amounts so recovered (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by BNY Mellon in connection therewith).

 

4.3

Liability for Depositories

BNY Mellon will have no responsibility or liability for the activities of any Depository arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any cost or burden imposed on the transfer or holding of Assets held with such Depository; for clarity, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement BNY Mellon is responsible for its own acts and omissions as set forth in this Agreement.

 

4.4

Use of Agents

BNY Mellon may appoint agents, including BNY Mellon Affiliates, on such terms and conditions as it reasonably deems appropriate to perform its obligations hereunder in accordance with the Standard of Care. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such appointment will discharge BNY Mellon from its obligations hereunder. BNY Mellon will notify each Customer of any agent appointed by BNY Mellon pursuant to this Section 4.4.

 

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5.

CORPORATE ACTIONS

 

5.1

Notification

BNY Mellon will notify each Customer or its designee of rights or discretionary corporate actions as promptly as practicable under the circumstances, provided that BNY Mellon has actually received, in its capacity as custodian, notice of such right or discretionary corporate action from the relevant issuer, or from a Subcustodian, Depository or third party vendor. Without actual receipt of such notice by BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon will have no responsibility or liability for failing to so notify the Customer.

 

5.2

Exercise of Rights

Whenever there are voluntary rights that may be exercised or alternate courses of action that may be taken with respect to Securities in an Account, the Customer or its designee will be responsible for making any decisions relating thereto and for instructing BNY Mellon to act. In order for BNY Mellon to act, the Customer must issue Instructions either: (a) using the BNY Mellon-generated form provided along with BNY Mellon’s notice under Section 5.1 or (b) if the Customer is not using such BNY Mellon-generated form, clearly indicating, by reference to the options provided on such BNY Mellon-generated form, which action the Customer is electing. Each such Instruction will be addressed as BNY Mellon may from time to time request and issued by such time as BNY Mellon will advise the Customer or its designee.

 

5.3

Partial Redemptions, Payments, Etc.

BNY Mellon will advise the Customer or its designee upon its notification, in its capacity as custodian, of a partial redemption, partial payment or other action with respect to a Security affecting fewer than all such Securities held within an Account. If BNY Mellon or any Subcustodian or Depository holds any Securities affected by one of the events described, BNY Mellon or such Subcustodian or Depository shall select the Securities to participate in such partial redemption, partial payment or other action in accordance with Instructions or, in the absence of such Instructions, in any non-discriminatory manner that it customarily uses to make such selection.

 

6.

SETTLEMENT

 

6.1

Settlement Instructions

Promptly after the execution of each Securities transaction, the Customer will issue to BNY Mellon Instructions to settle such transaction. Unless otherwise agreed by BNY Mellon and subject to Section 8.1, Assets will be credited to the relevant Account only when actually received by BNY Mellon.

 

6.2

Settlement Funds

For the purpose of settling a Securities transaction, the Customer will provide BNY Mellon with sufficient immediately available funds or Securities, as applicable, in the relevant Account by such time and date as is required to enable BNY Mellon to settle such transaction in the country of settlement and in the currency to be used to settle such transaction.

 

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6.3

Settlement Practices

Securities transactions will be settled using practices customary in the jurisdiction or market where the transaction occurs, which may include the delivery of Securities or Cash to a counterparty or its agents against, as applicable, the receipt of Securities or Cash in the future; provided, however, that where there are market capabilities for delivery vs. payment settlement, transactions shall be settled on that basis in the absence of Instructions otherwise. BNY Mellon will provide or make available to each Customer information and reports about the customary settlement practices in available jurisdictions and markets, which will include information regarding market capabilities for delivery vs. payment settlement. The Customer assumes full responsibility for all risks involved in connection with BNY Mellon’s delivery of Securities or Cash in accordance with this Section 6.3 and such practices.

 

7.

TAX MATTERS

 

7.1

Tax Obligations

To the extent that BNY Mellon has received relevant and necessary information with respect to an Account, BNY Mellon will perform the following services with respect to Tax Obligations:

 

  (a)

BNY Mellon (or the applicable Subcustodian) will apply, withhold and report appropriate amounts as BNY Mellon (in its capacity as custodian) or the applicable Subcustodian (in its capacity as subcustodian) is required to do under the relevant source country tax laws, and is authorized to debit the relevant Account in the amount of a Tax Obligation withheld and to pay such amount to the appropriate taxing authority;

 

  (b)

BNY Mellon will, where appropriate and upon receipt of sufficient information, pursue claims for tax relief where (i) either a tax treaty or a source country’s domestic tax laws provide for favorable tax treatment with respect to an Asset as a result of the relevant Series’ status as a specific type of investor and/or residency status and (ii) the source country’s tax authorities have outlined the requirements and qualification criteria required to obtain such relief; and

 

  (c)

BNY Mellon will forward to each Customer or its designee information regarding Tax Obligations applicable to the Customer that BNY Mellon receives in its capacity as custodian from third parties and that BNY Mellon reasonably believes would be useful to the Customer or its designee in the submission of any reports or returns with respect to Tax Obligations.

 

7.2

Responsibility for Taxes

Each Customer will be responsible and liable for all Tax Obligations with respect to any Assets held on behalf of the Customer and any transaction related thereto. Each Customer acknowledges and agrees that BNY Mellon and its Affiliates are not tax advisers and will not under any circumstances provide tax advice to the Customer. Each Customer will obtain its own independent tax advice for any tax-related matters.

 

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7.3

Payments

Where BNY Mellon receives Instructions to make distributions or transfers out of an Account in order to pay a Customer’s third party service providers, the Customer acknowledges that in making such payments BNY Mellon is acting in an administrative or ministerial capacity, and not as the payor, for tax information reporting and withholding purposes.

 

8.

CREDITS AND ADVANCES

 

8.1

Contractual Settlement and Income

BNY Mellon may, in its sole discretion, as a matter of bookkeeping convenience, credit the relevant Account with the proceeds resulting from the purchase, sale, redemption or other delivery or receipt of Securities, or interest, dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt thereof. All such credits will be conditional until BNY Mellon’s actual receipt of such proceeds and may be reversed by BNY Mellon to the extent that such proceeds are not received. Actual receipt of proceeds with respect to a transaction will not be deemed to have occurred, and the transaction will not be considered final, until BNY Mellon has received sufficient immediately available funds or Securities specifically applicable to such transaction that, under applicable local law, rule or practice, are irreversible and not subject to any security interest, levy or other encumbrance.

 

8.2

Advances

If BNY Mellon receives an Instruction that, if processed, would result in an overdraft in an Account, BNY Mellon may, in its sole discretion, advance funds in any currency hereunder.

 

8.3

Repayment

If: (a) BNY Mellon has advanced funds to an Account; (b) an overdraft has occurred in an Account (including overdrafts incurred in connection with the settlement of securities transactions, funds transfers or foreign exchange transactions) or (c) a Customer is for any other reason indebted to BNY Mellon, such Customer agrees to repay BNY Mellon (on demand or upon becoming aware thereof) the amount of such advance, overdraft or indebtedness (if due and payable), plus accrued interest at a rate determined by mutual agreement between the Parties (which agreement by such Customer shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

8.4

Securing Repayment

In order to secure repayment of a Customer’s obligations and liabilities relating to a Series (whether or not matured) to BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate, whether or not relating to or arising under this Agreement, and without limiting BNY Mellon’s or such BNY Mellon Affiliate’s rights under applicable law or any other agreement, each Customer hereby pledges and grants to BNY Mellon and such BNY Mellon Affiliate, and agrees BNY Mellon and such BNY Mellon Affiliate will have to the maximum extent permitted by law, a continuing first lien and security interest in: (a) all of the Customer’s and such Series’ right, title and interest in and to the Account relating to such Series and the Assets now or hereafter held in such Account (including proceeds thereof) and (b) any other property at any time held by BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate relating to such Series; provided

 

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that the Customer does not hereby grant a security interest in any Securities issued by an affiliate (as defined in Section 23A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act) of BNY Mellon. Each Customer represents, warrants and covenants that it owns the Assets in the Accounts, and such other property at any time held by BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate relating to the Customer, free and clear of all liens, claims and security interests (except as otherwise acknowledged in writing by BNY Mellon), and that the first lien and security interest granted herein with respect to each Series will be subject to no setoffs, counterclaims or other liens prior to or on a parity with it in favor of any third party (other than specific liens granted preferred status by statute). Each Customer will take any additional steps required to assure BNY Mellon of such priority security interest, including notifying third parties or obtaining their consent. BNY Mellon will be entitled to collect from the relevant Account sufficient Cash for reimbursement, and if such Cash is insufficient, to sell Securities in such Account to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement; provided, that BNY Mellon will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Customer of such insufficiency of Cash and discuss the Securities to be sold in connection with obtaining reimbursement. In this regard, BNY Mellon will be entitled to all the rights and remedies of a pledgee, secured creditor and/or securities intermediary under applicable laws, rules and regulations as then in effect as if the Customer or the relevant Series is in default.

 

8.5

Setoff

BNY Mellon has the right to debit any Cash for any amount payable by a Customer in connection with any and all obligations and liabilities (whether or not matured) of the Customer relating to a Series to BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate whether or not relating to or arising under this Agreement. In addition to the rights of BNY Mellon or such BNY Mellon Affiliate under applicable law or any other agreement, at any time when a Customer has not honored any of its obligations relating to a Series to BNY Mellon or such BNY Mellon Affiliate, BNY Mellon will have the right without notice to the Customer to retain or set-off against any obligations relating to such Series any cash BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate may directly or indirectly hold with respect to such Series, and any obligations (whether or not matured) that BNY Mellon or any BNY Mellon Affiliate may have with respect to such Series in any currency. Any such cash or obligation relating to a Series may be transferred to BNY Mellon and any BNY Mellon Affiliate in order to effect the above rights.

 

9.

STATEMENTS; BOOKS AND RECORDS; THIRD PARTY DATA

 

9.1

Statements

BNY Mellon will make available to each Customer, through the Electronic Access Services, a monthly statement (or report for such other time period as the Parties may agree upon from time to time) reflecting all transfers to or from the relevant Accounts during such month and all holdings in the Accounts as of the last business day of such month (or as of such other date(s) as the Parties may agree upon from time to time). Each Customer will promptly review each such statement and, within ninety (90) days of when such statement is made available by BNY Mellon, notify BNY Mellon of any exception or objection thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Customer may notify BNY Mellon of any such exceptions or objections at any time; provided, however, that BNY Mellon will not be responsible or liable for any losses that could have been mitigated had such notice been provided during such ninety (90) day period.

 

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9.2

Books and Records

The books and records, directly pertaining to the Accounts, which are in the possession of BNY Mellon will be the property of the relevant Customer. Such books and records will be prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. BNY Mellon will identify on its books and records the Assets belonging to each Customer with respect to each respective Series whether held directly or indirectly through Subcustodians or Depositories. Securities held in the Accounts will be held in registered form in the name of BNY Mellon or one of its nominees and will be segregated on BNY Mellon’s books and records from BNY Mellon’s own property. Each Customer and its authorized representatives will have the right, at the Customer’s own expense and with reasonable prior written notice to BNY Mellon, to have reasonable access to those books and records directly pertaining to the Accounts. Any such access will occur during BNY Mellon’s normal business hours and will be subject to BNY Mellon’s applicable security policies and procedures.

BNY Mellon shall preserve for each Customer the books and records required to be maintained under this Agreement for the period(s) required by (i) the 1940 Act and the Commodities Exchange Act, as applicable, and (ii) any court order, regulatory action or subpoena communicated to BNY Mellon by the Customer.

All such books and records shall be maintained in a form reasonably acceptable to the Customer, and shall be reasonably arranged and indexed by BNY Mellon in a manner that permits reasonably prompt location, access and retrieval of any particular record. BNY Mellon shall not destroy any files, records or documents created or maintained by BNY Mellon pursuant to this Agreement except in accordance with its record retention policy as communicated to the Customers from time to time or if such destruction is authorized by the Customer by means of Instructions. Upon the Customer’s request, but subject to BNY Mellon’s records retention, archival, and similar protocols, BNY Mellon shall at the Customer’s expense, promptly provide to the Customer all books and records of the Customer maintained by BNY Mellon pursuant to this Agreement in the format reasonably specified by the Customer. Notwithstanding the above, if the format specified by the Customer is not a format BNY Mellon utilizes to maintain the books and records, the Customer shall pay the expenses reasonably incurred by BNY Mellon in converting such books and records to the requested format.

 

9.3

Third Party Data

 

  (a)

Each Customer acknowledges that BNY Mellon will be receiving, utilizing and relying on Market Data and other data provided by the Customer and/or by third parties in connection with its performance of the services hereunder (collectively, “Third Party Data”). Subject to the Standard of Care, BNY Mellon is entitled to rely without inquiry on all Third Party Data provided to BNY Mellon hereunder (and all Instructions related to Third Party Data), and BNY Mellon makes no assurances or warranties in relation to the accuracy or completeness of Third Party Data and will not be responsible or liable for any losses or damages incurred as a result of any Third Party Data that is inaccurate or incomplete. BNY Mellon may, if in accordance with the Standard of Care, follow Instructions with respect to Third Party Data, even if such Instructions direct BNY Mellon to override its usual procedures and data sources or if BNY Mellon, in performing services for itself or others (including services similar to those performed for the Customer), receives different Third Party Data for the same or similar Securities.

 

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  (b)

Although statements and reports provided by BNY Mellon hereunder with respect to the Accounts may contain values of, and pricing information in relation to, Securities held pursuant to this Agreement, BNY Mellon does not undertake any duty or responsibility under this Agreement to report such values or pricing information.

 

  (c)

Certain Market Data may be the intellectual property of Market Data Providers, which impose additional terms and conditions upon a Customer’s use of such Market Data. Such additional terms and conditions can be found on the Data Terms Website. Each Customer agrees to those terms and conditions as they are posted on the Data Terms Website from time to time. BNY Mellon shall promptly notify, by posting to the Data Terms Website, Customer in writing of any new postings or changes to the terms of any conditions previously posted in the Data Terms Website.

 

10.

DISCLOSURES

 

10.1

Required Disclosure

 

  (a)

With respect to Securities that are registered under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or that are issued by an issuer registered under the 1940 Act, the U.S. Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 (the “Act”) requires BNY Mellon to disclose to issuers of such Securities, upon their request, the name, address and securities position of BNY Mellon’s clients who are “beneficial owners” (as defined in the Act) of the issuer’s Securities, unless the beneficial owner objects to such disclosure. The Act defines a “beneficial owner” as any person who has or shares the power to vote a security (pursuant to an agreement or otherwise) or who directs the voting of a security. Each Customer has designated on the signature page hereof whether (i) as beneficial owner, it objects to the disclosure of its name, address and securities position to any U.S. issuer that requests such information pursuant to the Act for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and the Customer or (ii) it requires BNY Mellon to contact the relevant investment manager with respect to relevant Securities to make the decision as to whether it objects to the disclosure of the beneficial owner’s name, address and securities position to any U.S. issuer that requests such information pursuant to the Act.

 

  (b)

With respect to certain Securities issued outside the United States, BNY Mellon may disclose information to issuers of Securities as required by the organizational documents of the relevant issuer or in accordance with local market practice.

 

  (c)

In connection with any disclosure contemplated by this Section 10, each Customer agrees to supply BNY Mellon with any required information.

 

10.2

Foreign Exchange Transactions

In connection with this Agreement, a Customer may enter into foreign exchange transactions (including foreign exchange hedging transactions) with BNY Mellon or a BNY

 

15


Mellon Affiliate acting as a principal or otherwise through customary channels. The Customer may issue standing Instructions with respect to any such foreign exchange transactions, subject to any rules or limitations that may apply to any foreign exchange facility made available to the Customer. With respect to any such foreign exchange transactions, BNY Mellon or such BNY Mellon Affiliate is acting as a principal counterparty on its own behalf and is not acting as a fiduciary or agent for, or on behalf of, any Customer, a Series, an investment manager or any Account.

 

10.3

Investment of Cash

In connection with this Agreement, a Customer may issue standing Instructions to invest Cash in one or more sweep investment vehicles. Such investment vehicles may be offered by a BNY Mellon Affiliate or by a client of BNY Mellon, and BNY Mellon may receive compensation therefrom. By making investment vehicles available, BNY Mellon and its Affiliates will not be deemed to have recommended, endorsed or guaranteed any such investment vehicle in any way or otherwise to have acted as a fiduciary or agent for, or on behalf of, any Customer, its investment manager or any Account. BNY Mellon will have no liability under this Agreement for any loss incurred on any such investments. Each Customer understands that Cash may be uninvested if it is received or reconciled to an Account after the applicable deadline to be swept into the Customer’s selected investment vehicle.

 

11.

REGULATORY MATTERS

 

11.1

USA PATRIOT Act

Section 326 of the U.S. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (including its implementing regulations) requires BNY Mellon to implement a customer identification program pursuant to which BNY Mellon must obtain certain information from each Customer in order to verify the Customer’s identity prior to establishing an Account. Accordingly, prior to establishing an Account, each Customer will be required to provide BNY Mellon with certain information, including the Customer’s name, physical address, tax identification number and other pertinent identifying information, to enable BNY Mellon to verify the Customer’s identity. Each Customer acknowledges that BNY Mellon cannot establish an Account unless and until BNY Mellon has successfully performed such verification.

 

11.2

Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering

 

  (a)

Throughout the term of this Agreement, each Customer: (i) will have in place and will implement policies and procedures designed to prevent violations of Sanctions, including measures to accomplish effective and timely scanning of all relevant data with respect to its clients (to the extent the Assets are client assets) and with respect to incoming or outgoing assets or transactions relating to this Agreement; (ii) will ensure that neither the Customer nor any of its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees or clients (to the extent the Assets are client assets) is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by an individual or entity that is: (A) the target of Sanctions or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the target of Sanctions and (iii) will not, directly or indirectly, use the Accounts in any manner that would result in a violation by the Customer or BNY Mellon of Sanctions.

 

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  (b)

Each Customer acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with the services provided by BNY Mellon under this Agreement, each of the Customer’s investors is not a customer or joint customer with BNY Mellon. Each Customer (and not BNY Mellon) has the responsibility to, and will, fulfill any compliance requirement or obligation with respect to each of its investors under all Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Without limiting any obligation imposed on a Customer by Anti-Money Laundering Laws, throughout the term of this Agreement, each Customer will maintain a compliance program with respect to its investors that includes the following: (i) a know-your-customer program in order to understand and verify the identity of each investor, in accordance with the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act and the relevant regulations thereunder, (ii) a transaction surveillance and monitoring program, and (iii) a policy for identifying and reporting any suspicious transactions and/or activities with respect to each investor to the appropriate law enforcement and regulatory authorities and to BNY Mellon where related to the services provided by BNY Mellon hereunder.

 

  (c)

Each Customer will promptly provide to BNY Mellon such information as BNY Mellon reasonably requests in connection with the matters referenced in this Section 11.2, including information regarding (i) the Accounts, (ii) the Assets and the source thereof, (iii) the identity of any individual or entity having or claiming an interest therein, including any investor, and (iv) the Customer’s anti-money laundering and Sanctions compliance programs and any related records and/or transaction information, including with respect to any investor, regardless of whether such request is made under USA PATRIOT Act Section 314(b) (where applicable). Each Customer will cooperate with BNY Mellon and provide assistance reasonably requested by BNY Mellon in connection with any anti-money laundering and terrorist financing or Sanctions inquiries. Prior to delivering to BNY Mellon the assets of any investor, each Customer will obtain from each such investor, and will continue to maintain in effect throughout the term of this Agreement, any consents or waivers that may be required under applicable law in order to comply with the foregoing obligations.

 

  (d)

BNY Mellon may decline to act or provide services in respect of any Account, and take such other actions as it, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or advisable, in connection with the matters referenced in this Section 11.2. If BNY Mellon declines to act or provide services as provided in the preceding sentence, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law or official request, BNY Mellon will inform the Customer as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

  (e)

While each Customer remains responsible for the matters set forth in Section 11.2(a) and Section 11.2(b), it is noted that certain duties relating to such matters may be delegated by the Customer to its transfer agent service provider.

 

11.3

Notice of Certain Regulatory Matters

At the request of a Customer (which request shall be made by the Customers not more than once annually), and provided that disclosure by BNY Mellon is not prohibited by applicable law, rule or agreement between BNY Mellon and a governmental authority with jurisdiction over BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon will make available to the Customer publicly available information which BNY Mellon makes available to its clients generally regarding a criminal or regulatory investigation of BNY Mellon with respect to a violation by BNY Mellon of federal securities laws, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act or a

 

17


failure of BNY Mellon to have sufficient policies or procedures relating to compliance with applicable law (collectively, “Regulatory Matters”). In addition, provided that disclosure by BNY Mellon is not prohibited by applicable law, rule or agreement between BNY Mellon and a governmental authority with jurisdiction over BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon will make available to the Customers publicly available information regarding a Regulatory Matter which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on BNY Mellon’s performance of services to the Customers under this Agreement as promptly as reasonably practicable under the circumstances. In each case, each Customer acknowledges and agrees that BNY Mellon’s failure to make any such information available to the Customer shall not be deemed to be a breach of this Agreement.

 

12.

COMPENSATION

 

12.1

Fees and Expenses

In consideration of BNY Mellon’s services provided hereunder, each Customer will (a) pay to BNY Mellon the fees set forth in the fee schedule as agreed in good faith and (b) reimburse BNY Mellon for such reasonable out-of-pocket and incidental expenses incurred by BNY Mellon in connection therewith. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, such amounts will be payable to BNY Mellon within thirty (30) days of the Customer’s receipt of the relevant invoice. Without limiting BNY Mellon’s other rights set forth in this Agreement, BNY Mellon may charge interest on overdue amounts at a rate then charged by BNY Mellon to its institutional custody clients in the relevant currency. The Parties agree that any new fees and/or expenses to be charged to a Customer that are related to any changes to the services required by any new applicable law, rule or regulation shall be agreed upon in advance and represent, where appropriate, a reasonable allocation of fees and/or expenses in relation to those charged by BNY Mellon to its other clients.

 

12.2

Other Compensation

Each Customer acknowledges that, as part of BNY Mellon’s compensation, BNY Mellon will earn interest on Cash balances held by BNY Mellon (including disbursement balances, balances arising from purchase and sale transactions and when Cash otherwise remains uninvested) as provided in BNY Mellon’s compensation disclosures.

 

13.

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

 

13.1

BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing, that: (a) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization; (b) it has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) the individual executing this Agreement on its behalf has the requisite authority to bind BNY Mellon to this Agreement; and (d) it is in compliance, in all material respects, with Anti-Money Laundering Laws applicable to it in its individual corporate capacity; BNY Mellon is a financial institution subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and has established policies and procedures designed to prevent and detect money laundering, including the processes to meet the anti-money laundering requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and neither BNY Mellon nor any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BNY Mellon or for whom the BNY

 

18


Mellon is acting as agent or nominee is an organization, person or entity named on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list maintained by the U.S. Department of Treasury in its individual corporate capacity.

 

13.2

Customer

 

  (a)

Each Customer represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing, that: (i) it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) it has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) the individual executing this Agreement on its behalf has the requisite authority to bind the Customer to this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Each Customer represents, warrants and covenants, which representation, warranty and covenant shall be deemed to be continuing, that it shall manage its borrowings, including without limitation any advance or overdraft (including any daylight overdraft) in an Account, so that the aggregate of its total borrowings for each Series do not exceed the amount such Series is permitted to borrow under the 1940 Act.

 

  (c)

Each Customer represents and warrants, which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be continuing, that all actions taken, or to be taken, by or on behalf of the Customer in connection with establishing, maintaining, operating or terminating the Customer (including, any offer, sale or distribution of the shares of, or interest in, the Customer) shall be done in compliance with all applicable U.S. state and federal securities laws and regulations and all other applicable laws and regulations of all applicable jurisdictions.    

 

14.

LIABILITY

 

14.1

Standard of Care

In performing its duties under this Agreement, BNY Mellon will exercise the standard of care and diligence that a prudent professional custodian responsible for providing custodial and similar services to registered investment companies would observe in these affairs taking into account the prevailing rules, practices, procedures and circumstances in the relevant market and shall act without bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct (“Standard of Care”). For the avoidance of doubt, BNY Mellon’s refusal to perform its obligations undertaken pursuant to this Agreement, or material failure to perform its obligations undertaken pursuant to this Agreement in a manner that a prudent professional custodian responsible for providing custodial and similar services to registered investment companies would perform such obligations, shall be considered a failure to satisfy the Standard of Care.

 

14.2

Limitation of Liability

 

  (a)

BNY Mellon’s liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be limited solely to those direct damages that are caused by BNY Mellon’s failure to satisfy the Standard of Care. In no event will BNY Mellon be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, exemplary, punitive or special losses or damages, or for any loss of revenues, profits or business opportunity, arising out of or relating to this Agreement (whether or not foreseeable and even if BNY Mellon has been advised of the possibility of such losses or damages).

 

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  (b)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in no event will BNY Mellon be liable for any losses or damages arising out of any of the following:

 

  (i)

A Customer’s or an Authorized Person’s decision to invest in or hold Assets in any particular country, including any losses or damages arising out of or relating to: (A) the financial infrastructure of a country; (B) a country’s prevailing custody and settlement practices; (C) nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; (D) a country’s regulation of the banking or securities industry; (E) currency and exchange controls, restrictions, devaluations, redenominations, fluctuations or asset freezes; (F) laws, rules, regulations or orders that at any time prohibit or impose burdens or costs on the transfer of Assets to, by or for the account of the Customer or (G) market conditions which affect the orderly execution of securities transactions or affect the value of securities;

 

  (ii)

BNY Mellon’s reliance on Instructions;

 

  (iii)

The fact that Securities are fraudulent, forged or invalid (or are otherwise not freely transferable or deliverable without encumbrance in any relevant market);

 

  (iv)

For any matter with respect to which BNY Mellon is required to act only upon the receipt of Instructions, (A) BNY Mellon’s failure to act in the absence of such Instructions or (B) Instructions that are late or incomplete or do not otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 3.2(d), whether or not BNY Mellon acted upon such Instructions;

 

  (v)

BNY Mellon receiving or transmitting any data to or from a Customer or any Authorized Person via any non-secure method of transmission or communication selected by a Customer;

 

  (vi)

A Customer’s or an Authorized Person’s decision to invest in Securities or to hold Cash in any currency; or

 

  (vii)

The insolvency of any Person, including a Subcustodian that is not a BNY Mellon Affiliate, Depository, broker, bank or counterparty to the settlement of a transaction or to a foreign exchange transaction, except as provided in Section 4.2.

 

14.3

Force Majeure

So long as it acts in accordance with the Standard of Care, BNY Mellon will not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent caused, directly or indirectly, by any event beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, failures of transportation, interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, action or inaction of civil or military authority, national emergencies, public enemy, war, terrorism,

 

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riot, sabotage, failure of the mails, communications or computer (hardware or software) services or functions or malfunctions of the internet, firewalls, encryption systems or security devices caused by any of the above. BNY Mellon will promptly notify each Customer upon the occurrence of any such event and will use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize its effect. For the avoidance of doubt, the occurrence of any such event will not relieve BNY Mellon of its obligations to execute its business continuity and/or disaster recovery plans as described in Section 17.5 and Article XI of Exhibit A.

In the event that the Customers reasonably believe that the occurrence of any such event will substantially prevent, hinder or delay performance of the services contemplated by this Agreement for more than five (5) consecutive business days, the Customers may take commercially reasonable actions to mitigate the impact of such services not being provided, including, but not limited to, at the Customers’ expense, contracting with another service provider to provide such services during such period; provided, that the Customers shall consult with BNY Mellon in good faith in connection with any such mitigation and BNY Mellon shall provide the Customers reasonable assistance in good faith in connection therewith; provided, further, that BNY Mellon shall resume providing, and the Customers shall pay for, such services when BNY Mellon resumes providing them, unless the Customers have terminated this Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section 16.2. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Section 14.3, (a) in no event shall the Customers be obligated to pay any fees under this Agreement to BNY Mellon with respect to any services not actually provided during any event described in this Section 14.3, and (b) the Customers shall have no responsibility to pay BNY Mellon for services temporarily performed by a third party service provider.

 

14.4

Indemnification

 

  (a)

Subject to the limitations on liability and responsibility set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Customers, each Customer will indemnify and hold harmless BNY Mellon from and against all losses, costs, expenses, damages, and liabilities (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by BNY Mellon arising out of or relating to BNY Mellon’s performance under this Agreement, except to the extent resulting from BNY Mellon’s failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with the Standard of Care. The Parties agree that the foregoing will include reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred by BNY Mellon in its successful defense of claims that are asserted by a Customer against BNY Mellon arising out of or relating to BNY Mellon’s performance under this Agreement. No Customer will have any liability under this Section 14.4(a) for the obligations of any other Customer hereunder, and any obligations of a Customer under this Section 14.4(a) with respect to a particular Series will not be satisfied out of the assets of another Series.

 

  (b)

Subject to the limitations on liability and responsibility set forth in this Agreement with respect to BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon will indemnify and hold harmless each Customer from and against all losses, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Customer solely to the extent arising from or relating to BNY Mellon’s failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with the Standard of Care. The Parties agree that the foregoing will include reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred by a Customer in its successful defense of claims that are asserted by BNY Mellon against the Customer arising out of or relating to the Customer’s performance or obligations under this Agreement.

 

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  (c)

Upon the occurrence of any event arising out of the services provided by BNY Mellon under this Agreement that causes or may cause any loss, cost, expense, damage or liability to a Customer, BNY Mellon will promptly notify the Customer of the occurrence of such event and use commercially reasonable efforts to attempt to mitigate the detrimental effects of such event and limit or avoid continuing harm to the Customers. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes or may cause any loss, cost, expense, damage, or liability to BNY Mellon, each Customer will promptly notify BNY Mellon of the occurrence of such event and use commercially reasonable efforts to attempt to mitigate the detrimental effects of such event and limit or avoid continuing harm to BNY Mellon.

 

  (d)

In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section 14.4 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either Party may be required to indemnify the other, the Party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other Party of such assertion, and shall keep the other Party advised with respect to all material developments concerning such claim. The Party who may be required to indemnify shall have the right to control the defense of the claim, and the party seeking indemnification shall have the option to participate in the defense of such claim, at its own cost and expense. The Party seeking indemnification will cooperate reasonably, at the indemnifying Party’s expense, with the indemnifying Party in the defense of such claim; provided, however, that the Party seeking indemnification shall not be required to take any action that would impair any claim it may have against the indemnifying Party. The Party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other Party may be required to indemnify it except with the other Party’s prior written consent. The indemnifying Party shall not settle or compromise any claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder without the prior written consent of the Party seeking indemnification, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

  (e)

BNY Mellon will maintain, at all times during the term of this Agreement, errors and omissions insurance, fidelity bonds and such other insurance as BNY Mellon may deem appropriate, in each case in a commercially reasonable amount deemed by BNY Mellon to be sufficient to cover its potential liabilities under this Agreement, including without limitation cyber-liability insurance coverage deemed by BNY Mellon to be appropriate. BNY Mellon agrees to provide the Customers with certificates of insurance and summaries of its applicable insurance coverage, in a format standard for the insurance industry, and agrees to provide updated summaries monthly or as requested by the Customers.

 

14.5

Limitation of Customer Liabilities

 

  (a)

The obligations of each Customer hereunder shall be limited in all cases to the assets of such Customer or its Series, as applicable, and BNY Mellon will not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the officers, trustees, directors, or shareholders of any such Customer or Series. This Agreement is executed on behalf of each Customer by an officer or trustee of such Customer in his or her capacity as an officer or trustee of the Customer and not individually, and the

 

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  obligations arising out of this Agreement are not binding on any Customer’s trustees, officers, directors or shareholders individually, but are binding only upon the assets or property of the Customer or its applicable Series.

 

  (b)

This Agreement is an agreement entered into between BNY Mellon and each Customer, with respect to each of the Customer’s Series, as applicable. With respect to any obligation of a Customer on behalf of any Series arising out of this Agreement, BNY Mellon will seek payment or satisfaction of such obligation solely from the assets of the Series to which such obligation relates with the same effect as if BNY Mellon had separately contracted with each Customer by separate written instrument with respect to each Series.

 

15.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

15.1

Confidentiality Obligations

Each Party agrees to use the Confidential Information of the other Party solely to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and, except in connection with such purposes or as otherwise permitted herein, not to disclose such information to any other Person without the prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, BNY Mellon may: (a) use each Customer’s Confidential Information in connection with certain functions performed on a centralized basis by BNY Mellon, its Affiliates and joint ventures and their service providers (including audit, accounting, risk, legal, compliance, sales, administration, product communication, relationship management, compilation and analysis of customer-related data and storage); (b) disclose such information to its Affiliates and joint ventures and to its and their service providers who are subject to confidentiality obligations and (c) store the names and business contact information of each Customer’s employees and representatives relating to this Agreement on the systems or in the records of its Affiliates and joint ventures and its and their service providers. In addition, BNY Mellon may aggregate information regarding the Customers and the Accounts on an anonymized basis with other similar client data for BNY Mellon’s and its Affiliates’ reporting, research, product development and distribution, and marketing purposes and BNY Mellon will own all such aggregated information, provided that BNY Mellon shall not distribute the aggregated data in a format that identifies customer-related data with a particular Customer or the Customers collectively. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, nothing herein is intended to transfer ownership of the Customer’s Confidential Information to BNY Mellon.

 

15.2

Exceptions

The Parties’ respective obligations under Section 15.1 will not apply to any such information: (a) that is, as of the time of its disclosure or thereafter becomes, part of the public domain through a source other than the receiving Party; (b) that was known to the receiving Party as of the time of its disclosure and was not otherwise subject to confidentiality obligations; (c) that is independently developed by the receiving Party without reference to such information; (d) that is subsequently learned from a third party not known to be under a confidentiality obligation to the disclosing Party or (e) that is required to be disclosed pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation, requirement of any law enforcement agency, court order or other legal process or at the request of a regulatory authority. The Parties acknowledge that the existence and terms of this Agreement are required to be publicly disclosed by the Funds pursuant to applicable law.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the preceding paragraphs, BNY Mellon acknowledges and agrees that Customers are prohibited by law from making selective public disclosure of information regarding portfolio holdings, that disclosure of any and all such information to BNY Mellon hereunder is made strictly under the conditions of confidentiality set forth in Section 15.1 hereof and solely for the purposes of the performance of custodial services hereunder, that any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of such information (including by BNY Mellon or any of its employees or agents, or any trading on the basis of such information by anyone in receipt of such information) may constitute a criminal offense of trading on or tipping of material inside information regarding publicly traded securities, that access to and use of any and all such information shall be restricted as described in Section 15.1 hereof, and that BNY Mellon shall apprise all such persons having access of the obligation hereunder and under applicable law to prevent unauthorized disclosure of such Confidential Information.

The Parties acknowledge and agree that any breach of Section 15.1 hereof would cause not only financial damage, but irreparable harm to the other Party, for which money damages will not provide an adequate remedy. Accordingly, in the event of a breach of Section 15.1 hereof, the non-breaching Party shall (in addition to all other rights and remedies they may have pursuant to this Agreement and at law or in equity) be entitled to an injunction, without the necessity of posting any bond or surety, to restrain disclosure or misuse, in whole or in part, of any information in violation of Section 15.1 hereof.

 

15.3

Information Security

 

  (a)

BNY Mellon will, in accordance with the Standard of Care, establish, implement, maintain and periodically test systems, plans and procedures relating to data and cyber security, data privacy, disaster recovery and business continuity with respect to the services provided pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  (b)

Without limiting the foregoing, BNY Mellon will implement the Information Security Program attached hereto as Exhibit A and will maintain and periodically test such Information Security Program in accordance with Exhibit A and the Standard of Care.

 

16.

TERM AND TERMINATION

 

16.1

Term

 

  (a)

This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and, unless terminated pursuant to its terms, will continue in effect until 11:59 PM (Eastern time) on the date which is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”), at which time this Agreement shall terminate, unless renewed in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

  (b)

This Agreement shall automatically renew for successive terms of one (1) year each (each, a “Renewal Term”), unless a particular Customer or BNY Mellon gives written notice to the other Party of its intent not to renew and such notice is received by the other Party not less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term (a “Non-Renewal Notice”). In the event a Party provides a Non-Renewal Notice, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the relevant Customer at 11:59 PM (Eastern time) on the last day of the Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable.

 

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16.2

Termination

 

  (a)

Notwithstanding Section 16.1, if a Customer or BNY Mellon materially breaches this Agreement (a “Defaulting Party”) the other Party (on one hand, BNY Mellon; on the other hand, the Customers acting collectively) (the “Non-Defaulting Party”) may give written notice thereof to the Defaulting Party (BNY Mellon or the Customers collectively) (“Breach Notice”), and if such material breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after the Breach Notice is given, then the Customer (if BNY Mellon is the Defaulting Party), may terminate this Agreement by giving at least one hundred twenty (120) days’ written notice of termination to BNY Mellon, or BNY Mellon (if the Customer is the Defaulting Party), may terminate this Agreement by giving at least one hundred twenty (120) days’ written notice of such termination to the Customers (if the Customer is the Defaulting Party). If any such notice is provided by the Customer or by BNY Mellon (a “Breach Termination Notice”), this Agreement shall terminate as of 11:59 PM (Eastern time) on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day following the date the Breach Termination Notice is given by the Non-Defaulting Party, or such later date as may be specified in the Breach Termination Notice (but not later than the last day of the Initial Term or then-current Renewal Term, as appropriate). In all cases, termination by the Non-Defaulting Party shall not constitute a waiver by the Non-Defaulting Party of any other rights it might have under this Agreement or otherwise against the Defaulting Party.

 

  (b)

If a Customer gives notice to BNY Mellon terminating this Agreement or terminating BNY Mellon as the provider of any of the services hereunder, except for a termination by a Customer pursuant to Section 16.2(a) above or Section 16.2(c)(ii) or (iii), Section 16.2(d), or Section 17.2 below, before the expiration of, as appropriate, the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term (“Early Termination”), the following terms will apply:

 

  (i)

The “Early Termination Fee” shall be an amount equal to all fees and other amounts calculated as if BNY Mellon were to provide all services hereunder to the Customer until, as appropriate, (A) if the Early Termination is during the Initial Term, the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of the Early Termination and the expiration of the Initial Term or (B) if the Early Termination is during a Renewal Term, the expiration of such Renewal Term. The Early Termination Fee shall be calculated using the average of the monthly fees and other amounts due to BNY Mellon from the Customer under this Agreement during the last three (3) calendar months before the date of the notice of Early Termination (or, if not given, the date services are terminated hereunder). Any Early Termination Fee payable by a Customer hereunder shall be paid by such Customer no later than thirty (30) days after the date of such Early Termination and before transfer of custody records, Assets and other items to a successor custodian after the date of such Early Termination.

 

  (ii)

Each Customer expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Early Termination Fee is not a penalty but reasonable compensation to BNY Mellon for the termination of services before the expiration of, as appropriate, the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term.

 

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  (iii)

If a Customer gives notice of Early Termination (or an Early Termination without such notice otherwise occurs) after expiration of the notice period specified in Section 16.1(b) above, the references above to “expiration of, as appropriate, the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term” shall be deemed to mean “expiration of the Renewal Term immediately following, as appropriate, the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term.”

 

  (iv)

If (A) a Customer (or Customers) representing five percent (5%) or more of the Assets serviced by BNY Mellon under this Agreement (“Assets Under Management”) at the beginning of any individual contract year of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term are removed from the coverage of this Agreement during such individual contract year of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term or (B) a Customer (or Customers) representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of Assets Under Management as of the first day of the Initial Term or the first day of any Renewal Term are removed from the coverage of this Agreement during the Initial Term or such Renewal Term, as applicable, except in either case for a termination by a Customer pursuant to Section 16.2(a) above or Section 16.2(d) below, and, in either case, are subsequently serviced by a successor custodian, the Customer or Customers will be deemed to have caused an Early Termination with respect to such Customer or Customers as of the first day on which the event described in clause (A) or (B) above has occurred and each such Customer shall owe BNY Mellon an Early Termination Fee. Further, if a Customer (or Customers) representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the Assets Under Management as of the first day of the Initial Term or the first day of any Renewal Term are removed from the coverage of this Agreement during the Initial Term or such Renewal Term, as applicable, except for a termination by a Customer pursuant to Section 16.2(a) above or Section 16.2(d) below, and subsequently serviced by a successor custodian, BNY Mellon shall be permitted to terminate this Agreement as to all Customers upon ninety (90) days’ advance written notice, provided that no Early Termination Fee shall be owed by the Customers for which BNY Mellon is providing services under this Agreement prior to such termination by BNY Mellon.

 

  (v)

For clarification, a merger, reorganization or consolidation of a Customer with another entity to which BNY Mellon provides custody services, or the sale by a Customer of all, or substantially all of, its assets to another entity to which BNY Mellon provides custody services, or the liquidation or dissolution of a Customer and the distribution of such Customer’s assets, shall not be considered an Early Termination subject to this Section 16(b).

 

  (c)      (i)

If the Customers acting collectively, or Customers representing a majority of the Assets Under Management or Customers serviced under another Pioneer Fund Agreement at such time, as applicable, terminate or cause the termination of such other Pioneer Fund Agreement with respect to Assets Under Management or Customers, other than pursuant to default termination provisions comparable to Section 16.2(a) or Section 16.2(d) of this Agreement of such other Pioneer Fund Agreement, BNY Mellon shall have the option, exercisable after receiving notice or knowledge of the termination event until ninety (90) days following the termination date of the

 

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  relevant Pioneer Fund Agreement, to terminate this Agreement with respect to all Customers. The “termination date” for purposes of the foregoing sentence means the date that BNY Mellon or BNY Mellon TA, as applicable, ceases to be entitled to fees for services rendered under the applicable Pioneer Fund Agreement. No Early Termination Fee shall be owed hereunder by any of the Customers upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 16.2(c)(i). BNY Mellon may exercise the right provided for in this Section 16.2(c)(i) by giving written notice to the Customers, referencing this Section 16.2(c)(i) and designating a termination date not less than ninety (90) days following the date such notice is given to the Customers. BNY Mellon may terminate the services provided hereunder at any time after such termination date except to the extent services continue in conjunction with the transfer of the Customers’ custody records, Assets and other items to a successor custodian pursuant to Section 16.3 below.

 

  (ii)

For avoidance of doubt, to the extent BNY Mellon or BNY Mellon TA, as applicable, exercises an early termination right under another Pioneer Fund Agreement (other than a termination upon default by a BNY Mellon or BNY Mellon TA), pursuant to which early termination BNY Mellon or BNY Mellon TA will cease to provide the principal services described under the applicable Pioneer Fund Agreement to a majority of the Customers or the Assets Under Management, as applicable, serviced under such Pioneer Fund Agreement, the Customers shall have the option, exercisable after receiving notice or knowledge of the termination event until ninety (90) days following the termination date of the relevant Pioneer Fund Agreement, to terminate this Agreement with respect to all Customers. No Early Termination Fee shall be owed by any of the Customers upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 16.2(c)(ii). The Customers may exercise the right provided for in this Section 16.2(c)(ii) by giving written notice to BNY Mellon, referencing this Section 16.2(c)(ii) and designating a termination date not less than ninety (90) days following the date such notice is given to BNY Mellon.

 

  (iii)

If BNY Mellon or BNY Mellon TA, as applicable, assigns or transfers another Pioneer Fund Agreement to a non-BNY Mellon Affiliate without the consent of the effected Customer or Customers serviced under such Pioneer Fund Agreement, the Customers shall have the option, exercisable for ninety (90) days after receiving notice or knowledge of such assignment or transfer of such Pioneer Fund Agreement (or such longer period as may be mutually agreed by the Parties), to terminate this Agreement with respect to all Customers. No Early Termination Fee shall be owed by any of the Customers upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 16(c)(iii). The Customers may exercise the right provided for in this Section 16(c)(iii) by giving written notice to BNY Mellon, referencing this Section 16(c)(iii) and designating a termination date not less than ninety (90) days following the date such notice is given to BNY Mellon.

 

  (d)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, BNY Mellon or a Customer may terminate this Agreement immediately (and, in the case of BNY Mellon, with respect to a particular Customer) by sending notice thereof to the other Party upon

 

27


  the happening of any of the following: (i) the other Party commences as debtor any case or proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or there is commenced against such other Party any such case or proceeding, (ii) the other Party commences as debtor any case or proceeding seeking the appointment of a receiver, conservator, trustee, custodian or similar official for such Party or any substantial part of its property or there is commenced against such other Party any such case or proceeding, (iii) the other Party makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (iv) the other Party admits in any recorded medium, written, electronic or otherwise, its inability to pay its debts as they come due. BNY Mellon or a Customer may exercise its termination right under this Section 16.2(d) at any time after the occurrence of any of the foregoing events notwithstanding that such event may cease to be continuing prior to such exercise, and any delay in exercising this right shall not be construed as a waiver or other extinguishment of that right. Any exercise by BNY Mellon or a Customer of its termination right under this Section 16.2(d) shall be without any prejudice to any other remedies or rights available to BNY Mellon or the Customer and shall not be subject to any fee or penalty, whether monetary or equitable. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 17.7 below, notice of termination under this Section 16.2(d) shall be considered given and effective when given, not when received.

 

16.3

Effect of Termination

 

  (a)

Upon termination hereof, each Customer will pay to BNY Mellon such compensation as may be due to BNY Mellon, and will reimburse BNY Mellon for other amounts payable or reimbursable to BNY Mellon hereunder, through the date of termination. BNY Mellon will follow such reasonable Instructions as each Customer issues concerning the transfer of custody of records, Assets and other items; provided that (i) BNY Mellon will have no responsibility or liability for shipping and insurance costs associated therewith and (ii) full payment has been made to BNY Mellon of its compensation, costs, expenses and other amounts to which it is entitled hereunder.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 16 to the contrary, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in its entirety (except for termination by BNY Mellon pursuant to Sections 16.2(a) or 16.2(d)), the Parties agree to continue operating under the terms of this Agreement as if this Agreement remained in full force and effect for up to one (1) year or for such shorter period of time as the Parties mutually agree is necessary for BNY Mellon to transfer the custody records, Assets and other items to a successor custodian pursuant to Instructions (the “Transition Period”); provided, that during any such Transition Period, BNY Mellon will be entitled to compensation for its services pursuant to Section 12 and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of BNY Mellon will remain in full force and effect. If any Assets remain in any Account after the Transition Period, BNY Mellon may deliver to the relevant Customer such Assets.

 

16.4

Survival

Any and all provisions of this Agreement which by their nature or effect are required or intended to be observed, kept or performed after the expiration or termination of this Agreement will survive the expiration or any termination of this Agreement and remain binding upon and for the Parties’ benefit, including Section 13 (Representations,

 

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Warranties and Covenants); Section 14 (Liability); Section 14.5 (Confidentiality); Section 16.3 (Effect of Termination); Section 16.4 (Survival) and Section 17.4 (Governing Law/Forum).

 

17.

GENERAL

 

17.1

Non-Custody Assets

At a Customer’s request pursuant to Instructions, subject to BNY Mellon’s approval and as an accommodation to the Customer, BNY Mellon will provide consolidated recordkeeping services reflecting on statements provided to the Customer securities and other assets not held by BNY Mellon (“Non-Custody Assets”). Non-Custody Assets will be designated on BNY Mellon’s books as “assets not held in custody” or by other similar designation and will not constitute Assets for purposes of this Agreement. Each Customer acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement, (a) the Customer will have no security entitlement against BNY Mellon with respect to Non-Custody Assets; (b) BNY Mellon will rely, without independent verification, on information provided by the Customer or its designee regarding Non-Custody Assets (including positions and market valuations) and (c) BNY Mellon will have no responsibility whatsoever with respect to Non-Custody Assets or the accuracy of any information maintained on BNY Mellon’s books or set forth on account statements concerning Non-Custody Assets.

 

17.2

Assignment

Neither Party may, without the other Party’s prior written consent, assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties under this Agreement (whether by change of control, operation of law or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing, BNY Mellon may, without obtaining the prior written consent of any Customer, assign or transfer this Agreement: (a) to any BNY Mellon Affiliate or to any successor to the business of BNY Mellon to which this Agreement relates in connection with a sale or transfer of a majority or more of its assets, equity interests, or voting control; provided, that (i) BNY Mellon provides at least ninety (90) days’ prior written notice (or such shorter notice as may be commercially practicable under the circumstances, as determined by BNY Mellon in good faith) of such assignment or transfer to a BNY Mellon Affiliate or successor to the relevant Customers, (ii) such assignment or transfer does not impair the provision of services under this Agreement in any material respect in the reasonable discretion of the relevant Customers, (iii) in the reasonable discretion of the relevant Customers, the assignee or transferee has adequate financial strength and other resources, and (iv) the BNY Mellon Affiliate or successor agrees to be bound by all terms of this Agreement in place of BNY Mellon, provided further, that if BNY Mellon assigns or transfers this Agreement pursuant to this Section 17.2(a) to a non-BNY Mellon Affiliate without the written consent of the relevant Customers, the Customers shall have the option, exercisable for ninety (90) days after receiving written notice of such assignment or transfer (or for such longer period as may be mutually agreed by the Parties), to terminate this Agreement with respect to the Customers, and no Early Termination Fee shall be owed by any of the Customers upon termination pursuant to this Section 17.2(a); or (b) as otherwise permitted in this Agreement; provided further, that any entity to which this Agreement is assigned by BNY Mellon without the prior written consent of the Customers pursuant to a foregoing item (a) or (b) will satisfy the requirements for serving as a custodian for registered investment companies. Any purported assignment or transfer by a Party in violation of this provision

 

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will be voidable at the option of the other Party. This Agreement will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) this Section 17.2 shall not apply to the merger, reorganization or consolidation of a Customer with another entity to which BNY Mellon provides custody services, or the sale by a Customer of all, or substantially all of, its assets to another entity to which BNY Mellon provides custody services, or the liquidation or dissolution of a Customer and the distribution of such Customer’s assets, and (ii) without limiting the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 17.2, BNY Mellon shall have no right to prevent the merger, reorganization or consolidation of a Customer with another entity. BNY Mellon shall notify the Customers promptly following the execution of any agreement that would result in, or would be expected to result in, a change of control of BNY Mellon; provided that such information is publicly available information and that BNY Mellon makes such information available to its clients generally.

 

17.3

Amendment; New Customers or New Series

 

  (a)

This Agreement may be amended or modified only in a written agreement duly signed by an authorized representative of each Party. For purposes of the foregoing, email exchanges between the Parties will not be deemed to constitute a written agreement.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding Section 17.3(a), additional Customers (each, a “New Customer”) may from time to time become parties to this Agreement by (i) delivery to BNY Mellon of (A) an instrument of adherence agreeing to become bound by and party to this Agreement executed by any such New Customer on behalf of itself or each of its Series and (B) an amended and restated Appendix I setting forth the appropriate information as to such New Customer and its Series and (ii) following BNY Mellon’s receipt of the foregoing, BNY Mellon’s agreement, subject to satisfactory completion of its customary due diligence procedures, in writing to the addition of such New Customer and its Series to this Agreement, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, it being understood that BNY Mellon shall not be deemed to be unreasonable in the event that (I) BNY Mellon’s ability to provide services hereunder to the New Customer or its Series is restricted by regulatory requirements or (II) BNY Mellon does not offer services to clients regarding the relevant type of fund, portfolio, or assets.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding Section 17.3(a), additional Series of existing Customers (each, a “New Series”) may from time to time be added to the list of Series serviced under this Agreement by (i) delivery to BNY Mellon of (A) an instrument of adherence agreeing to become bound by and party to this Agreement executed by the relevant Customer on behalf its New Series and (B) an amended and restated Appendix I setting forth the appropriate information as to such New Series and (ii) following BNY Mellon’s receipt of the foregoing, BNY Mellon’s agreement, subject to satisfactory completion of its customary due diligence procedures, in writing to the addition of such New Series, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, it being understood that BNY Mellon shall not be deemed to be unreasonable in the event that (I) BNY Mellon’s ability to provide services hereunder to the New Series is restricted by regulatory requirements or (II) BNY Mellon does not generally offer services to clients regarding the particular type of portfolio or assets.

 

30


17.4

Governing Law/Forum

 

  (a)

The substantive laws of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (without regard to its conflicts of law provisions) will govern all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the establishment and maintenance of the Accounts and for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code and all issues specified in Article 2(1) of the Hague Securities Convention.

 

  (b)

Each Party irrevocably agrees that all legal actions or proceedings brought by it against the other Party arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be brought solely and exclusively before the state or federal courts situated in the City of Boston, Massachusetts. Each Party irrevocably submits to personal jurisdiction in such courts and waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have based on improper venue or forum non conveniens. The Parties hereby unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to a jury trial with respect to any such actions or proceedings.

 

17.5

Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery

BNY Mellon shall, in accordance with the Standard of Care, establish, implement, maintain, and periodically test business continuity and disaster recovery plans designed to minimize interruptions of service and ensure recovery of systems and applications used to provide the services under this Agreement. Such plans will cover the facilities, systems, applications and employees that are critical to the provision of the services hereunder, and will be tested at least annually to validate whether the recovery strategies, requirements, and protocols are viable and sustainable.

 

17.6

Non-Fiduciary Status

Each Customer hereby acknowledges and agrees that BNY Mellon is not a fiduciary by virtue of accepting and carrying out its obligations under this Agreement and has not accepted any fiduciary duties, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to its services hereunder, including with respect to the management, investment advisory or sub-advisory functions of any Customer.

 

17.7

Notices

Other than routine communications in the ordinary course of providing or receiving services hereunder (including Instructions), notices given hereunder will be: (a) addressed to BNY Mellon or a Customer at the address set forth on the signature page (or such other address as either Party may designate in writing to the other Party) and (b) sent by hand delivery, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight delivery service, in each case with postage or charges prepaid. All notices given in accordance with this Section will be effective upon receipt.

 

17.8

Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the matters dealt with herein, and merges, integrates and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous discussions, agreements and understandings between the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to such matters.

 

31


17.9

No Third Party Beneficiaries

This Agreement is entered into solely between, and may be enforced only by, the Parties. Each Party intends that this Agreement will not, and no provision of this Agreement will be interpreted to, benefit, or create any right or cause of action in or on behalf of, any party or entity other than the Parties.

 

17.10

Counterparts/Facsimile

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and said counterparts when taken together will constitute one and the same instrument and may be sufficiently evidenced by one set of counterparts. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile or email with confirmation of delivery and/or receipt.

 

17.11

Interpretation

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are the result of negotiations between the Parties. The Parties intend that this Agreement will not be construed in favor of or against a Party by reason of the extent to which such Party or its professional advisors participated in the preparation or drafting of this Agreement.

 

17.12

No Waiver

No failure or delay by a Party to exercise any right, remedy or power it has under this Agreement will impair or be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy or power. A waiver by a Party of any provision or any breach of any provision will not be construed to be a waiver by such Party of such provision in any other instance or any succeeding breach of such provision or a breach of any other provision. All waivers will be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving Party.

 

17.13

Headings

All section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will not be considered in the interpretation of the scope or intent of any provision of this Agreement.

 

17.14

Severability

If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality or invalidity will not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement. In such case, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to replace each illegal or invalid provision with a valid, legal and enforceable provision that fulfills as closely as possible the original intent of the Parties.

[Signature page follows]

 

32


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

    EACH INVESTMENT COMPANY LISTED ON APPENDIX I
By:  

/s/ Robert Jordan

    By:  

/s/ Lisa M. Jones

Name:   Robert Jordan     Name:   Lisa M. Jones
Title:   Director     Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:   1/26/21     Date:   1/21/21

Address for Notice:

    Address for Notice:

The Bank of New York Mellon

   

Each Investment Company Listed on

240 Greenwich Street

   

Appendix I

New York, New York 10286

   

c/o Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.

Attention: Sean Brumble

   

60 State Street

     

Boston, MA 02109

     

Attention: President

     

with a copy to:

     

Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.

     

60 State Street

     

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

     

Attention: Legal Department

Pursuant to Section 10.1(a):

 

[    ]

as beneficial owner, each Customer OBJECTS to disclosure

 

[    ]

as beneficial owner, each Customer DOES NOT OBJECT to disclosure

 

[    ]

BNY Mellon will CONTACT THE RELEVANT INVESTMENT MANAGER with respect to relevant Securities to make the decision whether it objects to disclosure

IF NO BOX IS CHECKED, BNY MELLON WILL RELEASE SUCH INFORMATION UNTIL IT RECEIVES A CONTRARY INSTRUCTION FROM THE CUSTOMER.

 

33


APPENDIX I

LIST OF CUSTOMERS/SERIES

(Dated: January 19, 2021)

 

Pioneer Asset Allocation Trust:

Pioneer Solutions - Balanced Fund

Pioneer Bond Fund

Pioneer Core Trust I:

Pioneer High Income Municipal Portfolio

Pioneer Diversified High Income Trust

Pioneer Equity Income Fund

Pioneer Floating Rate Trust

Pioneer Fund

Pioneer High Income Trust

Pioneer High Yield Fund

Pioneer ILS Interval Fund

Pioneer ILS Bridge Fund

Pioneer Mid Cap Value Fund

Pioneer Money Market Trust:

Pioneer U.S. Government Money Market Fund

Pioneer Municipal High Income Trust

Pioneer Municipal High Income Advantage Trust

Pioneer Real Estate Shares

Pioneer Securitized Income Fund

Pioneer Series Trust II:

Pioneer AMT-Free Municipal Fund

Pioneer Select Mid Cap Growth Fund

Pioneer Series Trust III:

Pioneer Disciplined Value Fund

Pioneer Series Trust IV:

Pioneer Balanced ESG Fund

Pioneer Multi-Asset Income Fund

Pioneer Series Trust V:

Pioneer Global Equity Fund

Pioneer High Income Municipal Fund

Pioneer Series Trust VI:

Pioneer Floating Rate Fund

Pioneer Flexible Opportunities Fund

Flexible Opportunities Commodity Fund Ltd.

Pioneer Series Trust VII:

Pioneer Global High Yield Fund

Pioneer Series Trust VIII:

Pioneer International Equity Fund

Pioneer Series Trust X:

Pioneer Corporate High Yield Fund

Pioneer Fundamental Growth Fund

Pioneer Multi-Asset Ultrashort Income Fund

 

34


Pioneer Series Trust XI:

Pioneer Core Equity Fund

Pioneer Series Trust XII:

Pioneer Disciplined Growth Fund

Pioneer MAP - High Income Municipal Fund

Pioneer Short Term Income Fund

Pioneer Series Trust XIV:

Pioneer Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Pioneer Global Sustainable Growth Fund

Pioneer Global Sustainable Value Fund

Pioneer Intrinsic Value Fund

Pioneer Strategic Income Fund

Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust:

Pioneer Bond VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Equity Income VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Fund VCT Portfolio

Pioneer High Yield VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Mid Cap Value VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Real Estate Shares VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Select Mid Cap Growth VCT Portfolio

Pioneer Strategic Income VCT Portfolio

 

35


EXHIBIT A

Information Security Program

Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.

 

I.

Information Security Program Overview.

A.    During the term of the Agreement, BNY Mellon will implement and maintain an information security program (“ISP”) with written policies and procedures reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality, availability and integrity of the Customer’s Confidential Information provided to BNY Mellon in accordance with the Agreement and when in BNY Mellon’s possession or under BNY Mellon’s control (“Customer Data”). The ISP will include administrative, technical and physical safeguards, appropriate to the type of Customer Data concerned, reasonably designed to: (i) maintain the integrity, confidentiality and availability of Customer Data; (ii) protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Customer Data; (iii) protect against unauthorized access to or use of Customer Data that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the Customer or its customers, and (iv) provide for secure disposal of Customer Data.

B.    BNY Mellon’s program is dynamic and may be modified to address technological changes or changes in the threat landscape, BNY Mellon’s business activities or other factors. BNY Mellon reserves the right to modify the ISP at any time, provided that BNY Mellon shall not diminish the overall level of protection this Exhibit is intended to provide.

 

II.

Security Incident Response and Notice.

A.    BNY Mellon will maintain a documented incident management process designed to ensure timely detection of security events and response thereto.

B.    In the event of a declared Security Incident, BNY Mellon will (i) promptly notify the Customer, (ii) provide updates to the Customer regarding BNY Mellon’s response and (iii) use reasonable efforts to implement measures designed to prevent a reoccurrence of Security Incidents of a similar nature.

C.    “Security Incident” means any known loss or unauthorized access, disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of Customer Data.

 

III.

Governance.

A.    BNY Mellon shall, no more than once in a 12 month period, (i) and upon request, provide a copy of its most recent SSAE-18 or equivalent external audit report to the Customer, which the Customer may disclose solely to its internal or external auditors that are subject to written confidentiality obligations to use reasonable care to safeguard the

 

36


report and not to disclose the report to any third party or use the report for any purpose other than evaluating BNY Mellon’s security controls; (ii) engage a third party provider to perform penetration testing of BNY Mellon systems used to provide the services and provide the Customer confirmation of such testing, upon request and (iii) participate in the Customer’s reasonable information security due diligence questionnaire process, upon request.

B.    BNY Mellon shall also, no more than once in any 12 month period and upon request, on a mutually agreed date during business hours and subject to BNY Mellon’s facility security policies and availability of personnel: (i) meet with the Customer’s subject matter experts in a BNY Mellon clean room to review information security policies, procedures and similar related information; provided that no documentation may be copied, disclosed to any third party, or transmitted or removed from BNY Mellon’s premises except as mutually agreed in writing; and (ii) permit access to a BNY Mellon data center used to process Customer Data and provide the services by no more than three Customer representatives, including employees of a regulatory or supervisory authority of the Customer that is also a regulatory or supervisory authority of BNY Mellon, for a maximum of 3 hours in order to conduct a visual inspection of the environment and its controls. Notwithstanding any provision in the Agreement to the contrary, the Customer shall not disclose any verbal or written information obtained during the foregoing meetings described in above subsections (i)-(ii) to any third party or use it for any purpose other than evaluating BNY Mellon’s security controls, without BNY Mellon’s prior written consent. The Customer shall reimburse BNY Mellon for any costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the Customer’s review (including that of the regulatory or supervisory authority personnel) of BNY Mellon’s security controls and data center.

 

IV.

Network and Communications Security.

A.    Asset Management. BNY Mellon will maintain an inventory of its system components, hardware and software used to provide the services, and will review and update such inventory in accordance with the ISP.

B.    Change Management. BNY Mellon shall require that changes to its network or software used to provide the services are tested and applied pursuant to a documented change management process.

C.    Security Monitoring. BNY Mellon will monitor cyber threat intelligence feeds daily. BNY Mellon will deploy Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS solutions.

D.    Network Segmentation. BNY Mellon’s infrastructure utilizes a multi-tier architecture, including a DMZ, to isolate the internal infrastructure from external networks. Traffic from external sources will traverse firewalls and pass through multiple layers of malware protection prior to processing. BNY Mellon’s production environment used to provide the services will be segregated from pre-production regions and BNY Mellon’s internal segment.

 

37


E.    Vulnerability Management. BNY Mellon will maintain a documented process to identify and remediate security vulnerabilities affecting its systems used to provide the services. BNY Mellon will classify security vulnerabilities using industry recognized standards and conduct continuous monitoring and testing of its networks, hardware and software including regular penetration testing and ethical hack assessments. BNY Mellon will remediate identified security vulnerabilities in accordance with its process.

F.    Malicious Code. BNY Mellon will deploy industry standard malicious code protection and identification tools across its systems and software used to provide the services.

G.    Communications. BNY Mellon will protect electronic communications used in the provision of services, including instant messaging and email services, using industry standard processes and technical controls and in accordance with the ISP.

V.    Application Security. The ISP will require that in-house application development be governed by a documented secure software development life cycle methodology, which will include deployment rules for new applications and changes to existing applications in live production environments.

VI.    Logging. The ISP will require the maintenance of network and application logs as part of BNY Mellon’s security information and event management processes. Logs are retained in accordance with law applicable to BNY Mellon’s provision of the services as well as BNY Mellon’s applicable policies. BNY Mellon uses various tools in conjunction with such logs, which may include behavioral analytics, security monitoring case management, network traffic monitoring and analysis, IP address management and full packet capture.

 

VII.

Data Security.

A.    Identity Access Management. BNY Mellon will implement reasonable and industry recognized user access rules for users accessing Customer Data based on the need to know and the principle of least privilege, and including user ID and password requirements, session timeout and re-authentication requirements, unsuccessful login attempt limits, privileged access limits and multifactor authentication or equivalent safeguard where risk factors indicate that single factor authentication is inadequate.

B.    Data Segregation. The ISP will require that (i) Customer Data is stored in either physically or logically segregated databases from other BNY Mellon data and (ii) different databases are maintained for development, testing, staging and production environments used in the provision of services.

 

38


C.    Encryption. BNY Mellon will (i) encrypt Customer Data in transit to an external network using transport layer security or other encryption method and (ii) protect Customer Data at rest, in each case as BNY Mellon determines to be appropriate in accordance with the ISP and law applicable to BNY Mellon’s provision of the services.

D.    Remote Access. The ISP will restrict remote access to BNY Mellon systems to authorized users using multifactor authentication or equivalent safeguard, and will require such access to be logged.

E.    Devices. BNY Mellon will restrict the transfer of Customer Data from its network to mass storage devices. BNY Mellon will use a mobile device management system or equivalent tool when mobile computing is used to provide the services. Applications on such authenticated devices will be housed within an encrypted container and BNY Mellon will maintain the ability to remote wipe the contents of the container.

F.    Data Leakage Prevention (DLP). BNY Mellon will deploy DLP tools reasonably designed to help detect and prevent unauthorized transfers of Customer Data outside BNY Mellon’s network.

G.    Disposal. BNY Mellon will maintain chain of custody procedures and require that any Customer Data requiring disposal be rendered inaccessible, cleaned or scrubbed from such hardware and/or media using industry recognized methods.

VIII.    Personnel. BNY Mellon will undertake background checks during the recruitment process of personnel involved in the provision of the services, subject to applicable laws, and require its personnel involved in the provision of services to undertake annual training on the aspects of the ISP applicable to the personnel’s job function.

IX.    Physical Security. BNY Mellon will deploy perimeter security such as barrier access controls around its facilities processing or storing Customer Data. The ISP will include (i) procedures for validating visitor identity and authorization to enter the premises, which may include identification checks, issuance of identification badges and recording of entry purpose of visit and (ii) physical security policies for personnel, such as a “clean desk” policy. In accordance with its ISP and applicable law, BNY Mellon will install closed circuit television (“CCTV”) systems and CCTV recording systems to monitor and record access to controlled areas, such as data centers and server rooms.

X.    Subcontracting. BNY will not subcontract any of its rights or obligations hereunder to any third party except in accordance with the Agreement. BNY Mellon will implement a third party governance program designed to provide oversight over any such third parties used to provide the services (“Subcontractors”).    

 

39


XI.

BCP/DR.    

A.    BNY Mellon will implement business continuity and disaster recovery plans (“DR Plans”) designed to minimize interruptions of service and ensure recovery of systems and applications used to provide the services. Such business approved plans shall cover the facilities, systems, applications and employees that are critical to the provision of the services, and will be tested at least annually to validate that the recovery strategies, requirements and protocols are viable and sustainable.

B.    Summaries of BNY Mellon’s DR Plans pertinent to the services provided under the Agreement, which shall address BNY Mellon’s ability to render services under the Agreement during and after a significant business disruption, including the availability to BNY Mellon of back-up services and redundancies will be provided to the Customers upon written request. BNY Mellon reserves the right to edit or update its DR Plans as needed from time to time, without notice, so long as the changes do not materially compromise BNY Mellon’s ability to maintain services in accordance with the Agreement.

C.    Upon written request of the Customers (not more frequently than annually), BNY Mellon agrees to report to the Customers on its DR Plans. BNY Mellon’s DR Plans shall be tested no less than annually. BNY Mellon agrees to maintain a log of all business continuity events and report material business continuity events affecting the services hereunder to the Customers or their designee upon BNY Mellon becoming aware of any such event, as well as steps proposed in order to minimize any interruption to its services under the Agreement. In the event of a material business disruption associated with the services outlined in the Agreement, BNY Mellon agrees to cooperate with the Customers or their designee in responding to, resolving, and/or recovering from the disruption. The occurrence of a force majeure event will not relieve BNY Mellon of its obligation to implement the DR Plans and to provide the disaster recovery services contained therein. In the event of a service disruption, once normal service has been restored, BNY Mellon will promptly complete a root cause analysis report and email it to the Customers or their designee. The report will include the cause of disruption, details of how the disruption was resolved, and follow-up actions BNY Mellon will implement to ensure the disruption does not re-occur.

 

40

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