INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (6)(i)(iii)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, dated as of July 1, 2020, by and between Equitable Investment Management Group, LLC, a limited liability company organized in the State of Delaware (“Adviser”), and GQG Partners LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (“Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”);
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an investment advisory agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) with EQ Advisors Trust (“Trust”), an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”);
WHEREAS, the Adviser is responsible for, among other things, providing a continuous investment program for the portfolios of the Trust, monitoring the implementation of each portfolio’s investment program, assessing each portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, composition, investment style and investment process, effecting transactions for each portfolio and selecting brokers or dealers to execute such transactions for each portfolio, developing and evaluating strategic initiatives with respect to the portfolios, making recommendations to the Board regarding the investment programs of the portfolios, including any changes to portfolio investment objectives and policies, coordinating and/or implement strategic initiatives approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Trust Board”), and preparing and providing reports to the Trust Board on the impact of such strategic initiatives on the portfolios;
WHEREAS, the Trust’s shareholders are and will be primarily separate accounts maintained by insurance companies for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (“Policies”) under which income, gains and losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to such accounts are, in accordance with the Policies, credited to or charged against such accounts without regard to other income, gains or losses of such insurance companies; as well as other shareholders as permitted under Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the qualification of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies as insurance contracts under the Code;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act;
WHEREAS, the Adviser has the authority under the Advisory Agreement to select and contract with one or more sub-advisers to sub-advise the portfolios of the Trust and the Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser to render investment sub-advisory and certain other services to the portfolio(s) (or an allocated portion thereof) of the Trust specified in Appendix A hereto, as amended from time to time (“Portfolio(s)”), in the manner and on the terms hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, the Trust Board has approved the selection of the Sub-Adviser as a sub-adviser to the Portfolio(s);
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Portfolio(s); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the delegation of responsibilities to a sub-adviser, the Adviser remains responsible for, among other things: (1) overseeing the performance of delegated functions by each sub-adviser; (2) assessing each portfolio’s investment focus and furnishing the Trust Board with periodic reports concerning the performance of delegated responsibilities by the sub-adviser; (3) allocating and reallocating the assets of a portfolio, or a portion thereof, managed by one or more sub-advisers for such portfolio and coordinating the activities of all sub-advisers; (4) monitoring the sub-adviser’s implementation of the investment program established by the Adviser with respect to each portfolio (or portions thereof) under the management of such sub-adviser; (5) causing the appropriate sub-adviser(s) to furnish to the Trust Board such information and reports as the Trust Board may reasonably request; and (6) compensating the sub-adviser in the manner specified by the sub-advisory agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree as follows:
| 1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUB-ADVISER |
The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as sub-adviser to the Portfolio(s), subject to the supervision and oversight of the Adviser and the Trust Board, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will be an independent contractor and will have no authority to act for or represent the Adviser or the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Adviser or the Trust, except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Adviser or the Trust and the Sub-Adviser.
| 2. | ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT |
The Sub-Adviser accepts its appointment as sub-adviser to the Portfolio(s) and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
The assets of the Portfolio(s) will be maintained in the custody of a custodian (who shall be identified by the Adviser in writing). The Sub-Adviser will not have custody of any cash, securities or other assets of the Portfolio(s) and will not be liable for any loss resulting from any act or omission of the custodian other than acts or omissions arising in proper reliance on duly authorized instructions of the Sub-Adviser, where the Sub-Adviser did not provide instructions based on inaccurate information provided by the custodian or Adviser. The parties acknowledge and agree that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Portfolio(s) assets and will not take possession or custody of such assets.
| 3. | SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUB-ADVISER |
A. As a sub-adviser to the Portfolio(s), the Sub-Adviser will invest and reinvest the assets of the Portfolio(s) and determine the composition of the assets of the Portfolio(s), subject always to the supervision and control of the Adviser and the Trust Board. The Sub-Adviser offers no guarantees of investment performance, profitability, or that any Portfolio’s performance objective will be met.
B. As part of the services it will provide hereunder, the Sub-Adviser will:
(i) obtain and evaluate, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Sub-Adviser in its discretion, pertinent economic, statistical, financial and other information affecting the economy generally and individual companies or industries, the securities of which are included in the Portfolio(s) or are under consideration for inclusion in the Portfolio(s);
(ii) formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each of the Portfolio(s);
(iii) take whatever reasonable steps are necessary to implement the investment program(s) for the Portfolio(s) by arranging for the purchase and sale of securities and other investments, including issuing directives to the administrator of the Trust as necessary for the appropriate implementation of the investment program(s) of the Portfolio(s);
(iv) keep the Adviser fully informed in writing on an ongoing basis as agreed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser of all material facts concerning the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Portfolio(s), the Sub-Adviser and its key investment personnel and operations; make regular and periodic special written reports of such additional information concerning the same as may reasonably be requested from time to time by the Adviser or the Trust Board; and attend meetings with the Adviser and/or the Trust Board, as reasonably requested, to discuss the foregoing;
(v) in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Trust Board, which may be amended from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or confidentiality obligation, provide, upon request, reasonable assistance in determining the fair value of, and/or use reasonable efforts to arrange for the provision of valuation information or fair value prices from parties independent of the Sub-Adviser for, each security or other asset of the Portfolio(s) for which market quotations are not readily available. The Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser is not a pricing agent for the Trust and that the Adviser and Trust retain responsibility for valuation of the securities and other assets of the Portfolio(s);
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(vi) provide, upon reasonable request, any and all reasonable material composite performance information, records and supporting documentation about accounts the Sub-Adviser manages that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those employed by the Sub-Adviser in managing the Portfolio(s) or that may be reasonably necessary, under applicable laws, to help allow the Trust or its agent to present information concerning the Sub-Adviser’s prior performance in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) or in any permissible reports and materials prepared by the Adviser, the Trust or their agents, provided that the Adviser recognizes that the Sub-Adviser may be subject to a duty of confidentiality with respect to such accounts and that such information, records and supporting documentation may be redacted, altered, or withheld to satisfy any such confidentiality obligations; and
(vii) cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser, the Trust’s administrator, the Trust’s custodian and foreign custodians, the Trust’s transfer agent and pricing agents, and all other agents and representatives of the Trust and the Adviser; keep all such persons fully informed as to such matters as they may reasonably deem necessary to the performance of their obligations to the Trust and the Adviser; and provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons and maintain any appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information.
C. In furnishing services hereunder, the Sub-Adviser shall be subject to, and shall perform in all material respects in accordance with, the following: (i) the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, each as amended from time to time (“Governing Documents”); (ii) the currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Trust, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as part of the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A and delivered to the Sub-Adviser, as amended and/or supplemented (“Prospectus”); (iii) the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and the rules under each, and all other federal and state laws or regulations applicable to the Trust and the Portfolio(s); (iv) the Trust’s Compliance Manual and other policies and procedures adopted from time to time by the Trust Board; and (v) the reasonable written instructions of the Adviser. Prior to the commencement of the Sub-Adviser’s services hereunder, the Adviser shall provide the Sub-Adviser with current copies of the Governing Documents, Prospectus, Compliance Manual, and other relevant policies and procedures adopted by the Trust Board. The Adviser represents that the Governing Documents and Compliance Manual and other policies and procedures are consistent with the provisions of law, regulatory policies and organizational documents applicable to the Trust. The Adviser undertakes to provide the Sub-Adviser with copies or other written notice of any amendments, modifications or supplements to any such above-mentioned document. The Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for compliance with the terms of any such document only in the form most recently delivered to Sub-Adviser as set forth above. The Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser shall be afforded a reasonable amount of time to implement any change in applicable law, rule or regulation (but in no event, except after obtaining a proper exemptive order or other relief or the Adviser’s consent, beyond the mandatory compliance date for any such change), any change in the Governing Documents, Prospectus, Compliance Manual, or other relevant policies and procedures adopted by the Trust Board and the Adviser agrees that any modifications to any such above-mentioned document shall be consistent with the provisions of law, regulatory policies and organizational documents applicable to the Trust. The Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser is not an administrator or compliance or fund accounting agent for the Trust or the Adviser, may not have access to all of the books and records of the Portfolio(s) necessary to perform compliance or other testing, and will not be obligated to request any books and records of the Portfolio(s) not in the Sub-Adviser’s possession for purposes of compliance testing.
The Adviser will provide the Sub-Adviser with a list of all publicly traded affiliates of the Adviser or the Portfolio(s) that may not be purchased by the Portfolio(s) (such list shall include proper security identifiers and shall be in such form as reasonably agreed upon by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser) and a list of all brokers and underwriters affiliated with the Adviser or the Portfolio(s) for monitoring and reporting transactions under applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, as such list may be amended from time to time. The Adviser will provide such information to the Sub-Adviser in a timely manner along with other materials or information which the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its functions under this Agreement.
D. In furnishing services hereunder, to the extent prohibited under, or necessary to comply with, the Investment Company Act, the Sub-Adviser will not consult with any other sub-adviser to (i) the Portfolio(s), (ii) any other portfolio of the Trust or (iii) any other investment company under common control with the Trust concerning transactions of the Portfolio(s) in securities or other assets. (For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing restriction shall not be deemed to prohibit the Sub-Adviser from consulting with (i) any of its affiliated persons concerning transactions in securities or other assets or (ii) any of the other covered sub-advisers concerning compliance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the Investment Company Act.)
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E. The Sub-Adviser, at its expense, will furnish: (i) all necessary facilities and personnel, including salaries, expenses and fees of any personnel, required for it to faithfully perform its duties under this Agreement; and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, and all equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the Sub-Adviser’s duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for the expenses of the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser, including, but not limited to: expenses incurred in the distribution of shares of the Portfolio(s); fees and expenses related to any required filings, or any amendment or supplement thereto, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), the Investment Company Act or otherwise; interest expense, taxes, fees and commissions of every kind; and charges and expenses of custodians, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, shareholder servicing agents and other service providers to the Portfolio(s) or the Trust.
F. The Sub-Adviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all portfolio transactions for the Portfolio(s) subject to the conditions set forth herein. The Sub-Adviser will place all necessary orders with brokers, dealers or issuers, and will negotiate brokerage commissions, if applicable. The Sub-Adviser is directed at all times to seek to execute transactions for the Portfolio(s) in accordance with any written policies, practices or procedures (i) established by the Trust Board or the Adviser and provided to the Sub-Adviser or (ii) described in the Prospectus. In placing any orders for the purchase or sale of investments for the Portfolio(s), in the name of the Portfolio(s) or a nominee of the Portfolio(s), the Sub-Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek to obtain for the Portfolio(s) “best execution,” consistent with its obligations under applicable laws and regulations considering all relevant circumstances, and shall maintain records adequate to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. In no instance will securities or other assets be purchased from or sold to the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, except in accordance with the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act and the rules under each, and all other federal and state laws or regulations applicable to the Trust.
G. Subject to the appropriate policies and procedures approved by the Trust Board and delivered to the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent authorized by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), cause the Portfolio(s) to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage or research services to the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines, in good faith, that such amount of commission is reasonable in relationship to the value of the brokerage or research services provided viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion. To the extent authorized by Section 28(e) and the Trust Board, the Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of such action.
H. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Portfolio(s) 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/or efficient execution. 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 which the Sub-Adviser considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio(s) and to its other clients over time. The Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates may give advice and take action in the performance of their duties with respect to any of their other clients or accounts that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of actions taken, with respect to the Portfolio(s). The Adviser also acknowledges that Sub-Adviser and its affiliates are fiduciaries to other entities, some of which have the same or similar investment objectives (and will hold the same or similar investments) as the Portfolio(s), and that the Sub-Adviser will carry out its duties hereunder together with its duties under such relationships. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to confer upon the Sub-Adviser any obligation to purchase or sell or to recommend for purchase or sale for the Portfolio(s) any investment that the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, officers or employees may purchase or sell for its or their own account or for the account of any client, if in the sole discretion of the Sub-Adviser it is for any reason impractical or undesirable to take such action or make such recommendation for the Portfolio(s).
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I. The Sub-Adviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Portfolio(s) that are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act and Advisers Act and the rules thereunder and that are not being maintained by the Adviser, and shall file with the SEC all forms pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act with respect to its duties as are set forth herein.
J. The Sub-Adviser will, unless and until otherwise directed by the Adviser or the Trust Board, exercise in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s policies and procedures all rights of security holders with respect to securities held by the Portfolio(s), including, but not limited to: voting proxies, converting, tendering, exchanging or redeeming securities; providing, upon request, factual information in its possession related to class-action litigation (including litigation with respect to securities previously held); and exercising rights in the context of a bankruptcy or other reorganization. The Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for making any class action filings, filing proofs of claim or other claims-related documents (including bankruptcy proof of claims) on behalf of the Portfolio(s) or exercising any rights the Portfolio(s), Trust or Adviser may have with respect to participating in, commencing, or defending suits or legal proceedings involving securities or issuers of securities held in, or formerly held in a Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Adviser upon reasonable request with information in its possession regarding class action claims or any other legal matters involving any asset held in the Portfolio(s) and shall reasonably cooperate with the Adviser to the extent necessary for the Adviser to pursue or participate in any such action.
| 4. | LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY |
The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as the Trust’s agent and attorney-in-fact for the limited purpose of executing account documentation, agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Portfolio(s), as the Sub-Adviser shall be requested by brokers, dealers or other intermediaries, counterparties and other persons or entities in connection with the services provided by it hereunder. The Adviser, on behalf of the Trust, hereby ratifies and confirms as good and effectual, at law or in equity, all that the Sub-Adviser, and its officers and employees, may do in the capacity as attorney-in-fact. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as imposing a duty on the Sub-Adviser, or its officers and employees, to act on or assume responsibility for any matters in its capacity as attorney-in-fact. Any person dealing with the Sub-Adviser in its capacity as attorney-in-fact hereunder is hereby expressly put on notice that the Sub-Adviser is acting solely in the capacity as an agent of the Trust, that the Trust’s certificate of trust is on file with the Delaware Secretary of State and that the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series of the Trust are enforceable against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally, or any other series thereof. The Sub-Adviser assumes no personal liability whatsoever for obligations of the Portfolio(s) entered into by the Sub-Adviser in its capacity as attorney-in-fact. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 4 is intended to obviate any liability of the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement to the extent contemplated in Section 6.A. If requested by the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser agrees to have the Trust execute and deliver to the Sub-Adviser a separate form of Limited Power of Attorney in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Sub-Adviser.
| 5. | COMPENSATION OF SUB-ADVISER |
The Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee with respect to each of the Portfolio(s) as specified in Appendix A to this Agreement. Payments shall be made to the Sub-Adviser on or about the fifth day of each month; however, this fee will be calculated daily for each of the Portfolio(s) based on the net assets thereof on each day and accrued on a daily basis.
| 6. | LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION |
A. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Investment Company Act or any other federal securities law (whose provisions may not be waived or altered by contract), the Sub-Adviser, shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred or suffered by the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser as a result of any error of judgment, mistake of law, or other action or omission by the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to exculpate, waive or limit the liability of the Sub-Adviser for, and the Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser and the Trust, all affiliated persons thereof (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) and all controlling persons thereof (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act) (collectively, “Adviser Indemnitees”) against, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable attorney’s fees) to which any of the Adviser Indemnitees may become subject under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act or any other statute, or at common law or otherwise, arising out of or based on (i) any willful misconduct, bad
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faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Sub-Adviser in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature or other materials pertaining to the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser, or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Sub-Adviser which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Adviser or the Trust by the Sub-Adviser Indemnitees (as defined below) for use therein.
B. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Investment Company Act or any other federal securities law (whose provisions may not be waived or altered by contract), the Adviser shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred or suffered by the Sub-Adviser as a result of any error of judgment, mistake of law, or other action or omission by the Adviser; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to exculpate, waive or limit the liability of the Adviser for, and the Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser, all affiliated persons thereof (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) and all controlling persons thereof (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act) (collectively, “Sub-Adviser Indemnitees”) against, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable attorney’s fees) to which any of the Sub-Adviser Indemnitees may become subject under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act or any other statute, or at common law or otherwise, arising out of or based on (i) any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Adviser in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature or other materials pertaining to the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser, or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Adviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Adviser or the Trust by the Sub-Adviser Indemnitees.
| 7. | REPRESENTATIONS OF ADVISER |
The Adviser represents, warrants and covenants that:
A. The Adviser (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act or other law, regulation or order from performing its obligations under this Agreement and under the Advisory Agreement; (iii) has met, and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement is in effect, 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 its obligations under this Agreement; (iv) has the power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under and to provide the Sub-Adviser the authority provided under this Agreement; and (v) will promptly notify the Sub-Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Adviser from serving as the investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the Investment Company Act or otherwise.
B. The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and will provide the Sub-Adviser with a copy of such code of ethics.
C. The Adviser will also promptly notify the Sub-Adviser if it is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the management of the Portfolio(s) and affecting the Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that routine regulatory examinations not specifically targeting the Sub-Adviser shall not be required to be reported by this provision.
D. The Adviser is registered as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). With respect to each of the Portfolio(s), the Adviser has claimed either (1) the CPO exclusion in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Portfolio and, in such case, the Adviser will file the notice required under CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Portfolio and will annually reaffirm such notice filing on behalf of the Portfolio as required by CFTC Regulation 4.5; or (2) the relief in CFTC Regulation 4.12(c)(1)(ii) with respect to the Portfolio. Information regarding whether the Adviser has claimed either the CPO exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 or the relief in CFTC
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Regulation 4.12(c)(1)(ii) with respect to a Portfolio is available on the NFA’s website at xxx.xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx. The Adviser further represents, warrants and covenants that each of the Portfolio(s) is, and until this Agreement is terminated will remain, an “eligible contract participant” within the meaning of Section 1a(18) of the CEA.
E. Each Portfolio is a qualified institutional buyer as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that none of the Portfolio(s) are “restricted persons” under Rule 5130 and Rule 5131 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and thus the Portfolio(s) are not prohibited from participating in the allocation of initial public offerings of equity securities offered by FINRA members. However, it is understood that any purchase of securities by Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Portfolio(s), whether from participation in an initial public offering or any other securities offering, must be in compliance with the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and other Governing Documents of the Portfolio(s) and may be otherwise limited upon instruction of the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser.
| 8. | REPRESENTATIONS OF SUB-ADVISER |
The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act or other law, regulation or order from performing its obligations under this Agreement; (iii) to the best of its knowledge, has met, and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, 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 its obligations under this Agreement; (iv) has the power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (v) will promptly notify the 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 Investment Company Act or otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser, and any affiliate providing investment advisory services in connection with this Agreement, has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and will provide the Adviser and the Trust Board with a copy of such code of ethics, together with a certification or other evidence of its adoption. Within forty-five days of the end of the last calendar quarter of each year that this Agreement is in effect, and as otherwise requested, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Sub-Adviser and of any such affiliate shall certify to the Adviser and the Trust that the Sub-Adviser and any such affiliate have complied with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 during the previous year and that there has been no material violation of the Sub-Adviser’s or any such affiliate’s code of ethics or, if such a material violation has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Upon the written request of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall provide information to the Adviser regarding the Sub-Adviser’s policies and procedures relating to the reports required to be made to the Sub-Adviser by Rule 17j-1(d)(1) and shall make representatives of the Sub-Adviser available to representatives of the Adviser to discuss Sub-Adviser’s process for receiving such reports. The Sub-Adviser shall respond to reasonable requests for information in writing from the Adviser as to such reports (e.g., summaries of such reports and records with personal information identified information redacted), subject in all cases to privacy and confidentiality obligations and to the extent Sub-Adviser is not prohibited from doing so under applicable law. .
C. The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust if it is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the management of the Portfolio(s) or the Trust; provided, however, that routine regulatory examinations not specifically targeting the Portfolio(s) or the Trust shall not be required to be reported by this provision.
D. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Adviser and the Trust Board with a copy of its current brochure and brochure supplement(s), which as of the date of this Agreement are Parts 2A and 2B of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the SEC (as appropriate), and promptly will furnish a copy of all amendments to the Adviser and the Trust Board as required under applicable law (and the Adviser consents to electronic delivery thereof). Such amendments shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Advisers Act.
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E. The Sub-Adviser will notify the Adviser and the Trust Board of any changes in the key personnel who are either the portfolio manager(s) of the Portfolio(s) or material changes to senior management of the Sub-Adviser, in each case prior to or promptly after such change.
F. The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain a commercially reasonable level of errors and omissions or professional liability insurance coverage.
G. The Sub-Adviser agrees that neither it, nor any of its affiliates, will knowingly in any way refer directly or indirectly to its relationship with the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser or any of their respective affiliates in offering, marketing or other promotional materials without the express written consent of the Adviser, except as required by applicable law rule, or regulation or upon the request or direction of a court or governmental authority. However, the Sub-Adviser may use the performance of the Portfolio(s) in its composite performance. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent, or shall be construed as preventing, the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates from using the names of the Portfolio(s), the Trust or the Adviser in any response to a request for information/proposal, and the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates are expressly authorized to include the names of the Portfolio(s), the Trust and the Adviser on a representative client list.
H. The Sub-Adviser is not providing commodity interest trading advice with respect to the Portfolio(s).
I. The Sub-Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser if any of the above representations, warranties and covenants ceases to be true.
| 9. | NON-EXCLUSIVITY |
The services provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render investment advisory or other services to others and to engage in other activities. It is understood and agreed that the directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser are not prohibited from engaging in any other business activity or from rendering services to any other person, or from serving as partners, managers, trustees, directors, officers or employees of any other firm or corporation; provided, however, that such other services and activities do not, during the term of this Agreement, interfere in a material manner with the Sub-Adviser’s ability to meet its obligations hereunder.
| 10. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
Each party to this Agreement agrees that it shall treat as confidential, and not disclose to any third party, any information (including the Sub-Adviser’s investment advice) provided to it (“Receiving Party”) by the other party (“Disclosing Party”) that is marked “Confidential” or that reasonably should be known to be confidential, including the investment activities or holdings of the Portfolio(s) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) except to the extent expressly permitted or required under applicable laws and regulations. All Confidential Information that a Disclosing Party provides to a Receiving Party shall not be used by the Receiving Party for any purpose not permitted under this Agreement. The foregoing (a) shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided by the Disclosing Party or which thereafter becomes publicly available other than in contravention of this Agreement or any confidentiality obligation known to the Receiving Party, (b) shall not prevent disclosure or use of any Confidential Information to the extent necessary to render the services or perform the obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and (c) shall not prevent disclosures (i) to a regulator with due jurisdiction upon request or (ii) otherwise as expressly permitted or required under applicable law, rule or regulation. If a Receiving Party becomes legally compelled (by interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoenas, civil investigative demands, applicable regulations or similar processes) to disclose any Confidential Information, the Receiving Party agrees to provide (to the extent practicable and not prohibited under applicable law) the Disclosing Party with prompt notice of that request(s) so that the Disclosing Party may seek an appropriate protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive the Receiving Party’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If that protective order or other remedy is not obtained by the date that the Receiving Party must comply with the request, or if the Disclosing Party waives compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Receiving Party agrees to furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information which is legally required in the reasonable opinion of its counsel, and to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to that portion of the Confidential Information which is being furnished or disclosed.
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The Adviser agrees not to make use of the investment decisions or recommendations of the Sub-Adviser, other than with respect to the Portfolio(s), without the written consent of the Sub-Adviser. In addition, each party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any of its agents or affiliates who may gain access to Confidential Information shall be made aware of its proprietary nature and shall likewise treat it as confidential.
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| 11. | SUPPLEMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS |
The Sub-Adviser may from time to time employ or associate itself with any person to assist it in providing the services to be performed by the Sub-Adviser hereunder, provided that no such person shall perform any services with respect to the Portfolio(s) that would constitute an assignment or require a written contract pursuant to the Investment Company Act. Any compensation payable to such person shall be the sole responsibility of the Sub-Adviser, and the Adviser shall have no obligations with respect thereto or otherwise arising under the Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will act in good faith and with reasonable skill and care in the selection, use and monitoring of such persons. The Sub-Adviser may engage any of its affiliates to assist it with providing its services under this Agreement (including affiliates outside of the United States), provided that the Sub-Adviser will remain responsible for the performance of its obligations under the Agreement with respect to the services provided by any such affiliates.
| 12. | REGULATION |
Both the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
| 13. | RECORDS |
The records of the Trust relating to the services provided under this Agreement shall be the property of the Trust and shall be under its control; however, the Trust shall furnish to the Sub-Adviser such records and permit it to retain such records (either in original or in duplicate form) as it shall reasonably require in order to carry out its business or to comply with applicable laws and regulations. In the event of the termination of this Agreement, such Trust records shall promptly be returned to the Trust by the Sub-Adviser free from any claim or retention of rights therein, provided that the Sub-Adviser may retain any such records that are required by law or regulation.
| 14. | DURATION OF AGREEMENT |
This Agreement shall become effective on the date first above written, provided that this Agreement shall not take effect with respect to any of the Portfolio(s) unless it has first been approved with respect to such Portfolio(s) by the Trust Board, including approval by a vote of a majority of those trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any party to this Agreement (“Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and, if required, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio(s). This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two years from the date first set forth above, or for any additional Portfolio(s) for a period of two years from the effective date of this Agreement with respect to such Portfolio(s), and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter as appropriate for each of the Portfolios, only so long as such continuance with respect to the Portfolio is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust Board, including approval by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
| 15. | TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT |
This Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to any or all of the Portfolio(s), without the payment of any penalty, (i) by the Trust Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Portfolio(s), on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, or (ii) by the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party and the Trust. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event the Advisory Agreement terminates for any reason. This Agreement will also terminate upon written notice by a party to the other party that the other party is in material breach of this Agreement, unless the party in material breach of this Agreement cures such breach to the reasonable satisfaction of the party alleging the breach within thirty (30) days after written notice.
| 16. | USE OF SUB-ADVISER’S NAME |
The parties agree that the name of the Sub-Adviser, the names of any affiliates of the Sub-Adviser, and any derivative, logo, trademark, service xxxx or trade name, are the valuable property of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates. The Adviser and the Trust shall have the right to use such names, derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names only with the prior written approval of the Sub-Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed so long as this Agreement is in effect.
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Upon termination of this Agreement, the Adviser and the Trust shall forthwith cease to use such names, derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names. The Adviser agrees that it will review with the Sub-Adviser any advertisement, sales literature or notice prior to its use that makes reference to the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates or any such names, derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names so that the Sub-Adviser may review the context in which it is referred to, it being agreed that the Sub-Adviser shall have no responsibility to ensure the adequacy of the form or content of such materials for purposes of the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or other applicable laws and regulations. If the Adviser or the Trust makes any unauthorized use of the Sub-Adviser’s names, derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names, the parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser shall suffer irreparable harm for which monetary damages may be inadequate and, thus, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to injunctive relief, as well as any other remedy available under law.
| 17. | AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT |
Except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act or the rules or regulations thereunder, this Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment, if material, is specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio(s) affected by the amendment (unless such approval is not required by Section 15 of the Investment Company Act as interpreted by the SEC or its staff or unless the SEC has granted an exemption from such approval requirement) and by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The required shareholder approval shall be effective with respect to the Portfolio(s) if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio(s) vote to approve the amendment, notwithstanding that the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of other or all of the Portfolio(s) affected by the amendment. Any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing duly executed by the proper officials of the parties hereto.
| 18. | ASSIGNMENT |
Any assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of this Agreement shall result in its automatic termination. For the avoidance of doubt, no assignment shall be deemed to result from any transfer resulting from any transaction that does not result in a change of control of the Sub-Adviser, or changes in the partners, managers, directors, officers or employees of the Sub-Adviser except as may be provided to the contrary in the Investment Company Act or the rules or regulations thereunder. The Sub-Adviser agrees to bear all reasonable expenses of the Trust, if any, arising out of an assignment of this Agreement caused by the Sub-Adviser.
| 19. | WAIVER |
The rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation, (i) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in a writing signed by the other party; (ii) no waiver that may be given by a party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (iii) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such party or of the right of the party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.
| 20. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
| 21. | HEADINGS; MISCELLANEOUS |
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof. The Trust is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement. The parties to this Agreement do not intend for this Agreement to benefit any other third party, including without limitation a record owner or beneficial owner of shares of the Portfolio(s). The terms of this Agreement may be enforced solely by a party to this Agreement, the Trust and the Portfolio(s).
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| 22. | NOTICES |
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered in person or by registered or certified mail or a private mail or delivery service providing the sender with notice of receipt or sent by electronic transmission (via email) to the address set forth below of each applicable party, or to such other address as the party entitled to receive the notice may designate in writing. Notices sent by registered or certified mail shall be deemed to have been given three business days after deposit of same in the mail. Notices delivered by overnight service shall be deemed to have been given one business day after delivery of the same to a postal service or private courier. Notices sent electronically shall be deemed to have been given when sent. Any notice or other document sent or delivered in any other manner shall be effective only if and when received.
| If to the Adviser: | Equitable Investment Management Group, LLC | |
| Xxxxxxx X. XxxXxxxxx, Executive Vice President and General Counsel | ||
| 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 | ||
| Xxxxxxx.XxxXxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
| If to the Trust: | EQ Advisors Trust | |
| Xxxxxxx X. XxxXxxxxx, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | ||
| 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 | ||
| Xxxxxxx.XxxXxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
| If to the Sub-Adviser: | GQG Partners LLC | |
| General Counsel | ||
| 000 X Xxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 | ||
| Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
| 24. | SEVERABILITY |
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as if such portion had never been contained herein.
| 24. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser hereby expressly acknowledge that the Trust’s certificate of trust is on file in the Office of the Delaware Secretary of State and that the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series of the Trust are enforceable only against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or any other series thereof. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser further acknowledge that an officer or trustee of the Trust, when acting in such capacity, is not personally liable to any person other than the Trust and its shareholders for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any trustee thereof.
| 25. | GOVERNING LAW |
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, and any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions in this Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
| 26. | INTERPRETATION |
Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Investment Company Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Investment Company 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
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to the Investment Company Act. Specifically, the terms “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested person,” “assignment,” and “affiliated person,” as used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the Investment Company Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is relaxed 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first mentioned above.
| EQUITABLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC |
GQG PARTNERS LLC | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxxx |
/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | Name: | Xxx Xxxxxx | Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||||
| Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer | Title: | CEO | General Counsel and Secretary | |||||||||
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APPENDIX A
TO
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser monthly compensation computed daily at an annual rate equal to the following:
| Portfolio |
Annual Sub-Advisory Fee Rate | |
| EQ/Large Cap Core Managed Volatility Portfolio* | 0.28% of the Sub-Adviser Allocation Portion’s average daily net assets up to and including $500 million; and 0.25% of the Sub-Adviser Allocation Portion’s average daily net assets in excess of $500 million.** |
| * | Fee to be paid with respect to this Portfolio shall be based only on the portion of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets advised by the Sub-Adviser, which may be referred to as the “Sub-Adviser Allocation Portion.” |
| ** | The daily sub-advisory fee for the Sub-Adviser Allocation Portion is calculated by multiplying the aggregate net assets of the Sub-Adviser Allocation Portion at the close of the immediately preceding business day by the Annual Sub-Advisory Fee Rate calculated as set forth above and then dividing the result by the number of days in the year. |
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