Exhibit 9

                               CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

      THIS AGREEMENT,  dated as of June, ____, 2000,  between HOTCHKIS AND WILEY
VARIABLE TRUST, an open-end  management  investment  company organized under the
laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  and registered with the Commission
under the 1940 Act (the Fund) on behalf of each of the portfolios  listed on the
attached  Appendix "C" as the same may be amended from time to time (each a Fund
and  collectively  the  Funds),  and BROWN  BROTHERS  HARRIMAN  & CO., a limited
partnership  formed  under  the laws of the  State of New York  (BBH&Co.  or the
Custodian),

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS,  the Fund wishes to employ  BBH&Co.  to act as custodian  for the
Fund and to provide related  services,  all as provided herein,  and BBH&Co.  is
willing to accept such  employment,  subject to the terms and conditions  herein
set forth;

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, the Fund and BBH&Co. hereby agree, as follows:

1. Appointment of Custodian.(1)  The Fund hereby appoints BBH&Co.  as the Fund's
custodian,  and BBH&Co. hereby accepts such appointment.  All Investments of the
Fund  delivered to the Custodian or its agents or  Subcustodians  shall be dealt
with as provided in this Agreement.  The duties of the Custodian with respect to
the Fund's  Investments  shall be only as set forth expressly in this Agreement,
which duties are generally  comprised of safekeeping and various  administrative
duties that will be performed in accordance with  Instructions and as reasonably
required to effect Instructions.

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(1)   Capitalized Terms are defined herein at ss. 12.


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2.  Representations,  Warranties  and  Covenants  of the Fund.  The Fund  hereby
represents, warrants and covenants each of the following:

            2.1 This  Agreement  has been,  and at the time of  delivery of each
      Instruction such Instruction will have been, duly authorized, executed and
      delivered by the Fund.  This Agreement does not violate any Applicable Law
      or conflict with or  constitute a default  under the Fund's  prospectus or
      other organic document, agreement,  judgment, order or decree to which the
      Fund is a party or by which it or its Investments is bound.

            2.2  By  providing  an   Instruction   with  respect  to  the  first
      acquisition  of an  Investment  in a  jurisdiction  other  than the United
      States of  America,  the Fund  shall be deemed  to have  confirmed  to the
      Custodian  that the Fund or its  Investment  Advisor has (a)  assessed and
      accepted   all   material   Country  or   Sovereign   Risks  and  accepted
      responsibility for their occurrence,  (b) made all determinations required
      to be made by the Fund or its  Investment  Advisor under the 1940 Act, and
      (c)  appropriately  and adequately  disclosed to the Fund's  shareholders,
      other investors and all persons who have rights in or to such Investments,
      all material investment risks, including those relating to the custody and
      settlement   infrastructure   or  the  servicing  of  securities  in  such
      jurisdiction.

            2.3 The Fund shall safeguard and shall solely be responsible for the
      safekeeping  of  any  testkeys,  identification  codes,  passwords,  other
      security  devices  or  statements  of  account  with  which the  Custodian
      provides it. In furtherance  and not  limitation of the foregoing,  in the
      event the Fund utilizes any on-line service offered by the Custodian,  the
      Fund and the Custodian shall be fully responsible for the security of each
      party's connecting terminal,  access thereto and the proper and authorized
      use thereof and the  initiation and  application  of continuing  effective
      safeguards in respect thereof.  Additionally, if the Fund uses any on-line
      or similar  communications  service made available by the  Custodian,  the
      Fund shall be solely  responsible  for ensuring the security of its access
      to the service and for the use of the  service,  and shall only attempt to
      access the service and the Custodian's computer systems as directed by the
      Custodian.  If the  Custodian  provides any computer  software to the Fund
      relating to the services  described in this Agreement,  the Fund will only
      use the software for the  purposes  for which the  Custodian  provided the
      software to the Fund, and will abide by the license agreement accompanying
      the software and any other security policies which the Custodian  provides
      to the Fund.

3. Representation and Warranty of BBH&Co. BBH&Co. hereby represents and warrants
that this Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by BBH&Co.
and does not and  will  not  violate  any  Applicable  Law or  conflict  with or
constitute  a default  under  BBH&Co.'s  limited  partnership  agreement  or any
agreement,  instrument, judgment, order or decree to which BBH&Co. is a party or
by which it is bound.  BBH&Co.  represents and warrants that in accordance  with
Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act, it is a bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the
1940  Act  and it  has  the  qualifications  prescribed  for  trustees  of  Unit
Investment Trusts in Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act.


                                       2


4.  Instructions.  Unless otherwise  explicitly  indicated herein, the Custodian
shall  perform its duties  pursuant to  Instructions.  As used herein,  the term
Instruction  shall mean a directive  initiated by the Fund,  acting  directly or
through its board of  directors,  officers or other  Authorized  Persons,  which
directive shall conform to the requirements of this Section 4.

      4.1 Authorized Persons. For purposes hereof, an Authorized Person shall be
a person or entity  authorized to give Instructions for or on behalf of the Fund
by written  notices to the Custodian or otherwise in accordance  with procedures
delivered to and acknowledged by the Custodian, including without limitation the
Fund's  Investment  Adviser or Foreign Custody Manager.  The Custodian may treat
any Authorized Person as having full authority of the Fund to issue Instructions
hereunder unless the notice of authorization contains explicit limitations as to
said  authority.  The Custodian  shall be entitled to rely upon the authority of
Authorized Persons until it receives appropriate written notice from the Fund to
the contrary.

      4.2 Form of  Instruction.  Each  Instruction  shall be transmitted by such
secured or  authenticated  electro-mechanical  means as the Custodian shall make
available  to the Fund from time to time unless the Fund shall elect to transmit
such  Instruction  in accordance  with  Subsections  4.2.1 through 4.2.3 of this
Section.

            4.2.1 Fund Designated  Secured-Transmission Method. Instructions may
      be  transmitted  through a  secured  or  tested  electro-mechanical  means
      identified  by the  Fund  or by an  Authorized  Person  entitled  to  give
      Instruction  and  acknowledged  and  accepted by the  Custodian;  it being
      understood  that such  acknowledgment  shall  authorize  the  Custodian to
      receive  and  process  such means of  delivery  but shall not  represent a
      judgment  by the  Custodian  as to the  reasonableness  or security of the
      method determined by the Authorized Person.

            4.2.2 Written  Instructions.  Instructions  may be  transmitted in a
      writing that bears the manual signature of Authorized Persons.


                                       3


            4.2.3  Other  Forms  of  Instruction.   Instructions   may  also  be
      transmitted by another means determined by the Fund or Authorized  Persons
      and acknowledged and accepted by the Custodian (subject to the same limits
      as to  acknowledgements  as  is  contained  in  Subsection  4.2.1,  above)
      including Instructions given orally or by SWIFT, telex or telefax (whether
      tested or untested).

When an  Instruction  is given  by means  established  under  Subsections  4.2.1
through 4.2.3, it shall be the responsibility of the Custodian to use reasonable
care to  adhere to any  security  or other  procedures  established  in  writing
between the  Custodian and the  Authorized  Person with respect to such means of
Instruction,  but  such  Authorized  Person  shall  be  solely  responsible  for
determining   that  the  particular   means  chosen  is  reasonable   under  the
circumstances. Oral Instructions shall be binding upon the Custodian only if and
when the Custodian  takes action with respect  thereto.  With respect to telefax
instructions,  the  parties  agree  and  acknowledge  that  receipt  of  legible
instructions cannot be assured, that the Custodian cannot verify that authorized
signatures on telefax  instructions are original or properly  affixed,  and that
the  Custodian  shall not be liable  for  losses or  expenses  incurred  through
actions  taken in reliance on  inaccurately  stated,  illegible or  unauthorized
telefax  instructions.  The  provisions of Section 4A of the Uniform  Commercial
Code shall apply to Funds Transfers  performed in accordance with  Instructions.
In the event that a Funds Transfer  Services  Agreement is executed  between the
Fund or and  Authorized  Person  and the  Custodian,  such  an  agreement  shall
comprise  a  designation  of form  of a means  of  delivering  Instructions  for
purposes of this Section 4.2.

      4.3 Completeness and Contents of Instructions. The Authorized Person shall
be  responsible  for  assuring  the  adequacy  and  accuracy  of   Instructions.
Particularly, upon any acquisition or disposition or other dealing in the Fund's
Investments and upon any delivery and transfer of any Investment or moneys,  the
person  initiating such Instruction shall give the Custodian an Instruction with
appropriate detail,


                                       4


including, without limitation:

            4.3.1 The transaction date and the date and location of settlement;

            4.3.2 The specification of the type of transaction;

            4.3.4 A  description  of the  Investments  or  moneys  in  question,
      including, as appropriate, quantity, price per unit, amount of money to be
      received or delivered and currency  information.  Where an  Instruction is
      communicated  by  electronic  means,  or  otherwise  where an  Instruction
      contains an identifying  number such as a CUSIP, SEDOL or ISIN number, the
      Custodian  shall  be  entitled  to  rely  on such  number  as  controlling
      notwithstanding   any   inconsistency   contained  in  such   Instruction,
      particularly with respect to Investment description;

            4.3.5  The name of the  broker  or  similar  entity  concerned  with
      execution of the transaction.

If the  Custodian  shall  determine  that an  Instruction  is either  unclear or
incomplete,  the Custodian may give prompt notice of such  determination  to the
Fund, and the Fund shall thereupon amend or otherwise  reform such  Instruction.
In such event,  the  Custodian  shall have no  obligation  to take any action in
response to the  Instruction  initially  delivered  until the  redelivery  of an
amended or reformed Instruction

      4.4 Timeliness of Instructions.  In giving an Instruction,  the Fund shall
take into  consideration  delays  which may  occur due to the  involvement  of a
Subcustodian or agent,  differences in time zones, and other factors  particular
to a given  market,  exchange  or issuer.  When the  Custodian  has  established
specific timing  requirements or deadlines with respect to particular classes of
Instruction,  or when an Instruction is received by the Custodian at such a time
that it could not reasonably be expected to have acted on such  instruction  due
to time zone  differences or other factors beyond its  reasonable  control,  the
execution of any Instruction received by the Custodian after such deadline or at
such time (including any  modification or revocation of a previous  Instruction)
shall be at the risk of the Fund.


                                       5


5. Safekeeping of Fund Assets. The Custodian shall hold Investments delivered to
it or  Subcustodians  for the Fund in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Section.  The Custodian  shall not be  responsible  for (a) the  safekeeping  of
Investments  not  delivered  or that are not  caused  to be  issued to it or its
Subcustodians;  or, (b)  pre-existing  faults or defects in Investments that are
delivered  to the  Custodian,  or its  Subcustodians.  The  Custodian  is hereby
authorized to hold with itself or a  Subcustodian,  and to record in one or more
accounts,  all  Investments  delivered  to and  accepted by the  Custodian,  any
Subcustodian  or  their  respective  agents  pursuant  to an  Instruction  or in
consequence of any corporate  action.  The Custodian shall hold  Investments for
the account of the Fund and shall segregate Investments from assets belonging to
the Custodian and shall cause its  Subcustodians  to segregate  Investments from
assets  belonging to the  Subcustodian  in an account held for the Fund or in an
account maintained by the Subcustodian  generally for non-proprietary  assets of
the Custodian.

      5.1 Use of Securities Depositories. The Custodian may deposit and maintain
Investments in any Securities Depository, either directly or through one or more
Subcustodians  appointed  by the  Custodian.  Investments  held in a  Securities
Depository shall be held (a) subject to the agreement, rules, statement of terms
and conditions or other document or conditions  effective between the Securities
Depository and the Custodian or the Subcustodian, as the case may be, and (b) in
an account for the Fund or in bulk segregation in an account  maintained for the
non-proprietary assets of the entity holding such Investments in the Depository.
If market  practice or the rules and  regulations of the  Securities  Depository
prevent the Custodian,  the Subcustodian or any agent of either from holding its
client assets in such a separate  account,  the Custodian,  the  Subcustodian or
other agent shall as appropriate  segregate such  Investments for benefit of the
Fund or for benefit of clients of the Custodian generally on its own books.


                                       6


      5.2 Certificated Assets. Investments which are certificated may be held in
registered or bearer form: (a) in the Custodian's  vault;  (b) in the vault of a
Subcustodian or agent of the Custodian or a  Subcustodian;  or (c) in an account
maintained by the Custodian,  Subcustodian or agent at a Securities  Depository;
all in accordance with customary  market  practice in the  jurisdiction in which
any Investments are held.

      5.3 Registered Assets.  Investments which are registered may be registered
in the name of the Custodian,  a  Subcustodian,  or in the name of the Fund or a
nominee  for any of the  foregoing,  and may be held in any  manner set forth in
paragraph 5.2 above with or without any  identification of fiduciary capacity in
such registration.

      5.4 Book Entry Assets. Investments which are represented by book-entry may
be so held in an account  maintained  by the  Book-Entry  Agent on behalf of the
Custodian,  a Subcustodian  or another agent of the  Custodian,  or a Securities
Depository.

      5.5 Replacement of Lost Investments. In the event of a loss of Investments
for which the Custodian is responsible  under the terms of this  Agreement,  the
Custodian shall replace such  Investment,  or in the event that such replacement
cannot be effected, the Custodian shall pay to the Fund the fair market value of
such Investment based on the last available price as of the close of business in
the  relevant  market on the date that a claim was first  made to the  Custodian
with respect to such loss, or, if less,  such other amount as shall be agreed by
the parties as the date for settlement.

6.  Administrative  Duties of the  Custodian.  The  Custodian  shall perform the
following administrative duties with respect to Investments of the Fund.


                                       7


      6.1  Purchase  of  Investments.   Pursuant  to  Instruction,   Investments
purchased  for the  account of the Fund shall be paid for (a)  against  delivery
thereof to the Custodian or a Subcustodian,  as the case may be, either directly
or through a Clearing Corporation or a Securities Depository (in accordance with
the rules of such Securities  Depository or such Clearing  Corporation),  or (b)
otherwise in accordance with an Instruction,  Applicable Law, generally accepted
trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Investment.

      6.2 Sale of Investments. Pursuant to Instruction, Investments sold for the
account of the Fund shall be delivered (a) against payment  therefor in cash, by
check or by bank wire transfer, (b) by credit to the account of the Custodian or
the applicable Subcustodian,  as the case may be, with a Clearing Corporation or
a  Securities  Depository  (in  accordance  with the  rules  of such  Securities
Depository or such Clearing Corporation), or (c) otherwise in accordance with an
Instruction, Applicable Law, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of
the instrument representing such Investment.

      6.3 Delivery in Connection with Borrowings of the Fund or other Collateral
and Margin  Requirements.  Pursuant to  Instruction,  the  Custodian may deliver
Investments  or cash  of the  Fund  in  connection  with  borrowings  and  other
collateral and margin requirements.

      6.4 Futures and Options.  If,  pursuant to an  Instruction,  the Custodian
shall  become a party to an  agreement  with the Fund and a  futures  commission
merchant regarding margin (Tri-Party Agreement), the Custodian shall (a) receive
and retain, to the extent the same are provided to the Custodian,  confirmations
or  other   documents   evidencing   the   purchase  or  sale  by  the  Fund  of
exchange-traded  futures contracts and commodity  options,  (b) when required by
such Tri-Party Agreement,  deposit and maintain in an account opened pursuant to
such Agreement (Margin  Account),  segregated either physically or by book-entry
in a Securities  Depository for the benefit of any futures commission  merchant,
such  Investments as the Fund shall have  designated as initial,  maintenance or
variation  "margin"  deposits or other collateral  intended to secure the Fund's
performance of its obligations  under the terms of any  exchange-traded  futures
contracts and commodity  options;  and (c) thereafter  pay,  release or transfer
Investments  into or out of the margin account in accordance with the provisions
of the  Agreement.  Alternatively,  the  Custodian may deliver  Investments,  in
accordance with an Instruction, to a futures commission merchant for purposes of
margin  requirements  in accordance  with Rule 17f-6.  The Custodian shall in no
event be  responsible  for the


                                       8


acts and omissions of any futures  commission  merchant to whom  Investments are
delivered  pursuant to this Section;  for the sufficiency of Investments held in
any Margin Account;  or for the performance of any terms of any  exchange-traded
futures contracts and commodity options.

      6.5 Contractual  Obligations and Similar  Investments.  From time to time,
the Fund's Investments may include  Investments that are not ownership interests
as may be represented by certificate (whether registered or bearer), by entry in
a Securities  Depository or by book entry agent,  registrar or similar agent for
recording ownership interests in the relevant  Investment.  If the Fund shall at
any  time  acquire  such  Investments,   including  without  limitation  deposit
obligations,   loan   participations,   repurchase   agreements  and  derivative
arrangements, the Custodian shall (a) receive and retain, to the extent the same
are provided to the Custodian,  confirmations or other documents  evidencing the
arrangement;  and (b) perform on the Fund's account in accordance with the terms
of the  applicable  arrangement,  but only to the  extent  directed  to do so by
Instruction.  The Custodian shall have no responsibility  for agreements running
to the Fund as to which it is not a party  other than to  retain,  to the extent
the same are  provided  to the  Custodian,  documents  or  copies  of  documents
evidencing the arrangement and, in accordance with Instruction,  to include such
arrangements in reports made to the Fund.

      6.6 Exchange of Securities.  Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the
Custodian  shall:  (a) exchange  securities held for the account of the Fund for
other  securities  in  connection  with  any  reorganization,  recapitalization,
conversion,  split-up,  change of par value of shares or similar event,  and (b)
deposit any such securities in accordance  with the terms of any  reorganization
or protective plan.

      6.7 Surrender of Securities. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction, the
Custodian  may  surrender  securities:  (a) in  temporary  form  for  definitive
securities;  (b) for transfer into the name of an entity allowable under Section
5.3; and (c) for a different number of certificates or instruments  representing
the same number of shares or the same principal amount of indebtedness.

      6.8 Rights,  Warrants,  Etc. Pursuant to Instruction,  the Custodian shall
(a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar securities to the issuer or
trustee  thereof,  or to any agent of such  issuer or trustee,  for  purposes of
exercising such rights or selling such securities, and (b) deposit securities in
response to any invitation for the tender thereof.

      6.9 Mandatory Corporate Actions. Unless otherwise directed by Instruction,
the  Custodian


                                       9


shall:  (a) comply  with the terms of all  mandatory  or  compulsory  exchanges,
calls, tenders,  redemptions or similar rights of securities ownership affecting
securities  held on the  Fund's  account  and  promptly  notify the Fund of such
action,  and (b)  collect  all stock  dividends,  rights and other items of like
nature with respect to such securities.

      6.10 Income  Collection.  Unless  otherwise  directed by Instruction,  the
Custodian  shall  collect any amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to
Investments  and promptly  credit the amount  collected to a Principal or Agency
Account; provided, however, that the Custodian shall not be responsible for: (a)
the collection of amounts due and payable with respect to  Investments  that are
in default,  or (b) the collection of cash or share entitlements with respect to
Investments  that  are  not  registered  in the  name  of the  Custodian  or its
Subcustodians.  The  Custodian is hereby  authorized  to endorse and deliver any
instrument  required to be so endorsed and delivered to effect collection of any
amount due and payable to the Fund with respect to Investments.

      6.11 Ownership  Certificates  and Disclosure of the Fund's  Interest.  The
Custodian  is hereby  authorized  to  execute  on  behalf of the Fund  ownership
certificates,  affidavits or other  disclosure  required under Applicable Law or
established  market practice in connection  with the receipt of income,  capital
gains  or  other  payments  by the  Fund  with  respect  to  Investments,  or in
connection with the sale, purchase or ownership of Investments.

      6.12 Proxy Materials. The Custodian shall promptly deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Fund proxy forms, notices of meeting, and any other notices or
announcements  materially  affecting or relating to Investments  received by the
Custodian or any nominee.

      6.13. Taxes. The Custodian shall, where applicable, assist the Fund in the
reclamation of taxes withheld on dividends and interest payments received by the
Fund.  In the  performance  of its duties with  respect to tax  withholding  and
reclamation,  the  Custodian  shall be entitled to rely on the advice of counsel
and upon information and advice regarding the Fund's tax status that is received
from or on behalf of the Fund without duty of separate inquiry.

      6.14 Other  Dealings.  The  Custodian  shall  otherwise act as directed by
Instruction,  including without limitation effecting the free payments of moneys
or the free  delivery  of  securities,  provided  that  such  Instruction  shall
indicate the purpose of such payment or delivery  and that the  Custodian  shall
record


                                       10


the party to whom such payment or delivery is made.

      The Custodian shall attend to all  nondiscretionary  details in connection
with the sale or  purchase or other  administration  of  Investments,  except as
otherwise directed by an Instruction,  and may make payments to itself or others
for minor expenses of administering  Investments under this Agreement;  provided
that the Fund shall have the right to request an accounting with respect to such
expenses.

      In fulfilling the duties set forth in Sections 6.6 through 6.10 above, the
Custodian shall promptly provide to the Fund all material information pertaining
to a corporate action which the Custodian actually  receives;  provided that the
Custodian  shall not be  responsible  for the  completeness  or accuracy of such
information.  Any advance credit of cash or shares  expected to be received as a
result of any corporate  action shall be subject to actual  collection  and may,
when the Custodian deems collection unlikely, be reversed by the Custodian.

      The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion  appoint (and may
at any time remove) agents (other than  Subcustodians)  to carry out some or all
of the administrative provisions of this Agreement (Agents),  provided, however,
that the  appointment  of such agent  shall not  relieve  the  Custodian  of its
administrative obligations under this Agreement.

7.  Cash  Accounts,  Deposits  and  Money  Movements.  Subject  to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Section 7, the Fund hereby authorizes the Custodian
to open and maintain, with itself or with Subcustodians, cash accounts in United
States Dollars,  in such other currencies as are the currencies of the countries
in which the Fund maintains  Investments or in such other currencies as the Fund
shall from time to time request by Instruction.

      7.1  Types of Cash  Accounts.  Cash  accounts  opened  on the books of the
Custodian  (Principal


                                       11


Accounts)  shall be opened in the name of the Fund.  Such accounts  collectively
shall be a deposit obligation of the Custodian and shall be subject to the terms
of this Section 7 and the general liability  provisions  contained in Section 9.
Cash accounts opened on the books of a Subcustodian may be opened in the name of
the Fund or the  Custodian  or in the name of the  Custodian  for its  customers
generally  (Agency  Accounts).   Such  deposits  shall  be  obligations  of  the
Subcustodian and shall be treated as an Investment of the Fund. Accordingly, the
Custodian   shall  be  responsible   for  exercising   reasonable  care  in  the
administration  of such accounts but shall not be liable for their  repayment in
the  event  such  Subcustodian,  by  reason  of its  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or
otherwise, fails to make repayment.

      7.2 Payments and Credits with Respect to the Cash Accounts.  The Custodian
shall make  payments  from or deposits to any of said  accounts in the course of
carrying  out its  administrative  duties,  including  but not limited to income
collection with respect to the Fund's  Investments,  and otherwise in accordance
with  Instructions.  The  Custodian and its  Subcustodians  shall be required to
credit  amounts to the cash accounts  only when moneys are actually  received in
cleared funds in accordance with banking practice in the country and currency of
deposit.  Any credit  made to any  Principal  or Agency  Account  before  actual
receipt  of  cleared  funds  shall be  provisional  and may be  reversed  by the
Custodian in the event such payment is not actually collected.  Unless otherwise
specifically  agreed  in  writing  by the  Custodian  or any  Subcustodian,  all
deposits  shall be payable only at the branch of the  Custodian or  Subcustodian
where the deposit is made or carried.

      7.3  Currency  and  Related  Risks.  The Fund  bears  risks of  holding or
transacting in any currency.  The Custodian  shall not be liable for any loss or
damage arising from the  applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter
in effect,  or from the  occurrence of any event,  which may delay or affect the


                                       12


transferability,  convertibility  or availability of any currency in the country
(a) in which such  Principal or Agency  Accounts are  maintained or (b) in which
such  currency is issued,  and in no event shall the  Custodian  be obligated to
make payment of a deposit  denominated  in a currency  during the period  during
which its  transferability,  convertibility or availability has been affected by
any such law,  regulation  or event.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing, neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be required to repay
any deposit made at a foreign branch of either the Custodian or  Subcustodian if
such branch  cannot  repay the  deposit  due to a cause for which the  Custodian
would not be  responsible  in  accordance  with the  terms of  Section 9 of this
Agreement unless the Custodian or such Subcustodian  expressly agrees in writing
to repay the deposit under such circumstances.  All currency transactions in any
account  opened  pursuant to this  Agreement  are  subject to  exchange  control
regulations  of the United  States and of the country where such currency is the
lawful currency or where the account is maintained. Any taxes, costs, charges or
fees imposed on the  convertibility  of a currency held by the Fund shall be for
the account of the Fund.

      7.4 Foreign Exchange  Transactions.  The Custodian  shall,  subject to the
terms  of  this  Section,   settle  foreign  exchange  transactions   (including
contracts,  futures,  options  and  options  on  futures)  on behalf and for the
account  of the  Fund  with  such  currency  brokers  or  banking  institutions,
including  Subcustodians,  as the Fund may direct pursuant to Instructions.  The
Custodian may act as principal in any foreign exchange transaction with the Fund
in  accordance  with Section 7.4.2 of this  Agreement.  The  obligations  of the
Custodian in respect of all foreign  exchange  transactions  (whether or not the
Custodian shall act as principal in such transaction) shall be contingent on the
free,  unencumbered  transferability  of the currency  transacted  on the actual
settlement date of the transaction.


                                       13


            7.4.1 Third Party Foreign Exchange Transactions. The Custodian shall
      process  foreign  exchange  transactions   (including  without  limitation
      contracts,  futures,  options,  and options on  futures),  where any third
      party  acts as  principal  counterparty  to the Fund on the same  basis it
      performs  duties as agent for the Fund  with  respect  to any other of the
      Fund's  Investments.  Accordingly  the Custodian shall only be responsible
      for  delivering or receiving  currency on behalf of the Fund in respect of
      such  contracts  pursuant  to  Instructions.  The  Custodian  shall not be
      responsible   for  the  failure  of  any   counterparty   (including   any
      Subcustodian)  in such  agency  transaction  to  perform  its  obligations
      thereunder.  The Custodian (a) shall transmit cash and Instructions to and
      from the  currency  broker or  banking  institution  with  which a foreign
      exchange  contract or option has been executed  pursuant  hereto,  (b) may
      make free  outgoing  payments  of cash in the form of  Dollars  or foreign
      currency without receiving  confirmation of a foreign exchange contract or
      option or  confirmation  that the  countervalue  currency  completing  the
      foreign  exchange  contract  has been  delivered  or  received or that the
      option  has  been   delivered  or   received,   and  (c)  shall  hold  all
      confirmations, certificates and other documents and agreements received by
      the  Custodian  and  evidencing  or  relating  to  such  foreign  exchange
      transactions in safekeeping.  The Fund accepts full responsibility for its
      use of  third-party  foreign  exchange  dealers and for  execution of said
      foreign exchange contracts and options and understands that the Fund shall
      be  responsible  for any and all costs and interest  charges  which may be
      incurred by the Fund or the  Custodian as a result of the failure or delay
      of third parties to deliver foreign exchange.

            7.4.2  Foreign  Exchange  with  the  Custodian  as  Principal.   The
      Custodian may undertake  foreign  exchange  transactions  with the Fund as
      principal as the  Custodian  and the Fund may agree from time to time.  In
      such  event,  the  foreign  exchange  transaction  will  be  performed  in
      accordance with the particular agreement of the parties, or in the event a
      principal foreign exchange  transaction is initiated by Instruction in the
      absence of specific  agreement,  such  transaction  will be  performed  in
      accordance with the usual commercial terms of the Custodian.

      7.5  Delays.  If no event of Force  Majeure  shall  have  occurred  and be
continuing  and  in the  event  that a  delay  shall  have  been  caused  by the
negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian in carrying out an Instruction
to credit or transfer cash, the Custodian  shall be liable to the Fund: (a) with
respect  to  Principal  Accounts,  for  interest  to be  calculated  at the rate
customarily  paid on such  deposit and  currency by the  Custodian  on overnight
deposits  at the time the  delay  occurs  for the  period  from the day when the
transfer  should have been effected until the day it is in fact  effected;  and,
(b) with respect to Agency  Accounts,  for interest to be calculated at the rate
customarily  paid on such deposit and currency by the  Subcustodian on overnight
deposits  at the time the  delay  occurs  for the  period  from the day when the
transfer  should have been effected  until the day it is in fact  effected.  The
Custodian  shall not be liable for


                                       14


delays in carrying out such  Instructions  to transfer cash which are not due to
the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct.

      7.6 Advances.  If, for any reason in the conduct of its safekeeping duties
pursuant to Section 5 hereof or its administration of the Fund's assets pursuant
to  Section 6 hereof,  the  Custodian  or any  Subcustodian  advances  monies to
facilitate  settlement  or otherwise for benefit of the Fund (whether or not any
Principal or Agency Account shall be overdrawn either during,  or at the end of,
any Business Day), the Fund hereby does:

            7.6.1  acknowledge that the Fund shall have no right or title to any
      Investments  purchased  with such  Advance  save a right to  receive  such
      Investments  upon: (a) the debit of the Principal or Agency  Account;  or,
      (b) if such  debit  would  produce an  overdraft  in such  account,  other
      reimbursement of the associated Advance;

            7.6.2  grant to the  Custodian  a  security  interest  in the Fund's
      Investments  as security  for such  Advance in an amount not to exceed the
      amount of the Advance; and,

            7.6.3 agree that the Custodian  may secure the resulting  Advance by
      perfecting a security interest in the Fund's  Investments in an amount not
      to exceed the amount of the Advance under Applicable Law.

Neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian  shall be obligated to advance monies
to the Fund, and in the event that such Advance occurs,  any transaction  giving
rise to an Advance  shall be for the  account and risk of the Fund and shall not
be deemed to be a  transaction  undertaken  by the Custodian for its own account
and risk.  If such Advance shall have been made by a  Subcustodian  or any other
person,  the  Custodian  may assign the  security  interest and any other rights
granted to the Custodian  hereunder to such Subcustodian or other person. If the
Fund  shall  fail to repay when due the  principal  balance  of an  Advance  and
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, the Custodian or its assignee,  as the case
may be, shall be entitled to utilize the available cash balance in any Agency or
Principal  Account and to dispose of any Investments to the extent  necessary to
recover  payment of all principal of, and interest on, such Advance in full. The
Custodian  may


                                       15


assign  any  rights it has  hereunder  to a  Subcustodian  or third  party.  Any
security  interest in Investments  taken hereunder shall be treated as financial
assets  credited to securities  accounts  under  Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform
Commercial  Code (1997).  Accordingly,  the Custodian  shall have the rights and
benefits of a secured  creditor  that is a  securities  intermediary  under such
Articles 8 and 9.

      7.7 Integrated  Account.  For purposes hereof,  deposits maintained in all
Principal  Accounts  (whether or not denominated in Dollars) shall  collectively
constitute a single and  indivisible  current account with respect to the Fund's
obligations  to the Custodian,  or its assignee,  and balances in such Principal
Accounts shall be available for  satisfaction  of the Fund's  obligations  under
this Section 7. The Custodian  shall further have a right of offset  against the
balances  in any Agency  Account  maintained  hereunder  to the extent  that the
aggregate of all Principal Accounts is overdrawn.

8.  Subcustodians  and  Securities  Depositories.   Subject  to  the  provisions
hereinafter  set  forth  in this  Section  8,  the Fund  hereby  authorizes  the
Custodian to utilize Securities Depositories to act on behalf of the Fund and to
appoint  from  time  to time  and to  utilize  Subcustodians.  With  respect  to
securities  and funds held by a  Subcustodian,  either  directly  or  indirectly
(including by a Securities Depository or Clearing Corporation),  notwithstanding
any  provisions  of this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  payment  for  securities
purchased  and  delivery  of  securities  sold may be made  prior to  receipt of
securities or payment,  respectively,  and securities or payment may be received
in a form,  in  accordance  with  (a)  governmental  regulations,  (b)  rules of
Securities  Depositories  and clearing  agencies,  (c) generally  accepted trade
practice in the applicable local market,  (d) the terms and  characteristics  of
the particular Investment, or (e) the terms of Instructions.


                                       16


      8.1 Domestic Subcustodians and Securities Depositories.  The Custodian may
deposit and/or maintain, either directly or through one or more agents appointed
by the Custodian,  Investments  of the Fund in any Securities  Depository in the
United States, including The Depository Trust Company,  provided such Depository
meets  applicable  requirements of the Federal Reserve Bank or of the Securities
and Exchange  Commission and provided that the Board of Trustees of the Fund has
pre-approved  such  Depository.  The Custodian may, at any time and from time to
time, appoint any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act meeting the
requirements  of a custodian  under  Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules
and regulations  thereunder,  to act on behalf of the Fund as a Subcustodian for
purposes of holding Investments of the Fund in the United States.

      8.2 Foreign Subcustodians and Securities  Depositories.  The Custodian may
deposit  and/or  maintain  non-U.S.  Investments  of the  Fund  in any  non-U.S.
Securities Depository provided such Securities Depository meets the requirements
of an "eligible  foreign  custodian" under Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940
Act, or any successor rule or regulation ("Rule 17f-5") or which by order of the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission is exempted  therefrom.  Additionally,  the
Custodian  may, at any time and from time to time,  appoint (a) any bank,  trust
company  or  other  entity  meeting  the  requirements  of an  Eligible  Foreign
Custodian  under Rule  17f-5 or which by order of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission is exempted therefrom,  or (b) any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5)
of the 1940 Act meeting the  requirements  of a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations  thereunder,  to act on behalf of the
Fund as a Subcustodian  for purposes of holding  Investments of the Fund outside
the United States. Such appointment of foreign Subcustodians shall be subject to
approval of the Fund in accordance with Subsections 8.2.1 and 8.2.2.


                                       17


            8.2.1 Board Approval of Foreign Subcustodians.  Unless and except to
      the extent that review of certain  matters  concerning the  appointment of
      Subcustodians  shall have been  delegated  to the  Custodian  pursuant  to
      Subsection  8.2.2,  the Custodian  shall,  prior to the appointment of any
      Subcustodian  for purposes of holding  Investments of the Fund outside the
      United States, obtain written confirmation of the approval of the Board of
      Trustees or  Directors  of the Fund with  respect to (a) the identity of a
      Subcustodian,  (b) the country or countries in which,  and the  Securities
      Depositories,   if  any,  through  which,  any  proposed  Subcustodian  is
      authorized  to hold  Investments  of the  Fund,  and (c) the  Subcustodian
      agreement  which shall govern such  appointment.  Each such duly  approved
      country,  Subcustodian  and  Securities  Depository  shall  be  listed  on
      Appendix A attached hereto as the same may from time to time be amended.

            8.2.2  Delegation  of Board  Review of  Subcustodians.  From time to
      time,  the Custodian may offer to perform,  and the Fund may accept , that
      the Custodian perform certain reviews of Subcustodians and of Subcustodian
      Contracts as delegate of the Fund's Board. In such event,  the Custodian's
      duties and  obligations  with  respect to this  delegated  review  will be
      performed in accordance with the terms of a separate delegation  agreement
      between  the  Fund and the  Custodian  with the  attached  Procedures  and
      Guidelines.

      8.3 Responsibility for Subcustodians. With respect to securities and funds
held by a Subcustodian,  either  directly or indirectly  (including by a Foreign
Depository,  Securities  System or foreign  clearing  agency),  including demand
deposit and interest bearing deposits,  currencies or other deposits and foreign
exchange  contracts as referred to herein,  the Custodian shall be liable to the
Fund if and only to the extent that such Subcustodian is liable to the Custodian
and the Custodian recovers under the applicable subcustodian agreement.

      8.4 New  Countries.  The  Fund  shall be  responsible  for  informing  the
Custodian  sufficiently in advance of a proposed  investment which is to be held
in a country in which no  Subcustodian  is  authorized  to act in order that the
Custodian  shall,  if it deems  appropriate  to do so, have  sufficient  time to
establish a  subcustodial  arrangement  in  accordance  herewith.  In the event,
however,  the Custodian is unable to establish  such  arrangements  prior to the
time such investment is to be acquired, the Custodian is authorized to designate
at its  discretion  a  local  safekeeping  agent,  and  the  use of  such  local
safekeeping  agent shall be at the sole risk of the Fund,  and  accordingly  the
Custodian  shall be responsible to the Fund for the actions


                                       18


of such agent if and only to the extent the Custodian  shall have recovered from
such agent for any damages caused the Fund by such agent.

9.  Responsibility  of the Custodian.  In performing its duties and  obligations
hereunder,  the  Custodian  shall  use  reasonable  care  under  the  facts  and
circumstances prevailing in the market where performance is effected. Subject to
the specific  provisions of this Section,  the Custodian shall be liable for any
direct damage incurred by the Fund in consequence of the Custodian's negligence,
bad faith or  willful  misconduct.  In no event  shall the  Custodian  be liable
hereunder for any special,  indirect,  punitive or consequential damages arising
out of,  pursuant to or in connection  with this Agreement even if the Custodian
has been  advised of the  possibility  of such  damages.  It is agreed  that the
Custodian  shall  have  no duty to  assess  the  risks  inherent  in the  Fund's
Investments or to provide investment advice with respect to such Investments and
that  the Fund as  principal  shall  bear  any  risks  attendant  to  particular
Investments such as failure of counterparty or issuer.

      9.1  Limitations of  Performance.  The Custodian  shall not be responsible
under this Agreement for any failure to perform its duties, and shall not liable
hereunder  for any loss or damage in  association  with such failure to perform,
for or in consequence of the following causes:

            9.1.1 Force Majeure.  Force Majeure shall mean any  circumstance  or
      event  which  is  beyond  the  reasonable  control  of  the  Custodian,  a
      Subcustodian  or any agent of the  Custodian or a  Subcustodian  and which
      adversely  affects the  performance  by the  Custodian of its  obligations
      hereunder,  by the  Subcustodian of its  obligations  under its Subcustody
      Agreement  or by any other  agent of the  Custodian  or the  Subcustodian,
      including  any event caused by,  arising out of or involving (a) an act of
      God, (b)  accident,  fire,  water damage or  explosion,  (c) any computer,
      system or other  equipment  failure or malfunction  caused by any computer
      virus or the malfunction or failure of any communications  medium, (d) any
      interruption of the power supply or other utility service,  (e) any strike
      or other  work  stoppage,  whether  partial  or  total,  (f) any  delay or
      disruption  resulting  from or reflecting  the occurrence of any Sovereign
      Risk, (g) any disruption of, or suspension of trading in, the  securities,
      commodities or foreign exchange markets,  whether or not resulting from or
      reflecting  the occurrence of any Sovereign  Risk, (h) any  encumbrance on
      the


                                       19


      transferability  of a  currency  or a  currency  position  on  the  actual
      settlement  date  of  a  foreign  exchange  transaction,  whether  or  not
      resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign  Risk, or (i)
      any other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian.

            9.1.2  Country  Risk.  Country Risk shall mean,  with respect to the
      acquisition,   ownership,  settlement  or  custody  of  Investments  in  a
      jurisdiction,  all  risks  relating  to, or  arising  in  consequence  of,
      systemic and markets  factors  affecting the  acquisition,  payment for or
      ownership  of  Investments  including  (a) the  prevalence  of  crime  and
      corruption,  (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial
      information,  (c) the  instability  or volatility of banking and financial
      systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such
      systems, (d) custody and settlement  infrastructure of the market in which
      such  Investments  are transacted  and held,  (e) the acts,  omissions and
      operation of any Securities Depository,  (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or
      insolvency  of  banking  agents,  counterparties  to cash  and  securities
      transactions,  registrars  or transfer  agents,  and (g) the  existence of
      market  conditions  which  prevent the orderly  execution or settlement of
      transactions or which affect the value of assets.

            9.1.3 Sovereign  Risk.  Sovereign Risk shall mean, in respect of any
      jurisdiction, including the United States of America, where Investments is
      acquired or held hereunder or under a Subcustody Agreement, (a) any act of
      war, terrorism,  riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition
      of any investment,  repatriation or exchange  control  restrictions by any
      Governmental   Authority,   (c)   the   confiscation,   expropriation   or
      nationalization of any Investments by any Governmental Authority,  whether
      de facto or de jure,  (d) any  devaluation or revaluation of the currency,
      (e)  the   imposition  of  taxes,   levies  or  other  charges   affecting
      Investments,  (f) any  change  in the  Applicable  Law,  or (g) any  other
      economic or political risk incurred or experienced.

      9.2.  Limitations on Liability.  The Custodian shall not be liable for any
loss, claim, damage or other liability arising from the following causes:

            9.2.1  Failure of Third  Parties.  The  failure  of any third  party
      including:  (a) any issuer of  Investments or book-entry or other agent of
      and issuer; (b) any counterparty with respect to any Investment, including
      any issuer of  exchange-traded  or other  futures,  option,  derivative or
      commodities  contract;  (c)  failure  of an  Investment  Advisor,  Foreign
      Custody  Manager or other agent of the Fund; or (d) failure of other third
      parties similarly beyond the control or choice of the Custodian.

            9.2.2 Information  Sources.  The Custodian may rely upon information
      received  from  issuers  of   Investments   or  agents  of  such  issuers,
      information  received  from  Subcustodians  and  from  other  commercially
      reasonable  sources such as commercial  data bases and the like, but shall
      not be responsible for specific inaccuracies in such information, provided
      that the Custodian has relied upon such  information in good faith, or for
      the failure of any commercially reasonable information provider.

            9.2.3  Reliance  on  Instruction.  Action  by the  Custodian  or the
      Subcustodian  in  accordance  with an  Instruction,  even when such action
      conflicts with, or is contrary to any provision of, the Fund's declaration
      of trust,  certificate of  incorporation  or by-laws,  Applicable  Law, or
      actions by the trustees, directors or shareholders of the Fund.

            9.2.4 Restricted Securities. The limitations inherent in the rights,
      transferability   or  similar   investment   characteristics  of  a  given
      Investment of the Fund.


                                       20


10. Reports and Records. The Custodian shall:

            10.1 create and maintain  records relating to the performance of its
      obligations under this Agreement;

            10.2 make available to the Fund, its auditors, agents and employees,
      during regular  business hours of the Custodian,  upon reasonable  request
      and during normal business hours of the Custodian,  all records maintained
      by the Custodian pursuant to paragraph (a) above, subject, however, to all
      reasonable  security  requirements of the Custodian then applicable to the
      records of its custody customers generally; and

            10.3 make  available to the Fund all  Electronic  Reports;  it being
      understood  that the  Custodian  shall  not be  liable  hereunder  for the
      inaccuracy  or  incompleteness  thereof or for  errors in any  information
      included therein.

      The Fund shall  examine all records,  howsoever  produced or  transmitted,
promptly  upon  receipt  thereof  and  notify  the  Custodian  promptly  of  any
discrepancy  or error  therein.  Unless the Fund delivers  written notice of any
such  discrepancy or error within a reasonable  time after its receipt  thereof,
such records shall be deemed to be true and accurate.  It is understood that the
Custodian now obtains and will in the future obtain  information on the value of
assets  from  outside  sources  which may be utilized  in certain  reports  made
available to the Fund. The Custodian deems such sources to be reliable but it is
acknowledged  and agreed that the  Custodian  does not verify nor  represent nor
warrant as to the accuracy or completeness  of such  information and accordingly
shall be without  liability in selecting  and using such sources and  furnishing
such information.

11. Miscellaneous.

      11.1  Proxies,  etc.  The Fund will  promptly  execute and  deliver,  upon
request,  such  proxies,  powers  of  attorney  or other  instruments  as may be
necessary  or  desirable  for  the  Custodian  to


                                       21


provide, or to cause any Subcustodian to provide, custody services.

      11.2  Entire  Agreement.  Except as  specifically  provided  herein,  this
Agreement  constitutes the entire  agreement  between the Fund and the Custodian
with  respect  to  the  subject  matter  hereof.  Accordingly,   this  Agreement
supersedes any custody agreement or other oral or written agreements  heretofore
in effect  between the Fund and the Custodian with respect to the custody of the
Fund's Investments.

      11.3 Waiver and  Amendment.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived,
amended  or  modified,  and no  addendum  to this  Agreement  shall be or become
effective, or be waived, amended or modified, except by an instrument in writing
executed by the party against  which  enforcement  of such waiver,  amendment or
modification is sought; provided, however, that an Instruction shall, whether or
not such Instruction  shall  constitute a waiver,  amendment or modification for
purposes hereof,  shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Custodian when it
commences actions pursuant thereto or in accordance therewith.

      11.4 GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK,  WITHOUT
GIVING  EFFECT  TO THE  CONFLICTS  OF LAW OF  SUCH  STATE.  THE  PARTIES  HERETO
IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE  JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK AND THE  FEDERAL  COURTS  LOCATED  IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE  BOROUGH  OF
MANHATTAN.

      11.5 Notices.  Notices and other writings  contemplated by this Agreement,
other than  Instructions,  shall be  delivered  (a) by hand,  (b) by first class
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,


                                       22


return receipt requested,  (c) by a nationally  recognized  overnight courier or
(d) by facsimile transmission, provided that any notice or other writing sent by
facsimile  transmission shall also be mailed,  postage prepaid,  to the party to
whom such notice is addressed. All such notices shall be addressed, as follows:

            If to the Fund:

            HOTCHKIS AND WILEY VARIABLE TRUST
            725 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 4000
            Los Angeles, CA 90017-5400
            Attn: Nancy Celick,
            President

            Telephone:        [213]- 430-1905

            Facsimile         [213] - 430-1016

            If to the Custodian:

            Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
            40 Water Street
            Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                    Attn: Manager, Securities Department

            Telephone:        (617) 772-1818
            Facsimile:        (617) 772-2263,

      or such other address as the Fund or the Custodian may have  designated in
writing to the other.

      11.6 Headings.  Paragraph  headings included herein are for convenience of
reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or
provisions hereof.

      11.7  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number  of
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original.  This Agreement  shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed and delivered by
the Fund and the Custodian.

      11.8  Confidentiality.  The  parties  hereto  agree that each shall  treat
confidentially  the terms and conditions of this  Agreement and all  information
provided by each party to the other regarding


                                       23


its business and operations.  All confidential  information  provided by a party
hereto  shall be used by any  other  party  hereto  solely  for the  purpose  of
rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be
required in carrying  out this  Agreement,  shall not be  disclosed to any third
party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not
be applicable to any  information  that is publicly  available  when provided or
thereafter  becomes  publicly  available  other  than  through  a breach of this
Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any bank examiner of the
Custodian or any  Subcustodian,  any  Regulatory  Authority,  any auditor of the
parties  hereto,  or by  judicial  or  administrative  process or  otherwise  by
Applicable Law.

      11.9 Counsel.  In fulfilling its duties hereunder,  the Custodian shall be
entitled to receive and act upon the advice of (i) counsel regularly retained by
the  Custodian  in respect of such  matters,  (ii) counsel for the Fund or (iii)
such counsel as the Fund and the Custodian  may agree upon,  with respect to all
matters,  and the Custodian shall be without liability for any action reasonably
taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.

12.  Definitions.  The following defined terms will have the respective meanings
set forth below.

      12.1  Advance  shall  mean any  extension  of  credit  by or  through  the
Custodian or by or through any  Subcustodian  and shall include  amounts paid to
third  parties for account of the Fund or in discharge  of any  expense,  tax or
other item payable by the Fund.

      12.2 Agency Account shall mean any deposit  account opened on the books of
a Subcustodian or other banking institution in accordance with Section 7.1.

      12.3 Agent  shall have the meaning set forth in the last system of Section
6.

      12.4 Applicable Law shall mean with respect to each jurisdiction,  all (a)
laws, statutes, treaties,  regulations,  guidelines (or their equivalents);  (b)
orders,  interpretations  licenses  and  permits;  and (c)  judgments,  decrees,
injunctions  writs,   orders  and  similar  actions  by  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction;  compliance with which is required or customarily observed in such
jurisdiction.


                                       24


      12.5 Authorized  Person shall mean any person or entity authorized to give
Instructions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with Section 4.1.

      12.6 Book-entry  Agent shall mean an entity acting as agent for the issuer
of  Investments  for purposes of recording  ownership or similar  entitlement to
Investments, including without limitation a transfer agent or registrar.

      12.7 Clearing  Corporation shall mean any entity or system established for
purposes  of  providing  securities   settlement  and  movement  and  associated
functions for a given market.

      12.8 Delegation  Agreement shall mean any separate  agreement entered into
between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative with respect
to  certain   matters   concerning  the  appointment   and   administration   of
Subcustodians delegated to the Custodian pursuant to Rule 17f-5.

      12.9 Foreign Custody Manager shall mean the Fund's foreign custody manager
appointed pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.

      12.10 Funds Transfer Services  Agreement shall mean any separate agreement
entered into between the Custodian and the Fund or its authorized representative
with respect to certain matters concerning the processing of payment orders from
Principal Accounts of the Fund.

      12.11 Instruction(s) shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4.

      12.12  Investment  Advisor  shall  mean any  person  or  entity  who is an
Authorized  Person to give  Instructions  with  respect  to the  investment  and
reinvestment of the Fund's Investments.

      12.13 Investments  shall mean any investment asset of the Fund,  including
without  limitation  securities,  bonds,  notes,  debentures,  cash  as  well as
receivables,   derivatives,   contractual   rights  or  entitlements  and  other
intangible assets.

      12.14  Margin  Account  shall have the  meaning  set forth in Section  6.4
hereof.

      12.15 Principal Account shall mean deposit accounts of the Fund carried on
the books of BBH&Co. as principal in accordance with Section 7.

      12.16 Safekeeping  Account shall mean an account  established on the books
of the Custodian or any  Subcustodian  for purposes of segregating the interests
of the Fund (or clients of the Custodian or Subcustodian) from the assets of the
Custodian or any Subcustodian.

      12.17  Securities  Depository shall mean a central or book entry system or
agency  established under Applicable Law for purposes of recording the ownership
and/or entitlement to investment securities for a given market.

      12.18 Subcustodian shall mean each foreign bank appointed by the Custodian
pursuant to Section 8, but shall not include Securities Depositories.

      12.19 Tri-Party  Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4
hereof.

      12.20 1940 Act shall mean the  Investment  Company Act of 1940,  including
the Rules promulgated thereunder.

13. Compensation. The Fund agrees to pay to the Custodian (a) a fee in an amount
set forth in the fee


                                       25


letter  between  the Fund and the  Custodian  in effect on the date hereof or as
amended from time to time, and (b) all  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred by the
Custodian,  including  the fees and expenses of all  Subcustodians,  and payable
from  time to time.  Amounts  payable  by the Fund  under and  pursuant  to this
Section 13 shall be payable by wire transfer to the Custodian at BBH&Co.  in New
York, New York.

14. Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by either party in accordance
with the  provisions of this Section.  The  provisions of this Agreement and any
other  rights or  obligations  incurred or accrued by any party  hereto prior to
termination of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

            14.1 Notice and Effect.  This  Agreement may be terminated by either
      party by  written  notice  effective  no  sooner  than  seventy-five  days
      following  the date that notice to such effect shall be delivered to other
      party at its address set forth in paragraph 11.5 hereof.

            14.2  Successor  Custodian.  In the  event of the  appointment  of a
      successor custodian, it is agreed that the Investments of the Fund held by
      the  Custodian or any  Subcustodian  shall be  delivered to the  successor
      custodian in accordance with reasonable Instructions. The Custodian agrees
      to cooperate  with the Fund in the execution of documents and  performance
      of other  actions  necessary  or  desirable  in order  to  facilitate  the
      succession  of the new  custodian.  If no  successor  custodian  shall  be
      appointed,  the  Custodian  shall  in  like  manner  transfer  the  Fund's
      Investments in accordance with Instructions.

            14.3 Delayed Succession.  If no Instruction has been given as of the
      effective date of termination,  Custodian may at any time on or after such
      termination  date and upon ten days written  notice to the Fund either (a)
      deliver  the  Investments  of the Fund held  hereunder  to the Fund at the
      address  designated for receipt of notices  hereunder;  or (b) deliver any
      investments   held   hereunder  to  a  bank  or  trust  company  having  a
      capitalization  of $2M USD equivalent  and operating  under the Applicable
      Law of the jurisdiction where such Investments are located,  such delivery
      to be at the risk of the Fund. In the event that  Investments or moneys of
      the Fund remain in the custody of the Custodian or its Subcustodians after
      the  date of  termination  owing  to the  failure  of the  Fund  to  issue
      Instructions  with respect to their  disposition or owing to the fact that
      such  disposition  could  not be  accomplished  in  accordance  with  such
      Instructions  despite  diligent  efforts of the  Custodian,  the Custodian
      shall be entitled to  compensation  for its services  with respect to such
      Investments  and  moneys  during  such  period  as  the  Custodian  or its
      Subcustodians  retain  possession of such items and the provisions of this
      Agreement  shall  remain in full force and  effect  until  disposition  in
      accordance with this Section is accomplished.

            14.4 Limitation of Liability.  This Agreement is binding only on the
      Fund's Investments. The Custodian understands that the obligations of this
      Agreement are not binding upon any shareholder of the Fund personally, but
      bind only the Investments of the Fund. The Custodian


                                       26


      acknowledges  that  it has  notice  of the  Fund's  Declaration  of  Trust
      disclaiming shareholder liability for the acts or obligations of the Fund.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

      HOTCHKIS AND WILEY VARIABLE TRUST

      By:_______________________________

      By: BROWN BROTHERS  HARRIMAN & CO.

      By: ________________________________


                                       27


             BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. - GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
                        HOTCHKIS AND WILEY VARIABLE TRUST
                                   APPENDIX A




COUNTRY           SUBCUSTODIAN                                              DEPOSITORIES
- -------           ------------                                              ------------
                                                                     
AUSTRALIA         NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD. (NAB)                        Austraclear
                     National Australia Bank Agt. 5/1/85                    CHESS
                     Agreement Amendment 2/13/92                            RBA
                     Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93

AUSTRIA           BANK AUSTRIA AG                                           OeKB
                     Creditanstalt Bankverein Agreement 12/18/89
                     Omnibus Amendment 1/17/94

BELGIUM           BANK BRUSSELS LAMBERT (BBL)                               CIK
                     Banque Bruxelles Lambert Agt. 11/15/90                 NBB
                     Omnibus Amendment 3/1/94

CANADA            ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (RBC)                                Bank of Canada
                     The Royal Bank of Canada Agreement 2/23/96             CDS

DENMARK           DEN DANSKE BANK                                           VP
                     Den Danske Bank Agreement 1/1/89
                     Omnibus Amendment 12/1/93

FINLAND           MERITA BANK PLC                                           FCSD
                     Union Bank of Finland Agreement 2/27/89
                     Omnibus Amendment 4/6/94

FRANCE            BNP PARIBAS                                               BdF
                     Morgan Guaranty Trust Company Agreement 4/2/93         SICOVAM
                     Consent and Transfer Agreement 4/4/96

GERMANY           DRESDNER BANK                                             Clearstream
                     Dresdner Bank Agreement 10/6/95                        Banking Frankfurt


                              Page 1 of 3



COUNTRY           SUBCUSTODIAN                                              DEPOSITORIES
- -------           ------------                                              ------------

HONG KONG         HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LTD (HSBC)            CMU
                     Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91         HKSCC
                     Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93
                     Schedule 5/14/96

IRELAND           ALLIED IRISH BANKS PLC (AIB)                              CREST
                     Allied Irish Banks Agreement 1/10/89                   GSO
                     Omnibus Amendment 4/8/94

ITALY             BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA (BCI)                          BOI
                     Banca Commerciale Italiana Agreement 5/8/89            MonteTitoli S.P.A.
                     Agreement Amendment 10/8/93
                     Omnibus Amendment 12/14/93

JAPAN             SUMITOMO BANK, LTD.                                       BoJ
                     Sumitomo Bank Limited Agreement 3/16/98                JASDEC

LUXEMBOURG        KREDIETBANK LUXEMBOURG (KBL)                              Clearstream
                     Kredietbank Luxembourg Agt. 4/7/98                     Banking

NETHERLANDS       FORTIS BANK                                               NECIGEF
                     MeesPierson NV Agreement 6/4/99

NEW ZEALAND       NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LTD. (NAB), AUCKLAND              NZCSD
                     National Australia Bank Agt. 5/1/85
                     Agreement Amendment 2/13/92
                     Omnibus Amendment 11/22/93
                     New Zealand Addendum 3/7/89

NORWAY            DEN NORSKE BANK                                           VPS
                     Den norske Bank Agreement 11/16/94

PORTUGAL          BANCO COMERCIAL PORTUGUES SA (BCP)                        CVM
                     Banco Comercial Portugues 5/18/98

SINGAPORE         HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LTD. (HSBC), SINGAPORE  CDP
                     Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. Agt. 4/19/91
                     Omnibus Supplement 12/29/93
                     Schedule 5/14/96

SPAIN             BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO  SA  (BSCH)               Banco de Espana
                     Banco de Santander Agreement 12/14/88                  SCLV


                               Page 2 of 3



COUNTRY           SUBCUSTODIAN                                              DEPOSITORIES
- -------           ------------                                              ------------

SWEDEN            SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN (SEB)                       VPC
                     Skandinaviska Enskilden Banken Agreement 2/20/89
                     Omnibus Amendment 12/3/93

SWITZERLAND       UBS AG                                                    SIS
                     Union Bank of Switzerland Agreement 12/20/88
                     Omnibus Amendment 11/29/94

TRANSNATIONAL     BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. (BBH&CO.)                   Clearstream
                                                                            Banking
                                                                            Euroclear

UNITED KINGDOM                                                              HSBC BANK PLC
                                                                            CMO
                     Midland Bank Agreement 8/8/90                          CREST
                     Omnibus Amendment 12-15-93


I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THE COUNTRIES AND
CENTRAL DEPOSITORIES LISTED ON THIS APPENDIX

/s/
Nancy D. Celick, President


                                   Page 3 of 3



                                  APPENDIX "C"
                                       TO

                               CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                        HOTCHKIS AND WILEY VARIABLE TRUST

                                       and

                          BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                            Dated as of June 17, 2000

The following is a list of Portfolios for which the Custodian  shall serve under
a Custodian Agreement dated as of June 17, 2000 (the "Agreement"):

                           Equity Income VIP Portfolio
                           International VIP Portfolio
                           Low Duration VIP Portfolio
                         Total Return Bond VIP Portfolio

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties  hereto has caused this Appendix to be
executed in its name and on behalf of each such Portfolio.

HOTCHKIS AND WILEY                     BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
VARIABLE TRUST

/s/                                      /s/
Name:  Nancy D. Celick                 Name:  W. Casey Gildea
Title: President                       Title: Senior Vice President