Representations of the Sub-Adviser The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Investment Adviser and the Trust as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or other applicable law, regulation or order from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) has met and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency necessary to be met in order to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) has the full power and authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement, and (v) will promptly notify the Investment Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and will provide the Investment Adviser and the Trust with a copy of such code of ethics, together with evidence of its adoption. Within forty-five (45) days of the end of the last calendar quarter of each year that this Agreement is in effect, and as otherwise requested, the Sub-Adviser shall certify to the Investment Adviser and the Trust that the Sub-Adviser has complied with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 204A-1 during the previous year and that there has been no material violation of the Sub-Adviser’s code of ethics or, if such a material violation has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Upon the written request of the Investment Adviser or the Trust, the Sub-Adviser shall permit the Investment Adviser or the Trust, their employees or their agents to examine the reports required to be made to the Sub-Adviser by Rule 17j-1(c)(1) and Rule 204A-1(b) and all other records relevant to the Sub-Adviser’s code of ethics.
C. Upon written request, the Sub-Adviser shall provide a certification to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) to the effect that the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by the Sub-Adviser and its supervised persons of the Advisers Act.
D. The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain an appropriate level of errors and omissions or professional liability insurance coverage.
E. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Investment Adviser and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-10, Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Sub-Adviser agrees not to consult with (i) other sub-advisers to a Fund, if any, (ii) other sub-advisers to any other fund of the Trust, or (iii) other sub-advisers to an investment company under common control with any Fund, concerning transactions for a Fund in securities or other assets.
F. This Agreement is a valid and binding Agreement of the Sub-Adviser, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms hereof.
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.
Obligations of the Service Provider 3.1. The Service Provider undertakes to provide the services as set out online within the dedicated Hoople Schools portal to this Agreement (the ‘Services’), in consideration of the payment as set out in the dedicated Hoople Schools portal. The Service Provider has undertaken Payment calculation based on the following terms:
3.1.1. payment for services relating to employee numbers has been calculated based on the number of employees at each Establishment as at January 2020. Included in the calculation is a 5% tolerance. If employee numbers rise above this 5% tolerance Hoople reserves the right to charge incremental fees
3.1.2. payment for the Payments Management service has been based on the number of payment vouchers raised in 2018/19, within a 10% tolerance level. The Service Provider reserves the right to increase pricing if volumes increase by more than the stated tolerance level
3.1.3. should the Establishment request an additional service during the duration of the term, the Service Provider reserves the right to charge the full, annual cost of the requested service
3.1.4. payment for services relating to pupil numbers has been calculated based on the number of pupils at each Establishment as at October 2019. Included in the calculation are sixth form and nursery pupil numbers, where applicable
3.1.5. The Service Provider will provide digital order confirmation of the services ordered and associated fees by means of the functionality of the Hoople Schools portal
3.2. Should the Establishment request and the Service Provider agrees to provide services additional to those specified within the schools buying portal order, the fees for those additional services shall be mutually agreed between the parties, but otherwise for all purposes of this Agreement, the additional services shall be deemed to be included within the definition of Services.
3.3. The Services shall be carried out by the Service Provider with all reasonable skill and care, and in full compliance of relevant established current professional standards. The Service Provider undertakes to provide a detailed service level agreement (SLA), outlining the responsibilities of both parties with regard to each service. The SLA for each service will be provided as a downloadable document on the Hoople Schools portal.
3.4. The Service Provider shall indemnify the Establishment from all claims, actions or demands made by third parties against the Establishment, and all liabilities of the Establishment to third parties (collectively ‘Third Party Liabilities’) and from all damage, losses, costs, expenses and payments whatsoever suffered or incurred by the Establishment either directly or in relation to Third Party Liabilities in respect of (a) personal injury to or the death of any person and any loss or destruction of or damage to property (not attributable to any default or neglect of the Establishment or of any person for whom the Establishment is responsible) which shall have occurred in connection with the provision of the Services under this Agreement, (b) any defect in the Services, and (c) any breach by the Service Provider of any terms of this Agreement, including without limitation, clause
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.
OTHER INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER The Fund acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser or one or more of its affiliated persons may have investment responsibilities or render investment advice to or perform other investment advisory services for other individuals or entities and that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated persons or any of its or their directors, officers, agents or employees may buy, sell or trade in any securities for its or their own respective accounts ("Affiliated Accounts"). Subject to the provisions of Section 7(b) hereof, the Fund agrees that the Sub-Adviser or its affiliated persons may give advice or exercise investment responsibility and take such other action with respect to other Affiliated Accounts which may differ from the advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Series Account, provided that the Sub-Adviser acts in good faith, and provided further, that it is the Sub-Adviser's policy to allocate, within its reasonable discretion, investment opportunities to the Series Account over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis relative to the Affiliated Accounts, taking into account the investment objective and policies of the Series and any specific investment restrictions applicable thereto. The Fund acknowledges that one or more of the Affiliated Accounts may at any time hold, acquire, increase, decrease, dispose of or otherwise deal with positions in investments in which the Series Account may have an interest from time to time, whether in transactions which involve the Series Account or otherwise. The Sub-Adviser shall have no obligation to acquire for the Series Account a position in any investment which any Affiliated Account may acquire, and the Fund shall have no first refusal, co-investment or other rights in respect of any such investment, either for the Series Account or otherwise.
Compliance Program of the Sub-Adviser The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by the Sub-Adviser and its supervised persons (as such term is defined in the Advisers Act) of the Advisers Act and the rules the SEC has adopted under the Advisers Act; and
(b) to the extent that the Sub-Adviser’s activities or services could affect a Fund, the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the “federal securities laws” (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 0000 Xxx) by the Funds and the Sub-Adviser (the policies and procedures referred to in this Paragraph 7(b), along with the policies and procedures referred to in Paragraph 7(a), are referred to herein as the Sub-Adviser’s “Compliance Program”).
Services of the Sub-Advisor Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, the oversight and supervision of the Advisor and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Sub-Advisor will perform certain of the day-to-day operations of the Fund, which may include one or more of the following services, at the request of the Advisor: (a) acting as investment advisor for and managing the investment and reinvestment of those assets of the Fund as the Advisor may from time to time request and in connection therewith have complete discretion in purchasing and selling such securities and other assets for the Fund and in voting, exercising consents and exercising all other rights appertaining to such securities and other assets on behalf of the Fund; (b) arranging, subject to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, for the purchase and sale of securities and other assets of the Fund; (c) providing investment research and credit analysis concerning the Fund’s investments; (d) assisting the Advisor in determining what portion of the Fund’s assets will be invested in cash, cash equivalents and money market instruments; (e) placing orders for all purchases and sales of such investments made for the Fund; and (f) maintaining the books and records as are required to support Fund investment operations. At the request of the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor will also, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Advisor and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, provide to the Advisor or the Trust any of the facilities and equipment and perform any of the services described in Section 4 of the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Sub-Advisor will keep the Trust and the Advisor informed of developments materially affecting the Fund and shall, on its own initiative, furnish to the Fund from time to time whatever information the Sub-Advisor believes appropriate for this purpose. The Sub-Advisor will periodically communicate to the Advisor, at such times as the Advisor may direct, information concerning the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund, including: (a) the name of the issuer, (b) the amount of the purchase or sale, (c) the name of the broker or dealer, if any, through which the purchase or sale will be effected, (d) the CUSIP number of the instrument, if any, and (e) such other information as the Advisor may reasonably require for purposes of fulfilling its obligations to the Trust under the Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Advisor will provide the services rendered by it under this Agreement in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (as currently in effect and as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time) and the resolutions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Sub-Advisor represents, warrants and covenants that it is authorized and regulated by the FCA.
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.
Other Activities of the Sub-Adviser The Investment Manager agrees that the Sub-Adviser and any of its partners ------------------------------------ or employees, and persons affiliated with the Sub-Adviser or with any such partner or employee, may render investment management or advisory services to other investors and institutions, and that such investors and institutions may own, purchase or sell, securities or other interests in property that are the same as, similar to, or different from those which are selected for purchase, holding or sale for the Portfolio. The Investment Manager further acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser shall be in all respects free to take action with respect to investments in securities or other interests in property that are the same as, similar to, or different from those selected for purchase, holding or sale for the Portfolio. The Investment Manager understands that the Sub-Adviser shall not favor or disfavor any of the Sub-Adviser's clients or class of clients in the allocation of investment opportunities, so that to the extent practical, such opportunities will be allocated among the Sub-Adviser's clients over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis. Nothing in this Agreement shall impose upon the Sub-Adviser any obligation (i) to purchase or sell, or recommend for purchase or sale, for the Portfolio any security which the Sub-Adviser, its partners, affiliates or employees may purchase or sell for the Sub-Adviser or such partner's, affiliate's or employee's own accounts or for the account of any other client of the Sub-Adviser, advisory or otherwise, or (ii) to abstain from the purchase or sale of any security for the Sub-Adviser's other clients, advisory or otherwise, which the Investment Manager has placed on the list provided pursuant to paragraph 6(g) of this Agreement.
Performance of the Services In addition to the Common Articles, it is specified that:
