AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of October, 2011 by and between XXXXXXXXXXX GOLD & SPECIAL MINERALS FUND (the "Fund"), and OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act"), and OFI is an
investment adviser registered as such with the Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and OFI entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated June 20, 1991, as amended and restated on January 1, 2005, September 1, 2007, and October 1, 2009.
WHEREAS, the Fund and OFI agreed, per a resolution of the Fund’s Board of Trustees dated September 15, 2011 to modify the Fund’s management fee effective October 1, 2011 to reflect the following annual rates that decline as the Fund’s assets grow: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets of the Fund, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $2.2 billion, 0.59% of the next $1 billion, 0.58% of the next $2 billion, 0.57% of the next $4 billion, and 0.56% of average annual net assets over $10.0 billion;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by and between the parties, as follows:
1. General Provision. The Fund hereby employs OFI and OFI hereby undertakes to act as the investment adviser of the Fund and to perform for the Fund such other duties and functions as are hereinafter set forth. OFI
shall, in all matters, give to the Fund and its Board of Trustees the benefit of its best judgment, effort, advice and recommendations and shall, at all times conform to, and use its best efforts to enable the Fund to conform to (i) the provisions of the Investment Company Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) any other applicable provisions of state or federal law; (iii) the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund as amended from time to time; (iv)
policies and determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Fund; (v) the fundamental policies and investment restrictions of the Fund as reflected in its registration statement under the Investment Company Act or as such policies may, from time to time, be amended by the Fund's shareholders; and (vi) the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund in effect from time to time. The appropriate officers and employees of OFI shall be available upon reasonable notice for
consultation with any of the Trustees and officers of the Fund with respect to any matters dealing with the business and affairs of the Fund including the valuation of any of the Fund's portfolio securities which are either not registered for public sale or not being traded on any securities market.
2. Investment Management.
(a) OFI shall, subject to the direction and control by the Fund's Board of Trustees, (i) regularly provide investment advice and recommendations to the Fund with respect to its investment policies and the purchase and sale of securities; (ii) supervise continuously the investment program of the Fund and the composition of its portfolio and determine what securities
shall be purchased or sold by the Fund; and (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of paragraph "8" hereof, for the purchase of securities and other investments for the Fund and the sale of securities and other investments held in the portfolio of the Fund.
(b) Provided that the Fund shall not be required to pay any compensation other than as provided by the terms of this Agreement and subject to the provisions of paragraph "8" hereof, OFI may obtain investment information, research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to supplement, update or otherwise improve its investment management services.
(c) So long as it shall have acted with due care and in good faith, OFI shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of any investment, the adoption of any investment policy, or the purchase, sale or retention of any security irrespective of whether the determinations of OFI relative thereto shall have been based, wholly or partly, upon the investigation or research of any other individual, firm or corporation believed
by it to be reliable. Nothing herein contained shall, however, be construed to protect OFI against any liability to the Fund or its security holders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
3. Acting as Adviser for Others. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent OFI or any officer thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation and shall not in any way limit or restrict OFI or any of its directors, officers, stockholders or employees from buying, selling
or trading any securities for its or their own account or for the account of others for whom it or they may be acting, provided that such activities will not adversely affect or otherwise impair the performance by OFI of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
4. Other Duties of OFI. OFI shall, at its own expense, provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical personnel as shall be required to provide effective administration for the Fund, including the compilation and maintenance of such records with respect to its operations as may
reasonably be required; the preparation and filing of such reports with respect thereto as shall be required by the Commission; composition of periodic reports with respect to its operations for the shareholders of the Fund; composition of proxy materials for meetings of the Fund's shareholders and the composition of such registration statements as may be required by federal securities laws for continuous public sale of shares of the Fund. OFI shall, as its own cost and expense, also
provide the Fund with adequate office space, facilities and equipment.
5. Allocation of Expenses. All other costs and expenses not expressly assumed by OFI under this Agreement, or to be paid by the General Distributor of the shares of the Fund, shall be paid by the Fund, including, but not limited to (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions; (iii) insurance
premiums for fidelity and other coverage requisite to its operations; (iv) compensation and expenses of its trustees other than those associated or affiliated with OFI; (v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) custodian and transfer agent fees and expenses; (vii) expenses incident to the redemption of its shares; (viii) expenses incident to the issuance of its shares against payment therefor by or on behalf of the subscribers thereto; (ix) fees and expenses, other then as hereinabove
provided, incident to the registration under federal securities laws of shares of the Fund for public sale; (x) expenses of printing and mailing reports, notices and proxy materials to shareholders of the Fund; (xi) except as noted above, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Fund's shareholders; and (xii) such extraordinary non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation, affecting the Fund and the legal obligation which the Fund may have to indemnify its
officers and directors with respect thereto. Any officers or employees of OFI or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with OFI, who may also serve as officers, trustees or employees of the Fund shall not receive any compensation by the Fund for their services.
6. Compensation of OFI. The Fund agrees to pay OFI and OFI agrees to accept as full compensation for the performance of all functions and
duties on its part to be performed pursuant to the provisions hereof, a fee computed on the aggregate net asset value of the Fund as of the close of each business day and payable monthly at the following annual rate:
0.75% of the first $200 million of aggregate net assets,
0.72% of the next $200 million,
0.69% of the next $200 million,
0.66% of the next $200 million,
0.60% of the next $2.2 billion,
0.59% of the next $1.0 billion,
0.58% of the next $2.0 billion,
0.57% of the next $4 billion, and
0.56% of aggregate net assets over $10.0 billion.
7. Use of Name "Xxxxxxxxxxx." OFI hereby grants to the Fund a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" in the name of the
Fund for the duration of this Agreement and any extensions or renewals thereof. Such license may, upon termination of this Agreement, be terminated by OFI, in which event the Fund shall promptly take whatever action may be necessary to change its name and discontinue any further use of the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" in the name of the Fund or otherwise. The name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" may be used or licensed by OFI in connection with any of its activities or licensed by OFI to any other party.
8. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.
(a) OFI is authorized, in arranging the purchase and sale of the Fund's portfolio securities, to employ or deal with such members of securities exchanges, brokers or dealers, including "affiliated" broker-dealers (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act), (hereinafter "broker-dealers"), as may, in its best judgment, implement the policy of the Fund to
obtain, at reasonable expense, the "best execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security price obtainable) of the Fund's portfolio transactions as well as to obtain, consistent with the provisions of subparagraph "(c)" of this paragraph "8," the benefit of such investment information or research as will be of significant assistance to the performance by OFI of its investment management functions.
(b) OFI shall select broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions on the basis of its estimate of their ability to obtain best execution of particular and related portfolio transactions. The abilities of a broker-dealer to obtain best execution of particular portfolio transaction(s) will be judged by OFI on the basis of all relevant factors and considerations including, insofar as feasible, the execution
capabilities required by the transaction or transactions; the ability and willingness of the broker-dealer to facilitate the Fund's portfolio transactions by participating therein for its own account; the importance to the Fund of speed, efficiency or confidentiality; the broker-dealer's apparent familiarity with sources from or to whom particular securities might be purchased or sold; as well as any other matters relevant to the selection of a broker-dealer for particular and related
transactions of the Fund.
(c) OFI shall have discretion, in the interests of the Fund, to allocate brokerage on the Fund's portfolio transactions to broker-dealers, other than affiliated broker-dealers, qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services (as such services are defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) for the Fund and/or other accounts for which OFI exercises
"investment discretion" (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to cause the Fund to pay such broker-dealers a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer adequately qualified to effect such transaction would have charged for effecting that transaction, if OFI determines, in good faith, that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or OFI's overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion. In reaching such determination, OFI will not be required to place or attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and/or research services provided or being provided by such broker-dealer. In demonstrating that such determinations were made in
good faith, OFI shall be prepared to show that all commissions were allocated for purposes contemplated by this Agreement and that the total commissions paid by the Fund over a representative period selected by the Fund's trustees were reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund.
(d) OFI shall have no duty or obligation to seek advance competitive bidding for the most favorable commission rate applicable to any particular transactions or to select any broker-dealer on the basis of its purported or "posted" commission rate but will, to the best of its ability, endeavor to be aware of the current level of the charges of eligible broker-dealers and to minimize the expense incurred by the Fund for effecting
its portfolio transactions to the extent consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by the determinations of its Board of Trustees and the provisions of this paragraph "8."
(e) The Fund recognizes that an affiliated broker-dealer (i) may act as one of the Fund's regular brokers so long as it is lawful for it so to act; (ii) may be a major recipient of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund; and (iii) may effect portfolio transactions for the Fund only if the commissions, fees or other remuneration received or to be received by it are determined in accordance with procedures contemplated by any
rule, regulation or order adopted under the Investment Company Act for determining the permissible level of such commissions.
9. Duration. This Agreement will take effect on the date set forth above and will continue in effect from year to year, so long as such continuance shall be approved at least annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees, including the vote of the majority of the trustees of the Fund who are not parties to
this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or by the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and by such a vote of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated (i) by OFI at any time without penalty upon giving the Fund sixty days' written notice (which notice may be waived by the Fund); or (ii) by the Fund at any time without penalty upon sixty days' written notice to OFI (which notice may be waived by OFI)
provided that such termination by the Fund shall be directed or approved by the vote of a “majority” of all of the trustees of the Fund then in office or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
11. Assignment or Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or the rights of OFI hereunder sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise in any manner encumbered without the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; this Agreement
shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment," as defined as stated below.
12. Shareholder Liability. OFI understands and agrees that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund's property; OFI represents that it has notice of the provisions of the Declaration of
Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
13. Definitions. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions and definitions of the Investment Company Act.
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XXXXXXXXXXX GOLD & SPECIAL MINERALS FUND |
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
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Secretary |
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OppenheimerFunds, Inc. |
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By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. |
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx. |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
