INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this ____ day of _________, 1998, by and between The
Advisors' Inner Circle Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and
LSV Asset Management (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end, diversified management investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the
"1940 Act") consisting of several series of shares, each having its own
investment policies; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has retained SEI Fund Resources (the "Administrator") to
provide administration of the Trust's operations, subject to the control of the
Board of Trustees;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment
management services with respect to its LSV Value Equity Fund and such other
portfolios as the Trust and the Adviser may agree upon (the "Portfolios"), and
the Adviser is willing to render such services:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER. The Trust employs the Adviser to manage
the investment and reinvestment of the assets, and to
continuously review, supervise, and administer the investment
program of the Portfolios, to determine in its discretion the
securities to be purchased or sold, to provide the Administrator
and the Trust with records concerning the Adviser's activities
which the Trust is required to maintain, and to render regular
reports to the Administrator and to the Trust's Officers and
Trustees concerning the Adviser's discharge of the foregoing
responsibilities.
The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities
subject to the control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and
in compliance with such policies as the Trustees may from time to
time establish, and in compliance with the objectives, policies,
and limitations for each such Portfolio set forth in the
Portfolio's prospectus and statement of additional information as
amended from time to time, and applicable laws and regulations.
The Adviser accepts such employment and agrees, at its own
expense, to render the services and to provide the office space,
furnishings and equipment and the personnel required by it to
perform the services on the terms and for
the compensation provided herein.
2. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS. The Adviser is authorized to select the
brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of
portfolio securities for the Portfolios and is directed to use
its best efforts to obtain the best net results as described from
time to time in the Portfolios' Prospectuses and Statement of
Additional Information. The Adviser will promptly communicate to
the Administrator and to the officers and the Trustees of the
Trust such information relating to portfolio transactions as they
may reasonably request.
It is understood that the Adviser will not be deemed to have
acted unlawfully, or to have breached a fiduciary duty to the
Trust or be in breach of any obligation owing to the Trust under
this Agreement, or otherwise, by reason of its having directed a
securities transaction on behalf of the Trust to a broker-dealer
in compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or as described from time to time
by the Portfolios' Prospectuses and Statement of Additional
Information.
3. COMPENSATION OF THE ADVISER. For the services to be rendered by
the Adviser as provided in Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement,
the Trust shall pay to the Adviser compensation at the rate
specified in the Schedule(s) which are attached hereto and made a
part of this Agreement. Such compensation shall be paid to the
Adviser at the end of each month, and calculated by applying a
daily rate, based on the annual percentage rates as specified in
the attached Schedule(s), to the assets. The fee shall be based
on the average daily net assets for the month involved.
All rights of compensation under this Agreement for services
performed as of the termination date shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
4. OTHER EXPENSES. The Adviser shall pay all expenses of printing
and mailing reports, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, and sales literature relating to the solicitation of
prospective clients. The Trust shall pay all expenses relating
to mailing to existing shareholders prospectuses, statements of
additional information, proxy solicitation material and
shareholder reports.
5. EXCESS EXPENSES. If the expenses for any Portfolio for any
fiscal year (including fees and other amounts payable to the
Adviser, but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage costs,
litigation, and other extraordinary costs) as calculated every
business day would exceed the expense limitations imposed on
investment companies by any applicable statute or regulatory
authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of a Portfolio are
qualified for offer
and sale, the Adviser shall bear such excess cost.
However, the Adviser will not bear expenses of any Portfolio
which would result in the Portfolio's inability to qualify as a
regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code. Payment of expenses by the Adviser pursuant to
this Section 5 shall be settled on a monthly basis (subject to
fiscal year end reconciliation) by a reduction in the fee payable
to the Adviser for such month pursuant to Section 3 and, if such
reduction shall be insufficient to offset such expenses, by
reimbursing the Trust.
6. REPORTS. The Trust and the Adviser agree to furnish to each
other, if applicable, current prospectuses, proxy statements,
reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial
statements, and such other information with regard to their
affairs as each may reasonably request.
7. STATUS OF THE ADVISER. The services of the Adviser to the Trust
are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to
render similar services to others so long as its services to the
Trust are not impaired thereby. The Adviser shall be deemed to
be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise
expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or
represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of
the Trust.
8. CERTAIN RECORDS. Any records required to be maintained and
preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2
promulgated under the 1940 Act which are prepared or maintained
by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the
Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust on request.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE ADVISER. The duties of the
Adviser shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein,
and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against
the Adviser hereunder. The Adviser 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 carrying out its
duties hereunder, except a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of
its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations
and duties hereunder, except as may otherwise be provided under
provisions of applicable state law or Federal securities law
which cannot be waived or modified hereby. (As used in this
Paragraph 9, the term "Adviser" shall include directors,
officers, employees and other corporate agents of the Adviser as
well as that corporation itself).
10. PERMISSIBLE INTERESTS. Trustees, agents, and shareholders of the
Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor
thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or shareholders, or
otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents, and
shareholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust
as Trustees, shareholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any
successor) is or may be interested in the Trust as a shareholder
or otherwise. In addition, brokerage transactions for the Trust
may be effected through affiliates of the Adviser if approved by
the Board of Trustees, subject to the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
11. LICENSE OF THE ADVISER'S NAME. The Adviser hereby agrees to
grant a license to the Trust for use of its name in the names of
the Portfolios for the term of this Agreement and such license
shall terminate upon termination of this Agreement.
12. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement, unless sooner
terminated as provided herein, shall remain in effect until two
years from date of execution, and thereafter, for periods of one
year so long as such continuance thereafter is specifically
approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those
Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or
interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of each Portfolio; provided, however, that if
the shareholders of any Portfolio fail to approve the Agreement
as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder
in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and
rules and regulations thereunder. The foregoing requirement that
continuance of this Agreement be "specifically approved at least
annually" shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
This Agreement may be terminated as to any Portfolio at any time,
without the payment of any penalty by vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Portfolio on not less than 30 days nor
more than 60 days written notice to the Adviser, or by the
Adviser at any time without the payment of any penalty, on 90
days written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its
assignment. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in
writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the
other party at any office of such party.
As used in this Section 11, the terms "assignment", "interested
persons", and a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities" shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder; subject to such exemptions as may be
granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act.
14. CHANGE IN THE ADVISER'S MEMBERSHIP. The Adviser agrees that it
shall notify the Trust of any change in the membership of the
Adviser within a reasonable time after such change.
15. NOTICE. Any notice required or permitted to be given by either
party to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the
party giving notice to the other party at the last address
furnished by the other party to the party giving notice: if to
the Trust, at Xxxx, XX 00000 and if to the Adviser at
16. 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.
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to
conflict of law principles; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940
Act.
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with
the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given
that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as
Trustees, and is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders
of the Trust individually but binding only upon the assets and property of the
Trust.
No portfolio of the Trust shall be liable for the obligations of any other
portfolio of the Trust. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Adviser shall look only to the assets of the Portfolios for payment of fees for
services rendered to the Portfolios.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
as of the day and year first written above.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
By:
-----------------------------
Attest:
-------------------------
LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT
By:
-----------------------------
Attest:
-------------------------
SCHEDULE
TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND
AND
LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT
Pursuant to Article 3, the Trust shall pay the Adviser compensation at an annual
rate as follows:
Portfolio Fee (in basis points)
---------------------- ------------------------------------
LSV Value Equity Fund .55% of the average daily net assets