EX-99.25.J 3 fp0042373_ex9925j.htm

 

Execution Version

 

Custodian Agreement

 

This Agreement is made as of June 13, 2013 and effective as of December 9, 2013 by and between Clough Global Allocation Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the Fund), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the Custodian).

 

Witnesseth:

 

Whereas, the Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”);

 

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It.

 

The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the Fund, including securities which the Fund desires to be held in places within the United States (“domestic securities”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (‘‘foreign securities”). With respect to Fund assets it wishes to custody with Custodian, the Fund agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Fund, and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by the Fund from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund which is not received by it or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 8 hereof) including, without limitation, Fund property (i) held by brokers, private bankers or other entities on behalf of the Fund (each a “Local Agent”), (ii) held by Special Sub-Custodians (as such term is defined in Section 6 hereof), (iii) held by entities which have advanced monies to or on behalf of the Fund and which have received Fund property as security for such advance(s) (each a “Pledgee”), or (iv) delivered or otherwise removed from the custody of the Custodian (a) in connection with any Free Trade (as such term is defined in Sections 2.2(14) and 2.6(7) hereof) or (b) pursuant to Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 8 hereof). With respect to uncertificated shares (the “Underlying Shares”) of registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time (the “1940 Act”)) held by the Fund, whether in the same “group of investment companies” (as defined in Section 12(d)(l)(G)(ii) of the 1940 Act) or otherwise, including pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Underlying Portfolios”) the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Fund will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.

 

Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the Fund from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the Board), and provided that the Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian may place and maintain the Fund’s foreign securities with foreign banking institution sub-custodians employed by the Custodian and/or foreign securities depositories, all as designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.

 

 

 

Section 2.Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the fund to be Held in the United States.

 

Section 2.1    Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of the Fund all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by the Fund other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “U.S. Securities System) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by the Fund which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account with Custodian or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the Underlying Transfer Agent”).

 

Section 2.2   Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by the Fund held by the Custodian, in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the Fund, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

1)Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Fund in accordance with customary or established market practices and procedures, including, without limitation, delivery to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent of such purchaser or dealer) against expectation of receiving later payment;

 

2)Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Fund;

 

3)In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

4)To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities of the Fund;

 

5)To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

6)To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Fund or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

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7)Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Fund to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

8)For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

9)In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

10)For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Fund (a) against receipt of collateral as agreed from time to time by the Fund, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Fund prior to the receipt of such collateral or (b) to the lending agent, or the lending agent’s custodian, in accordance with written Proper Instructions (which may not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;

 

11)For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;

 

12)For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA, formerly known as The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

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13)For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

14)Upon the sale or other delivery of such investments (including, without limitation, to one or more (a) Special Sub-Custodians or (b) additional custodians appointed by the Fund, and communicated to the Custodian from time to time via a writing duly executed by an authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement transactions(s), each a “Repo Custodian), and prior to receipt of payment therefor, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such delivery in advance of payment, along with payment in advance of delivery made in accordance with Section 2.6(7), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall set forth (a) the securities of the Fund to be delivered and (b) the person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;

 

15)Upon receipt of instructions from the Fund’s transfer agent (the Transfer Agent”) for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with distributions in kind, as may be described from time to time in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund (the Prospectus) or other Fund document, in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;

 

16)In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof;

 

17)For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund; and

 

18)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund specifying (a) the securities of the Fund to be delivered and (b) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

Section 2.3   Registration of Securities. Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of any nominee of the Fund or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Fund, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered management investment companies having the same investment adviser as the Fund, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

 

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Section 2.4    Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Fund, other than cash maintained by the Fund in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940 Act. Funds held by the Custodian for the Fund may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited with each such bank or trust company shall be approved by the Board. Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

 

Section 2.5     Collection of Income. Except with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14) or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to registered domestic securities held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. The Custodian shall credit income to the Fund as such income is received or in accordance with the Custodian’s then current payable date income schedule. Any credit to the Fund in advance of receipt may be reversed when the Custodian determines that payment will not occur in due course and the Fund may be charged at the Custodian’s applicable rate for time credited. Income due the Fund on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2(10) shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Fund is properly entitled. Income on securities loaned other than from the Custodian’s securities lending program shall be credited as received.

 

Section 2.6    Payment of Fund Monies. The Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund as provided in Section 5 and otherwise upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the Fund, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

1)Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Fund but only (a) in accordance with customary or established market practices and procedures, including, without limitation, delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the Fund and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Fund of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Fund; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund as defined herein;

 

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2)In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Fund as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

3)For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in Section 7 hereof;

 

4)For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest, taxes, management, accounting, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

5)For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the Fund’s agreement and declaration of trust and Prospectus (collectively, Governing Documents);

 

6)For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

7)Upon the purchase of domestic investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Fund monies to Repo Custodian(s), and prior to receipt of such investments, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such payment in advance of delivery, along with delivery in advance of payment made in accordance with Section 2.2(14), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a Free Trade), provided that such Proper Instructions shall also set forth (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is made;

 

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8)For payment as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund; and

 

9)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

Section 2.7     Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder. The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.8    Deposit of Fund Assets in U.S. Securities Systems. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain the Fund’s “financial assets” corresponding with the Fund’s “securities entitlements” in a U.S. Securities System that is a “securities depository” in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.9       Segregated Accounts. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the Fund, establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund, (b) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Fund or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Fund, (c) for the purposes of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered management investment companies, and (d) for any other purpose in accordance with Proper Instructions.

 

Section 2.10  Deposit of Fund Assets with the Underlying Transfer Agent. Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

 

1)Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of the Fund, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of the Fund.

 

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2)In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of the Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Fund as so directed, and record such payment from the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

3)In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of the Fund, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of the Fund on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses resulting directly from the fraud, negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees.

 

Section 2.11     Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of the Fund held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

 

Section 2.12     Proxies. Except with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), the Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund or a nominee of the Fund, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

 

Section 2.13     Communications Relating to fund Securities. Except with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written and electronic information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Fund. With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written and electronic information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written and electronic information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Fund securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.13.

 

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Section 3.Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7.

 

Section 3.1.    Definitions. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

 

Country Risk means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

 

Eligible Foreign Custodian has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5.

 

Eligible Securities Depository has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

 

Foreign Assets means any of the Fund’s investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund’s transactions in such investments.

 

Foreign Custody Manager has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

 

Rule 17f-5 means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

Rule 17f-7 means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3.2.      The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.

 

3.2.1     Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Fund, by resolution adopted by the Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Fund.

 

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3.2.2     Countries Covered. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by any Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the Fund, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager, provided that the Foreign Custody Manager otherwise complies with this Section 3. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

 

Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of such Fund to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager with respect to Fund with respect to that country.

 

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

 

3.2.3     Scope of Delegated Responsibilities:

 

(a)         Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

 

(b)         Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

 

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(c)         Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish and maintain a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall promptly notify the Fund and the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

 

3.2.4     Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

 

3.2.5     Reporting Requirements. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the placement and withdrawal of the Foreign Assets with and from an Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.

 

3.2.6     Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of the fund. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

 

3.2.7     Representations with Respect to Rule 17f-5. The Foreign Custody Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has determined that it is reasonable for such Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.

 

3.2.8     Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect to designated countries.

 

Section 3.3       Eligible Securities Depositories.

 

3.3.1     Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining Foreign Assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.

 

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3.3.2     Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

Section 4.Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the fund to be Held Outside the United States.

 

Section 4.1       Definitions and scope. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

 

“Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

 

“Foreign Sub-Custodian” means an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

 

No term or condition in this Section 4 shall limit the Custodian’s responsibilities under Section 3 hereof. The terms and conditions of Section 3 hereof shall prevail in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 4 hereof.

 

Section 4.2.     Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Fund which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

 

Section 4.3.     Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

 

Section 4.4.      Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.

 

4.4.1.    Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

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(i)Upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)In connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities entered into by the Fund;

 

(iii)To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;

 

(iv)To the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

(v)To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

(vi)To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case, the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such foreign securities prior to receiving payment for such foreign securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(vii)For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

(viii)In the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

(ix)For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;

 

(x)In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

(xi)Upon the sale or other delivery of such foreign securities (including, without limitation, to one or more Special Sub-Custodians or Repo Custodians) as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery shall be made;

 

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(xii)In connection with any loans of foreign securities; and

 

(xiii)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

4.4.2.    Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the following cases only:

 

(i)Upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) in accordance with customary or established market practices and procedures, including, without limitation, delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Fund as set forth in Section 4.4.1 hereof;

 

(iii)For the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

(iv)For the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Fund, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians subject to terms as agreed upon by the parties from time to time;

 

(v)In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

(vi)Upon the purchase of foreign investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Fund monies to Repo Custodian(s), as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom payment shall be made;

 

(vii)For payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

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(viii)In connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

(ix)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

4.4.3.    Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

 

The Custodian shall provide to the Fund the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Fund being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

 

Section 4.5.      Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

 

Section 4.6      Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 4.7.      Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures. The Custodian shall credit income to the Fund as such income is received or in accordance with Custodian’s then current payable date income schedule. Any credit to the Fund in advance of receipt may be reversed when the Custodian determines that payment will not occur in due course and the Fund may be charged at the Custodian’s applicable rate for time credited. Income on securities loaned other than from the Custodian’s securities lending program shall be credited as received.

 

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Section 4.8       Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights and shall promptly deliver to the Fund such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities, but only to the extent that the Custodian offers proxy services in the particular country, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

 

Section 4.9.      Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written and electronic information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians or otherwise from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written and electronic information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Fund all written and electronic information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Fund regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Fund foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian via a Foreign Sub-Custodian for the account of the Fund, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

 

Section 4.10.    Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At the Fund’s election, the Fund shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

 

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Section 4.11     Tax Law. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations of which it is aware that are imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. As the Custodian does not provide tax advice, it is specifically understood and agreed that the Custodian shall not be considered the Fund’s tax advisor or tax counsel. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such information.

 

Section 4.12.    Liability of Custodian. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.

 

Section 5. Contractual Settlement Services (Purchase / Sales).

 

Section 5.1       The Custodian shall, in accordance with the terms set out in this section, debit or credit the appropriate cash account of the Fund in connection with (i) the purchase of securities for the Fund, and (ii) proceeds of the sale of securities held on behalf of the Fund, on a contractual settlement basis.

 

Section 5.2       The services described above (the Contractual Settlement Services) shall be provided for such instruments and in such markets as the Custodian may advise from time to time. The Custodian may terminate or suspend any part of the provision of the Contractual Settlement Services under this Agreement at its sole discretion immediately upon notice to the Fund, including, without limitation, in the event of force majeure events affecting settlement, any disorder in markets, or other changed external business circumstances affecting the markets or the Fund.

 

Section 5.3       The consideration payable in connection with a purchase transaction shall be debited from the appropriate cash account of the Fund as of the time and date that monies would ordinarily be required to settle such transaction in the applicable market. The Custodian shall promptly recredit such amount at the time that the Fund notifies the Custodian by Proper Instruction that such transaction has been canceled.

 

Section 5.4       With respect to the settlement of a sale of securities, a provisional credit of an amount equal to the net sale price for the transaction (the “Settlement Amount”) shall be made to the account of the Fund as if the Settlement Amount had been received as of the close of business on the date that monies would ordinarily be available in good funds in the applicable market. Such provisional credit will be made conditional upon the Custodian having received Proper Instructions with respect to, or reasonable notice of, the transaction, as applicable; and the Custodian or its agents having possession of the asset(s) (which shall exclude assets subject to any third party lending arrangement entered into by the Fund) associated with the transaction in good deliverable form and not being aware of any facts which would lead them to believe that the transaction will not settle in the time period ordinarily applicable to such transactions in the applicable market.

 

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Section 5.5.      Simultaneously with the making of such provisional credit, the Fund agrees that the Custodian shall have, and hereby grants to the Custodian, a security interest in any property at any time held for the account of the Fund to the full extent of the credited amount, and the Fund hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Custodian a continuing security interest and a lien on any and all such property under the Custodian’s possession, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that the Fund fails to promptly repay any provisional credit, the Custodian shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 5.6       The Custodian shall have the right to reverse any provisional credit or debit given in connection with the Contractual Settlement Services at any time when the Custodian believes, in its reasonable judgment, that such transaction will not settle in accordance with its terms or amounts due pursuant thereto, will not be collectable or where the Custodian has not been provided Proper Instructions with respect thereto, as applicable, and the Fund shall be responsible for any costs or liabilities resulting from such reversal. Upon such reversal, a sum equal to the credited or debited amount shall become immediately payable by the Fund to the Custodian and may be debited from any cash account held for benefit of the Fund.

 

Section 5.7      In the event that the Custodian is unable to debit an account of the Fund, and the Fund fails to pay any amount due to the Custodian at the time such amount becomes payable in accordance with this Agreement, (i) the Custodian may charge the Fund for costs and expenses associated with providing the provisional credit, including without limitation the cost of funds associated therewith, (ii) the amount of any accrued dividends, interest and other distributions with respect to assets associated with such transaction may be set off against the credited amount, (iii) the provisional credit and any such costs and expenses shall be considered an advance of cash for purposes of the Agreement and (iv) the Custodian shall have the right to setoff against any property and to sell, exchange, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property at any time held for the account of the Fund to the full extent necessary for the Custodian to make itself whole.

 

Section 6. Special Sub-Custodians.

 

Upon receipt of Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 8 hereof), the Custodian shall, on behalf of the Fund, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such transaction(s) as may be designated by the Fund in Special Instructions. Each such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a “Special Sub-Custodian.” Each such duly appointed Special Sub-Custodian shall be listed on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by the Fund, with the acknowledgment of the Custodian. In connection with the appointment of any Special Sub-Custodian, and in accordance with Special Instructions, the Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the Fund and the Special Sub-Custodian in form and substance approved by such Fund, provided that such agreement shall in all events comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

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Section 7. Payments for Sales or Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares.

 

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the Fund such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Fund.

 

From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

Section 8.Proper Instructions and Special Instructions.

 

Proper Instructions,” which may also be standing instructions, as such term is used throughout this Agreement shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from the Fund, the Fund’s duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser, or a person or entity duly authorized by either of them. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electromechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such instruction, provided that the Fund has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum hereto, the terms of which are hereby agreed to. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to provide such instructions with respect to the transaction involved; the Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.

 

Special Instructions,” as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means Proper Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Fund or any other person designated in writing by the Treasurer of the Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be (a) included on the same instrument containing the Proper Instructions or on a separate instrument clearly relating thereto and (b) delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian agree in writing.

 

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Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian, duly certified by the Fund’s Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a certificate setting forth: (i) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund and (ii) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to give Special Instructions. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of a similar certificate to the contrary.

 

Section 9. Evidence of Authority.

 

The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

Section 10.Actions Permitted without Express Authority.

 

Unless the Fund has instructed otherwise, the Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Fund:

 

1)Make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement; provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund;

 

2)Surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

3)Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

 

4)In general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Fund, except as otherwise directed by the Fund.

 

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Section 11.Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income.

 

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Fund to keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Fund as described in the Prospectus and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net income among its various components. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares of a fund held by the Fund and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section 11 and in Section 12 hereof; provided, however, that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying Transfer Agent. The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of the Fund shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the Prospectus. The Fund acknowledges that, in keeping the books of account of the Fund and/or making the calculations described herein with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.

 

Section 12.Records.

 

The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the under the 1940 Act, including but not necessarily limited to section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-l and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund and employees and agents of the SEC and other regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Fund. The Custodian shall, at the Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities and other assets owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. The Fund acknowledges that, in creating and maintaining the records as set forth herein with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.

 

Section 13.Opinion of Fund’s Independent Accountant.

 

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-1A or Form N-2 and amendments thereto, as applicable, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

 

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Section 14.Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants.

 

The Custodian shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “Securities System”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports, shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

Section 15.Compensation of Custodian.

 

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.

 

Section 16.Responsibility of Custodian.

 

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably and in good faith believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to any Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of reputable counsel experienced in the pertinent area of law (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by anything that is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, insolvency of a Foreign Sub-custodian, acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism. In no event shall either party be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

 

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct or the negligence or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by; (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Fund or its duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser in their instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any act or omission of a Special Sub-Custodian including, without limitation, reliance on reports prepared by a Special Sub-Custodian; (v) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (vi) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vii) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (viii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.

 

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If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it in the exercise of good faith.

 

If the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents advances cash or securities to the Fund for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act, willful misconduct, or if the Fund fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 15 hereof, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to pay or reimburse the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Fund’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain payment or reimbursement. The Custodian may at any time decline to follow Proper Instructions to deliver out to the Fund cash or securities if the Custodian determines in its reasonable discretion and in good faith that, after giving effect to the Proper Instructions, the cash or securities remaining will not have sufficient value fully to secure the Fund’s payment or reimbursement obligations, whether contingent or otherwise.

 

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct, the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities which may be asserted against the Custodian (a) acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction or Special Instruction including, without limitation, any Proper Instruction with respect to Free Trades including, but not limited to, cost, expense, loss, damage, liability, tax, charge, assessment or claim resulting from (i) the failure of the Fund to receive income with respect to purchased investments, (ii) the failure of the Fund to recover amounts invested on maturity of purchased investments, (iii) the failure of the Custodian to respond to or be aware of notices or other corporate communications with respect to purchased investments, or (iv) the Custodian’s reliance upon information provided by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies) or agents with respect to Fund property released, delivered or purchased pursuant to either of Section 2.2(14) or Section 2.6(7) hereof; (b) for the acts or omissions of any Special Sub-Custodian; or (c) for the acts or omissions of any Local Agent or Pledgee.

 

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Section 17.Effective Period, Termination and Amendment.

 

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending three (3) years from the date hereof (the Initial Term). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a Renewal Term) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph, the Fund shall pay Custodian its compensation due and shall reimburse Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.

 

In the event of: (i) the Fund’s termination of this Agreement for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the Custodian is not retained to continue providing services hereunder to the Fund (or its respective successor), the Fund shall pay the Custodian its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by Custodian with respect to the Fund and shall reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements. Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, the Custodian will deliver the Fund’s securities and cash as set forth hereinbelow. For the avoidance of doubt, no payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph in the event of any transaction such as (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund and distribution of the Fund’s assets as a result of the Board’s determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Fund is no longer viable (b) a merger of the Fund into, or the consolidation of the Fund with, another entity, or (c) the sale by the Fund of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where the Custodian is retained to continue providing services to the Fund (or its respective successor) on substantially the same terms as this Agreement.

 

The provisions of Sections 4.11, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

This Agreement may be amended at any time in writing by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

 

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Section 18.Successor Custodian.

 

If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination and receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities the Fund then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in a Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.

 

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such resolution.

 

In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Fund, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities of the Fund held in any Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

 

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Fund to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 19. General.

 

Section 19.1 Massachusetts Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 19.2 Prior Agreements. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior agreements between the Fund and the Custodian relating to the custody of such Fund’s assets.

 

Section 19.3 Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) the Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of the Fund.

 

Section 19.4 Interpretive and Additional Provisions. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Fund may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by the parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Fund’s Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

 

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Section 19.5 reserved.

 

Section 19.6 reserved.

 

Section 19.7 The Parties. The Fund hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization; (b) it has the requisite power and authority under applicable law and its Governing Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement; (c) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and (e) its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

The Custodian hereby represents and warrants that (a) it is duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization; (b) it has the requisite power and authority under applicable law and its governing documents to enter into and perform this Agreement; (c) all requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; (d) this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and (e) it is a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act) with an aggregate capital in excess of $500,000.

 

Section 19.8 Remote Access Services Addendum. The Custodian and the Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.

 

Section 19.9 Notices. Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To the Fund: Clough Global Allocation Fund
  1290 Broadway Suite 1100
  Denver, Colorado 80203
   
  Attention: Secretary
  Telephone: (303) 623-2577
  Facsimile: (303)623-7850

 

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To the Custodian: State Street Bank and Trust Company
  2 Avenue de Lafayette
  Boston, MA 02111
   
  Attention: Denis Valdinocci
  Telephone: 617-662-4368
  Telecopy: 617-988-9692

 

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex, immediately on dispatch and if delivered outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence and in the case of cable, telex or telecopy on the business day after the receipt thereof. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

Section 19.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

Section 19.11 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 19.12 Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Custodian and its affiliates may report and use nonpublic portfolio holdings information of its clients, including the Fund, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to the Fund.

 

Section 19.13 Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

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Section 19.14 Regulation GG. The Fund hereby represents and warrants that it does not engage in an “Internet gambling business,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) (Regulation GG”). The Fund hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, the Fund is hereby notified that “restricted transactions,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto.

 

Section 19.15 Data Privacy. The Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Fund’s shareholders, employees, trustees and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

Section 19.16 Loan Services Addendum. In the event the Fund directs Custodian in writing to perform loan services, Custodian and the Fund hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Loan Services Addendum attached hereto and the Fund shall reimburse Custodian for its fees and expenses related thereto as agreed upon from time to time in writing by the Fund and Custodian.

 

Section 19.17 Shareholder Communications Election. SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If the Fund tells the Custodian “no,” the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If the Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For the Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES [  ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

 

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NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

 

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Execution Version

 

Signature Page

 

In Witness Whereof, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above-written.

 

CLOUGH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND

 

By:  (GRAPHIC)  
  Name: Edmund J. Burke  
  Title: President  

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

 

By:  (GRAPHIC)  
Name: Michael F. Rogers  
Title: Executive Vice President  

 

Master Custodian Agreement

 

 

 

SCHEDULE D
to
Custodian Agreement

 

Special Sub-Custodians

 

None

 

D-1

 

LOAN SERVICES ADDENDUM
TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

ADDENDUM to that certain Master Custodian Agreement (the Custodian Agreement) by and between Clough Global Allocation Fund (the Fund) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries and other affiliates (the Custodian). As used in this Addendum, the term Fund, in relation to a Loan (as defined below), includes a Portfolio on whose behalf the Fund acts with respect to the Loan.

 

The following provisions will apply with respect to interests in commercial loans, including loan participations, whether the loans are bilateral or syndicated and whether any obligor is located in or outside of the United States (collectively, Loans), made or acquired by a Fund on behalf of one or more of its Portfolios.

 

Section 1. Payment Custody. If a Fund wishes the Custodian to receive payments directly with respect to a Loan for credit to the bank account maintained by the Custodian for the Fund under the Custodian Agreement,

 

(a)       the Fund will cause the Custodian to be named as the Fund’s nominee for payment purposes under the relevant financing documents, e.g., in the case of a syndicated loan, the administrative contact for the agent bank, and otherwise provide for the payment to the Custodian of the payments with respect to the Loan; and

 

(b)       the Custodian will credit to the bank account maintained by the Custodian for the Fund under the Custodian Agreement any payment on or in respect of the Loan actually received by the Custodian and identified as relating to the Loan, but with any amount credited being conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment.

 

Section 2. Monitoring. If a Fund wishes the Custodian to monitor payments on and forward notices relating to a Loan,

 

(a)       the Fund will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian a schedule identifying the amount and due dates of the scheduled principal payments, the scheduled interest payment dates and related payment amount information, and such other information with respect to the Loan as the Custodian may reasonably require in order to perform its services hereunder (collectively, Loan Information) and in such form and format as the Custodian may reasonably request; and

 

(b)       the Custodian will (i) if the amount of a principal, interest, fee or other payment with respect to the Loan is not received by the Custodian on the date on which the amount is scheduled to be paid as reflected in the Loan Information, provide a report to the Fund that the payment has not been received and (ii) if the Custodian receives any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice from any syndication agent, lead or obligor on the Loan, undertake reasonable efforts to forward the notice to the Fund.

 

i

 

Section 3. Exculpation of the Custodian.

 

(a)       Payment Custody and Monitoring. The Custodian will have no liability for any delay or failure by the Fund or any third party in providing Loan Information to the Custodian or for any inaccuracy or incompleteness of any Loan Information. The Custodian will have no obligation to verify, investigate, recalculate, update or otherwise confirm the accuracy or completeness any Loan Information or other information or notices received by the Custodian in respect of the Loan. The Custodian will be entitled to (i) rely upon the Loan Information provided to it by or on behalf of the Fund or any other information or notices that the Custodian may receive from time to time from any syndication agent, lead or obligor or any similar party with respect to the Loan and (ii) update its records on the basis of such information or notices as may from time to time be received by the Custodian.

 

(b)       Any Service. The Custodian will have no obligation to (i) determine whether any necessary steps have been taken or requirements have been met for the Fund to have acquired good or record title to a Loan, (ii) ensure that the Fund’s acquisition of the Loan has been authorized by the Fund, (iii) collect past due payments on the Loan, preserve any rights against prior parties, exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loan (including taking any action in connection with any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any syndication agent, lead or obligor on the Loan) or otherwise take any other action to enforce the payment obligations of any obligor on the Loan, (iv) become itself the record title holder of the Loan or (v) make any advance of its own funds with respect to the Loan.

 

(c)       Miscellaneous. The Custodian will not be considered to have been or be charged with knowledge of the sale of a Loan by the Fund, unless and except to the extent that the Custodian shall have received written notice of the sale from the Fund and the proceeds of the sale have been received by the Custodian for credit to the bank account maintained by the Custodian for the Fund under the Custodian Agreement. If any question arises as to the Custodian’s duties under this Addendum, the Custodian may request instructions from the Fund and will be entitled at all times to refrain from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Fund. The Custodian will in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any action taken or omitted with respect to the Loan pursuant to Proper Instructions. The Custodian will have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever with respect to the Loan except as are expressly set forth in this Addendum.

 

ii

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

1.                   OBLIGATION OF THE SENDER: State Street is authorized to promptly debit Client's account(s) upon the receipt of a payment order in compliance with the selected Security Procedure chosen for funds transfer and in the amount of money that State Street has been instructed to transfer. State Street shall execute payment orders in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Client's instructions on the execution date provided that such payment order is received by the customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications received after this time will be deemed to have been received on the next business day.

 

2.                   SECURITY PROCEDURE: The Client acknowledges that the Security Procedure it has designated on the Selection Form was selected by the Client from Security Procedures offered by State Street. The Client agrees that the Security Procedures are reasonable and adequate for its wire transfer transactions and agrees to be bound by any payment orders, amendments and cancellations, whether or not authorized, issued in its name and accepted by State Street after being confirmed by any of the selected Security Procedures. The Client also agrees to be bound by any other valid and authorized payment order accepted by State Street. The Client shall restrict access to confidential information relating to the Security Procedure to authorized persons as communicated in writing to State Street. The Client must notify State Street immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of any change in the Client's authorized personnel. State Street shall verify the authenticity of all instructions according to the Security Procedure.

 

3.                   ACCOUNT NUMBERS: State Street shall process all payment orders on the basis of the account number contained in the payment order. In the event of a discrepancy between any name indicated on the payment order and the account number, the account number shall take precedence and govern. Financial institutions that receive payment orders initiated by State Street at the instruction of the Client may also process payment orders on the basis of account numbers, regardless of any name included in the payment order. State Street will also rely on any financial institution identification numbers included in any payment order, regardless of any financial institution name included in the payment order.

 

4.                   REJECTION: State Street reserves the right to decline to process or delay the processing of a payment order which (a) is in excess of the collected balance in the account to be charged at the time of State Street's receipt of such payment order; (b) if initiating such payment order would cause State Street, in State Street's sole judgment, to exceed any volume, aggregate dollar, network, time, credit or similar limits upon wire transfers which are applicable to State Street; or (c) if State Street, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly authorized.

 

5.                   CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT: State Street shall use reasonable efforts to act on all authorized requests to cancel or amend payment orders received in compliance with the Security Procedure provided that such requests are received in a timely manner affording State Street reasonable opportunity to act. However, State Street assumes no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot be satisfied.

 

6.                   ERRORS: State Street shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any erroneous payment order provided that State Street complies with the payment order instructions as received and State Street complies with the Security Procedure. The Security Procedure is established for the purpose of authenticating payment orders only and not for the detection of errors in payment orders.

 

7.                   INTEREST AND LIABILITY LIMITS: State Street shall assume no responsibility for lost interest with respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment order, unless State Street is notified of the unauthorized payment order within thirty (30) days of notification by State Street of the acceptance of such payment order. In no event shall State Street be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages and even for failure to execute a payment order.

 

8.                   AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (“ACH”) CREDIT ENTRIES/PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS: When a Client initiates or receives ACH credit and debit entries pursuant to these Guidelines and the rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association and the New England Clearing House Association, State Street will act as an Originating Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such entries. Credits given by State Street with respect to an ACH credit entry are provisional until State Street receives final settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank. If State Street does not receive such final settlement, the Client agrees that State Street shall receive a refund of the amount credited to the Client in connection with such entry, and the party making payment to the Client via such entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the entry.

 

9.                   CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS: Confirmation of State Street's execution of payment orders shall ordinarily be provided within 24 hours. Notice may be delivered through State Street's proprietary information systems, such as, but not limited to Horizon and GlobalQuest®, account statements, advices, or by facsimile or callback. The Client must report any objections to the execution of a payment order within 30 days.

 

 

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

10.                 LIABILITY ON FOREIGN ACCOUNTS: State Street shall not be required to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch of State Street, or any deposit made with State Street and denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, if repayment of such deposit or the use of assets denominated in the non-U.S. dollar currency is prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked due to: (a) an act of war, insurrection or civil strife; (b) any action by a non-U.S. government or instrumentality or authority asserting governmental, military or police power of any kind, whether such authority be recognized as a defacto or a dejure government, or by any entity, political or revolutionary movement or otherwise that usurps, supervenes or otherwise materially impairs the normal operation of civil authority; or(c) the closure of a non-U.S. branch of State Street in order to prevent, in the reasonable judgment of State Street, harm to the employees or property of State Street. The obligation to repay any such deposit shall not be transferred to and may not be enforced against any other branch of State Street.

 

The foregoing provisions constitute the disclosure required by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 167D, Section 36.

 

While State Street is not obligated to repay any deposit made at a non-U.S. branch or any deposit denominated in a non-U.S. currency during the period in which its repayment has been prevented, prohibited or otherwise blocked, State Street will repay such deposit when and if all circumstances preventing, prohibiting or otherwise blocking repayment cease to exist.

 

11.                 MISCELLANEOUS: State Street and the Client agree to cooperate to attempt to recover any funds erroneously paid to the wrong party or parties, regardless of any fault of State Street or the Client, but the party responsible for the erroneous payment shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in trying to effect such recovery. These Guidelines may not be amended except by a written agreement signed by the parties.

 

 

 

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

Security Procedure(s) Selection Form

 

Please select one or more of the funds transfer security procedures indicated below.

 

SWIFT

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a cooperative society owned and operated by member financial institutions that provides telecommunication services for its membership. Participation is limited to securities brokers and dealers, clearing and depository institutions, recognized exchanges for securities, and investment management institutions. SWIFT provides a number of security features through encryption and authentication to protect against unauthorized access, loss or wrong delivery of messages, transmission errors, loss of confidentiality and fraudulent changes to messages. SWIFT is considered to be one of the most secure and efficient networks for the delivery of funds transfer instructions.

Selection of this security procedure would be most appropriate for existing SWIFT members.

 

Standing Instructions

Standing Instructions may be used where funds are transferred to a broker on the Client's established list of brokers with which it engages in foreign exchange transactions. Only the date, the currency and the currency amount are variable. In order to establish this procedure, State Street will send to the Client a list of the brokers that State Street has determined are used by the Client. The Client will confirm the list in writing, and State Street will verify the written confirmation by telephone. Standing Instructions will be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit, the Standing Instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution.

 

Remote Batch Transmission

Wire transfer instructions are delivered via Computer-to-Computer (CPU-CPU) data communications between the Client and State Street. Security procedures include encryption and or the use of a test key by those individuals authorized as Automated Batch Verifiers.

Clients selecting this option should have an existing facility for completing CPU-CPU transmissions. This delivery mechanism is typically used for high-volume business.

 

Global Horizon lnterchangesm Funds Transfer Service

Global Horizon Interchange Funds Transfer Service (FTS) is a State Street proprietary microcomputer-based wire initiation system. FTS enables Clients to electronically transmit authenticated Fedwire, CHIPS or internal book transfer instructions to State Street.

This delivery mechanism is most appropriate for Clients with a low-to-medium number of transactions (5-75 per day), allowing Clients to enter, batch, and review wire transfer instructions on their PC prior to release to State Street.

 

Telephone Confirmation (Callback)

Telephone confirmation will be used to verify all non-repetitive funds transfer instructions received via untested facsimile or phone. This procedure requires Clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized verifiers. State Street will verify that the instruction contains the signature of an authorized person and prior to execution, will contact someone other than the originator at the Client's location to authenticate the instruction.

Selection of this alternative is appropriate for Clients who do not have the capability to use other security procedures.

 

Repetitive Wires

For situations where funds are transferred periodically (minimum of one instruction per calendar quarter) from an existing authorized account to the same payee (destination bank and account number) and only the date and currency amount are variable, a repetitive wire may be implemented. Repetitive wires will be subject to a mutually agreed upon limit. If the payment order exceeds the established limit, the instruction will be confirmed by telephone prior to execution. Telephone confirmation is used to establish this process. Repetitive wire instructions must be reconfirmed annually.

This alternative is recommended whenever funds are frequently transferred between the same two accounts.

 

Transfers initiated by Facsimile

The Client faxes wire transfer instructions directly to State Street Mutual Fund Services. Standard security procedure requires the use of a random number test key for all transfers. Every six months the Client receives test key logs from State Street. The test key contains alpha-numeric characters, which the Client puts on each document faxed to State Street. This procedure ensures all wire instructions received via fax are authorized by the Client.

We provide this option for Clients who wish to batch wire instructions and transmit these as a group to State Street Mutual Fund Services once or several times a day.

 

 

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

Instruct

Instruct is a State Street web-based application designed to provide internet-enabled remote access that allows for the capturing, verification and processing of various instruction types, including securities, cash and foreign exchange transactions. Instruct is designed using industry standard formats to facilitate straight-through processing. Instruct provides a number of security features through user entitlements, industry standard encryption protocols, digital security certificates and multiple tiers of user authentication requirements.

 

Secure Transport

Secure Transport is a file transfer application based upon the Secure File Transfer Protocol standard that is designed to enable State Street clients/ investment managers to send file based transfer and transaction instructions over the internet. Secure Transport features multi-factor authenticators such as SecurID and digital certificates, and incorporates industry-standard encryption protocols.

 

Automated Clearing House (ACH)

State Street receives an automated transmission or a magnetic tape from a Client for the initiation of payment (credit) or collection (debit) transactions through the ACH network. The transactions contained on each transmission or tape must be authenticated by the Client. Clients using ACH must select one or more of the following delivery options:

 

Global Horizon Interchange Automated Clearing House Service

Transactions are created on a microcomputer, assembled into batches and delivered to State Street via fully authenticated electronic transmissions in standard NACHA formats.

 

☐ Transmission from Client PC to State Street Mainframe with Telephone Callback

 

☐ Transmission from Client Mainframe to State Street Mainframe with Telephone Callback

 

☐ Transmission from DST Systems to State Street Mainframe with Encryption

 

☐ Magnetic Tape Delivered to State Street with Telephone Callback

 

Email with Enforced Transport Layer Security Combined with Telephone Callback

Transport Layer Security is a communication method that allows clients to electronically deliver financial transaction instructions to State Street using an enforced (encrypted) connection. The communication method features use of enforced network connections which include industry-standard transport layer cryptography to effect point-to-point encryption. Please note that such point-to-point encryption is performed at the domain level and not at the individual user level or email gateway within the client's organization. Telephone confirmation will be used to verify transaction instructions received via email with enforced TLS. This procedure requires clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized verifiers. State Street will contact the client's designees to authenticate instructions received by this method.

 

Email "Send Secure" Feature Available In Outlook with Telephone Callback

"Send Secure" is a communication method that allows clients to electronically deliver financial transaction instructions to State Street using an enforced (encrypted) connection by responding to a secure email received from State Street The communication method features use of enforced network connections which include industry-standard transport layer cryptography to effect point-to-point encryption at the desktop. Telephone confirmation will be used to verify transaction instructions received via email using the "send secure" feature. This procedure requires clients to designate individuals as authorized initiators and authorized verifiers. State Street will contact the clients designees to authenticate instructions received by this method.

 

State Street Cash Manager® Global Funds Transfer (GFT)

State Street's proprietary web-based system that enables clients to originate and electronically transmit authenticated repetitive and non-repetitive Fed wires, CHIPS, internal book transfers, drawdowns, and international payments to State Street. Instructions received by State Street via Cash Manager® constitute funds transfer instructions originated by the Client and can either be in U.S. dollar or other currencies supported by the system. The State Street Cash Manager® GFT is a web-based system utilizing the Internet and employs the use of ID and password security, two factor token authentication and encryption to protect the integrity of transmissions to State Street.

 

State Street is hereby instructed to accept funds transfer instructions only via the delivery methods and security procedures indicated. The selected delivery methods and security procedure(s) will be effective ____________________________ for payment orders initiated by our organization.

 

 

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

Key Contact Information

 

Whom shall we contact to implement your selection(s)?

 

CLIENT OPERATIONS CONTACT   ALTERNATE CONTACT
  Name     Name
  Address     Address
  City/State/Zip Code     City/State/Zip Code
  Telephone Number     Telephone Number
  Facsimile Number     Facsimile Number
  SWIFT Number      
  Telex Number      

 

 

 

 

FUNDS TRANSFER ADDENDUM

 

INSTRUCTION(S)

 

TELEPHONE CONFIRMATION

 

Fund  

 

Investment Adviser  

 

Authorized Initiators

Please Type or Print

 

Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who are currently authorized to INITIATE wire transfer instructions to State Street:

 

NAME

 

 

TITLE (Specify whether position is with Fund or Investment Adviser)

 

 

SPECIMEN SIGNATURE

 

         
         
         
         

 

Authorized Verifiers

Please Type or Print

 

Please provide a listing of Fund officers or other individuals who will be CALLED BACK to verify the initiation of repetitive wires of $10 million or more and all non-repetitive wire instructions:

 

NAME

 

 

CALLBACK PHONE NUMBER

 

 

DOLLAR LIMITATION (IF ANY)

 

         
         
         
         

 

 

 

(Graphic)

 

ADDENDUM to that certain Custodian Agreement between the Fund (the “Customer”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates (“State Street”).

 

State Street has developed and/or utilizes proprietary or third-party accounting and other systems in conjunction with the services that State Street provides to the Customer. In this regard, State Street maintains certain information in databases under its ownership and/or control that it makes available to its customers (the “Remote Access Services”).

 

The Services

 

State Street agrees to provide the Customer, and its designated investment advisors, consultants or other third parties who agree to abide by the terms of this Addendum (“Authorized Designees”) with access to State Street proprietary and third-party systems as may be offered by State Street from time to time (each, a “System”) on a remote basis.

 

Security Procedures

 

The Customer agrees to comply, and to cause its Authorized Designees to comply, with remote access operating standards and procedures and with user identification or other password control requirements and other security devices and procedures as may be issued or required from time to time by State Street or its third-party vendors for use of the System and access to the Remote Access Services. The Customer is responsible for any use and/or misuse of the System and Remote Access Services by its Authorized Designees. The Customer agrees to advise State Street immediately in the event that it learns or has reason to believe that any person to whom it has given access to the System or the Remote Access Services has violated or intends to violate the terms of this Addendum and the Customer will cooperate with State Street in seeking injunctive or other equitable relief. The Customer agrees to discontinue use of the System and Remote Access Services, if requested, for any security reasons cited by State Street and State Street may restrict access of the System and Remote Access Services by the Customer or any Authorized Designee for security reasons or noncompliance with the terms of this Addendum at any time.

 

Fees

 

Fees and charges for the use of the System and the Remote Access Services and related payment terms shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in effect from time to time between the parties. The Customer shall be responsible for any tariffs, duties or taxes imposed or levied by any government or governmental agency by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Addendum, including, without limitation, federal, state and local taxes, use, value added and personal property taxes (other than income, franchise or similar taxes which may be imposed or assessed against State Street). Any claimed exemption from such tariffs, duties or taxes shall be supported by proper documentary evidence delivered to State Street.

 

Proprietary Information/Injunctive Relief

 

The System and Remote Access Services described herein and the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, formulae, processes, systems, software, knowhow, algorithms, programs, training aids, printed materials, methods, books, records, files, documentation and other information made available to the Customer by State Street as part of the Remote Access Services and through the use of the System and all copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other proprietary and intellectual property rights of State Street and third-party vendors related thereto are the exclusive, valuable and confidential proprietary property of State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors (the “Proprietary Information”). The Customer agrees on behalf of itself and its Authorized Designees to keep the Proprietary Information confidential and to limit access to its employees and Authorized Designees (under a similar duty of confidentiality) who require access to the System for the purposes intended. The foregoing shall not apply to Proprietary Information in the public domain or required by law to be made public.

 

 

 

(Graphic)

 

The Customer agrees to use the Remote Access Services only in connection with the proper purposes of this Addendum. The Customer will not, and will cause its employees and Authorized Designees not to, (i) permit any third party to use the System or the Remote Access Services, (ii) sell, rent, license or otherwise use the System or the Remote Access Services in the operation of a service bureau or for any purpose other than as expressly authorized under this Addendum, (iii) use the System or the Remote Access Services for any fund, trust or other investment vehicle without the prior written consent of State Street, or (iv) allow or cause any information transmitted from State Street’s databases, including data from third-party sources, available through use of the System or the Remote Access Services, to be published, redistributed or retransmitted for other than use for or on behalf of the Customer, as State Street’s customer.

 

The Customer agrees that neither it nor its Authorized Designees will modify the System in any way; enhance, copy or otherwise create derivative works based upon the System; nor will the Customer or Customer’s Authorized Designees reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to secure the source code for all or any part of the System.

 

The Customer acknowledges that the disclosure of any Proprietary Information, or of any information which at law or equity ought to remain confidential, will immediately give rise to continuing irreparable injury to State Street or its third-party licensors and vendors inadequately compensable in damages at law and that State Street shall be entitled to obtain immediate injunctive relief against the breach or threatened breach of any of the foregoing undertakings, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.

 

Limited Warranties

 

State Street represents and warrants that it is the owner of and/or has the right to grant access to the System and to provide the Remote Access Services contemplated herein. Because of the nature of computer information technology, including but not limited to the use of the Internet, and the necessity of relying upon third-party sources, and data and pricing information obtained from third parties, the System and Remote Access Services are provided “AS IS” without warranty express or implied including as to availability of the System, and the Customer and its Authorized Designees shall be solely responsible for the use of the System and Remote Access Services and investment decisions, results obtained, regulatory reports and statements produced using the Remote Access Services. State Street and its relevant licensors and third-party vendors will not be liable to the Customer or its Authorized Designees for any direct or indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the System or the Remote Access Services, nor shall any party be responsible for delays or nonperformance under this Addendum arising out of any cause or event beyond such party’s control.

 

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS ADDENDUM, STATE STREET, FOR ITSELF AND ITS RELEVANT LICENSORS AND THIRD-PARTY VENDORS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE SYSTEM AND THE SERVICES TO BE RENDERED HEREUNDER, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

 

 -2-

 

(Graphic)

 

Infringement

 

State Street will defend or, at its option, settle any claim or action brought against the Customer to the extent that it is based upon an assertion that access to or use of State Street proprietary systems by the Customer under this Addendum constitutes direct infringement of any United States patent or copyright or misappropriation of a trade secret, provided that the Customer notifies State Street promptly in writing of any such claim or proceeding, cooperates with State Street in the defense of such claim or proceeding and allows State Street sole control over such claim or proceeding. Should the State Street proprietary system or any part thereof become, or in State Street’s opinion be likely to become, the subject of a claim of infringement or the like under any applicable patent, copyright or trade secret laws, State Street shall have the right, at State Street’s sole option, to (i) procure for the Customer the right to continue using the State Street proprietary system (ii) replace or modify the State Street proprietary system so that the State Street proprietary system becomes noninfringing, or (iii) terminate this Addendum without further obligation. This section constitutes the sole remedy available to the Customer for the matters described in this section.

 

Termination

 

Either party to the Custodian Agreement may terminate this Addendum (i) for any reason by giving the other party at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days’ prior written notice in the case of notice of termination by State Street to the Customer or thirty (30) days’ notice in the case of notice from the Customer to State Street of termination, or (ii) immediately for failure of the other party to comply with any material term and condition of the Addendum by giving the other party written notice of termination. This Addendum shall in any event terminate within ninety (90) days after the termination of any service agreement applicable to the Customer. The Customer’s use of any third-party System is contingent upon its compliance with any terms and conditions of use of such System imposed by such third party and State Street’s continued access to, and use of, such third-party System. In the event of termination, the Customer will return to State Street all copies of documentation and other confidential information in its possession or in the possession of its Authorized Designees and immediately cease access to the System and Remote Access Services. The foregoing provisions with respect to confidentiality and infringement will survive termination for a period of three (3) years.

 

Miscellaneous

 

This Addendum constitutes the entire understanding of the parties to the Custodian Agreement with respect to access to the System and the Remote Access Services. This Addendum cannot be modified or altered except in a writing duly executed by each of State Street and the Customer and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

By its execution of the Custodian Agreement, the Customer: (a) confirms to State Street that it informs all Authorized Designees of the terms of this Addendum; (b) accepts responsibility for its and its Authorized Designees’ compliance with the terms of this Addendum; and (c) indemnifies and holds State Street harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, counsel fees, payments and liabilities arising from any failure of the Customer or any of its Authorized Designees to abide by the terms of this Addendum.

 

 -3-

 

 

 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

 

 

(Graphic)

 

SUBCUSTODIANS - SCHEDULE A

 

MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN
Argentina Citibank, N.A.
Australia

Citigroup Pty. Limited

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Austria Deutsche Bank AG
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Bahrain

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Brussels branch)
Benin via Standard Chartered Bank Cote d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Bermuda HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina UniCredit Bank d.d.
Botswana Standard Chartered Bank Botswana Limited
Brazil Citibank, N.A.
Bulgaria ING Bank N.V.
UniCredit Bulbank AD
Burkina Faso via Standard Charted Bank Cote d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Canada State Street Trust Company Canada
Chile Banco Itaú Chile
People’s Republic of China

HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

China Construction Bank Corporation (for A-share market only)

Colombia Cititrust Colombia S.A. Sociedad Fiduciaria
Costa Rica Banco BCT S.A.
Croatia Privredna Banka Zagreb d.d.
Zagrebacka Banka d.d.
Cyprus BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A., Greece (operating through its Athens branch)
Czech Republic Československá obchodní banka, a.s.
UniCredit Bank Czech Republic a.s.

 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(Graphic)

 

Denmark Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Sweden (operating through its Copenhagen branch)
Ecuador Banco de la Producci6n S.A. PRODUBANCO
Egypt

HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E.

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Estonia AS SEB Pank
Finland Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Sweden (operating through its Helsinki branch)
France Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Paris branch)
Republic of Georgia JSC Bank of Georgia
Germany Deutsche Bank AG
Ghana Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited
Greece BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A.
Guinea-Bissau via Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Hungary UniCredit Bank Hungary Zrt.
Iceland Landsbankinn hf.
India

Deutsche Bank AG

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Indonesia Deutsche Bank AG
Ireland State Street Bank and Trust Company, United Kingdom branch
Israel Bank Hapoalim B.M.
Italy Deutsche Bank S.p.A.
Ivory Coast Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A.
Japan

Mizuho Bank, Limited

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Jordan HSBC Bank Middle East Limited (as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)
Kazakhstan

SB HSBC Bank Kazakhstan JSC

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Kenya Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited
Republic of Korea

Deutsche Bank AG

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Kuwait

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

 

2

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(Gtaphic)

 

Latvia AS SEB banka
Lebanon

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Lithuania AB SEB bankas
Malaysia Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mali via Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Mauritius The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mexico Banco Nacional de México, S.A.
Morocco Citibank Maghreb
Namibia Standard Bank Namibia Limited
Netherlands Deutsche Bank AG
New Zealand The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Niger via Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Nigeria Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.
Norway Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), Sweden (operating through its Oslo branch)
Oman

HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G.

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Pakistan Deutsche Bank AG
Palestine

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Peru Citibank del Perú, S.A.
Philippines Deutsche Bank AG
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.
Portugal

BNP Paribas Securities Services, S.C.A., Paris (operating through its Lisbon branch with support from its Paris branch)

Deutsche Bank AG, Netherlands (operating through its Amsterdam branch with support from its Lisbon branch)

Puerto Rico Citibank N.A.
Qatar

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

Romania ING Bank N.V.
Russia ING Bank (Eurasia) ZAO
Saudia Arabia HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited
(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

 

3

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(Graphic)

 

Senegal via Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Serbia UniCredit Bank Serbia JSC
Singapore

Citibank N.A.

United Overseas Bank Limited

Slovak Republic Československá obchodná banka, a.s.
UniCredit Bank Slovakia a.s.
Slovenia UniCredit Banka Slovenija d.d.
South Africa

FirstRand Bank Limited

Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

Spain Deutsche Bank S.A.E.
Sri Lanka The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Republic of Srpska UniCredit Bank d.d.
Swaziland Standard Bank Swaziland Limited
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ)
Switzerland Credit Suisse AG
UBS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C.

Deutsche Bank AG

Standard Chartered Bank (Taiwan) Limited

Thailand Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited
Togo via Standard Chartered Bank Côte d’lvoire S.A., Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Trinidad & Tobago Republic Bank Limited
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
Turkey Citibank, A.S.
Deutsche Bank A.S.
Uganda Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited
Ukraine ING Bank Ukraine
United Arab Emirates –
Dubai Financial Market

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Arab Emirates –
Dubai International Financial Center

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Arab Emirates –
Abu Dhabi

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited

(as delegate of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited)

United Kingdom State Street Bank and Trust Company, United Kingdom branch
Uruguay Banco Itaú Uruguay S.A

 

4

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(Graphic)

 

Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Vietnam HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Limited
Zambia Standard Chartered Bank Zambia Pic.
Zimbabwe Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited (as delegate of Standard Bank of South Africa Limited)

 

5

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

DEPOSITORIES OPERATING IN NETWORK MARKETS – SCHEDULE B

 

MARKET DEPOSITORY
Argentina Caja de Valores S.A.
Australia Austraclear Limited
Austria Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (Wertpapiersammelbank Division)
Bahrain Clearing, Settlement, Depository and Registry System of the Bahrain Bourse
Bangladesh Bangladesh Bank
Central Depository Bangladesh Limited
Belgium Euroclear Belgium
National Bank of Belgium
Benin Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Bermuda Bermuda Securities Depository
Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Registar vrijednosnih papira u Federaciji Bosne i Hercegovine, d.d.
Botswana Bank of Botswana
Central Securities Depository Company of Botswana Ltd.
Brazil Central de Custódia e de Liquidaçáo Financeira de Titulos Privados (CETIP) Companhia Brasileira de Liquidaçáo e Custódia Sistema Especial de Liquidaçáo e de Custódia (SELIC)
Bulgaria Bulgarian National Bank
Central Depository AD
Burkina Faso Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Canada The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited
Chile Depósito Central de Valores S.A.
People's Republic
of China
China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, Shanghai Branch China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited, Shenzhen Branch China Central Depository and Clearing Co., Ltd.
Colombia Depósito Central de Valores
Depósito Centralizado de Valores de Colombia S.A. (DECEVAL)
Costa Rica Central de Valores S.A.
Croatia Središnje klirinško depozitarno društvo d.d.
Cyprus Central Depository and Central Registry
Czech Republic Centrálnf depozitář cenných papirů, a.s.
Czech National Bank

 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

Denmark VP Securities A/S
Egypt Central Bank of Egypt
Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry S.A.E.
Estonia AS Eesti Văărtpaberikeskus
Finland Euroclear Finland
France Euroclear France
Republic of Georgia Georgian Central Securities Depository
National Bank of Georgia
Germany Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt
Ghana Central Securities Depository (Ghana) Limited
GSE Securities Depository Company Limited
Greece Bank of Greece, System for Monitoring Transactions in Securities in Book-Entry Form Kentriko Apothetirio Aksion, a department of Hellenic Exchanges S.A. Holding
Guinea-Bissau Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Hong Kong Central Moneymarkets Unit
Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited
Hungary Kŏzponti Elszámolóház és Értéktár (Budapesti) Zrt. (KELER)
Iceland Icelandic Securities Depository Limited
India Central Depository Services (India) Limited
National Securities Depository Limited
Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia Bank Indonesia
PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia
Ireland

Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited *

Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.

Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Clearing House Ltd. (TASE Clearing House)
Italy Monte Titoli S.p.A.
Ivory Coast Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Japan Bank of Japan – Financial Network System
Japan Securities Depository Center (JASDEC) Incorporated
Jordan

Central Bank of Jordan

Securities Depository Center

Kazakhstan Central Securities Depository
Kenya Central Bank of Kenya
Central Depository and Settlement Corporation Limited
Republic of Korea Korea Securities Depository

 

7 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

Kuwait Kuwait Clearing Company
Latvia Lebanon Latvian Central Depository
Banque du Liban
Custodian and Clearing Center of Financial Instruments for Lebanon and the Middle East (Midclear) S.A.L.
Lithuania Central Securities Depository of Lithuania
Malaysia Bank Negara Malaysia
Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn. Bhd.
Mali Dépositaire Central – Banque de Réglement
Mauritius Bank of Mauritius
Central Depository and Settlement Co. Limited
Mexico S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V.
Morocco Maroclear
Namibia Bank of Namibia
Netherlands Euroclear Nederland
New Zealand New Zealand Central Securities Depository Limited
Niger Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Nigeria Central Bank of Nigeria
Central Securities Clearing System Limited
Norway Verdipapirsentralen
Oman Muscat Clearing & Depository Company S.A.O.C.
Pakistan Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited State Bank of Pakistan
Palestine Clearing, Depository and Settlement system, a department of the Palestine Securities Exchange
Peru CAVALI S.A. Institución de Compensación y Liquidación de Valores
Philippines Philippine Depository & Trust Corporation
Registry of Scripless Securities (ROSS) of the Bureau of the Treasury
Poland Rejestr Papierów Wartościowych
Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych, S.A.
Portugal INTERBOLSA - Sociedad Gestora de Sistemas
de Liquidação e de Sistemas Centralizados de Valores Mobiliários, S.A.
Qatar Central Clearing and Registration (CCR), a department of the Qatar Exchange
Romania National Bank of Romania
S.C. Depozitarul Central S.A.
Russia National Settlement Depository

 

8 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Tadawul Central Securities Depository
Senegal Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Serbia Central Registrar, Depository and Clearinghouse
Singapore Monetary Authority of Singapore
The Central Depository (Re.) Limited
Slovak Republic Centrólny depozitár cenných papierov SR, a.s.
Slovenia KDD - Centralna klirinško depotna družba d.d.
South Africa Strate Limited
Spain IBERCLEAR
Sri Lanka Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Central Depository System (Pvt) Limited
Republic of Srpska Central Registry of Securities in the Republic of Srpska JSC
Sweden Euroclear Sweden
Switzerland SIX SIS AG
Taiwan - R.O.C. Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Taiwan Depository and Clearing Corporation
Thailand Thailand Securities Depository Company Limited
Togo Dépositaire Central – Banque de Règlement
Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago Central Depository Limited
Tunisia Société Tunisienne Interprofessionelle pour la
Compensation et le Dépôt des Valeurs Mobilières (STICODEVAM)
Turkey Central Bank of Turkey
Central Registry Agency
Uganda Bank of Uganda
Securities Central Depository
Ukraine National Depository of Ukraine
Public Joint Stock Company Settlement Center
United Arab Emirates -
Abu Dhabi
Clearing, Settlement, Depository and Registry department
of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
United Arab Emirates -
Dubai Financial Market
Clearing and Depository System, a department of the Dubai Financial Market
United Arab Emirates -
Dubai International
Financial Center
Central Securities Depository, owned and operated by NASDAQ Dubai Limited
United Kingdom Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited *

 

9 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

Uruguay Banco Central del Uruguay
Venezuela

Banco Central de Venezuela

Caja Venezolana de Valores

Vietnam Vietnam Securities Depository
Zambia Bank of Zambia
LuSE Central Shares Depository Limited

 

TRANSNATIONAL

 

Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
Clearstream Banking, S.A.

 

**Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited (EUI) serves as depository for GBP- and EUR-denominated money market Instruments. Also, EUI utilizes its CREST system to facilitate settlement for eligible securities in the UK and Ireland, with securities ownership recorded at the relevant issuer's registrar.

 

10 

LIMITED ACCESS

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

SCHEDULE C

 

Publication/Type of Information Brief Description
(scheduled frequency)  
The Guide to Custody in World Markets
(hardcopy annually and regular
website updates)
An overview of settlement and safekeeping procedures, custody practices and foreign investor considerations for the markets in which State Street offers custodial services.
Global Custody Network Review
(annually)
Information relating to Foreign Sub-Custodians in State Street's Global Custody Network. The Review stands as an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to assist them in complying with SEC Rule 17f-5. The Review also gives insight into State Street's market expansion and Foreign Sub-Custodian selection processes, as well as the procedures and controls used to monitor the financial condition and performance of our Foreign Sub-Custodian banks.
Securities Depository Review
(annually)
Custody risk analyses of the Foreign Securities Depositories presently operating in Network markets. This publication is an integral part of the materials that State Street provides to its U.S. mutual fund clients to meet informational obligations created by SEC Rule 17f-7.
Global Legal Survey
(annually)
With respect to each market in which State Street offers custodial services, opinions relating to whether local law restricts (i) access of a fund's independent public accountants to books and records of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (ii) a fund's ability to recover in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, (iii) a fund's ability to recover in the event of a loss by a Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System, and (iv) the ability of a foreign investor to convert cash and cash equivalents to U.S. dollars.
Subcustodian Agreements
(annually)
Copies of the contracts that State Street has entered into with each Foreign Sub-Custodian that maintains U.S. mutual fund assets in the markets in which State Street offers custodial services.
Global Market Bulletin
(daily or as necessary)
Information on changing settlement and custody conditions in markets where State Street offers custodial services. Includes changes in market and tax regulations, depository developments, dematerialization information, as well as other market changes that may impact State Street's clients.
Foreign Custody Advisories
(as necessary)
For those markets where State Street offers custodial services that exhibit special risks or infrastructures impacting custody, State Street issues market advisories to highlight those unique market factors which might impact our ability to offer recognized custody service levels.
Material Change Notices
(presently on a quarterly basis or
as otherwise necessary)
Informational letters and accompanying materials confirming State Street's foreign custody arrangements, including a summary of material changes with Foreign Sub-Custodians that have occurred during the previous quarter. The notices also identify any material changes in the custodial risks associated with maintaining assets with Foreign Securities Depositories.

LIMITED ACCESS

 

 

LIMITED ACCESS