INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of this 26th
day of February, 2015 by and between The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund III (the
"Trust"), a Delaware statutory trust registered as an investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and Knights of
Columbus Asset Advisors LLC (the "Adviser"), a limited liability company with
its principal place of business at Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx
00000.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of the Trust has
selected the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Trust on behalf of the
series set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each, a "Fund" and,
collectively, the "Funds"), as such Schedule may be amended from time to time
upon mutual agreement of the parties, and to provide certain related services,
as more fully set forth below, and to perform such services under the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits
set forth herein, the Trust and the Adviser do hereby agree as follows:
1. THE ADVISER'S SERVICES.
(a) DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES. The Adviser shall
act as investment adviser with respect to the Fund. In such capacity, the
Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the Board, regularly provide the
Fund with advice and supervision and shall furnish continuously an investment
program for the Fund, consistent with the investment objectives and policies of
the Fund. The Adviser shall determine, from time to time, what investment
instruments shall be purchased for the Fund, what investment instruments shall
be held or sold by the Fund and what portion of the Fund's assets shall be held
uninvested in cash, subject always to the provisions of the Trust's Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and its registration statement on Form N-1A
(the "Registration Statement") under the 1940 Act, and under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), covering Fund shares, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), and to the investment
objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund, as each of the same shall be
from time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations, the Adviser shall
exercise full discretion and act for the Fund in the same manner and with the
same force and effect as the Fund itself might or could do with respect to
purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other
such things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such
purchases, sales or other transactions. No reference in this Agreement to the
Adviser having full discretionary authority over the Fund's investments shall
in any way limit the right of the Board, in its sole discretion, to establish
or revise policies in connection with the management of the Fund's assets or to
otherwise exercise its right to control the overall management of the Fund.
1
(b) COMPLIANCE. The Adviser agrees to comply with all applicable
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Advisers Act"), the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective rules
and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other applicable
federal and state laws, rules and regulations that relate to the services and
relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business as a
registered investment adviser. The Adviser also agrees to comply with the
objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement,
as amended or supplemented, of the Fund, and with any policies, guidelines,
instructions and procedures approved by the Board and provided to the Adviser.
In selecting the Fund's portfolio investment instruments and performing the
Adviser's obligations hereunder, the Adviser shall cause the Fund to comply
with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification
as a regulated investment company. The Adviser shall maintain compliance
procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure its compliance
with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Board shall
limit the Adviser's full responsibility for any of the foregoing.
(c) PROXY VOTING. The Board has the authority to determine how
proxies with respect to investment instruments that are held by the Fund shall
be voted, and the Board has initially determined to delegate the authority and
responsibility to vote proxies for the Fund's investment instruments to the
Adviser. So long as proxy voting authority for the Fund has been delegated to
the Adviser, the Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting responsibilities. The
Adviser shall carry out such responsibility in accordance with any instructions
that the Board shall provide from time to time, and at all times in a manner
consistent with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and its fiduciary
responsibilities to the Trust. The Adviser shall provide periodic reports and
keep records relating to proxy voting as the Board may reasonably request or as
may be necessary for the Fund to comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable
law. Any such delegation of proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser may be
revoked or modified by the Board at any time.
The Adviser is authorized to instruct the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to
forward promptly to the Adviser or designated service providers copies of all
proxies and shareholder communications relating to investment instruments held
in the portfolio of a Fund (other than materials relating to legal proceedings
against the Fund). The Adviser may also instruct the Fund's custodian and/or
broker(s) to provide reports of holdings in the portfolio of the Fund. The
Adviser has the authority to engage a service provided to assist with
administrative functions related to voting Fund proxies. The Trust shall direct
the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to provide any assistance requested by
the Adviser in facilitating the use of a service provider. In no event shall
the Adviser have any responsibility to vote proxies that are not received on a
timely basis. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser, consistent with the
Adviser's written proxy voting policies and procedures, may refrain from voting
a proxy if, in the Adviser's discretion, refraining from voting would be in the
best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
2
Unless the Adviser otherwise agrees in writing, the Adviser will not advise or
take any action on behalf of a Fund in any contemplated or actual legal
proceedings, including but not limited to bankruptcies, tax reclaims or class
actions (including the filing of proofs of claim), and the Adviser will not be
responsible for determining the Fund's eligibility to participate in any such
proceeding with respect to any securities or other instruments held or formerly
held in the Fund, or for taking any action in connection with such proceeding,
and the Trust expressly reserves this authority for itself.
(d) RECORDKEEPING. The Adviser shall not be responsible for the
provision of administrative, bookkeeping or accounting services to the Fund,
except as otherwise provided herein or as may be necessary for the Adviser to
supply to the Trust or its Board the information required to be supplied under
this Agreement.
The Adviser shall, with respect to orders the Adviser places for the
purchase and sale of investment instruments for the Funds, maintain or arrange
for the maintenance of the documents and records required by Rule 31a-1 under
the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by any administrator,
custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Fund) relating to its
responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Fund, and shall
preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed therefore by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the "Fund Books and Records"). The Fund Books
and Records shall be available to the Board or the Trust's officers at any time
during normal business hours. The Fund Books and Records shall be delivered to
the Trust upon the termination of this Agreement and, upon reasonable request,
shall be available without delay during any day the Trust is open for
business.
(e) HOLDINGS INFORMATION AND PRICING. The Adviser shall provide
regular reports regarding Fund holdings, and may, on its own initiative,
furnish the Trust and its Board from time to time with whatever information the
Adviser believes is appropriate for this purpose. The Adviser agrees to provide
upon request any pricing information of which the Adviser is aware to the
Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination
of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not
readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or
the Trust's valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating the Fund net
asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board.
The Adviser agrees to notify the Trust promptly if the Adviser reasonably
believes that the value of any security held by the Fund may not reflect fair
value.
(f) COOPERATION WITH AGENTS OF THE TRUST. The Adviser agrees to
cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Trust, any Trust
custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust pricing agents and all other
agents and representatives of the Trust with respect to such information
regarding the Fund as such entities may reasonably request from time to time in
the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses to reasonable
requests made by such persons and establish appropriate interfaces with each so
as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance with
applicable laws and regulations.
3
2. CODE OF ETHICS. The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics
that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under
the 1940 Act, which it has provided to the Trust. The Adviser shall ensure that
its Access Persons (as defined in the Adviser's Code of Ethics) comply in all
material respects with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to
time. Upon request, the Adviser shall provide the Trust with a (i) copy of the
Adviser's current Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and (ii)
certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent
Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Adviser's Code of
Ethics. Annually, the Adviser shall furnish a written report, which complies
with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Adviser's Code of Ethics to
the Trust's Board. The Adviser shall respond to requests for information from
the Trust as to violations of the Code by Access Persons and the sanctions
imposed by the Adviser. The Adviser shall promptly notify the Trust of any
material violation of the Code, whether or not such violation relates to a
security held by the Fund.
3. INFORMATION AND REPORTING. The Adviser shall provide the Trust and
its officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Adviser
has assumed under this Agreement as the Trust may from time to time reasonably
request.
(a) NOTIFICATION OF BREACH / COMPLIANCE REPORTS. The Adviser shall
notify the Trust's chief compliance officer promptly upon detection of (i) any
material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment
objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of
any of the Fund's or the Adviser's policies, guidelines or procedures . In
addition, the Adviser shall provide a quarterly report regarding the Fund's
compliance with its investment objectives and policies, applicable law,
including, but not limited to the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, and
the Fund's policies, guidelines or procedures as applicable to the Adviser's
obligations under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to correct any such
failure promptly and to take any action that the Board may reasonably request
in connection with any such breach. Upon request, the Adviser shall also
provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection
with such certifications of Fund financial statements and disclosure controls
pursuant to the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust
in the event (i) the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before
or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust
(excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff
class by reason of the Fund's ownership of shares in the defendant) or the
compliance by the Adviser with the federal or state securities laws or (ii) an
actual change in control of the Adviser resulting in an "assignment" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.
(b) BOARD AND FILINGS INFORMATION. The Adviser will provide the Trust
with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Fund
required for any meeting of the Board, or for any shareholder report, Form
N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX, Form N-SAR, amended registration statement, proxy
statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the
Commission. The Adviser will make its officers and employees available to meet
with the Board from time to time on due notice to review its investment
management services to the Fund in light of current and
4
prospective economic and market conditions and shall furnish to the Board such
information as may reasonably be necessary in order for the Board to evaluate
this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.
(c) TRANSACTION INFORMATION. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust
such information concerning portfolio transactions as may be necessary to
enable the Trust or its designated agent to perform such compliance testing on
the Fund and the Adviser's services as the Trust may, in its sole discretion,
determine to be appropriate. The provision of such information by the Adviser
to the Trust or its designated agent in no way relieves the Adviser of its own
responsibilities under this Agreement.
4. BROKERAGE.
(a) PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. In connection with purchases or sales of
securities for the account of the Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its
directors, officers or employees will act as a principal or agent or receive
any commission except as permitted by the 1940 Act.
(b) PLACEMENT OF ORDERS. The Adviser shall arrange for the placing
of all orders for the purchase and sale of securities or other instruments for
the Fund's account with brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser. In the
selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the
Adviser is directed at all times to seek for the Fund the most favorable
execution and net price available under the circumstances. It is also
understood that it is desirable for the Fund that the Adviser have access to
brokerage and research services provided by brokers who may execute brokerage
transactions at a higher cost to the Fund than may result when allocating
brokerage to other brokers, consistent with section 28(e) of the 1934 Act and
any Commission staff interpretations thereof. Therefore, the Adviser is
authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund
with such brokers, subject to review by the Board from time to time with
respect to the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that
the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Adviser in
connection with its or its affiliates' services to other clients.
(c) AGGREGATED TRANSACTIONS. On occasions when the Adviser deems the
purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Fund as well
as other clients of the Adviser, the 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 Adviser will allocate securities or futures
contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the
transaction, in the manner the Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients
under the circumstances.
(d) AFFILIATED BROKERS. The Adviser or any of its affiliates may act
as broker in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other
investments for the Fund, subject to: (a) the requirement that the Adviser seek
to obtain best execution and price within the policy guidelines determined by
the Board and set forth in the Fund's current Registration Statement; (b) the
provisions of the 1940 Act; (c) the provisions of the
5
Advisers Act; (d) the provisions of the 1934 Act; and (e) other provisions of
applicable law. These brokerage services are not within the scope of the duties
of the Adviser under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable
law and any procedures adopted by the Board, the Adviser or its affiliates may
receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration from the Fund for
these services in addition to the Adviser's fees for services under this
Agreement.
5. CUSTODY. Nothing in this Agreement shall permit the Adviser to
take or receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of
the Fund.
6. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. The Adviser will bear its own
costs of providing services hereunder. Other than as herein specifically
indicated, the Adviser shall not be responsible for the Fund's expenses,
including, but not limited to, fund expenses pertaining to brokerage and other
expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and
other investment instruments, taxes, legal, auditing and governmental fees,
expenses relating to trustees and shareholder meetings, the cost of preparing
and distributing reports and notices to shareholders, the fees and other
expenses incurred by the Funds and the cost of printing copies of the
prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information distributed to Fund
shareholders.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.
(a) PROPERLY REGISTERED. The Adviser is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act, and will remain so registered for the duration
of this Agreement. The Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the
1940 Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement, and to
the best knowledge of the Adviser, there is no proceeding or investigation that
is reasonably likely to result in the Adviser being prohibited from performing
the services contemplated by this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to promptly
notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the
Adviser from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company. The
Adviser is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal
and state law in connection with its investment management operations.
(b) ADV DISCLOSURE. The Adviser has provided the Trust with a copy of
its Form ADV Part I as most recently filed with the SEC and its current Part II
and will, promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC
updating its Part II, furnish a copy of such amendments or updates to the
Trust. The information contained in the Adviser's Form ADV is accurate and
complete in all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) FUND DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. The Adviser has reviewed, and will in
the future review, any Registration Statement, summary prospectus, prospectus,
statement of additional information, periodic reports to shareholders, reports
and schedules filed with the Commission (including any amendment, supplement or
sticker to any of the foregoing) and advertising and sales material relating to
the Fund (collectively the "Disclosure Documents") that are provided to the
Adviser for review. The Adviser represents and warrants that it will review
such Disclosure Documents to ensure they
6
contain no untrue statement of any material fact relating to the Adviser and
any Fund's investment objectives and strategies and do not and will not omit
any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements relating to the Adviser and any Fund's investment
objectives and strategies therein not misleading.
(d) USE OF THE NAME "KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS". The Adviser has the right
to use the name "Knights of Columbus" in connection with its services to the
Trust and that, subject to the terms set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement,
the Trust shall have the right to use the name "Knights of Columbus" in
connection with the management and operation of the Fund. The Adviser is not
aware of any threatened or existing actions, claims, litigation or proceedings
that would adversely affect or prejudice the rights of the Adviser or the Trust
to use the name "Knights of Columbus."
(e) INSURANCE. The Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance
coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the
Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance
coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance
policies. Furthermore, the Adviser shall, upon reasonable request, provide the
Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of
or scope of such insurance.
(f) NO DETRIMENTAL AGREEMENT. The Adviser represents and warrants
that it has no arrangement or understanding with any party, other than the
Trust, that would influence the decision of the Adviser with respect to its
selection of securities for the Fund, and that all selections shall be done in
accordance with what is in the best interest of the Fund.
(g) CONFLICTS. The Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in
the best interests of the Trust including requiring any of its personnel with
knowledge of Fund activities to place the interest of the Fund first, ahead of
their own interests, in all personal trading scenarios that may involve a
conflict of interest with the Fund, consistent with its fiduciary duties under
applicable law.
(h) REPRESENTATIONS. The representations and warranties in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to be made on the date this Agreement is executed and
at the time of delivery of the quarterly compliance report required by Section
3(a), whether or not specifically referenced in such report.
8. THE NAME "KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS". The Adviser grants to the Trust a
limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sub-licensable license to use the
name "Knights of Columbus" (the "Name") as part of the name of the Fund. All
goodwill associated with the use of the Name by the Trust in accordance with
this Section 8 shall inure to the benefit of the Adviser and its affiliates, as
applicable. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser and its affiliates are the
sole and exclusive owners of all rights in and to the name "Knights of Columbus"
and any logos or designs associated therewith, and the Trust agrees that it
shall have no right to use the name "Knights of Columbus" other than as
expressly set forth herein. Nothing herein shall preclude or diminish in any way
the rights of the Adviser or its affiliates to use the Name in any capacity
whatsoever, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Trust
7
acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser
has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Trust shall (1)
only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser; (2)
use its best efforts to maintain the quality of the services offered using the
Name; and (3) adhere to such other specific quality control standards as the
Adviser may from time to time promulgate. At the request of the Adviser, the
Trust will (a) submit to Adviser representative samples of any promotional
materials using the Name; and (b) change the name of the Fund within three
months of its receipt of the Adviser's request, or such other shorter time
period as may be required under the terms of a settlement agreement or court
order, so as to eliminate all reference to the Name and will not thereafter
transact any business using the Name in the name of the Fund; provided,
however, that the Trust may continue to use solely as reasonably necessary
beyond such date any supplies of prospectuses, marketing materials and similar
documents that the Trust had on the date of such name change in quantities not
exceeding those historically produced and used in connection with such Fund.
9. ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Fund shall pay to the Adviser, as
compensation for the Adviser's services hereunder, a fee, determined as
described in Schedule A that is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such
fee shall be computed daily and paid not less than monthly in arrears by the
Fund.
The method for determining net assets of the Fund for purposes hereof
shall be the same as the method for determining net assets for purposes of
establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund shares as described in
the Fund's prospectus. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee
provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on
the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect subject to a pro
rata adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current month as a
percentage of the total number of days in such month.
10. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. In the performance of its duties
hereunder, the Adviser is and shall be an independent contractor and, unless
otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall
have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Fund in any way or
otherwise be deemed to be an agent of the Trust or the Fund. If any occasion
should arise in which the Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning
the shares of the Fund, the Adviser will act solely as investment counsel for
such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
11. ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement shall automatically
terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment
(as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act); provided that such termination
shall not relieve the Adviser of any liability incurred hereunder.
This Agreement may not be added to or changed orally and may not be
modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto and in
accordance with the 1940 Act, when applicable.
8
12. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date executed and
shall remain in full force and effect continually thereafter, subject to
renewal as provided in Section 12(c) and unless terminated automatically as set
forth in Section 11 hereof or until terminated as follows:
(a) The Trust may cause this Agreement to terminate either (i) by
vote of its Board or (ii) with respect to the Fund, upon the affirmative vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or
(b) The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more
than sixty (60) days' nor less than thirty (30) days' written notice delivered
or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Trust; or
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate two years from the
date of its execution unless its renewal is specifically approved at least
annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote of the Trustees, including a
majority vote of such Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or
the Adviser, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; or
(ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;
provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to
the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and such shareholders fail to
approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may
continue to serve hereunder as to the Fund in a manner consistent with the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
(d) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall be
without payment of any penalty.
In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the
Adviser shall, immediately upon notice of termination or on such later date as
may be specified in such notice, cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and
with respect to any of its assets, except as otherwise required by any
fiduciary duties of the Adviser under applicable law. In addition, the Adviser
shall deliver the Fund Books and Records to the Trust by such means and in
accordance with such schedule as the Trust shall direct and shall otherwise
cooperate, as reasonably directed by the Trust, in the transition of portfolio
asset management to any successor of the Adviser.
13. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund" shall have the meaning as set forth in the 1940 Act,
subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under
the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.
(b) "Interested persons" and "Assignment" shall have their respective
meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as
may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of
the Commission staff.
9
14. LIABILITY OF THE ADVISER.
(a) The Adviser shall have responsibility for the accuracy and
completeness (and liability for the lack thereof) of statements in the Fund's
Disclosure Documents relating to the Adviser and any Fund's investment
objectives and strategies, provided that no changes regarding such matters are
made to any applicable Disclosure Documents without the written consent or
other acknowledgement of the Adviser from and after the time that such
Disclosure Documents are reviewed by the Adviser.
(b) The Adviser shall be liable to the Fund for any loss (including
transaction costs) incurred by the Fund as a result of any investment made by
the Adviser in contravention of: (i) any investment policy, guideline or
restriction set forth in the Registration Statement or as approved by the Board
from time to time and provided to the Adviser; or (ii) applicable law,
including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code (including but not
limited to the Fund's failure to satisfy the diversification or source of
income requirements of Subchapter M of the Code) (the investments described in
this subsection (b) collectively are referred to as "Improper Investments").
(c) The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, each
affiliated person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the
1940 Act, and each person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act (any such person, an "Indemnified Party") against any and
all losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including the reasonable
cost of investigating and defending any alleged loss, claim, damage, expense or
liability and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) to
which any such person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
1940 Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) a material
breach by the Adviser of this Agreement or of the representations and
warranties made by the Adviser herein; (ii) any Improper Investment ; (iii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact relating to the
Adviser and any Fund's investment objectives and strategies contained in any
Disclosure Document or the omission or alleged omission from a Disclosure
Document of a material fact relating to the Adviser and any Fund's investment
objectives and strategies required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading (it being understood, however, that this
indemnification and agreement to hold harmless shall not apply to the extent
that any such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged
omission is the result of any change made to any applicable Disclosure Document
without the written consent or other acknowledgment of the Adviser from and
after the time that such Disclosure Document has been reviewed by the Adviser,
as contemplated in Section 7(c) hereof); or (iv) the Adviser's performance or
non-performance of its material duties hereunder; provided, however, that
nothing herein shall be deemed to protect any Indemnified Party who is a
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
shareholders to which such Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by
reason or willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with
the Trust.
10
(d) For purposes of clarification, except with respect to the
provisions of Section 14(a) and Section 14(b), the Adviser shall not be liable
for any error of judgment or mistake of law, provided that nothing in this
Agreement shall protect the Adviser against any liability to a Fund to which
the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of the Adviser's negligence.
15. NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are
not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render
investment advisory or other services to others (including other investment
companies) and to engage in other activities. It is understood and agreed that
the officers and directors of the Adviser are not prohibited from engaging in
any other business activity or from rendering services to any other person, or
from serving as partners, officers, directors or trustees of any other firm or
trust, including other investment advisory companies.
16. DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The Adviser may carry out any of
its obligations under this Agreement by employing, subject to supervision by the
Adviser, one or more sub-advisers who are registered as investment advisers
pursuant to the Advisers Act (each, a "Sub-Adviser"). Each Sub-Adviser's
employment will be evidenced by a separate written agreement approved by the
Board and, if required under the 1940 Act, by the shareholders of the Funds
(unless the Commission or its staff has given authorization or issued an
interpretation or no-action letter dispensing with the requirement of
shareholder approval). The Adviser shall not be liable hereunder for any act or
omission of any Sub-Adviser, except for failure to exercise good faith in the
employment of the Sub-Adviser and for failure to exercise appropriate
supervision of such Sub-Adviser, and as may otherwise be agreed in writing. The
Adviser shall be solely responsible for compensating any Sub-Adviser for
services rendered under any subadvisory agreement. The Adviser may, from time to
time and at any time, terminate any Sub-Adviser and recommend to the Board the
appointment of another Sub-Adviser or reassume the responsibilities assigned to
any Sub-Adviser with respect to the Funds without obtaining the approval of the
shareholders of the Funds unless expressly required by the federal securities
laws.
17. ENFORCEABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
18. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The parties to this Agreement
acknowledge and agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or
indirect, and of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out
of the assets of the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or holder of
shares of beneficial interest of the Fund shall be personally liable for any of
the foregoing liabilities.
19. CHANGE IN THE ADVISER'S OWNERSHIP. The Adviser agrees that it
shall notify the Trust of any anticipated or otherwise reasonably foreseeable
change in the ownership of the Adviser within a reasonable time prior to such
change being effected.
11
20. JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware and the
Sub-Adviser consents to the jurisdiction of courts, both state and federal, in
Delaware, with respect to any dispute under this Agreement.
21. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The headings of paragraphs contained in this
Agreement are provided for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and
shall not affect its construction.
22. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date
first above written.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND III,
on behalf of the Fund(s) listed on
Schedule A
By: /S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ASSET ADVISORS LLC
By: /S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief
Investment Officer
12
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2015 BETWEEN
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND III
AND
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ASSET ADVISORS LLC
The Trust will pay to the Adviser as compensation for the Adviser's services
rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily
net assets of the Fund in accordance the following fee schedule:
FUND RATE
---- ------
Knights of Columbus Core Bond Fund 0.40%
Knights of Columbus Limited Duration Bond Fund 0.40%
Knights of Columbus Large Cap Growth Fund 0.60%
Knights of Columbus Large Cap Value Fund 0.60%
Knights of Columbus Small Cap Equity Fund 0.725%
Knights of Columbus International Equity Fund 0.90%
A-1
