Expenses to be Paid by Adviser The Adviser shall pay all salaries, expenses and fees of the officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors , members or employees of the Adviser. In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of the Trust not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or any similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to the Funds under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.
COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE FUND TO THE MANAGER The Fund will pay to the Manager as compensation for the Manager’s services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for the expenses borne by the Manager pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of Section 1, a fee, based on the Fund’s Average Net Assets, computed and paid monthly at the annual rates set forth on Schedule B attached to this Contract, as from time to time amended. The Fund’s “
COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE TRUST TO THE MANAGER The Fund will pay to the Manager as compensation for the Manager's services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for the expenses borne by the Manager pursuant to Section 1, a fee, computed and paid monthly at the annual rate of 0.45% of the Fund's average daily net asset value. Such average daily net asset value of the Fund shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during such month at the close of business on each business day during such month while this Contract is in effect. Such fee shall be payable for each month within five (5) business days after the end of such month. In the event that expenses of the Fund for any fiscal year should exceed the expense limitation on investment company expenses imposed by any statute or regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of the Trust are qualified for offer and sale, the compensation due the Manager for such fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of such excess by a reduction or refund thereof. In the event that the expenses of the Fund exceed any expense limitation which the Manager may, by written notice to the Trust, voluntarily declare to be effective with respect to the Fund, subject to such terms and conditions as the Manager may prescribe in such notice, the compensation due the Manager shall be reduced, and, if necessary, the Manager shall bear the Fund's expenses to the extent required by such expense limitation. If the Manager shall serve for less than the whole of a month, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.
Information to be Provided to the Trust and the Advisor The Sub-Advisor shall furnish such reports, evaluations, information or analyses to the Trust and the Advisor as the Trust's Board of Trustees or the Advisor may reasonably request from time to time, or as the Sub-Advisor may deem to be desirable.
Service Charge to Be Paid to BD On the Business Day next succeeding each Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall pay to BD from moneys received from the Funds an amount equal to: (a) in the case of any Auction Date immediately preceding a Dividend Period of less than one year, the product of (i) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in such Dividend Period (calculated by counting the first day of such Dividend Period but excluding the last day thereof) and the denominator of which is 360, times (ii) 1/4 of 1%, times (iii) $25,000, times (iv) the sum of (A) the aggregate number of shares of any series of Preferred Shares placed by BD in the applicable Auction that were (x) the subject of a Submitted Bid of a Beneficial Owner submitted by BD and continued to be held as a result of such submission and (y) the subject of a Submitted Bid of a Potential Beneficial Owner submitted by BD and were purchased as a result of such submission plus (B) the aggregate number of shares of any series of Preferred Shares subject to valid Hold Orders (determined in accordance with Section 2 of Part II of the Articles Supplementary) submitted to the Auction Agent by BD plus (C) the number of shares of any series of Preferred Shares deemed to be subject to Hold Orders by Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 2 of Part II of the Articles Supplementary that were acquired by BD for its own account or were acquired by such Beneficial Owners through BD; and (b) in the case of any Auction Date immediately preceding a Special Dividend Period of one year or longer, that amount as mutually agreed upon by the Funds and BD, based on the selling concession that would be applicable to an underwriting of fixed or variable rate Preferred Shares with a similar final maturity or variable rate dividend period, at the commencement of such Special Dividend Period. For purposes of subclause (a)(iv)(C) of the foregoing sentence, if any Beneficial Owner who acquired shares of any series of Preferred Shares through BD transfers those shares to another Person other than pursuant to an Auction, then the Broker-Dealer for the shares so transferred shall continue to be BD, provided, however, that if the transfer was effected by, or if the transferee is, a Broker-Dealer other than BD, then such Broker-Dealer shall be the Broker-Dealer for such shares.
Information to Be Provided by the Company In connection with any Securitization Transaction, the Company shall use its best efforts to (i) within five (5) Business Days, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days, following written request by the Purchaser or any Depositor, provide to the Purchaser and such Depositor (or, as applicable, cause each Third-Party Originator to provide), in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and such Depositor, the information and materials specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (f) of this Section, and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by the Company, provide to the Purchaser and any Depositor (in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and such Depositor) the information specified in paragraph (d) of this Section. (a) If so requested in writing by the Purchaser or any Depositor, the Company shall provide such information regarding (i) the Company, as originator of the Mortgage Loans (including as an acquirer of Mortgage Loans from a Qualified Correspondent), or (ii) each Third-Party Originator, as is requested for the purpose of compliance with Items 1103(a)(l), 1105, 1110, 1117 and 1119 of Regulation AB. Such information shall include, at a minimum: (A) the originator’s form of organization; (B) a description of the originator’s origination program and how long the originator has been engaged in originating residential mortgage loans, which description shall include a discussion of the originator’s experience in originating mortgage loans of a similar type as the Mortgage Loans; information regarding the size and composition of the originator’s origination portfolio; and information that may be material, in the good faith judgment of the Purchaser or any Depositor, to an analysis of the performance of the Mortgage Loans, including the originators’ credit-granting or underwriting criteria for mortgage loans of similar type(s) as the Mortgage Loans and such other information as the Purchaser or any Depositor may reasonably request for the purpose of compliance with Item 1110(b)(2) of Regulation AB; (C) a description of any legal or governmental proceedings pending (or known to be contemplated) against the Company and each Third-Party Originator that would be material to securityholders; and (D) a description of any affiliation or relationship between the Company, each Third-Party Originator and any of the following parties to a Securitization Transaction, as such parties are identified to the Company by the Purchaser or any Depositor in writing in advance of such Securitization Transaction: (1) the sponsor; (2) the depositor; (3) the issuing entity; (4) any servicer; (5) any trustee; (6) any originator; (7) any significant obligor; (8) any enhancement or support provider; and (9) any other material transaction party. (b) If so requested in writing by the Purchaser or any Depositor, the Company shall provide (or, as applicable, cause each Third-Party Originator to provide) Static Pool Information solely with respect to securitized pools of mortgage loans (of a similar type as the Mortgage Loans, as reasonably identified by the Purchaser as provided below) that were included in securitizations that closed during the five (5) years preceding the closing date of the related Securitization Transaction. Such Static Pool Information shall be prepared by the Company (or Third-Party Originator) on the basis of its reasonable, good faith interpretation of the requirements of Item 1105(a)(3) of Regulation AB. To the extent that there is reasonably available to the Company (or Third-Party Originator) Static Pool Information with respect to more than one mortgage loan type, the Purchaser or any Depositor shall be entitled to specify whether some or all of such information shall be provided pursuant to this paragraph. The content of such Static Pool Information may be in the form customarily provided by the Company, and need not be customized for the Purchaser or any Depositor. Such Static Pool Information for each prior securitized pool shall be presented in increments no less frequently than quarterly over the life of the mortgage loans included in such prior securitized pool. The most recent periodic increment must be as of a date no later than 135 days prior to the date of the prospectus or other offering document in which the Static Pool Information is to be included or incorporated by reference. The Static Pool Information shall be provided in an electronic format that provides a permanent record of the information provided, such as a portable document format (pdf) file, or other such electronic format reasonably required by the Purchaser or the Depositor, as applicable. Promptly following notice or discovery of a material error in Static Pool Information provided pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph (including an omission to include therein information required to be provided pursuant to such paragraph) during the applicable offering period for the securities, the Company shall provide corrected Static Pool Information to the Purchaser or any Depositor, as applicable, in the same format in which Static Pool Information was previously provided to such party by the Company. If so requested in writing by the Purchaser or any Depositor, the Company shall provide (or, as applicable, cause each Third-Party Originator to provide), at the expense of the requesting party (to the extent of any additional incremental expense associated with delivery pursuant to this Regulation AB Addendum), such statements and agreed-upon procedures letters of certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser or Depositor, as applicable, pertaining to Static Pool Information relating to securitizations closed on or after January 1, 2006, as the Purchaser or such Depositor shall reasonably request. Such statements and letters shall be addressed to and be for the benefit of such parties as the Purchaser or such Depositor shall designate, which may include, by way of example, any Sponsor, any Depositor and any broker dealer acting as underwriter, placement agent or initial purchaser with respect to a Securitization Transaction. Any such statement or letter may take the form of a standard, generally applicable document accompanied by a reliance letter authorizing reliance by the addressees designated by the Purchaser or such Depositor. (c) For the purpose of satisfying its reporting obligation under the Exchange Act with respect to any class of asset-backed securities, for so long as the Depositor is required to file reports under the Exchange Act with respect to a Securitization Transaction, the Company shall (or shall cause each Third-Party Originator to) (i) provide prompt notice to the Purchaser, any Master Servicer and any Depositor in writing of (A) any litigation or governmental proceedings pending against the Company or any Third-Party Originator that would be material to securityholders and (B) any affiliations or relationships that develop following the closing date of a Securitization Transaction between the Company or any Third-Party Originator and any of the parties specified in clause (D) of paragraph (a) of this Section (and any other parties identified in writing by the requesting party) with respect to such Securitization Transaction, but only to the extent that such affiliations or relationships do not include the Purchaser, Depositor or any of their respective affiliates as a party, (C) any Event of Default of which it is aware or has received notice under the terms of the Agreement or any Reconstitution Agreement and (D) any merger or consolidation where the Company is not the surviving entity or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company and (ii) provide to the Purchaser and any Depositor a description of such proceedings, affiliations or relationships.
SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE ADVISER TO THE TRUST A. As investment adviser to the Portfolio, the Adviser will coordinate the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Allocated Portion and determine the composition of the assets of the Allocated Portion, subject always to the supervision and control of the Manager and the Trustees of the Trust. B. As part of the services it will provide hereunder, the Adviser will: (i) obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial, and other information affecting the economy generally and individual companies or industries, the securities of which are included in the Allocated Portion or are under consideration for inclusion in the Allocated Portion; (ii) formulate and implement a continuous investment program for the Allocated Portion; (iii) take whatever steps are necessary to implement the investment program for the Allocated Portion by arranging for the purchase and sale of securities and other investments, including issuing directives to the administrator of the Trust as necessary for the appropriate implementation of the investment program of the Allocated Portion; (iv) keep the Trustees of the Trust and the Manager fully informed in writing on an ongoing basis as agreed by the Manager and Adviser of all material facts concerning the investment and reinvestment of the assets in the Allocated Portion, the Adviser and its key investment personnel and operations, make regular and periodic special written reports of such additional information concerning the same as may reasonably be requested from time to time by the Manager or the Trustees of the Trust and the Adviser will attend meetings with the Manager and/or the Trustees, as reasonably requested, to discuss the foregoing; (v) in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Trustees of the Trust, which may be amended from time to time, provide assistance in determining the fair value of all securities and other investments/assets in the Allocated Portion, as necessary, and use reasonable efforts to arrange for the provision of valuation information or a price(s) from a party(ies) independent of the Adviser for each security or other investment/asset in the Allocated Portion for which market prices are not readily available; (vi) provide any and all material composite performance information, records and supporting documentation about accounts the Adviser manages, if appropriate, which are relevant to the Allocated Portion and that have investment objectives, policies, and strategies substantially similar to those employed by the Adviser in managing the Allocated Portion that may be reasonably necessary, under applicable laws, to allow the Portfolio or its agent to present information concerning Adviser’s prior performance in the Trust’s Prospectus and SAI (as hereinafter defined) and any permissible reports and materials prepared by the Portfolio or its agent; and (vii) cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Trust’s administrator, the Trust’s custodian and foreign custodians, the Trust’s transfer agent and pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust and the Manager, keep all such persons fully informed as to such matters as they may reasonably deem necessary to the performance of their obligations to the Trust and the Manager, provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons and maintain any appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information. C. In furnishing services hereunder, the Adviser shall be subject to, and shall perform in accordance with the following: (i) the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as the same may be hereafter modified and/or amended from time to time (“Trust Declaration”); (ii) the By-Laws of the Trust, as the same may be hereafter modified and/or amended from time to time (“By-Laws”); (iii) the currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Trust filed with the SEC and delivered to the Adviser, as the same may be hereafter modified, amended and/or supplemented (“Prospectus and SAI”); (iv) the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and the rules under each, and all other federal and state laws or regulations applicable to the Trust and the Portfolio; (v) the Trust’s Compliance Manual and other policies and procedures adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Trust; and (vi) the written instructions of the Manager. Prior to the commencement of the Adviser’s services hereunder, the Manager shall provide the Adviser with current copies of the Trust Declaration, By-Laws, Prospectus, SAI, Compliance Manual and other relevant policies and procedures that are adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Manager undertakes to provide the Adviser with copies or other written notice of any amendments, modifications or supplements to any such above-mentioned document. D. In furnishing services hereunder, the Adviser will not consult with any other adviser to (i) the Portfolio, (ii) any other Portfolio of the Trust or (iii) any other investment company under common control with the Trust concerning transactions of the Portfolio in securities or other assets. (This shall not be deemed to prohibit the Adviser from consulting with any of its affiliated persons concerning transactions in securities or other assets. This shall also not be deemed to prohibit the Adviser from consulting with any of the other covered advisers concerning compliance with paragraphs a and b of rule 12d3-1.) E. The Adviser, at its expense, will furnish: (i) all necessary facilities and personnel, including salaries, expenses and fees of any personnel required for them to faithfully perform their duties under this Agreement; and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, and all equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement. F. The Adviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all portfolio transactions subject to the conditions set forth herein. The Adviser will place all necessary orders with brokers, dealers, or issuers, and will negotiate brokerage commissions, if applicable. The Adviser is directed at all times to seek to execute transactions for the Allocated Portion (i) in accordance with any written policies, practices or procedures that may be established by the Board of Trustees or the Manager from time to time and which have been provided to the Adviser or (ii) as described in the Trust’s Prospectus and SAI. In placing any orders for the purchase or sale of investments for the Portfolio, in the name of the Allocated Portion or its nominees, the Adviser shall use its best efforts to obtain for the Allocated Portion best execution, considering all of the circumstances, and shall maintain records adequate to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, except in accordance with the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and the rules under each, and all other federal and state laws or regulations applicable to the Trust and the Portfolio. G. Subject to the appropriate policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, Adviser may, to the extent authorized by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) cause the Allocated Portion to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage or research services to the Manager, the Adviser and the Allocated Portion 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 that transaction if the Adviser determines, in good faith, that such amount of commission is reasonable in relationship to the value of such brokerage or research services provided viewed in terms of that particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the Portfolio or its other advisory clients. To the extent authorized by Section 28(e) and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of such action. Subject to seeking best execution, the Board of Trustees or the Manager may direct the Adviser to effect transactions in portfolio securities through broker-dealers in a manner that will help generate resources to pay the cost of certain expenses that the Trust is required to pay or for which the Trust is required to arrange payment. H. On occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Allocated Portion as well as other clients of the Adviser, the Adviser to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. Allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Adviser in the manner which the Adviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Allocated Portion and to its other clients over time. The Manager agrees that Adviser and its affiliates may give advice and take action in the performance of their duties with respect to any of their other clients that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of actions taken, with respect to the Allocated Portion. The Manager also acknowledges that Adviser and its affiliates are fiduciaries to other entities, some of which have the same or similar investment objectives (and will hold the same or similar investments) as the Allocated Portion, and that Adviser will carry out its duties hereunder together with its duties under such relationships. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to confer upon Adviser any obligation to purchase or to sell or to recommend for purchase or sale for the Allocated Portion any investment that Adviser, its affiliates, officers or employees may purchase or sell for its or their own account or for the account of any client, if in the sole and absolute discretion of Adviser it is for any reason impractical or undesirable to take such action or make such recommendation for the Allocated Portion. I. The Adviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Allocated Portion as are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act and Advisers Act and the rules thereunder and shall file with the SEC all forms pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, with respect to its duties as are set forth herein. J. The Adviser will, unless and until otherwise directed by the Manager or the Board of Trustees, vote proxies with respect to the Allocated Portion’s securities and exercise rights in corporate actions or otherwise in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines, as amended from time to time, which shall be provided to the Trust and the Manager.
Information to Be Provided by the Owner Trustee (a) For so long as the Notes are outstanding, for the purpose of satisfying the Depositor’s reporting obligation under the Exchange Act with respect to the Notes, the Owner Trustee shall provide to the Depositor a written description of (i) the commencement of, a material development in or, if applicable, the termination of, any and all legal proceedings against the Owner Trustee or any and all proceedings of which any property of the Owner Trustee is the subject, that would be material to Noteholders; and (ii) any such proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities that would be material to Noteholders. The Owner Trustee shall also notify the Depositor, in writing, as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by a Responsible Officer of the Owner Trustee of any material changes to proceedings described in the preceding sentence. In addition, the Owner Trustee will furnish to the Depositor, in writing, the necessary disclosure regarding the Owner Trustee describing such proceedings required to be disclosed under Item 1117 of Regulation AB, for inclusion in reports filed by or on behalf of the Depositor pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Depositor will allow the Owner Trustee to review any disclosure relating to material litigation against the Owner Trustee prior to filing such disclosure with the Commission to the extent the Depositor changes the information provided by the Owner Trustee. Any descriptions required with respect to legal proceedings, as well as updates to previously provided descriptions, under this Section 12.03(a) shall be given no later than five Business Days prior to the Determination Date following the month in which the relevant event occurs. (1) For so long as the Notes are outstanding, for the purpose of satisfying the Depositor’s reporting obligation under the Exchange Act with respect to the Notes, the Owner Trustee shall, no later than January 31st of each calendar year, (i) provide to the Depositor such information regarding the Owner Trustee as is required for the purpose of compliance with Item 1119 of Regulation AB; provided, however, the Owner Trustee shall not be required to provide such information in the event that there has been no change to the information previously provided by the Owner Trustee to the Depositor; and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by a Responsible Officer of the Owner Trustee of any changes to such information, provide to the Depositor, in writing, such updated information. Such information shall include, at a minimum, a description of any affiliation between the Owner Trustee and any Transaction Party. In addition, the Owner Trustee shall provide a description of whether there is, and if so the general character of, any business relationship, agreement, arrangement, transaction or understanding between the Owner Trustee and any Transaction Party that is entered into outside the ordinary course of business or is on terms other than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party, apart from the securitization transaction contemplated by this Agreement, that currently exists or that existed during the past two years and that is material to an investor’s understanding of the Notes. (b) As of the related Payment Date with respect to each Report on Form 10-D with respect to the Notes filed by or on behalf of the Depositor, and as of March 15th preceding the date each Report on Form 10-K with respect to the Notes is filed, the Owner Trustee shall be deemed to represent and warrant that any information previously provided by the Owner Trustee under this Article 12 is materially correct and does not have any material omissions unless the Owner Trustee has provided an update to such information.
Obligations of and Services to be Provided by the Sub-Advisor The Sub-Advisor will: (a) Provide investment advisory services, including but not limited to research, advice and supervision for the Allocated Assets of each Series. (b) Furnish to the Board of Directors of the Fund for approval (or any appropriate committee of such Board), and revise from time to time as conditions require, a recommended investment program for each Series consistent with each Series’ respective investment objective(s) and policies and any specific criteria applicable to the Allocated Assets. (c) Implement the approved investment program for the Allocated Assets by placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities without prior consultation with the Manager and without regard to the length of time the securities have been held, the resulting rate of portfolio turnover or any tax considerations, subject always to the provisions of the Fund’s registration statement, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and the requirements of the 1940 Act, as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect. (d) Advise and assist the officers of the Fund, as requested by the officers, in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Board of Directors, and any appropriate committees of such Board, regarding the general conduct of the investment business of each Series. (e) Maintain, in connection with the Sub-Advisor’s investment advisory services provided to the Allocated Assets, compliance with the 1940 Act and the regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder and the Series’ investment strategies and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information and any specific criteria applicable to the Allocated Assets. (f) Report to the Board of Directors of the Fund at such times and in such detail as the Board of Directors may reasonably deem appropriate in order to enable it to determine that the investment policies, procedures and approved investment program of each Series (and any specific criteria applicable to the Allocated Assets) are being observed. (g) Upon request, provide assistance and recommendations for the determination of the fair value of certain securities when reliable market quotations are not readily available for purposes of calculating net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Fund’s Board of Directors. (h) Furnish, at its own expense, (i) all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of clerical and other personnel required for it to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment advisory affairs of each Series. (i) Open accounts with Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act compliant broker-dealers and futures commission merchants (“broker-dealers”), select broker-dealers to effect all transactions for each Series, place all necessary orders with broker‑dealers or issuers (including affiliated broker-dealers), and negotiate commissions, if applicable. To the extent consistent with applicable law, purchase or sell orders for each Series may be aggregated with contemporaneous purchase or sell orders of other clients of the Sub-Advisor. In such event allocation of securities so sold or purchased, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Sub‑Advisor in the manner the Sub-Advisor considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to other clients. The Sub-Advisor will report on such allocations at the request of the Manager, the Fund or the Fund’s Board of Directors providing such information as the number of aggregated trades to which each Series was a party, the broker-dealers to whom such trades were directed and the basis for the allocation for the aggregated trades. The Sub-Advisor shall use its best efforts to obtain execution of transactions for each Series at prices which are advantageous to the Series and at commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. However, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers or dealers on the basis that they provide brokerage, research or other services or products to the Sub-Advisor. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Sub-Advisor may pay a broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission or dealer spread another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research products and/or services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination, with respect to brokerage and research products and/or services, may be viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates have with respect to each Series as well as to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. Not all such services or products need be used by the Sub-Advisor in managing the Allocated Assets. In addition, joint repurchase or other accounts may not be utilized by the Series except to the extent permitted under any exemptive order obtained by the Sub-Advisor provided that all conditions of such order are complied with. (j) Maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Allocated Assets as are required of an investment advisor of a registered investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the rules thereunder, and furnish the Fund and the Manager with such periodic and special reports as the Fund or the Manager may reasonably request. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for each Series are the property of the Fund, agrees to preserve for the periods described by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that it maintains for the Series and that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any records that it maintains for a Series upon request by the Fund or the Manager. The Sub-Advisor has no responsibility for the maintenance of Fund records except insofar as is directly related to the services the Sub-Advisor provides to a Series. (k) Observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics adopted pursuant to that Rule as the same may be amended from time to time. The Manager acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Sub-Advisor’s current Code of Ethics. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly forward to the Manager a copy of any material amendment to the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics along with certification that the Sub-Advisor has implemented procedures for administering the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. (l) From time to time as the Manager or the Fund may request, furnish the requesting party reports on portfolio transactions and reports on investments held by a Series, all in such detail as the Manager or the Fund may reasonably request. The Sub-Advisor will make available its officers and employees to meet with the Fund’s Board of Directors at the Fund’s principal place of business on due notice to review the investments of a Series. (m) Provide such information as is customarily provided by a sub-advisor, or as may be required or reasonably requested by the Manager, for the Fund or the Manager to comply with their respective obligations under applicable laws, including, without limitation, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any state securities laws, and any rule or regulation thereunder. Such information includes, but is not limited to: the Sub-Advisor’s compliance manual and policies and procedures adopted to comply with Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act; the Sub-Advisor’s most recent annual compliance report or a detailed summary of such report; timely and complete responses to all Quarterly Compliance Questionnaires (including the identification of any material compliance maters and a copy of any material changes to the Sub-Advisor’s Rule 206(4)-7 compliance policies and procedures, marked to show changes along with a written summary of the purpose of each such change); Annual Proxy Voting Questionnaires; Annual Best Execution and Soft Dollar Questionnaires, and responses to all other requests from the Manager. The Sub-Advisor agrees to make available for the Manager’s review all deficiency letters issued by the SEC together with all responses given by Sub-Advisor to such letters. The Sub-Advisor will advise the Manager of any material changes in the Sub-Advisor’s ownership within a reasonable time after any such change. (n) Vote proxies received on behalf of each Series (with respect to the portion thereof allocated to the Sub-Advisor) in a manner consistent with the Sub-Advisor’s proxy voting policies and procedures and provide a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Series to file Form N-PX as required by SEC rule. (o) Respond to tender offers, rights offerings and other voluntary corporate action requests affecting securities held by each Series (with respect to the portion thereof allocated to the Sub-Advisor) and complete and file notices of claims in connection with class action lawsuits concerning securities owned by the Fund (with respect to the portion of each Series thereof allocated to the Sub-Advisor). (p) Cooperate with the Manager in its performance of quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to monitor the Series’ compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and Section 817(h) of the Code. If it is determined by the Manager or its tax advisors that the Series is not in compliance with the requirements imposed by the Code, the Sub-Advisor, in consultation with the Manager and its tax advisors, will take prompt action to bring the Series back into compliance with the time permitted under the Code.
Conduct of Business Pending the Closing During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or the Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, carry on the Business in the ordinary course of business and, to the extent consistent therewith, use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the Business intact and preserve the goodwill of and relationships with Governmental Entities, customers, suppliers, partners, lessors, licensors, licensees, contractors, distributors, agents, officers and employees and others having business dealings with the Business, provided that the foregoing shall not prevent Sellers from rejecting Contracts that are not Assumed Contracts. During the period from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, the Company shall endeavor to maintain the Net Receivables Amount, the Inventory Value and each component of Inventory at or in excess of the amounts set forth on Schedule 7.1. Without limiting the generality of the first sentence of this Section 7.1, during the period from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Buyer: (a) abandon any rights under any of the Assumed Contracts; terminate, amend, modify or supplement the terms of any Assumed Contract; or fail to honor or perform, the Assumed Contracts; (b) other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business or the disposition of obsolete equipment, lease, license, surrender, relinquish, sell, transfer, convey, assign or otherwise dispose of any Acquired Assets; (c) mortgage, pledge or subject to Liens (other than Permitted Liens), any property, business or any of the Acquired Assets, other than as would not result in any Liability that would be or would increase an Assumed Liability as of or subsequent to the Closing; (d) incur or permit to be incurred any Liability (other than Accounts Payable or in connection with the performance of Assumed Contracts) that would be or would increase an Assumed Liability as of or subsequent to the Closing; (e) fail to replenish the Inventory and Supplies of the Business in the ordinary course of business; (f) increase the salary of any Identified Employee at or after the time such person becomes an Identified Employee, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (g) make or rescind any material Tax election or take any material Tax position (unless required by law) or file any Tax Return or change its fiscal year or financial or Tax accounting methods, policies or practices, or settle any Tax Liability, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to affect the Buyer; (h) institute, settle or agree to settle any litigation, action or Proceeding before any court or Governmental Entity relating to the Acquired Assets, or modify in any manner that is adverse to the Business or the Acquired Assets, rescind or terminate a material Permit, allowance, or credit (or application therefor) relating to the Business or the Acquired Assets; (i) transfer or grant any rights under, modify any existing rights under, or enter into any settlement regarding the breach or infringement of, any material Intellectual Property; or (j) enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing.
