SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
| Attention: | Cadence Capital Management LLC | |
| Re: | Subadvisory Agreement | |
AMG MANAGERS CADENCE CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND (the “Fund”) is a series of a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) that is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), and subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
AMG Funds LLC (the “Manager”) acts as the manager and administrator of the Trust pursuant to the terms of a Management Agreement with the Trust. The Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the Fund and the coordination of investment of the Fund’s assets. However, pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, specific portfolio purchases and sales for the Fund’s investment portfolios or a portion thereof, are to be made by advisory organizations recommended by the Manager and approved by the Trustees of the Trust.
1. Appointment as a Subadvisor. The Manager, being duly authorized, hereby appoints and employs Cadence Capital Management LLC (the “Subadvisor”) as a discretionary asset manager, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, of those assets of the Fund which the Manager determines to allocate to the Subadvisor (those assets being referred to as the “Fund Account”). The Manager may, from time to time, with the consent of the Subadvisor, make additions to the Fund Account and may, from time to time, make withdrawals of any or all of the assets in the Fund Account.
2. Portfolio Management Duties.
(a) Subject to the supervision of the Manager and of the Trustees of the Trust, the Subadvisor shall manage the composition of the Fund Account, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (such Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for the Fund as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented in writing from time to time, being herein called the “Prospectus”). The Subadvisor’s responsibility for providing portfolio management services hereunder shall be limited to only the Fund Account, and the Subadvisor agrees that it shall not consult with any investment advisor(s) (within the meaning of the Act) to the Fund or any other registered investment company or portfolio series thereof under common control with the Fund concerning transactions for the Fund Account in securities or other assets such that the exemptions under Rule 10f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and/or Rule 17a-10 under the Act would not be available with respect to the Fund. The Subadvisor or Proxy voting service engaged by the Subadvisor shall exercise voting authority with respect to proxies that the Fund is entitled to vote by virtue of the ownership of assets attributable to that portion of the Fund for which the Subadvisor has investment management responsibility, provided that such authority may be revoked in whole or in part by the Manager at any time upon notice to the Subadvisor and provided further that the exercise of such authority shall be subject to review by the Manager and the Trustees of the Trust. The Subadvisor or Proxy voting service engaged by the Subadvisor shall exercise its proxy voting authority hereunder in accordance with such proxy voting policies and procedures as the Manager or the Trust may designate from time to time. The Subadvisor 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 Manager from time to time.
(b) The Subadvisor shall maintain such books and records pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the Act and Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), with respect to the Fund Account as shall be specified by the Manager from time to time, and shall maintain such books and records for the periods specified in the rules under the Act or the Advisers Act. In accordance with Rule 31a-3 under the Act, the Subadvisor agrees that all records under the Act shall be the property of the Trust.
(c) The Subadvisor shall provide the Trust’s Custodian, and the Manager on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Fund Account. In addition, the Subadvisor shall be responsive to requests from the Manager or the Trust’s Custodian for assistance in obtaining price sources for securities held in the Fund Account, as well as for periodically reviewing the prices of the securities assigned by the Manager or the Trust’s Custodian for reasonableness and advising the Manager should any such prices appear to be incorrect.
(d) The Subadvisor agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the Act, the Advisers Act and other applicable federal and state regulations, and review information provided by the Manager to assist the Manager in its compliance review program.
(e) The Subadvisor agrees to maintain an appropriate level of errors and omissions or professional liability insurance coverage.
3. Allocation of Brokerage. The Subadvisor shall have authority and discretion to select brokers, dealers and futures commission merchants to execute portfolio transactions initiated by the Subadvisor, and for the selection of the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed.
(a) In doing so, the Subadvisor’s primary responsibility shall be to seek to obtain the best execution for the Fund. However, this responsibility shall not be deemed to obligate the Subadvisor to solicit competitive bids for each transaction, and the Subadvisor shall have no obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadvisor determines that the broker, dealer or futures commission merchant is able to obtain the best net price and execution for the particular transaction taking into account all factors the Subadvisor deems relevant, including, but not limited to, the breadth of the market in the security or commodity, the price, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker, dealer or futures commission merchant and the reasonableness of any commission for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. The Subadvisor may consider the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) made available by the broker to the Subadvisor viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadvisor’s overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadvisor exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction.
(b) The Manager shall have the right to request that specified transactions giving rise to brokerage commissions, in an amount to be agreed upon by the Manager and the
2
Subadvisor, shall be executed by brokers and dealers that provide brokerage or research services to the Fund or the Manager, or as to which an on-going relationship will be of value to the Fund in the management of its assets, which services and relationship may, but need not, be of direct benefit to the Fund Account, so long as (i) the Manager determines that the broker or dealer is able to obtain the best net price and execution on a particular transaction and (ii) the Manager determines that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the total quality and reliability of the brokerage and research services made available to the Fund or to the Manager for the benefit of its clients for which it exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund Account may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such service or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction.
(c) The Subadvisor agrees that it will not execute any portfolio transactions with a broker, dealer or futures commission merchant which is an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Act) of the Trust or of the Manager or of any subadvisor, including Subadvisor, for the Trust except in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees. The Manager agrees that it will provide the Subadvisor with a list of brokers and dealers which are “affiliated persons” of the Trust, the Manager or the Trust’s subadvisors.
4. Information Provided to the Manager and the Trust and to the Subadvisor
(a) The Subadvisor agrees that it will make available to the Manager and the Trust promptly upon their request copies of all of its investment records and ledgers with respect to the Fund Account to assist the Manager and the Trust in monitoring compliance with the Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable laws. The Subadvisor will furnish the Trust’s Board of Trustees with such periodic and special reports with respect to the Fund Account as the Manager or the Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
(b) The Subadvisor agrees that it will notify the Manager and the Trust in the event that the Subadvisor or any of its affiliates: (i) becomes subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Subadvisor from serving as investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) is or expects to become the subject of a administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority. Notification of an event within (i) shall be given immediately; notification of an event within (ii) shall be given promptly. The Subadvisor has provided the information about itself set forth in the Registration Statement and has reviewed the description of its operations, duties and responsibilities as stated therein and acknowledges that they are true and correct in all material respects and contain no material misstatement or omission, and it further agrees to notify the Manager immediately of any fact known to the Subadvisor respecting or relating to the Subadvisor that causes any statement in the Prospectus to become untrue or misleading in any material respect or that causes the Prospectus to omit to state a material fact.
(c) The Subadvisor represents that it is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act and other applicable laws and that the statements contained in the Subadvisor’s registration under the Advisers Act on Form ADV as of the date hereof, are true and correct and do not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Subadvisor agrees to maintain the completeness and accuracy in all material respects of its registration on Form ADV in accordance with all legal requirements relating to that Form. The Subadvisor acknowledges that it is an “investment adviser” to the Fund within the meaning of the Act and the Advisers Act.
3
5. Compensation. The compensation of the Subadvisor for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Manager in accordance with the attached Schedule A. Pursuant to the provisions of the Management Agreement between the Trust and the Manager, the Manager is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadvisor, and the Subadvisor agrees to seek payment of its fees solely from the Manager and not from the Trust or the Fund.
6. Other Investment Activities of the Subadvisor. The Manager acknowledges that the Subadvisor or one or more of its affiliates may have investment responsibilities or render investment advice to or perform other investment advisory services for other individuals or entities (“Affiliated Accounts”). The Manager agrees that the Subadvisor or its affiliates may give advice or exercise investment responsibility and take such other action with respect to other Affiliated Accounts which may differ from the advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Fund Account, provided that the Subadvisor acts in good faith and provided further, that it is the Subadvisor’s policy to allocate, within its reasonable discretion, investment opportunities to the Fund Account over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis relative to the Affiliated Accounts, taking into account the investment objectives and policies of the Fund and any specific investment restrictions applicable thereto. The Manager acknowledges that one or more of the Affiliated Accounts may at any time hold, acquire, increase, decrease, dispose or otherwise deal with positions in investments in which the Fund Account may have an interest from time to time, whether in transactions which involve the Fund Account or otherwise. The Subadvisor shall have no obligation to acquire for the Fund Account a position in any investment which any Affiliated Account may acquire, and the Fund Account shall have no first refusal, co-investment or other rights in respect of any such investment, either for the Fund Account or otherwise.
7. Standard of Care. The Subadvisor shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the services provided by it under this Agreement. The Subadvisor shall not be liable for any act or omission, error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Manager or the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to protect or purport to protect the Subadvisor against any liability to the Manager or the Trust or to holders of the Trust’s shares representing interests in the Fund to which the Subadvisor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of the Subadvisor’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8. Assignment. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Act and in the rules adopted under the Act). The Subadvisor shall notify the Trust in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Trust to consider whether an assignment under the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadvisor or such other steps as the Board of Trustees may deem appropriate.
9. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement between the Subadvisor and the Manager, which amendment is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Trust in the manner required by the Act.
10. Effective Date; Term. This Agreement shall become effective on June 30, 2016, and shall continue in effect for two years from June 30, 2016. Thereafter, the Agreement shall continue in effect only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees, or the shareholders of the Fund in the manner required by the Act. The aforesaid requirement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
4
11. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by (i) the Manager at any time without penalty, upon reasonable written notice to the Subadvisor and the Trust, (ii) at any time without penalty by the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Subadvisor or (iii) by the Subadvisor at any time without penalty, upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Manager and the Trust.
12. Confidentiality. The Subadvisor shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and actions of the Fund, the Manager and the Subadvisor, provided that it may disclose such information to those third parties required to carry out its duties hereunder, and the Manager shall treat as confidential all information furnished to the Fund or the Manager by the Subadvisor in connection with its duties under the Agreement, provided that it may disclose such information to those third parties required to carry out its duties hereunder, except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law so long as the Manager provides Subadvisor with prompt notice of such disclosure, if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Subadvisor or the Manager, or if available from a source other than the Manager, Subadvisor or the Fund.
13. Severability. 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 but shall continue in full force and effect.
14. Applicable Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed, and enforced according to the laws of the State of Connecticut.
| AMG FUNDS LLC | ||
| BY: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| DATE: | June 30, 2016 | |
| Accepted: | ||
| CADENCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
| BY: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
| DATE: | June 30, 2016 | |
5
| Acknowledged: | ||
| AMG FUNDS III | ||
| BY: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| DATE: | June 30, 2016 | |
| SCHEDULES: | A. Fee Schedule. |
6
SCHEDULE A
SUBADVISOR FEE
For services provided to the Fund Account, the Manager will pay a base quarterly fee for each calendar quarter at an annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets in the Fund Account during the quarter. Average assets shall be determined using the average daily net assets in the Fund Account during the quarter. The fee shall be pro-rated for any calendar quarter during which the contract is in effect for only a portion of the quarter.
7
