PRINCIPAL INVESTORS FUND INC
485BPOS, EX-99.G1.B, 2000-12-05
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                                CUSTODY AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT,  dated as of October 27, 2000  between  Principal  Investors
Fund, Inc., a corporation  organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Maryland  having its principal  office and place of business at 711 High Street,
Des Moines,  Iowa  50392-0870  (the "Fund") and The Bank of New York, a New York
corporation  authorized to do a banking business having its principal office and
place of business at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 ("Custodian").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

that for and in consideration  of the mutual promises  hereinafter set forth the
Fund and Custodian agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

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

          1.   "Authorized  Person"  shall  be  any  person,  whether  or not an
               officer or employee of the Fund,  duly  authorized  by the Fund's
               board to execute any Certificate or to give any Oral  Instruction
               with  respect  to  one  or  more  Accounts,  such  persons  to be
               designated in a Certificate  annexed  hereto as Schedule I hereto
               or such other  Certificate  as may be received by Custodian  from
               time to time.

          2.   "BNY  Affiliate"  shall mean any office,  branch or subsidiary of
               The Bank of New York Company, Inc.

          3.   "Book-Entry  System"  shall  mean  the  Federal  Reserve/Treasury
               book-entry  system for receiving and delivering  securities,  its
               successors and nominees.

          4.   "Business Day" shall mean any day on which Custodian and relevant
               Depositories are open for business.

          5.   "Certificate"  shall  mean  any  notice,  instruction,  or  other
               instrument in writing,  authorized or required by this  Agreement
               to be given to Custodian, which is actually received by Custodian
               by letter or facsimile  transmission  and signed on behalf of the
               Fund by an Authorized Person or a person  reasonably  believed by
               Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

          6.   "Composite  Currency  Unit"  shall  mean  the  Euro or any  other
               composite  currency unit consisting of the aggregate of specified
               amounts of specified currencies,  as such unit may be constituted
               from time to time.

          7.   "Depository"  shall include (a) the  Book-Entry  System,  (b) the
               Depository  Trust  Company,  (c) any  other  clearing  agency  or
               securities depository registered with the Securities and Exchange
               Commission  identified to the Fund from time to time, and (d) the
               respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

          8.   "Foreign  Depository" shall mean (a) Euroclear,  (b) Clearstrearn
               Banking, societe anonyme, (c) each Eligible Securities Depository
               as defined  in Rule 17f-7  under the  Investment  Company  Act of
               1940, as amended,  identified to the Fund from time to time,  and
               (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

          9.   "Instructions"   shall   mean   communications   transmitted   by
               electronic or  telecommunications  media,  including  S.W.I.F.T.,
               computer-to-computer interface, or dedicated transmission lines.

          10.  "Oral Instructions"  shall mean verbal  instructions  received by
               Custodian from an Authorized  Person or from a person  reasonably
               believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

          1l.  "Series" shall mean the various  portfolios,  if any, of the Fund
               listed on Schedule II hereto,  and if none are listed  references
               to Series shall be references to the Fund.

          12.  "Securities" shall include, without limitation,  any common stock
               and other equity  securities,  bonds,  debentures  and other debt
               securities,  notes,  mortgages  or  other  obligations,  and  any
               instruments   representing  rights  to  receive,   purchase,   or
               subscribe  for the same,  or  representing  any  other  rights or
               interests  therein (whether  represented by a certificate or held
               in a Depository or by a Subcustodian).

          13.  "Subcustodian"  shall mean a bank  (including any branch thereof)
               or other financial  institution (other than a Foreign Depository)
               located  outside  the U.S.  which is  utilized  by  Custodian  in
               connection  with the  purchase,  sale or  custody  of  Securities
               hereunder and identified to the Fund from time to time, and their
               respective successors and nominees.

                                   ARTICLE II

                       APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS;

                   REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS

         1.  (a)  The  Fund  hereby  appoints  Custodian  as  custodian  of  all
Securities and cash at any time  delivered to Custodian  during the term of this
Agreement, and authorizes Custodian to hold Securities in registered form in its
name or the name of its nominees.  Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and
agrees to  establish  and  maintain  one or more  securities  accounts  and cash
accounts for each Series in which  Custodian  will hold  Securities  and cash as
provided  herein.  Custodian  shall maintain books and records  segregating  the
assets of each Series from the assets of any other Series.  Such accounts (each,
an "Account"; collectively, the "Accounts") shall be in the name of the Fund.

                  (b) Custodian may from time to time establish on its books and
records  such  sub-accounts  within each Account as the Fund and  Custodian  may
agree upon (each a "Special Account"),  and Custodian shall reflect therein such
assets as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.

                  (c)  Custodian may from time to time  establish  pursuant to a
written  agreement  with  and  for  the  benefit  of a  broker,  dealer,  future
commission  merchant  or  other  third  party  identified  in a  Certificate  or
Instructions  such  accounts  on such  terms  and  conditions  as the  Fund  and
Custodian  shall  agree,  and  Custodian  shall  transfer to such  account  such
Securities and money as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.

         2. The Fund hereby represents and warrants,  which  representations and
warranties  shall be continuing  and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed  upon each
delivery of a Certificate or each giving of Oral Instructions or Instructions by
the Fund, that:

                  (a) It is duly  organized  and existing  under the laws of the
jurisdiction  of its  organization,  with full power to carry on its business as
now  conducted,  to enter into this  Agreement,  and to perform its  obligations
hereunder;

                  (b) This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed  and
delivered by the Fund,  approved by a  resolution  of its board,  constitutes  a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, and there is no statute,  regulation, rule, order or judgment binding
on it,  and no  provision  of  its  charter  or  by-laws,  nor of any  mortgage,
indenture,  credit  agreement or other  contract  binding on it or affecting its
property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;

                  (c) It is conducting  its business in  substantial  compliance
with all  applicable  laws and  requirements,  both state and  federal,  and has
obtained all regulatory  licenses,  approvals and consents necessary to carry on
its business as now conducted;

                  (d) It will not use the  services  provided  by  Custodian
hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule
or regulation applicable to the Fund;

                  (e) Its board or its foreign  custody  manager,  as defined in
Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the `"40 Act"),
has  determined  that  use  of  each  Subcustodian  (including  any  Replacement
Custodian) and each Depository which Custodian or any Subcustodian is authorized
to utilize in accordance with Section l(a) of Article III hereof,  satisfies the
applicable  requirements of the `40 Act and Rules 17f-4 or 17f-5 thereunder,  as
the case may be;

                  (f) The Fund or its investment adviser has determined that the
custody  arrangements of each Foreign Depository  provide reasonable  safeguards
against the custody risks associated with  maintaining  assets with such Foreign
Depository within the meaning of Rule 17f-7 under the `40 Act.;

                  (g)  It  is  fully  informed  of  the  protections  and  risks
associated  with  various  methods  of   transmitting   Instructions   and  Oral
Instructions  and delivering  Certificates to Custodian,  understands that there
may be more  secure  methods of  transmitting  or  delivering  the same than the
methods selected by the Fund, agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be
utilized provide a commercially  reasonable degree of protection in light of its
particular   needs  and   circumstances,   and   acknowledges  and  agrees  that
Instructions need not be reviewed by Custodian,  may conclusively be presumed by
Custodian to have been given by person(s) duly authorized, and may be acted upon
as given;

                  (h)  It  shall  manage  its  borrowings,   including,  without
limitation,  any advance or overdraft (including any day-light overdraft) in the
Accounts, so that the aggregate of its total borrowings for each Series does not
exceed the amount such Series is permitted to borrow under the `40 Act;

                  (i) Its  transmission or giving of, and Custodian  acting upon
and in reliance on, Certificates, Instructions, or Oral Instructions pursuant to
this Agreement shall at all times comply with the `40 Act;

                  (j) It shall impose and maintain  restrictions  on the
destinations  to which cash may be disbursed by Instructions to ensure that each
disbursement is for a proper purpose; and

                  (k) It has the right to make the pledge and grant the security
interest and security entitlement to Custodian contained in Section I of Article
V hereof,  free of any right of redemption or prior claim of any other person or
entity,  such pledge and such grants shall have a first  priority  subject to no
setoffs,  counterclaims,  or  other  liens  or  grants  prior  to or on a parity
therewith,  and it shall take such additional  steps as Custodian may require to
assure such priority.

         3. The Fund hereby  covenants  that it shall from time to time complete
and execute and deliver to Custodian upon Custodian's  request a Form FR U-I (or
successor  form)  whenever the Fund borrows from  Custodian any money to be used
for the  purchase  or  carrying  of margin  stock as defined in Federal  Reserve
Regulation U.

                                   ARTICLE III

                          CUSTODY AND RELATED SERVICES

         1.  (a)  Subject  to the  terms  hereof,  the  Fund  hereby  authorizes
Custodian to hold any Securities received by it from time to time for the Fund's
account.  Custodian  shall be entitled to utilize  Depositories,  Subcustodians,
and, subject to subsection(c)  of this Section 1, Foreign  Depositories,  to the
extent  possible in connection with its  performance  hereunder.  Securities and
cash held in a  Depository  or Foreign  Depository  will be held  subject to the
rules,  terms and  conditions of such entity.  Securities  and cash held through
Subcustodians  shall be held subject to the terms and  conditions of Custodian's
agreements  with such  Subcustodians.  Subcustodians  may be  authorized to hold
Securities  in Foreign  Depositories  in which such  Subcustodians  participate.
Unless otherwise required by local law or practice or a particular  subcustodian
agreement,  Securities deposited with a Subcustodian,  a Depositary or a Foreign
Depository  will be held in a  commingled  account,  in the  name of  Custodian,
holding  only  Securities  held by Custodian  as  custodian  for its  customers.
Custodian  shall  identify  on its books and  records  the  Securities  and cash
belonging to the Fund, whether held directly or indirectly through Depositories,
Foreign Depositories, or Subcustodians.  Custodian shall, directly or indirectly
through Subcustodians,  Depositories, or Foreign Depositories,  endeavor, to the
extent  feasible,  to hold  Securities in the country or other  jurisdiction  in
which the principal  trading market for such  Securities is located,  where such
Securities  are  to  be  presented  for   cancellation   and/or  payment  and/or
registration,  or where such Securities are acquired.  Custodian at any time may
cease  utilizing  any  Subcustodian  and/or may  replace a  Subcustodian  with a
different Subcustodian (the "Replacement Subcustodian").  In the event Custodian
selects a Replacement Subcustodian, Custodian shall not utilize such Replacement
Subcustodian  until  after the  Fund's  board or  foreign  custody  manager  has
determined  that  utilization  of such  Replacement  Subcustodian  satisfies the
requirements of the `40 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder.

                  (b)  Unless   Custodian   has   received  a   Certificate   or
Instructions to the contrary, Custodian shall hold Securities indirectly through
a Subcustodian only if (i) the Securities are not subject to any right,  charge,
security  interest,  lien or claim of any kind in favor of such  Subcustodian or
its  creditors or  operators,  including a receiver or trustee in  bankruptcy or
similar  authority,  except  for a claim  of  payment  for the safe  custody  or
administration  of  Securities on behalf of the Fund by such  Subcustodian,  and
(ii) beneficial  ownership of the Securities is freely transferable  without the
payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration.

                  (c) With respect to each Foreign  Depository,  Custodian shall
exercise reasonable care,  prudence,  and diligence (i) to provide the Fund with
an analysis of the custody risks  associated  with  maintaining  assets with the
Foreign Depository, and (ii) to monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis
and  promptly  notify the Fund of any  material  change in such risks.  The Fund
acknowledges  and agrees that such analysis and monitoring  shall be made on the
basis of, and limited by,  information  gathered from  Subcustodians  or through
publicly available  information  otherwise obtained by Custodian,  and shall not
include any evaluation of Country Risks. As used herein the term "Country Risks"
shall  mean  with  respect  to  any  Foreign   Depository:   (a)  the  financial
infrastructure  of the  country  in which it is  organized,  (b) such  country's
prevailing  settlement  practices,  (c) nationalization,  expropriation or other
governmental actions, (d) such country's regulation of the banking or securities
industry, (e) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and
(f)  market   conditions   which  affect  the  order   execution  of  securities
transactions or affect the value of securities.

          2.   Custodian  shall  furnish  the  Fund  with  an  advice  of  daily
transactions  (including a confirmation  of each transfer of  Securities)  and a
monthly summary of all transfers to or from the Accounts.

          3.   With respect to all Securities held hereunder,  Custodian  shall,
unless otherwise instructed to the contrary:

                  (a)      Receive all income and other  payments and advise the
Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;

                  (b)      Present for payment  and receive the amount paid upon
all  Securities  which may mature and advise the Fund as promptly as practicable
of any such amounts due but not paid;

                  (c) Forward to the Fund copies of all information or documents
that it may actually receive from an issuer of Securities  which, in the opinion
of Custodian, are intended for the beneficial owner of Securities;

                  (d) Execute,  as  custodian,  any  certificates  of ownership,
affidavits,  declarations  or  other  certificates  under  any tax  laws  now or
hereafter in effect in connection with the collection of bond and note coupons;

                  (e)  Hold  directly  or  through  a   Depository,   a  Foreign
Depository,  or a  Subcustodian  all rights and similar  Securities  issued with
respect to any Securities credited to an Account hereunder; and

                  (f)  Endorse for collection checks, drafts or other negotiable
instruments.

         4. (a)  Custodian  shall  notify  the Fund of rights  or  discretionary
actions with respect to Securities held  hereunder,  and of the date or dates by
when such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken,  provided  that
Custodian  has actually  received,  from the issuer or the  relevant  Depository
(with  respect to Securities  issued in the United  States) or from the relevant
Subcustodian,  Foreign Depository, or a nationally or internationally recognized
bond or corporate action service to which Custodian subscribes, timely notice of
such  rights or  discretionary  corporate  action  or of the date or dates  such
rights must be exercised or such action must be taken.  Absent actual receipt of
such  notice,  Custodian  shall have no  liability  for failing to so notify the
Fund.

                  (b)  Whenever  Securities  (including,  but  not  limited  to,
warrants,  options,  tenders,  options to tender or non-mandatory puts or calls)
confer  discretionary  rights on the Fund or provide for discretionary action or
alternative  courses of action by the Fund,  the Fund shall be  responsible  for
making any decisions  relating  thereto and for  directing  Custodian to act. In
order  for  Custodian  to  act,  it  must  receive  the  Fund's  Certificate  or
Instructions  at  Custodian's  offices,  addressed as Custodian may from time to
time request, not later than noon (New York time) at least two (2) Business Days
prior to the last scheduled date to act with respect to such Securities (or such
earlier date or time as Custodian may specify to the Fund).  Absent  Custodian's
timely  receipt of such  Certificate  or  Instructions,  Custodian  shall not be
liable for  failure to take any action  relating  to or to  exercise  any rights
conferred by such Securities.

         5. All voting rights with respect to  Securities,  however  registered,
shall be exercised by the Fund or its  designee.  For  Securities  issued in the
United States,  Custodian's only duty shall be to mail to the Fund any documents
(including  proxy  statements,  annual  reports  and  signed  proxies)  actually
received by  Custodian  relating to the  exercise  of such voting  rights.  With
respect to Securities issued outside of the United States, Custodian's only duty
shall be to provide the Fund with access to a provider of global proxy  services
at the Fund's request.  The Fund shall be responsible  for all costs  associated
with its use of such services.

         6. Custodian  shall promptly  advise the Fund upon  Custodian's  actual
receipt of  notification  of the partial  redemption,  partial  payment or other
action  affecting less than all Securities of the relevant  class. If Custodian,
any Subcustodian, any Depository, or any Foreign Depository holds any Securities
in which the Fund has an interest as part of a fungible  mass,  Custodian,  such
Subcustodian,  Depository,  or Foreign  Depository  may select the Securities to
participate in such partial  redemption,  partial payment or other action in any
non-discriminatory manner that it customarily uses to make such selection.

         7. Custodian shall not under any  circumstances  accept bearer interest
coupons  which have been stripped  from United  States  federal,  state or local
government  or agency  securities  unless  explicitly  agreed to by Custodian in
writing.

         8. The Fund  shall be liable  for all  taxes,  assessments,  duties and
other  governmental  charges,  including  any  interest or penalty  with respect
thereto ("Taxes"),  with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of the
Fund or any transaction related thereto.  The Fund shall indemnify Custodian and
each  Subcustodian  for  the  amount  of  any  Tax  that  Custodian,   any  such
Subcustodian or any other  withholding  agent is required under  applicable laws
(whether  by  assessment  or  otherwise)  to pay on behalf  of, or in respect of
income earned by or, payments or distributions made to or for the account of the
Fund  (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier  failure to
withhold).  Custodian  shall,  or shall instruct the applicable  Subcustodian or
other  withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to
be withheld under  applicable law upon  collection of any dividend,  interest or
other  distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income
from the  sale,  loan or other  transfer  of any  Security.  In the  event  that
Custodian or any Subcustodian is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on
behalf of the Fund,  Custodian is hereby  authorized  to withdraw  cash from any
cash account in the amount  required to pay such Tax and to use such cash, or to
remit such cash to the appropriate  Subcustodian or other withholding agent, for
the timely payment of such Tax in the manner  required by applicable law. If the
aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax,
Custodian  shall promptly  notify the Fund of the additional  amount of cash (in
the appropriate  currency)  required,  and the Fund shall directly  deposit such
additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such
notice,  for use by Custodian as specified  herein.  In the event that Custodian
reasonably believes that Fund is eligible,  pursuant to applicable law or to the
provisions of any tax treaty,  for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax
which is  otherwise  required to be withheld or paid on behalf of the Fund under
any  applicable  law,   Custodian   shall,  or  shall  instruct  the  applicable
Subcustodian  or withholding  agent to, either  withhold or pay such Tax at such
reduced rate or refrain  from  withholding  or paying such Tax, as  appropriate;
provided  that  Custodian  shall  have  received  from the Fund all  documentary
evidence of residence or other  qualification for such reduced rate or exemption
required to be received under such  applicable law or treaty.  In the event that
Custodian reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax
is  obtainable  only by means of an  application  for refund,  Custodian and the
applicable  Subcustodian  shall  have  no  responsibility  for the  accuracy  or
validity  of any  forms  or  documentation  provided  by the  Fund to  Custodian
hereunder.  The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless  Custodian and
each Subcustodian in respect of any liability arising from any  underwithholding
or  underpayment  of any Tax which results from the  inaccuracy or invalidity of
any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be
a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns  notwithstanding
the termination of this Agreement.

         9. (a) For the purpose of  settling  Securities  and  foreign  exchange
transactions,  the Fund shall  provide  Custodian  with  sufficient  immediately
available funds for all  transactions by such time and date as conditions in the
relevant  market  dictate.  As used herein,  "sufficient  immediately  available
funds" shall mean either (i)  sufficient  cash  denominated  in U.S.  dollars to
purchase the necessary foreign currency,  or (ii) sufficient  applicable foreign
currency,  to settle the  transaction.  Custodian  shall  provide  the Fund with
immediately  available funds each day which result from the actual settlement of
all  sale   transactions,   based  upon  advices   received  by  Custodian  from
Subcustodians,  Depositories,  and Foreign Depositories.  Such funds shall be in
U.S. dollars or such other currency as the Fund may specify to Custodian.

                  (b) Any foreign exchange  transaction effected by Custodian in
connection  with this Agreement may be entered with Custodian or a BNY Affiliate
acting as principal or otherwise through  customary  banking channels.  The Fund
may issue a  standing  Certificate  or  Instructions  with  respect  to  foreign
exchange  transactions,   but  Custodian  may  establish  rules  or  limitations
concerning  any foreign  exchange  facility made available to the Fund. The Fund
shall bear all risks of investing in Securities or holding cash denominated in a
foreign currency.

                  (c) To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing
or other  information  services in connection with this Agreement,  Custodian is
authorized to utilize any vendor  (including  brokers and dealers of Securities)
reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information. The
Fund  understands  that  certain  pricing  information  with  respect to complex
financial  instruments  (e.g.,  derivatives) may be based on calculated  amounts
rather than actual market transactions and may not reflect actual market values,
and that the variance  between such calculated  amounts and actual market values
may or may  not be  material.  Where  vendors  do not  provide  information  for
particular  Securities  or other  property,  an  Authorized  Person  may  advise
Custodian in a Certificate  regarding the fair market value of, or provide other
information  with respect to, such Securities or property as determined by it in
good  faith.  Custodian  shall not be liable  for any  loss,  damage or  expense
incurred as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other
information utilized by Custodian hereunder.

         10.  Custodian  shall  promptly  send to the  Fund (a) any  reports  it
receives from a Depository on such  Depository's  system of internal  accounting
control,  and (b) such reports on its own system of internal  accounting control
as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                        PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES;

                               CREDITS TO ACCOUNT

         1. Promptly  after each purchase or sale of Securities by the Fund, the
Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate or  Instructions,  or with respect
to a purchase or sale of a Security generally required to be settled on the same
day the purchase or sale is made, Oral  Instructions  specifying all information
Custodian  may  reasonably  request to settle such  purchase or sale.  Custodian
shall account for all purchases and sales of Securities on the actual settlement
date unless otherwise agreed by Custodian.

         2. The Fund  understands  that when  Custodian is instructed to deliver
Securities  against payment,  delivery of such Securities and receipt of payment
therefor may not be completed  simultaneously.  Notwithstanding any provision in
this  Agreement  to  the  contrary,  settlements,  payments  and  deliveries  of
Securities may be effected by Custodian or any  Subcustodian  in accordance with
the  customary  or  established  securities  trading  or  securities  processing
practices and procedures in the  jurisdiction in which the  transaction  occurs,
including,  without  limitation,  delivery to a purchaser or dealer therefor (or
agent) against  receipt with the expectation of receiving later payment for such
Securities.  The Fund  assumes  full  responsibility  for all risks,  including,
without limitation, credit risks, involved in connection with such deliveries of
Securities.

         3. Custodian may, as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate
agreement  with the Fund,  credit the Account with the  proceeds  from the sale,
redemption or other  disposition  of Securities or interest,  dividends or other
distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment
therefor. All such credits shall be conditional until Custodian's actual receipt
of final  payment  and may be  reversed  by  Custodian  to the extent that final
payment is not  received.  Payment  with  respect to a  transaction  will not be
"final" until  Custodian shall have received  immediately  available funds which
under  applicable  local law,  rule and/or  practice  are  irreversible  and not
subject  to any  security  interest,  levy or other  encumbrance,  and which are
specifically applicable to such transaction.

                                    ARTICLE V

                           OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS

         1. If Custodian  should in its sole discretion  advance funds on behalf
of any Series which results in an overdraft (including,  without limitation, any
day-light  overdraft) because the money held by Custodian in an Account for such
Series shall be  insufficient to pay the total amount payable upon a purchase of
Securities specifically allocated to such Series, as set forth in a Certificate,
Instructions  or Oral  Instructions,  or if an overdraft  arises in the separate
account  of a Series  for some  other  reason,  including,  without  limitation,
because of a reversal of a  conditional  credit or the purchase of any currency,
or if the Fund is for any other reason  indebted to Custodian  with respect to a
Series, including any indebtedness to The Bank of New York under the Fund's Cash
Management and Related Services  Agreement (except a borrowing for investment or
for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities as collateral pursuant to a
separate  agreement and subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article),
such overdraft or indebtedness shall be deemed to be a loan made by Custodian to
the Fund for such Series payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date
incurred  at  a  rate  per  annum   ordinarily   charged  by  Custodian  to  its
institutional  customers,  as such rate may be  adjusted  from time to time.  In
addition,  the Fund hereby  agrees that  Custodian  shall to the maximum  extent
permitted  by law  have a  continuing  lien,  security  interest,  and  security
entitlement  in  and  to  any  property,   including,  without  limitation,  any
investment  property or any financial  asset, of such Series at any time held by
Custodian  for the  benefit of such  Series or in which such  Series may have an
interest which is then in Custodian's  possession or control or in possession or
control of any third party acting in  Custodian's  behalf.  The Fund  authorizes
Custodian,  in its sole discretion,  at any time to charge any such overdraft or
indebtedness  together with interest due thereon  against any balance of account
standing to such Series' credit on Custodian's books.

         2. If the Fund borrows money from any bank (including  Custodian if the
borrowing is pursuant to a separate  agreement)  for investment or for temporary
or emergency purposes using Securities held by Custodian hereunder as collateral
for  such  borrowings,  the  Fund  shall  deliver  to  Custodian  a  Certificate
specifying  with  respect to each such  borrowing:  (a) the Series to which such
borrowing  relates;  (b) the name of the bank,  (c) the amount of the borrowing,
(d) the time and date, if known,  on which the loan is to be entered  into,  (e)
the total amount  payable to the Fund on the borrowing  date, (f) the Securities
to be delivered as collateral  for such loan,  including the name of the issuer,
the title and the  number of shares or the  principal  amount of any  particular
Securities,  and (g) a statement  specifying whether such loan is for investment
purposes  or for  temporary  or  emergency  purposes  and that  such  loan is in
conformance with the `40 Act and the Fund's prospectus.  Custodian shall deliver
on the  borrowing  date  specified in a  Certificate  the  specified  collateral
against  payment by the lending  bank of the total  amount of the loan  payable,
provided that the same conforms to the total amount  payable as set forth in the
Certificate.  Custodian  may,  at the  option  of the  lending  bank,  keep such
collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights
therein  given  the  lending  bank  by  virtue  of any  promissory  note or loan
agreement.  Custodian shall deliver such Securities as additional  collateral as
may be specified  in a  Certificate  to  collateralize  further any  transaction
described in this  Section.  The Fund shall cause all  Securities  released from
collateral  status to be returned  directly to Custodian,  and  Custodian  shall
receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In
the event that the Fund fails to specify in a Certificate  the Series,  the name
of the  issuer,  the title and number of shares or the  principal  amount of any
particular  Securities to be delivered as  collateral  by  Custodian,  Custodian
shall not be under any obligation to deliver any Securities.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                          SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

         1.  Whenever  the  Fund  shall  sell  any  shares  issued  by the  Fund
("Shares")  it  shall  deliver  to  Custodian  a  Certificate  or   Instructions
specifying the amount of money and/or Securities to be received by Custodian for
the sale of such  Shares  and  specifically  allocated  to an  Account  for such
Series.

         2. Upon receipt of such money,  Custodian shall credit such money to an
Account in the name of the Series for which such money was received.

         3. Except as provided hereinafter,  whenever the Fund desires Custodian
to make payment out of the money held by Custodian  hereunder in connection with
a  redemption  of any Shares,  it shall  furnish to Custodian a  Certificate  or
Instructions  specifying the total amount to be paid for such Shares.  Custodian
shall make payment of such total amount to the transfer agent  specified in such
Certificate  or  Instructions  out  of  the  money  held  in an  Account  of the
appropriate Series.

         4. Notwithstanding the above provisions regarding the redemption of any
Shares,  whenever  any  Shares are  redeemed  pursuant  to any check  redemption
privilege which may from time to time be offered by the Fund, Custodian,  unless
otherwise  instructed by a Certificate or Instructions,  shall, upon presentment
of such check,  charge the amount thereof  against the money held in the Account
of the Series of the Shares being  redeemed,  provided,  that if the Fund or its
agent timely advises  Custodian that such check is not to be honored,  Custodian
shall return such check unpaid.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                      PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS

         1. Whenever the Fund shall  determine to pay a dividend or distribution
on Shares it shall furnish to Custodian  Instructions  or a Certificate  setting
forth with respect to the Series  specified  therein the date of the declaration
of such  dividend or  distribution,  the total amount  payable,  and the payment
date.

         2. Upon the payment date specified in such Instructions or Certificate,
Custodian  shall pay out of the money held for the  account  of such  Series the
total amount payable to the dividend agent of the Fund specified therein.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONCERNING CUSTODIAN

         1. (a) Except as otherwise  expressly provided herein,  Custodian shall
not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including
attorneys'  and  accountants'  fees  (collectively,  "Losses"),  incurred  by or
asserted  against the Fund,  except those Losses arising out of Custodian's  own
negligence or willful misconduct.  Custodian shall have no liability  whatsoever
for the action or inaction of any  Depositories,  or,  except to the extent such
action or inaction is a direct result of the Custodian's  failure to fulfill its
duties  hereunder,  of any  Foreign  Depositories.  With  respect  to any Losses
incurred  by the Fund as a  result  of the  acts or any  failures  to act by any
Subcustodian  (other than a BNY  Affiliate),  Custodian  shall take  appropriate
action to recover  such  Losses from such  Subcustodian;  and  Custodian's  sole
responsibility and liability to the Fund shall be limited to amounts so received
from such Subcustodian  (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by Custodian).
In no event  shall  Custodian  be  liable  to the Fund or any  third  party  for
special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business,
arising in connection with this Agreement,  nor shall BNY or any Subcustodian be
liable:  (i) for acting in accordance with any Certificate or Oral  Instructions
actually received by Custodian and reasonably  believed by Custodian to be given
by an Authorized Person; (ii) for acting in accordance with Instructions without
reviewing the same; (iii) for  conclusively  presuming that all Instructions are
given only by person(s) duly authorized;  (iv) for  conclusively  presuming that
all  disbursements  of cash directed by the Fund,  whether by a Certificate,  an
Oral  Instruction,  or an  Instruction,  are in accordance  with Section 2(i) of
Article  II  hereof,  (v)  for  holding  property  in  any  particular  country,
including,   but  not  limited  to,  Losses   resulting  from   nationalization,
expropriation  or other  governmental  actions;  regulation  of the  banking  or
securities industry; exchange or currency controls or restrictions, devaluations
or fluctuations;  availability of cash or Securities or market  conditions which
prevent the  transfer of property or  execution of  Securities  transactions  or
affect  the value of  property;  (vi) for any  Losses  due to forces  beyond the
control of Custodian, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, acts
of war or terrorism,  insurrection,  revolution, nuclear or natural catastrophes
or  acts  of  God,  or   interruptions,   loss  or  malfunctions  of  utilities,
communications  or computer  (software  and  hardware)  services;  (vii) for the
insolvency of any Subcustodian (other than a BNY Affiliate), any Depository, or,
except  to the  extent  such  action  or  inaction  is a  direct  result  of the
Custodian's failure to fulfill its duties hereunder, any Foreign Depository;  or
(viii) for any Losses  arising from the  applicability  of any law or regulation
now or  hereafter in effect,  or from the  occurrence  of any event,  including,
without  limitation,  implementation or adoption of any rules or procedures of a
Foreign Depository,  which may affect, limit, prevent or impose costs or burdens
on, the  transferability,  convertibility,  or  availability  of any currency or
Composite Currency Unit in any country or on the transfer of any Securities, and
in no event shall  Custodian be obligated to substitute  another  currency for a
currency (including a currency that is a component of a Composite Currency Unit)
whose  transferability,   convertibility  or  availability  has  been  affected,
limited,  or prevented by such law,  regulation or event, and to the extent that
any such law,  regulation  or event  imposes a cost or charge upon  Custodian in
relation to the  transferability,  convertibility,  or  availability of any cash
currency  or  Composite  Currency  Unit,  such cost or  charge  shall be for the
account of the Fund,  and  Custodian  may treat any  account  denominated  in an
affected  currency as a group of separate  accounts  denominated in the relevant
component currencies.

                  (b)  Custodian  may enter into  subcontracts,  agreements  and
understandings with any BNY Affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions
as it deems necessary or appropriate to perform its services hereunder.  No such
subcontract,  agreement or  understanding  shall  discharge  Custodian  from its
obligations hereunder.

                  (c) The Fund agrees to indemnify  Custodian and hold Custodian
harmless  from and  against  any and all  Losses  sustained  or  incurred  by or
asserted  against  Custodian  by  reason  of or as a  result  of any  action  or
inaction,  or  arising  out  of  Custodian's  performance  hereunder,  including
reasonable  fees and  expenses of counsel  incurred by Custodian in a successful
defense  of  claims  by the  Fund;  provided  however,  that the Fund  shall not
indemnify  Custodian for those Losses arising out of Custodian's  own negligence
or willful  misconduct.  This indemnity shall be a continuing  obligation of the
Fund,  its  successors  and assigns,  notwithstanding  the  termination  of this
Agreement.

         2. Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  Custodian shall
be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for:

                  (a) Any Losses  incurred by the Fund or any other  person as a
result of the receipt or acceptance of fraudulent, forged or invalid Securities,
or Securities which are otherwise not freely transferable or deliverable without
encumbrance in any relevant market;

                  (b) The  validity  of the issue of any  Securities  purchased,
sold,  or written by or for the Fund,  the  legality  of the  purchase,  sale or
writing thereof, or the propriety of the amount paid or received therefor;

                  (c) The  legality  of the sale or  redemption  of any  Shares,
or the propriety of the amount to be received or paid therefor;

                  (d) The legality of the declaration or payment of any dividend
or distribution by the Fund;

                  (e)      The legality of any borrowing by the Fund;

                  (f) The  legality  of any loan of  portfolio  Securities,  nor
shall  Custodian be under any duty or  obligation  to see to it that any cash or
collateral delivered to it by a broker,  dealer or financial institution or held
by it at any time as a result of such loan of portfolio  Securities  is adequate
security  for the Fund  against  any loss it might  sustain  as a result of such
loan, which duty or obligation shall be the sole  responsibility of the Fund. In
addition, Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to see that any broker,
dealer or financial  institution to which  portfolio  Securities of the Fund are
lent makes  payment to it of any  dividends or interest  which are payable to or
for the account of the Fund during the period of such loan or at the termination
of such loan, provided, however that Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in
the event that such dividends or interest are not paid and received when due;

                  (g) The  sufficiency  or value of any amounts of money  and/or
Securities held in any Special  Account in connection  with  transactions by the
Fund; whether any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member
makes payment to the Fund of any  variation  margin  payment or similar  payment
which the Fund may be  entitled to receive  from such  broker,  dealer,  futures
commission  merchant or  clearing  member,  or whether  any payment  received by
Custodian  from any  broker,  dealer,  futures  commission  merchant or clearing
member is the amount the Fund is entitled  to receive,  or to notify the Fund of
Custodian's receipt or non-receipt of any such payment; or

                  (h) Whether any  Securities at any time  delivered to, or held
by it or by any  Subcustodian,  for the  account  of the Fund  and  specifically
allocated  to a  Series  are  such as  properly  may be held by the Fund or such
Series under the  provisions  of its then current  prospectus  and  statement of
additional  information,  or to ascertain  whether any transactions by the Fund,
whether or not involving  Custodian,  are such  transactions  as may properly be
engaged in by the Fund.

         3.  Custodian  may,  with  respect  to  questions  of law  specifically
regarding an Account,  obtain the advice of counsel and shall be fully protected
with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in conformity  with
such advice.

         4. Custodian shall be under no obligation to take action to collect any
amount  payable on  Securities  in default,  or if payment is refused  after due
demand and presentment.

         5. Custodian  shall have no duty or  responsibility  to inquire  into,
make   recommendations,   supervise,   or  determine  the   suitability  of  any
transactions affecting any Account.

         6. The Fund  shall  pay to  Custodian  the fees and  charges  as may be
specifically  agreed  upon from time to time and such other fees and  charges at
Custodian's  standard  rates for such  services as may be  applicable.  The Fund
shall  reimburse  Custodian for all costs  associated with the conversion of the
Fund's  Securities  hereunder and the transfer of Securities and records kept in
connection  with this  Agreement.  The Fund shall also  reimburse  Custodian for
out-of-pocket  expenses  which are a normal  incident of the  services  provided
hereunder.

         7.  Custodian  has the right to debit any cash  account  for any amount
payable by the Fund in connection  with any and all  obligations  of the Fund to
Custodian. In addition to the rights of Custodian under applicable law and other
agreements,  at any time  when  the  Fund  shall  not  have  honored  any of its
obligations to Custodian,  Custodian  shall have the right without notice to the
Fund to retain or set-off,  against such obligations of the Fund, any Securities
or cash  Custodian or a BNY Affiliate  may directly or  indirectly  hold for the
account of the Fund, and any  obligations  (whether  matured or unmatured)  that
Custodian or a BNY  Affiliate  may have to the Fund in any currency or Composite
Currency  Unit. Any such asset of, or obligation to, the Fund may be transferred
to Custodian and any BNY Affiliate in order to effect the above rights.

         8.  The  Fund  agrees  to  forward  to  Custodian  a   Certificate   or
Instructions  confirming Oral  Instructions by the close of business of the same
day that such Oral Instructions are given to Custodian. The Fund agrees that the
fact that such confirming Certificate or Instructions are not received or that a
contrary Certificate or contrary Instructions are received by Custodian shall in
no way affect the validity or enforceability of transactions  authorized by such
Oral  Instructions  and  effected by  Custodian.  If the Fund elects to transmit
Instructions through an on-line communications system offered by Custodian,  the
Fund's use  thereof  shall be subject to the Terms and  Conditions  attached  as
Appendix I hereto,  and Custodian  shall provide user and  authorization  codes,
passwords  and  authentication  keys  only to an  Authorized  Person or a person
reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

         9. The books and records pertaining to the Fund which are in possession
of Custodian  shall be the property of the Fund. Such books and records shall be
prepared and maintained as required by the `40 Act and the rules thereunder. The
Fund,  or its  authorized  representatives,  shall have access to such books and
records during Custodian's normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of
the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by Custodian to
the Fund or its authorized  representative.  Upon the reasonable  request of the
Fund,  Custodian  shall  provide in hard copy or on  computer  disc any  records
included in any such  delivery  which are  maintained by Custodian on a computer
disc, or are similarly maintained.

         10. It is  understood  that  Custodian  is  authorized  to  supply  any
information  regarding the Accounts which is required by any law,  regulation or
rule now or hereafter in effect.  The Custodian  shall provide the Fund with any
report obtained by the Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of
a  Depository,  and with such  reports on its own system of internal  accounting
control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.

         11.  Custodian  shall  have no  duties or  responsibilities  whatsoever
except such duties and  responsibilities  as are  specifically set forth in this
Agreement,  and no covenant or obligation shall be implied against  Custodian in
connection with this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   TERMINATION

         1. Either of the parties  hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving
to the other party a notice in writing  specifying the date of such termination,
which  shall be not less than  ninety (90) days after the date of giving of such
notice.  In the event such notice is given by the Fund, it shall be  accompanied
by a copy of a resolution  of the board of the Fund,  certified by the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating
a  successor  custodian  or  custodians,  each of which shall be a bank or trust
company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits.  In the event such notice is given by Custodian,  the Fund shall, on or
before the termination date,  deliver to Custodian a copy of a resolution of the
board of the  Fund,  certified  by the  Secretary  or any  Assistant  Secretary,
designating  a  successor  custodian  or  custodians.  In the  absence  of  such
designation  by the Fund,  Custodian may designate a successor  custodian  which
shall be a bank or trust  company  having  not less  than  $2,000,000  aggregate
capital,  surplus and undivided profits.  Upon the date set forth in such notice
this Agreement shall terminate,  and Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of
acceptance  by the  successor  custodian  on that date  deliver  directly to the
successor  custodian all Securities and money then owned by the Fund and held by
it as Custodian,  after  deducting all fees,  expenses and other amounts for the
payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled.

         2. If a successor  custodian is not designated by the Fund or Custodian
in accordance with the preceding Section, the Fund shall upon the date specified
in the  notice  of  termination  of this  Agreement  and  upon the  delivery  by
Custodian of all Securities  (other than Securities which cannot be delivered to
the Fund) and money then owned by the Fund be deemed to be its own custodian and
Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities  pursuant
to this Agreement,  other than the duty with respect to Securities  which cannot
be delivered to the Fund to hold such  Securities  hereunder in accordance  with
this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         1. The Fund  agrees  to  furnish  to  Custodian  a new  Certificate  of
Authorized  Persons  in the event of any change in the then  present  Authorized
Persons.  Until  such new  Certificate  is  received,  Custodian  shall be fully
protected  in acting upon  Certificates  or Oral  Instructions  of such  present
Authorized Persons.

         2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this  Agreement  to be  given  to  Custodian,  shall  be  sufficiently  given if
addressed to Custodian  and received by it at its offices at 100 Church  Street,
New York,  New York 10286,  or at such other place as Custodian may from time to
time designate in writing.

         3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently  given if addressed
to the Fund and  received by it at its offices at 711 High  Street,  Des Moines,
Iowa  50392-0870,or  at such  other  place as the  Fund  may  from  time to time
designate in writing.

         4. Each and every right granted to either party  hereunder or under any
other document delivered hereunder or in connection  herewith,  or allowed it by
law or equity,  shall be cumulative  and may be exercised  from time to time. No
failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any
right will operate as a waiver thereof,  nor will any single or partial exercise
by either party of any right  preclude any other or future  exercise  thereof or
the exercise of any other right.

         5. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be
invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any exclusive jurisdiction,  the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be
affected  thereby.  This  Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner
except  by a  written  agreement  executed  by both  parties,  except  that  any
amendment  to the  Schedule  I hereto  need be  signed  only by the Fund and any
amendment to Appendix I hereto need be signed only by Custodian.  This Agreement
shall  extend  to and  shall be  binding  upon the  parties  hereto,  and  their
respective successors and assigns; provided,  however, that this Agreement shall
not be assignable by either party without the written consent of the other.

         6. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of New York,  without  regard to conflicts of laws  principles
thereof. The Fund and Custodian hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or
federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute
arising  hereunder.  The Fund hereby  irrevocably  waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to
the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim
that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum. The Fund and Custodian each hereby  irrevocably waives any and all rights
to trial by jury in any legal  proceeding  arising  out of or  relating  to this
Agreement.

         7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,  each
of which  shall be  deemed  to be an  original,  but  such  counterparts  shall,
together, constitute only one instrument.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Fund and Custodian have caused this Agreement
to be executed by their respective  officers,  thereunto duly authorized,  as of
the day and year first above written.

                           PRINCIPAL INVESTORS FUND, INC.


                                /s/A. S. Filean
                           By: ________________________________________
                           Title:  Senior Vice President & Secretary

                           Tax Identification No:

                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                /s/Edward G. McGann
                           By: ________________________________________
                           Title:     EDWARD G. MCGANN
                                      VICE PRESIDENT


Principal
         Financial
         Group

                                 SIGNATURE LIST

The undersigned,  Arthur S. Filean, Senior Vice President and Secretary,  hereby
certifies  that  each of the  persons  named  below has been  duly  elected  and
qualified, and as of the date hereof, is an officer of the Corporation,  holding
the office set forth  opposite his or her name, and signature set forth opposite
his or her name is his or her genuine signature.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                                  Office                                       Signature
<S>                                   <C>                                          <C>

                                                                                    /s/J. Barry Griswell
J. Barry Griswell                     Chairman of the Board and                    ______________________
                                      Director

                                                                                    /s/Ralph C. Eucher
Ralph C. Eucher                       President and Director                       ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Ronald L. Danilson
Ronald L. Danilson                    Executive Vice President                     ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Kirk L. Tibbetts
Kirk L. Tibbetts                      Senior Vice President and CFO                ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Arthur S. Filean
Arthur S. Filean                      Senior Vice President and Secretary          ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Craig L. Bassett
Craig L. Bassett                      Treasurer                                    ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Michael D. Roughton
Michael D. Roughton                   Counsel                                      ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Ernest H. Gillum
Ernest H. Gillum                      Vice President and Assistant Secretary       ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Jane E. Karli
Jane E. Karli                         Assistant Treasurer                          ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Layne A. Rasmussen
Layne A. Rasmussen                    Controller                                   ______________________

                                                                                    /s/Jean B. Schustek
Jean B. Schustek                      Assistant Vice President and                 ______________________
                                      Assistant Secretary

                                                                                    /s/Traci L. Weldon
Traci L. Weldon                       Assistant Counsel                            ______________________

                                                        /s/A. S. Filean
                                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                      A.S. Filean: Senior Vice President and Secretary

Barbara R. Duncan
--------------------------
Notary

         Iowa Seal      Barbara R. Duncan
                        My Commission Expires
                        April 7,2002
</TABLE>


Securities offered through Princor Financial Services  Corporation,  a member of
the Principal  Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0200 (800) 247-4123 / FAX
(515) 248-4745




                                   Schedule II

                                     Series

 Principal Investors Fund, Inc.

High Quality Short-Term Bond Fund
High Quality  Intermediate-Term Bond Fund
High Quality  Long-Term  Bond  Fund
Government  Securities  Fund
Bond and  Mortgage Securities  Fund
LargeCap  Growth Fund
Partners  LargeCap  Growth Fund I
MidCap Growth Fund
Partners MidCap Growth Fund
SmallCap Growth Fund
SmallCap Blend Fund
LargeCap  Blend Fund
LargeCap  Value Fund
SmallCap  Value Fund
MidCap Value Fund
MidCap Blend Fund
International Fund I
International SmallCap Fund
International Emerging  Markets Fund
LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund
Partners  LargeCap Value Fund
Partners  SmallCap  Growth Fund I
Partners  LargeCap Blend Fund
Partners  MidCap Value Fund
MidCap S&P 400 Index Fund
SmallCap  S&P 600 Index Fund
Real  Estate Fund
Partners  SmallCap  Growth Fund II
Partners  LargeCap  Growth Fund II
Money Market Fund
Balanced Fund


                                   APPENDIX I

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                  ON-LINE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (THE "SYSTEM")

                              TERMS AND CONDITIONS

         1. License;  Use.  Upon  delivery to an  Authorized  Person or a person
reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person the Fund of software
enabling  the Fund to obtain  access to the System (the  "Software"),  Custodian
grants to the Fund a personal,  nontransferable and nonexclusive  license to use
the  Software  solely for the  purpose  of  transmitting  Written  Instructions,
receiving reports, making inquiries or otherwise communicating with Custodian in
connection with the  Account(s).  The Fund shall use the Software solely for its
own internal and proper business  purposes and not in the operation of a service
bureau.  Except as set forth herein,  no license or right of any kind is granted
to the Fund with respect to the Software.  The Fund  acknowledges that Custodian
and its suppliers retain and have title and exclusive  proprietary rights to the
Software,  including  any trade  secrets  or other  ideas,  concepts,  know-how,
methodologies,  or information  incorporated therein and the exclusive rights to
any copyrights, trademarks and patents (including registrations and applications
for registration of either),  or other statutory or legal protections  available
in respect  thereof.  The Fund  further  acknowledges  that all or a part of the
Software may be  copyrighted or  trademarked  (or a  registration  or claim made
therefor) by Custodian or its suppliers. The Fund shall not take any action with
respect to the Software  inconsistent  with the foregoing  acknowledgments,  nor
shall you attempt to decompile,  reverse  engineer or modify the  Software.  The
Fund may not copy,  sell, lease or provide,  directly or indirectly,  any of the
Software  or  any  portion  thereof  to  any  other  person  or  entity  without
Custodian's  prior  written  consent.  The Fund  may not  remove  any  statutory
copyright  notice  or other  notice  included  in the  Software  or on any media
containing  the  Software.  The Fund  shall  reproduce  any such  notice  on any
reproduction  of the Software and shall add any  statutory  copyright  notice or
other notice to the Software or media upon Custodian's request.

          2.   Equipment. The Fund shall obtain and maintain at its own cost and
expense all equipment and services,  including but not limited to communications
services,  necessary  for it to utilize the  Software  and obtain  access to the
System,   and  Custodian  shall  not  be  responsible  for  the  reliability  or
availability of any such equipment or services.

         3.  Proprietary  Information.  The  Software,  any  data  base  and any
proprietary data, processes, information and documentation made available to the
Fund (other  than which are or become  part of the public  domain or are legally
required to be made available to the public) (collectively,  the "Information"),
are the exclusive and confidential  property of Custodian or its suppliers.  The
Fund  shall  keep  the  Information  confidential  by using  the  same  care and
discretion that the Fund uses with respect to its own confidential  property and
trade  secrets,  but not less than  reasonable  care.  Upon  termination  of the
Agreement or the Software license granted herein for any reason,  the Fund shall
return  to  Custodian  any and all  copies of the  Information  which are in its
possession or under its control.

         4.  Modifications.  Custodian reserves the right to modify the Software
from time to time and the Fund shall  install new  releases  of the  Software as
Custodian  may  direct.  The Fund  agrees not to modify or attempt to modify the
Software without  Custodian's prior written consent.  The Fund acknowledges that
any modifications to the Software,  whether by the Fund or Custodian and whether
with or without Custodian's consent, shall become the property of Custodian.

         5. NO  REPRESENTATIONS  OR WARRANTIES.  CUSTODIAN AND ITS MANUFACTURERS
AND  SUPPLIERS  MAKE  NO  WARRANTIES  OR  REPRESENTATIONS  WITH  RESPECT  TO THE
SOFTWARE,  SERVICES  OR ANY  DATABASE,  EXPRESS OR  IMPLIED,  IN FACT OR IN LAW,
INCLUDING  BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES  OF  MERCHANTABILITY  AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR  PURPOSE.  THE FUND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SOFTWARE,  SERVICES AND ANY
DATABASE ARE  PROVIDED  "AS IS." IN NO EVENT SHALL  CUSTODIAN OR ANY SUPPLIER BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES,  WHETHER DIRECT,  INDIRECT  SPECIAL,  OR  CONSEQUENTIAL,
WHICH  THE FUND MAY  INCUR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE  SOFTWARE,  SERVICES  OR ANY
DATABASE, EVEN IF CUSTODIAN OR SUCH SUPPLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES.  IN NO EVENT SHALL CUSTODIAN OR ANY SUPPLIER BE LIABLE FOR ACTS
OF  GOD,  MACHINE  OR  COMPUTER   BREAKDOWN  OR  MALFUNCTION,   INTERRUPTION  OR
MALFUNCTION OF COMMUNICATION FACILITIES, LABOR DIFFICULTIES OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR
OR DISSIMILAR CAUSE BEYOND THEIR REASONABLE CONTROL.

         6.  Security:  Reliance;  Unauthorized  Use.  The Fund  will  cause all
persons  utilizing  the  Software  and System to treat all  applicable  user and
authorization codes, passwords and authentication keys with extreme care, and it
will  establish  internal  control and  safekeeping  procedures  to restrict the
availability  of the  same to  persons  duly  authorized  to give  Instructions.
Custodian is hereby irrevocably authorized to act in accordance with and rely on
Instructions received by it through the System. The Fund acknowledges that it is
its sole  responsibility  to assure that only  persons duly  authorized  use the
System  and  that  Custodian  shall  not  be  responsible  nor  liable  for  any
unauthorized use thereof.

         7. System  Acknowledgments.  Custodian  shall  acknowledge  through the
System its receipt of each transmission  communicated through the System, and in
the absence of such acknowledgment Custodian shall not be liable for any failure
to act in accordance with such transmission and the Fund may not claim that such
transmission was received by Custodian.

          8.   EXPORT  RESTRICTIONS.  EXPORT OF THE  SOFTWARE IS  PROHIBITED  BY
UNITED  STATES LAW.  THE FUND MAY NOT UNDER ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES  RESELL,  DIVERT,
TRANSFER,  TRANSSHIP OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF THE SOFTWARE (IN ANY FORM) IN OR TO
ANY OTHER  COUNTRY.  IF CUSTODIAN  DELIVERED THE SOFTWARE TO THE FUND OUTSIDE OF
THE  UNITED  STATES,  THE  SOFTWARE  WAS  EXPORTED  FROM THE  UNITED  STATES  IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPORTER ADMINISTRATION  REGULATIONS.  DIVERSION CONTRARY TO
U.S. LAW IS PROHIBITED.  The Fund hereby authorizes Custodian to report its name
and address to  government  agencies to which  Custodian  is required to provide
such information by law.

          9.   ENCRYPTION.  The Fund acknowledges and agrees that encryption may
not be available for every  communication  through the System,  or for all data.
The Fund agrees that Custodian may  deactivate  any  encryption  features at any
time,  without notice or liability to the Fund, for the purpose of  maintaining,
repairing or troubleshooting the System or the Software.

<PAGE>

                        FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT made as of October 27, 2000,  between  Principal  Investors Fund,
Inc. (the "Fund") and The Bank of New York ("BNY").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  the Fund desires to appoint BNY as a Foreign  Custody Manager
on the terms and conditions contained herein;

         WHEREAS,  BNY desires to serve as a Foreign Custody Manager and perform
the duties set forth herein on the terms and condition contained herein;

         NOW THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the mutual  promises  hereinafter
contained in this Agreement, the Fund and BNY hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                   DEFINITIONS

         Whenever  used in this  Agreement,  the  following  words and  phrases,
unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:

          1.   "Board"  shall mean the board of  directors or board of trustees,
               as the case may be, of the Fund.

          2.   "Eligible  Foreign  Custodian" shall have the meaning provided in
               the Rule.

          3.   "Monitoring  System"  shall mean a system  established  by BNY to
               fulfill the  Responsibilities  specified in clauses 1(d) and 1(e)
               of Article III of this Agreement.

          4.   "Responsibilities"  shall mean the responsibilities  delegated to
               BNY under the Rule as a Foreign  Custody  Manager with respect to
               each  Specified  Country  and  each  Eligible  Foreign  Custodian
               selected  by  BNY,  as  such   responsibilities  are  more  fully
               described in Article III of this Agreement.

          5.   "Rule" shall mean Rule 17f-5 under the Investment  Company Act of
               1940, as amended on June 12, 2000.

          6.   "Specified  Country" shall mean each country listed on Schedule I
               attached  hereto and each country,  other than the United States,
               constituting  the primary  market for a security  with respect to
               which the Fund has given  settlement  instructions to The Bank of
               New  York  as  custodian  (the  "Custodian")  under  its  Custody
               Agreement with the Fund.


                                   ARTICLE II.
                        BNY AS A FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER

1. The Fund on behalf of its Board hereby  delegates to BNY with respect to each
Specified Country the Responsibilities.

         2. BNY accepts the Board's delegation of Responsibilities  with respect
to each  Specified  Country and agrees in performing the  Responsibilities  as a
Foreign Custody Manager to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such
as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of the Fund's assets would
exercise.

         3. BNY  shall  provide  to the Board at such  times as the Board  deems
reasonable  and  appropriate  based on the  circumstances  of the Fund's foreign
custody  arrangements  written  reports  notifying the Board of the placement of
assets  of the  Fund  with a  particular  Eligible  Foreign  Custodian  within a
Specified Country and of any material change in the arrangements  (including the
contract  governing such  arrangements)  with respect to assets of the Fund with
any such Eligible Foreign Custodian.

                                  ARTICLE III.
                                RESPONSIBILITIES

         1. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,  BNY shall with respect
to each Specified  Country select an Eligible Foreign  Custodian.  In connection
therewith,  BNY  shall:  (a)  determine  that  assets  of the Fund  held by such
Eligible  Foreign  Custodian  will be subject to reasonable  care,  based on the
standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market in which such Eligible
Foreign  Custodian  operates,  after  considering  all  factors  relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets,  including,  without limitation,  those contained in
paragraph  (c)(1) of the Rule;  (b) determine  that the Fund's  foreign  custody
arrangements  with each  Eligible  Foreign  Custodian  are governed by a written
contract with the Custodian  which will provide  reasonable  care for the Fund's
assets based on the  standards  specified in paragraph  (c)(1) of the Rule;  (c)
determine that each contract with an Eligible  Foreign  Custodian  shall include
the provisions  specified in paragraph  (c)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of the Rule or,
alternatively,  in  lieu  of  any  or  all  of  such  (c)(2)(i)(A)  through  (F)
provisions,  such other  provisions as BNY  determines  will  provide,  in their
entirety,  the same or a greater level of care and  protection for the assets of
the Fund as such specified  provisions;  (d) monitor  pursuant to the Monitoring
System  the  appropriateness  of  maintaining  the  assets  of the  Fund  with a
particular  Eligible Foreign Custodian  pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of the Rule
and the performance of the contract  governing such arrangement;  and (e) advise
the Fund whenever BNY determines under the Monitoring System that an arrangement
(including,  any material  change in the contract  governing  such  arrangement)
described in preceding clause (d) no longer meets the requirements of the Rule.

         2. For purposes of clause (d) of preceding  Section 1 of this  Article,
BNY's  determination  of  appropriateness  shall not  include,  nor be deemed to
include,  any  evaluation  of Country  Risks  associated  with  investment  in a
particular  country.  For purposes  hereof,  "Country Risks" shall mean systemic
risks of holding assets in a particular country including but not limited to (a)
an Eligible Foreign Custodian"s use of any depositories that act as or operate a
system or a transnational  system for the central  handling of securities or any
equivalent book-entries;  (b) such country's financial infrastructure;  (c) such
country's  prevailing  custody and settlement  practices;  (d)  nationalization,
expropriation or other  governmental  actions;  (e) regulation of the banking or
securities  industry;  (f)  currency  controls,  restrictions,  devaluations  or
fluctuations;  and (g) market  conditions which affect the orderly  execution of
securities transactions or affect the value of securities.

                                   ARTICLE IV.
                                 REPRESENTATIONS

         1. The Fund hereby  represents  that:  (a) this Agreement has been duly
authorized,  executed and delivered by the Fund, constitutes a valid and legally
binding  obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, and no
statute,  regulation,  rule,  order,  judgment or  contract  binding on the Fund
prohibits  the Fund's  execution  or  performance  of this  Agreement;  (b) this
Agreement  has been  approved and ratified by the Board at a meeting duly called
and at  which a  quorum  was at all  times  present;  and (c) the  Board  or its
investment  advisor has considered the Country Risks  associated with investment
in each  Specified  Country  and will have  considered  such risks  prior to any
settlement  instructions  being given to the Custodian with respect to any other
Specified Country.

         2. BNY hereby  represents  that: (a) BNY is duly organized and existing
under  the  laws of the  State  of New  York,  with  full  power to carry on its
businesses as now conducted, and to enter into this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by BNY,  constitutes  a valid and legally  binding  obligation  of BNY
enforceable  in accordance  with its terms,  and no statute,  regulation,  rule,
order,  judgment  or  contract  binding  on BNY  prohibits  BNY's  execution  or
performance  of this  Agreement;  and (c) BNY  has  established  the  Monitoring
System.

                                   ARTICLE V.
                                 CONCERNING BNY

         1.  BNY  shall  not  be  liable  for  any  costs,  expenses,   damages,
liabilities or claims,  including attorneys' and accountants' fees, sustained or
incurred by, or asserted against,  the Fund except to the extent the same arises
out of the failure of BNY to exercise the care,  prudence and diligence required
by Section 2 of Article II hereof.  In no event shall BNY be liable to the Fund,
the Board, or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or
for lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement.

         2. The Fund shall  indemnify  BNY and hold it harmless from and against
any  and  all  costs,  expenses,  damages,   liabilities  or  claims,  including
attorneys' and accountants' fees, sustained or incurred by, or asserted against,
BNY by reason or as a result of any action or inaction,  or arising out of BNY's
performance  hereunder,  provided  that the Fund shall not  indemnify BNY to the
extent any such costs,  expenses,  damages,  liabilities or claims arises out of
BNY's failure to exercise the reasonable care,  prudence and diligence  required
by Section 2 of Article II hereof.

         3. For its services  hereunder,  the Fund agrees to pay to BNY such
compensation and out-of-pocket expenses as shall be mutually agreed.

         4. BNY shall have only such duties as are  expressly  set forth herein.
In no  event  shall  BNY  be  liable  for  any  Country  Risks  associated  with
investments in a particular country.

                                   ARTICLE VI.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         1. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Fund and
BNY,  and no  provision  in the  Custody  Agreement  between  the  Fund  and the
Custodian  shall affect the duties and  obligations of BNY hereunder,  nor shall
any  provision  in this  Agreement  affect  the  duties  or  obligations  of the
Custodian under the Custody Agreement.

         2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to BNY, shall be sufficiently given if received by it
at its offices at 100 Church Street, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10286, or at
such other place as BNY may from time to time designate in writing.

         3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be  sufficiently  given if received
by it at its offices at 711 High Street, Des Moines,  Iowa 50392-0870 or at such
other place as the Fund may from time to time designate in writing.

         4. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be
invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction,  the validity,  legality
and enforceability of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be affected
thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a
written agreement  executed by both parties.  This Agreement shall extend to and
shall be binding upon the parties hereto,  and their  respective  successors and
assigns; provided however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either
party without the written consent of the other.

         5. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of the State of New York,  without  regard to conflicts of laws  principles
thereof.  The Fund and BNY  hereby  consent  to the  jurisdiction  of a state or
federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute
arising  hereunder.  The Fund hereby  irrevocably  waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to
the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim
that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.  The Fund and BNY each  hereby  irrevocably  waives any and all rights to
trial  by  jury in any  legal  proceeding  arising  out of or  relating  to this
Agreement.

         6. The parties hereto agree that in performing hereunder, BNY is acting
solely on behalf of the Fund and no contractual or service relationship shall be
deemed to be established hereby between BNY and any other person.

         7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,  each
of which  shall be  deemed  to be an  original,  but  such  counterparts  shall,
together, constitute only one instrument.

         8. This Agreement shall terminate  simultaneously  with the termination
of the Custody Agreement  between the Fund and the Custodian,  and may otherwise
be  terminated  by either  party  giving to the other  party a notice in writing
specifying  the date of such  termination,  which  shall be not less than thirty
(30) days after the date of such notice.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Fund and BNY have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their respective  officers,  thereunto duly authorized,  as of the date first
above written.

                           PRINCIPAL INVESTORS FUND, INC.


                                 /s/ A. S. Filean
                           By:  _______________________________________

                           Title: Senior Vice President and Secretary

                           Tax Identification No.:

                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                 /s/ Edward G. McGann
                           By:  _______________________________________
                           Title:     EDWARD G. McGANN
                                      VICE PRESIDENT





                                   SCHEDULE 1

                               Specified Countries








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