Investment Advisory and Management Services The Investment Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to serve as subadviser to the Fund and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment. Subject to the supervision of the Investment Adviser, Subadviser will regularly provide the Fund with investment advice and investment management services concerning the investments of the Fund. The Subadviser will determine what securities shall be purchased, held or sold by the Fund and what portion of the Funds assets shall be held uninvested in cash and cash equivalents, subject always to the provisions of the Trusts Declaration of Trust and By-laws and the 1940 Act, and to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Fund (including, without limitation, the requirements of Subchapters L and M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) (the Code), as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect or set forth in the Funds Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as well as any other investment guidelines or policies the Board of Trustees or the Investment Adviser may from time to time establish and deliver in writing to the Subadviser. To carry out such determinations the Subadviser will exercise full discretion, subject to the preceding paragraph, and act for the Fund in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the Trust might or could do with respect to purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or other transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subadviser shall, upon written instructions from the Investment Adviser, effect such portfolio transactions for the Fund as the Investment Adviser may from time to time direct. Such instructions will be given in reasonable circumstances, including, without limitation, any termination of this Agreement. The Subadviser will also make its officers and employees available to meet with the officers of the Investment Adviser and the Trusts officers and Trustees at least quarterly on due notice to review the investments and investment program of the Fund in the light of current and prospective economic and market conditions. From time to time as the Board of Trustees of the Trust or the Investment Adviser may reasonably request, the Subadviser will furnish to the Investment Adviser and Trusts officers and to each of its Trustees, at the Subadvisers expense, reports on portfolio transactions and reports on issues of securities held by the Fund, all in such detail as the Trust or the Investment Adviser may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act relating to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Fund, and shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The Subadviser shall permit the Investment Adviser, the Funds officers and its independent public accountants to inspect and audit such records at reasonable times during normal business hours upon due notice. If any occasion should arise in which the Subadviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares of the Fund, the Subadviser will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund. The Subadvisers services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and it is understood that the Subadviser may render investment advice, management and other services to others.
Sub-Adviser Duties Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for each Series’ portfolio and determine in its discretion the composition of the assets of each Series’ portfolio, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments contained in the portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of each Series’ assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Series should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest. To the extent permitted by the investment policies of each Series, the Sub-Adviser shall make decisions for the Series as to foreign currency matters and make determinations as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts on behalf of the Series. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with each Series’ investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as amended, to the extent copies of the Fund’s Registration Statement and related amendments are furnished to the Sub-Adviser by the Manager. The Sub-Adviser further agrees as follows:
(a) In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees of which the Sub-Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of the Registration Statement of the Fund filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of which the Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Manager’s portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as in effect on the date hereof, as such policies and procedures may be revised or amended by the Manager and agreed to by the Sub-Adviser. To the extent the Series is subject to state insurance laws, the Manager will notify the Sub-Adviser of relevant requirements and limitations applicable to the Series under such laws. In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Adviser will (1) manage each Series’ investments and work with the Manager to enable the Series to meet the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (2) if applicable, manage each Series so that no action or omission on the part of the Sub-Adviser shall cause a Series to fail to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested in connection with annual and special meetings of equity stockholders, provided however, that the Sub-Adviser retains responsibility to vote or abstain from voting all proxies with respect to non-equity portfolio securities, and the Sub-Adviser retains responsibility to take any investment-related actions regarding corporate actions (for example, elections to participate in a tender offer, rights issue or buyback offer) with respect to all portfolio securities, unless the Manager gives the Sub-Adviser written instructions to the contrary.
(iii) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for each Series, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Series on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Sedol, or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its administrative and record keeping responsibilities with respect to the Series. With respect to portfolio securities to be settled through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such trades to the Fund’s custodian and portfolio accounting agent.
(iv) The Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement for the Fund or adopted by the Board of Trustees and furnished to the Sub-Adviser, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent reasonably seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser. The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Series’ assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
(v) The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager, no later than the 12th business day following the end of each Series’ semi-annual period and fiscal year, narrative content to be included in a letter to shareholders (to be subject to review and editing by the Manager) containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 27(b)(7) of 1940 Act Form N-1A in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
(vi) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Manager for each month by the 10th business day of the following month.
(b) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager by the 10th business day of each month a written report on each Series of the Fund that contains the following information as of the immediately previous month’s end.
(i) A performance comparison to the Series benchmark listed in the prospectus as well as a comparison to other mutual funds as listed in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., or similar independent services that monitor the performance of mutual funds or with other appropriate indexes of investment securities;
(ii) Composition of the assets of each Series’ portfolio and the top ten holdings, sector distribution and other risk statistics on the Series; and
(iii) Confirmation of its understanding of each Series’ current investment objective and Sub-Adviser’s projected plan to seek to realize the Series’ investment objectives.
(c) Upon reasonable request by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will work with the Manager clarify with Morningstar any style box conflicts with each Series’ style.
(d) The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Fund and the Manager, promptly upon request, any of the Series’ investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Fund) as are necessary to assist the Fund and the Manager to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the Series which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(e) The Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Fund’s Board of Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the investment program for each Series and the issuers and securities represented in each Series’ portfolio, and will furnish the Fund’s Board of Trustees with respect to each Series such periodic and special reports as the Trustees and the Manager may reasonably request.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT FEE (a) The Fund shall pay to the Advisor, and the Advisor agrees to accept, as full compensation for all services furnished or provided to such Fund pursuant to this Agreement, an annual management fee at the rate set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement.
(b) The management fee shall be accrued daily by the Fund and paid to the Advisor on the first business day of the succeeding month.
(c) The initial fee under this Agreement shall be payable on the first business day of the first month following the effective date of this Agreement and shall be prorated as set forth below. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the end of any month, the fee to the Advisor shall be prorated for the portion of any month in which this Agreement is in effect which is not a complete month according to the proportion which the number of calendar days in the month during which the Agreement is in effect bears to the number of calendar days in the month, and shall be payable within ten (10) days after the date of termination.
(d) The fee payable to the Advisor under this Agreement will be reduced to the extent of any receivable owed by the Advisor to the Fund and as required under any expense limitation applicable to the Fund.
(e) The Advisor voluntarily may reduce any portion of the compensation or reimbursement of expenses due to it pursuant to this Agreement and may agree to make payments to limit the expenses which are the responsibility of the Fund under this Agreement. Any such reduction or payment shall be applicable only to such specific reduction or payment and shall not constitute an agreement to reduce any future compensation or reimbursement due to the Advisor hereunder or to continue future payments. Any such reduction will be agreed to prior to accrual of the related expense or fee and will be estimated daily and reconciled and paid on a monthly basis.
(f) Any such reductions made by the Advisor in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Fund to the Advisor, if so requested by the Advisor, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses. Under the expense limitation agreement, the Advisor may recoup reimbursements made in any fiscal year of the Fund over the following three fiscal years. Any such reimbursement is also contingent upon Board of Trustees review and approval at time the reimbursement is made. Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses.
(g) The Advisor may agree not to require payment of any portion of the compensation or reimbursement of expenses otherwise due to it pursuant to this Agreement. Any such agreement shall be applicable only with respect to the specific items covered thereby and shall not constitute an agreement not to require payment of any future compensation or reimbursement due to the Advisor hereunder.
Sub-Adviser's Duties Subject to the general supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall, employing its discretion, manage the investment operations of each Fund and the composition of the portfolio of securities and investments (including cash) belonging to each Fund, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof and the execution of agreements relating thereto, in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions as stated in the Trust's then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (together, the "Prospectus") and subject to the following understandings:
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall furnish a continuous investment program for each Fund and determine from time to time what investments or securities will be purchased, retained or sold by each Fund and what portion of the assets belonging to each Fund will be invested or held uninvested as cash;
(b) The Sub-Adviser shall use its best judgment in the performance of its duties under this Agreement;
(c) The Sub-Adviser, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, shall act in conformity with the Trust's Declaration of Trust, its By-Laws and its Prospectus and with the instructions and directions of the Trust's Board of Trustees and the Adviser and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations;
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the securities to be purchased or sold by each Fund and as agent for the Trust will effect portfolio transactions pursuant to its determinations either directly with the issuer or with any broker and/or dealer in such securities, subject to Section 3 below;
(e) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain books and records with respect to the securities transactions of each Fund and shall render to the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Adviser or the Board may request; and
(f) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Trust's custodian with such information relating to the Trust as may be required under the terms of the then-current custody agreement between the Trust and the custodian.
Investment Advisory Duties Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Manager, the Sub-adviser will, in coordination with the Manager, (a) provide a program of continuous investment management for the Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated in the Portfolio's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included as part of the Trust's Registration Statement on behalf of the Portfolio filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they may be amended from time to time, copies of which shall be provided to the Sub-adviser by the Manager; (b) make investment decisions for the Portfolio; and (c) place orders to purchase and sell securities for the Portfolio. In particular, the Sub-adviser will be responsible for the market timing of purchases and sales and for all yield enhancement strategies used in managing the Portfolio. In performing its investment management services to the Portfolio hereunder, the Sub-adviser will provide the Portfolio with ongoing investment guidance and policy direction. The Sub-adviser will determine the securities, instruments, repurchase agreements, options and other investments and techniques that the Portfolio will purchase, sell, enter into or use, and will provide an ongoing evaluation of the Portfolio. The Sub-adviser will determine what portion of the Portfolio shall be invested in securities and other assets. The Sub-adviser further agrees that, in performing its duties hereunder, it will:
(a) comply with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, the Advisers Act, applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and with any applicable procedures adopted by the Trustees;
(b) manage the Portfolio so that it will qualify, and continue to qualify (except where extraordinary circumstances dictate otherwise), as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder;
(c) place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Portfolio directly with the issuer, or with any broker or dealer the Sub-adviser may choose, in accordance with applicable policies expressed in the Portfolio's Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information and in accordance with applicable legal requirements;
(d) furnish to the Trust whatever statistical information the Trust may reasonably request in writing with respect to the Portfolio's assets or contemplated investments. In addition, the Sub-adviser will keep the Trust and the Trustees informed of developments materially affecting the Portfolio and shall, on the Sub-adviser's own initiative, furnish to the Trust from time to time whatever information the Sub-adviser believes appropriate for this purpose;
(e) make available to the Manager and the Trust, promptly upon their written request, such copies of its investment records and ledgers with respect to the Portfolio as may be required to assist the Manager and the Trust in their compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Sub-adviser will furnish the Trustees with such periodic and special reports regarding the Portfolio as they may reasonably request in writing;
(f) immediately notify the Manager and the Trust in the event that the Sub-adviser or any of its affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-adviser from serving as an investment adviser pursuant to this Sub-advisory Agreement; or (2) becomes aware that it is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The Sub-adviser further agrees to notify the Trust and the Manager promptly if any statement regarding the Sub-adviser contained in the Trust's Registration Statement with respect to the Portfolio, or any amendment or supplement thereto, becomes untrue or incomplete in any material respect. In performing its duties under this Agreement, the Sub-adviser shall manage and invest the Portfolio's assets in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as well as applicable federal and state securities laws, based upon instructions as may be provided to the Sub-adviser by the Manager, the Portfolio's administrator, accountant, custodian or other agent designated by the Manager as responsible for testing compliance of the Portfolio (the "Compliance Agent"). The Sub-adviser further agrees to manage and invest the Portfolio's assets in accordance with instructions as may be provided to the Sub-adviser from time to time by the Manager or the Compliance Agent in an effort to ensure that the Portfolio meets and maintains, so long as required by the Code, the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder. In fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-adviser shall be entitled to reasonably rely on and act in accordance with instructions provided by the Manager or Compliance Agent.
Advisory and Management Arrangements Subject to the requirements of applicable law as in effect from time to time, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into advisory, administration or management contracts (including, in each case, one or more sub-advisory, sub-administration or sub-management contracts) whereby the other party to any such contract shall undertake to furnish such advisory, administrative and management services with respect to the Trust as the Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Declaration, the Trustees may authorize any advisor, administrator or manager (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to exercise any of the powers of the Trustees, including to effect investment transactions with respect to the assets on behalf of the Trust to the full extent of the power of the Trustees to effect such transactions or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to effect such transactions pursuant to recommendations of any such advisor, administrator or manager (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such investment transaction shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees.
Subadvisers Duties The Subadviser shall formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each Fund, including the purchase, retention and disposition of investments therefor, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as stated in the Trust’s Registration Statement. The Subadviser’s duties hereunder are subject to the following understandings with respect to each Fund:
(a) Subject to the supervision and control of the Adviser, the Subadviser shall furnish a continuous investment program for the Fund, determine from time to time what investments or securities will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash;
(b) The Subadviser, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, shall act in conformity with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, Bylaws, policies and procedures and Registration Statement, in each case as may be amended or updated from time to time, and with the instructions and directions of the Adviser, provided, however, that the Subadviser shall not be responsible for acting contrary to any of the foregoing that are changed without notice of such change to the Subadviser; and the Subadviser shall conform to and comply with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and all other applicable federal or state laws, rules and regulations;
(c) The Subadviser shall promptly communicate to the Adviser such information relating to Fund transactions as the Adviser may reasonably request. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of an investment to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the investments to be sold or purchased, provided that in the opinion of the Subadviser, all accounts are treated equitably and fairly. In such event, allocation of the investments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transactions, shall be made by the Subadviser in the manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients;
(d) The Subadviser shall maintain books and records with respect to the Fund’s investment transactions and shall render to the Adviser such periodic and special reports as the Adviser may reasonably request;
(e) The Subadviser shall provide the Adviser with a list of all investment transactions as reasonably requested by the Adviser;
(f) The investment advisory services of the Subadviser with respect to the Fund under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others.
Board of Trustees’ Responsibilities 5.2.1 The Board of Trustees will be responsible for the operational and financial sustainability of the Trust, including:
a) Validation of the sustainability of the respective Plan Design;
Activities of the Adviser The services of the Adviser to the Fund hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser and any of its affiliates shall be free to render similar services to others. Subject to and in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust and Section 10(a) of the 1940 Act, it is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser or its affiliates as directors, officers, agents or stockholders; that directors, officers, agents or stockholders of the Adviser or its affiliates are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, agents, shareholders or otherwise; that the Adviser or its affiliates may be interested in the Fund as shareholders or otherwise; and that the effect of any such interests shall be governed by said Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and the 1940 Act.
Duties and Responsibilities of Manager During the Term, subject to the provisions of Section 3.1 herein, Manager shall provide, in exchange for the Management Fee, all such services as are necessary and appropriate for the day-to-day administration and management of Practice in a manner consistent with good business practice, including without limitation those services set forth in this Article 2.
