As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2018
Securities Act Registration No. 333-222469
Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23324
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933 (X)
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. __
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT
COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (X)
AMENDMENT NO. 3
Check appropriate box or boxes
PGIM ETF TRUST
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter
655 Broad Street, 17th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code
(973) 367-7521
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code
Claudia
DiGiacomo
655 Broad Street, 17
th
Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Name and Address of Agent for Service
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that the registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
This Amendment consists of (1) the Facing Sheet of the Registration Statement and (2) Part C of the Registration Statement (including signature page). This Amendment is being filed solely to file certain exhibits to the Registration Statement. The contents of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, filed on March 26, 2018, consisting of Part A and Part B are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Certificate of Trust of the Registrant dated October 23, 2017. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on January 8, 2018.
(a)(2) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 23, 2017. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on January 8, 2018.
(b) By-Laws of the Registrant dated October 23, 2017. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on January 8, 2018.
(c) Registrant incorporates by reference the following provisions of its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, as Exhibit (a)(2) and Exhibit (b), respectively, defining the rights of Registrant’s shareholders: Articles III and V of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Article III of the By-Laws.
(d)(1) Management Agreement between the Registrant and PGIM Investments LLC. Filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement, which was filed via EDGAR on February 28, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(d)(2) Subadvisory Agreement between PGIM Investments LLC and PGIM, Inc. Filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement, which was filed via EDGAR on February 28, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference.
(e) Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Prudential Investment Management Services LLC. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on March 23, 2018.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Filed herewith.
(h)(1) Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Filed herewith.
(h)(2) Form of Authorized Participant Agreement. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on March 23, 2018.
(i) Opinion and consent of Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on March 23, 2018.
(j) Consent of independent registered public accounting firm. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on March 23, 2018.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Not applicable.
(m) Distribution and Service Plan. Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-222469) filed on March 23, 2018.
(n) Not applicable.
(o) Reserved.
(p)(1) Code of Ethics of the Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A for Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 14, filed via EDGAR on June 21, 2016 (File No. 002-82976).
(p)(2) Investment Adviser Code of Ethics, dated January 9, 2017 and Personal Securities Trading Policy of Prudential Financial including the Manager, the Distributor, and PGIM Fixed Income, dated February 6, 2017. Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September 12, 2017.
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Registrant.
None.
Item 30. Indemnification.
As permitted by Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and pursuant to Del. Code Ann. Title 12 sec. 3817, a Delaware business trust may provide in its governing instrument for the indemnification of its officers and trustees from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Article VII, Section 2 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust (Exhibit (a)(1) to the Registration Statement) states that (1) the Registrant shall indemnify any present trustee or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability, and all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she is involved by virtue of his or her service as a trustee, officer or both, and against any amount incurred in settlement thereof and (2) all persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against Registrant shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series (or if no Series has yet been established, only to the assets of the Registrant). Indemnification will not be provided to a person adjudged by a court or other adjudicatory body to be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties (collectively “disabling conduct”). In the event of a settlement, no indemnification may be provided unless there has been a determination, as specified in the Declaration of Trust, that the officer did not engage in disabling conduct. In addition, Article XI of Registrant’s By-Laws (Exhibit (b) to the Registration Statement) provides that any trustee, officer, employee or other agent of the Registrant shall be indemnified by Registrant against all liabilities and expenses subject to certain limitations and exceptions contained in Article XI of the By-Laws. As permitted by Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act, pursuant to Section 10 of the Distribution Agreement (Exhibit (e)(1) to the Registration Statement), the Distributor of the Registrant may be indemnified against liabilities which it may incur, except liabilities arising from bad faith, gross negligence, willful misfeasance or reckless disregard of duties.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act) may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1940 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1940 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant has purchased an insurance policy insuring its officers and Trustees against liabilities, and certain costs of defending claims against such officers and Trustees, to the extent such officers and Trustees are not found to have committed conduct constituting willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of their duties. The insurance policy also insures the Registrant against the cost of indemnification payments to officers and Trustees under certain circumstances.
Section 8 of the Management Agreement (Exhibit (d)(1) to the Registration Statement) and Section 4 of the Subadvisory Agreement (Exhibit (d)(2) to the Registration Statement) limit the liability of PGIM Investments LLC and PGIM, Inc., respectively, to liabilities arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their respective duties or from reckless disregard by them of their respective obligations and duties under the agreements.
Under Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act, it is the position of the staff of the Commission that if there is neither a court determination on the merits that the defendant is not liable nor a court determination that the defendant was not guilty of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of one’s office, no indemnification will be permitted unless an independent legal counsel (not including a counsel who does work for either the Registrant, its investment adviser, its principal underwriter or persons affiliated with these persons) provides a written opinion, based upon a review of the facts, that the person in question was not guilty of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Under its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Registrant may advance funds to provide for indemnification. Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff’s position on Section 17(h), advances will be limited in the following respect:
(1) Any advances must be limited to amounts used, or to be used, for the preparation and/or presentation of a defense to the action (including cost connected with preparation of a settlement);
(2) Any advances must be accompanied by a written promise by, or on behalf of, the recipient to repay that amount of the advance which exceeds the amount to which it is ultimately determined that he is entitled to receive from the Registrant by reason of indemnification;
(3) Such promise must be secured by a surety bond or other suitable insurance; and
(4) Such surety bond or other insurance must be paid for by the recipient of such advance.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification provisions of its By-Laws, Declaration of Trust and the Distribution Agreement in a manner consistent with Release No. 11330 of the Commission under the 1940 Act so long as the interpretation of Section 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remain in effect and are consistently applied.
Item 31. Business and other Connections of the Investment Adviser.
PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments)
See the Prospectus constituting Part A of this Registration Statement and “Management and Advisory Arrangements” in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.
The business and other connections of the officers of PGIM Investments are listed in Schedules A and D of Form ADV of PGIM Investments as currently on file with the Commission, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference (File No. 801-31104).
PGIM, Inc. (PGIM)
See the Prospectus constituting Part A of this Registration Statement and “Management and Advisory Arrangements” in the SAI constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.
The business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of PGIM, Inc. are included in Schedule A and D of Form ADV filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 801-22808), as most recently amended, the text of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 32. Principal Underwriters.
(a) Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS)
PIMS is distributor for PGIM ETF Trust, Prudential Government Money Market Fund, Inc., The Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc., Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, Prudential Investment Portfolios 3, Prudential Investment Portfolios Inc. 14, Prudential Investment Portfolios 4, Prudential Investment Portfolios 5, Prudential Investment Portfolios 6, Prudential National Muni Fund, Inc., Prudential Jennison Blend Fund, Inc., Prudential Jennison Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Inc., Prudential Investment Portfolios 7, Prudential Investment Portfolios 8, Prudential Jennison Small Company Fund, Inc., Prudential Investment Portfolios 9, Prudential World Fund, Inc., Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 10, Prudential Jennison Natural Resources Fund, Inc., Prudential Global Total Return Fund, Inc., Prudential Investment Portfolios 12, Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 15, Prudential Investment Portfolios 16, Prudential Investment Portfolios, Inc. 17, Prudential Investment Portfolios 18, Prudential Sector Funds, Inc. Prudential Short-Term Corporate Bond Fund, Inc., The Target Portfolio Trust, and The Prudential Series Fund.
PIMS is also distributor of the following other investment companies: Separate Accounts: Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc., The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2, The Prudential Variable Contract Account-10, The Prudential Variable Contract Account-11, The Prudential Variable Contract Account-24, The Prudential Variable Contract GI-2, The Prudential Discovery Select Group Variable Contract Account, The Pruco Life Flexible Premium Variable Annuity Account, The Pruco Life of New Jersey Flexible Premium Variable Annuity Account, The Prudential Individual Variable Contract Account, The Prudential Qualified Individual Variable Contract Account and PRIAC Variable Contract Account A.
(b) The following table sets forth information regarding certain officers of PIMS. As a limited liability company, PIMS has no directors.
Name and Principal Business Address | Positions and Offices with Underwriter | Positions and Offices with Registrant |
Adam Scaramella (1) | President | N/A |
Gary F. Neubeck (2) | Executive Vice President | N/A |
Stuart S. Parker (2) | Executive Vice President |
Board Member and
President |
James Gemus (2) | Executive Vice President | N/A |
Scott E. Benjamin (2) | Vice President |
Board Member and
Vice President |
Francine Boucher (1) |
Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary |
N/A |
Peter J. Boland (2) |
Senior Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer |
N/A |
John N. Christolini (3) | Senior Vice President | N/A |
Mark R. Hastings (2) |
Senior Vice President
and Chief Compliance Officer |
N/A |
Michael J. McQuade (2) |
Senior Vice President, Comptroller
and Chief Financial Officer |
N/A |
Hansjerg Schlenker (2) |
Senior Vice President and
Chief Operations Officer |
N/A |
Monica Oswald (3) |
Senior Vice President and
Co-Chief Operations Officer |
N/A |
Charles Smith (4) |
Vice President and Anti-Money
Laundering Officer |
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer |
Principal Business Addresses:
(1) | 213 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102 |
(2) | 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102 |
(3) | 280 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103 |
(4) | 751 Broad Street, Newark NJ, 07102 |
(c) Registrant has no principal underwriter who is not an affiliated person of the Registrant.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH&Co.), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1548, PGIM, Inc., 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and the Registrant, 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
Documents required by Rules 31a-1(b) (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and 31a-1 (d) and (f) will be kept at 655 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and the remaining accounts, books and other documents required by such other pertinent provisions of Section 31(a) and the Rules promulgated thereunder will be kept by BNY and PMFS.
Item 34. Management Services.
Other than as set forth under the captions “How the Fund is Managed-Manager” and “How the Fund is Managed-Distributor” in the Prospectus and the caption “Management and Advisory Arrangements” in the SAI, constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this Registration Statement, Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.
Item 35. Undertakings.
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newark, State of New Jersey on the 4th day of April, 2018.
Name: | |
PGIM ETF TRUST | |
By: | /s/Stuart S. Parker |
Name: Stuart S. Parker | |
Title: Principal Executive Officer and President | |
Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Andrew French, Claudia DiGiacomo, Deborah A. Docs, Raymond A. O’Hara and Jonathan D. Shain, or any of them, as attorney-in-fact, to sign on his or her behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, any amendments to this Registration Statement (including any Pre-Effective or Post-Effective Amendments) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/Stuart S. Parker | Trustee and President | April 4, 2018 | ||
Stuart S. Parker | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/M. Sadiq Peshimam | Treasurer (Principal Financial | April 4, 2018 | ||
M. Sadiq Peshimam | (and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/Ellen S. Alberding | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Ellen S. Alberding | ||||
/s/Kevin J. Bannon | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Kevin J. Bannon | ||||
/s/Scott E. Benjamin | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Scott E. Benjamin | ||||
/s/Linda W. Bynoe | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Linda W. Bynoe | ||||
/s/Barry H. Evans | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Barry H. Evans | ||||
/s/Keith F. Hartstein | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Keith F. Hartstein | ||||
/s/Laurie Simon Hodrick | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Laurie Simon Hodrick | ||||
/s/Michael S. Hyland | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Michael S. Hyland | ||||
/s/Richard A. Redeker | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Richard A. Redeker | ||||
/s/Brian K. Reid | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Brian K. Reid | ||||
/s/Stephen G. Stoneburn | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Stephen G. Stoneburn | ||||
/s/Grace C. Torres | Trustee | April 4, 2018 | ||
Grace C. Torres |
PGIM ETF TRUST
Exhibit Index
Item
28
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
(g) |
Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
|
|
(h)(1) |
Administrative
and Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
|
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT , dated as of April 2, 2018, between PGIM ETF Trust (the Fund ), a management investment company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act ), on behalf of its series listed on Annex A attached hereto (each series, a Portfolio ), and BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. , a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of New York ( BBH&Co. or the Custodian ). All references herein to “Portfolio” are to each of the Portfolios listed on the attached Appendix A individually, as if this Agreement were between such individual Portfolio and the Custodian. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Portfolio shall be liable for any obligations of any other Portfolio or series of the Fund, as applicable.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS , the Fund wishes to employ BBH&Co. to act as custodian for the Portfolios and to provide related services, all as provided herein, and BBH&Co. is willing to accept such employment, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Fund and BBH&Co. hereby agree, as follows:
1. Appointment of Custodian . The Fund hereby appoints BBH&Co. as each Portfolio’s custodian, and BBH&Co. hereby accepts such appointment. All Investments of a Portfolio delivered to the Custodian or its agents or Subcustodians shall be dealt with as provided in this Agreement. The duties of the Custodian with respect to each Portfolio’s Investments shall be only as set forth expressly in this Agreement, including any attachments or schedules thereto, which duties are generally comprised of safekeeping assets and various administrative duties that will be performed in accordance with Instructions (as defined below) and as reasonably required to effect Instructions. The terms of this Agreement shall apply separately and respectively to each Portfolio for which an account is maintained on the books of the Custodian.
2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Fund . The Fund hereby represents, warrants and covenants on behalf of each Portfolio, separately and not jointly, each of the following:
2.1. This Agreement has been, and at the time of delivery of each Instruction, such Instruction will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund. Neither this Agreement nor any Instruction delivered hereunder violates any Applicable Law or conflicts with or constitutes a default under the applicable Portfolio’s prospectus, the Fund’s organizational documents or any agreement, judgment, order or decree to which the Fund is a party or a Portfolio’s Investments is bound.
2.2. By providing an Instruction with respect to the first acquisition of an Investment (as defined below) in a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America, the Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that the Fund has (a) assessed and accepted all material Country, Sanctions or Sovereign Risks and accepted responsibility for their occurrence, (b) made all determinations required to be made by the Fund under the 1940 Act, except those expressly delegated to the Custodian in the Delegation Schedule, and (c) solely with respect to Country Risk, if the Fund deems appropriate, disclosed to its shareholders all material investment risks. Nothing in this Section 2.2 shall relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities under Section 8 of this Agreement.
2.3. The Fund shall safeguard and shall solely be responsible for the safekeeping of any testkeys, identification codes, passwords, other security devices or statements of account with which the Custodian provides it (except to the extent that any failure by the Fund to safe keep such devices or statements is caused or contributed to by the Custodian or by the design, or intended use or manufacture of the device or statement). If the Fund uses any on-line or similar communications service made available by the Custodian, the Fund and the Custodian each shall be solely responsible for ensuring the security of its access to the service and for the authorized use of the service, and shall only attempt to access the service and the Custodian’s computer systems for their permitted use. If the Custodian provides any computer software to the Fund relating to the services described in this Agreement, the Fund will only use the software for the purposes for which the Custodian provided the software to the Fund, and will abide by the license agreement accompanying the software and any other security policies which the Custodian provides to the Fund in writing.
2.4. By providing an Instruction in respect of an Investment (which Instruction may relate to among other things, the processing of orders and/or settlement of transactions in funds), the Fund hereby (i) authorizes BBH&Co. to complete such documentation as may be required or appropriate to carry out the Instruction, and agrees to be contractually bound to the terms of such documentation; (ii) represents, warrants and covenants that it has accepted and agreed to comply with all Applicable Law, terms and conditions to which it and/or its Investment may be bound, including without limitation, requirements imposed by the Investment prospectus or offering circular, subscription agreement, any application or other documentation relating to an Investment (e.g., compliance with suitability requirements and eligibility restrictions); (iii) acknowledges and agrees that BBH&Co. will not be responsible for the accuracy of any information provided to BBH&Co. by or on behalf of the Fund, or for any underlying commitment or obligation inherent to an Investment; (iv) except as otherwise provided for in Section 2.4.1, represents, warrants and covenants that it will not effect any sale, transfer or disposition of Investment(s) held in BBH&Co.’s name by any means other than the issuance of an Instruction by the Fund to BBH&Co.; (v) acknowledges that collective investment pools (and/or their agent(s)) in which the Fund invests may pay to BBH&Co. certain fees (including without limitation, shareholder servicing and/or trailer fees) in respect of the Fund’s investments in such pools; (vi) agrees that BBH&Co. shall have no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to respond to, or provide capital in connection with any capital calls,
letters of intent of other requirements as set out in the prospectus or offering circular of an Investment; (vii) represents, warrants and covenants that it will provide BBH&Co. with such information as is necessary or appropriate to enable BBH&Co.’s performance pursuant to an Instruction or under this Agreement; (viii) undertakes to inform BBH&Co. and to keep the same updated as any tax withholding or benefit to which an Investment may be subject; (ix) authorizes BBH&Co. to furnish the customer due diligence records maintained by BBH&Co. on the Fund and its beneficial owners to the transfer agent or other agent of an issuer of an Investment to satisfy regulatory obligations; (x) represents and warrants that to the extent the Fund provides BBH&Co. with any personal data or personally identifiable information in connection with an Investment, the Fund will have obtained the consent of the applicable individuals to provide such data and information to BBH&Co. and the Fund and to the use of such data and information as described in the applicable account opening, subscription and related Fund documentation; and (xi) acknowledges that BBH&Co. shall have no obligation to fund any order placed by the Fund for which the Fund does not have sufficient cash on deposit with BBH&Co.
2.4.1. To the extent that the Fund holds Investments in an account opened in the name of BBH&Co. as custodian for and at the direction of the Fund, and the Fund requests that BBH&Co. provide the Fund with the capability to place orders in fund shares directly with such fund companies and/or their transfer agents which shall be settled in an account established with each such fund company or its transfer agent, the Fund hereby acknowledges that BBH&Co. is under no obligation to agree to such arrangement but if BBH&Co. so agrees, the Fund (i) acknowledges that all relevant terms under Section 2.4 above apply thereto, (ii) authorizes BBH&Co. as custodian, to grant a limited power of attorney to the Fund or its designated agent to enable the Fund to place orders in fund shares directly with the fund companies and/or their transfer agents, (iii) agrees to ensure that any instructions issued by the Fund or its designated agent shall also be concurrently submitted to BBH&Co., and (iv) shall adhere to any BBH&Co. procedures established with each such fund or its transfer agent with respect thereto provided to the Fund, including, but not limited to, the terms of the limited power of attorney. The Fund also acknowledges and agrees that (1) BBH&Co. is acting solely in its capacity as custodian and is not acting as a broker or introducing broker on behalf of the Fund, (2) BBH&Co. is not receiving compensation in connection with the Fund’s own execution hereunder of trades with each such fund other than its usual and customary custody fees and transaction charges, (3) it will provide such account opening information to each such fund and/or transfer agent as and when requested by such fund and/or transfer agent, and (4) BBH&Co. is not responsible for (a) providing information published by the relevant distributor of each such fund including, but not limited to, the prospectus for each such Investment in a fund or for resolving execution queries or complaints relative to any such Investment, and (b) assessing the suitability of any such Investment placed directly by the Fund.
2.5. The Fund represents and warrants that it is not resident in or organized under the laws of any country with which transactions or dealings are prohibited under a
Sanctions Regime. The Fund further warrants that it is not owned or controlled by: (i) the government of any country with which transactions or dealings by any person are prohibited under a Sanctions Regime; (ii) a person or entity resident in or organized under the laws of any country with which transactions or dealings by any person are prohibited under a Sanctions Regime; or (iii) any person or entity on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons published by OFAC or any comparable Sanctions Regime lists.
2.5.1 | The Fund represents and warrants that it or its affiliates conduct ongoing screening of its customers to the extent required by Applicable Law, and of the Portfolio’s Authorized Participants (as defined in Schedule III) and distributors, against lists promulgated by a Sanctions Regime, as such lists are amended from time to time. |
2.5.2 | The Fund represents and warrants that it has implemented adequate risk management and systems to ensure that it will not instruct or otherwise cause Custodian to hold any assets in custody that would violate a Sanctions Regime. The Fund further represents it will not instruct Custodian to invest in a collective investment vehicle on its behalf, nor engage in or facilitate any transaction that would cause Custodian to violate any Sanctions Regime, including any transaction or dealing involving: (i) any country with which transactions or dealings by any person are prohibited under a Sanctions Regime; (ii) any person or entity subject to any Sanctions Regime; or (iii) any assets owned or controlled by a person or entity that is the target of any Sanctions Regime (collectively, “Sanctioned Property”). The Fund further represents and warrants that it has obtained representations from the Authorized Participants and distributors of the Fund that they have implemented sanctions compliance policies that are designed to comply with all applicable Sanctions Regimes, including U.S. sanctions. The Fund further represents and warrants that it will promptly notify the Custodian in writing if either it or, to the best of its knowledge, any of the above relevant parties becomes subject to a Sanctions Regime or if any of the assets custodied by BBH subsequently becomes Sanctioned Property. |
2.6. The Fund represents and warrants that it is operated in compliance with U.S. anti-money laundering (“AML”) and terrorist financing laws and regulations to the extent applicable to it. The Fund represents and warrants that it has confirmed that Authorized Participants and distributors of the Fund have implemented AML Programs that are designed to comply with applicable AML laws and regulations.
2.6.1 | The Fund acknowledges that the Custodian is obligated under applicable U.S. AML Laws to obtain, verify and record identifying information about the Custodian’s customers prior to opening an account. |
2.6.2 | The Fund represents and warrants that upon request, it will (i) cooperate with the Custodian to obtain information from Authorized Participants, and distributors of the Fund using commercially reasonable efforts and (ii) provide the Custodian with information in its possession, in both cases, to the extent that the Custodian requires such information to comply with applicable AML Laws and Sanctions Regimes. |
2.6.3 | The Fund further represents and warrants that it will not directly or, to the best of its knowledge, indirectly, instruct or otherwise cause Custodian to hold any assets in custody or engage in or facilitate any transaction that would cause Custodian to violate any applicable AML laws. |
2.7. The Fund represents and warrants that it is not a “Plan” (which term includes (1) employee benefit plans that are subject to the United States (“US”) Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (2) plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, and (3) entities the underlying assets of which are considered to include “plan assets” of such plans, accounts and arrangements), or an entity purchasing shares on behalf of, or with the “plan assets” of, a Plan, and further undertakes to inform BBH&Co. and to keep the same updated as to the status under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, each as amended, of the Fund.
2.8. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to contrary effect, the Fund specifically represents and warrants to the Custodian that it shall at all times be principally liable for the repayment of any Advance made by the Custodian under this Agreement, as provided in Sections 7.5, 7.6 and 7.7 hereof.
2.9. The Fund represents and warrants that it will promptly notify the Custodian in writing if any of the above representations cease to be true in any material respect.
3. Representation and Warranty of BBH&Co. as Custodian . BBH&Co. hereby represents and warrants that (i) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by BBH&Co. and does not and will not violate any Applicable Law or conflict with or constitute a default under BBH&Co.’s limited partnership agreement or any agreement, instrument, judgment, order or decree to which BBH&Co. is a party or by which it is bound; (ii) it has the power and authority under its organizational documents to perform the duties set out in this Agreement; and (iii) it is, and will continue to be during the term of this Agreement, in material compliance with all Applicable Law in respect of its duties, obligations and services under this Agreement; and (iv) subject to the provisions of Section 9 ( Responsibility of the Custodian ) and its subsections and
Section 17.3 ( Business Continuity Plan ), it will continue to have access to facilities, equipment and personnel in performing its duties and obligations under this Agreement
4. Instructions . Unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, the Custodian shall perform its duties pursuant to Instructions. As used herein, the term Instruction shall mean a directive initiated by the Fund, acting through its Board, officers or other Authorized Person, which directive shall conform to the requirements of this Section 4.
4.1. Authorized Persons . For purposes hereof, an Authorized Person shall be a person or entity designated by the Fund in writing to the Custodian to give Instructions to the Custodian for or on behalf of the Fund or Portfolio, as applicable, in accordance with procedures delivered to and acknowledged by the Custodian. The Custodian may treat any Authorized Person as having the full authority of the Fund to issue Instructions hereunder unless the notice of authorization contains explicit limitations as to said authority. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the authority of designated Authorized Persons to give Instructions with respect to the Fund or a Portfolio until it receives appropriate written notice from the Fund to the contrary.
4.2. Form of Instruction . Each Instruction shall be transmitted by such secured or authenticated electro-mechanical means as the Custodian shall make available to the Fund from time to time unless the Fund elects to transmit such Instruction in accordance with Subsections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3 of this Section.
4.2.1. Fund Designated Secured-Transmission Method . Instructions may be transmitted through a secured or tested electro-mechanical means identified by the Fund or by an Authorized Person entitled to give Instruction and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian, it being understood that such acknowledgment shall authorize the Custodian to accept such means of delivery but shall not represent a judgment by the Custodian as to the reasonableness or security of the means utilized by the Authorized Person.
4.2.2. Written Instructions . Instructions may be transmitted in a writing that bears the manual signature of an Authorized Person.
4.2.3. Other Forms of Instruction . Instructions may also be transmitted by another means determined by the Fund or Authorized Persons and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (subject to the same limits as to acknowledgements as are contained in Subsection 4.2.1, above) including but not limited to Instructions given orally or by SWIFT or telefax (whether tested or untested).
When an Instruction is given by means established under Subsections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3, it shall be the responsibility of the Custodian to use reasonable care to adhere to any security or other procedures established in writing between the Custodian and the Authorized Person with respect to such means of Instruction, but the Authorized Person shall be solely responsible for determining that the particular means chosen is reasonable under the circumstances (unless such method is a secured or authenticated electro-
mechanical product proprietary to the Custodian and offered to the Fund by the Custodian). With respect to telefax Instructions, the parties agree and acknowledge that receipt of legible telefax Instructions cannot be assured, that the Custodian cannot verify that authorized signatures on telefax Instructions are original or properly affixed, and that the Custodian shall not be liable for losses or expenses incurred through actions taken in reasonable reliance on inaccurately stated, illegible or unauthorized telefax Instructions. The provisions of Section 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code shall apply to Funds Transfers performed in accordance with Instructions. The Funds Transfer Services Schedule and the Electronic and Online Services Schedule to this Agreement shall each comprise a designation of a form of a means of delivering Instructions for purposes of this Section 4.2.
4.3. Completeness and Contents of Instructions. The Authorized Person shall be responsible for assuring the adequacy and accuracy of Instructions. Particularly, upon any acquisition or disposition or other dealing in the Fund’s Investments and upon any delivery and transfer of any Investment or moneys, the Authorized Person initiating the Instruction shall give the Custodian an Instruction with appropriate detail, including, without limitation:
4.3.1. The transaction date and the date and location of settlement;
4.3.2. The specification of the type of transaction;
4.3.3. A description of the Investments or moneys in question, including, as appropriate, quantity, price per unit, amount of money to be received or delivered and currency information. Where an Instruction is communicated by electronic means, or otherwise where an Instruction contains an identifying number such as a CUSIP, SEDOL or ISIN number, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on such number as controlling notwithstanding any inconsistency contained in the Instruction, particularly with respect to Investment description; and
4.3.4. The name of the broker or similar entity concerned with execution of the transaction.
If the Custodian is not able to process the Instruction based on a determination that an Instruction is either unclear or incomplete, the Custodian will, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform the Fund of such determination, and the Fund shall thereupon amend or otherwise reform the Instruction. In such event, the Custodian shall have no obligation to take any action in response to the Instruction initially delivered until the redelivery of an amended or reformed Instruction.
4.4. Timeliness of Instructions . In giving an Instruction, the Fund shall take into consideration known delays which may occur due to the use of a Subcustodian or agent, differences in time zones and other factors particular to a given market, exchange or issuer. When the Custodian has established specific timing requirements or deadlines with respect to particular classes of Instruction and provided those requirements or deadlines to the Fund in writing, or when an
Instruction is received by the Custodian at such a time that it could not reasonably be expected to have acted on such Instruction due to time zone differences or other factors beyond its reasonable control, the execution of any Instruction received by the Custodian after such deadline or at such time (including any modification or revocation of a previous Instruction) shall be at the risk of the Fund.
5. Safekeeping of Fund Assets . The Custodian shall hold Investments delivered to it or Subcustodians for the Fund in accordance with the provisions of this Section. The Custodian shall not be responsible for (a) the safekeeping of Investments not delivered or that are not caused to be issued to it or its Subcustodians, provided, in each case, such failure of the Investments to be so delivered or issued is not caused by the negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or breach of the standard of care of the Custodian or any of its Subcustodians; or, (b) pre-existing faults or defects in Investments that are delivered to the Custodian or its Subcustodians. The Custodian is hereby authorized to hold with itself or a Subcustodian, and to record in one or more accounts, all Investments delivered to and accepted by the Custodian, any Subcustodian or their respective agents pursuant to an Instruction or in consequence of any corporate action or income event. The Custodian shall hold Investments for the account of the Fund (for the applicable Portfolio) and shall segregate Investments from assets belonging to the Custodian and shall cause its Subcustodians to segregate Investments from assets belonging to the Subcustodian in an account held for the Fund or in an account maintained by the Subcustodian generally for non-proprietary assets of the Custodian.
5.1. Use of Securities Depositories . The Custodian may deposit and maintain Investments in any Securities Depository, either directly or through one or more Subcustodians appointed by the Custodian. Investments held in a Securities Depository shall be held (a) subject to the agreement, rules, statement of terms and conditions or other document or conditions effective between the Securities Depository and the Custodian or the Subcustodian, as the case may be, and (b) in an account for the Fund or in bulk segregation in an account maintained for the non-proprietary assets of the entity holding such Investments in the Depository. If market practice or the rules and regulations of the Securities Depository prevent the Custodian, the Subcustodian or (any agent of either) from holding its client assets in such a separate account, the Custodian, the Subcustodian or other agent shall as appropriate segregate such Investments for benefit of the Fund or for benefit of clients of the Custodian generally on its own books.
5.2. Certificated Assets . Investments which are certificated may be held in registered or bearer form: (a) in the Custodian’s vault; (b) in the vault of a Subcustodian or agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian; or (c) in an account maintained by the Custodian, Subcustodian or agent at a Securities Depository; all in accordance with customary market practice in the jurisdiction in which any Investments are held.
5.3. Registered Assets . Investments which are registered may be registered in the name of the Custodian, a Subcustodian, or in the name of the Fund, a Portfolio or a nominee for any of the foregoing, and may be held in any manner set forth in Section 5.2 above.
5.4. Book Entry Assets . Investments which are represented by book-entry may be so held in an account maintained by the Book-entry Agent on behalf of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or another Agent of the Custodian, or a Securities Depository.
5.5. Replacement of Lost Investments . In the event of a loss of Investments for which loss the Custodian is responsible under the terms of this Agreement, the Custodian shall replace such Investment, or in the event that such replacement cannot be effected, the Custodian shall pay to the affected Portfolio the fair market value of such Investment based on the last available price as of the close of business in the relevant market on the date that a claim was first made to the Custodian with respect to such loss or such other amount as shall be agreed by the parties.
6. Administrative Duties of the Custodian . The Custodian shall perform the following administrative duties with respect to Investments of the Fund and its Portfolios.
6.1. Purchase of Investments . Pursuant to Instruction, Investments purchased for the account of the Fund (or a Portfolio) shall be paid for (a) against delivery thereof to the Custodian or a Subcustodian, as the case may be, either directly or through a Clearing Corporation or a Securities Depository (in accordance with the rules of such Securities Depository or such Clearing Corporation), or (b) otherwise in accordance with an Instruction, Applicable Law, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Investment.
6.2. Sale of Investments . Pursuant to Instruction, Investments sold for the account of the Fund (or a Portfolio) shall be delivered against payment therefor (a) in cash, by check or by bank wire transfer, (b) by credit to the account of the Custodian or the applicable Subcustodian, as the case may be, with a Clearing Corporation or a Securities Depository (in accordance with the rules of such Securities Depository or such Clearing Corporation), or (c) otherwise in accordance with an Instruction, Applicable Law, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Investment.
6.3. Delivery and Receipt in Connection with Borrowings of the Fund or other Collateral and Margin Requirements . Pursuant to Instruction, the Custodian may deliver or receive Investments or cash of the Fund in connection with borrowings or loans by the Fund and other collateral and margin requirements.
6.4. Futures, Options and Derivatives . If, pursuant to an Instruction, the Custodian shall become a party to an agreement with the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, and a futures commission merchant or derivatives counterparty regarding margin ( Tri-Party Agreement ), the Custodian shall (a) receive and retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, confirmations or other documents evidencing the purchase or sale by the Fund of exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options or entry into derivatives, (b) when required by such Tri-Party Agreement, deposit and maintain in an account opened pursuant to such Agreement ( Margin Account ), segregated either physically or by book-entry in a Securities Depository
for the benefit of any futures commission merchant, such Investments as the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, shall have designated as initial, maintenance or variation “margin” deposits or other collateral intended to secure the Fund’s performance of its obligations, on behalf of a Portfolio, under the terms of any exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options or other derivatives; and (c) thereafter pay, release or transfer Investments into or out of the margin account in accordance with the provisions of such Agreement. Alternatively, the Custodian may deliver Investments, in accordance with an Instruction, to a futures commission merchant for purposes of margin requirements in accordance with Rule 17f-6 under the 1940 Act. The Custodian shall in no event be responsible for the acts and omissions of any futures commission merchant to whom Investments are delivered pursuant to this Section; for the sufficiency of Investments held in any Margin Account; or, for the performance of any terms of any exchange-traded futures contracts and commodity options or other derivatives.
6.5. Contractual Obligations and Similar Investments . From time to time, the Fund’s Investments may include Investments that are not ownership interests as may be represented by certificate (whether registered or bearer), by entry in a Securities Depository or by Book-Entry Agent, registrar or similar agent for recording ownership interests in the relevant Investment. If the Fund shall at any time acquire such Investments, including without limitation deposit obligations, loan participations, repurchase agreements and derivative arrangements, the Custodian shall (a) receive and retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, confirmations or other documents evidencing the arrangement; and (b) perform on the Fund’s account in accordance with the terms of the applicable arrangement, but only to the extent directed to do so by Instruction. The Custodian shall have no responsibility for agreements running to the Fund as to which it is not a party other than to retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian, documents or copies of documents evidencing the arrangement and, in accordance with Instruction, to include such arrangements in reports made to the Fund.
6.6. Exchange of Securities . Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall: (a) exchange securities held for the account of the Fund (or a Portfolio) for other securities in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, conversion, stock split, change of par value of shares or similar event, and (b) deposit any such securities in accordance with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan.
6.7. Surrender of Securities . Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian may surrender securities: (a) in temporary form for definitive securities; (b) for transfer into the name of an entity allowable under Section 5.3; and (c) for a different number of certificates or instruments representing in the aggregate the same number of shares or the same principal amount of indebtedness.
6.8. Rights, Warrants, Etc . Pursuant to Instruction, the Custodian shall (a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities to the issuer or trustee thereof, or
to any agent of the issuer or trustee, for purposes of exercising such rights or selling such securities, and (b) deliver securities in response to any tender offer.
6.9. Mandatory Corporate Actions . Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall: (a) comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions or similar rights of securities ownership affecting securities held on the Fund’s/Portfolio’s account and promptly notify the Fund of such action; and (b) collect all stock dividends, rights and other items of like nature with respect to such securities.
6.10. Income Collection . Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the Custodian shall collect any amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to a Portfolio’s Investments and promptly credit the amount collected to a Principal or Agency Account (each as defined below); provided, however, that the Custodian shall not be responsible for: (a) the collection of amounts due and payable with respect to Investments that are in default or (b) the collection of cash or share entitlements with respect to Investments that are not registered in the name of the Custodian or its Subcustodians. The Custodian is hereby authorized to endorse and deliver any instrument required to be so endorsed and delivered to effect collection of any amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to Investments.
6.11. Corporate Action Information . In fulfilling the duties set forth in Sections 6.6 through 6.10 above, the Custodian shall provide to the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, such material information pertaining to a corporate action which the Custodian actually receives (including, without limitation, stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, and calls and maturities of securities); provided that the Custodian shall not be responsible for the completeness or accuracy of such information. Information relative to any pending corporate action made available to the Fund via any of the services described in the Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall constitute the delivery of such information by the Custodian. Any advance credit of cash or shares expected to be received as a result of any corporate action shall be subject to actual collection and may be reversed by the Custodian.
6.12. Proxy Materials . The Custodian shall promptly deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Fund proxy forms, notices of meeting, and any other notices or announcements materially affecting or relating to Investments received by the Custodian. Information relative to any pending corporate action made available to the Fund, on behalf of any Portfolio, via any of the services described in the Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall constitute the delivery of such information by the Custodian.
6.13. Ownership Certificates and Disclosure of the Fund’s Interest . The Custodian is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the Fund or a Portfolio ownership certificates, affidavits or other disclosure required under Applicable Law or established market practice in connection with the receipt of income, capital gains or other payments by the Fund or Portfolio with respect to Investments, or in connection with the sale, purchase or ownership of Investments.
With respect to securities issued in the United States of America, the Custodian [ ] may [X] may not release the identity of the Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and the Fund. IF NO BOX IS CHECKED, THE CUSTODIAN SHALL RELEASE SUCH INFORMATION UNTIL IT RECEIVES CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FUND. With respect to securities issued outside of the United States of America, information shall be released in accordance with law or custom of the particular country in which such security is located.
6.14. Taxes . The Custodian shall, where applicable, assist the Fund and its Portfolios in the reclamation of taxes withheld on dividends and interest payments received by the Fund, including on behalf of a Portfolio. In the performance of its duties with respect to tax withholding and reclamation, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on the advice of others pursuant to Section 13.11 below and upon information and advice regarding the Fund’s tax status that is received from or on behalf of the Fund without duty of separate inquiry.
6.15. Other Dealings . The Custodian shall otherwise act as directed by Instruction, including without limitation effecting the free payments of moneys or the free delivery of securities, provided that such Instruction shall indicate the purpose of such payment or delivery and that the Custodian shall record the party to whom the payment or delivery is made.
6.16. Nondiscretionary Details and Minor Expenses . The Custodian shall attend to all nondiscretionary details in connection with the sale or purchase or other administration of Investments, except as otherwise directed by Instruction, and may make payments for minor expenses of administering Investments under this Agreement. The Custodian shall disclose to the Fund (which may be via online reporting) any such payments and the Fund shall have the right to request an accounting with respect to such expenses.
6.17. Use of Agents . The Custodian may appoint (and remove) any affiliate, bank, trust company or subcontractor as its agent (each an “ Agent ” and collectively, the “ Agents ”), in addition to Subcustodians, to carry out such provisions of this Agreement. The Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, and reasonable prudence, and diligence in the selection and monitoring of such Agents and Subcustodians. The appointment of an Agent or Subcustodian shall not relieve the Custodian of its obligations under this Agreement and accordingly, the Custodian shall be liable for the acts and omissions of its Agents to the extent that the Custodian would itself be liable for such acts or omissions under this Agreement had it performed or not performed the relevant act or omission itself.
6.18. Registration Document Completion Service . The Fund may appoint the Custodian to further provide registration document completion services for account openings, name changes, conversions, mergers, market-specific licensing renewals,
account closings and other events, and for such markets, as may be agreed between each Fund and the Custodian from time to time (the “ Registration Services ”). The Fund shall pay Custodian such fees as may be agreed between the parties from time to time with respect to the Registration Services in accordance with Section 14 hereof. The Fund further acknowledges and agrees that: (i) as part of the Registration Services, the Custodian will complete registration documentation for the agreed markets on behalf of the Fund and then forward such documentation to the Fund or an Authorized Person for final review and signature on behalf of the Fund; (ii) by the Fund or an Authorized Person signing and submitting the aforementioned documentation to the Custodian on behalf of the Fund (the “ Submitted Documents ”), the Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that the Fund has reviewed the Submitted Documents and has determined that all of the information contained therein is accurate and complete; (iii) the submission of the Submitted Documents to the Custodian, shall be deemed an Instruction under Section 4 hereof to open one or more accounts in the referenced market (in accordance with the information provided in the Submitted Documents) and to provide the Submitted Documents and/or the information contained therein to the Subcustodian in the referenced market (and where applicable, for further submission to the relevant Securities Depository, exchanges, regulatory and tax authorities, tax agents and/or brokers in the referenced market).
7. Cash Accounts, Deposits and Money Movements . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7, the Fund hereby authorizes the Custodian to open and maintain, with itself or with Subcustodians, cash accounts in United States Dollars, in such other currencies as are the currencies of the countries in which the Fund or Portfolios maintain Investments or in such other currencies as the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, shall from time to time request by Instruction. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund shall be liable as principal for any overdrafts occurring in its cash accounts.
7.1. Types of Cash Accounts . Cash accounts opened on the books of the Custodian ( Principal Accounts ) shall be opened in the name of the Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolios. Such accounts collectively shall be a deposit obligation of the Custodian and shall be subject to the terms of this Section 7 and the general liability provisions contained in Section 9. Cash accounts opened on the books of a Subcustodian may be opened in the name of the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, or in the name of the Custodian for the Fund or in the name of the Custodian for its customers generally ( Agency Accounts ). Such deposits shall be obligations of the Subcustodian and shall be treated as an Investment of the Fund and the applicable Portfolios. Accordingly, the Custodian shall be responsible for exercising reasonable care in the administration of such accounts, and, without derogation from the Custodian’s obligation to use reasonable care and reasonable prudence and diligence in its selection and monitoring of Subcustodians hereunder, shall not be liable for their repayment in the event the Subcustodian, by reason of its bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise, fails to make repayment. In connection with the services provided hereunder, the Custodian is hereby directed to open cash accounts on its books and records from time to time for the purposes of receiving subscriptions and/or processing redemptions on behalf of the Fund, and/or for the
purposes of aggregating, netting and/or clearing transactions (including, without limitation foreign exchange, repurchase agreements, capital stock activity, expense payment) or other administrative purposes on behalf of the Fund or the Fund on behalf of one or more Portfolios (each an “ Account ”). Each such Account shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including, without limitation Section 7.6) and the Fund shall be liable for the satisfaction of its own obligations in connection with each Account; provided however, the Fund shall not be liable for the obligations of any other affiliated fund thereunder.
7.2. Payments and Credits with Respect to the Cash Accounts . The Custodian shall make payments from or deposits to any of the cash accounts in the course of carrying out its administrative duties, including but not limited to income collection with respect to a Portfolio’s Investments and payments of Fund expenses, and otherwise in accordance with Instructions. The Custodian and its Subcustodians shall be required to credit amounts to the cash accounts only when moneys are actually received in cleared funds in accordance with banking practice in the country and currency of deposit. Any credit made to any Principal or Agency Account before actual receipt of cleared funds shall be provisional and may be reversed by the Custodian in the event such payment is not actually collected. The Custodian shall endeavor to give the Fund notification of any such reversal as soon as commercially practicable. Unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Custodian or any Subcustodian, all deposits shall be payable only at the branch of the Custodian or Subcustodian where the deposit is made or carried.
7.3. Currency and Related Risks . The Fund bears the risks of holding or transacting in any currency, including any mark to market exposure associated with a foreign exchange transaction undertaken with the Custodian. The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event (not directly caused by the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Custodian hereunder), which may delay or affect the transferability, convertibility or availability of any currency in the country (a) in which such Principal or Agency Accounts are maintained or (b) in which such currency is issued, and in no event shall the Custodian be obligated to make payment of a deposit denominated in a currency during the period during which its transferability, convertibility or availability has been affected by any such law, regulation or event. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be required to repay any deposit made at a foreign branch of either the Custodian or Subcustodian if such branch cannot repay the deposit due to a cause for which the Custodian would not be responsible in accordance with the terms of this Agreement unless the Custodian or such Subcustodian expressly agrees in writing to repay the deposit under such circumstances. All currency transactions in any account opened pursuant to this Agreement are subject to exchange control regulations of the United States and of the country where such currency is the lawful currency or where the account is maintained. Any taxes, costs, charges or fees imposed on the convertibility of a currency held by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio shall be for the account of the Fund/Portfolio.
7.4. Foreign Exchange Transactions . The Custodian shall, subject to the terms of this Section, settle foreign exchange transactions (including contracts, futures, options and options on futures) on behalf and for the account of the Fund or a Portfolio with such currency brokers or banking institutions, including Subcustodians, as the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio may direct pursuant to Instructions. The Custodian may act as principal in any foreign exchange transaction with the Fund in accordance with Section 7.4.2 of this Agreement. The obligations of the Custodian in respect of all foreign exchange transactions (whether or not the Custodian shall act as principal in such transaction) shall be contingent on the free, unencumbered transferability of the currency transacted on the actual settlement date of the transaction.
7.4.1. Third Party Foreign Exchange Transactions . The Custodian shall process foreign exchange transactions (including without limitation contracts, futures, options, and options on futures), where any third party acts as principal counterparty to the Fund or a Portfolio on the same basis it performs duties as agent for the Fund with respect to any other of the Fund’s or a Portfolio’s Investments. Accordingly, the Custodian shall only be responsible for delivering or receiving currency on behalf of the Fund or a Portfolio in respect of such contracts pursuant to Instructions. The Custodian shall not be responsible for the failure of any counterparty (including any Subcustodian) in such agency transaction to perform its obligations thereunder. The Custodian (a) shall transmit cash and Instructions to and from the currency broker or banking institution with which a foreign exchange contract or option has been executed, (b) may make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of Dollars or foreign currency without receiving confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or option or confirmation that the countervalue currency completing the foreign exchange contract has been delivered or received or that the option has been delivered or received, (c) may, in connection with cash payments made to third party currency brokers/dealers for settlement of the Fund’s foreign exchange spot or forward transactions, foreign currency swap transactions and similar foreign exchange transactions, process settlements using the facilities of the CLS Bank according to CLS Bank’s standard terms and conditions, and (d) shall hold in safekeeping all confirmations, certificates and other documents and agreements received by the Custodian and evidencing or relating to such foreign exchange transactions. The Fund on behalf of the Portfolios accepts full responsibility for its use of third-party foreign exchange dealers and for execution of the foreign exchange contracts and options and understands that each applicable Portfolio shall be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges which may be incurred by it or the Custodian as a result of the failure or delay of third parties to deliver foreign exchange.
7.4.2. Foreign Exchange with the Custodian as Principal . The Custodian may enter into foreign exchange transactions with the Fund. If a foreign exchange transaction with the Custodian as principal is initiated by Instruction and the parties have not otherwise entered into an agreement specific to such transaction(s), the transaction will be performed and subject to the terms and conditions currently posted on the Custodian's website at <http:// www.bbh.com/fxtermsandconditions
/> ( the "FX Online Terms and Conditions"), which terms are available in hardcopy upon request, and which terms may be updated from time to time. The Custodian shall provide notice of any material change to the FX Online Terms and Conditions to the Fund at least ten (10) business days prior to their taking effect, unless the Custodian determines that the circumstances require that a shorter period apply. Foreign exchange transactions that occur or are placed on or after the effective date of such changes, as stated in the applicable notice, shall be governed by the modified FX Online Terms and Conditions. The Fund represents and warrants, each and every time an Instruction to execute a foreign exchange transaction with the Custodian as principal is initiated, that it is an eligible contract participant, as that term is used under the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time.
7.5. Delays . If no relevant event of Force Majeure shall have occurred and be continuing and in the event that a delay shall have been caused by the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Custodian in carrying out an Instruction to credit or transfer cash, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolios for damages, plus: (a) with respect to Principal Accounts, for interest to be calculated at the rate customarily paid on such deposit and currency by the Custodian on overnight deposits at the time the delay occurs for the period from the day when the transfer should have been effected until the day it is in fact effected; and, (b) with respect to Agency Accounts, for interest to be calculated at the rate customarily paid on such deposit and currency by the Subcustodian on overnight deposits at the time the delay occurs for the period from the day when the transfer should have been effected until the day it is in fact effected. The Custodian shall not be liable for delays in carrying out Instructions to transfer cash which are not due to the Custodian’s own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
7.6. Advances . If, for any reason in connection with this Agreement the Custodian or any Subcustodian makes an Advance to facilitate settlement or otherwise for the benefit of the Fund or a Portfolio (whether or not any Principal or Agency Account shall be overdrawn either during, or at the end of, any Business Day), the Fund hereby does:
7.6.1. acknowledge that the Fund shall have no right, title or interest in or to any Investments purchased with such Advance or proceeds of such Investments, and that any credit of Investments to an account of Fund shall be provisional, until: (a) the debit of the Principal or Agency Account by Custodian for an amount equal to Advance Costs; and/or (b) if such debit produces an overdraft in such account, reimbursement to the Custodian or Subcustodian for the amount of such overdraft;
7.6.2. acknowledge that the Custodian has an automatically perfected statutory security interest in Investments purchased with any such Advance pursuant to Section 9-206 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time;
7.6.3. in addition, in order to secure the obligations of the Fund to pay or perform any and all obligations of the Fund pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation to repay any Advance made pursuant to this Agreement, grant to the Custodian a security interest in all Investments and proceeds thereof (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the State of New York); and agree to take, and agree that the Custodian may take, in respect of the security interest referenced above, any further actions that the Custodian may reasonably require.
7.7. Custodian’s Rights . Neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be obligated to make any Advance or to allow an Advance to occur to the Fund or a Portfolio, and in the event that the Custodian or any Subcustodian does make or allow an Advance, any such Advance and any transaction giving rise to such Advance shall be for the account and risk of the Fund and shall not be deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Custodian for its own account and risk. If such Advance shall have been made or allowed by a Subcustodian or any other person, the Custodian may assign all or part of its security interest referenced above and any other rights granted to the Custodian hereunder to such Subcustodian or other person. If the Fund or Portfolio shall fail to repay the Advance Costs when due, the Custodian or its assignee, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a portion of the available cash balance in any Agency or Principal Account of the Portfolio equal to such Advance Costs, and the Fund authorizes the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund or Portfolio, to pay an amount equal to such Advance Costs irrevocably to such Subcustodian or other person, and to dispose of any property in such Account to the extent necessary to make such payment. Any Investments credited to accounts subject to this Agreement created pursuant hereto shall be treated as financial assets credited to securities accounts under Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time. Accordingly, the Custodian and any Subcustodian shall have the rights and benefits of a secured creditor that is a securities intermediary under such Articles 8 and 9.
7.8. Integrated Account . For purposes hereof, deposits maintained in all Principal Accounts (whether or not denominated in Dollars) shall collectively constitute a single and indivisible current account with respect to the Fund’s obligations to the Custodian or its assignee, and balances in the Principal Accounts shall be available for satisfaction of the Fund’s obligations under this Section 7. The Custodian shall further have a right of offset against the balances in any Agency Account maintained hereunder to the extent that the aggregate of all Principal Accounts is overdrawn. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that under no circumstances shall the assets of one Portfolio be used to satisfy the debts or obligations of any other Portfolio of the Fund .
8. Subcustodians and Securities Depositories . Subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth in this Section 8, the Fund hereby authorizes the Custodian to utilize Securities Depositories to act on behalf of a Portfolio and to appoint from time to time and to utilize Subcustodians. With respect to Investments held by a Subcustodian, either directly or indirectly (including by a Securities Depository or Clearing Corporation), notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, payment for securities purchased and delivery of securities sold may be made prior to receipt of securities or payment, respectively, and securities or payment may be received in a form in accordance with (a) governmental regulations, (b) rules of Securities Depositories and Clearing Agencies, (c) generally accepted trade practice in the applicable local market, (d) the terms and characteristics of the particular Investment, or (e) the terms of Instructions.
8.1. Domestic Subcustodians and Securities Depositories . The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain, either directly or through one or more Agents appointed by the Custodian, Investments of the Fund in any Securities Depository in the United States, including The Depository Trust Company, provided such Depository meets applicable requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank or of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”). The Custodian may, from time to time, appoint any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to act on behalf of the Fund as a Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund in the United States. The Custodian shall only use domestic “intermediary custodians” (as defined in Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act) consistent with the requirements of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act.
8.2. Foreign Subcustodians and Securities Depositories . Unless instructed otherwise by the Fund, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain non-U.S. Investments of the Fund in any Foreign Securities Depository provided such Securities Depository meets the requirements of an “eligible securities depository” under Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act, or any successor rule or regulation (“ Rule 17f-7 ”) or which by order of the SEC is exempted therefrom. Prior to the time that Investments are placed with such depository, but subject to the provisions of Section 8.4 below, the Custodian shall have prepared and provided to the Fund an assessment of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Securities Depository and shall have established a system to monitor such risks on a continuing basis in accordance with Section 8.5 below. Additionally, the Custodian may, from time to time, appoint (a) any bank, trust company or other entity meeting the requirements of an “eligible foreign custodian” under Rule 17f-5 or which by order of the SEC is exempted therefrom, or (b) any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, to act on behalf of the Fund as a Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund outside the United States.
8.3. Delegation of Board Review of Subcustodians . From time to time, the Custodian may agree to perform certain reviews of Subcustodians and of Subcustodian Contracts as the delegate of the Fund’s Board. In such event, the Custodian’s duties and obligations with respect to this delegated review will be performed in accordance with the terms of the attached Delegation Schedule.
8.4. Board Approval of Foreign Subcustodians . Unless and except to the extent that the Board of the Fund has delegated to the Custodian and the Custodian has accepted delegation of review of certain matters concerning the appointment of
Subcustodians pursuant to Section 8.3, the Custodian shall, prior to the appointment of any Subcustodian for purposes of holding Investments of the Fund or its Portfolios outside the United States, obtain written confirmation of the approval of the Board of the Fund with respect to (a) the identity of a Subcustodian, and (b) the Subcustodian agreement which shall govern such appointment, such approval to be signed by an Authorized Person. An Instruction to open an account in a given country shall comprise authorization of the Custodian to hold assets in such country in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be required to make independent inquiry as to the authorization of the Fund to invest in such country.
8.5. Monitoring and Risk Assessment of Securities Depositories . Prior to the placement of any assets of the Fund or a Portfolio with a Foreign Securities Depository, the Custodian: (a) shall provide to the Fund or its authorized representative a written assessment of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets within such Securities Depository; and (b) shall have established a system to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Securities Depository on a continuing basis and to promptly notify the Fund or its Investment Adviser of any material changes in such risks. In performing its duties under this Section 8.5, the Custodian shall use reasonable care, prudence and diligence, and may rely on such reasonable sources of information as may be available including but not limited to: (i) published ratings; (ii) information supplied by a Subcustodian that is a participant in such Securities Depository; (iii) industry surveys or publications; (iv) information supplied by the depository itself, by its auditors (internal or external) or by the relevant Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority. It is acknowledged that information procured through some or all of these sources may not be independently verifiable by the Custodian and that direct access to Securities Depositories is limited under most circumstances. Accordingly, the Custodian shall not be responsible for errors or omissions in its duties hereunder provided that it has performed its monitoring and assessment duties with reasonable care, prudence and diligence. The risk assessment shall be provided to the Fund or its Investment Adviser by such means as the Custodian shall reasonably establish. Advices of material change in such assessment may be provided by the Custodian in the manner established as customary between the Fund and the Custodian for transmission of material market information.
8.6. Responsibility for Subcustodians . Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 8.6, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund and its applicable Portfolios for any loss or damage thereto caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Subcustodian to the extent that such acts or omissions would be deemed to be negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in accordance within the terms of the relevant subcustodian agreement under the laws, circumstances and practices prevailing in the place where the act or omission occurred. The liability of the Custodian in respect of the countries and Subcustodians designated by the Custodian, from time to time on the Global Custody Network Listing shall be subject to the additional condition that the Custodian actually recovers such loss or damage from the Subcustodian; provided that the Custodian shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to pursue any such claim on behalf of the Fund or applicable Portfolio and shall promptly remit to the account of such Fund or Portfolio the amount of any recovery by the Custodian in connection therewith (exclusive of documented costs and expenses incurred by BBH&Co.).
8.7. New Countries . The Fund shall be responsible for informing the Custodian sufficiently in advance of a proposed investment which is to be held in a country in which no Subcustodian is authorized to act in order that the Custodian shall, if it deems appropriate to do so, have sufficient time to establish a subcustodial arrangement in accordance herewith. In the event the Custodian is unable to establish such arrangements prior to the time the investment is to be acquired, the Custodian is authorized to designate at its discretion a local safekeeping agent and shall notify the Fund of any such designation, and the use of the local safekeeping agent shall be at the sole risk of the Fund, and accordingly the Custodian shall be responsible to the Fund for the actions of such agent if and only to the extent the Custodian shall have recovered from such agent for any damages caused the Fund by such agent.
9. Responsibility of the Custodian . In performing its duties and obligations hereunder, the Custodian shall use the reasonable care, and reasonable prudence and diligence of a professional custodian for hire under the facts and circumstances prevailing in the market where performance is effected. Subject to the specific provisions of this Section, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any damage incurred by the Fund or a Portfolio in consequence of the Custodian’s (or its employees’, officers’ or other agents’) negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. In no event shall the Custodian be liable hereunder for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages arising out of, pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement even if advised of the possibility of such damages. It is agreed that the Custodian shall have no duty to assess the risks inherent in the Fund’s Investments or to provide investment advice with respect to Investments and that the Fund and its Portfolios as principal shall bear any risks attendant to particular Investments such as failure of counterparty or issuer.
9.1. Limitations of Performance . Neither party shall be responsible under this Agreement for any failure to perform its duties under this Agreement, and shall not be liable hereunder for any loss or damage in association with such failure to perform to the extent resulting from the following causes:
9.1.1. Force Majeure . Force Majeure shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond the reasonable control of the Fund, Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the Fund or Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations under its Subcustody Agreement or by any other Agent of the Custodian or the Subcustodian, including any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a) an act of God, (b) fire, water or wind damage or explosion, (c) any computer, system or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any computer virus or the malfunction or failure of any communications medium, (d) any interruption of the power supply or other utility service, (e) any delay or disruption resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country, Sanctions or
Sovereign Risk, (f) any disruption of, or suspension of trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange markets, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country, Sanctions or Sovereign Risk, or (g) any encumbrance on the transferability of a currency or a currency position on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange transaction, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Country, Sanctions or Sovereign Risk. Each of the Fund and BBH&Co. agrees to use reasonable efforts to mitigate any such failure to perform in accordance with a commercially reasonable business continuity plan.
9.1.2. Country Risk . Country Risk shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of Investments in a jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and markets factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of Investments including (a) the prevalence of crime and corruption, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial information, (c) the instability or volatility of banking and financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which such Investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation of a Securities Depository, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents, counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer agents, and (g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets.
9.1.3. Sovereign Risk . Sovereign Risk shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including the United States of America, where Investments are acquired or held hereunder or under a Subcustody Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange control restrictions by any Governmental Authority, (c) the confiscation, expropriation or nationalization of any Investments by any Governmental Authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any government sponsored devaluation or revaluation of the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges affecting Investments, or (f) any change in the Applicable Law, or (g) political turmoil or government default.
9.1.4. AML and Sanctions Risk . AML and Sanctions Risk shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of Investments, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of the Custodian complying with one or more Sanctions Regimes or applicable AML Laws, including, but not limited to, the risk that if Custodian reasonably believes it has come in contact with a sanctioned party, or has come into possession or control of any Sanctioned Property as a result of its performance of this Agreement, Custodian may be required by one or more Sanctions Regime to block (i.e. prevent further movement of) such Sanctioned Property and report any related activity to relevant government authorities. The Fund acknowledges that if multiple Sanctions Regimes apply (including OFAC), the Custodian will comply with the most restrictive of the applicable regimes. The Fund also acknowledges that the Custodian shall not be liable hereunder for any loss or damage caused by any delays or refusals to process a transaction that result
from the Custodian’s obligation to review such transaction to assess compliance with applicable AML Laws and Sanctions Regimes.
9.2. Limitations on Liability . Except as expressly set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Section 9 ( Responsibility of the Custodian ), the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, claim, damage or other liability arising from the following causes:
9.2.1. Failure of Third Parties . The failure of any third party (other than a Subcustodian or Agent, the Custodian’s responsibility for which is expressly covered under other terms of this Agreement) hereunder, including: (a) any issuer of Investments or Book-Entry Agent or other agent of an issuer; (b) any counterparty with respect to any Investment, including any issuer of exchange-traded or other futures, option, derivative or commodities contract; (c) failure of a third party foreign custody manager or other agent of the Fund; or (d) failure of other third parties similarly beyond the control or choice of the Custodian.
9.2.2. Information Sources . The Custodian may rely upon information received from issuers of Investments or agents of such issuers, information received from Subcustodians and from other commercially reasonable sources such as commercial databases and the like, but shall not be responsible for specific inaccuracies in such information (provided that the Custodian has relied upon such information in good faith), or the failiure of any commercially reasonable information provider.
9.2.3. Reliance on Instruction . Action by the Custodian or the Subcustodian in accordance with an Instruction, even when such action conflicts with, or is contrary to any provision of, the Fund’s trust instrument, certificate of trust or by-laws, Applicable Law or actions by the Board or shareholders of the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall in no event be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.
9.2.4. Restricted Securities . The limitations inherent in the rights, transferability or similar investment characteristics of a given Investment of the Fund.
10. [ Reserved .]
11. Indemnification .
11.1. The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify the Custodian (and each Subcustodian), and their respective Agents and nominees and the partners, employees, officers and directors (collectively BBH&Co. Indemnitees) and agrees to hold each of them harmless from and against all claims and liabilities, including reasonable counsel fees and taxes (calculated or verified by an independent expert or taxation authority), incurred or assessed against any of them in connection with the performance of this Agreement and any Instruction; provided that the BBH&Co. Indemnitees shall not be indemnified against any claims or liability (or
any expenses incident thereto) to the extent caused by BBH&Co.’s or any BBH&Co. and to retain its own counsel at its own expense.
11.2. Except with respect to the Fund’s indemnification obligations with respect to third parties pursuant to Section 11.1 ( Indemnification ), in no event shall the Fund be liable hereunder for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages arising out of, pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement even if the Fund has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
12. Reports and Records . The Custodian shall:
12.1. create and maintain records relating to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement (including such reports as may be required pursuant to Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder);
12.2. make available to and copy for the Fund (at the Fund’s expense), its auditors, agents and employees, upon reasonable request and during its normal business hours, all records maintained by BBH&Co. pursuant to Section 12.1 above, subject, however, to all reasonable security requirements of BBH&Co. then applicable to the records of its customers generally; and
12.3. make available to the Fund all Electronic Reports.
12.4. The Fund shall examine all records, however produced or transmitted, promptly upon receipt and notify BBH&Co. promptly of any discrepancy or error.
12.5. The Fund acknowledges that the Custodian obtains information on the value of assets from outside sources which may be utilized in certain reports made available to the Fund. The Custodian deems such sources to be reliable but the Fund acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian does not verify such information nor make any representations or warrantees as to its accuracy or completeness and
accordingly shall be without liability in selecting and using such sources and furnishing such information.
13. Miscellaneous .
13.1. Audits . At the Fund’s request, but not more often than annually, the Custodian will provide the Fund with a copy of those portions of the Custodian’s SSAE 18 SOC 1 audit report applicable to the services hereunder. If the Fund requires additional information not included in such audit report, then not more often than annually and on at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice, the Custodian will respond to the Fund’s reasonable due diligence requests (including, without limitation, meeting with the Fund or its Investment Manager or completing reasonable security questionnaires). The Custodian’s audit report and any information provided to the Fund pursuant to such due diligence requests shall be deemed to be Custodian’s confidential information.
13.2. Powers of Attorney, etc . The Fund on behalf of its Portfolios will promptly execute and deliver, upon request, such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may reasonably be necessary or desirable for the Custodian to provide, or to cause any Subcustodian to provide, the services contemplated by this Agreement.
13.3. Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any other oral or written agreements heretofore in effect between the Fund and the Custodian with respect to the subject matter hereof. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or termination is sought, provided, however, that an Instruction shall, whether or not such Instruction shall constitute a waiver, amendment or modification for purposes hereof, be deemed to have been accepted by the Custodian when it commences actions pursuant thereto or in accordance therewith. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a service level agreement or other operating agreement in place between the parties from time to time, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
13.4. Binding Effect; Assignment . This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Custodian and the Fund and their successors and assignees, provided that neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party. Any attempt to do so in violation of this Section will be void. Each party agrees that only the parties to this Agreement and/or their successors in interest shall have a right to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Accordingly, no client of the Fund or other third party shall have any rights under this Agreement and such rights are explicitly disclaimed by the parties.
13.5. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION AND VENUE . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES OF SUCH STATE. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY. THE FUND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. FURTHERMORE, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
13.6. Notices . Notices and other writings contemplated by this Agreement, other than Instructions, shall be delivered (a) by hand, (b) by first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) by a nationally recognized overnight courier, or (d) by facsimile transmission, provided that any notice or other writing sent by facsimile transmission shall also be mailed, postage prepaid, to the party to whom such notice is addressed. All such notices shall be addressed, as follows:
If to the Fund: PGIM ETF Trust
655 Broad Street, 17 th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Attn: Chief Legal Officer
Telephone: (973) 367-6563
E-mail: Raymond.ohara@prudential.com
If to the Custodian: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
50 Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1548
Attn: Office of the General Counsel
Telephone: (617) 772-1818
Facsimile: (617) 772-2235
or such other address as the Fund or the Custodian may designate in writing to the other. Notices given by the Custodian pursuant to Section 12.13 may also be given by electronic mail to the email address of any Authorized Person. The Fund agrees that such notices given by electronic mail shall be conclusively presumed to have been delivered and received by the Fund as of the date such electronic mail was sent by the Custodian, as recorded by the Custodian’s systems.
13.7. Headings . Paragraph headings included herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.
13.8. Severability . In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
13.9. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by the Fund and the Custodian. A photocopy, portable document format (.pdf) or telefax copy of the Agreement shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Agreement.
13.10. Confidentiality . The parties hereto agree that each, including each’s employees and agents, shall treat confidentially the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations, and, with respect to the Fund, regarding its shareholders and portfolio holdings. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement (including, without limitation, disclosure to Subcustodians or Agents appointed by the Custodian), shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any regulator of the Custodian, Agent, Subcustodian or the Fund, any regulatory authority, any auditor or attorney of the parties hereto, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by Applicable Law.
13.10.1. The Custodian acknowledges that the Fund is prohibited by law from making selective public disclosure of information regarding portfolio holdings, and acknowledges and agrees that disclosure of any and all such information to the Custodian hereunder is made strictly under the conditions of confidentiality set forth in this Section 13.10.1 and solely for the purposes of the performance of custodial services hereunder, that any unauthorized use or disclosure of such information (including, without limitation, any trading on the basis of receipt of such information by the Custodian or its agents or employees) may constitute a criminal offense of trading on or tipping of material inside information regarding publicly traded securities, that the Custodian’s provision of access to any and all such information regarding portfolio holdings of the Fund shall be restricted to those persons needing such information in the course of the performance of duties hereunder, and that all such persons having access to such confidential information are under nondisclosure obligations at least as protective of the such confidential information as those set forth herein. The Custodian further acknowledges that any breach or threatened breach of this Section 13.11.1 may cause not only financial damage, but irreparable harm to the Fund for which money damages may not provide an adequate remedy. Accordingly, in the event of a breach of this Section 13.11.1, the Fund shall (in addition to all other rights and remedies it may have
pursuant to this Agreement) be entitled to seek an injunction to restrain disclosure or misuse, in whole or in part, of any confidential information.
13.11. Tape-recording . The Fund authorizes the Custodian to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian by or on behalf of the Fund, including from any Authorized Person. This authorization will remain in effect until and unless revoked by the Fund in writing.
13.12.
Counsel/Certified Public Accountant
.
The Custodian may consult with its outside counsel or the Fund’s counsel (with the Fund’s consent) at the Custodian’s
expense unless otherwise agreed by the parties in any case where so doing appears to the Custodian to be necessary or desirable.
The Custodian shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability
in acting upon the written advice of its outside counsel or of the Fund’s counsel.
The Custodian may consult with a certified public accountant or the Fund’s Treasurer in any case where so doing appears to the Custodian to be necessary or desirable. The Custodian shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability in acting upon the opinion of such certified public accountant or of the Fund’s Treasurer.
13.13. Conflict . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Custodian and its associates from (i) dealing as a principal or an intermediary in the sale, purchase or loan of the Fund’s Investments to, or from the Custodian or its associates; (ii) acting as a custodian, a subcustodian, a trustee, an agent, securities dealer, an investment manager or in any other capacity for any other client whose interests may be adverse to the interest of the Fund; or (iii) buying, holding, lending, and dealing in any way in any assets for its own account, or for the account of any other client whose interests may be adverse to the Fund notwithstanding that the same or similar assets may be held or dealt in by, or for the account of the Fund by the Custodian. The Fund hereby waives any potential conflict of interest, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, between the Custodian and/or its associates and the Fund, and agrees that:
(a) | the Custodian’s and/or its associates’ engagement in any such transaction shall not disqualify the Custodian from continuing to perform as the custodian of the Fund or Portfolios under this Agreement; |
(b) | the Custodian and/or its associates shall not be under any duty to disclose any information in connection with any such transaction to the Fund; and |
(c) | the Custodian and/or its associates shall not be liable to account to the Fund or a Portfolio for any profits or benefits made or derived by or in connection with any such transaction. |
14. Definitions . The following defined terms will have the respective meanings set forth below.
14.1. Advance(s) shall mean any extension of credit by or through the Custodian or by or through any Subcustodian and shall include, without limitation, amounts due to the Custodian as the principal counterparty to any foreign exchange transaction with the Fund as described in Section 7.4.2 hereof, or paid to third parties for account of the Fund or in discharge of any expense, tax or other item payable by the Fund.
14.2. Advance Costs shall mean any Advance, interest on the Advance and any related expenses, including without limitation any mark to market loss of the Custodian or Subcustodian on any Investment to which Section 7.6.1 applies.
14.3. Agency Account(s) shall mean any deposit account opened on the books of a Subcustodian or other banking institution in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof.
14.4. Agent(s) shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.17 hereof.
14.5. Applicable Law shall mean with respect to each jurisdiction, all (a) laws, statutes, treaties, regulations, guidelines (or their equivalents); (b) orders, interpretations, licenses and permits; and (c) judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs, orders and similar actions by a court of competent jurisdiction; compliance with which is required or customarily observed in such jurisdiction.
14.6. Authorized Person(s) shall mean any person or entity authorized to give Instructions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof.
14.7. Board shall mean the members of the board of trustees of the Fund.
14.8. Book-entry Agent(s) shall mean an entity acting as agent for the issuer of Investments for purposes of recording ownership or similar entitlement to Investments, including without limitation a transfer agent or registrar.
14.9. Clearing Corporation shall mean any entity or system established for purposes of providing securities settlement and movement and associated functions for a given market(s).
14.10. Delegation Schedule shall mean any separate schedule entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning the appointment and administration of Subcustodians delegated to the Custodian pursuant to Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.
14.11. Electronic and Online Services Schedule shall mean any separate schedule entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning certain electronic and online services as described therein and as may be made available from time to time by the Custodian to the Fund and Portfolios.
14.12. Electronic Reports shall mean any reports prepared by the Custodian and remitted to the Fund or its authorized representative via the internet or electronic mail.
14.13. EU shall mean the European Union and its member states.
14.14. Foreign Custody Manager shall mean the Fund’s foreign custody manager appointed pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.
14.15. Foreign Financial Regulatory Authority shall have the meaning given by Section 2(a)(50) of the 1940 Act.
14.16. Funds Transfer Services Schedule shall mean any separate schedule entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect to certain matters concerning the processing of payment orders from Principal Accounts of the Fund.
14.17. Global Custody Network Listing shall mean Countries and Subcustodians approved for Investments in non-U.S. Markets.
14.18. Instruction(s) shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4 hereof.
14.19. Investment Advisor shall mean any person or entity who is an Authorized Person to give Instructions with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s Investments.
14.20. Investment(s) shall mean any investment asset of the Fund or Portfolios, including without limitation securities, bonds, notes, and debentures as well as receivables, derivatives, contractual rights or entitlements and other intangible assets, but shall not include any Principal Account.
14.21. Margin Account shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.
14.22. OFAC shall mean the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
14.23. Principal Account(s) shall mean deposit accounts of the Fund or a Portfolio carried on the books of BBH&Co. as principal in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
14.24. Sanctions or Sanctions Regime(s) shall mean any governmental sanctions against countries, persons and entities that are imposed at any time by the US, the EU, the United Nations or any other jurisdiction, which Custodian must comply with.
14.25. Securities Depository shall mean a central or book entry system or agency established under Applicable Law for purposes of recording the ownership and/or entitlement to investment securities for a given market that, if a foreign Securities Depository, meets the definitional requirements of Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act.
14.26. Subcustodian(s) shall mean each foreign bank appointed by the Custodian pursuant to Section 8 hereof, but shall not include Securities Depositories.
14.27. Tri-Party Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.
14.28. 1940 Act shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940.
15. Compensation . The Fund agrees to pay to BBH&Co. a fee in an amount set forth in the fee letter between the Fund and BBH&Co. as Custodian (a “Fee Schedule”), in effect on the date hereof or as amended from time to time, and (b) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BBH&Co. for account or benefit of the Fund or its Portfolios based on the agreed upon Fee Schedule. Amounts payable by the Fund under and pursuant to this section shall be payable by wire transfer to the Custodian at BBH&Co. in New York, New York, unless the Fund raises reasonable issues with respect to the bill. Any such contested items may be paid promptly only after BBH&Co. has provided additional and reasonably satisfactory explanation of the expenses.
16. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by either party in accordance with the provisions of this Section. The provisions of this Agreement and any other rights or obligations incurred or accrued by any party hereto prior to termination of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
16.1. Term, Notice and Effect . This Agreement shall have an initial term of two (2) years from the date hereof. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year periods; provided that the Fund may terminate this Agreement at any time upon at least seventy-five (75) days’ written to the Custodian, and the Custodian may terminate this Agreement at any time upon at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days’ written notice to the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, either party may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause, in which case termination shall be effective upon written receipt of notice by the non-terminating party.
16.1.1. Cause . Cause shall mean, (a) with respect to the Fund, (i) a material breach by the Fund of the Agreement not cured within 60 days or the Fund is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or there shall be commenced against the Fund a case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in effect; and (b) with respect to the BBH&Co., that BBH&Co. (i) has failed in any material respect to perform its duties and obligations hereunder pursuant to the applicable standard of care set forth herein, provided the Fund has notified the Custodian of such failure and the Custodian has not cured such failure within 60 days of such notice, (ii) has ceased to be qualified as a custodian under the 1940 Act, or has been indicted for a crime, has commenced any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or has had such a proceeding initiated against it which is not dismissed within 60 days, or has suffered any other material adverse change in its condition, operations or professional reputation that is determined by the Fund in its reasonable discretion to threaten the continuing performance of services hereunder or the reputation of the Fund, or (iii) it or its parent has been appointed a conservator or receiver by a regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
16.1.2. Change of Control . BBH&Co. shall notify the Fund as soon as commercially practicable following the execution of any agreement that would result in, or would be expected to result in, a change of control of the Custodian. Notwithstanding Section 16.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund upon at least 60 days’ written notice following notice of execution of any such agreement.
16.1.3. Non-Ordinary Course Transaction . Notwithstanding Section 16.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund, with respect to the Fund or a Portfolio, upon 30 days’ written notice to the Custodian in the event that the Board of the Fund approves (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund or Portfolio, (ii) the merger of the Fund or Portfolio into, or the consolidation of the Fund or Portfolio with, another entity, or (iii) the sale by the Fund or Portfolio of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity.
16.1.4. Separate Termination for Each Portfolio . Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Portfolio.
16.2. Notice and Succession . In the event a termination notice is given by a party hereto, all reasonable costs and expenses associated with any required systems, facilities, procedures, personnel, and other resourced modifications as well as the movement of records and materials and the conversion thereof shall be paid by the Fund for which services shall cease to be performed hereunder; provided, that any special or unduly burdensome arrangements may, upon request of the Fund, be subject to discussion by the parties. Furthermore, to the extent that it appears impracticable given the circumstances to effect an orderly delivery of the necessary and appropriate records of BBH&Co. to a successor within the time specified in the notice of termination as aforesaid, BBH&Co. and the Fund agree that this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for such reasonable period as may be required to complete necessary arrangements with a successor.
16.3. Successor Custodian . In the event of the appointment of a successor custodian, it is agreed that the Investments of the Fund held by the Custodian or any Subcustodian shall be delivered to the successor custodian in accordance with reasonable Instructions. The Custodian agrees to cooperate with the Fund in the execution of documents and performance of other actions necessary or desirable in order to facilitate the succession of the new custodian. If no successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall in like manner transfer the Fund’s Investments in accordance with Instructions.
16.4. Delayed Succession of Custodian . If no Instruction has been given as of the effective date of termination, Custodian may at any time on or after such termination date and upon thirty (30) consecutive calendar days written notice to the Fund deliver any Investments and other assets held hereunder to (a) the Fund at the address designated for receipt of notices hereunder; or (b) a “U.S. bank” as defined in the 1940 Act having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits,
as shown by its last published report, of not less than $50,000,000 USD, such delivery to be at the risk of the Fund. In the event that Investments or moneys of the Fund remain in the custody of the Custodian or its Subcustodians after the date of termination owing to the failure of the Fund to issue Instructions with respect to their disposition or owing to the fact that such disposition could not be accomplished in accordance with such Instructions despite diligent efforts of the Custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to compensation for its services with respect to such Investments and moneys during such period as the Custodian or its Subcustodians retain possession of such items and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until disposition in accordance with this Section is accomplished.
17. Policies and Procedures; Insurance .
17.1. Compliance . To assist the Fund in complying with Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act, BBH&Co. represents that it has adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws in fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement and that it has in place a compliance program to monitor its compliance with those policies and procedures. BBH&Co will upon reasonable request provide the Fund with information about its compliance program as mutually agreed.
17.2. Information Security . In order to safeguard confidential records and information of the Fund, including the personal information of the Fund’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection the provision of services hereunder, the Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains security measures reasonably designed to protect such records and information in the Custodian’s possession from unauthorized access by third parties. For these purposes, “personal information” means (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) driver’s 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.
17.3. Business Continuity Plan . The Custodian agrees to implement and maintain a business continuity plan (including contingency facilities and procedures reasonably designed to provide for periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Portfolios and emergency use of electronic data processing equipment) reasonably designed to permit the Custodian to resume the provision of the services under this Agreement or any exhibit, schedule or annex hereto within
forty-eight (48) hours of any event which prevents the Custodian from providing such services (the “Business Continuity Plan”). The Custodian shall conduct a test of significant components of its Business Continuity Plan not less frequently than annually, and upon reasonable request, discuss with senior management of the Fund such Business Continuity Plan and test results and answer questions regarding the same.
17.4. Insurance . The Custodian agrees to maintain, at all times during the term of this Agreement, errors and omissions insurance, fidelity bonds and such other insurance as may be appropriate, in each case in a commercially reasonable amount as is customary for insurance typically maintained by entities that perform similar duties and activities as Custodian provides hereunder for assets similar to the Fund’s assets. The insurance protection shall be in compliance with the requirements of the Custodian’s applicable banking regulator.
18. Separate Agreements . Solely for the convenience of the parties hereto, in lieu of executing an individual agreement between BBH&Co. and each Portfolio, BBH&Co. and the Fund have determined to execute this single Agreement on the terms contained herein. Therefore, anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement will be interpreted as if the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio had executed a separate Agreement with BBH&Co. having the terms of this Agreement. Each such deemed Agreement is intended to be, and shall be treated for all purposes as, a separate Agreement between BBH&Co. and the Fund on behalf of any other Portfolio. Accordingly, no Portfolio shall have any liability for the obligations of any other Portfolio, whether hereunder or otherwise.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. | PGIM ETF Trust, on behalf of each Portfolio listed on Annex A hereto |
By: /s/Shawn R. McNinch Name: Shawn R. McNinch Title: Managing Director |
By: /s/M. Sadiq Peshimam Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam Title: Treasurer |
Annex A
to Custodian Agreement
List of Portfolios
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
SCHEDULE I: FUNDS TRANSFER SERVICES SCHEDULE (“FTSS”)
In accordance with Section 4.2 of the Custodian Agreement, the Fund acknowledges the following terms and conditions in respect of all funds transfers effected by the Custodian. References to UCC 4A shall mean Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the State of New York. Terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings accorded to them in the Custodian Agreement.
1. Transmission of Payment Orders . Each FT Instruction shall be transmitted by such secured or authenticated means and subject to such security procedures as the Custodian shall make available to the Fund from time to time (such transmission method and security procedures, a Custodian Designated Security Procedure ), unless the Fund shall elect to transmit such FT Instruction in accordance with a Fund Designated Security Procedure (as defined in Section 4 below). The Fund acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian will use the security procedures referenced in Sections 3 and 4 below solely to authenticate a FT Instruction, as set forth herein, and not to detect any errors or omissions therein.
2. Custodian Designated Security Procedure . The Custodian will make the following Custodian Designated Security Procedures available to the Fund for use in communicating FT Instructions to the Custodian:
· | BBH Worldview® Payment Products . The Custodian offers to the Fund use of its BBH Worldview Payment Products (“BBH Worldview”), which are Custodian proprietary on-line payment order authorization facilities with built-in authentication procedures. The Custodian and the Fund shall each be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of passwords or other codes used by them in connection with BBH Worldview. The Custodian will act on FT Instructions received through BBH Worldview without duty of further confirmation unless the Fund notifies the Custodian that its password is not secure. The Fund agrees that access to, and use of, BBH Worldview shall be governed by an Electronic and On-line Services Schedule, which the Fund will execute prior to access to BBH Worldview. |
· | SWIFT Transmission . The Custodian and the Fund shall comply with SWIFT’s authentication procedures. The Custodian will act on FT Instructions received via SWIFT provided the instruction is authenticated by the SWIFT system. |
· | Written Instructions . Instructions may be transmitted in an original writing that bears the manual signature of an Authorized Person(s). |
3. Fund Designated Security Procedure . FT Instructions may be transmitted through such other means, and subject to such additional security procedures, as may be elected by the Fund (or by an Authorized Person entitled to give Instructions) and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (the transmission methods and security procedures referenced below, as may be supplemented by such additional security procedures, each a Fund Designated Security Procedure ); it being understood that the Custodian’s acknowledgment shall authorize it to accept such means of delivery but shall not represent a judgment by the Custodian as to the reasonableness or security of the means utilized by the Fund.
· | Computer Transmission . The Custodian is able to accept transmissions sent from the Fund’s computer facilities to the Custodian’s computer facilities. If the Fund determines to use its proprietary transmission or other electronic transmission method, it must provide Custodian sufficient notice and information to allow testing or other confirmation that FT Instructions received via the Fund Designated Security Procedure can be processed in good time and order. The Custodian may require the Fund to execute additional documentation prior to the use of such transmission method. |
· | Facsimile Transmission . |
A FT Instruction transmitted to the Custodian by facsimile transmission must be transmitted by the Fund to a telephone number specified from time to time by the Custodian for such purposes. The Custodian will then follow one of the procedures below:
(i) | If the facsimile requests a non-repetitive order, the Custodian will call the Fund and request to speak to a person authorized to validate orders on behalf of the Fund, and confirm the authorization and details of the payment order (a Callback ); |
(ii) | If the facsimile FT Instruction pertains to a repetitive payment order (see Section 7 below), the Custodian may (at its sole discretion) perform a Callback. The Fund acknowledges that prior to its issuance of any repetitive payment order, it must (a) request that the appropriate repetitive payment order process be approved and set up at the Custodian, and (b) complete such documentation as may be required by the Custodian, including a PPO (as defined in Section 7). |
The Custodian shall rely on the purported identity of the originator but due to the lack of reliability of a facsimile signature, it will not perform signature verification on facsimiles.
· | Telephonic . The Fund may call a telephonic payment order into the Custodian at the telephone number designated from time-to-time by the Custodian for that purpose. The caller shall identify herself/himself as an Authorized Person. The Custodian shall obtain the FT Instruction details from the caller. The Custodian shall then follow one of the procedures below: |
(i) | If the telephonic FT Instruction pertains to a non-repetitive payment order, the Custodian will perform a Callback; or |
(ii) | If the telephonic FT Instruction pertains to a repetitive payment order (see Section 7 below), the Custodian may (at its sole discretion) perform a Callback. The Fund acknowledges that prior to its issuance of any repetitive payment order, it must (a) request that the appropriate repetitive payment order process be approved and set up at the Custodian, and (b) complete such documentation as may be required by the Custodian, including a PPO. |
In electing to transmit a FT Instruction via a Fund Designated Security Procedure, the Fund (i) agrees to be bound by the transaction(s) or payment order(s) specified on said FT Instruction, whether or not authorized, and accepted by the Custodian in compliance with such Fund
Designated Security Procedure, and (ii) accepts the risk associated with such Fund Designated Security Procedure and confirms it is commercially reasonable for the transmission and authentication of the FT Instruction.
The parties agree that the Fund’s transmission of a FT Instruction by means of any of the above Fund Designated Security Procedures and the Custodian’s acceptance and execution of such FT Instruction shall constitute a FT Instruction sent via a Fund Designated Security Procedure and governed by the terms of this FTSA.
4. Rejection of Payment Orders; Rescission of Designated Security Procedure . The Custodian shall give the Fund prompt notice of the Custodian’s rejection of a FT Instruction. Such notice may be given in writing, via a Custodian Designated Security Procedure or any Fund Designated Security Procedure used by the Fund, or orally by telephone, each of which is hereby deemed commercially reasonable. In the event the Custodian fails to execute a properly executable FT Instruction and fails to give the Fund notice of the Custodian’s non-execution, the Custodian shall be liable only for the Fund’s actual damages and only to the extent that such damages are recoverable under UCC 4A. The Custodian, after providing prior written notice, may decide to no longer accept a particular Fund or Custodian Designated Security Procedure, or to do so only on revised terms, in the event that it determines that such agreed or established method of transmission represents a security risk or is attendant to any general change in the Custodian’s policy regarding FT Instructions. Notwithstanding anything in this FTSA and the Agreement to the contrary (except with respect to the Fund’s indemnification obligations with respect to third parties pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Agreement ( Indemnification )), neither party shall be liable for any consequential, indirect, special or punitive damages under this FTSA, whether or not such damages relate to services covered by UCC 4A.
5. Cancellation of Payment Orders . The Fund may cancel a FT Instruction but the Custodian shall have no liability for the Custodian’s failure to act on a cancellation FT Instruction unless the Custodian has received such cancellation FT Instruction at a time and in a manner affording the Custodian reasonable opportunity to act prior to the Custodian’s execution of the original FT Instruction. Any cancellation FT Instruction shall be sent and confirmed by such means as is set forth in Section 3 or 4 above.
6. Preauthorized Repetitive Payment Orders . The Fund may establish with the Custodian a process to preauthorize certain repetitive payments or transfers. The Fund will execute all documentation required by the Custodian, including a separate Preauthorized Repetitive Payment Order ( PPO ) form. The PPO shall be delivered to the Custodian in writing or by another Custodian Designated Security Procedure or Fund Designated Security Procedure, and will become effective after the Custodian shall have had a reasonable opportunity to act thereon (or if later, two (2) banking days after receipt by the Custodian). The PPO may take the form of either:
(i) | A standing instruction in which the Fund provides in the PPO all required information for a FT Instruction (except for the transfer date and amount) on a “standing instructions” basis. The Fund may from time-to-time instruct the Custodian to make a payment under the PPO, in writing or another Custodian Designated Security Procedure or Fund Designated Security Procedure, which instruction shall reference the repetitive line number |
(a number assigned to it by the Custodian after execution of the PPO), details of the payment, the transfer date and the amount of the transfer; or
(ii) | A recurring instruction in which the Fund supplies all required information for a FT Instruction with an instruction to process such payments with a specific frequency. |
7. Responsibility for the Detection of Errors in Payment Orders; Liability of the Parties . The purpose of any Fund Designated Security Procedure or Custodian Designated Security Procedure is to confirm the authenticity of any FT Instruction and is not designed to detect errors or omissions in such FT Instructions. Therefore, the Custodian is not responsible for detecting any Fund error or omission contained in any FT Instruction received by the Custodian. In the event that the FT Instruction either (i) identifies the beneficiary by both a name and an identifying or Fund account number and the name and number identify different persons or entities, or (ii) identifies any Fund by both a name and an identifying number and the number identifies a person or entity different from the Fund identified by name, execution of the relevant payment order, payment to the beneficiary, cancellation of the payment order or actions taken by the Custodian or any Fund in respect of such payment order may be made solely on the basis of the number.
The Custodian shall not be liable for interest on the amount of any FT Instruction that was not authorized or was erroneously executed unless the Fund so notifies the Custodian within thirty (30) days following the Fund’s receipt of notice that such FT Instruction was processed. Any compensation payable in the form of interest shall be payable in accordance with UCC 4A. If a FT Instruction in the name of the Fund and accepted by the Custodian was not authorized by the Fund, the liability of the parties will be governed by the applicable provisions of UCC 4A.
SCHEDULE II: ELECTRONIC AND ON-LINE SERVICES SCHEDULE
This Electronic and On-Line Services Schedule (this Schedule ) to a Custodian Agreement dated as of April 2, 2018 (as amended from time to time hereafter, the Agreement ) by and between Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. ( we, us, our ) and PGIM ETF Trust ( you , your or the Fund ), provides general provisions governing your use of and access to the Services (as hereinafter defined) provided to you by us via the Internet (at www.bbhco.com or such other URL as we may instruct you to use to access our products) and via a direct dial-up connection between your computer and our computers, as of April 2, 2018 (the Effective Date ). Use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Schedule, any Appendices hereto, the Terms and Conditions posted on our web site, and any terms and conditions specifically governing a particular Service or our other products, which may be set forth in the Agreement or in a separate related agreement (collectively, the Related Agreements ).
1. General Terms .
You will be granted access to our suite of online products, which may include, but shall not be limited to the following services via the Internet or dial-up connection (each separate service is a Service ; collectively referred to as the Services ):
1.1. BBH WorldView®, a system for effectuating securities and fund trade instruction and execution, processing and handling instructions, and for the input and retrieval of other information;
1.2. F/X WorldView, a system for executing foreign exchange trades;
1.3. Fund WorldView, a system for receiving fund and prospectus information;
1.4. BBHCOnnect, a system for placing securities trade instructions and following the status and detail of trades;
1.5. ActionViewSM, a system for receiving certain corporate action information; and,
1.6. Such other services as we shall from time to time offer.
2. Security/Passwords .
2.1. A digital certificate and/or an encryption key may be required to access certain Services. You may apply for a digital certificate and/or an encryption key by following the procedures set forth at http://www.bbh.com/certs/. You also will need an identification code ( ID ) and password(s) ( Password ) to access the Services.
2.2. You agree to safeguard your digital certificate and/or encryption key, ID, and Password and not to give or make available, intentionally or otherwise, your digital certificate, ID, and/or Password to any unauthorized person. You must immediately notify us in writing if you believe that your digital certificate and/or
encryption key, Password, or ID has been compromised or if you suspect unauthorized access to your account by means of the Services or otherwise, or when a person to whom a digital certificate and/or an encryption key, Password, or ID has been assigned leaves or is no longer permitted to access the Services.
2.3. We will not be responsible for any breach of security, or for any unauthorized trading or theft by any third party, caused by your failure (be it intentional, unintentional, or negligent) to maintain the confidentiality of your ID and/or Password and/or the security of your digital certificate and/or encryption key.
3. Instructions .
3.1. Proper instructions under this Schedule shall be provided as designated in the Related Agreements ( Instructions ).
3.2. The following additional provisions apply to Instructions provided via the Services:
a. | Instructions sent by electronic mail will not be accepted or acted upon. |
b. | You authorize us to act upon Instructions received through the Services utilizing your digital certificate, ID, and/or Password as though they were duly authorized written instructions, without any duty of verification or inquiry on our part, and agree to hold us harmless for any losses you experience as a result. |
c. | From time to time, the temporary unavailability of third party telecommunications or computer systems required by the Services may result in a delay in processing Instructions. In such an event, we shall not be liable to you or any third party for any liabilities, losses, claims, costs, damages, penalties, fines, obligations, or expenses of any kind (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’, accountants’, consultants’, or experts’ fees and disbursements) that you experience due to such a delay |
4. Electronic Documents .
We may make periodic statements, disclosures, notices, and other documents available to you electronically, and, subject to any delivery and receipt verification procedures required by law, you agree to receive such documents electronically and to check the statements for accuracy. If you believe any such statement contains incorrect information, you must follow the procedures set forth in the Related Agreement(s).
5. Malicious Code .
You understand and agree that you will be responsible for the introduction (by you, your employees, agents, or representatives) into the Services, whether intentional or unintentional, of (i) any virus or other code, program, or sub-program that damages or interferes with the operation of the computer system containing the code, program or sub-program, or halts, disables, or interferes with the operation of the Services themselves; or (ii) any device, method, or token whose
knowing or intended purpose is to permit any person to circumvent the normal security of the Services or the system containing the software code for the Services ( Malicious Code ). You agree to take all actions and precautions reasonably necessary to prevent the introduction and proliferation of any Malicious Code into those systems that interact with the Services.
6. Indemnification .
For avoidance of doubt, you and we hereby agree that the provisions in any related agreement(s) entered into pursuant to Section 1 hereof, related to your indemnification of us and any limitations on our liability and responsibilities to you, shall be applicable to this Agreement, and are hereby expressly incorporated herein. You agree that the Services are comprised of telecommunications and computer systems, and that it is possible that Instructions, information, transactions, or account reports might be added to, changed, or omitted by electronic or programming malfunction, unauthorized access, or other failure of the systems which comprise the Services, despite the security features that have been designed into the Services. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Schedule and the related agreements.
7. Payment .
You may be charged for services hereunder as set forth in a fee schedule from time to time agreed by you and us.
8. Term/Termination .
8.1. This Schedule is effective as of the date you sign it or first use the Services, whichever is first, and continues in effect until such time as either you or we terminate the Schedule in accordance with this Section 8 and/or until your off-line use of the Services is terminated.
8.2. We may terminate your access to the Services at any time, for any reason, with twenty (20) business days prior notice; provided that we may terminate your access to the Services with no prior notice (i) if your account with us is closed, (ii) if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, (iii) if we believe that your continued access to the Services poses a security risk, or (iv) if we believe that you are violating or have violated applicable laws, and we will not be liable for any loss you may experience as a result of such termination. You may terminate your access to the Services at any time by giving us ten (10) business days notice. Upon termination, we will cancel all your Passwords and IDs and any in-process or pending Instructions effective after the termination date will be carried out or cancelled, at our sole discretion.
9. Miscellaneous .
9.1. Notices . All notices, requests, and demands (other than routine operational communications, such as Instructions) shall be in such form and effect as provided in the Related Agreement(s).
9.2. Inconsistent Provisions . Each Service may be governed by separate terms and conditions in addition to this Schedule and the Related Agreement(s). Except where specifically provided to the contrary in this Schedule, in the event that such separate terms and conditions conflict with this Schedule and the Related Agreement(s), the provisions of this Schedule shall prevail to the extent this Schedule applies to the transaction in question.
9.3. Binding Effect; Assignment; Severability . This Schedule shall be binding on you, your employees, officers and agents. We may assign or delegate our rights and duties under this Schedule at any time without notice to you. Your rights under this Schedule may not be assigned without our prior written consent. In the event that any provision of this Schedule conflicts with the law under which this Schedule is to be construed or if any such provision is held invalid or unenforceable by a court with jurisdiction over you and us, such provision shall be deemed to be restated to effectuate as nearly as possible the purposes of the Schedule in accordance with applicable law. The remaining provisions of this Schedule and the application of the challenged provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or unenforceable shall not be affected thereby, and each such provision shall be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.
9.4. Choice of Law; Jury Trial . This Schedule shall be governed by and construed, and the legal relations between the parties shall be determined, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party agrees to waive its right to trial by jury in any action or proceeding based upon or related to this Agreement. The parties agree that all actions and proceedings based upon or relating to this Schedule shall be litigated exclusively in the federal and state courts located within New York City, New York.
The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.
PGIM ETF Trust (“you”)
By: /s/M. Sadiq Peshimam Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam Title: Treasurer Date: April 2, 2018 |
SCHEDULE III: DELEGATION SCHEDULE
By its execution of this Delegation Schedule dated as of April 2, 2018, between PGIM ETF Trust, a management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission ) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act ), acting through its Board of Directors/Trustees or its duly appointed representative (the Fund ), hereby appoints BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. , a New York limited partnership with an office in Boston, Massachusetts (the Delegate ) as its delegate to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of Fund’s Assets outside the United States.
1. Maintenance of Fund’s Assets Abroad . The Fund, acting through its Board or its duly authorized representative, hereby instructs the Delegate pursuant to the terms of the Custodian Agreement dated as of the date hereof executed by and between the Fund and the Delegate (the Custodian Agreement ) to place and maintain the Fund’s Assets in countries outside the United States in accordance with Instructions. Such instruction shall constitute an Instruction under the terms of the Custodian Agreement. The Fund acknowledges that (a) the Delegate shall perform services hereunder only with respect to the countries where it accepts delegation as Foreign Custody Manager as indicated on the Delegate’s Global Custody Network Listing; (b) depending on conditions in the particular country, advance notice may be required before the Delegate shall be able to perform its duties hereunder in or with respect to such country (such advance notice to be reasonable in light of the specific facts and circumstances attendant to performance of duties in such country); and (c) nothing in this Delegation Schedule shall require the Delegate to provide delegated or custodial services in any country, and there may from time to time be countries as to which the Delegate determines it will not provide delegation services.
2. Delegation . Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act as amended, the Board hereby delegates to the Delegate, and the Delegate hereby accepts such delegation and agrees to perform only those duties set forth in this Delegation Schedule concerning the safekeeping of the Fund’s Assets in each of the countries designated on the Global Custody Network Listing or as to which it otherwise acts as the Fund’s delegate. The Delegate is hereby authorized to take such actions on behalf of or in the name of the Fund as are reasonably required to discharge its duties under this Delegation Schedule, including, without limitation, to cause the Fund’s Assets to be placed with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian in accordance herewith. The Fund confirms to the Delegate that the Fund or its Investment Adviser has considered the Sovereign Risk and Country Risk as part of its continuing investment decision process, including such factors as may be reasonably related to the systemic risk of maintaining the Fund’s Assets in a particular country, including, but not limited to, financial infrastructure, prevailing custody and settlement systems and practices (including the use of any Securities Depository in the context of information provided by the Custodian in the performance of its duties as required under Rule 17f-7 and the terms of the Custodian Agreement governing such duties), and the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of the Fund’s Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of the Custodian Agreement.
3. Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian and Contract Administration . The Delegate shall perform the following duties with respect to the selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians and administration of certain contracts governing the Fund’s foreign custodial arrangements:
(a) Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian . The Delegate shall place and maintain the Fund’s Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, provided that the Delegate shall have determined that the Fund’s Assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets including without limitation:
(i) The Eligible Foreign Custodian’s practices, procedures, and internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical protections available for certificated securities (if applicable), the controls and procedures for dealing with any Securities Depository, the method of keeping custodial records, and the security and data protection practices;
(ii) Whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for the Fund’s Assets;
(iii) The Eligible Foreign Custodian’s general reputation and standing; and
(iv) Whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Eligible Foreign Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of offices of such Eligible Foreign Custodian in the United States or such Eligible Foreign Custodian’s appointment of an agent for, or its own consent to, service of process in the United States.
The Delegate shall be required to make the foregoing determination to the best of its knowledge and belief based only on information reasonably available to it.
(b) Contract Administration . The Delegate shall cause that the foreign custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian shall be governed by a written contract that the Delegate has determined will provide reasonable care for Fund assets based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market. Each such contract shall, except as set forth in the last paragraph of this subsection (b), include provisions that provide:
(i) For indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract;
(ii) That the Fund’s Assets will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Eligible Foreign Custodian or its creditors, except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration or, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of such Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws;
(iii) That beneficial ownership of the Fund’s Assets will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration;
(iv) That adequate records will be maintained identifying the Fund’s Assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund;
(v) That the Fund’s independent public accountants will be given access to those records described in (iv) above or confirmation of the contents of such records;
(vi) That the Delegate will receive sufficient and timely periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of the Fund’s Assets, including, but not limited to,
notification of any transfer to or from the Fund’s account or a third party account containing the Fund’s Assets.
Such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in this Section 3(b), such other provisions that the Delegate determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for the Fund’s Assets as the specified provisions, in their entirety.
(c) Limitation to Delegated Selection . Notwithstanding anything in this Delegation Schedule to the contrary, the duties under this Section 3 shall apply only to Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Delegate and shall not apply to Securities Depositories or to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate is directed to use pursuant to Section 7 of this Delegation Schedule.
4. Monitoring . The Delegate shall establish and maintain a system to monitor at reasonable intervals (but at least annually) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian that has been selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule. The Delegate shall monitor the continuing appropriateness of placement of the Fund’s Assets in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(a) of this Delegation Schedule. The Delegate shall monitor the continuing appropriateness of the contract governing the Fund’s arrangements in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(b) of this Delegation Schedule.
5. Reporting . At least annually and more frequently as mutually agreed between the parties, the Delegate shall provide to the Board written reports specifying placement of the Fund’s Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule and shall promptly report on any material changes to such foreign custody arrangements. Delegate will prepare such a report with respect to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate has been instructed to use pursuant to Section 7 of this Delegation Schedule only to the extent specifically agreed with respect to the particular situation.
6. Withdrawal of Fund’s Assets . If the Delegate determines that an arrangement with a specific Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate under Section 3 of this Delegation Schedule no longer meets the requirements of said Section, Delegate shall withdraw the Fund’s Assets from the non-complying arrangement as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, however, that if in the reasonable judgment of the Delegate, such withdrawal would require liquidation of any of the Fund’s Assets or would materially impair the liquidity, value or other investment characteristics of the Fund’s Assets, it shall be the duty of the Delegate to provide information regarding the particular circumstances and to act only in accordance with Instructions of the Fund or its Investment Advisor with respect to such liquidation or other withdrawal.
7. Direction as to Eligible Foreign Custodian . Notwithstanding this Delegation Schedule, the Fund, acting through its Board or its other Authorized Person, may direct the Delegate to place and maintain the Fund’s Assets with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian, including without limitation with respect to investment in countries as to which the Custodian will not provide delegation services. In such event, the Delegate shall be entitled to rely on any such instruction as
an Instruction under the terms of the Custodian Agreement and shall have no duties under this Delegation Schedule with respect to such arrangement save those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each particular instance.
8. Standard of Care . In carrying out its duties under this Delegation Schedule, the Delegate agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for safekeeping the Fund’s Assets would exercise.
9. Representations . The Delegate hereby represents and warrants that it is a U.S. Bank, as defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(7) under the 1940 Act and that this Delegation Schedule has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Delegate and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Delegate.
The Fund hereby represents and warrants that its Board of Trustees has determined that it is reasonable to rely on the Delegate to perform the delegated responsibilities provided for herein and that this Delegation Schedule has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Fund.
10. Effectiveness; termination . This Delegation Schedule shall be effective as of the date on which this Delegation Schedule shall have been accepted by the Delegate, as indicated by the date set forth below the Delegate’s signature. This Delegation Schedule may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Such termination shall be effective on the 30th calendar day following the date on which the non-terminating party shall receive the foregoing notice. The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, this Delegation Schedule shall be deemed to have been terminated concurrently with the termination of the Custodian Agreement.
11. Notices . Notices and other communications under this Delegation Schedule are to be made in accordance with the arrangements designated for such purpose under the Custodian Agreement unless otherwise indicated in a writing referencing this Delegation Schedule and executed by both parties.
12. Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Delegation Schedule have the following meanings:
(a) Country Risk – shall have the meaning set forth in the Custodian Agreement.
(b) Eligible Foreign Custodian - shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) of the 1940 Act and shall also include a U.S. Bank.
(c) Fund’s Assets - shall mean 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.
(d) Instructions - shall have the meaning set forth in the Custodian Agreement.
(e) Securities Depository - shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act.
(f) Sovereign Risk - shall have the meaning set forth in the Custodian Agreement.
(g) U.S. Bank - shall mean a bank which qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act.
13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction . This Delegation Schedule shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts sitting in the State of New York or of the state courts of such State.
14. Fees . Delegate shall perform its functions under this Delegation Schedule for the compensation determined under the Custodian Agreement.
15. Integration . This Delegation Schedule sets forth all of the Delegate’s duties with respect to the selection and monitoring of Eligible Foreign Custodians, the administration of contracts with Eligible Foreign Custodians, the withdrawal of assets from Eligible Foreign Custodians and the issuance of reports in connection with such duties. The terms of the Custodian Agreement shall apply generally as to matters not expressly covered in this Delegation Schedule, including dealings with the Eligible Foreign Custodians in the course of discharge of the Delegate’s obligations under the Custodian Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. | PGIM ETF TRUST |
By: /s/Shawn R. McNinch Name: Shawn R. McNinch Title: Managing Director |
By: /s/M. Sadiq Peshimam Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam Title: Treasurer |
US MONEY MARKET FUND INVESTMENTS SCHEDULE TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
TERMS & CONDITIONS
FOR PROCESSING ORDERS IN U.S. MONEY MARKET FUNDS (“US MMF T&C”)
This US MMF T&C supplements the Custodian Agreement between PGIM ETF Trust on behalf of each of its Portfolios listed on Annex A thereto (“Client”) and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) dated as of April 2, 2018, as amended from time to time (the “Custodian Agreement”), and provides terms and conditions related to Instructions to BBH thereunder to process orders in and custody shares of U.S. registered investment companies that hold themselves out as money market funds (“MMFs”), if any. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Custodian Agreement.
US MMFs are subject to various requirements under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2014 (as further amended from time-to-time, “Rule 2a-7”).
The MMFs will disclose in their prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended from time to time, that the MMFs are subject to certain limitations and restrictions pursuant to amendments to Rule 2a-7, including provisions relating to the calculation of net asset values (“NAVs”), imposition of liquidity fees on redemptions (“liquidity fees”) or the temporary suspension of redemptions (a “redemption gate”), and shareholder eligibility requirements.
If Client provides BBH with an Instruction to process orders for transactions in MMFs and/or requires BBH to service shares of MMFs, Client shall assist and cooperate with BBH, the MMFs and the MMFs’ agents to comply with Rule 2a-7. Without limitation on the foregoing, fund order processing and custody of shares of MMFs are subject to the following additional terms and conditions.
1. | Orders in MMFs. |
a. | Any Instruction by the Client to purchase any MMF shall be based on the gross dollar amount of the value of shares to be purchased. |
b. | Any Instruction by the Client for subscriptions, exchanges or redemption orders in any MMF shall be made gross and shall not net any subscription, exchange or redemption orders in any MMF, including any orders originating from underlying customers of the Client, if any. |
2. | Liquidity Fees and Gates. |
a. | Client (and not BBH) will be responsible for reviewing any disclosure on a MMF website providing notice to shareholders and prospective shareholders of liquidity of the MMF and when liquidity fees or redemption gates are imposed or lifted and Client agrees that BBH is not responsible for notifying the Client of the imposition by an |
MMF of any such event or re-confirming the Client’s intent to transact in a MMF when a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in effect.
b. | If a liquidity fee is implemented by a MMF, BBH will not be directly responsible for calculating or withholding the liquidity fee, but will apply any liquidity fee calculated and withheld by the MMF from any order as notified by the MMF or Distributor to BBH. |
c. | If a redemption gate is implemented by a MMF, Client acknowledges and agrees that any redemption or exchange orders in the MMF made by Client while the redemption gate is in effect may be rejected by the MMF, and that BBH is responsible for rejecting only those orders that BBH has been notified have been rejected by the MMF or its agents. Client shall endeavor not to instruct BBH to place an order for a redemption in a MMF when a redemption gate is in effect for such MMF. |
3. | Retail MMFs. |
BBH does not support and is not responsible for the order processing, purchase, exchange, redemption, settlement, custody or other servicing of shares of Retail MMFs (as defined in Rule 2a-7(a)(25)). Client shall establish policies, procedures and internal controls reasonably designed to ensure that it does not, and shall not, submit any request or other instruction to BBH to purchase or exchange shares of a Retail MMF.
4. | No Agency. |
With respect to orders in a MMF:
a. | BBH generally elects not serve as the MMF’s dealer, agent, or designee for purposes of Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act in connection with the receipt of orders; |
b. | Accordingly, the MMF will apply a NAV calculation based on the time that the MMF accepts the order in good form from BBH, and not the time the Client instructs BBH to process the order; and |
c. | Neither BBH nor the MMF or its distributor is responsible for any losses arising from orders accepted by BBH before, but received and accepted by the MMF after, a NAV calculation time, or imposition of a liquidity fee or redemption gate. |
Any order for shares in a MMF placed and held in custody by BBH will be made in reliance upon the terms hereof.
[Investment Adviser Letterhead]
CMS INSTRUCTION
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
140 Broadway
New York, New York 10005
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to a custodian agreement between the entities whose accounts are identified on Exhibit A (each such entity, a Client”) and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”), dated as of April 2, 2018 (the “Custodian Agreement).
The undersigned investment adviser (the “Adviser”), on behalf of each Client, agrees to participate in the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Cash Management Services Sweep (“CMS Sweep”). The Adviser hereby instructs BBH to place, on each local business day (with respect to the applicable currencies, referred to herein as a “Business Day”), Client end-of-day demand deposit balances in the accounts and currencies identified in Exhibit A (“Excess Cash”) into overnight deposits (each, a “Deposit”) with one or more deposit institutions selected by the Adviser as set forth in Exhibit B, including BBH (the “Eligible Institutions”). Client acknowledges that BBH has other clients that participate in the CMS Sweep (together with Client, the “clients”) and that BBH can use the CMS Sweep to place BBH cash in Deposits.
The Adviser hereby instructs BBH to debit Excess Cash from each Client’s cash account(s) at the end of each Business Day, place the Excess Cash in the Deposits of one or more Eligible Institutions, and then credit Client’s cash account(s) after receipt from the Eligible Institution(s) of the Excess Cash the following Business Day. With respect to each Eligible Institution, Excess Cash debited from each Client’s cash account(s) will be placed in a pooled deposit designated as a client deposit, and will be marked on the books of the Eligible Institution as “Deposit for BBH RIC Customers” or similar name indicating BBH is acting in its capacity as agent for such clients. BBH will use sub-accounting to identify the principal and amount of interest each Client has earned and is payable with respect to each deposit placed with an Eligible Institution.
BBH will place each Client’s Excess Cash with an Eligible Institution based on, among other factors, any limitations identified in Exhibit B, as amended from time-to-time and accepted by BBH, the amount of Excess Cash available, the Eligible Institutions willing to accept Deposits and the deposit-taking capacity of each Eligible Institution. BBH then randomly allocates each Client’s Excess Cash among that Business Day’s participating Eligible Institutions.
Each Business Day, BBH calculates a base rate of return with respect to each currency placed in a Deposit (“Base Rate”). This calculation takes into account a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant overnight and short-term reference rates, the range of distribution between and among the interest rates paid by each Eligible Institution on their respective Deposits, and the weighted average distribution of interest rates on the Deposits. The net daily return to a Client is the Base Rate, less any compensation charged by BBH to the Client and Client expressly authorizes
BBH to make such deductions. On a sweep to an Eligible Institution other than BBH (an agency sweep), BBH’s compensation is a commission, adjusted to reflect any difference between the Deposit yield and the Base Rate. On a sweep to BBH (a principal sweep), BBH earns as a bank of deposit.
At the request of the Adviser or other authorized party of the Client, BBH will credit earnings received (subject to deductions by BBH as authorized by Client in the above paragraph or in the Custodian Agreement) on a daily or monthly basis or as otherwise agreed to with the Adviser or other authorized party of the Client. If monthly, BBH will post all daily client earnings to an omnibus demand deposit account (“Omnibus Deposit Account”). BBH will maintain records of the underlying ownership of each deposit representing the earnings due to each client and will transfer the value to each Client once each month or as otherwise instructed by the Adviser or other authorized party of the Client. At all times, each Client’s balance in the Omnibus Deposit Account will constitute a general deposit obligation of BBH.
The Adviser, on behalf of each Client, acknowledges and agrees that:
(i) | The Adviser has full authority to execute this CMS Instruction on behalf of each Client. Each Client’s Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may be, has made all determinations and each Client has received all approvals necessary to participate in the CMS Sweep and to hold cash in each account (identified in Exhibit A) with an Eligible Institution to which such Client’s Excess Cash is transferred pursuant to this CMS Instruction. |
(ii) | This CMS Instruction is not in conflict with, or contrary to (a) any provision(s) of the Adviser’s or Client’s documents of formation, and any other corporate or publicly available documents, (b) any contractual agreement or arrangement that may apply to the Excess Cash, or (c) any legal requirements relating to the custody or management of Client assets. |
(iii) | The Adviser is solely responsible for providing the information necessary for BBH to perform the services under this CMS Instruction and for assuring the adequacy, accuracy and timeliness of all such information, including, without limitation, any relevant investment limitations. |
(iv) | The list of Eligible Institutions set forth in Exhibit B represents those deposit institutions with which BBH has arranged the capability to place Deposits. The Adviser, and not BBH, is solely responsible for selecting the Eligible Institutions, and adding or removing an Eligible Institution, in each case, based on the Adviser’s determination as to the credit quality of and other risks associated with the Eligible Institution. BBH makes no representation or warranty with respect to the credit quality or risks associated with any deposit institution other than BBH. |
(v) | BBH can allocate Client’s Excess Cash to one, some or all of Client’s Eligible Institutions, including allocating all of Client’s Excess Cash to BBH, subject to, among other factors, any limitations identified in Exhibit B, as amended from time- |
to-time and accepted by BBH, as well as the availability of deposit-taking capacity at each Eligible Institution.
(vi) | BBH is not liable to the Adviser or any Client for (a) any violation of a Client’s investment policies or guidelines, or of other limitations with respect to the Adviser’s or Client’s powers to invest, make expenditures, encumber securities, borrow or take similar actions affecting the Client, or (b) any special, indirect, punitive or consequential damages arising out of, pursuant to or in connection with, this CMS Instruction. |
(vii) | The Eligible Institutions are not serving as Subcustodians or Securities Depositories (each term as defined in the Custodian Agreement) of BBH. |
(viii) | This CMS Instruction (including the Exhibits thereto) is an Instruction (or Proper Instruction) (as defined in the Custodian Agreement) and all representations, warranties and covenants made by the Adviser and/or the Client in the Custodian Agreement with respect to an Instruction (or Proper Instruction) are incorporated herein. Each Deposit constitutes an Investment (as defined in the Custodian Agreement) subject to all provisions applicable to Investments in the Custodian Agreement. BBH’s services pursuant to this CMS Instruction do not constitute investment advice and BBH is not acting as an investment advisor. |
(ix) | The Custodian Agreement’s indemnification provisions are applicable to any actions taken by, or omissions of, BBH under this CMS Instruction (as if each Client was a signatory to the Custodian Agreement and this CMS Instruction). |
(x) | This CMS Instruction is a standing Instruction (or Proper Instruction), and the Adviser will notify BBH in writing of any and all amendments to this CMS Instruction, including but not limited to any changes to Exhibits A and B, which amendment will take effect on the next Business Day after BBH receives and accepts the written amendment. |
(xi) | Notwithstanding any other provision in this CMS Instruction and without limiting the terms under the Custodian Agreement, in addition to the terms and conditions imposed by each Eligible Institution relative to its Deposits, Deposits placed in a particular jurisdiction, whether at BBH or one or more other Eligible Institutions, are subject to any and all risks associated with: opening an account (through BBH as agent) and holding cash in the relevant jurisdiction with one or more Eligible Institutions; creditor rights, banking, currency and related risks in that jurisdiction; and Country and Sovereign Risk (as each term is defined in the Custodian Agreement) in such jurisdiction. These risks are exclusively for, and at all times risks undertaken by, the Client. |
(xii) | For all Eligible Institutions listed in Exhibit B (other than BBH), Excess Cash placed with any such Eligible Institution is not a liability of, or guaranteed by, BBH, and BBH is not responsible for any losses or other damages incurred by the Client, the Adviser or any shareholder of the Client in the event of the insolvency or failure |
of any such Eligible Institution, or as a result of delays in repayment of, or failure to pay, principal or interest. Any such losses or damages are exclusively and at all times those of the Client.
(xiii) | BBH conducts, or in the future may conduct, other activities and have other relationships with Eligible Institutions, and may place its own monies in Deposits at Eligible Institutions. Client may now, or in the future, enter into business relationships with the Eligible Institutions. Nothing in this CMS Instruction prevents BBH, the Adviser or the Client from entering into or maintaining such relationships with Eligible Institutions, even if they were to create an actual or potential conflict with the services provided or received pursuant to this CMS Instruction. |
This CMS Instruction shall be construed in accordance with, and is governed by, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws of such state. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this CMS Instruction and the Custodian Agreement, this CMS Instruction will prevail. The undersigned irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the federal courts located in New York City in the Borough of Manhattan. The parties hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any judicial proceedings involving any matter in any way arising out of, related to, or connected with this CMS Instruction.
BBH may terminate the CMS Sweep, and the Adviser may terminate this CMS Instruction, in either case, by providing the other party with prior written notice. Termination will become effective one business day after receipt. Representations (i)-(iv), (vi), (ix), (xi)-(xiii) and the provisions in this CMS Instruction regarding governing law, jurisdiction and dispute resolution will survive the termination of this CMS Instruction. Notices contemplated by this Instruction shall be delivered in accordance with the Notice delivery provisions in the Custodian Agreement and shall be addressed, as follows:
[NAME OF INVESTMENT ADVISER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date:
Exhibit A: List of Accounts and Currencies
Account Name | Account Number | Currency | |
(1) | |||
(2) | |||
(3) | |||
(4) | |||
(5) | |||
(6) | |||
(7) | |||
(8) | |||
(9) | |||
(10) |
[NAME OF INVESTMENT ADVISER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date:
Exhibit B: Eligible Institutions Selected by the Investment Adviser for Client
Country | Branches of the Following Institutions | Account Level Limitation (if any) |
Australia | Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. | $ |
Australia | National Australia Bank Limited | $ |
Canada | Bank of Montreal | $ |
Canada | Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | $ |
Canada | Royal Bank of Canada | $ |
China | China Construction Bank Corp. | $ |
China | Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. | $ |
France | BNP Paribas SA | $ |
France | Société Générale | $ |
Germany | Deutsche Bank AG | $ |
Hong Kong | Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited | $ |
Hong Kong | The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp, Ltd | $ |
Japan | The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd | $ |
Japan | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation | $ |
The Netherlands | ING Bank NV | $ |
Norway | Nordea Bank Norge ASA | $ |
Norway | DnB Bank ASA | $ |
Singapore | DBS Bank Ltd | $ |
Spain | Banco Santander SA | $ |
Spain | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | $ |
Sweden | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | $ |
Switzerland | Credit Suisse AG | $ |
United Kingdom | Barclays Bank plc | $ |
United Kingdom | HSBC Bank plc | $ |
United Kingdom | Lloyds Bank plc | $ |
United Kingdom | Standard Chartered Bank | $ |
United States | The Bank of New York Mellon | $ |
United States | Citibank NA | $ |
United States | JPMorgan Chase Bank NA | $ |
United States | Wells Fargo Bank NA | $ |
United States | Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. | None |
In order to exclude an Eligible Institution from the approved list please either cross off or strikethrough. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. may not be removed.
While an Eligible Institution may accept denominations other than its local currency, balances swept will remain in the currency of deposit. (Example: USD may be placed with one of the Canadian Eligible Institutions approved by the client).
[NAME OF INVESTMENT ADVISER]
By:
Name:
Title:
Date:
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT
THIS ADMINISTRATIVE
AND TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT is made as of April 2, 2018, by and between
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
, a limited partnership
organized under the laws of the State of New York (the “
Administrator
” or “
TA
”), and
PGIM
ETF Trust
, a Delaware statutory trust (the “
Fund
”), on behalf of each series listed on
Appendix
A
to this Agreement (each a “
Portfolio
” and collectively, the “
Portfolios
”) and registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“
SEC
”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “
1940
Act
”). All references herein to “Portfolio” are to each of the Portfolios listed on the attached
Appendix
A
individually, as if this Agreement were between such individual Portfolio and the Administrator. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, no Portfolio shall be liable for any obligations of any other Portfolio or series of the Fund, as applicable.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS , the Fund is registered with the SEC as a management investment company under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS , the Fund desires to retain the Administrator to render certain administrative and transfer agency services to the Fund and each Portfolio, and the Administrator is willing to render such services.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Administrator . The Fund hereby employs and appoints the Administrator to act as its administrative agent on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and the Administrator accepts such appointment.
2. Delivery of Documents . The Fund will provide the Administrator with the following, to the extent such documents are not publicly accessible:
2.1. certified or authenticated copies of resolutions of the Fund’s Board of Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Administrator as administrative agent of the Fund and approving this Agreement;
2.2. a copy of the Fund’s most recent registration statement;
2.3. copies of all agreements between the Fund and its applicable service providers, including without limitation, advisory, distribution and administration agreements and distribution and/or shareholder servicing plans;
2.4. a copy of the Fund’s valuation procedures;
2.5. a copy of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws;
2.6. any other documents or resolutions (including but not limited to directions or resolutions of the Fund’s Board of Trustees) which relate to or affect the Administrator’s performance of its duties hereunder or which the Administrator may at any time reasonably request; and
2.7. copies of any and all amendments or supplements to the foregoing to the extent reasonably necessary for the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under this agreement.
3. Duties as Administrator . Subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees or their delegates, the Administrator will perform the administrative services described in Appendix B hereto. Additional services may be provided by the Administrator upon the request of the Fund as mutually agreed from time to time. In performing its duties and obligations hereunder, the Administrator will act in accordance with the Fund’s instructions as defined in Section 5 (“ Instructions ”). The Administrator shall perform its services hereunder in compliance with this Agreement and the laws, regulations or judgements of any court applicable to it; provided, however, that it is agreed and understood that the Administrator does not assume responsibility hereunder for the Fund’s own compliance with any applicable documents, laws or regulations, or for losses, costs or expenses arising out of the Fund’s failure to comply with said documents, laws or regulations or the Fund’s failure or inability to correct any non-compliance therewith. The Administrator shall in no event be required to take any action, which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.
3.1. Records . The Administrator will maintain and retain such records of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable federal securities laws and created pursuant to the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator will maintain such other records as requested by the Fund and received by the Administrator. The Administrator shall not be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of any records not created by the Administrator. The Administrator acknowledges that the records maintained and preserved by the Administrator pursuant to this Agreement are the property of the Fund and will be, at the Fund’s expense, surrendered promptly upon reasonable request. In performing its obligations under this Section, the Administrator may utilize micrographic and electronic storage media as well as independent third-party storage facilities in compliance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. At no additional charge to the Fund, the Administrator will, as and when so requested by the Fund and its affiliates, at all reasonable times and from time to time, make such records available for inspection by such person or persons as the Fund designates as its authorized representatives, who will have the right to take copies of or extracts from any records kept pursuant to this Agreement.
3.2 Use of Agents . The Administrator may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any affiliate, bank, or subcontractor as its agent (each an “ Agent ” and collectively, the “ Agents ”), to carry out the provisions of this Agreement as it may from time to time direct. The Administrator shall exercise reasonable care in the selection and monitoring of such Agents and the appointment of an Agent shall not relieve the Administrator of its obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall be liable under this Agreement for the acts and omissions of each Agent to the same degree
as if the Administrator had performed such act, or omitted to act, directly under this Agreement.
3.3 Audits . At the Fund’s request, but not more often than annually, the Administrator will provide the Fund with a copy of those portions of the Administrator’s SSAE 18 SOC 1 audit report applicable to the services hereunder. If the Fund requires additional information not included in such audit report, then not more often than annually and on at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice, the Administrator will respond to the Fund’s reasonable due diligence requests (including, without limitation, meeting with the Fund or its Investment Manager or completing reasonable questionnaires). The Administrator’s audit report and any information provided to the Fund pursuant to such due diligence requests shall be deemed to be Administrator’s confidential information.
3.4. Business Continuity Plan . The Administrator agrees to implement and maintain a business continuity plan (including contingency facilities and procedures reasonably designed to provide for periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Portfolios and emergency use of electronic data processing equipment) reasonably designed to permit the Administrator to resume the provision of the services under this Agreement or any exhibit, schedule or annex hereto within forty-eight (48) hours of any event which prevents the Administrator from providing such services (the “ Business Continuity Plan ”). The Administrator shall conduct a test of significant components of its Business Continuity Plan not less frequently than annually, and upon reasonable request, discuss with senior management of the Fund such Business Continuity Plan and test results and answer questions regarding the same.
4. Duties of the Fund . The Fund shall notify the Administrator promptly of any matter of which it becomes aware materially affecting the performance by the Administrator of its services under this Agreement and where the Administrator is providing fund accounting services pursuant to this Agreement shall promptly notify the Administrator as to the accrual of liabilities of the Fund, liabilities of the Fund not appearing on the books of account kept by the Administrator as to the existence, status and proper treatment of reserves, if any, authorized by the Fund. Where the Administrator is providing portfolio compliance monitoring services pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees to notify the Administrator in the event the Fund or any officer, employee or agent of the Fund detects any material non-compliance of the Fund with its investment restrictions, policies and limitations. The Fund agrees to provide such information to the Administrator as may be requested under the banking and securities laws of the United States or other jurisdictions relating to “Know Your Customer” and money laundering prevention rules and regulations (collectively, the “ KYC Requirements ”).
5. Instructions .
5.1. The Administrator shall not be liable for, and shall be indemnified by the Fund against, any and all losses, costs, damages or expenses arising from or as a result of, any action taken or omitted in reliance upon Instructions or upon any other written notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or other instrument believed by it to be genuine and signed or authorized on behalf of the Fund, except to the extent resulting from the Administrator’s own willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence. A list of persons so
authorized by the Fund (“ Authorized Persons ”) is attached hereto as Appendix C and upon which the Administrator may rely until its receipt of notification to the contrary by the Fund.
5.2. Instructions shall include a written request, direction, instruction or certification signed or initialed on behalf of the Fund by one or more Authorized Persons pursuant to procedures agreed by the parties. Those persons authorized to give Instructions may be identified by the Board of Trustees by name and title or position and may include at least one officer empowered by the Board to name other individuals who are Authorized Persons.
5.3. Telephonic or other oral instructions or instructions given by telefax transmission may be given by any Authorized Person.
5.4. With respect to telefax transmissions, the Fund hereby acknowledges that (i) receipt of legible instructions cannot be assured, (ii) the Administrator cannot verify that authorized signatures on telefax instructions are original, and (iii) the Administrator shall not be responsible for losses or expenses incurred through actions taken in reasonable reliance on such telefax instructions. The Fund agrees that authorized telefax instructions shall be conclusive evidence of the Fund’s Instruction to the Administrator to act or to omit to act.
5.5. Instructions given orally will not be confirmed in writing and the lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the Administrator in reasonable reliance upon such oral Instructions given by an Authorized Person.
6. Expenses and Compensation . For the services rendered and the facilities furnished by the Administrator as provided for in this Agreement, the Fund shall pay the Administrator pursuant to this Agreement a fee based on such fee schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing by the Fund and the Administrator (the “ Fee Schedule ”). Additional services performed by the Administrator as requested by the Fund may be subject to additional fees as mutually agreed from time to time. In addition to such fee, the Administrator shall bill the Fund separately for any out-of-pocket disbursements of the Administrator based on the agreed upon Fee Schedule. The foregoing fees and disbursements shall be billed to the Fund by the Administrator and shall be paid promptly by wire transfer or other appropriate means to the Administrator, unless the Fund raises reasonable issues with respect to the bill. Any such contested items may be paid promptly only after the Administrator has provided additional and satisfactory explanation of the expenses.
7. Standard of Care . The Administrator shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care and diligence in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the Administrator shall not thereby be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.
8. General Limitations on Liability . The Administrator shall incur no liability with respect to any failures to perform or delays in performance by postal or courier services or third-party information providers not affiliated with the Administrator (including without limitation those listed on Appendix D ).
8.1. Neither party shall incur liability under this Agreement to the extent it or any agent or entity utilized by it shall be prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason of causes or events beyond its control, including but not limited to any telecommunications, equipment or power failures beyond its control, and:
8.1.1. any Sovereign Event. A “Sovereign Event” shall mean any nationalization; expropriation; devaluation or revaluation by governmental action; confiscation; seizure; cancellation; destruction; act of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or any other act or event beyond a party’s reasonable control;
8.1.2. any provision of any present or future law, regulation or order of the United States or any state thereof, or of any foreign country or political subdivision thereof; and
8.1.3. any provision of any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.
8.2. The Administrator shall not be held accountable or liable for any losses, damages or expenses the Fund or any shareholder or former shareholder of the Fund or any other person may suffer or incur arising from acts, omissions, errors or delays of the Administrator in the performance of its obligations and duties as provided in Section 3 hereof, including without limitation any error of judgment or mistake of law, except a damage, loss or expense resulting from the Administrator’s willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such Administrator’s obligations and duties.
8.3. The Administrator shall not be liable for any misstatement or omission in the Fund’s registration statement, prospectus, shareholder report, offering document or other information filed or made public by the Fund or Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (the “ Distributor ”).
8.4. Except with respect to the Fund’s indemnification obligation with respect to third parties pursuant to Section 11 (Indemnification), in no event and under no circumstances shall the Fund or Administrator be held liable for consequential or indirect damages, loss of profits, damage to reputation or any other special or punitive damages arising under or by reason of any provision of this Agreement or for any act or omissions hereunder, even if it has been advised of the possibility of such damages or losses.
9. Specific Limitations on Liability . In addition to, and without limiting the application of the general limitations on liability contained in Section 8 (General Limitations on Liability), above, absent the Administrator’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct and so long as the Administrator is in compliance with Section 7 (Standard of Care) hereof, the following specific limitations on the Administrator’s liability shall apply to the particular administrative services set forth on Appendix B hereto.
9.1. Portfolio Compliance Monitoring . The secondary compliance monitoring of the investments of the Fund and/or each Portfolio with respect to investment restrictions and policies is subject to parameters that may vary over time and which may be beyond the
control or knowledge of the Administrator. Consequently, the results of the monitoring as notified by the Administrator to the Fund are to be considered merely as an indication of possible non-compliance with the investment restrictions and policies of the Fund and/or Portfolio rather than an affirmative statement as to non-compliance with the investment restrictions and policies. Moreover, the Administrator may not detect a breach and consequently might not notify the Fund thereof if information or data in its possession is inaccurate, incomplete or ambiguous, except to the extent arising from Administrator’s willful malfeasance, bad faith, negligence or breach of the Agreement. The Administrator’s compliance monitoring of the Fund shall categorize the Portfolio’s holdings in a manner substantially similar to the Portfolio’s financial statements. The services provided by the Administrator in monitoring investment restrictions and policies shall not be deemed to be a delegation of the Board’s responsibility to the Administrator.
9.2. Liability Limitations for Fund Accounting Services. Without limiting the provisions in Section 8 hereof, the Administrator’s liability for acts, omissions, errors or delays relating to its fund accounting obligations and duties shall be limited to the amount of any expenses associated with a required recalculation of net asset value per share (“ NAV ”) or any damages (subject to Section 8.4) suffered by shareholders in connection with such recalculation.
9.2.1. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Administrator's causing an error or delay in the determination of NAV may, but does not in and of itself, constitute negligence or reckless or willful misconduct. Pursuant to Section 7, the parties further acknowledge that the Administrator shall be liable and the recalculation of NAV shall be performed with regard to errors in the calculation of the NAV as may be reasonably requested by a Portfolio and agreed to by the Administrator following good faith discussions between them; provided, however, that the Administrator shall be liable and the recalculation of NAV shall be performed (i) with regard to errors to the NAV that are greater than or equal to $.01 per share of a Portfolio (unless the Portfolio determines that such recalculation is not necessary) and (ii) as otherwise agreed by the parties separately in writing. If a recalculation of NAV occurs, the Fund agrees to reprocess shareholder transactions or take such other action(s) so as to eliminate or minimize to the extent possible the liability of the Administrator.
9.2.2 | The Administrator shall not be held accountable or liable to the Fund, any shareholder or former shareholder thereof or any other person for any delays or losses, damages or expenses any of them may suffer or incur resulting from (i) the Administrator's usage of a third party service provider for the purpose of storing records delivered to the Administrator by the Fund and which the Administrator did not create in the performance of its obligations hereunder; (ii) the Administrator’s failure to receive timely and suitable notification concerning quotations or corporate actions relating to or affecting portfolio securities of the Fund unless the delay is due to other services (such as custody and transfer agency) provided by the Administrator or any of its affiliates or agents to the Fund; or (iii) any errors in the computation of NAV based upon or arising out of quotations or information as to corporate actions if received by the Administrator either (a) from |
a source which the Administrator was authorized to rely upon (including, but not limited to, the fair value pricing procedures of any investment manager or adviser of the Fund and those sources listed on Appendix D ), (b) from a source which in the Administrator's reasonable judgment was as reliable a source for such quotations or information as such authorized sources, or (c) relevant information known to the Fund or its service provider which would impact the calculation of NAV but which is not communicated by the Fund or its service providers to the Administrator. To the extent that Fund assets are not in the custody of the Administrator or its affiliate, the Administrator may conclusively rely on any reporting in connection with such assets provided to the Administrator by a third party on behalf of the Fund.
9.2.3. In the event of any error or delay in the determination of such NAV for which the Administrator may be liable, the Fund and the Administrator will consult and make good faith efforts to reach agreement on what actions should be taken in order to mitigate any loss suffered by the Fund or its present or former shareholders after taking into account all relevant factors and alternatives.
10. Transfer Agency Services . The TA will provide the ETF transfer agency and related services described in Appendix B hereto pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
10.1. Limitations on Liability for Transfer Agency Services .
10.1.1. TA shall not be held accountable or liable to the Fund, or any third party if TA is unable to perform its responsibilities in accordance with this Agreement as a result of (i) any errors in the services based upon or arising out of information received in a timely or untimely manner by TA from a source which TA was authorized to rely upon pursuant to a relevant Schedule hereto, (ii) relevant information known to the Fund which would impact the services but which is not communicated by the Fund or its agent to TA, or (iii) the suspension, discontinuance or termination of the transmission of information by information providers for any reason, provided TA shall have made reasonable commercial efforts to procure such transmission.
10.1.2. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that nothing herein is intended to diminish the responsibility of third parties, including without limitation, its clients, custodian banks, brokers, and pricing and administrative agents, under their respective contractual and/or business arrangements with the Fund.
10.1.3. TA shall incur no liability with respect to any failures to perform or delays in performance by postal or courier services or third-party information providers.
10.1.4. TA shall in no event be required to take any action which is in contravention of any applicable law, rule or regulation or any order or judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.
10.1.5. [Reserved]
10.1.6. Without limiting the generality of any of the foregoing provisions, in no event shall TA be liable for any taxes, penalties, fines, costs, charges or fees imposed on the Fund in connection with the services hereunder unless the result of the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the TA or as otherwise agreed between the Parties.
10.1.7. In no event shall TA be responsible for providing investment management services or advice or legal advice under this Agreement, nor shall TA be liable for the investment management services and advice received or given by the Fund or the legal advice received by the Fund from its counsel or other legal counsel.
10.1.8. Without limiting the provisions in Section 8 (General Limitations on Liability) hereof, the Administrator shall have no liability for any damages arising out of (i) the failure of any Authorized Participant to perform its obligations under a Participant Agreement (“ Participant Agreement ” defined for this purpose as any Participant Agreement between the Distributor and an Authorized Participant acknowledged by the Administrator); (ii) activities or statements of sales or wholesaler personnel who are employed by the Distributor or its affiliates; or (iii) (a) the failure of any Authorized Participant to deposit with the Fund’s Custodian sufficient collateral, or to provide additional collateral upon request by the Administrator, in connection with the monitoring services provided for herein on Appendix B ; or (b) any errors in the computation of collateral requirements based upon or arising out of quotations or information received by the Administrator from a source which the Administrator was authorized to rely upon (including, but not limited to, those sources listed on Appendix D ). Any losses sustained by the Fund as a result of or arising from errors in calculations performed by the Administrator in connection with the monitoring or maintenance of collateral positions relating to creation or redemption unit activity shall not exceed the total fees paid to the Administrator in any calendar year; provided, that any such losses occurring prior to the one-year anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement shall not exceed to total fees payable to the Administrator over the course of that first year.
10.2. Representations of TA .
10.2.1. TA represents that it is a registered transfer agent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, it will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement and it will promptly notify the Fund in the event of any material change in its status as a registered transfer agent.
10.2.2. TA has established pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, and other U.S. laws and regulations applicable to it, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance programs, including but not limited to: (1) the development of internal policies, procedures, and controls; (2) the designation of a compliance officer; (3) the implementation of ongoing employee training programs; and (4) the creation of an independent audit function to test such programs.
10.2.3. TA has a customer identification program (CIP) consistent with the rules under section 326 of the USA Patriot Act.
10.2.4. TA is, and will continue to be during the term of this Agreement, in material compliance with all federal and state laws, rules and regulations applicable to its transfer agency business and the performance of its duties, obligations and services under this Agreement.
10.2.5. TA is empowered under Applicable Laws and by its organizational documents to enter into and perform the services contemplated in this Agreement, and this Agreement, when executed and delivered by the parties hereto, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the TA enforceable against the TA in accordance with its terms.
10.2.6. TA: (i) has in place policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the transfer agent rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) and will maintain appropriate records in accordance with said transfer agent rules.
10.2.7. TA has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
10.2.8. TA’s execution of this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the TA or any law or regulation applicable to it.
11. Indemnification . The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrator against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting from any act, omission, error or delay or any third party claim, demand, action or suit, in connection with or arising out of performance of the Administrator’s obligations and duties under this Agreement, not resulting from the Administrator’s material breach of this Agreement or the willful malfeasance, bad faith or negligence of the Administrator in the performance of such obligations and duties. The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
as.
12. Reliance by the Administrator on Opinions of Counsel and Opinions of Certified Public Accountants .
The Administrator may consult with its outside counsel or the Fund’s counsel (with the Fund’s consent) at the Administrator’s expense unless otherwise agreed by the parties in any case where so doing appears to the Administrator to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability in acting upon the written advice of its outside counsel or of the Fund’s counsel.
The Administrator may consult with a certified public accountant or the Fund’s Treasurer in any case where so doing appears to the Administrator to be necessary or desirable. The Administrator shall not be considered to have engaged in any misconduct or to have acted negligently and shall be without liability in acting upon the opinion of such certified public accountant or of the Fund’s Treasurer.
13. Termination of Agreement . This Agreement may be terminated by either party in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
13.1. Term, Notice and Effect . This Agreement shall have an initial term of two (2) years from the date hereof. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one (1) year periods; provided that the Fund may terminate this Agreement at any time upon at least seventy-five (75) days’ written to the Administrator, and the Administrator may terminate this Agreement at any time upon at least one-hundred and eighty (180) days’ written notice to the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, either party may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause, in which case termination shall be effective upon written receipt of notice by the non-terminating party.
13.2. Cause . “ Cause ” shall mean, (a) with respect to the Fund, (i) a material breach by the Fund of the Agreement not cured within 60 days or the Fund is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or there shall be commenced against the Fund a case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in effect; and (b) with respect to the Administrator, that the Administrator (i) has failed in any material respect to perform its duties and obligations hereunder pursuant to the applicable standard of care set forth herein, provided the Fund has notified the Administrator of such failure and the Administrator has not cured such failure within 60 days of such notice, (ii) has been indicted for a crime, has commenced any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or has had such a proceeding initiated against it which is not dismissed within 60 days, or has suffered any other material adverse change in its condition, operations or professional reputation that is determined by the Fund in its reasonable discretion to threaten the continuing performance of services hereunder or the reputation of the Fund, or (iii) it or its parent has been appointed a conservator or receiver by a regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
13.3. Change of Control . The Administrator shall notify the Fund as soon as commercially practicable following the execution of any agreement that would result in, or would be expected to result in, a change of control of the Administrator.
Notwithstanding Section 13.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund upon at least 60 days’ written notice following notice of execution of any such agreement.
13.4. Non-Ordinary Course Transaction . Notwithstanding Section 13.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund, with respect to the Fund or a Portfolio, upon 30 days’ written notice to the Administrator in the event that the Board of the Fund approves (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund or Portfolio, (ii) the merger of the Fund or Portfolio into, or the consolidation of the Fund or Portfolio with, another entity, or (iii) the sale by the Fund or Portfolio of all, or substantially all, of its assets to another entity.
13.5. Separate Termination for Each Portfolio . Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Portfolio.
13.6. Notice and Succession . In the event a termination notice is given by a party hereto, all reasonable costs and expenses associated with any required systems, facilities, procedures, personnel, and other resourced modifications as well as the movement of records and materials and the conversion thereof shall be paid by the Fund for which services shall cease to be performed hereunder; provided, that any special or unduly burdensome arrangements may, upon request of the Fund, be subject to discussion by the parties. Furthermore, to the extent that it appears impracticable given the circumstances to effect an orderly delivery of the necessary and appropriate records of the Administrator to a successor within the time specified in the notice of termination as aforesaid, the Administrator and the Fund agree that this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for such reasonable period as may be required to complete necessary arrangements with a successor.
13.7. Transfer of Records . Upon termination of the Agreement in accordance with this Section 13, the Fund may request the Administrator to promptly deliver to the Fund or to any designated third party all records created and maintained by the Administrator pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement, as well as any Fund records maintained but not created by the Administrator. If such request is provided in writing by the Fund to the Administrator within seventy-five (75) days of the date of termination of the Agreement, the Administrator shall provide to the Fund a certification that all records created by the Administrator pursuant to its obligations under Section 3.1 of this Agreement are accurate and complete. After seventy-five (75) days of the date of termination of this Agreement, no such certification will be provided to the Fund by the Administrator.
14. Confidentiality . The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other 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 obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement or applicable law, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any Regulatory
Authority, any auditor or attorney of the parties hereto, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by Applicable Law.
15. Tape-recording . The Fund authorizes the Administrator to tape record any and all telephonic or other oral Instructions given to the Administrator by or on behalf of the Fund, including from any Authorized Person. This authorization will remain in effect until and unless revoked by the Fund in writing.
16. Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes any other oral or written agreements heretofore in effect between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment or termination is sought.
17. Severability . In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
18. Headings . The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions thereof.
19. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles and each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York in the City of New York and the federal courts located in the City of New York. Each party irrevocably waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding in any of the aforesaid courts and any claim that any such action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Furthermore, each party hereto irrevocably waives any right that it may have to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or related to this Agreement or the services contemplated hereby.
20. Notices . Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Fund addressed to the Fund at 655 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: General Counsel or to such other address as the Fund may designate to the Administrator in writing, or to the Administrator at 50 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Manager, Fund Administration Department, or to such other address as the Administrator may designate to the Fund in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given hereunder to the respective addressee.
21. Binding Effect; Assignment . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Fund and the Administrator and their respective successors and assigns, provided that no party hereto may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the other party. Each party agrees that only the parties to this Agreement and/or their successors in interest shall have a right to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Accordingly, no client of the Fund or other third party shall have any rights under this Agreement and such rights are explicitly disclaimed by the parties.
22. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original. This Agreement shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by each of the parties. A photocopy, portable document format (.pdf) or telefax copy of the Agreement shall be acceptable evidence of the existence of the Agreement and the parties shall be protected in relying on such executed copy.
23. Exclusivity . The services furnished by the Administrator hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Administrator shall be free to furnish similar services to others.
24. Authorization . Each party hereby represents and warrants that it has authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and that an authorized officer has signed this Agreement, Appendices A, B, C, and D (as applicable) and the fee schedule hereto.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Administrative and Transfer Agency Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first written above.
The undersigned acknowledges that (I/we) have received a copy of this document.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
By: ___ /s/Shawn R. McNinch ______________
Name: Shawn R. McNinch
Title: Managing Director
Date: April 2, 2018
PGIM ETF TRUST , on behalf of each Portfolio listed on Appendix A hereto
By: ____ /s/M. Sadiq Peshimam _____________
Name: M. Sadiq Peshimam
Title: Treasurer
Date: April 2, 2018
APPENDIX A
TO
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 2, 2018
The following is a list of Portfolios for which the Administrator shall serve under an Administrative Agency Agreement dated as of April 2, 2018:
PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF
APPENDIX B
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
Services
Fund Accounting Services
The Administrator will provide the following fund accounting services to each Portfolio each day that such Portfolio and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open (each a “Business Day”): transaction processing and review, custodial reconciliation, securities pricing and investment accounting.
Transaction Processing and Review . The Administrator shall input and reconcile each Portfolio’s investment activity including with respect to:
· | Investment taxlots |
· | Income |
· | Dividends |
· | Principal paydowns |
· | Capital activity |
· | Expense accruals |
· | Cash activity |
· | Corporate Reorganizations |
Custodial Reconciliation . The Administrator shall reconcile the following positions of each Portfolio against the records of the Custodian:
· | Securities holdings |
· | Cash including cash transfers, fees assessed and other investment related cash transactions |
· | Trade settlements |
· | Reconcile between accounting records and subadvisers weekly and monthly |
· | Variation margin, initial margin, collateral with brokers |
Securities Pricing . The Administrator shall update each security position of each Portfolio as to the following:
· | Market prices obtained from approved sources including those listed on Appendix D or Fair Valuations obtained from an Authorized Person of the Fund |
· | Mark to market of non-base receivables/payables utilizing approved foreign exchange quotations as quoted in Appendix D |
· | Mark to market of non-base currency positions utilizing the approved sources quoted in Appendix D or Fair Valuations obtained from an Authorized Person of the Fund |
Investment Accounting . The Administrator shall provide the following investment accounting services to each Portfolio:
· | Amortization/accretion at the individual tax lot level |
· | General ledger entries |
· | Book value calculations |
· | Trade Date + 1 accounting |
· | Calculation of Net Asset Value Per Share (“NAV”) as of the close of business of the NYSE |
Portfolio Composition File (PCF) Calculations and Dissemination . The Administrator shall provide the following PCF services for each Portfolio which would require such:
· | Calculation of the PCF cash components inclusive of applicable projections |
· | Dissemination of the PCF to the NSCC |
Other
· | Provide monthly information for corporate actions/spin-offs |
Financial Reporting and Related Regulatory Reporting Services
· | The Administrator shall accumulate information for and prepare |
o | Within an agreed upon production cycle, reports for the Fund as agreed to by the parties, such preparation includes the coordination of all printer and author edits, the review of printer drafts and the coordination of the audit of the Fund by its independent public auditor (e.g. manage open items lists, host weekly audit meeting, etc.) |
o | one monthly report on Form N-PORT beginning June 1, 2018 (or such later date as may be applicable under the Portfolio’s regulatory requirements) |
o | one annual report on Form N-CEN beginning June 1, 2018 (or such later date as may be applicable under the Portfolio’s regulatory requirements) |
Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services
As described herein the Administrator is providing secondary portfolio compliance monitoring services (“Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services”) pursuant to this Agreement. The Fund acknowledges that the Secondary Compliance Services duplicate the compliance program in place for the Fund (i.e., all tests performed as part of Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services are also performed by the Fund or Investment Advisor independently of the Services provided by the Administrator), that the Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services are a double check or backup, and that the Administrator may not provide Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services unless they are duplicative to the compliance testing performed by the Fund, the Investment Advisor or Subadviser. Finally, the Fund understands that this is a condition precedent to the Administrator’s ability to provide Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services. Further, the Fund agrees to notify the Administrator in the event the Fund or any officer, employee
or agent of the Fund detects any material non-compliance with regard to applicable investment restrictions, policies and limitations. The Fund understands that any printed material generated by the system employed by the Administrator to perform any Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services shall display the CRD brand and logo, as appropriate. The Administrator shall perform the following Secondary Compliance Monitoring Services with respect to the investments of each Portfolio on each Business Day unless otherwise specified:
The Administrator shall perform the following compliance monitoring services with respect to the investments of each Portfolio on each Business Day unless otherwise specified:
· | Trade date plus one monitoring of each Portfolio’s investments with respect to the investment restrictions, policies and limitations as described in the current registration statement (including a Portfolio’s most recent prospectus and statement of additional information), which shall be provided to the Administrator by the Fund, and agreed to by the Administrator and Fund |
o | Monitoring of policies, restrictions and limitations with respect to certain derivative investments is performed monthly (or as requested) |
· | Trade date plus one monitoring of each Portfolio’s investments with respect to the 1940 Act requirements and rules thereunder, applicable exchange listing rules and applicable Internal Revenue Code rules and regulations |
o | Rule 17g-1 monitoring shall be performed monthly as requested |
o | Qualifying income and diversification monitoring with respect to Subchapter M compliance shall be performed monthly |
· | Trade date plus one monitoring of other portfolio investment restrictions, policies and limitations at such times as may be agreed in writing by the Fund and Administrator |
· | The Administrator shall notify the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) or such other Authorized Person(s) as may be agreed to by the Fund in the event and at such times as the Administrator detects possible non-compliance with a Portfolio’s investment restrictions, policies and limitations (“Daily Exception Reporting”) |
· | Provide the Fund’s CCO or such other Authorized Person(s) as may be agreed to by the Fund a monthly report summarizing the results of the Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services (“Monthly Summary Reporting”) |
· | Provide the Fund’s Board of Trustees/Directors a quarterly report summarizing the results of the Portfolio Compliance Monitoring Services (“Quarterly Board Summary Reporting”) |
· | Assist the Fund in producing quarterly brokerage-related reports for the Fund’s Board of Trustees as requested by the Fund and agreed to by the Administrator |
The Administrator shall perform the following additional compliance monitoring services with respect to each Portfolio one each Business Day:
· | Provide the Fund’s CCO or such other Authorized Person(s) as may be agreed to by the Fund a daily portfolio compliance summary report (“Daily Summary Reporting”) |
Tax Support Services
The Administrator shall provide the following tax support services to the Fund:
· | Prepare fiscal year-end and excise tax provisions and distribution calculations; |
· | Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual income distributions as described in each Fund’s or Portfolio’s prospectus |
· | Provide any tax analysis of portfolio transactions |
· | Prepare capital gain distribution(s) including spillback amounts as required |
· | Prepare tax-related ROCSOP entries for fund accounting purposes |
· | Provide foreign withholding tax service (custody and by country reports) |
· | Prepare FBAR filings |
· | Review required tax disclosures (such as tax cost, long-term capital gain, tax-exempt designation, foreign tax credits, dividend-received deductions, and qualified dividend income pass throughs) in the Fund’s financial statements |
· | Prepare federal, state and local (if any) income tax returns, including tax return extension requests, for signature by the Fund |
· | Prepare shareholder year-end tax information, including 1099-misc |
· | Calculate the amounts and characterizations of distributions declared during the calendar year for Form 1099/DIV reporting |
· | Provide analysis and necessary adjustments based on passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”) that have been identified by the Fund and communicated to the Administrator |
· | Consult with the Fund’s Authorized Persons on their management and/or investment strategy regarding straddles identified by the Fund and communicated to the Administrator and provide necessary adjustments |
Description of Additional Tax Support Services
· | Facilitate electronic payment of New Jersey taxes |
· | Prepare and maintain tax accruals and necessary adjustments for convertible preferred stock investments |
· | Prepare available tax equalization schedules |
· | Prepare annual Qualified Investment Income |
· | Prepare interim estimates of taxable income and capital gains |
· | Consult with the Fund’s Authorized Persons on various tax issues as requested and with the Fund’s independent public accountant when appropriate |
Performance Measurement Services
The Administrator shall provide the following services related to calculating and reporting Fund performance:
· | If applicable, calculate 30-day SEC yields, 30 Day Distribution Yields and report such returns to the Fund on a monthly basis |
· | Provide and review each Portfolio’s performance information disclosed in its financial statements, prospectus and statement of additional information |
· | At the Fund’s request, report portfolio holdings to identified database companies |
ETF Transfer Agency and Related Services
The Administrator shall perform the following ETF Transfer Agency and Related Services:
I. Creation and Redemption of Creation Units .
It is agreed and understood that the Administrator on the Fund’s behalf, shall process the issuance and redemption of Creation Units of the Fund in blocks of Shares as established in the Prospectus for the Fund (“Creation Units”) to and from such persons as are identified and approved by the Distributor as Authorized Participants and who have entered into a Participant Agreement.
A. | Accept from Authorized Participants creation and redemption orders for communication to the appropriate parties, approval (as may be agreed with the Distributor) and processing. |
B. | Pursuant to creation and redemption orders that the Administrator as transfer agent shall receive from Authorized Participants (and which shall be confirmed by the Distributor, as required) and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall communicate such orders to the Trust or Fund as appropriate. |
C. | Pursuant to such creation orders that the Administrator shall receive (and which shall be confirmed by the Distributor) and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall transfer appropriate trade instructions to the Fund’s custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“Custodian”) and pursuant to such orders register the appropriate number of book entry only Creation Units in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee as a shareholder of the Fund and deliver the Creation Units of the Fund to the appropriate Authorized Participant. |
D. | Pursuant to such redemption orders that the Administrator shall receive from the Authorized Participant and pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, the Administrator shall transfer appropriate trade instructions (which may be irrevocable in certain foreign markets) to the Custodian and, pursuant to such orders, redeem the appropriate number of Creation Units that are delivered to the designated DTC Participant Account of the Custodian for redemption and debit such Creation Units from the account of the Authorized Participant on the register of the Fund. |
E. | On behalf of the Fund, the Administrator shall issue Creation Units for settlement with purchasers through DTC as the purchaser is authorized to receive. Beneficial ownership of ETF Shares shall be shown on the records of DTC and DTC Participants and not on any records maintained by the Administrator. In issuing Creation Units through DTC to an Authorized Participant, the Administrator shall be entitled to rely upon the latest |
Instructions that are received from the Distributor by the Administrator concerning the issuance and delivery of such Creation Units for settlement.
F. | The Administrator shall not issue on behalf of the Fund any Creation Units where it has received an Instruction from the Fund or the Distributor or written notification from any federal or state authority that the sale of the ETF Shares has been suspended or discontinued, and the Administrator shall be reasonably entitled to rely upon such Instructions or written notification. |
G. | Upon the issuance of Creation Units as provided herein, the Administrator shall not be responsible for the payment of any original issue or other taxes, if any, required to be paid by the Fund or the Distributor in connection with such issuance. |
H. | The Administrator will act only upon Instruction from the Fund and/or the Distributor in addressing any failure in the delivery of cash, securities and/or shares in connection with the creation and redemption of Creation Units. The Administrator shall not be required to advance, expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur or become exposed to financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder. |
II. Recordkeeping .
The Administrator shall record the creation and redemption of Creation Units and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad 14(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a record of the total number of Creation Units that are authorized, issued and outstanding based upon data provided to the Administrator by the Fund or the Distributor. The Administrator shall also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total number of Creation Units authorized, issued and outstanding; provided however that the Administrator shall not be responsible for monitoring the issuance of such Creation Units or compliance with any laws relating to the validity of the issuance or the legality of the sale of such Creation Units or shares.
III. Services Related to the Monitoring of Cash Collateral .
The Fund acknowledges that accepting cash collateral or cash in lieu from Authorized Participants in connection with Creation Unit activity entails a variety of risks (including market risk, counterparty risk and settlement risk), which the Fund retains notwithstanding the provision by the Administrator of services related to monitoring of cash collateral. The services provided by the Administrator are administrative and do not change the nature of the relationship between the Fund and any Authorized Participant. The Fund agrees that it bears all investment risk of any cash collateral posted by any Authorized Participant and agrees further to participate in (including entering into required documentation) the Custodian’s CMS program with respect to cash collateral. The Administrator shall have no obligation with respect to determining adequacy or sufficiency of collateral required or received other than calling cash collateral in accordance with the terms set forth in the Participant Agreement and Operational Procedures. The Fund agrees to cooperate with the Administrator with respect to resolutions of issues or exceptions as they may arise with respect to collateral posted by Authorized Participants and agrees instruct the Administrator as to any realization by the Fund upon cash collateral posted, including any
measures to be taken by the Fund or Investment Advisor, for example, buying in, of securities or ETF shares. The Administrator shall perform the following specific services:
(a) | Identify creation and redemption Creation Unit activity for which collateral is required, on a daily basis |
(b) | Calculate required collateral for creation and redemption on a daily basis in accordance with the collateral ratios set forth in the Participant Agreements, utilizing a market price from a third-party pricing source as mutually agreed |
(c) | Mark to market daily the value of such collateral positions using market prices from a third-party pricing source as mutually agreed |
(d) | Communicate collateral requirements as determined in (b) and (c) to Authorized Participants as necessary |
(e) | Provide reporting as to open collateral positions and notify the Fund in the event of collateral delivered by Authorized Participants |
(f) | Establish Operational Procedures with the Fund and Authorized Participants (based upon the form provided by the Administrator) which set forth the detailed requirements in connection with the processing requirements as to cash collateral posted by Authorized Participants |
APPENDIX C
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
List of Authorized Persons
See attached.
APPENDIX D TO
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY AGREEMENT
AUTHORISED SOURCES
The Investment Manager and Fund hereby acknowledge that the Administrator is authorized to use the following authorized sources and their successors and assigns for financial reporting, compliance monitoring, performance measurement, pricing (including corporate actions, dividends and rights offering), and foreign exchange quotations, to assist it in fulfilling its obligations under the aforementioned Agreement; provided, however, that the Administrator acknowledges that authorized sources from the below list may only be utilized in the manner discussed herein pursuant to the Portfolio’s pricing matrix contained in its valuation procedures. The parties further acknowledge that this Appendix D may be amended as mutually agreed from time to time without requiring a formal amendment to the Agreement.
BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL RESEARCH
BLOOMBERG
RUSSELL/MELLON
FUND MANAGERS / CLIENT DIRECTED
INTERACTIVE DATA CORPORATION
REPUTABLE BROKERS
THOMSON REUTERS
SUBCUSTODIAN BANKS
SIX FINANCIAL
REPUTABLE FINANCIAL PUBLICATIONS
STOCK EXCHANGES
STAT PRO
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL
WALL STREET OFFICE*
PRICING DIRECT
MARKIT
SUPER DERIVATIVES
S&P
DOW JONES
JP MORGAN
SQX (SECURITIES QUOTE EXCHANGE)
BARCLAYS
FITCH SOLUTIONS
MOODYS
FORD EQUITY RESEARCH
FTSE GROUP
INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY GROUP (ITG)
WM COMPANY
WOLTERS KLUWER FINANCIAL SERVICES
DEPOSITORIES (DTC, EUROCLEAR, ETC)
CLEARING BANKS (JP MORGAN CHASE, BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, ETC)
OeKB
CITIGROUP INDEX LLC
MORNINGSTAR INC.
* By using Wall Street Office (“WSO”) as an authorized information source, the Investment Manager and Fund are each authorizing the Administrator to share confidential information regarding bank loan transactions with WSO. Investment Manager and Fund each acknowledge and agree that, while WSO must maintain such information confidentially, WSO is permitted to utilize such information on an anonymous basis in furtherance of its products and services.