AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into this 27th day of January, 2000, and amended and restated effective as of February 1, 2004, by and between SECURITY EQUITY FUND, a Kansas corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), and SECURITY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC, a Kansas limited liability company (hereinafter referred to as "SMC");
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is engaged in business as an open-end, management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, SMC is willing to provide investment research and advice to the Fund on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements made herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. |
Employment of SMC. The Fund hereby employs SMC to act as investment adviser to the Fund with respect to the investment of its assets and to supervise and arrange for the purchase of securities of the Fund and the sales of securities held in the portfolio of the Fund, subject always to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund (or a duly appointed committee thereof), during the period and upon and subject to the terms and conditions described herein. SMC agrees to maintain sufficient trained personnel and equipment and supplies to perform its responsibilities under this Agreement and in conformity with the current Prospectus of the Fund and such other reasonable standards of performance as the Fund may from time to time specify. |
SMC hereby accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services required by this Agreement for the compensation herein provided. |
|
2. |
Allocation of Expenses and Charges. |
(a) Expenses of SMC. SMC shall pay all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement, except as provided otherwise herein. |
|
(b) Expenses of the Fund. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Fund shall pay or reimburse SMC for the payment of the following described expenses of the Fund whether or not billed to the Fund, SMC or any related entity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Expense Cap. For each of the Fund's full fiscal years that this Agreement remains in force, SMC agrees that if total annual expenses of each Series of the Fund identified below, exclusive of interest, taxes, extraordinary expenses (such as litigation), brokerage fees and commissions, and 12b-1 fees paid under a Fund's Class A, Class B or Class C Distribution Plans, but inclusive of SMC's compensation, exceeds the amount set forth below (the "Expense Cap"), SMC shall contribute to such Series such funds or waive such portion of its fee, adjusted monthly, as may be required to insure that the total annual expenses of the Series shall not exceed the Expense Cap. If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a Series' fiscal year, then the maximum annual expenses shall be prorated for such portion. |
|
Expense Cap |
|
3. |
Compensation of SMC. |
|
(a) As compensation for the investment advisory services to be rendered by SMC to Global Series, Social Awareness Series, Small Cap Growth Series and Large Cap Growth Series, for each of the years this Agreement is in effect, each of the foregoing Series shall pay SMC an annual fee equal to 1.00% of its respective average daily net assets. Such fee shall be calculated daily and payable monthly. As compensation for the investment advisory services to be rendered by SMC to Equity Series, Enhanced Index Series and Select 25 Series for each of the years this Agreement is in effect, each of the foregoing Series shall pay SMC an annual fee equal to 0.75% of its respective average daily net assets. Such fee shall be calculated daily and payable monthly. As compensation for the investment advisory services to be rendered by SMC to Mid Cap Value Series for each of the years this Agreement is in effect, the Mid Cap Value Series shall pay SMC an annual fee equal to 1.00% of its average daily net assets of $200 million or less; plus an annual rate of 0.75% of its average daily net assets of more than $200 million. Such fee shall be calculated daily and payable monthly. As compensation for the investment advisory services to be rendered by SMC to Alpha Opportunity Series, Alpha Opportunity Series shall pay SMC a fee as described in paragraphs 3(c) and 3(d) below. If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a year, then SMC's compensation for said year shall be prorated for such portion. For purposes of this Section 3, the value of the net assets of each Series shall be computed in the same manner at the end of the business day as the value of such net assets is computed in connection with the determination of the net asset value of the Fund's shares as described in the Fund's prospectus. |
|
(b) For each of the Fund's fiscal years this Agreement remains in force, SMC agrees that if total annual expenses of any Series of the Fund, exclusive of interest and taxes, extraordinary expenses (such as litigation) and distribution fees paid under the Fund's Class A, Class B and Class C Distribution Plans, but inclusive of SMC's compensation, exceed any expense limitation imposed by state securities law or regulation in any state in which shares of such Series of the Fund are then qualified for sale, as such regulations may be amended from time to time, SMC will contribute to such Series such funds or waive such portion of its fee, adjusted monthly, as may be requisite to insure that such annual expenses will not exceed any such limitation. If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of any Series' fiscal year, then the maximum annual expenses shall be prorated for such portion. Brokerage fees and commissions incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of any securities by a Series shall not be deemed to be expenses within the meaning of this paragraph (b). |
|
(c) Base Fee. As compensation for the investment advisory services to be rendered by SMC to Alpha Opportunity Series, the Series shall pay SMC at the end of each calendar month, an advisory fee (the "Base Fee") equal to 2.00%, on an annual basis, of the Alpha Opportunity Series' average daily net assets. The Base Fee shall be computed daily and paid monthly. If SMC shall serve for less than the whole of any calendar month, the Base Fee shall be calculated on a pro rata basis for the portion of the month for which it has served as adviser. During the first 12 months of operations, the fee will be charged at the Base Fee of 2.00% without any adjustment as discussed in paragraph (d) below. |
|
(d) Base Fee Adjustment. Beginning in the 13th month of operations, the Base Fee of 2.00% will be adjusted upward or downward on a monthly basis based upon the performance of the Series relative to the performance of the S&P 500 Index (the "Index"). The maximum or minimum adjustment is 0.75% annually. Therefore, the maximum annual fee payable to SMC shall be 2.75% of the Series' average daily net assets, and the minimum annual fee shall be 1.25% of the Series' average daily net assets. The pro rata adjustment upward or downward will be determined based upon the performance of the Class A shares of the Series in excess of, or below, that of the Index. The amount of any upward adjustment in the Base Fee shall be equal to 0.75% multiplied by the ratio of the number of percentage points by which the performance of the Series exceeds the performance of the Index as compared to 15 percentage points. For example, if the performance of the Series was 6.6% and that of the Index was 0%, the ratio would be 6.6 to 15, or 44%, times 0.75%, for an upward adjustment of 0.33%. The amount of any downward adjustment in the Base Fee will be equal to 0.75% multiplied by the ratio of the number of percentage points by which the performance of the Series is less than the performance of the Index as compared to 15 percentage points. For example, if the performance of the Series was -10.0% and that of the Index was 0%, the ratio would be 10 to 15, or 66.66%, times 0.75%, for a downward adjustment of 0.50%. |
|
In determining the Base Fee adjustment, if any, applicable during any month, SMC will compare the investment performance of the Class A shares of the Alpha Opportunity Series for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the prior month (the "Performance Period") to the investment record of the Index during the Performance Period. The investment performance of the Series will be determined by adding together (i) the change in the net asset value of Class A shares during the Performance Period, (ii) the value of cash distributions made by the Series to holders of its Class A shares to the end of the Performance Period, and (iii) the value of capital gains per share, if any, paid on undistributed realized long-term gains accumulated to the end of the Performance Period, and will be expressed as a percentage of the net asset value per share of the Class A shares at the beginning of the Performance Period. The investment performance of the Index will be determined by adding together (i) the change in the level of the Index during the Performance Period, and (ii) the value, computed consistently with the Index, of cash distributions made by companies whose securities comprise the Index accumulated to the end of the Performance Period, and will be expressed as a percentage of the Index at the beginning of the Performance Period. |
|
After it determines any Base Fee adjustment, SMC will determine the dollar amount of additional fees or fee reductions to be accrued for each day of a month by multiplying the Base Fee adjustment by the average daily net assets of the Fund during the Performance Period and dividing that number by the number of days in the Performance Period and then multiplying that amount by the number of days in the current month. The Base Fee, as adjusted, is accrued daily and paid monthly and shall be prorated in any month for which this Agreement is not in effect for the entire month. |
4. |
Investment Advisory Duties. |
|
(a) Investment Advice. SMC shall regularly provide the Fund with investment research, advice and supervision, continuously furnish an investment program, recommend which securities shall be purchased and sold and what portion of the assets of the Fund shall be held uninvested and arrange for the purchase of securities and other investments for the Fund and the sale of securities and other investments held in the portfolio of the Fund. All investment advice furnished by SMC to the Fund under this Section 4 shall at all times conform to any requirements imposed by the provisions of the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and other applicable provisions of law, and the terms of the registration statements of the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") and/or the 1940 Act, as may be applicable at the time, all as from time to time amended. SMC shall advise and assist the officers or other agents of the Fund in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of the Board of Directors of the Fund (and any duly appointed committee thereof) with regard to the foregoing matters and the general account of the Fund's business. |
|
(b) Subadvisers. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and any applicable exemptions thereto, SMC is authorized, but is under no obligation, to enter into sub-advisory agreements (the "Sub-Advisory Agreements") with one or more subadvisers (each a "Subadviser") to provide investment advisory services to any series of the Fund. Each Subadviser shall have investment discretion with respect to the assets of the series assigned to that Subadviser by SMC. Consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act and any applicable exemption thereto, SMC may enter into Sub-Advisory Agreements or amend Sub-Advisory Agreements without the approval of the shareholders of the affected series. |
|
(c) Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) Limitation of Liability of SMC with Respect to Rendering Investment Advisory Services. So long as SMC shall give the Fund the benefit of its best judgment and effort in rendering investment advisory services hereunder, SMC shall not be liable for any errors of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss sustained by reason of the adoption of any investment policy or the purchase, sale or retention of any security on its recommendation shall have been based upon its own investigation and research or upon investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been made and such other individual, firm or corporation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith. Nothing herein contained shall, however, be construed to protect SMC against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders 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 under this Section 4. As used in this Section 4, "SMC" shall include directors, officers and employees of SMC, as well as SMC itself. |
5. |
Other Activities Not Restricted. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent SMC or any officer thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation, nor shall it in any way limit or restrict SMC or any of its directors, officers, stockholders or employees from buying, selling, or trading any securities for their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom they may be acting; provided, however, that SMC expressly represents that it will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will conflict with the performance of its obligations to the Fund under this Agreement. The Fund acknowledges that SMC acts as investment adviser to other investment companies, and it expressly consents to SMC acting as such; provided, however, that if in the opinion of SMC, particular securities are consistent with the investment objectives of, and desirable purchases or sales for the portfolios of one or more of such other investment companies or series of such companies at approximately the same time, such purchases or sales will be made on a proportionate basis if feasible, and if not feasible, then on a rotating or other equitable basis. |
6. |
Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time, without shareholder approval to the extent permitted by applicable law, by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto. Any change in the Fund's registration statements or other documents of compliance or in the forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by its current Prospectus which would require a change in SMC's obligations hereunder shall be subject to SMC's approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. |
7. |
Duration and Termination of Agreement. This Agreement became effective May 1, 2002, and was amended and restated effective as of February 1, 2004. This Agreement shall continue in force until January 1, 2005, and for successive 12-month periods thereafter, unless terminated, provided each such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors of the Fund, and the vote of a majority of the directors of the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of any such party cast in person at a meeting of such directors called for the purpose of voting upon such approval, or (b) by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each series of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). In the event a majority of the outstanding shares of one series vote for continuance of the Agreement, it will be continued for that series even though the Agreement is not approved by either a majority of the outstanding shares of any other series or by a majority of outstanding shares of the Fund. |
|
Upon this Agreement becoming effective, any previous Agreement between the Fund and SMC providing for investment advisory services shall concurrently terminate, except that such termination shall not affect any fees accrued and guarantees of expenses with respect to any period prior to termination. |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time as to any series of the Fund without payment of any penalty, by the Fund upon the vote of a majority of the Fund's Board of Directors or, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable series of the Fund, or by SMC, in each case on sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act). |
|
8. |
Severability. If any clause or provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term hereof, then such clause or provision shall be considered severed herefrom and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. |
9. |
Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be subject to and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Kansas. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereto duly authorized on the day, month and year first above written. |
|
By |
|
Title: |
President |
ATTEST: |
Secretary |
SECURITY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC |
|
By |
|
Title: |
President |
ATTEST: |
Secretary |