INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made as of the 12th day of September,
2005, by and between Sage Multi-Strategy Fund, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company (the "Fund"), and Robeco-Sage Capital Management, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company (the "Investment Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to engage in business as a closed-end,
non-diversified management investment company and is registered as such under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser is registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and engages in the
business of acting as an investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Investment Adviser to render
investment advisory services to the Fund in the manner and on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser desires to be retained to perform such
services on said terms and conditions:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions hereinafter
contained, the Fund and the Investment Adviser agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby retains the Investment Adviser to act as its investment
adviser and, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Managers of
the Fund (the "Board of Managers"), to manage the investment activities of the
Fund as hereinafter set forth. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Investment Adviser shall: obtain and evaluate such information and advice
relating to the economy, securities markets, and securities as it deems
necessary or useful to discharge its duties hereunder; continuously manage the
assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with the investment objective,
policies and restrictions of the Fund, as set forth in the Prospectus of the
Fund and as may be adopted from time to time by the Board of Managers, and
applicable laws and regulations; determine the securities to be purchased, sold
or otherwise disposed of by the Fund and the timing of such purchases, sales and
dispositions; invest discrete portions of the Fund's assets (which may
constitute, in the aggregate, all of the Fund's assets) in unregistered
investment funds or other investment vehicles and registered investment
companies ("Portfolio Funds"), which are managed by investment managers
("Portfolio Managers"), including Portfolio Managers for which separate
investment vehicles have been created in which the Portfolio Managers serve as
general partners or managing members and the Fund is the sole investor
("Portfolio Accounts") and Portfolio Managers who are retained to manage the
Fund's assets directly through separate managed accounts (Portfolio Managers of
Portfolio Accounts and of managed accounts are collectively referred to as
"Sub-Managers"), and take such further action, including the placing of purchase
and sale orders and the voting of securities on behalf of the Fund, as the
Investment Adviser shall deem necessary or appropriate. The Investment Adviser
shall furnish to or place at the disposal of the Fund such of the information,
evaluations, analyses and opinions formulated or obtained
by the Investment Adviser in the discharge of its duties as the Fund may, from
time to time, reasonably request.
2. Provided that the Fund shall not be required to pay any compensation to
the Investment Adviser for the services to be provided hereunder other than as
provided by the terms of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser is authorized:
(i) to obtain investment information, research or assistance from any other
person, firm or corporation to supplement, update or otherwise improve its
investment management services; and (ii) to enter into investment sub-advisory
agreements with any registered investment adviser (a "Sub-Adviser"), subject to
such approvals of the Board and members of the Fund ("Members") as may be
required to comply with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, delegating any or
all of the investment advisory services required to be provided by the
Investment Adviser under Paragraph 1 hereof, subject to the supervision of the
Investment Adviser.
3. Without limiting the generality of paragraph 1 hereof, the Investment
Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser, shall be authorized to open,
maintain and close accounts in the name and on behalf of the Fund with brokers
and dealers as it determines are appropriate; to select and place orders with
brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries for the execution, clearance
or settlement of any transactions on behalf of the Fund on such terms as the
Investment Adviser (or the Sub-Adviser) considers appropriate and that are
consistent with the policies of the Fund; and, subject to any policies adopted
by the Board of Managers and to the provisions of applicable law, to agree to
such commissions, fees and other charges on behalf of the Fund as it shall deem
reasonable in the circumstances taking into account all such factors as it deems
relevant (including the quality of research and other services made available to
it even if such services are not for the exclusive benefit of the Fund and the
cost of such services does not represent the lowest cost available) and shall be
under no obligation to combine or arrange orders so as to obtain reduced charges
unless otherwise required under the federal securities laws; to pursue and
implement the investment policies and strategies of the Fund using a
multi-manager strategy whereby some or all of the Fund's assets may be committed
from time to time by the Investment Adviser (or the Sub-Adviser) to the
discretionary management of one or more Sub-Managers, the selection of which
shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Managers in accordance with
requirements of the 1940 Act and the approval of a majority (as defined in the
0000 Xxx) of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, unless the Fund receives
an exemption from the provisions of the 1940 Act requiring such approval by
security holders; and to identify appropriate Sub-Managers, assess the most
appropriate investment vehicles (general or limited partnerships, separate
managed accounts or other investment vehicles (pooled or otherwise), and
determine the assets to be committed to each Sub-Manager. The Investment Adviser
(or the Sub-Adviser) may, subject to such procedures as may be adopted by the
Board of Managers, use affiliates of the Investment Adviser as brokers to effect
the Fund's securities transactions and the Fund may pay such commissions to such
brokers in such amounts as are permissible under applicable law.
4. (a) In consideration for the provision by the Investment Adviser of its
services hereunder and the Investment Adviser's bearing of certain expenses, the
Fund shall pay the Investment Adviser a fee payable quarterly, equal to 0.375%
(1.50% on an annualized basis) of the Fund's "net assets" (the "Investment
Advisory Fee"). "Net assets" shall equal the total
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value of all assets of the Fund, less an amount equal to all accrued debts,
liabilities and obligations of the Fund calculated before giving effect to any
repurchases of interests.
(b) The Investment Advisory Fee will be computed based on the average
net assets of the Fund during each calendar quarter, after adjustment for any
subscriptions effective on such date, and will be due and payable in arrears
within five business days after the end of such calendar quarter.
(c) If this Agreement is terminated at any time during a quarter, the
Fund shall pay the Investment Adviser the pro rata amount of the Investment
Advisory Fee for the quarter allocable to that portion of such quarter which is
prior to the termination of the Agreement (based on the number of days in such
quarter).
(d) The Investment Adviser is responsible for all costs and expenses
associated with the provision of its services hereunder including, but not
limited to: expenses relating to the selection and monitoring of Portfolio
Managers; fees of any consultants or a Sub-Adviser retained by the Investment
Adviser; and expenses relating to qualifying potential investors and reviewing
subscription documents. The Investment Adviser shall, at its own expense,
maintain such staff and employ or retain such personnel and consult with such
other persons as may be necessary to render the services required to be provided
by the Investment Adviser or furnished to the Fund under this Agreement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the staff and personnel of the
Investment Adviser shall be deemed to include persons employed or otherwise
retained by the Investment Adviser or made available to the Investment Adviser.
5. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available to the
Investment Adviser such financial reports, proxy statements, policies and
procedures and other information relating to the business and affairs of the
Fund as the Investment Adviser may reasonably require in order to discharge its
duties and obligations hereunder.
6. Except as provided herein or in another agreement between the Fund and
the Investment Adviser, the Fund shall bear all of its own expenses, including:
all investment related expenses (e.g., fees paid directly or indirectly to
Portfolio Managers, all costs and expenses directly related to portfolio
transactions and positions for the Fund's account such as direct and indirect
expenses associated with the Fund's investments, including its investments in
Portfolio Funds, transfer taxes and premiums, taxes withheld on foreign
dividends and, if applicable in the event the Fund utilizes a Portfolio Account,
brokerage commissions, interest and commitment fees on loans and debit balances,
borrowing charges on securities sold short, dividends on securities sold but not
yet purchased and margin fees); all costs and expenses associated with the
establishment of any Portfolio Accounts; any non-investment related interest
expense; fees and disbursements of any attorneys and accountants engaged by the
Fund; audit and tax preparation fees and expenses of the Fund; all costs and
expenses associated with background checks on Portfolio Managers; all costs and
expenses associated with retaining independent third parties to provide risk
management services to the Fund; custody and escrow fees and expenses; the costs
of an errors and omissions/directors and officers liability insurance policy and
a fidelity bond; the Investment Advisory Fee; the management fee; the Member
servicing fee; fees and travel-related and other expenses of members of the
Board of Managers
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who are not employees of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser;
all costs and charges for equipment or services used in communicating
information regarding the Fund's transactions among the Adviser and any
custodian or other agent engaged by the Fund; any extraordinary expenses; and
such other expenses as may be approved from time to time by the Board of
Managers.
7. The compensation provided to the Investment Adviser pursuant to
paragraph 4(a) hereof shall be the entire compensation for the services provided
to the Fund hereunder and the expenses assumed by the Investment Adviser under
this Agreement.
8. The Investment Adviser will use its best efforts in the supervision and
management of the investment activities of the Fund and in providing services
hereunder, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations hereunder, the Investment
Adviser, its directors, officers or employees and its affiliates, successors or
other legal representatives (collectively, the "Affiliates") shall not be liable
to the Fund for any error of judgment for any mistake of law or for any act or
omission by the Investment Adviser or any of the Affiliates or by any
Sub-Adviser or Sub-Manager or for any loss suffered by the Fund.
9. (a) The Fund shall indemnify the Investment Adviser and its directors,
members, officers or employees and their respective affiliates, executors,
heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives (each an "Indemnified
Person") against any and all costs, losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements, resulting in any way from the performance or non-performance of
any Indemnified Person's duties with respect to the Fund, except those resulting
from the willful malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of an Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Person's reckless disregard of such duties, and in the
case of criminal proceedings, unless such Indemnified Person had reasonable
cause to believe its actions were unlawful (collectively, "disabling conduct").
Indemnification shall be made following: (i) a final decision on the merits by a
court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that the Indemnified
Person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or (ii) a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of the facts and reached by (A) the vote of a
majority of the Board of Managers who are not parties to the proceeding or (B)
legal counsel selected by a vote of a majority of the Board of Managers in a
written advice, that the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification
hereunder. The Fund shall advance to an Indemnified Person (to the extent that
it has available assets and need not borrow to do so) reasonable attorneys' fees
and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with defense of any action
or proceeding arising out of such performance or non-performance. The Investment
Adviser agrees, and each other Indemnified Person will agree as a condition to
any such advance, that in the event the Indemnified Person receives any such
advance, the Indemnified Person shall reimburse the Fund for such fees, costs
and expenses to the extent that it shall be determined that the Indemnified
Person was not entitled to indemnification under this paragraph 9.
(b) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions
of this paragraph 9 shall not be construed so as to relieve the Indemnified
Person of, or provide indemnification with respect to, any liability (including
liability under Federal Securities laws, which, under certain circumstances,
impose liability even on persons who act in
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good faith) to the extent (but only to the extent) that such liability may not
be waived, limited or modified under applicable law or that such indemnification
would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to
effectuate the provisions of this paragraph 9 to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
10. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Investment
Adviser or any affiliated person of the Investment Adviser from acting as
investment adviser or manager for any other person, firm or corporation and,
except as required by applicable law (including Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act),
shall not in any way bind or restrict the Investment Adviser or any such
affiliated person from buying, selling or trading any securities or commodities
for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom they may be acting.
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any member,
officer or employee of the Investment Adviser to engage in any other business or
to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other
aspects of any other business whether of a similar or dissimilar nature.
11. This Agreement shall remain in effect for an initial term of two years
from the date of its execution, and shall continue in effect from year to year
thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote
of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund," as defined by
the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, or by the Board of Managers; and provided
that in either event such continuance is also approved by a majority of the
Board of Managers who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons"
(as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder) of any such party (the
"Independent Managers"), by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. The Fund may at any time, without payment of
any penalty, terminate this Agreement upon sixty days' prior written notice to
the Investment Adviser, either by majority vote of the Board of Managers or by
the vote of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund" (as
defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder). The Investment Adviser may at
any time, without payment of penalty, terminate this Agreement upon sixty days'
prior written notice to the Fund. This Agreement shall automatically terminate
in the event of its "assignment," as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules
thereunder.
12. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or facsimile or five days
after mailed by certified mail, post-paid, by return receipt requested to the
other party at the principal office of such party.
13. This Agreement may be amended only by the written agreement of the
parties. Any amendment shall be required to be approved by the Board of Managers
and by a majority of the Independent Managers in accordance with the provisions
of Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. If required by the
1940 Act, any amendment shall also be required to be approved by the vote of a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund," as defined by the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
14. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent
the applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein,
conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall
control.
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15. The Fund represents that this Agreement has been duly approved by the
Board of Managers, including the vote of a majority of the Independent Managers,
and by the vote of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund," as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
16. The parties to this Agreement agree that the obligations of the Fund
under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any of the Managers, members of
the Fund or any officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future,
of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of
the Fund.
17. This Agreement embodies the entire understanding of the parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
SAGE MULTI-STRATEGY FUND, L.L.C.
By: ____________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Manager
ROBECO-SAGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
By: ____________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
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