PRUDENTIAL-BACHE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement, made this 31st day of January, 1989 between
Prudential-Bache Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Fund"), and Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Manager").
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Fund is a diversified, open-end management investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Manager to render or contract
to obtain as hereinafter provided investment advisory services to the Fund and
the Fund also desires to avail itself of the facilities available to the Manager
with respect to the administration of its day to day corporate affairs, and the
Manager is willing to render such investment advisory and administrative
services;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints the Manager to act as manager of the
Fund and administrator of its corporate affairs for the period and on the terms
set forth in this Agreement. The Manager accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein described, for the compensation herein provided. The
Manager will enter into an agreement, dated the date hereof, with The Prudential
Investment Corporation ("PIC") pursuant to which PIC shall furnish to the Fund
the investment advisory services specified therein in connection with the
management of the Fund. Such agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A is
hereinafter referred to as the "Subadvisory Agreement." The Manager will
continue to
have responsibility for all investment advisory services furnished pursuant to
the Subadvisory Agreement.
2. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Fund,
the Manager shall administer the Fund's corporate affairs and, in connection
therewith, shall furnish the Fund with office facilities and with clerical,
bookkeeping and recordkeeping services at such office facilities and, subject to
Section 1 hereof and the Subadvisory Agreement, the Manager shall manage the
investment operations of the Fund and the composition of the Fund's portfolio,
including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with
the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the
Prospectus (hereinafter defined) and subject to the following understandings:
(a) The Manager shall provide supervision of the Fund's investments
and determine from time to time what investments or securities will be
purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Fund, and what portion of the
assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(b) The Manager, in the performance of its duties and obligations
under this Agreement, shall act in conformity with the Articles of
Incorporation, By-Laws and Prospectus (hereinafter defined) of the Fund and
with the instructions and directions of the Board of Directors of the Fund
and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act and
all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
(c) The Manager shall determine the securities and futures contracts
to be purchased or sold by the Fund and will place orders
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pursuant to its determinations with or through such persons, brokers,
dealers or futures commission merchants (including but not limited to
Prudential-Bache Securities Inc.) in conformity with the policy with
respect to brokerage as set forth in the Fund's Registration Statement and
Prospectus (hereinafter defined) or as the Board of Directors may direct
from time to time. In providing the Fund with investment supervision, it
is recognized that the Manager will give primary consideration to securing
the most favorable price and efficient execution. Consistent with this
policy, the Manager may consider the financial responsibility, research and
investment information and other services provided by brokers, dealers or
futures commission merchants who may effect or be a party to any such
transaction or other transactions to which other clients of the Manager may
be a party. It is understood that Prudential-Bache Securities Inc. may be
used as principal broker for securities transactions but that no formula
has been adopted for allocation of the Fund's investment transaction
business. It is also understood that it is desirable for the Fund that the
Manager have access to supplemental investment and market research and
security and economic analysis provided by brokers or futures commission
merchants and that such brokers may execute brokerage transactions at a
higher cost to the Fund than may result when allocating brokerage to other
brokers or futures commission merchants on the basis of seeking the most
favorable price and efficient execution. Therefore, the Manager is
authorized to pay higher brokerage commissions for the purchase and sale of
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securities and futures contracts for the Fund to brokers or futures
commission merchants who provide such research and analysis, subject to
review by the Fund's Board of Directors from time to time with respect to
the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that the
services provided by such broker or futures commission merchant may be
useful to the Manager in connection with its services to other clients.
On occasions when the Manager deems the purchase or sale of a security
or a futures contract to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as
other clients of the Manager or the Subadviser, the Manager, to the extent
permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no
obligation to, aggregate the securities or futures contracts to be so sold
or purchased in order to obtain the most favorable price or lower brokerage
commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the
securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Manager in the
manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its
fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients.
(d) The Manager shall maintain all books and records with respect to
the Fund's portfolio transactions and shall render to the Fund's Board of
Directors such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably
request.
(e) The Manager shall be responsible for the financial and accounting
records to be maintained by the Fund (including those
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being maintained by the Fund's Custodian).
(f) The Manager shall provide the Fund's Custodian on each business
day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Fund's
assets.
(g) The investment management services of the Manager to the Fund
under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Manager shall
be free to render similar services to others.
3. The Fund has delivered to the Manager copies of each of the
following documents and will deliver to it all future amendments and
supplements, if any:
(a) Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as filed with the
Secretary of State of Maryland (such Articles of Incorporation, as in
effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, are herein
called the "Articles of Incorporation");
(b) By-Laws of the Fund (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date
hereof and as amended from time to time, are herein called the "By-Laws");
(c) Certified resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Fund
authorizing the appointment of the Manager and approving the form of this
agreement;
(d) Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement"), as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") relating to
the Fund and shares of the Fund's Common Stock and all amendments thereto;
(e) Notification of Registration of the Fund under the 1940
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Act on Form N-8A as filed with the Commission and all amendments thereto;
and
(f) Prospectus of the Fund (such Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, as currently in effect and as amended or
supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus").
4. The Manager shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as directors or officers of the Fund
to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. All services to be
furnished by the Manager under this Agreement may be furnished through the
medium of any such directors, officers or employees of the Manager.
5. The Manager shall keep the Fund's books and records required to
be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 2 hereof. The Manager agrees that all
records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and it will
surrender promptly to the Fund any such records upon the Fund's request,
provided however that the Manager may retain a copy of such records. The
Manager further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2
under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by the
Manager pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof.
6. During the term of this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the
following expenses:
(i) the salaries and expenses of all personnel of the Fund and the
Manager except the fees and expenses of directors who are not affiliated
persons of the Manager or the Fund's investment
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adviser,
(ii) all expenses incurred by the Manager or by the Fund in
connection with managing the ordinary course of the Fund's business other
than those assumed by the Fund herein, and
(iii) the costs and expenses payable to PIC pursuant to the
Subadvisory Agreement.
The Fund assumes and will pay the expenses described below:
(a) the fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the
management of the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets,
(b) the fees and expenses of directors who are not affiliated persons
of the Manager or the Fund's investment adviser,
(c) the fees and expenses of the Custodian that relate to (i) the
custodial function and the recordkeeping connected therewith, (ii)
preparing and maintaining the general accounting records of the Fund and
the providing of any such records to the Manager useful to the Manager in
connection with the Manager's responsibility for the accounting records of
the Fund pursuant to Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated
thereunder, (iii) the pricing of the shares of the Fund, including the cost
of any pricing service or services which may be retained pursuant to the
authorization of the Board of Directors of the Fund, and (iv) for both mail
and wire orders, the cashiering function in connection with the issuance
and redemption of the Fund's securities,
(d) the fees and expenses of the Fund's Transfer and
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Dividend Disbursing Agent, which may be the Custodian, that relate to the
maintenance of each shareholder account,
(e) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent
accountants for the Fund,
(f) brokers' commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable
to the Fund in connection with its securities and futures transactions,
(g) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to federal,
state or other governmental agencies,
(h) the fees of any trade associations of which the Fund may be a
member,
(i) the cost of stock certificates representing, and/or
non-negotiable share deposit receipts evidencing, shares of the Fund,
(j) the cost of fidelity, directors and officers and errors and
omissions insurance,
(k) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining
registration of the Fund and of its shares with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, registering the Fund as a broker or dealer and qualifying its
shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing
of the Fund's registration statements, prospectuses and statements of
additional information for filing under federal and state securities laws
for such purposes,
(l) allocable communications expenses with respect to investor
services and all expenses of shareholders' and directors'
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meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports to shareholders in
the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders,
(m) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary
expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund's business, and
(n) any expenses assumed by the Fund pursuant to a Plan of
Distribution adopted in conformity with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
7. In the event the expenses of the Fund for any fiscal year
(including the fees payable to the Manager but excluding interest, taxes,
brokerage commissions, distribution fees and litigation and indemnification
expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of
the Fund's business) exceed the lowest applicable annual expense limitation
established and enforced pursuant to the statute or regulations of any
jurisdictions in which shares of the Fund are then qualified for offer and sale,
the compensation due the Manager will be reduced by the amount of such excess,
or, if such reduction exceeds the compensation payable to the Manager, the
Manager will pay to the Fund the amount of such reduction which exceeds the
amount of such compensation.
8. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to
this Agreement, the Fund will pay to the Manager as full compensation therefor a
fee at an annual rate of .70 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets. This
fee will be computed daily and will be paid to the Manager monthly. Any
reduction in the fee payable and any payment by the Manager to the Fund pursuant
to paragraph 7 shall be made monthly.
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Any such reductions or payments are subject to readjustment during the year.
9. The Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for
any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with
respect to the receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of
damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section
36(b)(3) of the 0000 Xxx) or loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith
or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from
reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than
two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act;
provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any
time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Directors of the Fund
or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the
0000 Xxx) of the Fund, or by the Manager at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the
other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act.)
11. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of
any director, officer or employee of the Manager who may also be a director,
officer or employee of the Fund to engage in any other business or to devote
his or her time and attention in part to the management or
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other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, nor
limit or restrict the right of the Manager to engage in any other business or to
render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or
association.
12. Except as otherwise provided herein or authorized by the Board
of Directors of the Fund from time to time, the Manager shall for all purposes
herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall have no authority to
act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the
Fund.
13. During the term of this Agreement, the Fund agrees to furnish
the Manager 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 in any way to the
Manager, prior to use thereof and not to use such material if the Manager
reasonably objects in writing within five business days (or such other time as
may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. In the event of termination of
this Agreement, the Fund will continue to furnish to the Manager copies of any
of the above mentioned materials which refer in any way to the Manager. Sales
literature may be furnished to the Manager hereunder by first-class or overnight
mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery. The Fund shall furnish
or otherwise make available to the Manager such other information relating to
the business affairs of the Fund as the Manager at any time, or from time to
time, reasonably requests in order to discharge its obligations hereunder.
14. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Fund must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of
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the 1940 Act.
15. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by
registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Manager at Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: Secretary; or (2) to the Fund at Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: President.
16. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
17. The Fund may use the name "Prudential-Bache Growth Opportunity
Fund, Inc." or any name including the words "Prudential" or "Bache" only for so
long as this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment hereof remains in
effect, including any similar agreement with any organization which shall have
succeeded to the Manager's business as Manager or any extension, renewal or
amendment thereof remain in effect. At such time as such an agreement shall no
longer be in effect, the Fund will (to the extent that it lawfully can) cease to
use such a name or any other name indicating that it is advised by, managed by
or otherwise connected with the Manager, or any organization which shall have so
succeeded to such businesses. In no event shall the Fund use the name
"Prudential-Bache Growth Opportunity Fund, Inc." or any name including the word
"Prudential" or "Bache" if the Manager's function is transferred or assigned to
a company of which The Prudential Insurance Company of America does not have
control.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
PRUDENTIAL-BACHE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
FUND, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx
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PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND MANAGEMENT, INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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