INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 17th day of November, 1997, by and
between XXXXXXXXXXX
INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY FUND (the "Fund"), and
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
("OFI").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment
company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment
Company Act"), and OFI is an investment adviser registered as such with the
Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Fund desires that OFI shall act as its
investment adviser pursuant to this
Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by and between the parties, as follows:
1. General Provision.
The Fund hereby employs OFI and OFI hereby undertakes to act as the
investment adviser of the Fund and to perform for the Fund such other duties and
functions as are hereinafter set forth. OFI shall, in all matters, give to the
Fund and its Board of Trustees the benefit of its best judgment, effort, advice
and recommendations and shall, at all times conform to, and use its best efforts
to enable the Fund to conform to (i) the provisions of the Investment Company
Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) any other applicable
provisions of state or federal law; (iii) the provisions of the Declaration of
Trust and By-Laws of the Fund as amended from time to time; (iv) policies and
determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Fund; (v) the fundamental
policies and investment restrictions of the Fund as reflected in its
registration statement under the Investment Company Act or as such policies may,
from time to time, be amended by the Fund's shareholders; and (vi) the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund in effect from
time to time. The appropriate officers and employees of OFI shall be available
upon reasonable notice for consultation with any of the Trustees and officers of
the Fund with respect to any matters dealing with the business and affairs of
the Fund including the valuation of any of the Fund's portfolio securities which
are either not registered for public sale or not being traded on any securities
market.
2. Investment Management.
(a) OFI shall, subject to the direction and control by the Fund's Board of
Trustees, (i) regularly provide investment advice and recommendations to the
Fund with respect to its investments, investment policies and the purchase and
sale of securities; (ii) supervise continuously the investment program of the
Fund and the composition of its portfolio and determine what securities shall be
purchased or sold by the Fund; and (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of
paragraph "7" hereof, 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.
(b) Provided that the Fund shall not be required to pay any compensation
other than as provided by the terms of this Agreement and subject to the
provisions of paragraph "7" hereof, OFI may obtain investment information,
research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to supplement,
update or otherwise improve its investment management services.
(c) Provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect OFI from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement,
OFI shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of good faith errors or
omissions in connection with any matters to which this Agreement relates.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent OFI or any officer thereof
from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation and
shall not in any way limit or restrict OFI or any of its directors, officers or
employees from buying, selling or trading any securities for its own account or
for the account of others for whom it or they may be acting, provided that such
activities will not adversely affect or otherwise impair the performance by OFI
of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.
3. Other Duties of OFI.
OFI shall, at its own expense, provide and supervise the activities of all
administrative and clerical personnel as shall be required to provide effective
corporate administration for the Fund, including the compilation and maintenance
of such records with respect to its operations as may reasonably be required;
the preparation and filing of such reports with respect thereto as shall be
required by the Commission; composition of periodic reports with respect to its
operations for the shareholders of the Fund; composition of proxy materials for
meetings of the Fund's shareholders and the composition of such registration
statements as may be required by federal securities laws for continuous public
sale of shares of the Fund. OFI shall, at its own cost and expense, also provide
the Fund with adequate office space, facilities and equipment.
4. Allocation of Expenses.
All other costs and expenses not expressly assumed by OFI under this
Agreement, or to be paid by the General Distributor of the shares of the Fund,
shall be paid by the Fund, including, but not limited to (i) interest and taxes;
(ii) brokerage commissions; (iii) premiums for fidelity and other insurance
coverage requisite to its operations; (iv) the fees and expenses of its
Trustees; (v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) custodian and transfer agent fees
and expenses; (vii) expenses incident to the redemption of its shares; (viii)
expenses incident to the issuance of its shares against payment therefor by or
on behalf of the subscribers thereto; (ix) fees and expenses, other than as
hereinabove provided, incident to the registration under federal securities laws
of shares of the Fund for public sale; (x) expenses of printing and mailing
reports, notices and proxy materials to shareholders of the Fund; (xi) except as
noted above, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Fund's
shareholders; and (xii) such extraordinary non-recurring expenses as may arise,
including litigation affecting the Fund and any obligation which the Fund may
have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto. Any officers
or employees of OFI or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common
control with OFI, who may also serve as officers, Trustees or employees of the
Fund shall not receive any compensation from the Fund for their services.
2
5. Compensation of OFI.
The Fund agrees to pay OFI and OFI agrees to accept as full compensation
for the performance of all functions and duties on its part to be performed
pursuant to the provisions hereof, a fee computed on the aggregate net assets of
the Fund as of the close of each business day and payable monthly at the
following annual rates:
.80% of the first $250 million of aggregate net
assets;
.77% of the next $250 million;
.75% of the next $500 million;
.69% of the next $1 billion; and
.67% of aggregate net assets over $2 billion.
6. Use of Name "Xxxxxxxxxxx."
OFI hereby grants to the Fund a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use
the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" in the name of the Fund for the duration of this
Agreement and any extensions or renewals thereof. Such license may, upon
termination of this Agreement, be terminated by OFI, in which event the Fund
shall promptly take whatever action may be necessary to change its name and
discontinue any further use of the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" in the name of the Fund or
otherwise. The name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" may be used or licensed by OFI in connection
with any of its activities or licensed by OFI to any other party.
7. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.
(a) OFI is authorized, in arranging the Fund's portfolio transactions, to
employ or deal with such members of securities or commodities exchanges, brokers
or dealers, including "affiliated" broker dealers (as that term is defined in
the Investment Company Act) (hereinafter "broker-dealers"), as may, in its best
judgment, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain, at reasonable expense, the
"best execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security
price obtainable) of the Fund's portfolio transactions as well as to obtain,
consistent with the provisions of subparagraph "(c)" of this paragraph "7," the
benefit of such investment information or research as may be of significant
assistance to the performance by OFI of its investment management functions.
(b) OFI shall select broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio
transactions on the basis of its estimate of their ability to obtain best
execution of particular and related portfolio transactions. The abilities of a
broker-dealer to obtain best execution of particular portfolio transaction(s)
will be judged by OFI on the basis of all relevant factors and considerations
including, insofar as feasible, the execution capabilities required by the
transaction or transactions; the ability and willingness of the broker-dealer to
facilitate the Fund's portfolio transactions by participating therein for its
own account; the importance to the Fund of speed, efficiency or confidentiality;
the broker-dealer's apparent familiarity with sources from or to whom particular
securities might be purchased or sold; as well as any other matters relevant to
the selection of a broker-dealer for particular and related transactions of the
Fund.
(c) OFI shall have discretion, in the interests of the Fund, to allocate
brokerage on the Fund's portfolio transactions to broker-dealers other than
affiliated broker-dealers, qualified to obtain best execution of such
transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services (as such services
are defined in Section 23(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) for the
Fund and/or other accounts for which OFI and
3
its affiliates exercise "investment discretion" (as that term is defined in
Section 3(a)(35) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to cause the Fund
to pay such broker-dealers a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction
for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer
adequately qualified to effect such transaction would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if OFI determines, in good faith, that such commission is
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services
provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities of OFI and its investment advisory
affiliates with respect to the accounts as to which they exercise investment
discretion. In reaching such determination, OFI will not be required to place or
attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and/or research
services provided or being provided by such broker-dealer. In demonstrating that
such determinations were made in good faith, OFI shall be prepared to show that
all commissions were allocated for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement
and that the total commissions paid by the Fund over a representative period
selected by the Fund's trustees were reasonable in relation to the benefits to
the Fund.
(d) OFI shall have no duty or obligation to seek advance competitive
bidding for the most favorable commission rate applicable to any particular
portfolio transactions or to select any broker-dealer on the basis of its
purported or "posted" commission rate but will, to the best of its ability,
endeavor to be aware of the current level of the charges of eligible
broker-dealers and to minimize the expense incurred by the Fund for effecting
its portfolio transactions to the extent consistent with the interests and
policies of the Fund as established by the determinations of its Board of
Trustees and the provisions of this paragraph "7."
(e) The Fund recognizes that an affiliated broker-dealer (i) may act as
one of the Fund's regular brokers so long as it is lawful for it so to act; (ii)
may be a major recipient of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund; and (iii)
may effect portfolio transactions for the Fund only if the commissions, fees or
other remuneration received or to be received by it are determined in accordance
with procedures contemplated by any rule, regulation or order adopted under the
Investment Company Act for determining the permissible level of such
commissions.
(f) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph "7", OFI may
also consider sales of Fund shares and shares of other investment companies
managed by OFI or its affiliates as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers
for the Fund's portfolio transactions.
8. Duration.
This Agreement will take effect on the date first set forth above. Unless
earlier terminated pursuant to paragraph 9 hereof, this Agreement shall remain
in effect until two years from the date of execution hereof, and thereafter will
continue in effect from year to year, so long as such continuance shall be
approved at least annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees, including the vote
of the majority of the trustees of the Fund who are not parties to this
Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of
any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval, or by the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment
Company Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and by such a vote
of the Fund's Board of Trustees.
4
9. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated (i) by OFI at any time without penalty
upon giving the Fund sixty days' written notice (which notice may be waived by
the Fund); or (ii) by the Fund at any time without penalty upon sixty days'
written notice to OFI (which notice may be waived by OFI) provided that such
termination by the Fund shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority
of all of the Trustees of the Fund then in office or by the vote of the holders
of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund.
10. Assignment or Amendment.
This Agreement may not be amended without the affirmative vote or written
consent of the holders of a "majority" of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, and shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its
"assignment," as defined in the Investment Company Act.
11. Disclaimer of Shareholder Liability.
OFI understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are
not binding upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind
only the Fund and the Fund's property. OFI represents that it has notice of the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
12. Definitions.
The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted and
defined in a manner consistent with the provisions and definitions of the
Investment Company Act.
XXXXXXXXXXX INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Secretary
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Vice President & Secretary
ADVISORY\815
5
