INVESTMENT SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
INVESTMENT SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
This Agreement, entered into as of May 30, 2017 by and between Transamerica Asset Management, Inc., a Florida corporation (referred to herein as “TAM”) and Janus Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (referred to herein as the “Subadviser”).
TAM is the investment adviser to Transamerica Series Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (collectively with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any exemptive orders thereunder, the “1940 Act”). TAM wishes to engage the Subadviser to provide certain investment advisory services to each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A hereto (the “Fund”). The Subadviser desires to furnish services for the Trust and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Agreement for the considerations provided. Accordingly, the parties have agreed as follows:
1. Appointment. In accordance with the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and TAM (the “Advisory Agreement”), TAM hereby appoints the Subadviser to act as subadviser with respect to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Subadviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render or cause to be rendered the services set forth for the compensation herein specified.
2. Subadvisory Services. In its capacity as subadviser to the Fund, the Subadviser shall have the following responsibilities:
| (a) | Subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and TAM, the Subadviser shall regularly provide the Fund with respect to such portion of the Fund’s assets as shall be allocated to the Subadviser by TAM from time to time (the “Allocated Assets”) with investment research, advice, management and supervision and shall furnish a continuous investment program for the Allocated Assets consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions, as stated in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such other restrictions and limitations as directed by the officers of TAM or the Trust by notice in writing to the Subadviser. The Subadviser shall, with respect to the Allocated Assets, determine from time to time what securities and other investments and instruments will be purchased, retained, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion of the Allocated Assets will be held in the various securities and other investments in which the Fund invests, and shall implement those decisions (including the negotiation and execution, as agent of the Fund for this limited purpose, of investment documentation and agreements, including, without limitation, swap, futures, options and other agreements with counterparties, on the Fund’s behalf as the Subadviser deems appropriate from time to time in order to carry out its responsibilities hereunder, provided the Subadviser provides TAM prompt notice of any new investment agreements and any material amendments to existing investment agreements and the opportunity for legal review), all subject to the provisions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (collectively, the “Governing Documents”), the 1940 Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), interpretive guidance issued thereunder by the SEC staff and any other applicable federal and state law, as well as the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund referred to above, any written instructions and directions of the Board or TAM provided to the Subadviser from time to time, and any other specific policies adopted by the Board and disclosed to the Subadviser. The Subadviser’s responsibility for providing investment research, advice, management and supervision to the Fund is limited to that discrete portion of the Fund represented by the Allocated Assets and the Subadviser is prohibited from directly or indirectly consulting with any other Subadviser for a portion of the Fund’s assets concerning Fund transactions in securities or other assets. The Subadviser is authorized as the agent of the Trust to give instructions with respect to the Allocated Assets to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of securities and other investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. Subject to applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the investment program to be provided hereunder may entail the investment of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund in one or more investment companies. The Subadviser |
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| makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be achieved by the Fund or that the Fund will perform comparably with any standard or index, including other clients of the Subadviser, whether public or private. |
| (b) | The Subadviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or others selected by it. The Subadviser shall place orders in accordance with its policy to seek best execution as set forth in the Subadviser’s Form ADV. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, subject to applicable law, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Subadviser or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Subadviser is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Subadviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Subadviser and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. The Board may adopt policies and procedures that modify and restrict the Subadviser’s authority regarding the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions provided herein. |
| (c) | The Fund hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Subadviser that is a member of a national securities exchange to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Fund that is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Fund hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subadviser agrees that it will not deal with itself, or with Trustees of the Trust or any principal underwriter of the Fund, as principals or agents in making purchases or sales of securities or other property for the account of the Fund, nor will it purchase any securities from an underwriting or selling group in which the Subadviser or its affiliates is participating, or arrange for purchases and sales of securities between the Fund and another account advised by the Subadviser or its affiliates, except in each case as permitted by the 1940 Act and in accordance with such policies and procedures as may be adopted by the Fund from time to time, and will comply with all other provisions of the Governing Documents and the Fund’s then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information relative to the Subadviser and its directors and officers. |
| (d) | Unless TAM advises the Subadviser in writing that the right to vote proxies has been expressly reserved to TAM or the Trust or otherwise delegated to another party, the Subadviser shall exercise voting rights incident to any security purchased with, or comprising a portion of, the Allocated Assets, in accordance with the Subadviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures without consultation with TAM or the Fund. The Subadviser agrees to furnish a copy of its proxy voting policies and procedures, and any amendments thereto, to TAM. |
| (e) | The Subadviser agrees to provide, upon request, reasonable assistance to TAM, the Trust’s Valuation Committee and the Fund’s pricing agent in making determinations of the fair value of the Fund’s portfolio securities in accordance with the Trust’s valuation procedures. In addition, the Subadviser will be available to consult with TAM in the event of a pricing problem and to participate in the Trust’s Valuation Committee meetings. |
| (f) | TAM acknowledges and agrees that the Subadviser shall not be responsible for taking any action or rendering advice with respect to any class action claim relating to any assets held in the Allocated Assets or Fund. TAM will instruct applicable service providers not to forward to Subadviser any information concerning such actions. The Subadviser will, however, forward to TAM any information it receives regarding any legal matters involving any asset held in the Allocated Assets or Fund. |
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3. Activities of the Subadviser. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer, or employee of the Subadviser 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 nature or a dissimilar nature, nor to limit or restrict the right of the Subadviser to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind, including investment advisory and management services, to any other fund, firm, individual or association. If the purchase or sale of securities for the Fund and one or more other accounts of the Subadviser is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among the accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Subadviser. Such transactions may be combined, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and consistent with the Subadviser’s policies and procedures as presented to the Board from time to time.
4. Allocation of Charges and Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Fund will bear all expenses not expressly assumed by TAM or the Subadviser incurred in the operation of the Fund and the offering of its shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
| (a) | The Fund shall pay its allocable share of (i) fees payable to TAM pursuant to the Advisory Agreement; (ii) the cost (including brokerage commissions, if any) incurred in connection with purchases and sales of the Fund’s portfolio securities; (iii) expenses of organizing the Fund; (iv) filing fees and expenses relating to registering and qualifying and maintaining the registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares for sale under federal and state securities laws; (v) the compensation, fees and reimbursements paid to the Trust’s non-interested Trustees;(vi) custodian and transfer agent fees; (vii) legal and accounting expenses allocable to the Fund, including costs for local representation in the Trust’s jurisdiction of organization and fees and expenses of special counsel, if any, for the independent Trustees; (viii) all federal, state and local tax (including stamp, excise, income and franchise taxes) and the preparation and filing of all returns and reports in connection therewith; (ix) cost of certificates, if any, and delivery to purchasers; (x) expenses of preparing and filing reports with federal and state regulatory authorities; (xi) expenses of shareholders’ meetings and of preparing, printing and distributing proxy statements (unless otherwise agreed to by the Trust and TAM); (xii) costs of any liability, uncollectible items of deposit and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (xiii) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damage or other relief asserted against, the Trust for violation of any law; (xiv) expenses of preparing, typesetting and printing prospectuses and supplements thereto for existing shareholders and of reports and statements to shareholders; (xv) fees and expenses in connection with membership in investment company organizations and 12b-l fees; and (xvi) any extraordinary expenses incurred by the Trust on behalf of the Fund. |
| (b) | TAM shall pay all expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. TAM shall also pay all fees payable to the Subadviser pursuant to this Agreement. |
| (c) | The Subadviser shall pay all expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and employees, who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust, to serve in the capacities in which they are elected, and shall pay all compensation, fees and expenses of such Trustees and officers. |
5. Obligation to Provide Information. Each party’s obligation to provide information shall be as follows:
| (a) | TAM shall cause the Subadviser to be kept fully informed at all times with regard to the securities owned by the Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment, and generally as to the condition of the Fund’s affairs. TAM shall furnish the Subadviser with such other documents and information with regard to the Fund’s affairs as the Subadviser may from time to time reasonably request, including, but not limited to: |
| 1. | Current copies of the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information. |
| 2. | Current copies of the Fund’s organizational documents and Bylaws. |
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| 3. | Notice of TAM’s custodian designated to hold assets in the Fund. |
| 4. | A list of the countries approved by the Board in accordance with Rule 17f-5 in which the Fund’s assets may be maintained and a list of those countries available immediately. |
| 5. | Reports as to the composition of assets in the Fund, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Fund. To the extent possible, Subadviser requests to receive notice of significant cash in-flows at least three (3) business days in advance of funds being available at the Fund’s custodian, and notice of significant cash outflows at least four (4) business days in advance of when cash needs to be available at the Fund’s custodian. |
| 6. | Copies of the Fund’s liquidity procedures, cross-trade procedures, repurchase agreement procedures, 10f-3, 17a-7 and 17e-1 procedures and other procedures that may affect the duties of the Subadviser. |
| 7. | A Qualified Institutional Buyer Certification completed by the Fund. |
| 8. | A New Issues Questionnaire completed by the Fund. |
| 9. | A list of persons authorized to act on behalf of the Fund. |
| 10. | A list of “affiliates” of TAM, as such term is used in the 1940 Act, including all broker-dealers affiliated with the Fund. |
| 11. | Applicable Commodities Futures Trading Commission exemptions, notifications and/or related documentation. |
| (b) | The Subadviser, at its expense, shall supply the Board, the officers of the Trust and TAM with all information and reports reasonably required by them and reasonably available to the Subadviser relating to the services provided by the Subadviser hereunder, including such information the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer reasonably believes necessary for compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. |
6. Compensation of the Subadviser. As compensation for the services performed by the Subadviser, TAM shall calculate and pay the Subadviser out of the advisory fee it receives with respect to the Fund, and only to the extent thereof, as promptly as possible after the last day of each month, but in any event no later than fifteen (15) business days following the end of the month, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate set forth opposite the Fund’s name on Schedule A annexed hereto, along with supporting calculation documentation. The first payment of the fee shall be made as promptly as possible at the end of the month succeeding the effective date of this Agreement, and shall constitute a full payment of the fee due the Subadviser for all services prior to that date. If this Agreement is terminated as of any date not the last day of a month, such fee shall be paid as promptly as possible, but in any event no later than fifteen (15) business days following the end of the month, after such date of termination, shall be based on the average daily net assets of the Fund or, if less, the portion thereof comprising the Allocated Assets, in that period from the beginning of such month to such date of termination, and shall be that proportion of such average daily net assets as the number of business days in such period bears to the number of business days in such month. The average daily net assets of the Fund, or portion thereof comprising the Allocated Assets, shall in all cases be based only on business days and be computed as of the time of the regular close of business of the New York Stock Exchange, or such other time as stated in the Fund’s then-current Prospectus or as may be determined by the Board.
7. Compensation of Trustees, Officers and Employees. No Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust or the Fund shall receive from the Trust or the Fund any salary or other compensation as such Trustee, officer or employee while he is at the same time a director, officer, or employee of the Subadviser or any affiliated company of the Subadviser, except as the Board may decide. This paragraph shall not apply to Trustees, executive committee members, consultants and other persons who are not regular members of the Subadviser’s or any affiliated company’s staff.
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8. Term. This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Fund, unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms, for two years from its effective date, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties hereto or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the approval of the terms of such renewal, and by the Board. A vote by a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (within the meaning of the 1940 Act), is not required as the adviser has authority to enter into this Agreement pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC without a vote of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. This Agreement shall become effective as to the Fund set forth on Schedule A on the date first indicated above and as to any other Fund on the date of the Amendment to Schedule A adding such Fund in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund at any time, without penalty, by the Board upon written notice to the Subadviser. This Agreement may also be terminated by TAM upon written notice to the Subadviser, without the payment of any penalty. The Subadviser may terminate the Agreements only upon giving 90 days’ advance written notice to TAM. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment by the Subadviser and shall not be assignable by TAM without the consent of the Subadviser. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that this Agreement may be amended, terminated or not renewed as to one or more Funds without affecting the other Funds hereunder.
10. Use of Name. TAM and the Trust are authorized to use the name of the Subadviser and any marks, symbols or logos of the Subadviser in registration statements, advertising or otherwise as it relates to this Agreement. TAM or the Trust shall not, and shall not permit the Fund to, without prior written consent of Subadviser, otherwise use the name or xxxx “Xxxxx” or make representations regarding Subadviser or its affiliates. All references contained in this Agreement to “the name or xxxx “Janus” shall include but not be limited to the Janus logo, the website xxx.xxxxx.xxx and any and all electronic links relating to such website. All goodwill associated with the name and xxxx “Xxxxx” shall inure to the benefit of Subadviser or its affiliates. If this Agreement is terminated with respect to the Fund and the Subadviser no longer serves as subadviser to the Fund, the Subadviser reserves the right to withdraw from the Trust the right to the use of its name and its marks, symbols or logos that misleadingly imply a continuing relationship between the Fund and the Subadviser or any of its affiliates, except to the extent that continued use is required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
11. Liability of the Subadviser. The Subadviser may rely on information reasonably believed by it to be accurate and reliable. The Subadviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder, in good faith, and shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of securities transactions for the Fund, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall protect the Subadviser against any liability to TAM or the Fund to which the Subadviser would otherwise be subject 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 hereunder. As used in this Section 11, the term the “Subadviser” shall include any affiliates of the Subadviser performing services for the Trust or the Fund contemplated hereby and the partners, shareholders, directors, officers and employees of the Subadviser and such affiliates.
12. Meanings of Certain Terms. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Fund’s “net assets” shall be determined as provided in the Fund’s then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and the terms “assignment,” “interested person,” and “majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meanings given to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC by any rule, regulation or order.
13. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally with respect to the Fund, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. No material amendment of the Agreement shall be effective with respect to the Fund until approved, if so required by the 1940 Act, by vote of the holders of a majority outstanding voting securities of that Fund. Schedule A hereto may be amended at any time to add additional series of the Trust as agreed by the Trust, TAM and the Subadviser.
14. Books and Records. The Subadviser agrees that it will keep records relating to its services hereunder in accordance with all applicable laws, and in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Subadviser hereby agrees that any records that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund,
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and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request. The Subadviser further agrees to arrange for the preservation of the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
15. Miscellaneous. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. Should any part of this Agreement be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
17. Interpretation. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require the Trust to take any action contrary to its Governing Documents, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust.
18. Notice. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered in person, by facsimile registered mail or certified mail or by overnight delivery (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to TAM and the Subadviser at the address of each set forth below:
If to TAM:
Attn: Tane´ X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to Subadviser:
Janus Capital Management LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
19. Registration Statement Disclosures. The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that it has reviewed the Trust’s current registration statement on Form N-1A with respect to the Fund and the Subadviser as filed with the SEC and any amendments or supplements thereto, including without limitation any supplements filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act of 1933 (as so amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) and agrees to promptly review future amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement that relate to the Subadviser or the Fund, filed with the SEC (or which will be filed with the SEC in the future) and represents and warrants that, solely with respect to the disclosure respecting or relating to the Subadviser, including any performance information the Subadviser provides that is included in or serves as the basis for information included in the Registration Statement, as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the date of any future amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit any statement of material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
The Subadviser further agrees to notify TAM and the Trust promptly of any statement respecting or relating to the Subadviser contained in the Registration Statement that becomes untrue in any material respect or if the Registration Statement omits any statement of material fact respecting or relating to the Subadviser that is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
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With respect to the disclosure respecting the Fund, the Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that the description in the Registration Statement, including the Fund’s investment objective, investment strategies and risks (the “Description”), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, is consistent with the manner in which the Subadviser is managing the Fund, and the identification and description of risks in the Registration Statement is inclusive of, and accurately describes in all material respects, all material risks known to the Subadviser that may arise in connection with the management of the Fund by the Subadviser.
The Subadviser further agrees to notify TAM and the Trust promptly in the event that the Subadviser becomes aware that the Description for a Fund is inconsistent with the manner in which the Subadviser is managing the Fund, or in the event that the identification and description of risks in the Registration Statement fails to include, or accurately describe in all material respects, all material risks known to the Subadviser that may arise in connection with the management of the Fund by the Subadviser.
20. Further Assurances. Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as are reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and the arrangements contemplated thereby, including without limitation concerning the winding down or liquidation of any Fund investments.
[Signature page to follow]
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The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized signatories as of the date and year first above written. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts.
| TRANSAMERICA ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President |
| JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President and Managing Director |
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Schedule A
Annual fee computed at the following annual rate, based on the average daily net asset value for each month for services rendered hereunder, with respect to each Fund equal to the following:
| Fund |
Investment Subadvisory Fee | |
| Transamerica Janus Balanced VP | 0.325% of the first $1.0 billion | |
| 0.30% over $1.0 billion | ||
| Transamerica Janus Mid-Cap Growth VP | 0.375% of the first $500 million | |
| 0.34% over $500 million up to $1.0 billion | ||
| 0.32% over $1.0 billion |
