(a) An issuer may appoint for such term as may be agreed, including for so long as a registered public obligation may be outstanding, corporate or other authenticating agents, transfer agents, registrars, and paying or other agents. The issuer may also specify the terms of their appointment, including their rights, their compensation and duties, limits upon their liabilities, and provision for their payment of liquidated damages in the event of breach of certain of the duties imposed. These liquidated damages may be made payable to the issuer, the owner, or a financial intermediary. None of such agents need have an office or do business within this state.
(b) An issuer may agree with custodian banks and financial intermediaries, and nominees of any of them, in connection with the establishment and maintenance by others of a central depository system for the transfer of pledge of registered public obligations. Any such custodian banks and financial intermediaries, and nominees, may, if qualified and acting as fiduciaries, also serve as authenticating agents, transfer agents, registrars, or paying or other agents of the issuer with respect to the same issue of registered public obligations.
(c) Nothing shall preclude the issuer from itself performing, either alone or jointly with other issuers, any transfer, registration, authentication, payment, or other function described in this section.