Exhibit (d)(8)
FORWARD FUNDS, INC.
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, effective commencing on January 2, 2003, between Xxxxxx
Investment Management, LLC (the "Subadviser"), Forward Management, LLC (the
"Investment Advisor") and Forward Funds, Inc. (the "Company"), on behalf of the
Forward Xxxxxx Mini-Cap Fund (the "Fund"), a series of the Company.
WHEREAS, the Company is a Maryland corporation of the series type organized
under Articles of Incorporation dated October 3, 1997 (the "Articles") and is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")
as an open-end, diversified management investment company, and the Fund is a
series of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Investment Advisor has been retained by the Company to provide
investment advisory services to the Fund with regard to the Fund's investments
as further described in the Company's registration statement on Form N-1A (the
"Registration Statement") and pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement
dated August 4, 1998, as amended June 6, 2002, ("Investment Management
Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund's Board of Directors, including a majority of the
directors who are not "interested persons," as defined in the 1940 Act, and the
Fund's stockholders have approved the appointment of the Subadviser to perform
certain investment advisory services for the Company, on behalf of the Fund
pursuant to this Subadvisory Agreement and as described in the Registration
Statement and the Subadviser is willing to perform such services for the Fund;
and
WHEREAS, the Subadviser is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein
contained, it is agreed between the Investment Advisor and the Subadviser as
follows:
1. Appointment. The Investment Advisor hereby appoints the Subadviser to
perform advisory services to the Fund for the periods and on the terms set forth
in this Subadvisory Agreement. The Subadviser accepts such appointment and
agrees to furnish the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein
provided.
2. Investment Advisory Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Board of
Directors of the Fund and the Investment Advisor, the Subadviser will, in
coordination with the Investment Advisor, (a) provide a program of continuous
investment management for the Fund in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives, policies and limitations as stated in the Fund's prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information included as part of the Fund's Registration
Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as they may
be amended from time to time, copies of which shall be provided to the
Subadviser by the Investment Advisor; (b) make investment decisions for the
Fund; and (c) place orders to purchase and sell securities for the Fund.
In performing its investment management services to the Fund hereunder, the
Subadviser will provide the Fund with ongoing investment guidance and policy
direction, including oral and
written research, analysis, advice, statistical and economic data and judgments
regarding individual investments, general economic conditions and trends and
long-range investment policy.
The Subadviser 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, 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 Directors;
(b) use reasonable efforts to manage the Fund so that it will qualify, and
continue to qualify, 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 Fund in
accordance with applicable policies expressed in the Fund's prospectus
and/or Statement of Additional Information and in accordance with
applicable legal requirements;
(d) furnish to the Company, the Investment Advisor and/or PFPC, Inc. (the
"Administrator") whatever statistical information the Company, the
Investment Advisor or the Administrator may reasonably request with respect
to the Fund's assets or contemplated investments. In addition, the
Subadviser will keep the Company, the Investment Advisor, the Administrator
and the Directors informed of developments materially affecting the Fund's
portfolio and shall, on the Subadviser's own initiative, furnish to the
Fund from time to time whatever information the Subadviser believes
appropriate for this purpose;
(e) make available to the Administrator, the Investment Advisor, and the
Company, promptly upon their request, such copies of its investment records
and ledgers with respect to the Fund as may be required to assist the
Investment Advisor, the Administrator, and the Company in their compliance
with applicable laws and regulations. The Subadviser will furnish the
Directors, the Administrator, the Investment Advisor, and the Company with
such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund as they may reasonably
request;
(f) meet quarterly either in person or by conference call with the
Investment Advisor and the Company's Board of Directors to explain its
investment management activities, and any reports related to the Fund as
may reasonably be requested by the Investment Advisor and/or the Company;
(g) immediately notify the Investment Advisor and the Fund in the event
that the Subadviser or any of its affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is
subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Subadviser from
serving as an investment adviser pursuant to this Subadvisory 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 Subadviser
further agrees to notify the Fund and the Investment Advisor immediately of
any material fact known to the Subadviser respecting or relating to the
Subadviser that is not contained in the Fund's Registration Statement, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed
therein, and of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any
material respect.
3. Investment Guidelines. The Company or the Investment Advisor shall
supply the Subadviser with such information as the Subadviser shall reasonably
require concerning the Fund's investment policies, restrictions, limitations,
tax position, liquidity requirements and other information useful in managing
the Fund's assets.
4. Use of Securities Brokers and Dealers. Purchase and sale orders will
usually be placed with brokers which are selected by the Subadviser as able to
achieve "best execution" of such orders. "Best execution" shall mean prompt and
reliable execution at the most favorable securities price, taking into account
the other provisions hereafter set forth. Whenever the Subadviser places orders,
or directs the placement of orders, for the purchase or sale of portfolio
securities on behalf of the Fund, in selecting brokers or dealers to execute
such orders, the Subadviser is expressly authorized to consider the fact that a
broker or dealer has furnished statistical, research or other information or
services which enhance the Subadviser's research and portfolio management
capability generally. It is further understood in accordance with Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that the Subadviser may
negotiate with and assign to a broker a commission which may exceed the
commission which another broker would have charged for effecting the transaction
if the Subadviser determines in good faith that the amount of commission charged
was reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage and/or research services
(as defined in Section 28(e)) provided by such broker, viewed in terms either of
the Fund or the Subadviser's overall responsibilities to the Subadviser's
discretionary accounts.
Neither the Subadviser nor any parent, subsidiary or related firm shall act
as a securities broker with respect to any purchases or sales of securities
which may be made on behalf of the Fund. Unless otherwise directed by the
Company or the Investment Advisor in writing, the Subadviser may utilize the
service of whatever independent securities brokerage firm or firms it deems
appropriate to the extent that such firms are competitive with respect to price
of services and execution.
5. Compensation. As compensation for the services provided and expenses
assumed by the Subadviser under this Agreement, the Investment Advisor will pay
the Subadviser at the end of each calendar month an advisory fee computed daily
at an annual rate equal to ___% of the Fund's daily net assets. Fees shall be
computed and accrued daily and paid monthly based on the average daily net
assets of the Fund as determined according to the manner provided in the
then-current prospectus of the Fund.
6. Fees and Expenses. The Subadviser shall not be required to pay any
expenses of the Fund other than those specifically allocated to the Subadviser
in this section. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Subadviser shall not be responsible for the following expenses of
the Fund: organization and certain offering expenses of the Fund (including
out-of-pocket expenses, but not including the Subadviser's overhead and employee
costs); fees payable to the Subadviser and to any other Fund advisers or
consultants; legal expenses; auditing and accounting expenses; interest
expenses; taxes and governmental fees; fees, dues and expenses incurred by or
with respect to the Fund in connection with membership in investment company
trade organizations; cost of insurance relating to fidelity coverage for the
Company's officers and employees; fees and expenses of the Fund's Administrator
or of any custodian, subcustodian, transfer agent, registrar, or dividend
disbursing agent of the Fund; payments to the Administrator for maintaining the
Fund's financial books and records and calculating its daily net asset value;
other payments for portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents,
accountants, bankers and other specialists, if any; expenses of preparing share
certificates; other expenses in connection with the issuance, offering,
distribution or sale of securities issued by the Fund; expenses relating to
investor and public relations; expenses of registering and qualifying shares of
the Fund for sale; freight, insurance and other charges in connection with the
shipment of the Fund's portfolio securities; brokerage commissions or other
costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio securities or other assets of
the Fund, or of entering into other transactions or engaging in any investment
practices with respect to the Fund; expenses of printing and distributing
prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, reports, notices and
dividends to stockholders; costs of stationery or other office supplies; any
litigation expenses; costs of stockholders' and other meetings; the compensation
and all expenses (specifically including travel expenses relating to the Fund's
business) of officers, directors and employees of the Company who are not
interested persons of the Subadviser; and travel expenses (or an appropriate
portion thereof) of officers or directors of the Company who are officers,
directors or employees of the Subadviser to the extent that such expenses relate
to attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company with respect
to matters concerning the Fund, or any committees thereof or advisers thereto.
7. Books and Records. The Subadviser agrees to maintain such books and
records with respect to its services to the Fund as are required by Section 31
under the 1940 Act, and rules adopted thereunder, and by other applicable legal
provisions, and to preserve such records for the periods and in the manner
required by that Section, and those rules and legal provisions. The Subadviser
also agrees that records it maintains and preserves pursuant to Rules 31a-1 and
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act and otherwise in connection with its services
hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be surrendered promptly to the
Fund upon its request. And the Subadviser further agrees that it will furnish to
regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports
in connection with its services hereunder which may be requested in order to
determine whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in accordance
with applicable laws and regulations.
8. Aggregation of Orders. Provided the investment objectives, policies
and restrictions of the Fund are adhered to, the Company agrees that the
Subadviser may aggregate sales and purchase orders of securities held in the
Fund with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by
the Subadviser or with accounts of the affiliates of the Subadviser, if in the
Subadviser's reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall
economic benefit to the Fund taking into consideration the advantageous selling
or purchase price, brokerage commission and other expenses. The Company
acknowledges that the determination of such economic benefit to the Fund by the
Subadviser represents the Subadviser's evaluation that the Fund is benefited by
relatively better purchase or sales prices, lower commission expenses and
beneficial timing of transactions or a combination of these and other factors.
9. Standard of Care and Limitation of Liability. The Subadviser shall
exercise its best judgment in rendering the services provided by it under this
Subadvisory Agreement. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or the holders
of the Fund's shares in connection with the matters to which this Subadvisory
Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this Subadvisory Agreement shall be
deemed to protect or purport to protect the Subadviser against any liability to
the Fund or to holders of the Fund's shares to which the Subadviser would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of the
Subadviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Subadvisory Agreement. As used in this Section 9, the term "Subadviser" shall
include any
officers, directors, employees or other affiliates of the Subadviser performing
services for the Fund.
10. Services Not Exclusive. It is understood that the services of the
Subadviser are not exclusive, and that nothing in this Subadvisory Agreement
shall prevent the Subadviser from providing similar services to other investment
companies (whether or not their investment objectives and policies are similar
to those of the Fund) or from engaging in other activities, provided such other
services and activities do not, during the term of this Subadvisory Agreement,
interfere in a material manner with the Subadviser's ability to meet its
obligations to the Fund hereunder. When the Subadviser recommends the purchase
or sale of a security for other investment companies and other clients, and at
the same time the Subadviser recommends the purchase or sale of the same
security for the Fund, it is understood that in light of its fiduciary duty to
the Fund, such transactions will be executed on a basis that is fair and
equitable to the Fund. In connection with purchases or sales of portfolio
securities for the account of the Fund, neither the Subadviser nor any of its
directors, officers or employees shall act as a principal or agent or receive
any commission. If the Subadviser provides any advice to its clients concerning
the shares of the Fund, the Subadviser shall act solely as investment counsel
for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
11. Duration and Termination. This Subadvisory Agreement shall continue
for a period of two years unless sooner terminated as provided herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated: (a)
at any time without penalty by the Fund upon the vote of a majority of the
Directors or by vote of the majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Subadviser, (b) by the
Subadviser at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to
the Fund or (c) by the Investment Advisor at any time without penalty, upon
sixty (60) days' written notice to the Subadviser. This Subadvisory Agreement
will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) or the assignment or termination of the Investment Management
Agreement.
12. Amendments. No provision of this Subadvisory Agreement may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing
signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge
or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Subadvisory Agreement shall
be effective until approved by an affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Directors
of the Fund, including a majority of Directors who are not interested persons of
any party to this Subadvisory Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by
applicable law.
13. Proxies. Unless the Company gives written instructions to the
contrary, the Subadviser shall vote all proxies solicited by or with respect to
the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund may be invested. The
Subadviser shall maintain a record of how the Subadviser voted and such record
shall be available to the Company upon its request. The Subadviser shall use its
best good faith judgment to vote such proxies in a manner which best serves the
interests of the Fund's shareholders.
14. Notices. Any written notice required by or pertaining to this
Agreement shall be personally delivered to the party for whom it is intended, at
the address stated below, or shall be sent to such party by prepaid first class
mail or facsimile.
If to the Company:
Forward Funds, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Investment Advisor:
Forward Management, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Subadviser:
Xxxxxx Investment Management, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
15. Confidential Information. The Subadviser shall maintain the strictest
confidence regarding the business affairs of the Fund. Written reports furnished
by the Subadviser to the Company or the Investment Advisor shall be treated by
such entities as confidential and for the exclusive use and benefit of the
Company except as disclosure may be required by applicable law.
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a
manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or rules or
orders of the SEC thereunder.
(b) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Subadviser
is delivering to the Investment Advisor and the Company a copy of Part
II of its Form ADV, as revised, on file with the SEC. The Investment
Advisor and the Company hereby acknowledge receipt of such copy.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only
and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(d) 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 hereby and, to this extent, the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(e) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Subadviser
as an agent of the Company or the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated below as of December 27, 2002.
XXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Title: Chief Investment Officer
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FORWARD MANAGEMENT, LLC
By /s/ J. Xxxx Xxxx, Jr.
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Name: J. Xxxx Xxxx, Jr.
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Title: President
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FORWARD FUNDS, INC.
By /s/ J. Xxxx Xxxx, Jr.
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Name: J. Xxxx Xxxx, Jr.
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Title: President
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