SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
AEGON/TRANSAMERICA FUND ADVISERS, INC.
AND
TRANSAMERICA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, made as of June 15, 2004, between
AEGON/Transamerica Fund Advisers, Inc. ("Investment Adviser"), a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida and Transamerica
Investment Management, LLC ("Sub-Adviser"), a limited liability company
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser acts as an investment adviser to
Transamerica IDEX Mutual Funds ("Transamerica IDEX"), a Massachusetts business
trust which is engaged in business as an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"),
pursuant to an investment advisory agreement dated June 15, 2004 (the "Advisory
Agreement");
WHEREAS, Transamerica IDEX is authorized to issue shares of TA IDEX
Transamerica Short-Term Bond (the "Fund"), a separate series of Transamerica
IDEX;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is engaged principally in the business of
rendering investment advisory services and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser as
sub-adviser to furnish certain investment advisory services to the Investment
Adviser with respect to the Fund and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such
services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises
herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
Investment Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as its investment
sub-adviser with respect to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth
in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render
the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided. Subject to
any other written instructions of the Investment Adviser or Transamerica IDEX,
the Sub-Adviser is hereby appointed the Investment Adviser's and Transamerica
IDEX's agent and attorney-in-fact for the limited purposes of executing account
documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents as the Sub-Adviser
shall be requested by brokers, dealers, counterparties and other persons in
connection with its management of the Fund assets. The Sub-Adviser agrees to
provide the Investment Adviser and Transamerica IDEX with copies of any such
agreements executed on behalf of the Investment Adviser and Transamerica IDEX.
2. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
A. Investment Sub-Advisory Services. Subject to the
supervision of the Transamerica IDEX Board of Trustees ("Board") and the
Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall act as the investment sub-adviser and
shall supervise and direct the investments of the Fund in accordance with the
Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the
Transamerica IDEX Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as
currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time
(hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus"), and such other limitations as
directed by the appropriate officers of the Investment Adviser or Transamerica
IDEX by notice in writing to the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall obtain and
evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, businesses,
securities markets, and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in the
discharge of its obligations hereunder and shall formulate and implement a
continuing program for the management of the assets and resources of the Fund in
a manner consistent with the Fund's investment objective, policies, and
restrictions. In furtherance of this duty, the Sub-Adviser, on behalf of the
Fund, is authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with the
Fund or the Investment Adviser, to:
(1) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and otherwise trade in
any stocks, bonds and other securities or assets; and
(2) place orders and negotiate the commissions (if any) for
the execution of transactions in securities or other assets
with or through such brokers, dealers, underwriters or issuers
as the Sub-Adviser may select.
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B. Additional Duties of Sub-Adviser. In addition to the
above, Sub-Adviser shall:
(1) furnish continuous investment information, advice and
recommendations to TRANSAMERICA IDEX as to the acquisition,
holding or disposition of any or all of the securities or
other assets which the Fund may own or contemplate acquiring
from time to time;
(2) cause its officers to attend meetings of Transamerica IDEX
and furnish oral or written reports, as Transamerica IDEX may
reasonably require, in order to keep Transamerica IDEX and its
officers and Board fully informed as to the condition of the
investment securities of the Fund, the investment
recommendations of the Sub-Adviser, and the investment
considerations which have given rise to those recommendations;
and
(3) furnish such statistical and analytical information and
reports as may reasonably be required by Transamerica IDEX
from time to time.
(4) proxy voting
C. Further Duties of Sub-Adviser. In all matters
relating to the performance of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in
conformity with the Transamerica IDEX Restatement of Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws, as each may be amended or supplemented, and currently effective
Registration Statement (as defined below) and with the written instructions and
directions of the Board and the Investment Adviser, and shall comply with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the rules thereunder, and all
other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
3. COMPENSATION.
For the services provided and the expenses assumed by the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall receive monthly an
investment management fee as specified in Schedule A of this Agreement. If this
Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month, the
investment management fee for the period from the effective date to the end of
such month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as
the case may be, shall be pro-rated according to the pro-ration which such
period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination
occurs.
With respect to the Sub-Adviser's obligation to reimburse the Fund
for the Sub-Adviser's pro rata share of the expenses in excess of the Fund's
expense limitation, the total amount to be reimbursed or waived by the
Sub-Adviser shall not be greater than the amount of sub-advisory fees the
Sub-Adviser would have received under the fee schedule. Clarification on the
expense reimbursement/fee waiver obligations based on language in prospectus.
Furthermore, to the extent Investment Adviser recaptures or is reimbursed any
portion of its advisory fee in future periods, then Investment Adviser shall pay
Sub-Adviser a portion of such recaptured or reimbursed fee in the proportion
that the sub-advisory fee otherwise due Sub-Adviser bears to the management fee
otherwise due Investment Adviser.
During the term of this Agreement, Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses
incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement other than
the cost of securities, commodities and other investments (including brokerage
commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund. The
Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for Transamerica IDEX's, the Fund's or the
Investment Adviser's expenses, which shall include, but not limited to,
organizational and offering expenses; expenses for legal, accounting and
auditing expenses, taxes and governmental fees, dues and expenses incurred in
connection with membership in investment company organizations; costs of
printing and distributing shareholder reports, proxy materials, prospectuses,
stock certificates and distribution of dividends, charges of the Fund's
custodians, administrators, registrars, transfer agents, dividend disbursing
agents and dividend reinvestment plan agents; payment for portfolio pricing
services to a pricing agent, if any; registration and filing fees of the SEC;
expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Funds for sale in the
various states; freight and other charges in connection with the shipment of the
Fund's portfolio securities; fees and expenses of non-interested Trustees;
salaries of shareholder relations personnel; costs of shareholders meetings;
insurance; interest; brokerage costs; and litigation and other extraordinary or
non-recurring expenses.
4. DUTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
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A. The Investment Adviser shall continue to have
responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the
Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of
its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the Advisory Agreement, the
Sub-Adviser has the authority to buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and
otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds and other securities or assets on behalf of
the Fund.
B. The Investment Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser
with copies of each of the following documents and will furnish to the
Sub-Adviser at its principal office all future amendments and supplements to
such documents, if any, as soon as practicable after such documents become
available:
(1) The Transamerica IDEX Restatement of Declaration of
Trust, as filed with the State of Massachusetts, as in
effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to
time ("Trust");
(2) The By-Laws of Transamerica IDEX as in effect on the
date hereof and as amended from time to time
("By-Laws");
(3) Certified resolutions of the Board of Transamerica
IDEX and certified resolution of the shareholders
authorizing the appointment of the Investment Adviser
and the Sub-Adviser and approving the Sub-Adviser and
approving the form of the Advisory Agreement and this
Agreement;
(4) The Transamerica IDEX Registration Statement under
the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
on Form N-1A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") relating to the Fund and its shares
and all amendments thereto ("Registration Statement");
(5) The Transamerica IDEX Prospectus (as defined above);
(6) A certified copy of any publicly available financial
statement or report prepared for Transamerica IDEX by
certified or independent public accountants, and copies
of any financial statements or reports made by the Fund
to its shareholders or to any governmental body or
securities exchange; and
The Investment Adviser shall furnish the Sub-Adviser with any
further documents, materials or information that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably
request to enable it to perform its duties pursuant to this Agreement.
C. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment
Adviser shall furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all
prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or
other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Fund or the
public, which refer to the Fund, the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or
other advisory accounts advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser or investment
companies or other advisory accounts advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser in
any way, prior to the use thereof, and the Investment Adviser shall not use any
such materials if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing fifteen business
days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
D. Neither the Investment Adviser nor any affiliate or
agent of it shall make reference to or use the name of the Sub-Adviser or
any of its affiliates, or any of its client, except references concerning the
identify of and services provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Fund, which
references shall not differ in substance from those included in the Prospectus
and this Agreement, in any advertising or promotional materials without the
prior approval of Sub-Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed. The Investment Adviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts
to cause the Fund and any affiliate thereof to satisfy the foregoing obligation.
5. BROKERAGE.
A. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in placing orders with
broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, it shall
attempt to obtain quality execution at favorable security prices (best price and
execution); provided that, on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may, in its
discretion, agree to pay a broker-dealer that furnishes brokerage or research
services as such services are defined under Section 28(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), a higher commission than that
which might have been charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same
transactions, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission
is reasonable in relation to the brokerage and research services provided by the
broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser with respect to the accounts as to
which it exercises
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investment discretion (as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(35) of the
1934 Act). In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to
the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, except in accordance with the
federal securities laws and the rule and regulations thereunder.
B. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase
or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Fund, as well as
other clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, to the extent permitted by
applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to,
aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more
favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such
event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Sub-Adviser in the
manner the Sub-Adviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with
its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to its other clients. It is recognized
that in some cases, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or
received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable for, or disposed of
by, the Fund.
C. In addition to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser agrees
that orders with broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio
securities by the Fund shall be placed in accordance with the standards set
forth in the Advisory Agreement.
6. OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS.
The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records required to be
maintained by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to transactions on behalf of
Transamerica IDEX. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the
1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees: (i) that all records that it maintains
for the Fund are the property of Transamerica IDEX, (ii) to preserve for the
periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that it
maintains for the Fund and that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1
under the 1940 Act and (iii) agrees to surrender promptly to Transamerica IDEX
any records that it maintains for the Fund upon request by Transamerica IDEX;
provided, however, the Sub-Adviser may retain copies of such records.
7. REPORTS.
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board or the Investment
Adviser, or both, as appropriate, such information, reports, evaluations,
analyses and opinions as the Sub-Adviser and the Board or the Investment
Adviser, as appropriate, may mutually agree upon from time to time.
8. SERVICES TO OTHER CLIENTS.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or restrict (i) the
freedom of the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, to render
investment management and corporate administrative services to other investment
companies, to act as investment manager or investment counselor to other
persons, firms, or corporations, or to engage in any other business activities,
or (ii) the right of any director, officer, or employee of the Sub-Adviser, who
may also be a director, officer, or employee of Transamerica IDEX, to engage in
any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the
management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature
or a dissimilar nature.
9. SUB-ADVISER'S USE OF THE SERVICES OF OTHERS.
The Sub-Adviser may (at its cost except as contemplated by Section 5
of this Agreement) employ, retain, or otherwise avail itself of the services or
facilities of other persons or organizations for the purpose of obtaining such
statistical and other factual information, such advice regarding economic
factors and trends, such advice as to occasional transactions in specific
securities, or such other information, advice, or assistance as the Sub-Adviser
may deem necessary, appropriate, or convenient for the discharge of its
obligations hereunder or otherwise helpful to the Sub-Adviser, as appropriate,
or in the discharge of Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to
the other accounts that it serves as investment manager or counselor, provided
that the Sub-Adviser shall at all times retain responsibility for making
investment recommendations with respect to the Fund.
10. REPRESENTATIONS OF SUB-ADVISER.
The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser: (i) is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so
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registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not
prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services
contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) has met, and will continue to meet for so
long as this Agreement remains in effect, any 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
contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) has the authority to enter into and perform
the services contemplated by this Agreement; and (v) will immediately notify the
Investment Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the
Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company
pursuant to Section 9 (a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics
complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and, if
it has not already done so, will provide the Investment Adviser and Transamerica
IDEX with a copy of such code of ethics, together with evidence of its adoption.
C. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Investment Adviser
and Transamerica IDEX with a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed
with the SEC and will, promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with
the SEC, furnish a copy of such amendment to the Investment Adviser.
11. LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION.
A. Liability. The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its best
judgment in rendering the services in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence
on the part of the Sub-Adviser or a reckless disregard of its duties hereunder,
the Sub-Adviser, each of its affiliate and all partners, officers, directors and
employees ("Affiliates") and each person, if any, who within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, controls the Sub-Adviser ("Controlling
Persons") shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law and
shall not be subject to any expenses or liability to the Investment Adviser,
Transamerica IDEX or the Fund or any of the Fund's shareholders, in connection
with the matters to which this Agreement relates.
12. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first above
written, provided that this Agreement shall not take effect unless it has first
been approved (i) by a vote of a majority of those members of the Board of
Transamerica IDEX who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any such party, cast in person at a meeting of the Board of Transamerica IDEX
called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by vote of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. Unless sooner terminated
as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from
its effective date. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect from
year to year, with respect to the Fund, subject to the termination provisions
and all other terms and conditions hereof, so long as such continuation shall be
specifically approved at least annually (a) by either the Board of Transamerica
IDEX, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;
and (b) in either event, by the vote, cast in person at a meeting of the Board
of Transamerica IDEX called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a
majority of the members of the Board of Transamerica IDEX who are not parties to
this Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Sub-Adviser shall
furnish to Transamerica IDEX, promptly upon its request such information as may
reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any
extension, renewal, or amendment hereof.
13. NOTICES.
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by certified U.S.
mail, national expenses deliver service, or facsimile to the parties at the
address below:
If to Transamerica IDEX:
Transamerica IDEX Mutual Funds
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
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If to the Investment Adviser:
AEGON/Transamerica Fund Advisers, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Transamerica Investment Management, LLC
Attn: Compliance
0000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000
14. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at
any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board or by a vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or per the terms
of the exemptive order - Release No. 23379 - under Section 6(c) of the Act from
Section 15(a) and Rule 18f-2 under the Act, on at least 60 days' prior written
notice to the Sub-Adviser. This Agreement may also be terminated by the
Investment Adviser: (i) on at least 60 days' prior written notice to the
Sub-Adviser, without the payment of any penalty; or (ii) if the Sub-Adviser
becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement. The
Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time, or preclude its renewal
without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior notice to the
Investment Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.
15. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged,
or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge, or termination is
sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by
vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, unless otherwise
permitted in accordance with the 1940 Act.
16. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without
giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof, and the 1940 Act. To
the extent that the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall
control.
B. Captions. The captions contained in this Agreement
are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit
any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
C. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the
entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and shall supersede
any prior agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof,
and all such prior agreements shall be deemed terminated upon the effectiveness
of this Agreement.
D. Interpretation. Nothing herein contained shall be
deemed to require Transamerica IDEX to take any action contrary to its Trust
or By-Laws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is
subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its
responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of Transamerica
IDEX.
E. Definitions. Any question of interpretation of any
term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or
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otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by
reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations
thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any
controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations, or orders of the
SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. As used in this Agreement, the
terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "affiliated person,"
"interested person," "assignment," "broker," "investment adviser," "net assets,"
"sale," "sell," and "security" shall have the same meaning as such terms have in
the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption as may be granted by the SEC by any
rule, regulation, or order. Where the effect of a requirement of the federal
securities laws reflected in any provision of this Agreement is made less
restrictive by a rule, regulation, or order of the SEC, whether of special or
general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of
such rule, regulation, or order, unless the Investment Adviser and the
Sub-Adviser agree to the contrary.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed by their duly authorized signatories as of the date and year
first above written.
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SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
FUND SUB-ADVISER COMPENSATION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.25% of the first $250 million of the fund's
average daily net assets; 0.20% of the fund's
TA IDEX TRANSAMERICA SHORT- average daily net assets over $250 million up to
TERM BOND $500 million; 0.175% of the fund's average daily
net assets over $500 million up to $1 billion; and
0.15% of the fund's average daily net assets
over $1 billion.
