EXHIBIT 23 (d)(7)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), made this __ day
of May, 2002 by and between Xxxxxx Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the "Advisor"), and PIMCO Advisory Services Holdings LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("PASH") and NFJ Investment Group L.P. a Delaware
limited partnership ("NFJ") and together with PASH, ("Sub-Advisors").
Advisor and Sub-Advisor agree as follows:
1. Advisor hereby engages the services of Sub-Advisors in connection with
Advisor's management of the Xxxxxx/PIMCO Small-Cap Value Portfolio (the
"Portfolio") of MLIG Variable Insurance Trust (the "Trust"). Pursuant to this
Agreement and subject to the oversight and supervision by Advisor and the
officers and the board of trustees of the Trust, Sub-Advisers shall manage the
investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Portfolio
that the Advisor shall, from time to time, direct.
2. Sub-Advisors hereby accept appointment by Advisor in the foregoing
capacity and agree, at their own expense, to render the services set forth
herein and to provide the office space, furnishings, equipment and personnel
required by it to perform such services on the terms and for the compensation
provided in this Agreement.
3. PASH shall allocate responsibilities between itself and NFJ for
specific tasks under this Agreement. In accordance with that duty, PASH hereby
assigns to NFJ the responsibilities forfurnishing continuously an investment
program for the Portfolio and determining from time to time in its discretion
the securities and other investments to be purchased or sold or exchanged and
what portions of the Portfolio shall be held in various securities, cash or
other investments. PASH hereby accepts that responsibility. In this
connection, PASH or NFJ shall provide Advisor and the officers and trustees of
the Trust with such reports and documentation as the latter shall reasonably
request regarding NFJ's management of the Portfolio assets. PASH shall also
supervise NFJ in its provision of services under this Agreement and shall
provide the Portfolio with certain support as required by this Agreeement.
4. NFJ shall carry out its responsibilities under this Agreement in
compliance with: (a) the Portfolio's investment objective, policies and
restrictions as set forth in the Trust's current registration statement, (b)
such policies or directives as the Trust's trustees may from time to time
establish or issue and communicate to the Sub-Advisors in writing, and (c)
applicable law and related regulations. Advisor shall promptly notify
Sub-Advisors in writing of changes to (a) or (b) above and shall notify
Sub-Advisors in writing of changes to (c) above promptly after it becomes
aware of such changes.
In particular, Sub-Advisors shall be responsible to ensure that the
Portfolio: (a) complies with the diversification requirements of Section
817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, (the "Code") and regulations issued thereunder as these
apply to separate accounts through which variable life insurance contracts and
variable annuity contracts are issued, and (b) continuously qualifies as a
regulated investment company under Sub-Chapter M of the Code.
5. NFJ shall take all actions which it considers necessary to implement
the investment policies of the Portfolio as these relate to the Portfolio, and
in particular, to place all orders for the purchase or sale of securities or
other investments for the Portfolio with brokers or dealers selected by it,
and to that end, NFJ is authorized as the agent of the Trust to give
instructions to the Trust's custodian as to deliveries of securities or other
investments and payments of cash for the account of the Portfolio. In
connection with the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing of
purchase and sale orders with respect to investments of the Portfolio, except
where Advisor or the Trust instruct Sub-Advisors to place orders with a
particular broker or dealer, NFJ is directed at all times to seek to obtain
best execution and price within the policy guidelines determined by the
Trust's board of trustees and set forth in the Trust's current registration
statement.
To the extent permitted by the policy guidelines set forth in the
Trust's current registration statement, NFJ is authorized to consider, in the
selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions, not only
the available prices and rates of brokerage commissions, but also other
relevant factors which may include, without limitation: (a) the execution
capabilities of such brokers and dealers, (b) research, custody and other
services provided by such brokers and dealers which the NFJ believes will
enhance its general portfolio management capabilities, (c) the size of the
transaction, (d) the difficulty of execution, (e) the operational facilities
of such brokers and dealers, (f) the risk to such a broker or dealer of
positioning a block of securities, and (g) the overall quality of brokerage
and research services provided by such brokers and dealers. In connection with
the foregoing, NFJ is specifically authorized to pay those brokers and dealers
who provide brokerage and research services to it a higher commission than
that charged by other brokers and dealers if the NFJ determines in good faith
that the amount of such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of
such services in terms of either the particular transaction or in terms of
Sub-Advisors' overall responsibilities with respect to the Portfolio and to
any other client accounts or portfolios which NFJ advises. The execution of
such transactions shall not be considered to represent an unlawful breach of
any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise.
In connection with the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing
of purchase and sale orders with respect to investments of the Portfolio, when
instructed to do so by either the Trust or the Advisor, NFJ agrees and is
authorized to place orders with one or more brokers or dealers identified by
the Trust or Advisor (including brokers or dealers who are affiliated persons
of the Trust or Advisor). The execution of such transactions shall not be
considered to represent an unlawful breach of any duty created by this
Agreement or otherwise.
NFJ also is authorized to aggregate purchase and sale orders for
securities held (or to be held) in the Portfolio with similar orders being
made on the same day for other client accounts or
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portfolios managed byNFJ. When an order is so aggregated: (a) the actual
prices applicable to the aggregated transaction will be averaged and the
Portfolio and each other account or portfolio participating in the aggregated
transaction shall be treated as having purchased or sold its portion of the
securities at such average price, and (b) all transaction costs incurred in
effecting the aggregated transaction shall be shared on a pro-rata basis among
the accounts or portfolios (including the Portfolio) participating in the
transaction. Advisor recognizes that in some cases this procedure may
adversely affect the size of the position obtainable for the Portfolio.
When recommending or effecting a transaction in a particular security
or investment for more than one client account or portfolio (including the
Portfolio), NFJ may allocate such recommendations or transactions among all
accounts and portfolios for whom the recommendation is made or transaction is
effected on a basis that NFJ considers equitable.
6. Sub-Advisors' services under this Agreement are not exclusive.
Sub-Advisors may provide the same or similar services to other clients.
Advisor acknowledges that, except when transactions for multiple clients are
aggregated, transactions in a specific security or other investment may not be
recommended or executed at the same time or price for all client accounts or
portfolios (including the Portfolio) for which that security or investment is
recommended or executed. This Agreement does not require Sub-Advisors to give
priority to the Portfolio over other client accounts or portfolios.
7. Sub-Advisors shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an
independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or
authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Advisor, the Trust
or the Portfolio or otherwise be deemed agents of the Advisor, the Trust or
the Portfolio.
8. Sub-Advisors or an affiliated person of Sub-Advisors may act as broker
for the Portfolio in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or
other investments for the Portfolio, subject to: (a) the requirement that
Sub-Advisors seek to obtain best execution and price within the policy
guidelines determined by the Trust's board of trustees and set forth in the
Trust's current registration statement; (b) the provisions of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"); (c) the provisions of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (d) other applicable
provisions of law. Such brokerage services are not within the scope of the
duties of Sub-Advisors under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of
applicable law and any procedures adopted by Trust's board of trustees,
Sub-Advisors or theiraffiliated persons may receive brokerage commissions,
fees or other remuneration from the Portfolio or the Trust for such services
in addition to Sub-Advisors' fees for services under this Agreement.
9. The Advisor delegates the Advisor's discretionary authority to
exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and other investments in
the Portfolio to NFJ. NFJ shall exercise these voting rights unless and until
the Advisor revokes this delegation. The Advisor may revoke this delegation at
any time without cause. NFJ shall maintain and preserve a record, in an
easily-accessible place for a period of not less than three years, ofNFJ's
voting procedures, and of
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NFJ's actual votes, and shall supply this record to the Advisor, or any
authorized representative of the Advisor, upon the written request of the
Advisor or the Advisor's authorized representative, as appropriate.
10. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Sub-Advisors to take or
receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of the
Portfolio.
11. Sub-Advisors are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Advisers Act. Sub-Advisors shall remain so registered
throughout the term of this Agreement and shall notify Advisor immediately if
Sub-Advisors cease to be so registered as an investment adviser.
12. Sub-Advisors: (a) are duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, (b) have the authority to
enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement, (c) are
not prohibited by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940
Act") or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this
Agreement, (d) have met, and will continue to seek to meet for the duration of
this Agreement, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the
applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency,
necessary to be met in order to perform the services this Agreement, and (e)
will promptly notify Advisor of the occurrence of any event that would
disqualify either from serving as an investment adviser to an investment
company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act.
13. Advisor: (a) is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry
on its business as it is now being conducted, (b) has the authority to enter
into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement, (c) is not
prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services
contemplated by this Agreement, (d) has met, and will continue to seek to meet
for the duration of this Agreement, any other applicable federal or state
requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry
self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met in order to perform the services
this Agreement, and (e) will promptly notify Sub-Advisors of the occurrence of
any event that would disqualify it from serving as an investment adviser to an
investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act. Advisor
represents that the Trust is (and during the term of this Agreement, will
remain) registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940
Act and that the shares of the Trust representing an interest in the Portfolio
are (and during the term of this Agreement will remain) registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and under any applicable state securities laws.
14. Sub-Advisors have adopted a written code of ethics complying with the
requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide Advisor and the
Trust with a copy of that code, together with evidence of its adoption. Within
20 days of the end of each calendar quarter during which this Agreement
remains in effect, the president or a vice president of Sub-Advisors shall
certify to Advisor or the Trust that Sub-Advisor has complied with the
requirements of Rule 17j-
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1 during the previous quarter and that there have been no violations of
Sub-Advisors' codes of ethics or, if such a violation has occurred, that
appropriate action has been taken in response to such violation. Upon written
request of Advisor or the Trust, Sub-Advisors shall permit representatives of
Advisor or the Trust to examine the reports (or summaries of the reports)
required to be made to Sub-Advisors by Rule 17j-1(c)(1) and other records
evidencing enforcement of the code of ethics.
15. For the services rendered, the facilities furnished and the expenses
assumed by Sub-Advisers, Adviser shall pay Sub-Advisor at the end of each
month a fee based on the average daily net assets of the Portfolio at the
following annual rates:
0.44% on the first $200 million
0.35% on the next $200 million
and
0.30% on amounts in excess of $400 million
Sub-Advisors' fee shall be accrued daily at 1/365th of the applicable annual
rate set forth above. For the purpose of accruing compensation, the net assets
of the Portfolio shall be determined in the manner and on the dates set forth
in the current prospectus of the Trust, and, on days on which the net assets
are not so determined, the net asset value computation to be used shall be as
determined on the immediately preceding day on which the net assets were
determined. In the event of termination of this Agreement, all compensation
due through the date of termination will be calculated on a pro-rated basis
through the date of termination and paid within thirty business days of the
date of termination.
During any period when the determination of net asset value is
suspended, the net asset value of the Portfolio as of the last business day
prior to such suspension shall for this purpose be deemed to be the net asset
value at the close of each succeeding business day until it is again
determined.
16. Sub-Advisors hereby undertakes and agrees to maintain, in the form and
for the period required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act, all records relating
to the Portfolio's investments that are required to be maintained by the Trust
pursuant to the requirements of paragraphs (b)(5), (b)(6), (b)(7), (b)(9),
(b)(10) and (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Advisors agrees that all books and records which it maintains for
the Portfolio or the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Advisor or the Trust any such books, records or
information upon the Advisor's or the Trust's reasonable request (provided,
however, that Sub-Advisors may retain copies of such records). All such books
and records shall be made available, within five business days of a written
request, to the Trust's accountants or auditors during regular business hours
at Sub-Advisor's offices. Advisor and the Trust or either of their authorized
representative shall have the right to copy any records in the possession of
Sub-Advisors which pertain to the Portfolio or the Trust. Such books, records,
information or reports shall be made available to properly authorized
government
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representatives consistent with state and federal law and/or regulations. In
the event of the termination of this Agreement, all such books, records or
other information shall be returned to Advisor or the Trust.
The Sub-Advisors agree that the policies and procedures established by the
Sub-Advisors for managing the Portfolio, including, but not limited to, all
policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with federal and state
regulations governing the sub-adviser/client relationship and management and
operation of the Portfolio, shall be made available for inspection by the
Advisor and the Trust or either of their authorized representatives not less
frequently than annually.
17. Sub-Advisors agree that they will not disclose or use any records or
confidential information obtained pursuant to this Agreement in any manner
whatsoever except as authorized in this Agreement or specifically by Advisor
or the Trust, or if such disclosure is required by federal or state regulatory
authorities.
Sub-Advisors may disclose the investment performance of the Portfolio,
provided that such disclosure does not reveal the identity of the Advisor, the
Portfolio or the Trust. Sub-Advisors may, however, disclose that Advisor, the
Trust and the Portfolio are its clients, provided that such disclosure does
not reveal the investment performance or the composition of the Portfolio.
18. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence
on the part of Sub-Advisors or their officers, trustees or employees, or
reckless disregard by Sub-Advisors of their duties under this Agreement
(together, "disabling conduct"), Sub-Advisors shall not be liable to Advisor,
the Portfolio, the Trust or to any shareholder of the Portfolio for any act or
omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or
for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any
security, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 36(b) of the 1940
Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to
the receipt of compensation for services. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
breach by the Sub-Advisors of the second paragraph of section 4 hereof is
deemed to be disabling conduct.
19. Sub-Advisors agree to indemnify and defend Advisor, its officers,
trustees, partners, employees and any person who controls Advisor for any loss
or expense (including attorneys' fees) arising out of any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding arising out of any actual or alleged material
misstatement or omission in the Trust's registration statement, any proxy
statement, or communication to current or prospective investors in the
Portfolio relating to disclosure about Sub-Advisors provided to Advisor by
Sub-Advisor.
Sub-Advisors agree to indemnify and defend Advisor, its officers,
trustees, partners, employees and any person who controls Advisor for any loss
or expense (including attorneys' fees) arising out of any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding arising out of the Sub-Advisor's failure to ensure
that the Portfolio: (a) complies with the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations issued thereunder as these apply to
separate
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accounts through which variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity
contracts are issued, and (b) continuously qualifies as a regulated investment
company under Sub-Chapter M of the Code.
20. Advisor agrees to indemnify and defend Sub-Advisors, their officers,
trustees, partners, employees and any person who controls Sub-Advisors for any
loss or expense (including attorneys' fees) arising out of any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding arising out of any actual or alleged material
misstatement or omission in the Trust's registration statement, any proxy
statement, or other communication to current or prospective investors in the
Portfolio (other than a misstatement or omission relating to disclosure about
Sub-Advisors approved by the Sub-Advisors or provided to Advisor or the Trust
by Sub-Advisors).
21. The Sub-Advisors agree to permit the Advisor and the Trust to use its
name, along side the Advisor's name, in the Portfolio's name and in
descriptions of the Portfolio, as these appear in the Trust's prospectus(es)
and/or sales literature related to the Portfolio, provided, however, that the
Advisor and the Trust shall cease such use of the Sub-Advisor's name in the
event that this Agreement is terminated.
22. This Agreement shall not become effective unless and until it is
approved by the board of trustees of the Trust, including a majority of
trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any
such party to this Agreement, and, to the extent required by law, a majority
of the outstanding shares of the class of the Trust's stock representing an
interest in the Portfolio. This Agreement shall come into full force and
effect on the date which it is so approved. This Agreement shall continue in
effect for two years and shall thereafter continue in effect from year to year
so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a)
the board of trustees of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the class of stock representing an interest in the
Portfolio, and (b) a majority of those trustees 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.
23. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement
may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty, by the
Trust's board of trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares
of the class of stock representing an interest in the Portfolio on sixty days
written notice to the Advisor and Sub-Advisors, or by the Advisor, or by the
Sub-Advisors, on sixty days written notice to the other. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment or in the event of the
termination of the investment advisory agreement between the Advisor and the
Trust regarding the Advisor's management of the Portfolio.
24. This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by (a) a majority of those trustees 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, if required by
applicable law, (b) a majority of votes attributable to the outstanding Trust
shares of the class representing an interest in the Portfolio.
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25. The terms "assignment", "affiliated person" and "interested person",
when used in this Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in
the 1940 Act. The term "majority of the outstanding shares of the class" means
the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the votes attributable to shares of such
class present at a meeting if more than 50% of the votes attributable to such
shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the votes
attributable to shares of such class.
26. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with laws of the State
of Delaware, and applicable provisions of the Advisers Act and 1940 Act.
27. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered
this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Xxxxxx Advisors, LLC
By: /s/ XXXX XXXXXXX
------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
ATTEST:
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX, XX.
--------------------------
PIMCO Advisory Services Holdings LLC
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
------------------------------
Title: Managing Director
---------------------------
ATTEST:
--------------------------
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NFJ Investment Group L.P.
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------
Title: Managing Director
---------------------------
ATTEST:
/s/ XXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------
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