INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 1, 2014 between CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT TRUST (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts Business Trust, on behalf of the XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX ALL-CAP FUND (the "Fund"), and WELLINGTON SHIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, a New York limited liability company (the "Adviser"), registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company of the series type under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory and administrative services to the Fund, and the Adviser is willing to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as Investment Adviser to each Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services set forth herein, for the compensation provided in the attached Schedule A.
2. Delivery of Documents. The Trust has furnished the Investment Adviser with copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following:
(a) The Trust's Declaration of Trust, as filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Declaration");
(b) The Trust's By-Laws (the "By-Laws");
(c) Resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees and the resolution approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund authorizing the appointment of the Adviser and approving this Agreement;
(d) The Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, (the “1933 Act"), relating to shares of beneficial interest of the Fund (the "Shares") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and all amendments thereto;
(e) The Fund's Prospectus (the "Prospectus").
The Trust will furnish the Adviser from time to time with copies, properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing at the same time as such documents are required to be filed with the SEC.
3. Management. Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents in the Fund. The Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund. The Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its Prospectus. The Adviser further agrees that it:
(a) Will conform its activities to all applicable Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and will, in addition, conduct its activities under this Agreement in accordance with regulations of any other Federal and State agencies that may now or in the future have jurisdiction over its activities under this Agreement;
(b) Will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer. In placing orders with brokers or dealers, the Adviser will attempt to obtain the best net price and the most favorable execution of its orders. Consistent with this obligation, when the Adviser believes two or more brokers or dealers are comparable in price and execution, the Adviser may prefer: (i) brokers and dealers who provide the Fund with research advice and other services, or who recommend or sell Trust shares, and (ii) brokers who are affiliated with the Fund or its Adviser; provided, however, that in no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser in principal transactions;
(c) Will provide certain executive personnel for the Fund as may be mutually agreed upon from time to time with the Board of Trustees, the salaries and expenses of such personnel to be borne by the Adviser unless otherwise mutually agreed upon; and
(d) Will provide, at its own cost, all office space, facilities and equipment necessary for the conduct of its advisory activities on behalf of the Fund.
4. Services Not Exclusive. The Advisory services furnished by the Adviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby; provided, however, that without the written consent of the Trustees, the Adviser will not serve as investment adviser to any other investment company having a similar investment objective to that of the Fund.
5. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3under the 1940 Act, the Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the benefit of the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund's request. The Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by it pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act that are not maintained by others on behalf of the Fund.
6. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its investment advisory services pertaining to the Fund. The Adviser will pay, out of the Adviser's resources, the entire cost of the promotion and sale of Trust shares, including the preparation of the prospectus and other documents. The Adviser will provide other information and services, other than services of outside counsel or independent accountants or investment advisory services to be provided by any Adviser under an Investment Advisory Agreement, required in connection with the preparation of all registration statements and Prospectuses, Prospectus supplements, SAIs, all annual, semiannual, and periodic reports to shareholders of the Trust, regulatory authorities, or others, and all notices and proxy solicitation materials, furnished to shareholders of the Trust or regulatory authorities, and all tax returns.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund shall pay the expenses and costs of the following:
(a) Taxes, interest charges and extraordinary expenses;
(b) Brokerage fees and commissions with regard to portfolio transactions of the Fund;
(c) Fees and expenses of the custodian of the Fund's portfolio securities;
(d) Fees and expenses of the Fund's administrator, transfer and dividend disbursing agent and the Fund's fund accounting agent or, if the Fund performs any such services without an agent, the costs of the same;
(e) Auditing and legal expenses;
(f) Cost of maintenance of the Fund's existence as a legal entity;
(g) Compensation of trustees who are not interested persons of the Adviser as law defines that term;
(h) Costs of Trust meetings;
(i) Federal and State registration or qualification fees and expenses;
(j) Costs of setting in type, printing and mailing Prospectuses, reports and notices to existing shareholders;
(k) The investment advisory fee payable to the Adviser, as provided in paragraph 7 herein; and
(l) Plan of Distribution expenses, but only in accordance with the Plan of Distribution as approved by the shareholders of the Fund.
7. Compensation. The Trust will pay the Adviser and the Adviser will accept as full compensation an investment advisory fee, based upon the daily average net assets of each Fund, computed at the end of each month and payable within five (5) business days thereafter, based upon Schedule A attached hereto.
8.(a) Limitation of Liability. The Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law or for any other loss whatsoever suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8.(b) Indemnification of Adviser. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Subsection 8(b), the Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless (from the assets of the Trust or Trusts to which the conduct in question relates) the Adviser against all loss, damage and liability, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants' and counsel fees, incurred by the Adviser in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, related to or resulting from this Agreement or the performance of services hereunder, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that the loss, damage or liability is a direct result of (i) a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; or (ii) willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement (either and both of the conduct described in clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to hereinafter as "Disabling Conduct"). A determination that the Adviser is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Adviser was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against the Adviser for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Adviser was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by, (a) vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested persons" of the Fund as the quoted phrase is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties to the action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds that is then or has been pending or threatened (such quorum of such Trustees being referred to hereinafter as the "Independent Trustees"), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants' and counsel fees so incurred by the Adviser (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the Fund or Trust to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided, that the Adviser shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Subsection 8(b) and if (i) the Adviser shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Fund shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of the Independent Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Adviser ultimately will be entitled to indemnification hereunder.
As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by the Adviser referred to in this Subsection 8(b), pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such indemnification shall be approved (i) by a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Independent Trustees pursuant to clause (i) shall not prevent the recovery from the Adviser of any amount paid to the Adviser in accordance with either of such clauses as indemnification of the Adviser is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Adviser's action was in or not opposed to the best interest of the Fund or to have been liable to the Fund or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in its conduct under the Agreement.
The right of indemnification provided by this Subsection 8(b) shall not be exclusive of or affect any of the rights to which the Adviser may be entitled. Nothing contained in this Subsection 8(b) shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trustees, officers or other personnel of the Fund, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Fund to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall take all such action as may be necessary and appropriate to authorize the Fund hereunder to pay the indemnification required by this Subsection 8(b) including, without limitation, to the extent needed, to determine whether the Adviser is entitled to indemnification hereunder and the reasonable amount of any indemnity due it hereunder, or employ independent legal counsel for that purpose.
8.(c) Indemnification of Fund. The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and Trust's Trustees and officers from all loss, damage and liability, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants' and counsel fees, incurred by the Trust in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, related to or resulting from (i) any breach or violation of this Agreement by the Adviser; (ii) any breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; and (iii) any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement.
8.(d) Failure to Perform; Force Majeure. No failure or omission by either party hereto in the performance of any obligation of this Agreement (other than payment obligations) shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement or create any liability if the same shall arise from any cause or causes beyond the control of the party, including but not limited to, the following: acts of God, acts or omissions of any governmental agency; any rules, regulations, or orders issued by any governmental authority or by any officer, department, agency or instrumentality thereof; fire; storm; flood; earthquake, war; rebellion; insurrection; riot; and invasion and provided that such failure or omission resulting from one of the above causes is cured as soon as is practicable after the occurrence of one or more of the above-mentioned causes.
8.(e) The provisions contained in Section 8 shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, shall be deemed to include and protect the Adviser and its directors, officers, employees and agents and shall inure to the benefit of its/their respective successors, assigns and personal representatives.
9. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date written above and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect for an initial two year period. Thereafter, unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall continue in effect, for successive periods of one year each, provided such continuance is specifically approved annually:
(a) By the vote of a majority of those members of the Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; and
(b) By vote of either the Board of Trustees or a majority (as that term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund or by the Adviser at any time on sixty (60) days' written notice, without the payment of any penalty, provided that termination by the Fund must be authorized either by vote of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act).
10. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by a written instrument signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. No material amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act).
11. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
12. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer
SCHEDULE A
INVESTMENT ADVISER'S COMPENSATION SCHEDULE
For the services delineated in the INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT and rendered to the XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX ALL-CAP FUND, the Adviser shall be compensated monthly, as of the last day of each month, within five business days of the month end, a fee based upon the daily average net assets of the Fund according to the following schedule:
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Net Assets
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Annual Fee
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All assets
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1.00%
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