Services of the Manager The Manager represents and warrants that it is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and will maintain such registration for so long as required by applicable law. Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund, the Manager shall provide the following advisory, management, and other services with respect to the Series:
(a) Provide general, investment advice and guidance with respect to the Series and provide advice and guidance to the Fund's Directors, and oversee the management of the investments of the Series and the composition of each Series' portfolio of securities and investments, including cash, and the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with each Series' investment objective or objectives and policies as stated in the Fund's current registration statement, which management may be provided by others selected by the Manager and approved by the Board of Directors as provided below or directly by the Manager as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement;
(b) In the event that the Manager wishes to select others to render investment management services, the Manager shall analyze, select and recommend for consideration and approval by the Fund's Board of Directors investment advisory firms (however organized) to provide investment advice to one or more of the Series, and, at the expense of the Manager, engage (which engagement may also be by the Fund) such investment advisory firms to render investment advice and manage the investments of such Series and the composition of each such Series' portfolio of securities and investments, including cash, and the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Series' investment objective or objectives and policies as stated in the Fund's current registration statement (any such firms approved by the Board of Directors and engaged by the Fund and/or the Manager are referred to herein as "Sub-Advisers");
(c) Periodically monitor and evaluate the performance of the Sub-Advisers with respect to the investment objectives and policies of the Series;
(d) Monitor the Sub-Advisers for compliance with the investment objective or objectives, policies and restrictions of each Series, the 1940 Act, Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and if applicable, regulations under such provisions, and other applicable law;
(e) If appropriate, analyze and recommend for consideration by the Fund's Board of Directors termination of a contract with a Sub-Adviser under which the Sub-Adviser provides investment advisory services to one or more of the Series;
(f) Supervise Sub-Advisers with respect to the services that such Sub-Advisers provide under respective portfolio management agreements ("Sub-Adviser Agreements");
(g) Render to the Board of Directors of the Fund such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request; and
(h) Make available its officers and employees to the Board of Directors and officers of the Fund for consultation and discussions regarding the administration and management of the Series and services provided to the Fund under this Agreement.
Services of the Adviser The Adviser represents and warrants that it is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”) and will maintain such registration for so long as required by applicable law. Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Adviser shall provide the following advisory, management, and other services with respect to the Series:
(a) Provide general investment advice and guidance with respect to the Series and provide advice and guidance to the Company’s Directors, and oversee the management of the investments of the Series and the composition of each Series’ portfolio of securities and investments, including cash, and the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with each Series’ investment objective or objectives and policies as stated in the Company’s registration statement, as may be supplemented or amended from time to time (the “Registration Statement”), which management may be provided by others selected by the Adviser and approved by the Board of Directors as provided below or directly by the Adviser as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement;
(b) Render to the Board of Directors of the Company such periodic and special reports as the Board of Directors may reasonably request; and
(c) Make available its officers and employees to the Board of Directors and officers of the Company for consultation and discussions regarding the administration and management of the Series and services provided to the Company under this Agreement.
Administrative Services In addition to the portfolio management services specified above in section 2, you shall furnish at your expense for the use of the Fund such office space and facilities in the United States as the Fund may require for its reasonable needs, and you (or one or more of your affiliates designated by you) shall render to the Trust administrative services on behalf of the Fund necessary for operating as an open end investment company and not provided by persons not parties to this Agreement including, but not limited to, preparing reports to and meeting materials for the Trust's Board of Trustees and reports and notices to Fund shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, to the extent appropriate, and monitoring the performance of, accounting agents, custodians, depositories, transfer agents and pricing agents, accountants, attorneys, printers, underwriters, brokers and dealers, insurers and other persons in any capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable to Fund operations; preparing and making filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and other regulatory and self-regulatory organizations, including, but not limited to, preliminary and definitive proxy materials, post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, semi-annual reports on Form N-SAR and notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the 1940 Act; overseeing the tabulation of proxies by the Fund's transfer agent; assisting in the preparation and filing of the Fund's federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing the Fund's federal excise tax return pursuant to Section 4982 of the Code; providing assistance with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of portfolio securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of Shares of the Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining or causing to be maintained for the Fund all books, records and reports and any other information required under the 1940 Act, to the extent that such books, records and reports and other information are not maintained by the Fund's custodian or other agents of the Fund; assisting in establishing the accounting policies of the Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund's operations and consulting with the Fund's independent accountants, legal counsel and the Fund's other agents as necessary in connection therewith; establishing and monitoring the Fund's operating expense budgets; reviewing the Fund's bills; processing the payment of bills that have been approved by an authorized person; assisting the Fund in determining the amount of dividends and distributions available to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders, preparing and arranging for the printing of dividend notices to shareholders, and providing the transfer and dividend paying agent, the custodian, and the accounting agent with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of dividends and distributions; and otherwise assisting the Trust as it may reasonably request in the conduct of the Fund's business, subject to the direction and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to shift to you or to diminish the obligations of any agent of the Fund or any other person not a party to this Agreement which is obligated to provide services to the Fund.
Activities of the Manager The services of the Manager to the Fund hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Manager and any of its affiliates shall be free to render similar services to others. Subject to and in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust and Section 10(a) of the 1940 Act, it is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Manager or its affiliates as directors, officers, agents or stockholders; that directors, officers, agents or stockholders of the Manager or its affiliates are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; that the Manager or its affiliates may be interested in the Fund as shareholders or otherwise; and that the effect of any such interests shall be governed by said Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and the 1940 Act.
Duties of the Manager (a) The Manager shall, subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (i) (except to the extent an investment subadviser (each, a “Subadviser”), as defined below, has been retained in respect of some or all of the assets of the Fund) furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund and make investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities; and (ii) provide reports on the foregoing to the Board of Trustees at each Board meeting.
(b) In any case where a Subadviser has been retained in respect of some or all of the assets of the Fund as contemplated by Section 9 below, the Manager shall take the following actions in respect of the performance by the Subadviser of its obligations in respect of the Fund: - perform periodic detailed analysis and review of the performance by the Subadviser of its obligations to the Fund, including without limitation a review of the Subadviser’s investment performance in respect of the Fund and in respect of other accounts managed by the Subadviser with similar investment strategies; - prepare and present periodic reports to the Board of Trustees regarding the investment performance of the Subadviser and other information regarding the Subadviser, at such times and in such forms as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request; - review and consider any changes in the personnel of the Subadviser responsible for performing the Subadviser’s obligations and make appropriate reports to the Board of Trustees; - review and consider any changes in the ownership or senior management of the Subadviser and make appropriate reports to the Board of Trustees; - perform periodic in-person or telephonic diligence meetings with representatives of the Subadviser; - assist the Board of Trustees and management of the Trust in developing and reviewing information with respect to the initial approval of the subadvisory agreement with the Subadviser and annual consideration of the agreement thereafter; - at the request of the Board of Trustees, prepare recommendations with respect to the continued retention of any Subadviser or the replacement of any Subadviser; - at the request of the Board of Trustees, identify potential successors to or replacements of any Subadviser or potential additional Subadvisers, perform appropriate due diligence, and develop and present to the Board of Trustees a recommendation as to any such successor, replacement, or additional Subadviser; - designate and compensate from its own resources such personnel as the Manager may consider necessary or appropriate to the performance of its services hereunder; and - perform such other review and reporting functions as the Board of Trustees shall reasonably request consistent with this Management Agreement, the applicable subadvisory agreement, and applicable law. The Manager shall perform the obligations hereunder relating generally to the investment program of the Fund that have not been delegated to any Subadviser.
(c) In addition, the Manager shall provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Trustees, and perform such review and oversight functions as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request, as to the continuing appropriateness of the investment objective, strategies, and policies of the Fund, valuations of portfolio securities, and other matters relating generally to the investment program of the Fund.
(d) Nothing in this Management Agreement shall prevent the Manager or any officer thereof from acting as investment adviser or subadviser for any other person, firm or corporation and shall not in any way limit or restrict the Manager or any of its directors, officers, members, stockholders, or employees from buying, selling, or trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for the account of others for whom it or they may be acting.
(e) The Manager shall, at its own expense, provide employees of the Manager to serve as officers of the Trust as the Board of Trustees may request. The Manager and the Board of Trustees may from time to time agree that the expense of certain officers of the Trust who may also be employees of the Manager, including without limitation the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust and any Assistant Chief Compliance Officers, will be borne in part by the Trust and in part by the Manager or entirely by the Trust.
(f) The Manager shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Trust or the Fund not expressly assumed by the Manager pursuant to this Management Agreement.
Services of the Administrator Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund, the Administrator shall provide the following administrative services:
(a) Provide all administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund other than the investment advisory services performed by the investment adviser or sub-adviser, including, but not limited to, (i) coordinating all matters relating to the operation of the Fund, including any necessary coordination among the investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, and portfolio accounting agent (including pricing and valuation of the portfolio), accountants, attorneys, and other parties performing services or operational functions for the Fund; (ii) maintaining or supervising the maintenance by third parties engaged by the Fund of such books and records of the Fund as may be required by applicable federal or state law; (iii) preparing or supervising the preparation by third parties selected by the Fund of all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports required by applicable law; (iv) preparing and filing, with the assistance of counsel, and arranging for the distribution of proxy materials and periodic reports to shareholders as required by applicable law; (v) preparing and arranging for the filing, with the assistance of counsel, of registration statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and other federal and state regulatory authorities as may be required by applicable law; (vi) taking such other action with respect to the Fund as may be required by applicable law, including without limitation the rules and regulations of the SEC and other regulatory agencies; (vii) providing the Fund, at the Administrator's expense, with adequate personnel, office space, communications facilities, and other facilities necessary for operation of the Fund as contemplated in this Agreement; (viii) arranging for meetings of the Fund's Board of Directors and, in connection therewith, providing the Board with necessary or appropriate information for its meetings; (ix) providing non-investment related statistical and research data and such other reports, evaluations and information as the Fund may request from time to time; (x) maintaining the Fund's existence, and during such time as shares of the Fund are publicly offered, maintaining the registration and qualification of the Fund's shares under federal and state law; and (xi) responding to inquiries from shareholders or their agents or representatives relating to the Fund, concerning, among other things, exchanges among funds, or referring any such inquiries to the Fund's officers or transfer agent. Nothing in this provision shall be deemed to inhibit the Fund or its officers from engaging, at the expense of the Fund, other persons to assist in providing administrative services to the Fund including, but not limited to, accounting agents, recordkeeping agents, proxy solicitation agents, attorneys, accountants, consultants and others.
(b) Render to the Board of Directors of the Fund such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request;
(c) Make available its officers and employees to the Board of Directors and officers of the Fund for consultation and discussions regarding the administration of the Fund and the services provided to the Fund under this Agreement; and
(d) Develop and implement, if appropriate, management and shareholder services designed to enhance the value or convenience of the Fund as an investment vehicle.
Administration Services When a medical prescription drug is administered by infusion, the administration of the prescription drug may be covered separately from the prescription drug. See Infusion Therapy - Administration Services in the Summary of Medical Benefits for benefit limits and the amount you pay. Prescription drugs that are self-administered are not covered as a medical benefit but may be covered as a pharmacy benefit. Please see Pharmacy Prescription Drugs and Diabetic Equipment or Supplies – Pharmacy Benefits section above for additional information. For some medical prescription drugs, after the first administration, coverage may be limited to certain locations (for example, a designated outpatient or ambulatory service facility, physician’s office, or your home), provided the location is appropriate based on your medical status. For a list of medical prescription drugs that are subject to this Site of Care Program, visit our website. Preauthorization may be required to determine medical necessity as well as appropriate site of care. If we deny your request for preauthorization, or you disagree with our determination for the appropriate site of care, you can submit a medical appeal. See Appeals in Section 5 for information on how to file a medical appeal.
Administrative Services Agreement The Administrative Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 1. Coordinate the layout, printing and electronic delivery of publicly disseminated prospectuses and shareholder reports, make recommendations to improve their effectiveness or reduce expenses.
2. Perform internal audit examinations in accordance with a charter adopted by the Investment Company.
3. Monitor enterprise level risks associated with the services provided herein in accordance with a charter adopted by Investment Company.
4. Develop and recommend changes in the investment strategy and operation of the Investment Company that may be in the interest of its Shareholders.
5. Provide individuals reasonably acceptable to the Board for nomination, appointment, or election as the following officers of the Investment Company, who will be responsible for the management of certain of the Investment Company's affairs as specified in the Investment Company's charter documents and by-laws, subject to direction by the Board: (i) the president and principal executive officer, (ii) the treasurer and principal financial and accounting officer; (iii) the secretary, and (iv) such other officers as are mutually agreeable.
6. For each Fund that is not an ETF, monitor trading activity to help identify market timers and recommend policies to deter market timing.
7. For each Fund that is not an ETF, review potential intermediary clients and existing intermediary clients as appropriate to determine/monitor the client’s ability to adhere to the terms of any servicing agreement between the client and Investment Company.
8. For each Fund that is an ETF, review potential authorized participants and existing authorized participants as appropriate to determine/monitor the authorized participant’s ability to adhere to the terms of the authorized participant agreement between the authorized participant and the Fund’s distributor.
9. Review and recommend changes to the transfer agent’s policies and procedures to mitigate fraud, enhance shareholder services or reduce expenses.
10. Review and recommend changes to policies and procedures and operating processes designed to reduce Fund expenses.
11. Respond to all inquiries or other communications from shareholders and other parties, not otherwise provided by the Investment Company’s other service providers; if the inquiry is more properly responded to by another of the Investment Company’s service providers, referring the individual making the inquiry to the appropriate person.
12. Provide services and support, as requested by the Responsible Investing Office (“RIO”), in relation to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) investing by the Funds, which include monitoring compliance with its policies and procedures with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
13. Perform the following services for each Fund, as applicable, either itself or through its affiliate, Federated Shareholder Services company; (i) select and perform due diligence regarding proposed new owners of omnibus accounts as proposed recordkeeping agents for the Investment Company, (ii) enter into agreements as agent for the Investment Company, or any of them, substantially in the form most recently approved by the Board, with the registered owners of omnibus accounts for the provision of services necessary for the recordkeeping or sub-accounting of share positions held in underlying sub-accounts (“Recordkeeping Agreements”), together with such changes thereto as may be agreed to by FAS so long as such changes do not (a) increase the fees payable by the Investment Company under the Recordkeeping Agreements, (b) alter the indemnity obligations of the Investment Company owing to or from the Investment Company thereunder or (c) otherwise materially alter the obligations of the Investment Company under the Recordkeeping Agreements, (iii) agree, on behalf of the Investment Company, to make payments for services rendered under Recordkeeping Agreements out of the assets of the Investment Company in amounts not to exceed the amounts determined from time to time by the Board, and (iv) give instructions to the transfer agent of the Investment Company (the “Transfer Agent”), for and on behalf of the Investment Company as “Proper Instructions” of the Investment Company under and pursuant to the agreement for transfer agency services with the Transfer Agent, to perform the services of Company and/or the Investment Company under each such Recordkeeping Agreement, excepting only the indemnity obligations owning from the Investment Company or Company thereunder.
Investment Management Services (a) The Manager shall manage the Fund’s assets subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund and any directions which the Trust’s Board of Trustees may issue from time to time. In pursuance of the foregoing, the Manager shall make all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund’s assets and the purchase and sale of its investment securities, and shall take such steps as may be necessary to implement the same. Such determinations and services shall include determining the manner in which any voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to the Fund’s investment securities shall be exercised. The Manager shall render or cause to be rendered regular reports to the Trust, at regular meetings of its Board of Trustees and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, of (i) the decisions made with respect to the investment of the Fund’s assets and the purchase and sale of its investment securities, (ii) the reasons for such decisions and (iii) the extent to which those decisions have been implemented.
(b) The Manager, subject to and in accordance with any directions which the Trust’s Board of Trustees may issue from time to time, shall place, in the name of the Fund, orders for the execution of the Fund’s securities transactions. When placing such orders, the Manager shall seek to obtain the best net price and execution for the Fund, but this requirement shall not be deemed to obligate the Manager to place any order solely on the basis of obtaining the lowest commission rate if the other standards set forth in this section have been satisfied. The parties recognize that there are likely to be many cases in which different brokers are equally able to provide such best price and execution and that, in selecting among such brokers with respect to particular trades, it is desirable to choose those brokers who furnish research, statistical, quotations and other information to the Fund and the Manager in accordance with the standards set forth below. Moreover, to the extent that it continues to be lawful to do so and so long as the Board of Trustees determines that the Fund will benefit, directly or indirectly, by doing so, the Manager may place orders with a broker who charges a commission for that transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission that another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, provided that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of “brokerage and research services” (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by that broker. Accordingly, the Trust and the Manager agree that the Manager shall select brokers for the execution of the Fund’s transactions from among:
(i) Those brokers and dealers who provide quotations and other services to the Fund, specifically including the quotations necessary to determine the Fund’s net assets, in such amount of total brokerage as may reasonably be required in light of such services; and
(ii) Those brokers and dealers who supply research, statistical and other data to the Manager or its affiliates which the Manager or its affiliates may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment management capacities, which relate directly to securities, actual or potential, of the Fund, or which place the Manager in a better position to make decisions in connection with the management of the Fund’s assets and securities, whether or not such data may also be useful to the Manager and its affiliates in managing other portfolios or advising other clients, in such amount of total brokerage as may reasonably be required.
(c) The Manager shall render regular reports to the Trust, not more frequently than quarterly, of how much total brokerage business has been placed by the Manager, on behalf of the Fund, with brokers falling into each of the categories referred to above and the manner in which the allocation has been accomplished.
(d) The Manager agrees that no investment decision will be made or influenced by a desire to provide brokerage for allocation in accordance with the foregoing, and that the right to make such allocation of brokerage shall not interfere with the Manager’s paramount duty to obtain the best net price and execution for the Fund.
(e) Decisions on proxy voting shall be made by the Manager unless the Board of Trustees determines otherwise. Pursuant to its authority, the Manager shall have the power to vote, either in person or by proxy, all securities in which the Fund may be invested from time to time, and shall not be required to seek or take instructions from the Fund with respect thereto. The Manager shall not be expected or required to take any action other than the rendering of investment-related advice with respect to lawsuits involving securities presently or formerly held in the Fund, or the issuers thereof, including actions involving bankruptcy. In the case of class action suits involving issuers held in the Fund, the Manager may include information about the Fund for purposes of participating in any settlements.
