INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT RELATING TO EATON VANCE RICHARD BERNSTEIN ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND
EXHIBIT (d)(8)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT |
RELATING TO |
XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX ALL ASSET STRATEGY FUND |
THIS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is effective as of the 30th day of September, |
2011 between Xxxxx Xxxxx Management, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Adviser”), and |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”). |
WHEREAS, Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx All Asset Strategy Fund (the “Fund”), a |
series of Xxxxx Xxxxx Growth Trust (the “Trust”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of |
1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, management investment company; and |
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administrative Agreement dated |
September 30, 2011 (the “Advisory Agreement”), a copy of which has been provided to the Sub- |
Adviser the Trust has retained the Adviser to render advisory and management services to the Fund; |
and |
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement, |
the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services to the Fund, |
and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Adviser. |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein |
contained, it is agreed between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser as follows: |
1. Appointment. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the investment |
adviser for and to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the Fund’s assets that |
shall be allocated to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Adviser, for the period and on |
the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to |
furnish the services set forth herein for the compensation herein provided. Subject to the |
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Adviser has the authority in its discretion to alter the allocation |
of the Fund’s assets among the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser and any other appointed sub-adviser. The |
Adviser undertakes to provide the Sub-Adviser with reasonable advance written notice of any action |
(including, without limitation, actions with respect to the policies and procedures and/or to the |
Registration Statement (as defined below) by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”)) relating to |
the Fund which action is likely to have any impact on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide services |
under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees that, provided it is within its ability, it will allow for a |
reasonable implementation period for any such action and Sub-Adviser agrees it will make a |
reasonable effort to implement any such action within such implementation period. |
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Board and the Adviser, the Sub- |
Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and determine in its |
discretion the composition of the assets of the Fund’s portfolio, including with respect to the |
purchase, retention, and sale of the securities, cash, and other investments in the portfolio. The |
Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct an ongoing program of evaluation, |
investment, sales and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets and determine the securities and other |
investments that shall be purchased, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Fund, when these |
transactions should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Fund should be held in such |
securities and investments. Subject to all other terms of this Agreement, including, without |
limitation, Section 2(a), the Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in |
accordance with the Fund’s investment objective or objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in |
the Trust’s Registration Statement as it relates to the Fund filed with the U.S. Securities and |
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), copies of which |
shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser prior to the commencement of this Agreement and |
promptly following any such amendment, as well as with investment parameters for the Fund |
(including portfolio risk limits) to be agreed upon in writing from time to time by the Adviser and the |
Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser further agrees (in all cases subject to the other terms of this |
Agreement, including, without limitation Section 1) as follows: |
a. The Sub-Adviser will abide by: (i) the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations |
thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations; (ii) any applicable |
procedures adopted by the Board; (iii) the provisions of the Registration Statement applicable to the |
Fund; and (iv) with the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures as are approved by the |
Adviser. |
b. The Sub-Adviser will manage the Fund so that it meets the income and asset |
diversification requirements of Section 851 of the U.S Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
(the “Code”). |
c. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise voting authority with respect to proxies that the |
Fund is entitled to vote with regard to securities in the Fund’s portfolio, provided that such authority |
may be revoked in whole or in part by the Adviser at any time upon written notice to the Sub- |
Adviser and provided further that the proxies that have been voted by the Sub-Adviser for the Fund |
shall be subject to review by the Adviser and the Board upon request. The Sub-Adviser shall |
exercise its proxy voting authority hereunder in accordance with such proxy voting policies and |
procedures of the Sub-Adviser as are approved by the Adviser and the Board. The Sub-Adviser shall |
provide such information relating to its exercise of proxy voting authority hereunder (including the |
manner in which it has voted proxies and its resolution of conflicts of interest) as reasonably |
requested by the Adviser from time to time. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the proxy voting history |
for the Fund to the Adviser, or any third party agent designated by the Adviser (currently |
Broadridge), in a timely manner for inclusion in the Fund’s requisite Form N-PX. |
d. In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund, the Sub- |
Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian for the Trust (the “Custodian”) on a daily |
basis such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and information, including, but not |
limited to, Cusip, Cedel, or other numbers that identify securities purchased or sold on behalf of the |
Fund, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Custodian to perform its administrative and |
recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Trust. |
e. The Sub-Adviser will assist the Custodian in determining or confirming, |
consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement or adopted by the |
Board, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the Custodian |
seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser, and will otherwise perform the |
activities of a Fund sub-adviser as described in the Fund’s valuation procedures. The parties |
acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Trust’s assets and will not take |
possession or custody of such assets. |
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f. Following the end of each of the Fund’s fiscal periods, the Sub-Adviser will assist |
the Adviser in preparing any reports required by applicable rules and regulations, such as Form N- |
CSR, Form-NSAR and Form N-Q, as well as the letter to shareholders containing a discussion of |
those factors referred to in Item 27 of Form N-1A. The Sub-Adviser will also provide periodic |
commentaries regarding the Fund as reasonably requested by the Adviser (to be subject to review |
and editing by the Adviser and further subject to the terms of Section 7 hereof). The Sub-Adviser |
also will provide to the Trust any certifications relating to the content of any such report, letter or |
commentary as is reasonably requested by the Trust, a current form of which has been provided to |
the Sub-Adviser. |
g. The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Adviser for each quarter by the |
5th business day of the following quarter a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the |
Adviser, risk management and related analytic reports and such other reports as mutually agreed |
upon by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” means |
any day other than (a) Saturday and Sunday, and (b) any other day on which the New York Stock |
Exchange is closed. |
h. The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Trust and the Adviser, promptly upon |
request, any of the Fund’s investment records and ledgers maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which |
shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the Custodian or portfolio accounting agent |
for the Trust) as are necessary to assist the Trust and the Adviser to comply with requirements of |
the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the |
rules under each, as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory |
authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services |
in respect to the Fund which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the |
Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations. |
i. The Sub-Adviser will provide for consideration at meetings of the Board on the |
investment program for the Fund and the issuers and securities represented in the Fund’s portfolio, |
and will furnish the Board or the Adviser with such periodic and special reports as the Board or the |
Adviser may reasonably request. |
j. The Sub-Adviser will maintain insurance for its directors and officer and errors |
and omissions insurance in an adequate amount. The Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for filing |
claims in class action settlements related to securities currently or previously held by that portion of |
the Fund allocated to it by the Adviser, but agrees to deliver to the Custodian any notices it received |
relating to such claims. |
k. The Sub-Adviser shall conduct its business at all times consistent with its status |
as a fiduciary to the Fund and its shareholders. |
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make decisions to buy and |
sell securities and other investments for the Fund’s portfolio, and to select broker-dealers and to |
negotiate brokerage commission rates in effecting investment transactions, provided the Sub-Adviser |
shall adhere to the Fund’s procedures relating to brokerage allocation. The Sub-Adviser will report |
on brokerage allocation to the Adviser and the Board indicating the broker-dealers to which such |
allocations have been made and the basis therefore as the Adviser or the Board reasonably |
requests. |
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4. Disclosure about the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the amendment to the |
Registration Statement for the Trust relating to the initial offering of the Fund that contains |
disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure |
about the Sub-Adviser or its investment process or information relating directly to the Sub-Adviser, |
such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material |
fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein in |
order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they |
were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly |
registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such registration so long as |
this Agreement remains in effect. The Adviser hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of |
the Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV, Part II at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement. |
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses |
incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection with its duties under this Agreement, |
including, but not limited to, rental and overhead expenses, expenses of the Sub-Adviser’s |
personnel, insurance of the Sub-Adviser and its personnel, research services (except as may be |
permitted under the Fund’s policies and procedures) and taxes of the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser or |
the Trust shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund’s or the Adviser’s operations, |
including, without limitation, costs of marketing or distributing shares of the Fund, brokerage |
expenses and commissions (which includes xxxx-ups and xxxx-xxxxx), custody and banking |
expenses, administration expenses, legal, audit and other professional expenses, governmental filing |
fees, and costs of communications with shareholders. |
6. Compensation. For the services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay the Sub- |
Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in |
arrears on the last business day of each month. The fee will be appropriately prorated to reflect any |
portion of a calendar month that this Agreement is not in effect among the parties. The Adviser is |
solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek |
payment of its fees solely from the Adviser. The Trust shall have no liability for the Sub-Adviser’s |
fee hereunder. |
7. Materials. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser agrees to furnish the Sub- |
Adviser at its principal office all disclosure relating to the Sub-Adviser, its services and clients, and |
the Fund’s investment policies and strategies to be contained in materials prepared by the Adviser |
or its affiliates (including prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or |
other materials prepared for distribution to financial intermediaries, shareholders of the Fund or the |
public) prior to the first use thereof, and the Adviser shall not use any such disclosure if the Sub- |
Adviser reasonably objects in writing within 2 business days (or such other period as may be |
mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. The Sub-Adviser’s right to object to such disclosure is limited |
to reasonable objections only on the grounds of the accuracy or completeness of the aforesaid |
disclosure. |
8. Compliance. |
a. As required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has |
adopted written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by it, or any of its |
supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the rules under the Advisers Act and all other laws and |
regulations relevant to the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser has |
designated a chief compliance officer responsible for administering these compliance policies and |
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procedures. The chief compliance officer at the Sub-Adviser’s expense shall provide such written |
compliance reports relating to the operations and compliance procedures of the Sub-Adviser to the |
Adviser and/or the Trust and their respective chief compliance officers as may be required by law or |
regulation or as are otherwise reasonably requested. Moreover, the Sub-Adviser agrees to use such |
additional compliance techniques as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably adopt or approve, |
including additional written compliance procedures. In addition, the Sub-Adviser shall retain at its |
own expense the services of the Custodian or any other third party as requested by the Board to |
monitor the compliance of the Fund’s portfolio with the investment objective, policies and |
restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement. |
b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the |
Adviser and the Trust (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed limitations |
upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an investment |
adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation (formal or informal) that is likely to |
reasonably result in any of these actions; or corresponded with the Sub-Adviser, including sending a |
deficiency letter or raising issues about the business, operations, or practices of the Sub-Adviser; (2) |
in the event of any notice of an investigation, examination, inquiry audit or subpoena of the Sub- |
Adviser or any of its officers or employees by any federal, state or other governmental agency or |
body, (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to qualify or is |
likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, (4) upon |
detection of any breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures and of any violation |
of any applicable law or regulation, including the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, relating |
to that portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to the Sub-Adviser, or (5) upon detection of any |
material violations of the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures that relate to the Fund |
or the Sub-Adviser’s activities generally, such as when the violation could be considered material to |
the Sub-Adviser’s advisory clients. If legally permitted, the Sub-Adviser will furnish to the Adviser |
upon request copies of any and all documents relating to the foregoing. The Sub-Adviser further |
agrees to promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust of any fact material to the Trust, the Adviser, the |
Board or shareholders of the Fund known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub- |
Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund, or any |
amendment or supplement thereto received by the Sub-Adviser, or if any statement contained |
therein relating to the Sub-Adviser becomes untrue in any material respect. |
c. The Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify, if legally permitted, the Sub- |
Adviser (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Adviser or the Trust with respect to the |
Fund; placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended or |
revoked the Adviser’s registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or a |
formal investigation that is reasonably likely to result in any of these actions, (2) in the event of any |
notice of a formal investigation of the Adviser or any of its officers by any federal or state agency, |
provided that such investigation directly relates to the services provided by the Adviser under the |
Advisory Agreement; (3) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to |
qualify or is likely not to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the |
Code; or (4) upon detection of any material breach of any of the Fund’s policies, guidelines or |
procedures and of any violation of any applicable law or regulation, including the1940 Act and |
Subchapter M of the Code. |
d. The Sub-Adviser will provide the Adviser with such reports, presentations, |
certifications and other information as the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time, in a |
format mutually agreed upon, concerning the business and operations of the Sub-Adviser in |
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performing services hereunder or generally concerning the Sub-Adviser’s investment advisory |
services, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with applicable federal, state and local law and regulations, |
and changes in the Sub-Adviser’s key personnel, investment strategies, policies and procedures, and |
other matters that are likely to have a material impact on the Sub-Adviser’s duties hereunder. |
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains |
for the Fund are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any |
of such records upon the Trust’s or the Adviser’s reasonable request in compliance with the |
requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own |
expense, make and retain a copy of such records. 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. |
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with |
the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction |
(including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to |
this Agreement, the Fund or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as |
confidential all information pertaining to the Fund, the Trust, the Adviser and their respective |
actions, and shall use such information only in connection with the services performed under this |
Agreement. The Adviser shall treat as confidential all information provided by the Sub-Adviser that |
is identified by the Sub-Adviser as confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information subject |
to this Section 10 need not be treated by the receiving party as confidential (i) if the receiving party |
is required to disclose such information under applicable law, (ii) if such information is generally |
available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the receiving party, or (iii) if |
available from a source other than the receiving party provided that such source is not known (or |
should have been known) to the receiving party to be bound by confidentiality obligations pertaining |
to such information. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser will have continuous access |
through the Custodian to any information related to the Fund’s portfolio. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or to any policies and procedures, the Sub- |
Adviser may not disclose Fund portfolio holdings information, except in accordance with the Fund’s |
Policies and Procedures on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings (the “Disclosure Policy”). To the extent |
the Sub-Adviser has delegated any duties or services to an affiliate or a third–party, the Sub-Adviser |
shall require that any such affiliate or third-party agree in writing to maintain the confidentiality of |
Fund portfolio holdings information as and to the extent required by the Disclosure Policy. For |
purposes of the Disclosure Policy, information provided to a broker-dealer relating to orders or |
potential orders for the purchase or sale of Fund holdings will not be deemed to be portfolio |
holdings information, provided that the Sub-Adviser determines that the disclosure does not provide |
the recipient with an advantage over Fund shareholders. |
11. Liability. |
a. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or |
other applicable law, the Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub- |
Adviser, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of |
1933, as amended (“the 1933 Act”) controls the Sub-Adviser (each a “Sub- Adviser Controlling |
Person,” and collectively, “Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons”) shall not be liable for, or subject to any |
losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities or litigation in connection with, any act or omission |
connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of |
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willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, in each such case, in the performance of the | |
Sub-Adviser’s duties, or any material breach by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations or duties under | |
this Agreement (the “Sub-Adviser Standard of Care”). In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its affiliated | |
persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for actions taken or non-actions with | |
respect to the performance of services under this Agreement if the Sub-Adviser is instructed in | |
writing by the Adviser or the Trust to take such action or non-action. The Adviser understands and | |
acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser does not warrant that the portion of the assets of the Fund | |
managed by the Sub-Adviser will achieve any particular rate of return or that its performance will | |
match any benchmark index or other standard or objective. In no case shall the Sub-Adviser, its | |
affiliated persons or any of the Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons be liable for any portion of the | |
assets of the Fund not managed by the Sub-Adviser (if any). | |
b. The Sub-Adviser agrees that neither the Trust nor the Fund shall bear any | |
responsibility or shall be subject to any liability for any losses, claims, damages, expenses, liabilities | |
or litigation of the Sub-Adviser connected with or arising out of its services under this Agreement. | |
12. Indemnification. | |
a. The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, any | |
affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and Sub-Adviser Controlling Persons (the Sub-Adviser and all of | |
such persons being referred to as “Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, | |
claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) | |
to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 | |
Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the | |
Adviser’s responsibilities to the Sub-Adviser which (1) may be based upon the Adviser’s gross | |
negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith in the performance of its duties, or any material breach | |
by the Adviser of its obligations or duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any | |
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration | |
Statement or prospectus covering the Trust, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, | |
or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or | |
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading unless such statement or omission was | |
made in reliance on disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with Section 7 of this | |
Agreement; provided however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser | |
Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such person | |
would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the | |
performance of its duties, or any material breach of its obligations or duties under this Agreement. | |
b. Notwithstanding Section 11 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to | |
indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, any affiliated person of the Adviser, and each person, if | |
any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Adviser (the Adviser and | |
all of such persons being referred to as “Adviser Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, | |
claims, damages, expenses, liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) | |
to which (1) an Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, | |
the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Sub- | |
Adviser’s responsibilities as sub-adviser of the Trust which may be based upon the Sub-Adviser’s | |
breach of the Sub-Adviser Standard of Care; or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or | |
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus | |
covering the Trust, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to | |
state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was |
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required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a |
statement was made in reliance upon disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with |
Section 7 of this Agreement or was omitted from a disclosure reviewed by the Sub-Adviser in |
accordance with such Section 7; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of |
an Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which such |
person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in |
the performance of its duties, or by reason of its material breach of its obligations or duties under |
this Agreement. |
c. The Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 12 with |
respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser |
Indemnified Person shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the |
summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been |
served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person |
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser |
of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Sub- |
Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Adviser is |
prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against |
the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, |
in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense |
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Adviser |
assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Adviser to represent |
both the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interests and |
therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately |
represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Adviser will, at its own expense, |
assume the defense with counsel to the Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel |
to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the |
Adviser and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear |
the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser shall not be liable to |
the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses |
subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the |
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Adviser shall not have the right to |
compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser |
Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of wrongdoing |
on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. |
d. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 12 with |
respect to any claim made against an Adviser Indemnified Person unless such Adviser Indemnified |
Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or |
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon |
such Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received |
notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such |
claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Adviser |
Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is |
prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against |
the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, |
in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense |
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser |
assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to |
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represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of |
interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Adviser Indemnified Person, |
adequately represent the interests of the Adviser Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its |
own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, |
with separate counsel to the Adviser Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be reasonably |
satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Adviser Indemnified Person. The Adviser Indemnified |
Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Sub- |
Adviser shall not be liable to the Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or |
other expenses subsequently incurred by the Adviser Indemnified Person independently in |
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Sub-Adviser |
shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of |
the Adviser Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding of |
wrongdoing on the part of the Adviser Indemnified Person. |
13. Duration and Termination. |
a. This Agreement shall become effective subject to the condition that the Board, |
including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the |
0000 Xxx) of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, shall have approved this Agreement in the manner |
required by the 1940 Act. Unless terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall remain in |
full force and effect through and including the second anniversary of the execution of this Agreement |
and shall continue in full force and affect indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such |
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board, or by the vote of a majority |
of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust, and (b) the vote of a |
majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) |
of any such party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on |
such approval. |
b. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated: (a) by the |
Adviser at any time without payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Sub- |
Adviser and the Trust; (b) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, by the Board or |
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the |
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, (c) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Sub-Adviser |
upon 60 days’ prior written notice by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and the Trust, (d) by the Sub- |
Adviser upon not less than 20 business days’ prior written notice to the Adviser if the Sub-Adviser is |
unable to implement any action by the Board that impacts the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide the |
services under this Agreement as described in Section 1 hereof, provided such notice is given to the |
Adviser within 5 business days of the Sub-Adviser’s receipt of notice of the Board taking such |
action; (e) immediately in the event the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser ceases to be registered as an |
investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise becomes legally incapable of providing |
investment management services pursuant to its respective contract with the Trust, or (f) in the |
event the Advisory Agreement is terminated. |
c. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of the Trust shall promptly |
be returned to the Adviser or the Trust, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by |
the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such |
records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (within the |
meaning of such term in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not |
approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9, 10, 11, and 12 |
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of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section 13 and, |
to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Adviser or owed to the Adviser for subsidy |
reimbursement as compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect as |
provided in Section 6. |
14. Exclusivity. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, for so long as it serves as the investment |
adviser or sub-adviser to the Fund or any successor entity, it will not accept an offer to serve as |
investment adviser or sub-adviser to any Competing Product (as defined below) without the prior |
written approval of the Adviser. The Adviser shall respond to a written request of the Sub-Adviser to |
advise or sub-advise a Competing Product within 30 days of receiving such request. A "Competing |
Product" means another unlisted, long-only (or substantially long-only), open-end, SEC-registered |
investment company or an actively-managed exchange-traded-fund (“ETF”, but excluding an ETF-of- |
ETFs), in each case utilizing a macroeconomic investment strategy and distributed in the United |
States. If and to the extent the restriction herein set forth is unenforceable, then such restriction |
shall (without any further action by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser) be deemed to have been replaced |
with an enforceable restriction reflecting as closely as possible the parties’ intent as expressed |
herein. |
15. Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently given (1) when |
delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by electronic mail or electronic facsimile transfer |
(confirmed in writing by postage prepaid first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when |
sent by internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such |
overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other party at the |
address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time |
specify in writing to the other party. |
If to the Trust: |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Growth Trust |
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Attn: Chief Legal Officer |
If to the Adviser: |
Xxxxx Xxxxx Management |
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Attn: Chief Legal Officer |
If to the Sub-Adviser: |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Advisors LLC |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
00xx Xxxxx |
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Compliance Officer |
And copy to: |
Xxxxxx Price P.C. |
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx |
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 |
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
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16. Amendments. No provision of this 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 material amendment |
of this Agreement shall be effective until approved as required by applicable law. The Sub-Adviser |
shall furnish to the Board such information as may be reasonably necessary in order for the Board |
to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto for the purposes of casting a vote |
pursuant to Section 13 or this Section 16. |
17. Governing Law. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by |
either party, the parties expressly agree that all terms and provisions hereof shall be governed by, |
and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
applicable to contracts made between residents of Massachusetts, entered into and wholly |
performed, and to transactions wholly consummated, within Massachusetts. In the event of an |
action brought by the Adviser against the Sub-Adviser, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive |
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and any New |
York State court sitting in New York City (Borough of Manhattan) for purposes of any legal or |
equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters |
contemplated hereby. In the event of an action brought by the Sub-Adviser against the Adviser, the |
parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District |
of Massachusetts and any Massachusetts court sitting in the city of Boston for purposes of any legal |
or equitable actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the matters |
contemplated hereby. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by |
applicable law, any objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any |
such action or proceeding brought in such a court, and any claim that any such action or |
proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. |
18. Miscellaneous. |
a. The Sub-Adviser hereby grants to the Adviser during the term of this Agreement, |
a non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-sublicensable royalty-free right to use the Sub-Adviser's name |
and registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks and logos in the name of the Fund, on |
the Adviser's website(s) and in other materials solely for purposes of disclosing and promoting the |
relationship between the parties as described herein. In the event that this Agreement shall be |
terminated for any reason, and in the event a new or successor Agreement with the Sub-Adviser is |
not concluded, the Adviser understands that it must immediately take all steps necessary to amend |
materials (including the Adviser's website) produced by the Adviser or its affiliates to delete any |
reference in all materials to the Sub-Adviser and to delete the words “Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx” from the |
name of the Fund, provided that references to the former name of the Fund shall be permitted to |
the extent necessary. |
b. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Trust enjoys the rights of |
a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser |
enjoys the rights of a third party beneficiary under the Advisory Agreement. Nothing herein shall be |
construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting |
the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser. |
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c. The Sub-Adviser expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of | |
Trust of the Adviser limiting the personal liability of the Trustee and officers of the Adviser, and the | |
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the Adviser for payment of claims or | |
obligations as between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser arising out of this Agreement and shall not | |
seek satisfaction from the Trustee or any officer of the Adviser. | |
d. 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. | |
e. To the extent permitted under Section 13 of this Agreement, this Agreement | |
may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other party. | |
f. 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, | |
and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable. | |
g. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent | |
or co-partner of the Adviser, or constituting the Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser. | |
h. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts. | |
[Signature page follows.] |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
XXXXX XXXXX MANAGEMENT By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Gemma Name: Xxxxxxx X. Gemma Title: Vice President XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX ADVISORS LLC By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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