SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO
POS AMI, 1997-04-28
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                                                               File No. 811-8876
    


                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-2

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                     THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   [X]

   
                               AMENDMENT NO. 4            [X]
    

                              SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                        The Bank of Nova Scotia Building
                     P.O. Box 501, George Town, Grand Cayman
                       CAYMAN ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (809) 949-2001
               Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code


   
                                 Alan R. Dynner
                 24 FEDERAL STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)
    
<PAGE>

   
     Throughout this Registration Statement,  information concerning Senior Debt
Portfolio (the  "Portfolio") is incorporated by reference from the  Registration
Statement  on Form N-2 of Eaton Vance  Prime Rate  Reserves  (File No.  33-25731
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act")) (the "Amendment"),  which was
filed  electronically  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on April 24,
1997 (Accession No. 0000950156-97-000405). The Amendment contains the prospectus
and  statement  of  additional  information  ("SAI") of Eaton  Vance  Prime Rate
Reserves (the "Feeder Fund"),  which invests  substantially all of its assets in
the Portfolio.
    

                                     PART A

     Responses  to Items 1, 2, 3.2,  and 4 through 7 of Part A have been omitted
pursuant to Paragraph 3 of  Instruction  G of the General  Instructions  to Form
N-2.

ITEM 3.  FEE TABLE AND SYNOPSIS

     Not Applicable.

ITEM 8.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT

   
     (1) The Portfolio is a closed-end,  non-diversified  management  investment
company  which was  organized as a trust under the laws of the State of New York
on May 1,  1992.  Interests  in the  Portfolio  are  issued  solely  in  private
placement  transactions  that do not involve any  "public  offering"  within the
meaning of Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.  Investments  in the  Portfolio  may be
made only by U.S. and foreign investment  companies,  common or commingled trust
funds,  organizations  or trusts  described in Sections  401(a) or 501(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or similar organizations
or entities that are "accredited  investors"  within the meaning of Regulation D
under the 1933 Act. This Registration Statement, as amended, does not constitute
an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any "security"  within
the meaning of the 1933 Act.

     (2) - (4) Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning the
Portfolio's  investment  objective  and  investment  practices  from "The Fund's
Investment  Objective"  and  "Investment  Policies and Risks" in the Feeder Fund
prospectus.

     (5)  Investments  in the Portfolio  may not be  transferred.  However,  the
Portfolio  may from time to time make  tender  offers at net asset value for the
purchase of a portion of its  interests.  The price will be  established  at the
close of  business  on the  last day the  tender  offer  is open.  The  Trustees
presently  intend  each  quarter to consider  the making of such tender  offers.
However,  there are no  assurances  that the Board of  Trustees  will,  in fact,
decide to undertake the making of such a tender offer.  The Portfolio  will make
tender  offers,  if any, to all  investors  in the  Portfolio on the same terms,
which  practice may affect the size of the  Portfolio's  offers.  Subject to the
Portfolio's investment restriction with respect to borrowings, the Portfolio may
borrow money or issue debt  obligations  to finance its  repurchase  obligations
pursuant to any such tender offers. See "Investment  Restrictions" under Item 17
in Part B.
    

<PAGE>

     Although  the  Trustees  believe  that  tender  offers  generally  would be
beneficial to the  Portfolio's  investors,  the  acquisition of interests by the
Portfolio will decrease the total assets of the Portfolio and therefore have the
possible effect of increasing the Portfolio's expense ratio. Furthermore, if the
Portfolio  borrows to  finance  the making of tender  offers,  interest  on such
borrowing will reduce the Portfolio's net investment income.

     There are  circumstances  under which the purchase of interests in a tender
offer, even if approved by the Board and made to investors,  may not be effected
by the  Portfolio.  These  circumstances  would arise if, in the judgment of the
Trustees,  (i) the Portfolio would not be able to liquidate assets in an orderly
manner in light of existing market conditions and/or such liquidation would have
an adverse  effect on the net asset value of the  Portfolio to the  detriment of
some  Portfolio  investors;  (ii) the  Portfolio's  income would be taxed at the
investor  level  because  the  investor  would fail to  qualify  as a  regulated
investment  company  under the Code;  or (iii)  there  exists  (a) a  limitation
imposed by federal or state  authorities  on the  extension of credit by lenders
that affects the Portfolio,  the Borrowers of Loans in which the Portfolio holds
Loan  Interests  or the  Intermediate  Participants,  (b) a  banking  moratorium
declared by Federal or state  authorities or any suspension of payments by banks
in the United States, (c) a legal action or proceeding  instituted or threatened
which  materially  adversely  affects  the  Portfolio,  (d) a  legal  action  or
proceeding  instituted or threatened  which  challenges  such  purchase,  (e) an
international  or  national  calamity,  such  as  commencement  of war or  armed
hostilities,  which directly or indirectly involves the United States, or (f) an
event or condition not listed herein which would materially adversely affect the
Portfolio if the tendered interests are purchased.

     If the Portfolio must liquidate  portfolio  securities in order to meet its
tender obligations,  the Portfolio,  and therefore an investor in the Portfolio,
may realize gains and losses.  Such gains may be realized on securities held for
less than three months.  Because less than 30% of the  Portfolio's  annual gross
income may be derived from the sale or disposition of securities  held less than
three months (in order for an investor in the Portfolio to retain its tax status
as a regulated investment  company),  such gains could reduce the ability of the
Portfolio  to sell other  securities  held for less than three  months  that the
Portfolio may wish to sell in the ordinary  course of its portfolio  management,
which may adversely affect the Portfolio's yield.

   
     Each tender offer will be made and investors  notified in  accordance  with
the applicable  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  as  amended  (the  "1940  Act"),  by
publication  or  mailing or both.  Each  offering  document  will  contain  such
information  as is  prescribed  by such  laws  and  the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated thereunder. The Portfolio will pay all costs and expenses associated
with the making of any such tender offers by the Portfolio.

     (6) Not applicable.

ITEM 9.  MANAGEMENT

     (1)(a) - (c) Registrant  incorporates by reference  information  concerning
the Portfolio's  management  from  "Management of the Fund and the Portfolio" in
the Feeder Fund prospectus.

<PAGE>


     (1)(d)  ADMINISTRATOR.  IBT Trust Company (Cayman),  Ltd., The Bank of Nova
Scotia  Building,  P.O. Box 501,  George Town,  Grand  Cayman,  Cayman  Islands,
British West Indies,  maintains the Portfolio's  principal office and certain of
its records and provides  administrative  assistance in connection with meetings
of  the  Portfolio's  Trustees  and  interestholders,  for  which  services  the
Portfolio pays $1,500 per annum.

     (1)(e)  TRANSFER AGENT.  IBT Fund Services  (Canada) Inc., 1 First Canadian
Place, King Street West, Suite 2800, P.O. Box 231, Toronto,  Ontario, Canada M5X
1C8, a  subsidiary  of  Investors  Bank & Trust,  serves as  transfer  agent and
dividend-paying agent of the Portfolio and computes the daily net asset value of
interests in the Portfolio.

     CUSTODIAN.  Investors  Bank &  Trust  Company,  89  South  Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02111, acts as custodian for the Portfolio.

     (1)(f) The Portfolio is  responsible  for all of its expenses not expressly
stated  to  be  payable  by  the  other  party  under  the  Advisory  Agreement,
Administration Agreement or Placement Agent Agreement.

     (1)(g) Not applicable.

     (2) Not applicable.

     (3) CONTROL  PERSONS.  As of April 4, 1997, Eaton Vance Prime Rate Reserves
and EV Classic Senior  Floating-Rate  Fund controlled the Portfolio by virtue of
owning  approximately 50.9% and 48.1%,  respectively,  of the outstanding voting
interests  in the  Portfolio.  Eaton  Vance Prime Rate  Reserves  and EV Classic
Senior Floating-Rate Fund are each closed-end, management investment companies.

ITEM 10.  CAPITAL STOCK, LONG-TERM DEBT, AND OTHER SECURITIES

     (1)(a) - (f) Registrant  incorporates by reference  information  concerning
interests in the Portfolio from  "Organization of the Fund and the Portfolio" in
the Feeder Fund  prospectus and "Other  Information"  in the Feeder Fund SAI. An
interest in the Portfolio  has no  preemptive or conversion  rights and is fully
paid and nonassessable by the Portfolio, except as described under "Organization
of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the Feeder Fund prospectus.

     The  Portfolio's  net asset value is  determined  each day on which the New
York Stock Exchange (the  "Exchange") is open for trading  ("Portfolio  Business
Day"). This determination is made each Portfolio Business Day as of the close of
regular  trading  on the  Exchange  (currently  4:00  p.m.,  New York time) (the
"Portfolio Valuation Time").

     Each investor in the  Portfolio may add to or reduce its  investment in the
Portfolio on each Portfolio Business Day as of the Portfolio Valuation Time. The
value  of each  investor's  interest  in the  Portfolio  will be  determined  by
multiplying the net asset value of the Portfolio by the  percentage,  determined
on the prior Portfolio  Business Day, which represented that investor's share of
the  aggregate  interests in the  Portfolio on such prior day. Any  additions or

<PAGE>

withdrawals  (which  would  be  made  pursuant to  Portfolio  tender offers) for
the  current  Portfolio  Business  Day will then be  recorded.  Each  investor's
percentage of the aggregate  interests in the Portfolio  will then be recomputed
as a percentage  equal to a fraction (i) the  numerator of which is the value of
such investor's  investment in the Portfolio as of the Portfolio  Valuation Time
on the  prior  Portfolio  Business  Day plus or minus,  as the case may be,  the
amount of any additions to or withdrawals from the investor's  investment in the
Portfolio  on the current  Portfolio  Business Day and (ii) the  denominator  of
which is the  aggregate  net asset value of the  Portfolio  as of the  Portfolio
Valuation Time on the prior  Portfolio  Business Day plus or minus,  as the case
may be, the amount of the net  additions to or  withdrawals  from the  aggregate
investment  in  the  Portfolio  on the  current  Portfolio  Business  Day by all
investors in the Portfolio. The percentage so determined will then be applied to
determine the value of the investor's  interest in the Portfolio for the current
Portfolio Business Day.

     (2) and (3) Not applicable.

     (4) The Portfolio  will allocate at least  annually among its investors its
net  investment  income,  net  realized  capital  gains,  and any other items of
income,  gain, loss,  deduction or credit. The Portfolio's net investment income
consists of all income accrued on the  Portfolio's  assets,  less all actual and
accrued  expenses of the  Portfolio,  determined  in accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.

     Under the anticipated  method of operation of the Portfolio,  the Portfolio
will not be subject to any federal  income tax. See Item 22 in Part B.  However,
each investor in the Portfolio will take into account its allocable share of the
Portfolio's  ordinary  income and capital gain in determining its federal income
tax liability.  The  determination of each such share will be made in accordance
with the governing  instruments of the  Portfolio,  which are intended to comply
with the requirements of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

     It is intended  that the  Portfolio's  assets and income will be managed in
such a way  that an  investor  in the  Portfolio  that  seeks  to  qualify  as a
regulated  investment company ("RIC") under the Code will be able to satisfy the
requirements for such qualification.

     (5) See Item 28 of Part C of this Registration Statement.

     (6) Not applicable.
    

ITEM 11.  DEFAULTS AND ARREARS ON SENIOR SECURITIES

     Not applicable.

ITEM 12.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     Not applicable.

ITEM 13.  TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     Not applicable.

<PAGE>

                                     PART B

ITEM 14.  COVER PAGE

         Not applicable.

ITEM 15.  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page
     General Information and History.......................................B-1
     Investment Objective and Policies.....................................B-1
     Management............................................................B-1
     Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities...................B-1
     Investment Advisory and Other Services................................B-2
     Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices..............................B-2
     Tax Status............................................................B-2
     Financial Statements..................................................B-4

ITEM 16.  GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY

     Not applicable.

Item 17.  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

   
     Part A contains additional  information about the investment  objective and
policies of the Portfolio.  This Part B should be read in conjunction  with Part
A.  Capitalized  terms used in this Part B and not  otherwise  defined  have the
meanings given them in Part A.

     (1) - (3)  Registrant  incorporates  by  reference  additional  information
concerning  the  investment  policies of the  Portfolio  as well as  information
concerning  the  investment  restrictions  of  the  Portfolio  from  "Additional
Information  about  Investment  Policies" and "Investment  Restrictions"  in the
Feeder Fund SAI.

     (4) The  Portfolio's  portfolio  turnover  rates for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1995 and 1996 were 39% and 75%, respectively.
    

ITEM 18.  MANAGEMENT

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning the
management of the Portfolio from "Trustees and Officers" in the Feeder Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 19.  CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   
     (1) and (2) As of April 4,  1997,  the Feeder  Fund and EV  Classic  Senior
Floating-Rate  Fund (the "Classic  Fund") owned  approximately  50.9% and 48.1%,
respectively,  of the value of the outstanding  interests in the Portfolio.  The
Feeder  Fund's  and  Classic  Fund's  principal  business  address is 24 Federal

<PAGE>

Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02110.  Because  the  Feeder  Fund controls the
Portfolio,  it may take actions without the approval of any other investor.  The
Feeder Fund and the Classic Fund have informed the Portfolio  that whenever they
are requested to vote on matters  pertaining to the fundamental  policies of the
Portfolio, they will hold a meeting of shareholders and will cast their votes as
instructed by their  shareholders.  It is anticipated that any other investor in
the Portfolio which is an investment company registered under the 1940 Act would
follow the same or a similar practice.  The Feeder Fund and the Classic Fund are
each closed-end  management  investment  companies  organized as business trusts
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

    (3) As of March 31, 1997, the Trustees and officers of the Portfolio,  as a
group, did not own any interests in the Portfolio.
    

Item 20.  INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

   
     Registrant  incorporates  by reference  information  concerning  investment
advisory and other services provided to the Portfolio from "Investment  Advisory
and Other Services", "Custodian" and "Auditors " in the Feeder Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 21.  BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning the brokerage
practices of the Portfolio from "Portfolio Trading" in the Feeder Fund SAI.
    

Item 22.  TAX STATUS

   
     The  Portfolio  has  received a revenue  ruling from the  Internal  Revenue
Service  that,  provided  the  Portfolio  is  operated  at all times  during its
existence in accordance with certain  organizational and operational  documents,
the  Portfolio  should be classified  as a  partnership  under the Code,  and it
should not be a "publicly traded partnership" within the meaning of Section 7704
of the  Code.  Consequently,  the  Portfolio  does  not  expect  that it will be
required to pay any federal income tax, and an investor will be required to take
into account in  determining  its federal  income tax liability its share of the
Portfolio's income, gains, losses, deductions and credits.

     Under Subchapter K of the Code, a partnership is considered to be either an
aggregate of its members or a separate  entity,  depending  upon the factual and
legal context in which the question arises.  Under the aggregate approach,  each
partner is treated as an owner of an undivided  interest in  partnership  assets
and  operations.  Under the entity  approach,  the  partnership  is treated as a
separate entity in which partners have no direct interest in partnership  assets
and operations.  The Portfolio  believes that, in the case of an investor in the
Portfolio that seeks to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the aggregate  approach
should  apply,  and each such  investor  should  accordingly  be deemed to own a
proportionate share of each of the assets of the Portfolio and to be entitled to
the gross income of the Portfolio  attributable  to that share.  Tax counsel has
advised the Portfolio that such an investor  should be treated as the owner of a
proportionate  share of the  Portfolio's  assets and income for  purposes of all
requirements of Sections 851(b), 852(b)(5), 853(a) and 854 of the Code. Further,

<PAGE>

the  Portfolio  believes  that  each  investor in  the Portfolio  that  seeks to
qualify  as a RIC  should  be  deemed  to hold  its  proportionate  share of the
Portfolio's  assets for the period the  Portfolio has held the assets or for the
period  the  investor  has been a partner  in the  Portfolio,  for  purposes  of
Subchapter K of the Code,  whichever is shorter.  Investors should consult their
tax advisers  regarding whether the entity or the aggregate  approach applies to
their  investment in the Portfolio in light of their  particular  tax status and
any special tax rules applicable to them.

     In order  to  enable  an  investor  in the  Portfolio  (that  is  otherwise
eligible) to qualify as a RIC under the Code,  the Portfolio  intends to satisfy
the  requirements  of Subchapter M of the Code relating to sources of income and
diversification  of assets as if they were  applicable  to the  Portfolio and to
permit  withdrawals  in a manner that will  enable an investor  that is a RIC to
comply with the  distribution  requirements  applicable to RICs (including those
under  Sections 852 and 4982 of the Code).  The Portfolio will allocate at least
annually  among  its  investors  such  investor's   distributive  share  of  the
Portfolio's net investment  income,  net realized  capital gains,  and any other
items of income,  gain, loss, deduction or credit in a manner intended to comply
with the Code and applicable Treasury  regulations.  Tax counsel has advised the
Portfolio  that the  Portfolio's  allocations  of taxable income and loss should
have "economic effect" under applicable Treasury regulations.

     To the extent cash proceeds of any withdrawal exceed an investor's adjusted
basis of his interest in the Portfolio,  the investor will  generally  realize a
gain for federal income tax purposes. If, upon a complete withdrawal (repurchase
of the entire  interest),  an investor  receives  only liquid  proceeds  (and/or
unrealized  receivables)  and the  investor's  adjusted  basis  of his  interest
exceeds the liquid  proceeds of such  withdrawal,  the investor  will  generally
realize a loss for federal income tax purposes.  In addition,  on a distribution
to an investor  from the  Portfolio  (whether  pursuant to a partial or complete
withdrawal  or  otherwise),  (1)  income  or  gain  will  be  recognized  if the
distribution  is in  liquidation  of  the  investor's  entire  interest  in  the
Portfolio and includes a  disproportionate  share of any unrealized  receivables
held by the Portfolio  and (2) gain or loss may be recognized on a  distribution
to an investor that contributed property to the Portfolio.  The tax consequences
of a withdrawal of property  (instead of or in addition to liquid proceeds) will
be  different  and  will  depend  on  the  specific  factual  circumstances.  An
investor's  adjusted basis of an interest in the Portfolio will be the aggregate
prices paid therefor  (including the adjusted basis of contributed  property and
any gain recognized on the  contribution  thereof),  increased by the amounts of
such investor's distributive share of items of income (including interest income
exempt from  federal  income tax) and realized  net gain of the  Portfolio,  and
reduced, but not below zero, by (i) the amounts of such investor's  distributive
share of items of Portfolio loss, and (ii) the amount of any cash  distributions
(including  distributions  of interest income exempt from federal income tax and
cash  distributions  on  withdrawals  from the  Portfolio)  and the basis to the
investor of any property  received by such investor  other than in  liquidation,
and (iii) the investor's  distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  nondeductible
expenditures not properly chargeable to capital account.  Increases or decreases
in an  investor's  share  of the  Portfolio's  liabilities  may also  result  in
corresponding  increases or decreases in such adjusted basis. Cash distributions
in excess of a holder's adjusted basis in the holder's interest in the Portfolio
immediately  prior thereto  generally will result in the  recognition of gain to
such holder in the amount of such excess.

<PAGE>

     The Portfolio may be subject to foreign  withholding  taxes with respect to
income on certain  loans to  foreign  Borrowers.  These  taxes may be reduced or
eliminated  under  the  terms of an  applicable  U.S.  income  tax  treaty.  The
anticipated  extent of the Portfolio's  investment in foreign securities is such
that it is not expected  that an investor that is a RIC will be eligible to pass
through to its shareholders foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio and allocated to
the investor, so that shareholders of such a RIC will not be entitled to foreign
tax credits or deductions  for foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio and allocated
to the RIC.  Certain foreign exchange gains and losses realized by the Portfolio
and allocated to the RIC will be treated as ordinary income and losses.  Certain
uses of foreign currency and investment by the Portfolio in the stock of certain
"passive foreign  investment  companies" may be limited or a tax election may be
made, if available, in order to enable an investor that is a RIC to preserve its
qualification as a RIC or to avoid imposition of a tax on such an investor.

     An entity  that is treated  as a  partnership  under the Code,  such as the
Portfolio, is generally treated as a partnership under state and local tax laws,
but certain states may have  different  entity  classification  criteria and may
therefore  reach  a  different  conclusion.  Entities  that  are  classified  as
partnerships  are not treated as taxable entities under most state and local tax
laws,  and the income of a  partnership  is  considered to be income of partners
both in timing and in character. The laws of the various states and local taxing
authorities vary with respect to the taxation of such interest  income,  as well
as to the status of a partnership  interest  under state and local tax laws, and
each holder of an interest  in the  Portfolio  is advised to consult his own tax
adviser.
    

     The foregoing  discussion does not address the special tax rules applicable
to  certain  classes  of  investors,  such  as  tax-exempt  entities,  insurance
companies and financial  institutions.  Investors  should  consult their own tax
advisers  with  respect to special tax rules that may apply in their  particular
situations, as well as the state, local or foreign tax consequences of investing
in the Portfolio.

ITEM 23.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
     The   following   audited   financial   statements  of  the  Portfolio  are
incorporated  by  reference  into this Part B and have been so  incorporated  in
reliance  upon the report of  Deloitte & Touche,  independent  certified  public
accountants, as experts in accounting and auditing.

         Portfolio of  Investments  as of December 31, 1996
         Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 1996
         Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996
         Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
         Statement  of Changes in Net Assets for the fiscal year ended  December
         31, 1996 and for the period from the start of  business,  February  22,
         1995 to December 31, 1995
         Supplementary Data for the fiscal year ended December  31, 1996
         and for the  period  from the  start of  business, February 22, 1995,
         to December 31, 1995
         Notes to Financial  Statements
         Independent Auditors' Report

<PAGE>

     For  purposes  of the EDGAR  filing of this  amendment  to the  Portfolio's
registration  statement,  the  Portfolio  incorporates  by  reference  the above
audited  financial  statements,  as  previously  filed  electronically  with the
Commission (Accession Number 0000950156-97-000170).
    

<PAGE>

                                     PART C

                                OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(1)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

     The  financial  statements  called  for by this  item are  incorporated  by
     reference in Part B and listed in Item 23 hereof.

(2)  EXHIBITS:

   
     (a)  Amended and  Restated  Declaration  of Trust dated as of November  21,
          1994, filed as Exhibit (a) to Amendment No. 3 and incorporated  herein
          by reference.

     (b)  By-Laws  adopted May 1, 1992 filed as Exhibit (b) to  Amendment  No. 3
          and incorporated herein by reference.

     (c)  Not applicable.

     (d)  Not applicable.

     (e)  Not applicable.

     (f)  Not applicable.

     (g)  Investment  Advisory  Agreement  between  the  Registrant  and  Boston
          Management  and Research  dated February 22, 1995 filed as Exhibit (g)
          to Amendment No. 3 and incorporated herein by reference.

     (h)  Placement  Agent Agreement with Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc. dated
          November 1, 1996, filed herewith.

     (i)  The Securities  and Exchange  Commission has granted the Registrant an
          exemptive  order that permits the  Registrant  to enter into  deferred
          compensation  arrangements with its independent  Trustees.  See IN THE
          MATTER OF CAPITAL EXCHANGE FUND, INC.,  Release No. IC-20671 (November
          1, 1994).

     (j)  Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company dated February
          14, 1997 filed herewith.

     (k)  (1) Accounting  and  Interestholder  Services  Agreement with IBT Fund
          Services  (Canada)  Inc.  dated  December 30,  1994,  filed as Exhibit
          (k)(1) to Amendment No. 2 and incorporated herein by reference.

<PAGE>

          (2)  Administration  Agreement  with IBT Trust  Company  (Cayman) Ltd.
          dated October 23, 1995 filed as Exhibit  (k)(2) to Amendment No. 3 and
          incorporated herein by reference.

     (l)  Not applicable.

     (m)  Not applicable.

     (n)  Not applicable.

     (o)  Not applicable.

     (p)  Investment  representation  letter of Boston  Management  and Research
          dated  October 25, 1994 filed as Exhibit  (p) to  Amendment  No. 3 and
          incorporated herein by reference.
    

     (q)  Not applicable.

     (r)  Not applicable.

ITEM 25. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS

     Not applicable.

ITEM 26. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

     Not applicable.

ITEM 27. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL

     None.

ITEM 28. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   
                          (1)                                (2)
                                                          Number of
                    TITLE OF CLASS                     RECORD HOLDERS

                       Interests                     As of April 4, 1997
                                                              4
    

ITEM 29. INDEMNIFICATION

   
     Article V of the  Registrant's  Amended and Restated  Declaration  of Trust
contains indemnification  provisions for Trustees and officers. The Trustees and
officers of the  Registrant  and the  personnel of the  Registrant's  investment
adviser are insured under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy.

<PAGE>

     The Placement Agent Agreement also provides for reciprocal indemnity of the
placement agent, on the one hand, and the Trustees and officers, on the other.
    

ITEM 30. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

     To the knowledge of the Portfolio,  none of the trustees or officers of the
Portfolio's  investment  adviser,  except  as set forth on its Form ADV as filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  is engaged in any other business,
profession,  vocation or employment of a substantial nature, except that certain
trustees and officers  also hold various  positions  with and engage in business
for affiliates of the investment adviser.

ITEM 31. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

   
     All applicable  accounts,  books and documents required to be maintained by
the  Registrant  by Section  31(a) of the 1940 Act,  as  amended,  and the Rules
promulgated  thereunder are in the  possession  and custody of the  Registrant's
custodian,  Investors Bank & Trust Company,  89 South Street,  Boston, MA 02111,
with  the  exception  of  certain  corporate  documents  and  portfolio  trading
documents that are in the possession and custody of the Registrant's  investment
adviser,  Boston Management and Research Management,  24 Federal Street, Boston,
MA 02110.  Certain corporate  documents are also maintained by IBT Trust Company
(Cayman)  Ltd.,  The Bank of Nova Scotia  Building,  P.O. Box 501,  George Town,
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands,  British West Indies, and certain investor account
and Portfolio  accounting records are held by IBT Fund Services (Canada) Inc., 1
First  Canadian  Place,  King Street West,  Suite 2800,  P.O. Box 231,  Toronto,
Ontario,  Canada  M5X 1C8.  The  Registrant  is  informed  that  all  applicable
accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by registered investment
advisers are in the custody and possession of Registrant's investment adviser.
    

ITEM 32. MANAGEMENT SERVICES

     None.

ITEM 33. UNDERTAKINGS

     Not applicable.

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

   
     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration  Statement on Form
N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in
Hamilton, Bermuda on the 14th day of February, 1997.
    

                                        SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO

                                        By:  /S/ JAMES B. HAWKES
                                           ------------------------------
                                                 James B. Hawkes
                                                 President


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT

   
   (h)    Placement  Agent Agreement with Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc. dated
          November 1, 1996


   (j)    Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company dated February
          14, 1997.
    




                            PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT



                                                                November 1, 1996


Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
24 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts  02110

Gentlemen:

         This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter
contained,  the undersigned,  Senior Debt Portfolio (the "Trust"),  a closed-end
non-diversified  management  investment  company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), organized as a New York trust,
has agreed  that Eaton  Vance  Distributors,  Inc.  ("EVD"),  formerly  named EV
Distributors,  Inc.,  shall be the placement  agent (the  "Placement  Agent") of
Interests in the Trust ("Trust Interests").

         1.  SERVICES AS PLACEMENT AGENT.

         1.1 EVD will act as Placement Agent of the Trust  Interests  covered by
the Trust's registration  statement then in effect under the 1940 Act. In acting
as Placement  Agent under this Placement  Agent  Agreement,  neither EVD nor its
employees or any agents thereof shall make any offer or sale of Trust  Interests
in a manner which would require the Trust  Interests to be registered  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").

         1.2 All  activities  by EVD and its agents and  employees  as Placement
Agent of Trust  Interests  shall  comply  with all  applicable  laws,  rules and
regulations,  including,  without limitation,  all rules and regulations adopted
pursuant  to the  1940  Act by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission").

         1.3 Nothing  herein  shall be  construed to require the Trust to accept
any offer to  purchase  any Trust  Interests,  all of which  shall be subject to
approval by the Board of Trustees.

         1.4 The Trust  shall  furnish  from time to time for use in  connection
with the sale of Trust Interests such  information with respect to the Trust and
Trust Interests as EVD may reasonably request.  The Trust shall also furnish EVD
upon request with: (a) unaudited semiannual  statements of the Trust's books and
accounts  prepared  by the  Trust,  and (b) from  time to time  such  additional
information  regarding the Trust's financial or regulatory  condition as EVD may
reasonably request.

         1.5 The Trust represents to EVD that all registration  statements filed
by the  Trust  with the  Commission  under  the 1940 Act with  respect  to Trust
Interests have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of such statute
and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission  thereunder.  As used in this
Agreement  the  term  "registration   statement"  shall  mean  any  registration
statement  filed with the Commission as modified by any amendments  thereto that
at any time shall have been  filed  with the  Commission  by or on behalf of the
Trust. The Trust represents and warrants to EVD that any registration  statement
<PAGE>

will contain all  statements  required to be stated  therein in conformity  with
both such  statute and the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission;  that all
statements  of fact  contained in any  registration  statement  will be true and
correct  in all  material  respects  at the time of filing of such  registration
statement or amendment thereto; and that no registration  statement will include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading
to a purchaser of Trust  Interests.  The Trust may but shall not be obligated to
propose from time to time such amendment to any registration statement as in the
light of future  developments  may, in the opinion of the  Trust's  counsel,  be
necessary or  advisable.  If the Trust shall not propose such  amendment  and/or
supplement  within fifteen days after receipt by the Trust of a written  request
from EVD to do so, EVD may, at its option,  terminate this Agreement.  The Trust
shall not file any amendment to any  registration  statement  without giving EVD
reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided,  however, that nothing contained
in this  Agreement  shall in any way limit the Trust's right to file at any time
such amendment to any  registration  statement as the Trust may deem  advisable,
such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.

         1.6 The Trust  agrees to  indemnify,  defend and hold EVD,  its several
officers  and  directors,  and any person who controls EVD within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of
1934 (the  "1934  Act")  (for  purposes  of this  paragraph  1.6,  collectively,
"Covered  Persons")  free and  harmless  from and  against  any and all  claims,
demands,  liabilities  and  expenses  (including  the cost of  investigating  or
defending such claims,  demands or liabilities  and any counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith) which any Covered Person may incur under the 1933 Act, the
1934  Act,  common  law or  otherwise,  arising  out of or based  on any  untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any  registration  statement,  private
placement memorandum or other offering material ("Offering Material") or arising
out of or based on any omission to state a material  fact  required to be stated
in any Offering  Material or necessary  to make the  statements  in any Offering
Material  not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that the Trust's  agreement  to
indemnify  Covered  Persons  shall not be deemed to cover any  claims,  demands,
liabilities or expenses arising out of any financial and other statements as are
furnished in writing to the Trust by EVD in its capacity as Placement  Agent for
use in the  answers  to  any  items  of  any  registration  statement  or in any
statements  made in any  Offering  Material,  or arising  out of or based on any
omission or alleged  omission to state a material  fact in  connection  with the
giving of such information required to be stated in such answers or necessary to
make the answers not misleading; and further provided that the Trust's agreement
to indemnify EVD and the Trust's representations and warranties hereinbefore set
forth in this  paragraph  1.6 shall not be deemed to cover any  liability to the
Trust or its investors to which a Covered  Person would  otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance,  bad faith or gross negligence in the performance
of its duties,  or by reason of a Covered  Person's  reckless  disregard  of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Trust should be notified of any
action brought  against a Covered  Person,  such  notification  to be given by a
writing addressed to the Trust, 24 Federal Street Boston,  Massachusetts  02110,
with a copy to the Administrator of the Trust,  Eaton Vance  Management,  at the
same address, promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall have
been duly and  completely  served upon such  Covered  Person.  The failure to so
notify  the Trust of any such  action  shall  not  relieve  the  Trust  from any
liability  except to the extent the Trust  shall  have been  prejudiced  by such
failure,  or from any  liability  that the Trust may have to the Covered  Person
against  whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue  statement  or
omission, otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained
in this paragraph.  The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim,  demand or  liability,  but in such case such
defense shall be conducted by counsel of good  standing  chosen by the Trust and
<PAGE>

approved  by  EVD, which  approval  shall not  be unreasonably  withheld. In the
event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel
of good standing approved by EVD, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall
bear the fees and expenses of any  additional  counsel  retained by any of them;
but in case the Trust does not elect to assume  the  defense of any such suit or
in case EVD  reasonably  does not  approve of counsel  chosen by the Trust,  the
Trust will reimburse the Covered Person named as defendant in such suit, for the
fees  and  expenses  of  any  counsel   retained  by  EVD  or  it.  The  Trust's
indemnification   agreement   contained  in  this   paragraph  and  the  Trust's
representations  and warranties in this Agreement shall remain  operative and in
full force and effect  regardless of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of
Covered  Persons,  and shall survive the delivery of any Trust  Interests.  This
agreement  of  indemnity  will inure  exclusively  to Covered  Persons and their
successors.  The Trust agrees to notify EVD promptly of the  commencement of any
litigation or  proceedings  against the Trust or any of its officers or Trustees
in connection with the issue and sale of any Trust Interests.

         1.7 EVD agrees to  indemnify,  defend and hold the Trust,  its  several
officers and trustees,  and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or  Section  20 of the 1934 Act (for  purposes  of
this paragraph 1.7, collectively,  "Covered Persons") free and harmless from and
against any and all claims,  demands,  liabilities  and expenses  (including the
costs of  investigating or defending such claims,  demands,  liabilities and any
counsel fees incurred in connection  therewith)  that Covered  Persons may incur
under the 1933 Act,  the 1934 Act or common  law or  otherwise,  but only to the
extent that such  liability or expense  incurred by a Covered  Person  resulting
from  such  claims  or  demands  shall  arise  out of or be based on any  untrue
statement of a material fact  contained in  information  furnished in writing by
EVD in its  capacity as  Placement  Agent to the Trust for use in the answers to
any of the items of any registration statement or in any statements in any other
Offering  Material or shall arise out of or be based on any  omission to state a
material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by EVD to
the Trust  required  to be  stated in such  answers  or  necessary  to make such
information not misleading.  EVD shall be notified of any action brought against
a Covered Person, such notification to be given by a writing addressed to EVD at
24 Federal Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110,  promptly after the summons or
other first legal process shall have been duly and  completely  served upon such
Covered Person.  EVD shall have the right of first control of the defense of the
action with counsel of its own choosing satisfactory to the Trust if such action
is based solely on such alleged  misstatement  or omission on EVD's part, and in
any other event each Covered  Person shall have the right to  participate in the
defense or  preparation  of the  defense of any such  action.  The failure to so
notify EVD of any such action shall not relieve EVD from any liability except to
the extent the Trust shall have been  prejudiced  by such  failure,  or from any
liability  that EVD may have to Covered  Persons by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue  statement,  or omission or alleged  omission,  otherwise than on
account of EVD's indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph.

         1.8 No Trust  Interests  shall be  offered  by either  EVD or the Trust
under any of the  provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or
sale of Trust Interests  hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long
as the effectiveness of the registration  statement or any necessary  amendments
thereto  shall be suspended  under any of the  provisions of the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act; provided,  however,  that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in
any way restrict or have an application to or bearing on the Trust's  obligation
to redeem Trust Interests from any investor in accordance with the provisions of
the Trust's registration statement or Declaration of Trust, as amended from time
to time.
<PAGE>

         1.9 The Trust agrees to advise EVD as soon as reasonably practical by a
notice in writing delivered to EVD or its counsel:

         (a) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the registration
statement then in effect or for additional information;

         (b) in the event of the  issuance by the  Commission  of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or the
initiation  by  service  of  process  on the  Trust of any  proceeding  for that
purpose;

         (c) of the  happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a
material fact made in the registration statement then in effect or that requires
the  making  of a change  in such  registration  statement  in order to make the
statements therein not misleading; and

         (d) of all action of the  Commission  with respect to any  amendment to
any  registration  statement  that  may  from  time to time be  filed  with  the
Commission.

         For purposes of this paragraph 1.9, informal requests by or acts of the
Staff of the  Commission  shall  not be deemed  actions  of or  requests  by the
Commission.

         1.10  EVD  agrees  on  behalf  of  itself  and its  employees  to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information  not  otherwise  publicly  available  relative  to the Trust and its
prior,  present  or  potential  investors  and  not  to  use  such  records  and
information for any purpose other than performance of its  responsibilities  and
duties hereunder,  except after prior notification to and approval in writing by
the Trust,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld and may not be
withheld where EVD may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt  proceedings for
failure  to  comply,   when  requested  to  divulge  such  information  by  duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.

         2.  DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         This Agreement  shall become  effective upon the date of its execution,
and, unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect
through and  including  February  28, 1997 and shall  continue in full force and
effect  indefinitely  thereafter,  but  only so long as such  continuance  after
February 28, 1997 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of
Trustees  of the  Trust  or by  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those  Trustees of
the Trust who are not interested persons of EVD or the Trust cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

         Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior  written
notice to the  other,  terminate  this  agreement  without  the  payment  of any
penalty, by action of Trustees of the Trust or the Directors of EVD, as the case
may be,  and the  Trust  may,  at any time  upon  such  written  notice  to EVD,
terminate  this  Agreement  by  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Trust.  This Agreement  shall terminate  automatically  in the
event of its assignment.

         3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         EVD and the Trust each hereby represents and warrants to the other that
it has all requisite authority to enter into,  execute,  deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and that, with respect to it, this Agreement is
legal, valid and binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms.
<PAGE>

         4.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

         EVD expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of
the Trust (Sections 5.2 and 5.6) limiting the personal liability of the Trustees
and officers of the Trust,  and EVD hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to
the Trust for  payment of claims or  obligations  as  between  the Trust and EVD
arising out of this Agreement and shall not seek  satisfaction  from any Trustee
or officer of the Trust.

         5.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

         The terms "assignment" and "interested  persons" when used herein shall
have the respective  meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as
now in effect or as hereafter  amended subject,  however,  to such exemptions as
may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation
or order.  The term "vote of a majority of the  outstanding  voting  securities"
shall mean the vote, at a meeting of Holders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum
or more of the  Interests in the Trust  present or  represented  by proxy at the
meeting if the Holders of more than 50 per centum of the  outstanding  Interests
in the Trust are present or  represented  by proxy at the  meeting,  or (b) more
than  50 per  centum  of the  outstanding  Interests  in the  Trust.  The  terms
"Holders" and  "Interests"  when used herein shall have the respective  meanings
specified in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

         6.  CONCERNING APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF LAW, ETC.

         This Agreement  shall be subject to all  applicable  provisions of law,
including the  applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act and to the extent that any
provisions herein contained conflict with any such applicable provisions of law,
the latter shall control.

         The laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  shall,  except to the
extent  that any  applicable  provisions  of federal  law shall be  controlling,
govern  the  construction,  validity  and  effect  of  this  Agreement,  without
reference to principles of conflicts of law.

         If the  contract  set forth  herein  is  acceptable  to you,  please so
indicate by executing the enclosed copy of this Agreement and returning the same
to the undersigned, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding contract
between  the  parties  hereto  effective  at the closing of business on the date
hereof.

                                            Yours very truly,

                                            SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO


                                            By: /S/ JAMES B. HAWKES
                                            -------------------------------
                                                President
Accepted:

EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.


By:  /S/  WHARTON P. WHITAKER
- -------------------------------------
     President








                               CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

                                     between

                          HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, et al

                                       and

                         INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY



<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


 1. Definitions..............................................................1-3

 2. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by it......................3

 3. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Trust..............4

    A.  Safekeeping and Holding of Property....................................4

    B.  Delivery of Securities...............................................4-7

    C.  Registration of Securities.............................................7

    D.  Bank Accounts........................................................7-8

    E.  Payments for Interests, or Increases in Interests, in the Trust........8

    F.  Investment and Availability of U.S. Federal Funds......................8

    G.  Collections..........................................................8-9

    H.  Payment of Trust Monies.............................................9-11

    I.  Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities
           Purchased..........................................................11

    J.  Payments for Reductions or Redemptions of Interests of the Trust......12

    K.  Appointment of Agents by the Custodian................................12

    L.  Deposit of Trust Portfolio Securities in Securities Systems........12-14

    M.  Deposit of Trust Commercial Paper in an Approved Book-Entry System
          for Commercial Paper.............................................14-17

    N.  Segregated Account....................................................17

    O.  Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes...............................17

    P.  Proxies............................................................17-18

    Q.  Communications Relating to Trust Portfolio Securities.................18

                                      -i-
<PAGE>

    R.  Exercise of Rights;  Tender Offers.................................18-19

    S.  Depository Receipts...................................................19

    T.  Interest Bearing Call or Time Deposits................................19

    U.  Options, Futures Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions.......20-21

    V.  Actions Permitted Without Express Authority...........................22

 4. Records and Miscellaneous Duties.......................................22-23

 5. Opinion of Trust's Independent Public Accountants.........................23

 6. Compensation and Expenses of Bank.........................................23

 7. Responsibility of Bank.................................................23-24

 8. Persons Having Access to Assets of the Trust..............................24

 9. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment; Successor Custodian.......25-26

10. Interpretive and Additional Provisions....................................26

11. Notices...................................................................26

12. Massachusetts Law to Apply................................................26

13. Adoption of the Agreement by the Trust....................................27

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>

                               CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT



     This  Agreement  is made  between  High  Income  Portfolio  and each of the
investment  companies  listed on Schedule A attached  hereto,  each of which has
adopted this Agreement in the manner  provided herein and Investors Bank & Trust
Company  (hereinafter called "Bank",  "Custodian" and "Agent"),  a trust company
established  under the laws of Massachusetts  with a principal place of business
in Boston, Massachusetts.

     Whereas,  each Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
and has  appointed  the Bank to act as  Custodian of its property and to perform
certain duties as its Agent, as more fully hereinafter set forth; and

     Whereas,  the Bank is willing and able to act as the Trusts'  Custodian and
Agent, subject to and in accordance with the provisions hereof;

     Now,  therefore,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants  and  agreements  herein  contained,  each Trust and the Bank agree as
follows:

1.   DEFINITIONS

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

     (a) "Trust" shall mean the investment company which adopted this Agreement.

     (b) "Board" shall mean the board of trustees of a Trust.

     (c) "The Depository Trust Company",  a clearing agency  registered with the
U.S.  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under Section 17A of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 which acts as a securities  depository  and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Trust by the Board.

     (d)  "Participants  Trust Company",  a clearing agency  registered with the
U.S.  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under Section 17A of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 which acts as a securities  depository  and which has been
specifically approved as a securities depository for the Trust by the Board.

     (e)  "Approved  Clearing  Agency"  shall mean any other  domestic  clearing
agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Section
17A  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  which  acts  as a  securities
depository.

     (f) "Federal  Book-Entry  System" shall mean the book-entry system referred
to in Rule 17f-4(b) under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 for United States
and  federal  agency  securities  (i.e.,  as  provided  in Subpart O of Treasury
Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306,  Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, and the  book-entry
regulations of federal agencies substantially in the form of Subpart O).

     (g)  "Approved  Foreign  Securities   Depository"  shall  mean  a  non-U.S.
securities  depository  or clearing  agency  referred to in Rule 17f-4 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 for non-U.S. securities.

     (h) "Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial Paper" shall mean a system
maintained by the Custodian or by a subcustodian  employed pursuant to Section 2
hereof for the holding of commercial paper in book-entry form.
<PAGE>

     (i) The Custodian shall be deemed to have received "proper instructions" in
respect of any of the matters  referred  to in this  Agreement  upon  receipt of
written or facsimile  instructions  signed by such one or more person or persons
as the Board  shall  have from time to time  authorized  to give the  particular
class of instructions in question.  Different  persons may be authorized to give
instructions  for different  purposes.  A certified  copy of a resolution of the
Board may be received and accepted by the  Custodian as  conclusive  evidence of
the  authority of any such person to act and may be  considered as in full force
and effect until receipt of written  notice to the contrary.  Such  instructions
may be general or  specific  in terms and,  where  appropriate,  may be standing
instructions.  Unless  the  resolution  delegating  authority  to any  person or
persons to give a particular  class of instructions  specifically  requires that
the approval of any person,  persons or committee shall first have been obtained
before the Custodian may act on instructions of that class,  the Custodian shall
be under no  obligation  to question  the right of the person or persons  giving
such  instructions  in so doing.  Oral  instructions  will be considered  proper
instructions if the Custodian  reasonably  believes them to have been given by a
person  authorized  to give such  instructions  with respect to the  transaction
involved.  The  Trust  shall  cause all oral  instructions  to be  confirmed  in
writing.  The  Trust  authorizes  the  Custodian  to  tape  record  any  and all
telephonic or other oral instructions given to the Custodian.  Upon receipt of a
certificate  signed by two officers of the Trust as to the  authorization by the
President and the Treasurer of the Trust  accompanied by a detailed  description
of the communication  procedures  approved by the President and the Treasurer of
the  Trust,  "proper  instructions"  may also  include  communications  effected
directly  between  electromechanical  or  electronic  devices  provided that the
President and  Treasurer of the Trust and the Custodian are satisfied  that such
procedures afford adequate  safeguards for the Trust's assets. In performing its
duties generally,  and more  particularly in connection with the purchase,  sale
and exchange of  securities  made by or for the Trust,  the  Custodian  may take
cognizance  of  the  provisions  of the  governing  documents  and  registration
statement  of the  Trust as the same may  from  time to time be in  effect  (and
resolutions  or  proceedings  of the  holders of  interests  in the Trust or the
Board),  but,  nevertheless,  except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the
Custodian may assume  unless and until  notified in writing to the contrary that
so-called proper instructions  received by it are not in conflict with or in any
way contrary to any  provisions of such  governing  documents  and  registration
statement,  or  resolutions  or  proceedings  of the holders of interests in the
Trust or the Board.

     (j)  "Trust"  shall  mean  one or all of the  Trusts,  as the  context  may
require.

     (k) The term "Vote"  when used with  respect to the Board or the Holders of
Interests in the Trust shall include a vote, resolution, consent, proceeding and
other action taken by the Board or Holders in accordance with the Declaration of
Trust or By-Laws of the Trust.

2.   EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT

     The Trust hereby  appoints and employs the Bank as its  Custodian and Agent
in accordance  with and subject to the  provisions  hereof,  and the Bank hereby
accepts  such  appointment  and  employment.  The Trust agrees to deliver to the
Custodian all securities,  participation interests,  cash and other assets owned
by  it,  and  all  payments  of  income,   payments  of  principal  and  capital
distributions and adjustments  received by it with respect to all securities and
participation  interests  owned by the  Trust  from  time to time,  and the cash
consideration  received by it from time to time in  exchange  for an interest in
<PAGE>
the Trust or for an increase in such an  interest.  The  Custodian  shall not be
responsible for any property of the Trust held by the Trust and not delivered by
the Trust to the Custodian. The Trust will also deliver to the Bank from time to
time  copies  of  its  currently  effective   declaration  of  trust,   by-laws,
registration  statement and placement agent agreement with its placement  agent,
together with such  resolutions,  and other  proceedings  of the Trust as may be
necessary  for or  convenient  to the  Bank  in the  performance  of its  duties
hereunder.

     The  Custodian  may from time to time employ one or more  subcustodians  to
perform  such acts and  services  upon such  terms  and  conditions  as shall be
approved from time to time by the Board.  Any such  subcustodian  so employed by
the  Custodian  shall  be  deemed  to be the  agent  of the  Custodian,  and the
Custodian shall remain primarily  responsible for the securities,  participation
interests, moneys and other property of the Trust held by such subcustodian. Any
non-U.S.  subcustodian  shall be a bank or trust  company  which is an  eligible
foreign custodian within the meaning of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment  Company
Act of 1940,  and the  non-U.S.  custody  arrangements  shall be approved by the
Board and shall be in  accordance  with and  subject to the  provisions  of said
Rule. For the purposes of this Agreement,  any property of the Trust held by any
such  subcustodian  (domestic  or  foreign)  shall be  deemed  to be held by the
Custodian  under the terms of this  Agreement.

3.   DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE TRUST

     A.   SAFEKEEPING  AND HOLDING OF PROPERTY The  Custodian  shall keep safely
          all  property  of the Trust and on behalf of the Trust shall from time
          to time  receive  delivery  of Trust  property  for  safekeeping.  The
          Custodian  shall hold,  earmark and segregate on its books and records
          for the account of the Trust all property of the Trust,  including all
          securities,  participation interests and other assets of the Trust (1)
          physically  held  by the  Custodian,  (2)  held  by  any  subcustodian
          referred  to in  Section  2  hereof  or by any  agent  referred  to in
          Paragraph K hereof,  (3) held by or maintained in The Depository Trust
          Company or in  Participants  Trust Company or in an Approved  Clearing
          Agency or in the Federal  Book-Entry  System or in an Approved Foreign
          Securities Depository,  each of which from time to time is referred to
          herein as a "Securities  System",  and (4) held by the Custodian or by
          any subcustodian referred to in Section 2 hereof and maintained in any
          Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.

     B.   DELIVERY  OF  SECURITIES  The  Custodian  shall  release  and  deliver
          securities  or  participation  interests  owned by the Trust  held (or
          deemed to be held) by the  Custodian  or  maintained  in a  Securities
          System  account or in an  Approved  Book-Entry  System for  Commercial
          Paper account only upon receipt of proper  instructions,  which may be
          continuing  instructions when deemed  appropriate by the parties,  and
          only in the following cases:

          1)   Upon sale of such securities or  participation  interests for the
               account  of the  Trust,  BUT  ONLY  against  receipt  of  payment
               therefor; if delivery is made in Boston or New York City, payment
               therefor  shall be made in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
               clearing house  procedures or by use of U.S. Federal Reserve Wire
               System procedures; if delivery is made elsewhere payment therefor
               shall be in accordance  with the then current  "street  delivery"
               custom or in accordance with such procedures agreed to in writing
               from time to time by the parties hereto;  if the sale is effected
               through a Securities System,  delivery and payment therefor shall
               be made in accordance  with the provisions of Paragraph L hereof;
               if the sale of  commercial  paper is to be  effected  through  an
               Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial  Paper,  delivery and
<PAGE>

               payment  therefor shall be made in accordance with the provisions
               of Paragraph M hereof;  if the  securities are to be sold outside
               the United States,  delivery of the securities for the account of
               the Trust may be made either (a) in advance of receipt of payment
               therefor  in  the  absence  of  specific  instructions  to  do so
               provided  such  actions  are  consistent  with  local  settlement
               practices  and customs,  subject to the  Custodian's  standard of
               care, or (b) in accordance with  procedures  agreed to in writing
               from time to time by the parties hereto; for the purposes of this
               subparagraph,  the term "sale" shall include the disposition of a
               portfolio  security (i) upon the exercise of an option written by
               the  Trust  and (ii)  upon  the  failure  by the  Trust to make a
               successful  bid  with  respect  to  a  portfolio  security,   the
               continued  holding of which is contingent upon the making of such
               a bid;

          2)   Upon the  receipt of payment in  connection  with any  repurchase
               agreement  or  reverse  repurchase  agreement  relating  to  such
               securities and entered into by the Trust;

          3)   To the  depository  agent  in  connection  with  tender  or other
               similar offers for portfolio securities of the Trust;

          4)   To the  issuer  thereof  or its  agent  when such  securities  or
               participation   interests  are  called,   redeemed,   retired  or
               otherwise  become  payable;  PROVIDED that, in any such case, the
               cash or other  consideration  is to be delivered to the Custodian
               or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;

          5)   To the issuer thereof,  or its agent,  for transfer into the name
               of the Trust or into the name of any nominee of the  Custodian or
               into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed  pursuant to
               Paragraph  K  hereof  or into  the  name or  nominee  name of any
               subcustodian  employed  pursuant  to  Section  2  hereof;  or for
               exchange for a different  number of bonds,  certificates or other
               evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of
               units;  PROVIDED  that, in any such case,  the new  securities or
               participation  interests  are to be delivered to the Custodian or
               any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;

          6)   To the broker selling the same for examination in accordance with
               the "street delivery"  custom;  PROVIDED that the Custodian shall
               adopt  such  procedures  as the  Trust  from  time to time  shall
               approve to ensure  their  prompt  return to the  Custodian by the
               broker in the event the broker elects not to accept them;

          7)   For  exchange  or  conversion  pursuant  to any  plan of  merger,
               consolidation,  recapitalization,  reorganization or readjustment
               of the securities of the issuer of such  securities,  or pursuant
               to provisions for conversion of such  securities,  or pursuant to
               any deposit  agreement;  PROVIDED that, in any such case, the new
               securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian
               or any subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;

          8)   In the  case of  warrants,  rights  or  similar  securities,  the
               surrender  thereof  in  connection  with  the  exercise  of  such
               warrants,  rights or  similar  securities,  or the  surrender  of
               interim   receipts  or  temporary   securities   for   definitive
               securities;  PROVIDED  that, in any such case, the new securities
               and cash,  if any, are to be  delivered  to the  Custodian or any
               subcustodian employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof;
<PAGE>

          9)   For delivery in connection  with any loans of securities  made by
               the Trust  (such  loans to be made  pursuant  to the terms of the
               Trust's current registration statement), BUT ONLY against receipt
               of  adequate  collateral  as agreed upon from time to time by the
               Custodian  and the  Trust,  which  may be in the  form of cash or
               obligations issued by the United States government,  its agencies
               or   instrumentalities;   except  that  in  connection  with  any
               securities  loans for which  collateral  is to be credited to the
               Custodian's  account in the book-entry  system  authorized by the
               U.S.  Department  of  Treasury,  the  Custodian  will not be held
               liable or  responsible  for the delivery of securities  loaned by
               the Trust prior to the receipt of such collateral;

          10)  For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the
               Trust requiring a pledge or  hypothecation of assets by the Trust
               (if then permitted under  circumstances  described in the current
               registration  statement  of  the  Trust),   provided,   that  the
               securities  shall be released  only upon payment to the Custodian
               of the monies  borrowed,  except that in cases  where  additional
               collateral  is  required  to  secure a  borrowing  already  made,
               further securities may be released for that purpose; upon receipt
               of proper instructions,  the Custodian may pay any such loan upon
               redelivery  to it  of  the  securities  pledged  or  hypothecated
               therefor and upon  surrender of the note or notes  evidencing the
               loan;

          11)  When required for delivery in connection with any reduction of or
               redemption  of an  interest in the Trust in  accordance  with the
               provisions of Paragraph J hereof;

          12)  For delivery in accordance  with the  provisions of any agreement
               between the Custodian  (or a  subcustodian  employed  pursuant to
               Section  2  hereof)  and a  broker-dealer  registered  under  the
               Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and, if  necessary,  the Trust,
               relating to  compliance  with the rules of The  Options  Clearing
               Corporation or of any registered national securities exchange, or
               of any similar  organization or organizations,  regarding deposit
               or  escrow  or other  arrangements  in  connection  with  options
               transactions by the Trust;

          13)  For delivery in accordance  with the  provisions of any agreement
               among  the  Trust,  the  Custodian  (or a  subcustodian  employed
               pursuant  to  Section  2  hereof),   and  a  futures  commissions
               merchant,  relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity
               Futures  Trading  Commission  and/or  of any  contract  market or
               commodities exchange or similar  organization,  regarding futures
               margin  account  deposits or payments in connection  with futures
               transactions by the Trust;

          14)  For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of,
               in  addition  to  proper  instructions,  a  certified  copy  of a
               resolution  of  the  Board   specifying   the  securities  to  be
               delivered,  setting  forth the purpose for which such delivery is
               to  be  made,  declaring  such  purpose  to be  proper  corporate
               purpose,  and naming the  person or persons to whom  delivery  of
               such securities shall be made.
<PAGE>

     C.   REGISTRATION  OF SECURITIES  Securities  held by the Custodian  (other
          than  bearer  securities)  for  the  account  of the  Trust  shall  be
          registered  in the name of the Trust or in the name of any  nominee of
          the  Trust  or of any  nominee  of the  Custodian,  or in the  name or
          nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Paragraph K hereof, or
          in the name or nominee name of any subcustodian  employed  pursuant to
          Section 2 hereof,  or in the name or  nominee  name of The  Depository
          Trust  Company or  Participants  Trust  Company or  Approved  Clearing
          Agency or Federal Book-Entry System or Approved  Book-Entry System for
          Commercial Paper; provided,  that securities are held in an account of
          the Custodian or of such agent or of such subcustodian containing only
          assets of the Trust or only assets held by the Custodian or such agent
          or such  subcustodian as a custodian or subcustodian or in a fiduciary
          capacity for customers.  All certificates  for securities  accepted by
          the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian on behalf of the Trust
          shall be in "street" or other good  delivery form or shall be returned
          to the  selling  broker or dealer  who shall be  advised of the reason
          thereof.

     D.   BANK  ACCOUNTS The  Custodian  shall open and maintain a separate bank
          account or accounts in the name of the Trust, subject only to draft or
          order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
          and shall hold in such account or accounts,  subject to the provisions
          hereof,  all cash  received by it from or for the account of the Trust
          other than cash maintained by the Trust in a bank account  established
          and used in accordance  with Rule 17f-3 under the  Investment  Company
          Act of  1940.  Funds  held  by the  Custodian  for  the  Trust  may be
          deposited by it to its credit as  Custodian in the Banking  Department
          of the  Custodian  or in such other  banks or trust  companies  as the
          Custodian may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided,
          however,  that every such bank or trust  company shall be qualified to
          act as a custodian  under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 and that
          each such bank or trust  company  and the funds to be  deposited  with
          each such bank or trust  company  shall be  approved in writing by two
          officers of the Trust.  Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian
          in its capacity as Custodian and shall be subject to  withdrawal  only
          by the Custodian in that capacity.

     E.   PAYMENT FOR  INTERESTS,  OR INCREASES IN  INTERESTS,  IN THE TRUST The
          Custodian shall make appropriate  arrangements with the Transfer Agent
          of the Trust to enable  the  Custodian  to make  certain  it  promptly
          receives the cash or other  consideration due to the Trust for payment
          of  interests  in the  Trust,  or  increases  in  such  interests,  in
          accordance with the governing documents and registration  statement of
          the Trust. The Custodian will provide prompt notification to the Trust
          of any receipt by it of such payments.

     F.   INVESTMENT  AND  AVAILABILITY  OF U.S.  FEDERAL  FUNDS Upon  agreement
          between the Trust and the  Custodian,  the Custodian  shall,  upon the
          receipt of proper instructions,  which may be continuing  instructions
          when deemed appropriate by the parties,  invest in such securities and
          instruments as may be set forth in such  instructions  on the same day
          as  received  all  federal  funds  received  after a time  agreed upon
          between the Custodian and the Trust.
<PAGE>

     G.   COLLECTIONS The Custodian shall promptly  collect all income and other
          payments with respect to registered securities held hereunder to which
          the Trust shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the
          securities  business,  and shall promptly collect all income and other
          payments with respect to bearer  securities if, on the date of payment
          by the issuer,  such  securities  are held by the  Custodian  or agent
          thereof and shall credit such  income,  as  collected,  to the Trust's
          custodian  account.  The Custodian  shall do all things  necessary and
          proper  in  connection  with  such  prompt  collections  and,  without
          limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall

          1)   Present for payment all coupons and other income items  requiring
               presentations;

          2)   Present for payment all securities which may mature or be called,
               redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

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

          4)   Credit income from securities  maintained in a Securities  System
               or in an Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial Paper at the
               time funds  become  available  to the  Custodian;  in the case of
               securities maintained in The Depository Trust Company funds shall
               be deemed  available  to the Trust not later than the  opening of
               business on the first business day after receipt of such funds by
               the  Custodian.  The Custodian  shall notify the Trust as soon as
               reasonably practicable whenever income due on any security is not
               promptly  collected.  In any case in which the Custodian does not
               receive  any due and unpaid  income  after it has made demand for
               the same,  it shall  immediately  so notify the Trust in writing,
               enclosing  copies of any  demand  letter,  any  written  response
               thereto,  and  memoranda  of all oral  responses  thereto  and to
               telephonic  demands,  and await  instructions from the Trust; the
               Custodian  shall in no case have any liability for any nonpayment
               of such income  provided the Custodian meets the standard of care
               set  forth in  Section  8  hereof.  The  Custodian  shall  not be
               obligated  to take legal action for  collection  unless and until
               reasonably indemnified to its satisfaction.

               The   Custodian  shall  also  receive   and  collect   all  stock
               dividends,  rights and other items of like nature,  and deal with
               the same pursuant to proper instructions relative thereto.

     H.   PAYMENT OF TRUST MONIES Upon receipt of proper instructions, which may
          be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
          Custodian  shall pay out  monies of the Trust in the  following  cases
          only:

          1)   Upon  the  purchase  of  securities,   participation   interests,
               options,  futures  contracts,  forward  contracts  and options on
               futures contracts purchased for the account of the Trust but only
               (a) against the receipt of

               (i)  such securities registered as provided in Paragraph C hereof
                    or in proper form for transfer or
<PAGE>

               (ii) detailed  instructions  signed  by an  officer  of the Trust
                    regarding  the  participation  interests  to be purchased or

              (iii) written  confirmation  of the  purchase  by the Trust of the
                    options, futures contracts,  forward contracts or options on
                    futures  contracts by the  Custodian  (or by a  subcustodian
                    employed  pursuant  to  Section  2 hereof  or by a  clearing
                    corporation of a national  securities  exchange of which the
                    Custodian is a member or by any bank, banking institution or
                    trust company doing  business in the United States or abroad
                    which is qualified under the Investment  Company Act of 1940
                    to act as a custodian  and which has been  designated by the
                    Custodian  as its  agent  for this  purpose  or by the agent
                    specifically designated in such instructions as representing
                    the   purchasers   of  a  new  issue  of  privately   placed
                    securities);  (b) in the case of a purchase effected through
                    a Securities  System,  upon receipt of the securities by the
                    Securities  System in  accordance  with the  conditions  set
                    forth in  Paragraph L hereof;  (c) in the case of a purchase
                    of commercial paper effected through an Approved  Book-Entry
                    System for  Commercial  Paper,  upon receipt of the paper by
                    the  Custodian  or   subcustodian  in  accordance  with  the
                    conditions set forth in Paragraph M hereof;  (d) in the case
                    of repurchase  agreements entered into between the Trust and
                    another  bank or a  broker-dealer,  against  receipt  by the
                    Custodian  of  the  securities   underlying  the  repurchase
                    agreement  either in  certificate  form or  through an entry
                    crediting  the   Custodian's   segregated,   non-proprietary
                    account  at the  Federal  Reserve  Bank of Boston  with such
                    securities  along with written  evidence of the agreement by
                    the bank or broker-dealer to repurchase such securities from
                    the  Trust;  or (e)  in the  case  of  securities  purchased
                    outside the United  States,  the  Custodian may make payment
                    therefor either (i) in advance of receipt of such securities
                    in the  absence of specific  instructions  to do so provided
                    such actions are consistent with local settlement  practices
                    and customs, subject to the Custodian's standard of care, or
                    (ii) in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing from
                    time to time by the parties hereto;

          2)   When  required in  connection  with the  conversion,  exchange or
               surrender  of  securities  owned  by the  Trust  as set  forth in
               Paragraph B hereof;

          3)   When  required for the  reduction or redemption of an interest in
               the  Trust in  accordance  with the  provisions  of  Paragraph  J
               hereof;

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

          5)   For  distributions  or  payments  to Holders of  Interest  of the
               Trust.
<PAGE>

          6)   For any other proper corporate purpose, BUT ONLY upon receipt of,
               in  addition  to  proper  instructions,  a  certified  copy  of a
               resolution of the Board,  specifying  the amount of such payment,
               setting  forth the purpose for which such  payment is to be made,
               declaring  such  purpose to be a proper  corporate  purpose,  and
               naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

     I.   LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF SECURITIES PURCHASED In
          any and every case where  payment for purchase of  securities  for the
          account of the Trust is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of
          the   securities   purchased  in  the  absence  of  specific   written
          instructions signed by two officers of the Trust to so pay in advance,
          the  Custodian  shall  be  absolutely  liable  to the  Trust  for such
          securities to the same extent as if the  securities  had been received
          by the  Custodian;  EXCEPT that in the case of a repurchase  agreement
          entered into by the Trust with a bank which is a member of the Federal
          Reserve  System,  the Custodian  may transfer  funds to the account of
          such bank prior to the receipt of (i) the  securities  in  certificate
          form subject to such  repurchase  agreement  or (ii) written  evidence
          that the  securities  subject to such  repurchase  agreement have been
          transferred by book-entry into a segregated non-proprietary account of
          the Custodian  maintained  with the Federal  Reserve Bank of Boston or
          (iii) the safekeeping  receipt,  PROVIDED that such securities have in
          fact been so  TRANSFERRED  by  book-entry  and the written  repurchase
          agreement is received by the Custodian in due course;  AND EXCEPT that
          if the  securities  are to be  purchased  outside  the United  States,
          payment may be made in accordance with procedures agreed to in writing
          from time to time by the  parties  hereto.  Notwithstanding  any other
          provision in this  Agreement to the  contrary,  where  securities  are
          purchased or sold outside the United  States,  delivery of  securities
          for the account of the Trust may be made by the  Custodian  in advance
          of receipt of payment for the  securities  sold, and the Custodian may
          pay for securities in advance of receipt of the  securities  purchased
          for the account of the Trust, in the absence of specific  instructions
          to do so provided such actions are  consistent  with local  settlement
          practices and customs, subject to the Custodian's standard of care.

     J.   PAYMENTS FOR  REDUCTIONS OR REDEMPTIONS OF INTERESTS IN THE TRUST From
          such funds as may be  available  for the  purpose,  but subject to any
          applicable  resolutions of the Board and the current procedures of the
          Trust, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of written  instructions from
          the  Trust  or from the  Trust's  transfer  agent  make  funds  and/or
          portfolio  securities  available for payment to holders of interest in
          the Trust  which  have  caused  the  amount of their  interests  to be
          reduced, or for their interest to be redeemed.
<PAGE>

     K.   APPOINTMENT  OF AGENTS BY THE  CUSTODIAN The Custodian may at any time
          or times in its  discretion  appoint  (and may at any time remove) any
          other bank or trust  company  (PROVIDED  such bank or trust company is
          itself qualified under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 to act as a
          custodian  or is itself  an  eligible  foreign  custodian  within  the
          meaning of Rule 17f-5 under said Act) as the agent of the Custodian to
          carry out such of the duties and functions of the Custodian  described
          in this  Section  3 as the  Custodian  may from  time to time  direct;
          PROVIDED,  however,  that the  appointment of any such agent shall not
          relieve the Custodian of any of its  responsibilities  or  liabilities
          hereunder,  and as between the Trust and the  Custodian  the Custodian
          shall be fully  responsible  for the  acts and  omissions  of any such
          agent.  For the purposes of this Agreement,  any property of the Trust
          held by any such  agent  shall be deemed  to be held by the  Custodian
          hereunder.

     L.   DEPOSIT  OF TRUST  PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES  IN  SECURITIES  SYSTEMS  The
          Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by the Trust

          (1)  in The Depository Trust Company;

          (2)  in Participants Trust Company;

          (3)  in any other Approved Clearing Agency;

          (4)  in the Federal Book-Entry System; or

          (5)  in an Approved Foreign Securities Depository

          in  each  case  only  in  accordance with  applicable  Federal Reserve
          Board and Securities and Exchange  Commission  rules and  regulations,
          and at all times subject to the following provisions:

          (a)  The  Custodian  may  (either  directly  or  through  one or  more
     subcustodians  employed  pursuant to Section 2 keep securities of the Trust
     in a Securities  System  provided that such  securities are maintained in a
     non-proprietary  account  ("Account") of the Custodian or such subcustodian
     in the  Securities  System  which  shall  not  include  any  assets  of the
     Custodian or such  subcustodian  or any other person other than assets held
     by the  Custodian  or  such  subcustodian  as a  fiduciary,  custodian,  or
     otherwise for its customers.

          (b) The records of the  Custodian  with respect to  securities  of the
     Trust  which are  maintained  in a  Securities  System  shall  identify  by
     book-entry those securities belonging to the Trust, and the Custodian shall
     be fully and completely  responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system
     capable of accurately and currently stating the Trust's holdings maintained
     in each such Securities System.
<PAGE>

          (c) The  Custodian  shall pay for  securities  purchased in book-entry
     form for the account of the Trust only upon (i) receipt of notice or advice
     from the Securities  System that such securities  have been  transferred to
     the  Account,  and  (ii) the  making  of an  entry  on the  records  of the
     Custodian  to reflect  such  payment  and  transfer  for the account of the
     Trust;  except that when such  securities are purchased  outside the United
     States, payment therefor may be made by the Custodian in advance of receipt
     of such  notice or advice and the  making of such  entry in the  absence of
     specific  instructions  to do so provided such actions are consistent  with
     local settlement practices and customs, subject to the Custodian's standard
     of care. The Custodian  shall transfer  securities  sold for the account of
     the Trust  only upon (i)  receipt of notice or advice  from the  Securities
     System  that  payment  for  such  securities  has been  transferred  to the
     Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
     reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Trust; except that
     when such securities are sold outside the United States,  transfer  thereof
     may be made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of such notice or advice
     and the making of such entry in the absence of specific  instructions to do
     so provided such actions are consistent with local settlement practices and
     customs, subject to the Custodian's standard of care. Copies of all notices
     or advices from the  Securities  System of transfers of securities  for the
     account of the Trust shall identify the Trust,  be maintained for the Trust
     by the Custodian and be promptly provided to the Trust at its request.  The
     Custodian shall promptly send to the Trust confirmation of each transfer to
     or from the account of the Trust in the form of a written  advice or notice
     of each such  transaction,  and shall  furnish to the Trust copies of daily
     transaction  sheets  reflecting  each day's  transactions in the Securities
     System for the account of the Trust on the next business day.

          (d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Trust any report or other
     communication  received  or  obtained  by  the  Custodian  relating  to the
     Securities  System's  accounting  system,  system  of  internal  accounting
     controls  or  procedures  for  safeguarding  securities  deposited  in  the
     Securities  System;  the  Custodian  shall  promptly  send to the Trust any
     report  or  other  communication   relating  to  the  Custodian's  internal
     accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding securities deposited in
     any  Securities  System;  and the  Custodian  shall  ensure  that any agent
     appointed  pursuant  to  Paragraph  K hereof or any  subcustodian  employed
     pursuant to Section 2 hereof  shall  promptly  send to the Trust and to the
     Custodian  any report or other  communication  relating to such  agent's or
     subcustodian's internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding
     securities  deposited in any Securities  System.  The Custodian's books and
     records  relating to the Trust's  participation  in each Securities  System
     will at all times during  regular  business hours be open to the inspection
     of the Trust's authorized officers, employees or agents.
<PAGE>

          (e) The Custodian  shall not act under this Paragraph L in the absence
     of receipt of a  certificate  of an officer of the Trust that the Board has
     approved the use of a particular  Securities  System;  the Custodian  shall
     also obtain  appropriate  assurance from the officers of the Trust that the
     Board  has  annually  reviewed  the  continued  use by the  Trust  of  each
     Securities System, and the Trust shall promptly notify the Custodian if the
     use of a  Securities  System is to be  discontinued;  at the request of the
     Trust,  the Custodian will terminate the use of any such Securities  System
     as promptly as practicable.

          (f) Anything to the contrary in this  Agreement  notwithstanding,  the
     Custodian  shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Trust
     resulting  from use of the Securities  System by reason of any  negligence,
     misfeasance  or  misconduct  of the  Custodian  or any  of  its  agents  or
     subcustodians  or of any of its or their  employees  or from any failure of
     the Custodian or any such agent or subcustodian to enforce effectively such
     rights as it may have against the Securities System or any other person; at
     the  election of the Trust,  it shall be entitled to be  subrogated  to the
     rights of the Custodian  with respect to any claim  against the  Securities
     System or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence of
     any such loss or damage  if and to the  extent  that the Trust has not been
     made whole for any such loss or damage.

     M.   DEPOSIT OF TRUST COMMERCIAL PAPER IN AN APPROVED BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM FOR
          COMMERCIAL PAPER Upon receipt of proper  instructions  with respect to
          each issue of direct issue  commercial  paper  purchased by the Trust,
          the  Custodian may deposit  and/or  maintain  direct issue  commercial
          paper  owned  by the  Trust  in any  Approved  Book-Entry  System  for
          Commercial  Paper,  in each case only in  accordance  with  applicable
          Securities and Exchange Commission rules,  regulations,  and no-action
          correspondence, and at all times subject to the following provisions:

          (a)  The  Custodian  may  (either  directly  or  through  one or  more
     subcustodians  employed pursuant to Section 2) keep commercial paper of the
     Trust in an Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper,  provided that
     such paper is issued in book entry form by the Custodian or subcustodian on
     behalf of an issuer with which the  Custodian or  subcustodian  has entered
     into a  book-entry  agreement  and  provided  further  that  such  paper is
     maintained in a  non-proprietary  account  ("Account")  of the Custodian or
     such  subcustodian in an Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial  Paper
     which shall not include any assets of the Custodian or such subcustodian or
     any  other  person  other  than  assets  held  by  the  Custodian  or  such
     subcustodian as a fiduciary, custodian, or otherwise for its customers.

          (b) The records of the Custodian  with respect to commercial  paper of
     the  Trust  which  is  maintained  in an  Approved  Book-Entry  System  for
     Commercial  Paper  shall  identify by  book-entry  each  specific  issue of
     commercial paper purchased by the Trust which is included in the System and
     shall at all times during regular  business hours be open for inspection by
     authorized officers,  employees or agents of the Trust. The Custodian shall
     be fully and completely  responsible for maintaining a recordkeeping system
     capable of  accurately  and  currently  stating  the  Trust's  holdings  of
     commercial paper maintained in each such System.
<PAGE>

          (c)  The  Custodian  shall  pay  for  commercial  paper  purchased  in
     book-entry form for the account of the Trust only upon  contemporaneous (i)
     receipt  of notice  or  advice  from the  issuer  that such  paper has been
     issued,  sold and  transferred  to the  Account,  and (ii) the making of an
     entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such purchase, payment and
     transfer for the account of the Trust.  The Custodian  shall  transfer such
     commercial  paper  which is sold or cancel such  commercial  paper which is
     redeemed for the account of the Trust only upon contemporaneous (i) receipt
     of notice or advice that payment for such paper has been transferred to the
     Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
     reflect  such  transfer  or  redemption  and payment for the account of the
     Trust.  Copies of all notices,  advices and  confirmations  of transfers of
     commercial  paper for the account of the Trust shall identify the Trust, be
     maintained  for the Trust by the Custodian and be promptly  provided to the
     Trust at its  request.  The  Custodian  shall  promptly  send to the  Trust
     confirmation  of each  transfer  to or from the account of the Trust in the
     form of a written  advice or  notice  of each such  transaction,  and shall
     furnish to the Trust copies of daily  transaction  sheets  reflecting  each
     day's  transactions  in the System for the account of the Trust on the next
     business day.

          (d) The Custodian shall promptly send to the Trust any report or other
     communication  received  or  obtained  by the  Custodian  relating  to each
     System's  accounting  system,  system of  internal  accounting  controls or
     procedures for safeguarding  commercial paper deposited in the System;  the
     Custodian   shall   promptly   send  to  the  Trust  any  report  or  other
     communication  relating to the Custodian's internal accounting controls and
     procedures  for  safeguarding  commercial  paper  deposited in any Approved
     Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper; and the Custodian shall ensure that
     any agent  appointed  pursuant to  Paragraph  K hereof or any  subcustodian
     employed  pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall promptly send to the Trust and
     to the Custodian any report or other communication relating to such agent's
     or  subcustodian's   internal   accounting   controls  and  procedures  for
     safeguarding  securities  deposited in any Approved  Book-Entry  System for
     Commercial Paper.

          (e) The Custodian  shall not act under this Paragraph M in the absence
     of receipt of a  certificate  of an officer of the Trust that the Board has
     approved the use of a particular  Approved Book-Entry System for Commercial
     Paper;  the  Custodian  shall also obtain  appropriate  assurance  from the
     officers of the Trust that the Board has annually  reviewed  the  continued
     use by the Trust of each Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial Paper,
     and the Trust shall promptly notify the Custodian if the use of an Approved
     Book-Entry  System  for  Commercial  Paper  is to be  discontinued;  at the
     request of the Trust,  the  Custodian  will  terminate  the use of any such
     System as promptly as practicable.

          (f) The Custodian (or subcustodian,  if the Approved Book-Entry System
     for  Commercial  Paper  is  maintained  by the  subcustodian)  shall  issue
     physical  commercial paper or promissory notes whenever  requested to do so
     by the Trust or in the event of an electronic  system failure which impedes
     issuance,   transfer  or  custody  of  direct  issue  commercial  paper  by
     book-entry.
<PAGE>

          (g) Anything to the contrary in this  Agreement  notwithstanding,  the
     Custodian  shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Trust
     resulting from use of any Approved  Book-Entry  System for Commercial Paper
     by reason of any negligence,  misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or
     any of its agents or  subcustodians  or of any of its or their employees or
     from any  failure of the  Custodian  or any such agent or  subcustodian  to
     enforce  effectively  such rights as it may have  against  the System,  the
     issuer of the commercial paper or any other person;  at the election of the
     Trust, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian
     with respect to any claim against the System,  the issuer of the commercial
     paper or any other person which the Custodian may have as a consequence  of
     any such loss or damage  if and to the  extent  that the Trust has not been
     made whole for any such loss or damage.

     N.   SEGREGATED   ACCOUNT  The  Custodian  shall  upon  receipt  of  proper
          instructions  establish and maintain a segregated  account or accounts
          for and on behalf of the Trust,  into which account or accounts may be
          transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in
          an account by the  Custodian  pursuant to  Paragraph L hereof,  (i) in
          accordance with the provisions of any agreement  among the Trust,  the
          Custodian and any registered  broker-dealer (or any futures commission
          merchant),  relating  to  compliance  with the  rules  of the  Options
          Clearing   Corporation  and  of  any  registered  national  securities
          exchange (or of the  Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission or of any
          contract   market  or  commodities   exchange),   or  of  any  similar
          organization or  organizations,  regarding  escrow or deposit or other
          arrangements  in connection with  transactions by the Trust,  (ii) for
          purposes  of  segregating  cash  or  U.S.  Government   securities  in
          connection  with  options  purchased,  sold or written by the Trust or
          futures  contracts or options thereon  purchased or sold by the Trust,
          (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the Trust with the  procedures
          required  by  Investment   Company  Act  Release  No.  10666,  or  any
          subsequent   release  or  releases  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  relating  to the  maintenance  of  segregated  accounts by
          registered  investment  companies and (iv) for other proper  purposes,
          BUT ONLY, in the case of clause (iv),  upon receipt of, in addition to
          proper  instructions,  a  certificate  signed by two  officers  of the
          Trust, setting forth the purpose such segregated account and declaring
          such purpose to be a proper purpose.

     O.   OWNERSHIP  CERTIFICATES  FOR TAX PURPOSES The Custodian  shall execute
          ownership and other  certificates  and  affidavits for all federal and
          state tax  purposes  in  connection  with  receipt  of income or other
          payments  with  respect to  securities  of the Trust held by it and in
          connection with transfers of securities.

     P.   PROXIES The Custodian shall, with respect to the securities held by it
          hereunder,  cause to be promptly  delivered  to the Trust all forms of
          proxies  and  all  notices  of  meetings  and  any  other  notices  or
          announcements  or other written  information  affecting or relating to
          the securities,  and upon receipt of proper instructions shall execute
          and deliver or cause its nominee to execute and deliver  such  proxies
<PAGE>

          or other authorizations as may be required.  Neither the Custodian nor
          its nominee shall vote upon any of the securities or execute any proxy
          to vote  thereon  or give any  consent or take any other  action  with
          respect thereto (except as otherwise  herein  provided) unless ordered
          to do so by proper instructions.

     Q.   COMMUNICATIONS  RELATING TO TRUST  PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES The Custodian
          shall   deliver   promptly  to  the  Trust  all  written   information
          (including,  without  limitation,  pendency of call and  maturities of
          securities and  participation  interests and  expirations of rights in
          connection  therewith  and notices of exercise of call and put options
          written by the Trust and the maturity of futures  contracts  purchased
          or sold by the Trust) received by the Custodian from issuers and other
          persons relating to the securities and  participation  interests being
          held for the Trust.  With  respect to tender or exchange  offers,  the
          Custodian shall deliver promptly to the Trust all written  information
          received by the Custodian  from issuers and other persons  relating to
          the securities and participation interests whose tender or exchange is
          sought  and from the  party  (or his  agents)  making  the  tender  or
          exchange offer.

     R.   EXERCISE  OF  RIGHTS;  TENDER  OFFERS  In the case of  tender  offers,
          similar  offers to  purchase or exercise  rights  (including,  without
          limitation,  pendency  of  calls  and  maturities  of  securities  and
          participation  interests  and  expirations  of  rights  in  connection
          therewith  and  notices of  exercise  of call and put  options and the
          maturity of futures contracts) affecting or relating to securities and
          participation  interests held by the Custodian  under this  Agreement,
          the Custodian  shall have  responsibility  for promptly  notifying the
          Trust of all such offers in accordance with the standard of reasonable
          care set forth in Section 8 hereof.  For all such offers for which the
          Custodian is  responsible  as provided in this  Paragraph R, the Trust
          shall  have  responsibility  for  providing  the  Custodian  with  all
          necessary  instructions  in timely  fashion.  Upon  receipt  of proper
          instructions,  the  Custodian  shall  timely  deliver to the issuer or
          trustee thereof,  or to the agent of either,  warrants,  puts,  calls,
          rights or similar  securities  for the purpose of being  exercised  or
          sold upon  proper  receipt  therefor  and upon  receipt of  assurances
          satisfactory  to the Custodian  that the new  securities  and cash, if
          any,  acquired by such action are to be delivered to the  Custodian or
          any subcustodian  employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.  Upon receipt
          of proper instructions,  the Custodian shall timely deposit securities
          upon  invitations  for  tenders  of  securities  upon  proper  receipt
          therefor and upon receipt of assurances  satisfactory to the Custodian
          that  the  consideration  to be  paid  or  delivered  or the  tendered
          securities  are  to be  returned  to  the  Custodian  or  subcustodian
          employed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.  Notwithstanding  any provision
          of this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  the  Custodian  shall  take all
          necessary action,  unless otherwise directed to the contrary by proper
          instructions,  to comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory
          exchanges, calls, tenders,  redemptions, or similar rights of security
          ownership,  and shall thereafter  promptly notify the Trust in writing
          of such action.
<PAGE>

     S.   DEPOSITORY  RECEIPTS  The  Custodian  shall,  upon  receipt  of proper
          instructions,  surrender or cause to be surrendered foreign securities
          to the depository used by an issuer of American Depository Receipts or
          International  Depository Receipts (hereinafter  collectively referred
          to as "ADRs") for such securities,  against a written receipt therefor
          adequately   describing   such   securities   and   written   evidence
          satisfactory  to the Custodian that the  depository  has  acknowledged
          receipt of  instructions to issue with respect to such securities ADRs
          in the name of a nominee  of the  Custodian  or in the name or nominee
          name of any subcustodian  employed  pursuant to Section 2 hereof,  for
          delivery to the  Custodian or such  subcustodian  at such place as the
          Custodian or such  subcustodian  may from time to time designate.  The
          Custodian shall, upon receipt of proper  instructions,  surrender ADRs
          to the issuer thereof  against a written receipt  therefor  adequately
          describing the ADRs surrendered and written  evidence  satisfactory to
          the Custodian that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged  receipt of
          instructions  to  cause  its  depository  to  deliver  the  securities
          underlying  such ADRs to the Custodian or to a  subcustodian  employed
          pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

     T.   INTEREST  BEARING CALL OR TIME  DEPOSITS  The  Custodian  shall,  upon
          receipt of proper instructions,  place interest bearing fixed term and
          call deposits with the banking department of such banking  institution
          (other  than the  Custodian)  and in such  amounts  as the  Trust  may
          designate.  Deposits  may be  denominated  in U.S.  Dollars  or  other
          currencies. The Custodian shall include in its records with respect to
          the  assets of the Trust  appropriate  notation  as to the  amount and
          currency of each such deposit,  the accepting banking  institution and
          other  appropriate  details  and shall  retain such forms of advice or
          receipt  evidencing  the  deposit,  if any, as may be forwarded to the
          Custodian by the banking  institution.  Such deposits  shall be deemed
          portfolio  securities of the Trust for the purposes of this Agreement,
          and the Custodian  shall be  responsible  for the collection of income
          from  such  accounts  and the  transmission  of cash to and from  such
          accounts.
<PAGE>

     U.   OPTIONS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

          1. OPTIONS The Custodian  shall,  upon receipt of proper  instructions
     and in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  any  agreement  between  the
     Custodian,  any  registered  broker-dealer  and, if  necessary,  the Trust,
     relating to compliance with the rules of the Options  Clearing  Corporation
     or of any registered national  securities exchange or similar  organization
     or organizations,  receive and retain confirmations or other documents,  if
     any,  evidencing  the  purchase  or writing  of an option on a security  or
     securities  index  or other  financial  instrument  or index by the  Trust;
     deposit  and  maintain  in a  segregated  account  for  the  Trust,  either
     physically or by book-entry in a Securities System, securities subject to a
     covered call option written by the Trust;  and release and/or transfer such
     securities  or other  assets  only in  accordance  with a  notice  or other
     communication  evidencing the  expiration,  termination or exercise of such
     covered  option  furnished  by  the  Options  Clearing   Corporation,   the
     securities  or options  exchange on which such covered  option is traded or
     such other  organization  as may be  responsible  for handling such options
     transactions.  The Custodian and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for
     the  sufficiency  of  assets  held in the  Trust's  segregated  account  in
     compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements.

          2.  FUTURES  CONTRACTS  The  Custodian  shall,  upon receipt of proper
     instructions, receive and retain confirmations and other documents, if any,
     evidencing  the  purchase  or sale of a futures  contract or an option on a
     futures  contract  by the  Trust;  deposit  and  maintain  in a  segregated
     account,  for  the  benefit  of any  futures  commission  merchant,  assets
     designated  by the Trust as  initial,  maintenance  or  variation  "margin"
     deposits (including mark-to-market payments) intended to secure the Trust's
     performance of its  obligations  under any futures  contracts  purchased or
     sold  or  any  options  on  futures  contracts  written  by the  Trust,  in
     accordance  with the  provisions of any  agreement or agreements  among the
     Trust,  the Custodian  and such futures  commission  merchant,  designed to
     comply with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or of
     any  contract  market  or  commodities  exchange  or  similar  organization
     regarding such margin  deposits or payments;  and release  and/or  transfer
     assets in such margin  accounts only in accordance with any such agreements
     or rules.  The  Custodian  and the  futures  commission  merchant  shall be
     responsible for the sufficiency of assets held in the segregated account in
     compliance  with  the  applicable  margin  maintenance  and  mark-to-market
     payment requirements.

          3. FOREIGN  EXCHANGE  TRANSACTIONS  The Custodian  shall,  pursuant to
     proper  instructions,  enter  into or cause a  subcustodian  to enter  into
     currency  exchange  contracts  or options  to  purchase  and sell  non-U.S.
     currencies  for spot and future  delivery  on behalf and for the account of
     the  Trust.  Such  transactions  may  be  undertaken  by the  Custodian  or
     subcustodian with such banking or financial  institutions or other currency
     brokers, as set forth in proper instructions. Currency exchange
<PAGE>

     contracts  and options  shall be deemed to be portfolio  securities  of the
     Trust; and accordingly,  the responsibility of the Custodian therefor shall
     be the  same as and no  greater  than  the  Custodian's  responsibility  in
     respect of other portfolio  securities of the Trust. The Custodian shall be
     responsible  for the  transmittal  to and receipt of cash from the currency
     broker or banking or  financial  institution  with  which the  contract  or
     option is made,  the  maintenance  of proper  records  with  respect to the
     transaction  and the  maintenance  of any  segregated  account  required in
     connection  with the  transaction.  The  Custodian  shall have no duty with
     respect to the  selection of the  currency  brokers or banking or financial
     institutions with which the Trust deals or for their failure to comply with
     the terms of any contract or option. Without limiting the foregoing,  it is
     agreed that upon  receipt of proper  instructions  and insofar as funds are
     made  available to the  Custodian  for the purpose,  the  Custodian may (if
     determined   necessary  by  the   Custodian  to   consummate  a  particular
     transaction  on behalf and for the account of the Trust) make free outgoing
     payments  of cash in the  form of U.S.  dollars  or other  currency  before
     receiving confirmation of a currency exchange contract or confirmation that
     the countervalue  currency  completing the currency  exchange  contract has
     been delivered or received.  The Custodian shall not be responsible for any
     costs  and  interest  charges  which  may be  incurred  by the Trust or the
     Custodian  as a result of the failure or delay of third  parties to deliver
     currency  exchange;  provided that the Custodian shall nevertheless be held
     to the  standard  of care set forth in, and shall be liable to the Trust in
     accordance with, the provisions of Section 8.

     V.   ACTIONS  PERMITTED  WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY The Custodian may in its
          discretion, without express authority from the Trust:

          1)   make payments to itself or others for minor  expenses of handling
               securities or other  similar  items  relating to its duties under
               this  Agreement,  PROVIDED,  that  all  such  payments  shall  be
               accounted  for by the Custodian to the Treasurer of the Trust and
               shall be  subject  to  subsequent  approval  by an officer of the
               Trust;

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

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

          4)   in general, attend to all nondiscretionary  details in connection
               with the sale,  exchange,  substitution,  purchase,  transfer and
               other  dealings  with the  securities  and  property of the Trust
               except as otherwise directed by the Trust.
<PAGE>

4.   RECORDS AND MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES

     The Bank shall  create,  maintain and preserve all records  relating to its
activities and obligations  under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the
obligations  of the  Trust  under  the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940,  with
particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder,
applicable U.S.  federal and state tax laws and any other law or  administrative
rules or procedures  which may be applicable to the Trust.  All books of account
and records  maintained by the Bank in connection  with the  performance  of its
duties under this  Agreement  shall be the  property of the Trust,  shall at all
times during the regular  business  hours of the Bank be open for  inspection by
authorized  officers,  employees  or  agents of the  Trust,  and in the event of
termination of this  Agreement  shall be delivered to the Trust or to such other
person or  persons  as shall be  designated  by the  Trust.  Disposition  of any
account or record after any  required  period of  preservation  shall be only in
accordance with specific instructions received from the Trust. At the request of
the Trustees or duly  authorized  agent of the Trust located  outside the United
States, The Bank shall assist generally in the preparation of reports to holders
of interest in the Trust, to the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  including
Form N-SAR, and to others, audits of accounts,  and other ministerial matters of
like nature;  and,  upon  request,  shall  furnish the Trust's  auditors with an
attested  inventory  of  securities  held  with  appropriate  information  as to
securities  in transit or in the process of purchase or sale and with such other
information as said auditors may from time to time request.  The Custodian shall
also  maintain  records  of all  receipts,  deliveries  and  locations  of  such
securities,  together  with a  current  inventory  thereof,  and  shall  conduct
periodic   verifications   (including  sampling  counts  at  the  Custodian)  of
certificates representing bonds and other securities for which it is responsible
under this Agreement in such manner as the Custodian  shall  determine from time
to time to be advisable in order to verify the accuracy of such  inventory.  The
Bank  shall  not  disclose  or use any  books  or  records  it has  prepared  or
maintained  by reason  of this  Agreement  in any  manner  except  as  expressly
authorized herein or directed by the Trust, and the Bank shall keep confidential
any information obtained by reason of this Agreement.

5.   OPINION OF TRUST'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The Custodian shall take all reasonable  action, as the Trust may from time
to time  request,  to enable  the Trust to  obtain  from year to year  favorable
opinions from the Trust's  independent  public  accountants  with respect to its
activities   hereunder  in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the  Trust's
registration  statement  and  Form  N-SAR  or  other  periodic  reports  to  the
Securities and Exchange Commission and with respect to any other requirements of
such Commission.

6.   COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF BANK

     The Bank shall be entitled to reasonable  compensation  for its services as
Custodian and Agent,  as agreed upon from time to time between the Trust and the
Bank.  The  Bank  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  from  the  Trust  on  demand
reimbursement  for its  cash  disbursements,  expenses  and  charges,  including
counsel fees, in  connection  with its duties as Custodian and Agent  hereunder,
but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.

7.   RESPONSIBILITY OF BANK

     So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care,
the Bank as  Custodian  and Agent  shall be held  harmless  in  acting  upon any
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by
it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties.
<PAGE>

     The Bank as  Custodian  and Agent  shall be entitled to rely on and may act
upon advice of counsel  (who may be counsel for the Trust) on all  matters,  and
shall be without  liability for any action  reasonably taken or omitted pursuant
to such advice.

     The Bank as Custodian and Agent shall be held to the exercise of reasonable
care in carrying out the  provisions of this  Agreement but shall be liable only
for its own negligent or bad faith acts or failures to act.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  nothing  contained in this  paragraph is intended to nor shall it be
construed  to  modify  the  standards  of  care  and  responsibility  set  forth
in Section 2 hereof  with  respect to  subcustodians  and in  subparagraph  f of
Paragraph  L of Section 3 hereof  with  respect  to  Securities  Systems  and in
subparagraph  g of  Paragraph M of Section 3 hereof with  respect to an Approved
Book-Entry System for Commercial Paper.

     The  Custodian  shall be liable  for the acts or  omissions  of a  non-U.S.
banking   institution   to  the  same  extent  as  set  forth  with  respect  to
subcustodians  generally  in  Section 2 hereof,  provided  that,  regardless  of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a non-U.S.  banking institution,
a non-U.S. securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank, the Custodian shall
not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense,  liability or claim resulting
from, or caused by, the direction of or  authorization  by the Trust to maintain
custody of any securities or cash of the Trust in other than the U.S. and Canada
including,  but not limited to, losses resulting from  governmental  actions and
restrictions,  nationalization,  expropriation,  currency restrictions,  acts of
war,  civil war or  terrorism,  insurrection,  revolution,  military  or usurped
powers,  nuclear  fission,  fusion  or  radiation,  earthquake,  storm  or other
disturbance of nature or acts of God.

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

8.   PERSONS HAVING ACCESS TO ASSETS OF THE TRUST

          (i) No  trustee,  officer,  employee  or agent of the Trust shall have
     physical  access to the  assets of the Trust  held by the  Custodian  or be
     authorized or permitted to withdraw any investments of the Trust, nor shall
     the  Custodian  deliver  any  assets  of the Trust to any such  person.  No
     officer  or  director,  employee  or agent of the  Custodian  who holds any
     similar  position  with  the  Trust  or  the  investment   adviser  or  the
     administrator of the Trust shall have access to the assets of the Trust.

          (ii)  Access  to  assets of the Trust  held  hereunder  shall  only be
     available to duly authorized officers, employees, representatives or agents
     of the  Custodian  or other  persons  or  entities  for whose  actions  the
     Custodian shall be responsible to the extent permitted hereunder, or to the
     Trust's  independent  public  accountants in connection with their auditing
     duties performed on behalf of the Trust.

          (iii) Nothing in this Section 8 shall  prohibit any officer,  employee
     or agent of the Trust or of the investment adviser of the Trust from giving
     instructions to the Custodian or executing a certificate so long as it does
     not result in  delivery of or access to assets of the Trust  prohibited  by
     paragraph  (i) of this  Section 8.

 9.  EFFECTIVE  PERIOD,  TERMINATION  AND AMENDMENT; SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN

     This Agreement shall become  effective as of its execution,  shall continue
in full force and effect until  terminated by either party after August 31, 2000
by an instrument in writing  delivered or mailed,  postage  prepaid to the other
party, such termination to take effect not sooner than sixty (60) days after the
date of such  delivery or mailing;  PROVIDED,  that the Trust may at any time by
action of its  Board,  (i)  substitute  another  bank or trust  company  for the
Custodian by giving notice as described  above to the Custodian in the event the
Custodian  assigns  this  Agreement  to  another  party  without  consent of the
noninterested  Trustees  of  the  Trust,  or  (ii)  immediately  terminate  this
Agreement in the event of the  appointment  of a conservator or receiver for the
Custodian  by the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  or by  the  Banking
Commissioner  of The  Commonwealth of  Massachusetts  or upon the happening of a
like event at the  direction  of an  appropriate  regulatory  agency or court of
competent jurisdiction.  Upon termination of the Agreement,  the Trust shall pay
to the  Custodian  such  compensation  as may be  due  as of the  date  of  such
termination (and shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs,  expenses
and disbursements).
<PAGE>

     This  Agreement may be amended at any time by the written  agreement of the
parties  hereto.  If a majority  of the  non-interested  trustees  of any of the
Trusts determines that the performance of the Custodian has been  unsatisfactory
or adverse to the  interests of Trust holders of any Trust or Trusts or that the
terms of the Agreement are no longer consistent with publicly available industry
standards,  then the Trust or Trusts shall give written  notice to the Custodian
of such  determination  and the Custodian shall have 60 days to (1) correct such
performance  to  the  satisfaction  of  the   non-interested   trustees  or  (2)
renegotiate terms which are satisfactory to the  non-interested  trustees of the
Trusts.  If the conditions of the preceding  sentence are not met then the Trust
or Trusts may terminate this Agreement on sixty (60) days written notice.

     The Board of the Trust shall, forthwith, upon giving or receiving notice of
termination of this Agreement,  appoint as successor custodian,  a bank or trust
company having the qualifications required by the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the Rules  thereunder.  The Bank, as Custodian,  Agent or otherwise,  shall,
upon  termination of the Agreement,  deliver to such  successor  custodian,  all
securities  then held  hereunder and all funds or other  properties of the Trust
deposited  with or held by the  Bank  hereunder  and all  books of  account  and
records kept by the Bank pursuant to this  Agreement,  and all documents held by
the Bank  relative  thereto.  In the event that no written  order  designating a
successor  custodian shall have been delivered to the Bank on or before the date
when such termination  shall become  effective,  then the Bank shall not deliver
the securities,  funds and other  properties of the Trust to the Trust but shall
have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company  doing  business in Boston,
Massachusetts  of its own selection  meeting the above required  qualifications,
all funds,  securities and properties of the Trust held by or deposited with the
Bank,  and all books of account  and records  kept by the Bank  pursuant to this
Agreement, and all documents held by the Bank relative thereto.  Thereafter such
bank or trust  company  shall  be the  successor  of the  Custodian  under  this
Agreement.

10.  INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

     In connection with the operation of this  Agreement,  the Custodian and the
Trust  may from  time to time  agree on such  provisions  interpretive  of or in
addition to the  provisions  of this  Agreement as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement.

     Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed
by both parties and shall be annexed hereto,  PROVIDED that no such interpretive
or additional  provisions  shall contravene any applicable U.S. federal or state
regulations  or any  provision of the  governing  instruments  of the Trust.  No
interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence
shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
<PAGE>

11.  NOTICES

     Notices and other writings delivered or mailed postage prepaid to the Trust
addressed to IBT Trust Company  (Cayman) Ltd., The Bank of Nova Scotia Building,
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, or to such other
address as the Trust may have  designated to the Bank, in writing with a copy to
Eaton Vance Management at 24 Federal Street, Boston,  Massachusetts 02110, or to
Investors Bank & Trust Company, 24 Federal Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110
with  a  copy  to  Eaton  Vance   Management  at  24  Federal  Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts  02110,  shall be deemed to have been properly  delivered or given
hereunder to the respective addressees.

12.  MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY

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

     The Custodian  expressly  acknowledges  the provision in the Declaration of
Trust of the Trust (Section 5.2 and 5.6) limiting the personal  liability of the
Trustees  and officers of the Trust,  and the  Custodian  hereby  agrees that it
shall have recourse to the Trust for payment of claims or obligations as between
the Trust and the  Custodian  arising out of this  Agreement  and shall not seek
satisfaction from any Trustee or officer of the Trust.

13.  ADOPTION OF THE AGREEMENT BY THE TRUST

     The Trust  represents  that its Board has approved  this  Agreement and has
duly authorized the Trust to adopt this Agreement, such adoption to be evidenced
by a letter  agreement  between the Trust and the Bank reflecting such adoption,
which letter agreement shall be dated and signed by a duly authorized officer of
the Trust and duly  authorized  officer  of the Bank.  This  Agreement  shall be
deemed to be duly  executed and delivered by each of the parties in its name and
behalf by its duly authorized  officer as of the date of such letter  agreement,
and this Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and terminate, as of the date of
such  letter  agreement,  all prior  agreements  between  the Trust and the Bank
relating to the custody of the Trust's assets.


                                      * * *
<PAGE>




                                   SCHEDULE A
                             TO CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
                           HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO et al
                                       AND
                         INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY




                            PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT

                              High Income Portfolio
                              Senior Debt Portfolio
                    Worldwide Developing Resources Portfolio



<PAGE>


                              HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO
                              SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO
                    WORLDWIDE DEVELOPING RESOURCES PORTFOLIO



                                                               February 14, 1997

Each  Portfolio  hereby  adopts  and  agrees to  become a party to the  attached
Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company.


                               HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO


                               By:  /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                    ----------------------------------
                                        James B. Hawkes
                                        Vice President

                               signed in Hamilton, Bermuda


                               SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO


                               By:  /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                    ----------------------------------
                                        James B. Hawkes
                                        President

                               signed in Hamilton, Bermuda


                               WORLDWIDE DEVELOPING RESOURCES PORTFOLIO


                               By:  /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                    ----------------------------------
                                        James B. Hawkes
                                        President

                               signed in Hamilton, Bermuda


Accepted and agreed to:

INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY


By: /s/ Michael F. Rogers
    -----------------------------
    Title: Senior Vice President

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          2897294
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         2891420
<RECEIVABLES>                                    18371
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  108766
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                               962
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3019520
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         9445
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               9445
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       3015948
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                   3010074
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               190545
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    5007
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   24305
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         171247
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        (2510)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       (1388)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           167349
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         1388736
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            21644
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                1003
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  24305
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           2387807
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                  0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.02
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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