Duties of the Sub-Adviser Subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the securities and other assets of each Fund entrusted to it hereunder (the “Assets”), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in each Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively as the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following:
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall, in consultation with and subject to the direction of the Adviser, determine from time to time what Assets will be purchased, retained or sold by a Fund, and what portion of the Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash.
(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust (as defined herein), Prospectus, Compliance Policies and Procedures and with the instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by a Fund as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in a Fund’s Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees or the Adviser may direct from time to time, in conformity with all federal securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of each Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors that 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-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer — viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including a Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trust’s principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will a Fund’s Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Trust’s principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of either the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the 1940 Act.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the Sub-Adviser’s services under this Agreement needed by the Adviser to keep the other books and records of a Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of a Fund are property of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to a Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser).
(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide a Fund’s custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning a Fund’s Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon request of the Adviser.
(f) To the extent called for by the Trust’s Compliance Policies and Procedures, or as reasonably requested by a Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund with information and advice regarding Assets to assist the Fund in determining the appropriate valuation of such Assets.
(g) The investment management services provided by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others, as long as such services do not impair the services rendered to the Adviser or the Trust.
(h) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement.
(i) Except under the circumstances set forth in subsection (ii), the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for reviewing proxy solicitation materials or voting and handling proxies in relation to the securities held as Assets in a Fund. If the Sub-Adviser receives a misdirected proxy, it shall promptly forward such misdirected proxy to the Adviser.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that upon 60 days’ written notice from the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall assume responsibility for reviewing proxy solicitation materials and voting proxies in relation to the securities held as Assets in a Fund. As of the time the Sub-Adviser shall assume such responsibilities with respect to proxies under this sub-section (ii), the Adviser shall instruct the custodian and other parties providing services to a Fund to promptly forward misdirected proxies to the Sub-Adviser.
(j) In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to a Fund or a sub-adviser to a portfolio that is under common control with a Fund concerning the Assets, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of a Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice to any assets of a Fund other than the Assets.
(k) On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Sub-Adviser will allocate securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in a manner the Sub-Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to a Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.
(l) The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser or the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial information, and such other information with regard to its affairs as the Adviser or Board of Trustees may reasonably request. The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC.
(m) With respect to the Assets of a Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall file any required reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(f) and Section 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder. To the extent permitted by law, the services to be furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of the Sub-Adviser’s partners, officers, employees or control affiliates; provided, however, that the use of such mediums does not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any obligation or duty under this Agreement.
Duties of the Sub Advisor The Sub-Advisor will provide the following services and undertake the following duties:
a. The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund and any directions which the Advisor or the Trust's Board of Trustees may give from time to time with respect to the Fund. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to the investment of the assets of the Fund and the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or advisable to implement the same. The Sub-Advisor also will determine the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities will be exercised. The Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the Trust's Board of Trustees and to the Advisor (or such other advisor or advisors as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as the Trust or the Advisor shall from time to time request.
b. The Sub-Advisor shall provide support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisor's name as provided in Section 5, (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor as the same is applicable to the Fund, (iii) access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor, (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual manager(s), and (v) permission to use the names of clients to which the Sub-Advisor provides investment management services, subject to any restrictions imposed by clients on the use of such names.
c. The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies with respect thereto set forth in the Trust's registration statements under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as such registration statements may be in effect from time to time. In connection with the placement of orders for the execution of portfolio transactions, the Sub-Advisor will create and maintain all necessary brokerage records of the Fund in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to records required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act. All records shall be the property of the Trust and shall be available for inspection and use by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Trust or any person retained by the Trust. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by the Advisor for the periods and in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisor's primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and subject to seeking the most favorable price and execution, the Sub-Advisor may give consideration to sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including, without limitation, Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction, in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer, but only if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonably significant benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board of Trustees reasonably shall request.
d. In the event of any reorganization or other change in the Sub-Advisor, its investment principals, supervisors or members of its investment (or comparable) committee, the Sub-Advisor shall give the Advisor and the Trust's Board of Trustees written notice of such reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days) after such reorganization or change.
e. The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as are undertaken by the Advisor or the Trust.
f. The Sub-Advisor will manage the Fund Assets and the investment and reinvestment of such assets so as to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and with Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Duties of the Subadviser (a) The Subadviser shall, subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees and MML Advisers, (i) provide a continuing investment program for the Portfolio and determine what securities or other investments shall be purchased or sold by the Portfolio; (ii) arrange, subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof, for the purchase and sale of securities and other investments for the Portfolio; and (iii) provide reports on the foregoing to the Board of Trustees of the Trust at each Board meeting. Unless MML Advisers gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser shall vote or determine to abstain from voting all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Portfolio are invested for which Subadviser receives timely materials from the Fund’s custodian, in accordance with Subadviser’s policies and procedures. The Subadviser shall provide the Fund in a timely manner with such records of its proxy voting on behalf of the Fund as is necessary for the Fund to comply with the requirements of Form N-PX or any law, rule, regulation or Commission position. Subject to the provisions of this Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser shall have the authority to buy, sell or otherwise effect investment transactions for and in the name of the Fund, including without limitation, the power to enter into swap, futures, options and other agreements with counterparties on the Fund’s behalf as the Subadviser deems appropriate from time to time in order to carry out the Subadviser’s responsibilities hereunder.
(b) The Subadviser shall provide to MML Advisers such reports for the Portfolio, on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, as MML Advisers or the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall reasonably request or as required by applicable law or regulation, including, but not limited to, compliance reports and those reports listed in Appendix A.
(c) The Subadviser shall provide full and prompt disclosure to MML Advisers and the Fund regarding itself and its partners, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, affiliates or any person who controls any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, information regarding any change in control of the Subadviser or any change in its personnel that could materially affect the services provided by the Subadviser to the Fund hereunder, information regarding any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Subadviser or any person who controls the Subadviser, information regarding the investment performance and general investment methods of the Subadviser or its principals and affiliates relating to the Portfolio and the performance of the Subadviser’s composite of accounts following the same or similar investment strategies as the Portfolio, information regarding the results of any examination conducted by the Commission or any other state or federal governmental agency or authority or any self-regulatory organization relating directly or indirectly to the services performed by the Subadviser hereunder with respect to the Fund, and, upon request, other information that MML Advisers reasonably deems necessary or desirable to enable MML Advisers to monitor the performance of the Subadviser and information that is required, in the reasonable judgment of MML Advisers and upon prior written request, to be disclosed in any filings required by any governmental agency or by any applicable law, regulation, rule or order.
(d) The Subadviser (i) shall maintain such books and records as are required under the Act or other applicable law, based on the services provided by the Subadviser pursuant to this Subadvisory Agreement and as are necessary for MML Advisers or the Trust to meet its record keeping obligations generally set forth under Section 31 of the Act and rules thereunder; and (ii) shall meet with any persons at the request of MML Advisers or the Board of Trustees of the Trust for the purpose of reviewing the Subadviser’s performance under this Subadvisory Agreement at reasonable times and upon reasonable advance written notice. The Subadviser shall provide the Fund and MML Advisers (or their agents or accountants), upon reasonable prior written request by MML Advisers to the Subadviser, with access to inspect at the Subadviser’s office during normal business hours the books and records of the Subadviser relating to the Portfolio and the Subadviser’s performance hereunder. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains relating to the Fund are property of the Fund, and the Subadviser will promptly surrender to the Fund any of such records or copies thereof upon the Fund’s request. The Subadviser may maintain copies of any such records and further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed under the Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Subadvisory Agreement. If the Subadviser delegates to any third party any of its obligations under this Section 2(d) relating to books and records, the Subadviser (i) shall only do so to the extent consistent with applicable law, (ii) shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of any such third party as if they were those of the Subadviser, and (iii) shall obtain the written agreement of such third party to comply with the requirements of this Section 2(d) to the same extent as if it were a signatory to this Subadvisory Agreement.
(e) On each business day the Subadviser shall provide to the Fund’s custodian information relating to all transactions concerning the Portfolio’s assets and shall provide to the Fund’s custodian, administrator and/or sub-administrator any such additional information as reasonably requested.
(f) The Subadviser agrees to reimburse MML Advisers and the Fund for any reasonable costs, upon evidence of invoices, bills, etc., associated with the production, printing and filing with the Commission (not including attorneys’ fees or mailing costs) of supplements to the Disclosure Documents due to material changes caused by or relating to the Subadviser, except for any such costs which may properly be charged to the Fund.
(g) The Subadviser shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Fund or any other subadviser to any other portfolio of the Trust or to any other investment company or investment company series for which MML Advisers serves as investment adviser concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets, other than for purposes of complying with conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the Act.
(h) As MML Advisers or the Board of Trustees of the Trust may request from time to time, the Subadviser shall timely provide to MML Advisers (i) information and commentary for the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, in a format approved by MML Advisers, and shall (A) certify that such information and commentary discuss the factors that materially affected the performance of the Portfolio, including the relevant market conditions and the investment techniques and strategies used, and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information and commentary not misleading and (B) provide additional certifications related to the Subadviser’s management of the Portfolio in order to support the Fund’s filings on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q, and the Fund’s Principal Executive Officer’s and Principal Financial Officer’s certifications under Rule 30a-2 under the Act; (ii) a quarterly certification, as well as any requested sub-certifications, with respect to compliance matters related to the Subadviser and the Subadviser’s management of the Portfolio, in formats reasonably requested by MML Advisers, as they may be amended from time to time; and (iii) an annual certification from the Subadviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, appointed under Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, with respect to the design and operation of the Subadviser’s compliance program, in a format reasonably requested by MML Advisers.
(i) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or fraud on the part of the Subadviser, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Subadviser shall not be subject to any liability to MML Advisers, the Trust or the Fund, or to any shareholder, officer, director, partner or Trustee thereof, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.
(j) The Subadviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of any custodian of the Fund’s assets.
(k) Provided that none of MML Advisers, the Fund or the Trust shall be required to pay any compensation other than as provided by the terms of this Subadvisory Agreement and subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof and applicable law, the Subadviser may obtain investment information, research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to assist the Subadviser with respect to the performance of its obligations under this Subadvisory Agreement. Such engagement shall not involve any such person serving as an “adviser” to the Portfolio within the meaning of the Act or represent an assignment of any rights or responsibilities, and the Subadviser shall remain liable for the performance of its obligations under this Subadvisory Agreement and for the acts and omissions of such persons, firms or corporations.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Servicer (a) The Servicer shall conduct the servicing, administration and collection of the Transferred Loans and shall take, or cause to be taken, all such actions as may be necessary or advisable to service, administer and collect Transferred Loans from time to time on behalf of the Borrower and as the Borrower’s agent.
(b) The duties of the Servicer, as the Borrower’s agent, shall include, without limitation:
(i) preparing and submitting of claims to, and post-billing liaison with, Obligors on Transferred Loans;
(ii) maintaining all necessary Servicing Records with respect to the Transferred Loans and providing such reports to the Borrower, the Managing Agents and the Administrative Agent in respect of the servicing of the Transferred Loans (including information relating to its performance under this Agreement) as may be required hereunder or as the Borrower, any Managing Agent or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
(iii) maintaining and implementing administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate Servicing Records evidencing the Transferred Loans in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof) and keeping and maintaining all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of the Transferred Loans (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the identification of each new Transferred Loan and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Transferred Loan); provided, however, that any Successor Servicer shall only be required to recreate the Servicing Records of each prior Servicer to the extent such records have been delivered to it in a format reasonably acceptable to such Successor Servicer;
(iv) promptly delivering to the Borrower, any Managing Agent or the Administrative Agent, from time to time, such information and Servicing Records (including information relating to its performance under this Agreement) as the Borrower, such Managing Agent or the Administrative Agent from time to time reasonably request;
(v) identifying each Transferred Loan clearly and unambiguously in its Servicing Records to reflect that such Transferred Loan is owned by the Borrower and pledged to the Administrative Agent;
(vi) complying in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Transferred Loan;
(vii) complying in all material respects with all Applicable Laws with respect to it, its business and properties and all Transferred Loans and Collections with respect thereto;
(viii) preserving and maintaining its existence, rights, licenses, franchises and privileges as a corporation in the jurisdiction of its organization, and qualifying and remaining qualified in good standing as a foreign corporation and qualifying to and remaining authorized and licensed to perform obligations as Servicer (including enforcement of collection of Transferred Loans on behalf of the Borrower, Lenders, each Hedge Counterparty and the Collateral Custodian) in each jurisdiction where the failure to preserve and maintain such existence, rights, franchises, privileges and qualification would materially adversely affect (A) the rights or interests of the Borrower, Lenders, each Hedge Counterparty and the Collateral Custodian in the Transferred Loans, (B) the collectibility of any Transferred Loan, or (C) the ability of the Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder; and
(ix) notifying the Borrower, each Managing Agent and the Administrative Agent of any material action, suit, proceeding, dispute, offset, deduction, defense or counterclaim that is or is threatened to be (1) asserted by an Obligor with respect to any Transferred Loan; or (2) reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) The Borrower and Servicer hereby acknowledge that the Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Custodian shall not have any obligation or liability with respect to any Transferred Loans, nor shall any of them be obligated to perform any of the obligations of the Servicer hereunder.
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.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Funds are not to be deemed to be exclusive, the Sub-Adviser and any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Adviser (for purposes of this Article IV referred to as "affiliates") being free to render services to others. It is understood that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Funds are or may become interested in the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, as directors, officers, employees and shareholders or otherwise and that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Sub-Adviser, INVESCO and their affiliates are or may become interested in the Funds as directors, officers and employees.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SUB-ADVISOR It is understood that the Sub-Advisor may perform investment advisory services for various other clients, including other investment companies. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board of Trustees of the Trust (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as such Board of Trustees reasonably shall request)
(i) the financial condition and prospects of the Sub-Advisor, (ii) the nature and amount of transactions affecting the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and affiliates of the Sub-Advisor, (iii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of its continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts, and (iv) such other information as the Board of Trustees shall reasonably request regarding the Fund, the Fund's performance, the services provided by the Sub-Advisor to the Fund as compared to its other accounts and the plans of, and the capability of, the Sub-Advisor with respect to providing future services to the Fund and its other accounts. At least annually, the Sub-Advisor shall report to the Trustees the total number and type of such other accounts and the approximate total asset value thereof (but not the identities of the beneficial owners of such accounts). The Sub-Advisor agrees to submit to the Trust a statement defining its policies with respect to the allocation of business among the Fund and its other clients. It is understood that the Sub-Advisor may become interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise. The Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of its Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments thereto (including the Sub-Advisor's statement of financial condition) and will hereafter supply to the Advisor, promptly upon the preparation thereof, copies of all amendments or restatements of such document.
Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee In entering into this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability or affording protection to the Trustee, whether or not elsewhere herein so provided.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee During Default; Prior to Default. With respect to the Holders of any series of Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct, except that
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such statements, certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.09 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture. None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it. The provisions of this Section 6.01 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Activities of the Subadviser Except to the extent necessary to perform its obligations hereunder, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the Subadviser's right, or the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees to engage in any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, trust, firm, individual or association.
