INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
NATIONS FUNDS TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of June 8, 2001, by and between BANC OF
AMERICA ADVISORS, LLC, a North Carolina corporation (the "Adviser"), CHICAGO
EQUITY PARTNERS, LLC, a Delaware corporation (the "Sub-Adviser"), and NATIONS
FUNDS TRUST, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of those series
of the Trust now or hereafter identified on Schedule I (each a "Fund" and
collectively, the "Funds").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") as an open-end management investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered with the Commission as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act");
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is also registered with the Commission as an
investment adviser under the Advisers Act;
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Trust have entered into an investment
advisory agreement (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"), pursuant to which the
Adviser manages the investment operations of each Fund and may delegate certain
duties of the Adviser to one or more investment sub-adviser(s); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust (the "Board"), including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons" (defined herein) of any party to this Agreement, desires to
delegate to the Sub-Adviser the duty to manage the portfolio investments of the
Funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment of Sub-Adviser. The Adviser hereby appoints the
Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to manage the portfolio
investments of each Fund subject to the terms of this Agreement and subject to
the supervision of the Adviser and the Board.
2. Services of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall perform all services
necessary for the management of the portfolio investments of each Fund,
including but not limited to:
(a) Managing the investment and reinvestment of all assets, now or
hereafter acquired by each Fund, including determining what
securities and other investments are to be purchased or sold
for each Fund and executing transactions accordingly, provided,
however, that with respect to Nations Asset Allocation Fund,
the Sub-Adviser will manage such Fund's equity
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investments, as a percentage of such Fund as may be determined
from time-to-time by Banc of America Capital Management, Inc.;
(b) Transmitting trades to each Fund's custodian for settlement in
accordance with each Fund's procedures and as may be directed
by the Trust;
(c) Assisting in the preparation of all shareholder communications,
including shareholder reports, and participating in shareholder
relations;
(d) Making recommendations as to the manner in which voting rights,
rights to consent to Fund action and any other rights
pertaining to each Fund's portfolio securities shall be
exercised;
(e) Making recommendations to the Adviser and the Board with
respect to Fund investment policies and procedures, and
carrying out such investment policies and procedures as are
approved by the Board or by the Adviser under authority
delegated by the Board to the Adviser;
(f) Supplying reports, evaluations, analyses, statistical data and
information to the Adviser, the Board or to the Funds' officers
and other service providers as the Adviser or the Board may
reasonably request from time to time or as may be necessary or
appropriate for the operation of the Trust as an open-end
investment company or as necessary to comply with Section 3(a)
of this Agreement;
(g) Maintaining all required books and records with respect to the
investment decisions and securities transactions for each Fund;
(h) Furnishing any and all other services, subject to review by the
Board, that the Adviser from time to time determines to be
necessary or useful to perform its obligations under the
Investment Advisory Agreement or as the Board may reasonably
request from time-to-time.
3. Responsibilities of Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its obligations
under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it will:
(a) Comply with all applicable law, including but not limited to
the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder, and the conditions of any order
affecting the Trust or a Fund issued thereunder;
(b) Use the same skill and care in providing such services as it
uses in providing services to other fiduciary accounts for
which it has investment responsibilities;
(c) Not make loans to any person for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying Fund shares;
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(d) Place, or arrange for the placement of, all orders pursuant to
its investment determinations for the Funds either directly
with the issuer or with any broker or dealer (including any
affiliated broker or dealer). In executing portfolio
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 or dealer to execute a particular
transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider whether such
broker or dealer furnishes research and other information or
services to the Sub-Adviser; and
(e) Adhere to the investment objective, strategies and policies and
procedures of the Trust adopted on behalf of each Fund.
4. Confidentiality of Information. Each party agrees that it will treat
confidentially all information provided by another party regarding such other
party's business and operations, including without limitation the investment
activities or holdings of a Fund. All confidential information provided by a
party hereto shall not be disclosed to any unaffiliated third party without the
prior consent of the providing party. The foregoing shall not apply to any
information that is public when provided or thereafter becomes public or which
is required to be disclosed by any regulatory authority in the lawful and
appropriate exercise of its jurisdiction over a party, by any auditor of the
parties hereto, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable
law or regulation.
5. Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Sub-Adviser
hereunder are deemed not to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to
furnish similar services to others so long as its provision of services under
this Agreement is not impaired thereby. To the extent that the purchase or sale
of securities or other investments of the same issuer may be deemed by the
Sub-Adviser to be suitable for two or more accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser,
the available securities or investments may be allocated in a manner believed by
the Sub-Adviser to be equitable to each account. It is recognized that in some
cases this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund
or the size of the position obtainable for or disposed of by a Fund.
6. Delivery of Documents. The Trust will provide the Sub-Adviser with
copies, properly certified or authenticated, of each of the following:
(a) the Trust's Certificate of Trust, as filed with the Secretary
of State of Delaware, and Declaration of Trust (such
Declaration of Trust, as presently in effect and as from
time-to-time amended, is herein called the "Declaration of
Trust");
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(b) the Trust's Bylaws, if any;
(c) the most recent prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional
information relating to each Fund (such prospectus(es) together
with the related statement(s) of additional information, as
presently in effect and all amendments and supplements thereto,
are herein called the "Prospectus"); and
(d) any and all applicable policies and procedures approved by the
Board.
The Trust will promptly furnish the Sub-Adviser with copies of any and
all amendments of or additions or supplements to the foregoing.
7. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it
maintains for each Fund under this Agreement are the property of the Trust and
further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust or the Adviser any of such
records upon request. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
8. Expenses of the Funds. Except to the extent expressly assumed by the
Sub-Adviser and except to any extent required by law to be paid or reimbursed by
the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall have no duty to pay any ordinary
operating expenses incurred in the organization and operation of the Funds.
Ordinary operating expenses include, but are not limited to, brokerage
commissions and other transaction charges, taxes, legal, auditing, printing, or
governmental fees, other Fund service providers' fees and expenses, expenses of
issue, sale, redemption and repurchase of shares, expenses of registering and
qualifying shares for sale, expenses relating to Board and shareholder meetings,
and the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders.
The Sub-Adviser shall pay all other expenses incurred by it in connection with
its services under this Agreement.
9. Compensation. Except as otherwise provided herein, for the services
provided to each Fund and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the
Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will accept as full
compensation therefor a fee determined in accordance with Schedule I attached
hereto. It is understood that the Adviser shall be solely responsible for
compensating the Sub-Adviser for performing any of the duties delegated to the
Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall have no claim against the
Trust or any Fund with respect to compensation under this Agreement. To the
extent that the advisory fee that the Trust would be obligated to pay to the
Adviser with respect to a Fund pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement is
reduced or reimbursed, the fee that the Sub-Adviser would otherwise receive
pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced or reimbursed proportionately.
10. Liability of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser
or the Trust in connection with the performance of its duties under this
Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect
to the receipt of compensation for services, from willful misfeasance,
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bad faith or negligence on the part of the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers,
directors, employees or agents, in connection with the performance of their
duties under this Agreement, from reckless disregard by it or its officers,
directors, employees or agents of any of their obligations and duties under this
Agreement, or from any violations of securities laws, rules, regulations,
statutes and codes, whether federal or state, by the Sub-Adviser or any of its
officers, directors, employees or agents.
11. Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Funds and the Adviser from and against any and all direct or indirect
claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney's fees and
other related expenses) resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect
to the receipt of compensation for services, from willful misfeasance, bad faith
or negligence on the part of the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents, in connection with the performance of their duties under
this Agreement, from reckless disregard by it or its officers, directors,
employees or agents of any of their obligations and duties under this Agreement,
or resulting from any violations of securities laws, rules, regulations,
statutes and codes, whether federal or state, by the Sub-Adviser or any of its
officers, directors, employees or agents; provided, however, that the
Sub-Adviser shall not be required to indemnify or otherwise hold the Funds or
the Adviser harmless under this Section 11 where the claim against, or the loss,
liability or damage experienced by the Funds or the Adviser, is caused by or is
otherwise directly related to the Funds' or the Adviser's own willful
misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, or to the reckless disregard by the Funds
or the Adviser of their duties under this Agreement.
12. Term and Approval. This Agreement will become effective as of the
date set forth herein above, and shall continue in effect until the second
anniversary of its effective date. This Agreement will become effective with
respect to each additional Fund as of the date set forth on Schedule I when each
such Fund is added thereto. The Agreement shall continue in effect for a Fund
after the second anniversary of the effective date for successive annual periods
ending on each anniversary of such date, provided that the continuation of the
Agreement is specifically approved for the Fund at least annually:
(a)(i) by the Board or (ii) by the vote of "a majority of the
outstanding voting securities" of the Fund (as defined in
Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000 Xxx); and
(b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees of the
Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested
persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of a party to this
Agreement (other than as Trustees of the Trust), by votes
cast in person at a meeting specifically called for such
purpose.
13. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated without payment of
any penalty at any time by:
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(a) the Trust with respect to a Fund, by vote of the Board or by
vote of a majority of a Fund's outstanding voting securities,
upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the other parties to
this Agreement; or
(b) the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser with respect to a Fund, upon
sixty (60) days' written notice to the other parties to this
Agreement.
Any party entitled to notice may waive the notice provided for herein.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment,
unless an order is issued by the Commission conditionally or unconditionally
exempting such assignment from the provisions of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act,
in which event this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect subject to
the terms of such order. For the purposes of this paragraph, the definitions
contained in Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act and the applicable rules under the
1940 Act shall apply.
14. Code of Ethics. The Sub-Adviser represents that it has adopted a
written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the
1940 Act and will provide the Adviser or the Trust with a copy of such code, any
amendments or supplements thereto and its policies and/or procedures implemented
to ensure compliance therewith.
15. Insurance. The Sub-Adviser shall maintain for the term of this
Agreement and provide evidence thereof to the Trust or the Adviser a blanket
bond and professional liability (error and omissions) insurance in an amount
reasonably acceptable to Adviser.
16. Representations and Warranties. Each party to this Agreement
represents and warrants that the execution, delivery and performance of its
obligations under this Agreement are within its powers, have been duly
authorized by all necessary actions and that this Agreement constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is duly
registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act.
17. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, except by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver,
discharge or termination is sought.
18. Notices. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to such address as may be
designated for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice, it is agreed
that the address of the Trust shall be c/o Stephens Inc., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Secretary, that of the Adviser shall be
Xxx Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President and that of the Sub-Adviser shall be 000
Xxxxx XxXxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx, Compliance Director. The Sub-Adviser agrees to promptly notify the
Adviser and the Trust in writing of the occurrence of any event which could have
a material impact on the performance of its duties under this Agreement,
including but not limited to (i) the occurrence of any event which could
disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser pursuant to
Section 9 of the 1940 Act; (ii) any material change in the Sub-Adviser's
business activities; (iii) any event that would constitute a
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change in control of the Sub-Adviser; (iv) any change in the portfolio manager
or portfolio management team of a Fund; (v) the existence of any pending or
threatened audit, investigation, examination, complaint or other inquiry (other
than routine audits or regulatory examinations or inspections) relating to any
Fund; and (vi) any material violation of the Sub-Adviser's code of ethics.
19. Release. The names "Nations Funds Trust" and "Trustees of Nations
Funds Trust" refer respectively to the Trust created by the Declaration of Trust
and the Trustees as Trustees but not individually or personally. All parties
hereto acknowledge and agree that any and all liabilities of the Trust arising,
directly or indirectly, under this Agreement will be satisfied solely out of the
assets of the Trust and that no Trustee, officer or shareholder shall be
personally liable for any such liabilities. All persons dealing with any Fund of
the Trust must look solely to the property belonging to such Fund for the
enforcement of any claims against the Trust.
20. Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the parties hereto. Each provision of this Agreement is intended to be
severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, Delaware law and the federal securities laws, including the
1940 Act and the Advisers Act.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
23. Use of the Name "Nations Funds". The Sub-Adviser agrees that it
will not use the name "Nations Funds", any derivative thereof, or the name of
the Adviser, the Trust or any Fund except in accordance with such policies and
procedures as may be mutually agreed to in writing.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first
above written.
NATIONS FUNDS TRUST
on behalf of the Funds
By: /s/ A. Xxx Xxxxxx
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A. Xxx Xxxxxx
President and Chairman of
the Board of Trustees
BANC OF AMERICA ADVISORS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
CHICAGO EQUITY PARTNERS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
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SCHEDULE I
The Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser as, full compensation for
services provided and expenses assumed hereunder, a sub-advisory fee for each
Fund, computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rates listed below as a
percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund under the Sub-Adviser's
management:
Rate of
Fund Compensation Effective Date
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Nations Asset Allocation Fund (equity portion) 0.25% 6/8/01
Approved: August 23, 2000
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