PROVISION OF INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES The Sub-Adviser will provide for each Fund a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment policies, objectives and restrictions of the Fund, as established by the Fund and the Adviser and set forth in the Prospectuses, other written guidelines or restrictions, as may be amended from time to time, agreed upon in writing by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser which guidelines and restrictions shall not be inconsistent with the Prospectuses, as may be amended from time to time (“Written Guidelines”) and the Trust Procedures.
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall assume all investment duties and have full discretionary power and authority with respect to investment of the Allocated Assets of each Fund. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall, with respect to the Allocated Assets of each Fund: (i) obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the economy, securities markets and securities as it deems necessary or useful to discharge its duties hereunder; (ii) continuously invest the assets in a manner consistent with the Prospectuses, Written Guidelines, and Procedures, as may be amended from time to time and provided to the Sub-Adviser consistent with Section 1(a) of this Agreement; (iii) determine the securities to be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of and the timing of such purchases, sales and dispositions; (iv) vote all proxies for securities and exercise all other voting rights with respect to such securities in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s written proxy voting policies and procedures; (v) promptly issue settlement instructions to custodians designated by the Adviser or the Trust; (vi) evaluate the credit worthiness of securities dealers, banks and other entities with which the Fund may engage in repurchase agreements and monitor the status of such agreements; and (vii) take such further action, including the placing of purchase and sale orders and the selection of broker-dealers to execute such orders on behalf of the Fund, as the Sub-Adviser shall deem necessary or appropriate, in its sole discretion, to carry out its duties under this Agreement.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to or place at the disposal of the Adviser and/or the Trust such information, evaluations, analyses and opinions formulated or obtained by the Sub-Adviser in the discharge of its duties, as the Adviser and/or Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.
(c) The Sub-Adviser agrees, that in performing its duties hereunder, it will comply with (i) the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Commodity Exchange Act and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (ii) all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and (iii) the provisions of the Organic Documents.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall keep accurate and detailed records concerning its services under this Agreement and all such records shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by the Trust, the Adviser and any appropriate regulatory authorities. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser copies of any and all documentation relating to each Fund’s transactions upon reasonable request. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records which it maintains for each Fund are the property of the Fund and it further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund copies of any such records upon the Fund’s request.
(e) At the request of the Adviser from time to time, the Sub-Adviser shall provide pricing and valuation information with respect to particular securities it has purchased for each Fund if the Adviser has determined that such pricing and valuation information is not otherwise reasonably available to it through standard pricing services. In the event that the Sub-Adviser believes a valuation provided by a pricing service for a security it has purchased for the Portfolio is materially inaccurate, Sub-Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser and/or the Fund. Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, each Fund, and its custodian or fund accountant may use different pricing vendors, which may result in valuation discrepancies and in the event of such discrepancies, the valuation used by each Fund to calculate its net asset value shall be controlling.
(f) From time to time at the request of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, (i) meet, either in person or via teleconference, with the Adviser and with such other persons as the Adviser may designate, including the Board, on reasonable notice and at reasonable times and locations, to discuss general economic conditions, performance, investment strategy and other matters relating to each Fund; and/or (ii) provide written materials to the Adviser and such other persons as the Adviser may designate, including the Board, on reasonable notice, discussing general economic conditions, performance, investment strategy and other matters relating to each Fund.
(g) The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree that only the Sub-Adviser will exercise “investment discretion” over Allocated Assets within the meaning of Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), and the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for filing any required reports on its behalf with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(f) and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(h) To the extent reasonably requested by the Trust, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to assist the Trust in connection with the Trust’s compliance with the federal securities laws, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, (“Federal Securities Laws”), including, without limitation, providing the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust with: (i) Compliance Procedures, as may be amended from time to time (including prompt notice of any material changes thereto); (ii) a summary of such policies and procedures in connection with the annual review thereof by the Trust; (iii) upon request, a certificate of the chief compliance officer of the Sub-Adviser to the effect that the policies and procedures of the Sub-Adviser are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws; (iv) direct access to the Sub-Adviser’s chief compliance officer, as reasonably requested by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust; (v) a completed quarterly informational questionnaire regarding the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program; and (vi) quarterly certifications indicating whether there were Material Compliance Matters (as that term is defined by Rule 38a-1) that arose under the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser in such detail as may be reasonably requested by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust.
(i) Except as permitted by the Trust Procedures, the Sub-Adviser will not disclose but shall treat confidentially all information in respect of the investments of each Fund, including, without limitation, the identification and market value or other pricing information of any and all portfolio securities or other financial instruments held by each Fund, and any and all trades of portfolio securities or other transactions effected for the Fund (including past, pending and proposed trades).
(j) The Adviser or its agent will provide timely information to the Sub-Adviser regarding such matters as inflows to and outflows from each Fund and the cash requirements of, and cash available for investment in each Fund. The Adviser or each Fund’s custodian (the “Custodian”) will timely provide the Sub-Adviser with copies of monthly accounting statements for each Fund, and such other information as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order for the Sub-Adviser to perform its responsibilities hereunder.
(k) The Adviser will be responsible for all class actions and lawsuits involving the securities held, or formerly held, in the Allocated Assets of each Fund. The Sub-Adviser is not required to take any action or to render investment-related advice with respect to lawsuits involving any Fund, including those involving securities presently or formerly held in the Allocated Assets of a Fund, or the issuers thereof, including actions involving bankruptcy. In the case of notices of class action suits received by the Sub-Adviser involving issuers presently or formerly held in the Allocated Assets of a Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall promptly forward such notices to the Adviser and, with the consent of the Adviser, may provide information about any Fund to third parties for purposes of participating in any settlements relating to such class actions.
(l) For the purpose of complying with Rule 10f-3(a)(5), Rule 12d3-1(c)(3)(ii), Rule 17a-10(a)(2) and Rule 17e-1(d)(2) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that with respect to transactions in securities or other assets for a Fund: (i) it will not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Fund or any sub-adviser to a separate series of the Trust for which the Adviser serves as investment adviser; and (ii) its responsibility in providing investment advisory services to the Fund shall be limited solely to the Allocated Assets. Adviser will furnish to Sub-Adviser a current list of all such sub-advisers and principal underwriters and affiliated persons thereof, as well as affiliated persons of the Fund, and shall notify Sub-Adviser promptly of any changes to such list.
Investment Advisory Services The Adviser undertakes to act as investment adviser of the Portfolio and shall, subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, direct the investments of the Portfolio in accordance with the investment objective, policies and limitations as provided in the Portfolio's Prospectus or other governing instruments, as amended from time to time, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rules thereunder, as amended from time to time (the "1940 Act"), and such other limitations as the Portfolio may impose by notice in writing to the Adviser. The Adviser shall also furnish for the use of the Portfolio office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and personnel for servicing the investments of the Portfolio; and shall pay the salaries and fees of all officers of the Fund, of all Trustees of the Fund who are "interested persons" of the Fund or of the Adviser and of all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Adviser is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the Portfolio, to buy, sell, lend and otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds and other securities and investment instruments on behalf of the Portfolio. The investment policies and all other actions of the Portfolio are and shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
Non-Investment Advisory Services The Fund hereby employs the Manager to provide certain non-investment advisory services for the Portfolio, subject to the direction of the officers and the Board on the terms hereinafter set forth. Specifically, the Manager shall perform or arrange for the performance, as applicable, at its own expense (except as provided in Section 4 or unless otherwise agreed to by the Manager and the Fund, in which case at the Fund’s expense), the following services to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio to the extent that any such services are not otherwise provided by any other service provider to the Fund:
(i) monitor and evaluate the services provided to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio by the Portfolio’s custodian, transfer and dividend disbursing agents, printers, insurance carriers (as well as insurance agents and insurance brokers), independent public accountants, legal counsel and other persons and entities who provide similar services to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio;
(ii) monitor the preparation of periodic reports and notices of distributions to shareholders of the Portfolio;
(iii) coordinate, monitor and evaluate the daily pricing and valuation of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio;
(iv) monitor the Portfolio’s compliance with recordkeeping requirements of applicable federal, state, and foreign laws and regulations;
(v) assist the Portfolio to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state, and foreign tax laws and tax regulations;
(vi) assist the Portfolio to comply with the provisions of applicable federal, state, local and foreign securities, organizational and other laws that govern the business of the Fund in respect of the Portfolio, including with respect to the preparation of registration statements and other materials in connection with the offering of the Portfolio’s shares;
(vii) monitor and coordinate the provision of trade administration oversight services to the Portfolio, including settlement oversight services, reconciliation services, collateral management oversight services, and similar services, including recommending corrective action;
(viii) assist the Portfolio to conduct meetings of the Portfolio’s shareholders if and when called by the Board;
(ix) furnish such information to the Board as the Board may reasonably require in connection with the annual approval of this Agreement, and coordinate the provision of such other information as the Board may reasonably request; and
(x) provide the shareholders of the Portfolio with such information regarding the operation and affairs of the Portfolio, and their investment in its shares, as they or the Fund may reasonably request. The Manager accepts such employment and agrees to provide or coordinate the provision of the non-investment advisory services specified above in this Section 3 for the compensation provided in Section 5. The Manager is not required at its own expense to provide non-investment advisory services to the Fund under this Agreement except as specified in this Section 3. The Manager may provide additional non-investment advisory services, i.e., those not specified in this Section 3, for the benefit of the Portfolio subject to terms mutually agreed upon by the Fund and the Manager. Subject to approval or ratification by the Board, the Manager may delegate to one or more entities some or all of the services for the Portfolio described in this Section 3 for which the Manager is responsible, provided that the Manager will be responsible for supervising such entities and paying the compensation, if any, of such entities for such services to the Portfolio, except as otherwise agreed to by the Manager and the Fund.
Investment Sub-Advisory Services Sub-Adviser shall serve as investment sub-adviser and shall supervise and direct the investments of each series of Penn Series listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (each, a “Fund”), as such Exhibit may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, and to exercise all rights incidental to ownership in accordance with the investment objectives, program and restrictions applicable to the Fund as provided in Penn Series’ Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), as amended from time to time, and such other limitations as may be imposed by law or as Penn Series or Adviser may impose with notice in writing to Sub-Adviser. To enable Sub-Adviser to fully exercise its discretion, Adviser hereby appoints Sub-Adviser as agent and attorney-in-fact for the Fund with full power and authority to buy, sell and otherwise deal in securities and contracts for the Fund. No investment will be made by Sub-Adviser for the Fund if the investment would violate the investment objectives, investment restrictions or limitations of the Fund set out in the Prospectus and the SAI delivered to the Sub-Adviser and as may be amended and delivered to Sub-Adviser in the future. Sub-Adviser shall not take custody of any assets of Penn Series, but shall issue settlement instructions to the custodian designated by Penn Series (the “Custodian”). Sub-Adviser shall, in its discretion, obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, businesses, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in the discharge of its obligations hereunder and shall formulate and implement a continuing program for the management of the assets and resources of the Fund in a manner consistent with the investment objectives of the Fund. In furtherance of this duty, Sub-Adviser, as agent and attorney-in-fact with respect to Adviser and Penn Series, is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with Adviser or Penn Series, to:
(a) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds, and other securities or assets;
(b) place orders and negotiate the commissions (if any) for the execution of transactions in securities with or through such brokers, dealers, underwriters or issuers as Sub-Adviser may select, in conformance with the provisions of Paragraph 4 herein; and
(c) take such other actions Sub-Adviser deems to be appropriate; provided, however, that Sub-Adviser shall make no investment for the Fund that would violate the objectives, investment program, or restrictions or limitations of the Fund.
Services as Investment Adviser Subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of each Series and Fund, the Adviser will (a) act in strict conformity with the Funds' Agreements and Declarations of Trust, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as the same may from time to time be amended, (b) manage such Series' or Fund's assets in accordance with such Series' or Fund's investment objective and policies as stated in the Funds' Prospectuses and SAIs, (c) make investment decisions for such Series or Fund, (d) place purchase and sale orders for securities on behalf of such Series or Fund, (e) exercise voting rights in respect of portfolio securities and other investments for such Series or Fund, and (f) monitor and evaluate the services provided by such Series' or Fund's investment sub-adviser(s), if any, under the terms of the applicable investment sub-advisory agreement(s). In providing those services, the Adviser will provide investment research and supervision of such Series' or Fund's investments and conduct a continual program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of such Series' or Fund's assets. In addition, the Adviser will furnish each Series and Fund with whatever statistical information such Series or Fund may reasonably request with respect to the securities that such Series or Fund may hold or contemplate purchasing. Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of each of the Series Funds and where required, such Series Fund's shareholders, the Adviser may engage an investment sub-adviser or sub-advisers to provide advisory services in respect of such Series and may delegate to such investment sub-adviser(s) the responsibilities described in subparagraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) above. In the event that an investment sub-adviser's engagement has been terminated, the Adviser shall be responsible for furnishing such Series with the services required to be performed by such investment sub-adviser(s) under the applicable investment sub-advisory agreements or arranging for a successor investment sub-adviser(s) to provide such services on terms and conditions acceptable to such Series and the Series' Board of Trustees and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Duties of Investment Manager In carrying out its obligation under paragraph 1 hereof, the Investment Manager shall:
(a) supervise and manage all aspects of the Fund's operations:
(b) provide the Fund or obtain for it, and thereafter supervise, such executive, administrative, clerical and shareholder servicing services as are deemed advisable by the Directors;
(c) arrange, but not pay for, the periodic updating of prospectuses and supplements thereto, proxy material, tax returns, reports to the Fund's shareholders, reports to and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, state Blue Sky authorities and other applicable regulatory authorities;
(d) provide to the Directors on a regular basis, written financial reports and analyses on the Fund's securities transactions and the operations of comparable investment companies;
(e) determine what issuers and securities shall be represented in the Fund's portfolio and regularly report them in writing to the Directors;
(f) formulate and implement continuing programs for the purchases and sales of the securities of such issuers and regularly report in writing thereon to the Directors; and
(g) take, on behalf of the Fund, all actions which appear to the Company necessary to carry into effect such purchase and sale programs and supervisory functions as aforesaid, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.
Investment Advisory Agreement (A) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (B) the approvals by the board of directors and the stockholders of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Advisory Services (a) The Advisers hereby appoint the Sub-Adviser to act as an investment adviser to the Fund for the periods and on the terms herein set forth. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Advisers, manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets of the Fund, as the Advisers may from time to time allocate to the Sub-Adviser for management (the “Sub-Advised Assets”). The Sub-Adviser shall manage the Sub-Advised Assets in conformity with (i) the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund set forth in the Trust’s prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the Fund, as they may be amended from time to time, any additional policies or guidelines, including without limitation compliance policies and procedures, established by the Advisers, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, or by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Board”) that have been furnished in writing to the Sub-Adviser, (ii) the asset diversification tests applicable to regulated investment companies pursuant to section 851(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, (iii) the written instructions and directions received from the Advisers and the Trust as delivered; and (iv) the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), and all other federal and state laws applicable to registered investment companies and the Sub-Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, all as may be in effect from time to time. The foregoing are referred to below together as the “Policies.” For purposes of compliance with the Policies, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to treat the Sub-Advised Assets as though the Sub-Advised Assets constituted the entire Fund, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible in any way for the compliance of any assets of the Fund, other than the Sub-Advised Assets, with the Policies. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the Advisers, to buy, sell, lend and otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds and other securities and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund, without regard to the length of time the securities have been held and the resulting rate of portfolio turnover or any tax considerations; and the majority or the whole of the Sub-Advised Assets may be invested in such proportions of stocks, bonds, other securities or investment instruments, or cash, as the Sub-Adviser shall determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(b), however, (i) the Sub-Adviser shall, upon and in accordance with written instructions from either of the Advisers, effect such portfolio transactions for the Sub-Advised Assets as the Adviser shall determine are necessary in order for the Fund to comply with the Policies, and (ii) upon notice to the Sub-Adviser, the Advisers may effect in-kind redemptions with shareholders of the Fund with securities included within the Sub-Advised Assets.
(c) Absent instructions from the Advisers or the officers of the Trust to the contrary, the Sub-Adviser shall place orders pursuant to its determinations either directly with the issuer or with any broker and/or dealer or other person who deals in the securities in which the Fund is trading. With respect to common and preferred stocks, in executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser shall use its best judgment to obtain the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available and in selecting the broker or dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided to the Fund and/or other account over which the Sub-Adviser and/or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion. With respect to securities other than common and preferred stocks, in placing orders with brokers, dealers or other persons, the Sub-Adviser shall attempt to obtain the best net price and execution of its orders, provided that to the extent the execution and price available from more than one broker, dealer or other such person are believed to be comparable, the Sub-Adviser may, at its discretion but subject to applicable law, select the executing broker, dealer or such other person on the basis of the Sub-Adviser’s opinion of the reliability and quality of such broker, dealer or such other person; broker or dealers selected by the Sub-Adviser for the purchase and sale of securities or other investment instruments for the Sub-Advised Assets may include brokers or dealers affiliated with the Sub-Adviser, provided such orders comply with Rules 17e-1 and 10f-3 under the 1940 Act and the Trust’s Rule 17e-1 and Rule 10f-3 Procedures, respectively, in all respects or any other applicable exemptive rules or orders applicable to the Sub-Adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser will not effect any transaction with a broker or dealer that is an “affiliated person” (as defined under the 0000 Xxx) of the Sub-Adviser or the Advisers without the prior approval of the Advisers. The Advisers shall provide the Sub-Adviser with a list of brokers or dealers that are affiliated persons of the Advisers.
(d) The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Advisers and the Trust may rely on Rules 17a-7, 17a-10, 10f-3 and 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other investment adviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Sub-Advised Assets or any other transactions in the Trust’s assets, other than for the purposes of complying with the conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act.
(e) The Sub-Adviser has provided the Advisers with a true and complete copy of its compliance policies and procedures for compliance with “federal securities laws” (as such term is defined under Rule 38a-1 of the 0000 Xxx) and Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act (the “Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies”). The Sub-Adviser’s chief compliance officer (“Sub-Adviser CCO”) shall provide to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“ Trust CCO”) or his or her delegatee promptly (and in no event more than 10 business days) the following:
(i) a report of any material changes to the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies;
(ii) a report of any “material compliance matters,” as defined by Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, that have occurred in connection with the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies;
(iii) a copy of the Sub-Adviser CCO’s report with respect to the annual review of the Sub-Adviser Compliance Policies pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; and
(iv) an annual (or more frequently as the Trust CCO may request) certification regarding the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act and Section 38a-1 of the 1940 Act as well as the foregoing sub-paragraphs (i) – (iii).
(f) The Sub-Adviser may, on occasions when it deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as other fiduciary or agency accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser, aggregate, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best overall terms available and execution with respect to common and preferred stocks and the best net price and execution with respect to other securities. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Sub-Adviser in the manner it considers to be most fair and equitable over time to the Fund and to its other accounts.
(g) The Sub-Adviser, in connection with its rights and duties with respect to the Fund and the Trust shall use the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims.
(h) The services of the Sub-Adviser hereunder are not deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others (including other investment companies) so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. The Sub-Adviser will waive enforcement of any non-compete agreement or other agreement or arrangement to which it is currently a party that restricts, limits, or otherwise interferes with the ability of the Advisers to employ or engage any person or entity to provide investment advisory or other services and will transmit to any person or entity notice of such waiver as may be required to give effect to this provision; and the Sub-Adviser will not become a party to any non-compete agreement or any other agreement, arrangement, or understanding that would restrict, limit, or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Advisers and the Trust or any of their affiliates to employ or engage any person or organization, now or in the future, to manage the Fund or any other assets managed by the Advisers.
(i) The Sub-Adviser shall furnish the Advisers and the administrators of the Trust (together, the “Administrators”) weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports concerning portfolio transactions and performance of the Sub-Advised Assets as the Advisers may reasonably determine in such form as may be mutually agreed upon, and agrees to review the Sub-Advised Assets with the Advisers and discuss the management of them. The Sub-Adviser shall promptly respond to requests by the Advisers, the Administrators to the Trust, and the Trust CCO or their delegates for copies of the pertinent books and records maintained by the Sub-Advisers relating directly to the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall also provide the Advisers with such other information and reports, including information and reports related to compliance matters, as may reasonably be requested by them from time to time, including without limitation all material requested by or required to be delivered to the Board.
(j) Unless otherwise instructed by the Advisers, the Sub-Adviser shall not have the power, discretion or responsibility to vote any proxies in connection with securities in which the Sub-Advised Assets may be invested, and the Advisers shall retain such responsibility.
(k) The Sub-Adviser shall cooperate promptly and fully with the Advisers and/or the Trust in responding to any regulatory or compliance examinations or inspections (including any information requests) relating to the Trust, the Fund or either of the Advisers brought by any governmental or regulatory authorities. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Trust CCO or his or her delegate notice of any deficiencies that are identified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in written correspondence to the Sub-Adviser and that relate to the services provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall provide such notification within a reasonable period after receiving the correspondence. The Sub-Adviser shall provide additional information with respect to such deficiencies as is reasonably requested by the Trust CCO or his or her delegatee.
(l) The Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of Schedule 13G and Form 13F on behalf of the Sub-Advised Assets. The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for the preparation or filing of any other reports required on behalf of the Sub-Advised Assets, except as may be expressly agreed to in writing.
(m) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain separate detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Sub-Advised Assets, including, without limitation, brokerage and other records of all securities transactions. Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 promulgated under the 1940 Act that are prepared or maintained by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust upon request. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained under Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
(n) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Advisers of any financial condition that is likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitments under this Agreement.
Services and Duties of Investment Sub-Adviser Subject to the general supervision and oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board"), the Sub-Adviser will:
(a) provide a program of continuous investment management for the Fund in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies as stated in the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Form N-1A, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the "Registration Statement") and as provided by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser;
(b) invest and reinvest the portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to the Sub-Adviser by selecting the securities, instruments, repurchase agreements, financial futures contracts, options and other investments and techniques that the Fund may purchase, sell, enter into or use;
(c) oversee the placement of purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund;
(d) employ portfolio managers to make investment decisions and securities analysts to provide research services to the Fund;
(e) subject to the understanding set forth in Section 11(a)(1) of this Agreement, vote all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to the Sub-Adviser may be invested in accordance with the Sub-Adviser's proxy voting policies and procedures as approved by the Board and in a manner that complies with applicable law; maintain records of all proxies voted on behalf of the Fund; and provide information to the Trust, the Adviser or their designated agent in a manner that is sufficiently complete and timely to ensure the Trust's compliance with its filing obligations under Rule 30b1-4 of the 1940 Act;
(f) maintain books and records with respect to the Fund's securities transactions in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and
(g) to the extent reasonably requested by the Adviser or officers of the Fund, cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser and the Trust's other service providers by (1) keeping them fully informed as to such matters that they may reasonably deem necessary with respect to the performance of their obligations to the Fund, (2) providing prompt responses to reasonable requests for information or assistance, including furnishing the Adviser and/or the Fund with statistical information as the Adviser and/or the Fund may reasonably request with respect to the securities that the Fund may hold, and (3) establishing appropriate processes to promote the efficient exchange of information. The Sub-Adviser further agrees that, in performing its duties hereunder, it will:
(h) comply in all material respects with (1) the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and all rules and regulations thereunder and any other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, (2) the rules and regulations of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, (3) the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), (4) the investment objectives, strategies, policies, limitations and restrictions of the Fund as described in the Registration Statement, (5) the Trust's Trust Instrument and By-Laws or other organizational documents of the Trust and (6) any written instructions of the Adviser or the Board, provided the Sub-Adviser has had sufficient opportunity to implement such instructions; The Adviser will provide the Sub-Adviser with advance notice of any change in the Fund's investment objectives, strategies, policies, limitations and restrictions as stated in the Registration Statement or in any procedures and policies adopted by the Board and/or the Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and with respect to the portion of the Fund's assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser, manage the Fund's portfolio investments in compliance with such changes, provided the Sub-Adviser has received prompt notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Trust or the Adviser and has had sufficient opportunity to implement such changes. In addition to such notice, the Adviser shall provide to the Sub-Adviser a copy of the modified Registration Statement reflecting such changes provided that such Registration Statement was so modified.
(i) manage the Fund so that it will qualify, and continue to qualify, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M and, if applicable, section 817(h) of the Code and regulations issued thereunder;
(j) keep the Adviser and/or the Board informed of developments materially affecting the Fund's portfolio;
(k) make available to the Board, the Adviser, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") and the Trust's administrator, promptly upon their request, such copies of its records with respect to the Fund as may be required to assist in their compliance with applicable laws and regulations. As reasonably requested by the Board or the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will complete periodic or special questionnaires and furnish to the Board and/or the Adviser such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund and the Sub-Adviser including, but not limited to, reports concerning transactions and performance of the Fund, quarterly and annual compliance reports and certifications, reports regarding compliance with the Trust's procedures pursuant to Rules 17e-1, 17a-7, 10f-3 and 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act (as applicable), fundamental investment restrictions, procedures for opening brokerage accounts and commodity trading accounts, liquidity determinations for securities or other instruments held by the Fund such as, among others, securities purchased pursuant to Rule 144A and 4(2) commercial paper, compliance with the Sub-Adviser's Code of Ethics, and such other procedures or requirements that the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time;
(l) make available to the Board and the Adviser at reasonable times its portfolio managers and other appropriate personnel as mutually agreed by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, either in person or, at the mutual convenience of the Board, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, by telephone, in order to review the investment policies, performance and other matters relating to the management of the Fund;
(m) review draft reports to shareholders and other documents provided to the Sub-Adviser with respect to the information therein that pertains to the Sub-Adviser or the services provided by the Sub-Adviser, provide comments on such drafts on a timely basis, and provide certifications or sub-certifications on a timely basis as to the accuracy of the information contained in such reports or other documents;
(n) use no material, non-public information concerning portfolio companies that may be in its possession or the possession of any of its affiliates, nor will the Sub-Adviser seek to obtain any such information, in providing investment advice or investment management services to the Fund;
(o) promptly notify the Trust, the Adviser and the Board in the event that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates becomes aware that the Sub-Adviser: (i) is subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-Adviser from serving as investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Sub-Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (iii) is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority; or (iv) is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, or governmental authority, involving the affairs of the Trust or the Adviser or their affiliates; or is involved in any pending litigation or administrative proceeding involving the affairs of the Trust or the Adviser or their affiliates brought against the Sub-Adviser or any of its management persons (as defined in Rule 206(4)-4 under the Advisers Act). The Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Trust and the Adviser promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Trust's Registration Statement, as amended and supplemented from time to time, regarding the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein, and of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect. The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify the Trust, the Adviser and the Board if its chief executive officer or any member of the portfolio management team named in the Registration Statement for the Fund changes, or if there is an actual change in control or management of the Sub-Adviser within the meaning of Rules 2a-6 and 202(a)(1)-1 under the 1940 Act and Advisers Act, respectively;
(p) not disclose information regarding Fund characteristics, trading history, portfolio holdings, performance information or any other related information to any third-party, except in compliance with the Trust's policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings or as requested by the Adviser; however, Sub-Adviser may include the Fund's performance information in the calculation of composite performance information, provided that the Fund's performance information is included in the composite in such as way as to prevent anyone from identifying the information contributed by the Fund. In addition, the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser manages other accounts following the same investment strategy as the Fund and that these accounts may have different portfolio holdings disclosure policies;
(q) provide the Adviser, the Trust or the Board with such information and assurances (including certifications and sub-certifications) as the Adviser, the Trust or the Board may reasonably request from time to time in order to assist the Adviser, the Trust or the Board in complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including requirements in connection with the preparation and/or filing of the Fund's Form N-CSRs and Form N-Qs;
(r) provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser, custodian or recordkeeping agent for the Trust in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Trust's valuation procedures and/or the Registration Statement, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the Adviser, custodian or recordkeeping agent seeks assistance from the Sub-Adviser or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser. This assistance may include (but is not limited to): (i) designating and providing access to one or more employees of the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates who are knowledgeable about the security/issuer, its financial condition, trading and/or other relevant factors for valuation, which employees shall be available for consultation when the Board's Valuation Committee convenes; (ii) providing reasonable assistance to the Adviser or the custodian in obtaining bids and offers or quotes from broker/dealers or market-makers with respect to securities held by the Fund, upon the reasonable request of the Adviser or custodian; (iii) upon the request of the Adviser or the custodian, provide assistance in fair valuation of the Trust; and (iv) maintaining records as required by applicable law with respect to any securities valuation assistance provided hereunder, and providing such information to the Adviser or the Trust upon request, with such records being deemed Fund records;
(s) not consult with any other investment sub-adviser of the Trust (if any), or with the sub-adviser to any other investment company (or separate series thereof) managed by the Adviser concerning the Fund's transactions in securities or other assets, except for purposes of complying with the conditions of Rule 12d3-1(a) and (b) under the 1940 Act, and, to the extent that multiple sub-advisers may be engaged to provide services to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for providing investment advisory services only with respect to such portion of the Fund's assets as may from time to time be allocated to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser; and
(t) provide the Trust and the Adviser with a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the SEC and, promptly after filing any material amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC, furnish a copy of such amendments to the Trust and the Adviser; and provide the Trust and the Adviser with a copy of its Form ADV Part II as updated from time to time. The Adviser hereby acknowledges having received a current copy of the Sub-Adviser's Form ADV Part II, current as of the date hereof. In performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser may rely upon information concerning the Fund's books and records provided to it by the Adviser, the custodian(s) or other agent(s) designated by the Adviser, and will not independently verify the accuracy or completeness of such information. The Sub-Adviser (and its officers, directors/trustees, agents, employees, controlling persons, shareholders and any other person or entity affiliated with the Sub-Adviser) shall not be liable for any loss, claim or damages related to such reliance.
Investment Advisory Duties Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Manager, the Sub-adviser will, in coordination with the Manager, (a) provide a program of continuous investment management for the Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated in the Portfolio's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included as part of the Trust's Registration Statement on behalf of the Portfolio filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they may be amended from time to time, copies of which shall be provided to the Sub-adviser by the Manager; (b) make investment decisions for the Portfolio; and (c) place orders to purchase and sell securities for the Portfolio. In particular, the Sub-adviser will be responsible for the market timing of purchases and sales and for all yield enhancement strategies used in managing the Portfolio. In performing its investment management services to the Portfolio hereunder, the Sub-adviser will provide the Portfolio with ongoing investment guidance and policy direction. The Sub-adviser will determine the securities, instruments, repurchase agreements, options and other investments and techniques that the Portfolio will purchase, sell, enter into or use, and will provide an ongoing evaluation of the Portfolio. The Sub-adviser will determine what portion of the Portfolio shall be invested in securities and other assets. The Sub-adviser further agrees that, in performing its duties hereunder, it will:
(a) comply with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, the Advisers Act, applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and with any applicable procedures adopted by the Trustees;
(b) manage the Portfolio so that it will qualify, and continue to qualify (except where extraordinary circumstances dictate otherwise), as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder;
(c) place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Portfolio directly with the issuer, or with any broker or dealer the Sub-adviser may choose, in accordance with applicable policies expressed in the Portfolio's Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information and in accordance with applicable legal requirements;
(d) furnish to the Trust whatever statistical information the Trust may reasonably request in writing with respect to the Portfolio's assets or contemplated investments. In addition, the Sub-adviser will keep the Trust and the Trustees informed of developments materially affecting the Portfolio and shall, on the Sub-adviser's own initiative, furnish to the Trust from time to time whatever information the Sub-adviser believes appropriate for this purpose;
(e) make available to the Manager and the Trust, promptly upon their written request, such copies of its investment records and ledgers with respect to the Portfolio as may be required to assist the Manager and the Trust in their compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Sub-adviser will furnish the Trustees with such periodic and special reports regarding the Portfolio as they may reasonably request in writing;
(f) immediately notify the Manager and the Trust in the event that the Sub-adviser or any of its affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-adviser from serving as an investment adviser pursuant to this Sub-advisory Agreement; or (2) becomes aware that it is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The Sub-adviser further agrees to notify the Trust and the Manager promptly if any statement regarding the Sub-adviser contained in the Trust's Registration Statement with respect to the Portfolio, or any amendment or supplement thereto, becomes untrue or incomplete in any material respect. In performing its duties under this Agreement, the Sub-adviser shall manage and invest the Portfolio's assets in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as well as applicable federal and state securities laws, based upon instructions as may be provided to the Sub-adviser by the Manager, the Portfolio's administrator, accountant, custodian or other agent designated by the Manager as responsible for testing compliance of the Portfolio (the "Compliance Agent"). The Sub-adviser further agrees to manage and invest the Portfolio's assets in accordance with instructions as may be provided to the Sub-adviser from time to time by the Manager or the Compliance Agent in an effort to ensure that the Portfolio meets and maintains, so long as required by the Code, the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder. In fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-adviser shall be entitled to reasonably rely on and act in accordance with instructions provided by the Manager or Compliance Agent.
