FORM OF
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THE SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND OF WM VARIABLE TRUST
Effective as of [_____], 2006
This Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement is made and entered into as of
this [___] day of [_____], 2006, among WM Advisors, Inc. ("WM Advisors"), a
corporation organized under the laws of the state of Xxxxxxxxxx, XX Variable
Trust, a business trust formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (the "Trust"), on behalf of its Small Cap Growth Fund series (the
"Fund"), and Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware Management
Business Trust, (the "Sub-Advisor"), a statutory trust organized under the laws
of the state of Delaware.
Whereas, the Trust is an open-end, management investment company and is
so registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act");
Whereas, the Trust offers a number of investment portfolios, each with
its own investment objective and strategies, and of which one investment
portfolio is the Fund;
Whereas, WM Advisors is engaged in the business of rendering investment
advisory and management services, is registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and is the
investment advisor of the Fund;
Whereas, the Sub-Advisor is engaged in the business of rendering
investment advisory and management services and Delaware Management Business
Trust, of which the Sub-Advisor is a series, is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act; and
Whereas, WM Advisors desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish
investment sub-advisory and management services to the Fund and the Sub-Advisor
is willing to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein
contained, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Investment Description; Appointment
WM Advisors desires to employ such portion of the capital of the Fund
as may from time to time be determined by WM Advisors by investing and
reinvesting in investments of the kind and in accordance with the limitations
specified in the Trust's Master Trust Agreement, as amended, the Bylaws, as
amended, and in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information relating
to the Fund as in effect and which may be amended from time to time, and in such
manner and to such extent as may from time to time be approved by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust. Copies of the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, Bylaws, and the Trust's Master Trust Agreement, each as
amended, have been or will be submitted to the Sub-Advisor. WM Advisors agrees
to provide copies of all amendments or supplements to the Fund's Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, Bylaws, and the Trust's Master Trust
Agreement to the Sub-Advisor during the continuance of this Agreement before or
at the time such amendments or supplements become effective; provided, however,
that if any such amendment or supplement relates to the Sub-Advisor or may
reasonably be expected to materially affect the Sub-Advisor's duties or
obligations under this Agreement, WM Advisors agrees to provide copies of such
amendment or supplement prior to its effectiveness. WM Advisors agrees to
furnish the Sub-Advisor with resolutions approved by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust to the extent they may affect the duties of the Sub-Advisor, a copy of
any financial statements or reports prepared for the Fund by the Trust's
independent registered public accountants, and with copies of any financial
statements or reports made by the Fund to its shareholders or to any
governmental body or securities exchange, and any further materials or
information which the Sub-Advisor may reasonably request to enable it to perform
its services hereunder. WM Advisors desires to employ and hereby appoints the
Sub-Advisor to act as investment sub-adviser to the portion of the Fund
allocated to the Sub-Advisor by WM Advisors from time to time. The Sub-Advisor
accepts the appointment and agrees to furnish the services described herein for
the compensation set forth below.
2. Services as Investment Sub-Advisor
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and of WM
Advisors, the Fund's investment adviser, the Sub-Advisor will, solely with
respect to the portion of the Fund allocated to the Sub-Advisor by WM Advisors,
(a) maintain and implement compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to
ensure its compliance with Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act and to prevent
violations of the "Federal Securities Laws" (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the
0000 Xxx) (b) make investment decisions in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives and policies as stated in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information as in effect and, after notice to the Sub-Advisor, and
which may be amended from time to time; (c) place purchase and sale orders on
behalf of the Fund to effectuate the investment decisions made; (d) maintain
books and records with respect to the securities transactions of the Fund in
accordance with the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and the rules adopted
thereunder and furnish to the Trust's Board of Trustees such quarterly, annual
and special reports as the Board may reasonably request; and (e) except as
permitted in this section or elsewhere in this Agreement treat confidentially
and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information
relative to the Trust and to prior, present or potential shareholders and will
not knowingly use or disclose such records and information for any purpose other
than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after
prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld and such records may not be withheld where the
Sub-Advisor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure
to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Trust. The Sub-Advisor will supervise
the Fund's investments and conduct a continuous program of investment,
evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of the Fund's assets in
the portion of the Fund under the Sub-Advisor's management. The Sub-Advisor has
responsibility for providing investment services and advice only with respect to
such discrete portion of the Fund as may from time to time be allocated to the
Sub-Advisor by WM Advisors. Subject to the supervision of WM Advisors and in
accordance with the investment objectives and policies as stated in the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, the Sub-Advisor is
authorized, in its discretion and without prior consultation with WM Advisors,
to buy, sell, lend and otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds, and other
securities and investment instruments on behalf of the Fund, without regard to
the length of time the securities have been held and the resulting rate of
portfolio turnover or any tax considerations, and so long as consistent with the
Fund's investment objectives and policies, the majority or the whole of the Fund
may be invested in such proportions of stocks, bonds, other securities or
investment instruments, or cash as the Sub-Advisor shall determine. In addition,
the Sub-Advisor will furnish the Fund or WM Advisors with whatever statistical
information the Fund or WM Advisors may reasonably request with respect to the
investments that the Fund may hold or contemplate purchasing in the portion of
the fund under the Sub-Advisor's management. The Sub-Advisor will not consult
with any other sub-advisors of any other funds within the Trust (or any
sub-advisors with respect to any other portion of the Fund) concerning the
transactions in securities or other assets of the Fund or any other funds of the
Trust other than for purposes of complying with the conditions of paragraphs (a)
and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act.
The Sub-Advisor agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "1934 Act"), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective rules
and regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable, as well as with all other
applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and case law that relate
to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its
business as a registered investment adviser. No supervisory activity undertaken
by WM Advisors shall limit the Sub-Advisor's full responsibility for any of the
foregoing.
3. Brokerage
Subject to (a) the over-riding objective of obtaining the best possible
execution of orders; and (b) review and approval of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust, which may be conducted as often as the Trustees of the Trust may
determine, the Sub-Advisor shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of
securities for the Fund with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Advisor,
which may include brokers or dealers affiliated with the Sub-Advisor. All
transactions with any affiliated person of the Trust, or where any such
affiliated person acts as broker or agent in connection with any such
transaction, shall be accomplished in compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers
Act, the 1934 Act, as amended, the rules adopted thereunder and the procedures
adopted thereunder by the Trust. Purchase or sell orders for the Fund may be
aggregated with contemporaneous purchase or sell orders of other clients of the
Sub-Advisor; provided that (a) no advisory account will be favored by the
Sub-Advisor over any other account; (b) each client of the Sub-Advisor who
participates in such an aggregated order will participate at the average share
price, with all transaction costs shared on a pro rata basis; (c) only advisory
clients' transactions will be aggregated for such an aggregated order; and (d)
the accounts of clients whose orders are aggregated will be segregated on the
Sub-Advisor's books and records so as to identify the particular client who has
the beneficial interest therein. The Sub-Advisor shall use its best efforts to
obtain execution of Fund transactions at prices which are advantageous to the
Fund and at commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits
received. However, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers or dealers on the basis
that they provide brokerage, research, or other services or products to the Fund
and/or other accounts serviced by the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor may pay a
broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction
in excess of the amount of commission or dealer spread another broker or dealer
would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Advisor determines
in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the
value of the brokerage and research products and/or services provided by such
broker or dealer. This determination, with respect to brokerage and research
services or products, may be viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Sub-Advisor and its
affiliates have with respect to the Fund and to accounts over which they
exercise investment discretion, and not all such services or products may be
used by the Sub-Advisor in managing the Fund; provided that with respect to such
transaction and such determination the affiliates of the Sub-Advisor shall have
the same responsibilities to the Fund as the Sub-Advisor has under this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Sub-Advisor may not compensate a
broker or dealer (including a government securities or municipal securities
broker or dealer) for any promotion or sale of shares of any investment company,
including the Fund, by directing to the broker or dealer the Fund's portfolio
securities transactions or any remuneration, including but not limited to any
commission, xxxx-up, xxxx-down, or other fee (or portion thereof) received or to
be received from the Fund's portfolio transactions effected through a broker or
dealer.
4. Information Provided to the Trust and WM Advisors
The Sub-Advisor will keep the Trust and WM Advisors informed of
developments related to the Sub-Advisor, or its affiliates, their business,
condition or prospects, including without limitation material regulatory
investigations, that may materially affect the Fund of which the Sub-Advisor
becomes aware and will, on its own initiative, furnish the Trust and WM Advisors
on at least a quarterly basis with whatever information the Sub-Advisor believes
is appropriate for this purpose. For purposes of the preceding sentence only,
the term "affiliate" shall mean (i) affiliates of the Sub-Advisor controlled by
Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (or its successor), which directly or
indirectly controls the Sub-Advisor, and (ii) any registered broker-dealer or
registered investment adviser under common control with the Sub-Advisor.
Further, the Sub-Advisor shall notify WM Advisors immediately upon detection of
(a) any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment
objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (b) any material breach of any
of the Fund's or the Sub-Advisor's policies, guidelines or procedures. WM
Advisors agrees to provide Sub-Advisor with all relevant Fund policies,
guidelines and procedures.
5. Standard of Care
The Sub-Advisor shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the
services described in paragraphs 2-4 above. Except as may otherwise be provided
by federal securities laws, the Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection
with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a 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 (the conduct excepted in this sentence shall be
referred to as "Disqualifying Conduct").
6. Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered pursuant to this Agreement,
the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, will pay the Sub-Advisor on the first business
day of each month a fee for the previous month according to the schedule of fees
detailed in Annex A attached to this Agreement. Upon any termination of this
Agreement before the end of a month, the fee for such part of that month shall
be prorated according to the proportion that such period bears to the full
monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of termination of this
Agreement. For the purpose of determining fees payable to the Sub-Advisor, the
value of the Fund's net assets under management by the Sub-Advisor shall be
computed at the times and in the manner specified in the Fund's Prospectus or
Statement of Additional Information relating to the Fund as from time to time in
effect.
7. Expenses
The Sub-Advisor will bear all of its expenses in performing its
services under this Agreement, which expenses shall not include brokerage fees
or commissions in connection with the effectuation of securities transactions.
The Sub-Advisor shall not be required to bear any expenses of the Trust, the
Fund or WM Advisors. The Trust will bear certain other expenses to be incurred
in its operation, including but not limited to: organizational expenses, taxes,
interest, brokerage fees and commissions, if any; fees of trustees of the Trust
who are not officers, directors or employees of the Sub-Advisor, WM Advisors, or
any of their affiliates; Securities and Exchange Commission fees and state Blue
Sky qualification fees; all fees, including out-of-pocket expenses of
custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents and transaction charges of
custodians; insurance premiums; outside auditing and legal expenses; costs of
maintenance of the Trust's existence; costs attributable to investor services,
including without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses; costs of
preparing and printing prospectuses and statements of additional information for
regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders; costs of
shareholders' reports and meetings of the shareholders of the Fund and of the
officers or Board of Trustees of the Trust; and any extraordinary expenses. In
addition, the Fund pays a distribution fee pursuant to the terms of a
Distribution Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. Any reimbursement of
advisory fees required by any expense limitation provision shall be the sole
responsibility of WM Advisors.
8. Services to Other Companies or Accounts
WM Advisors understands that the Sub-Advisor now acts, will continue to
act and may act in the future as investment adviser to fiduciary and other
managed accounts and as investment adviser to one or more other investment
companies or series of investment companies, and WM Advisors has no objection to
the Sub-Advisor so acting, provided that whenever the Fund and one or more other
accounts or investment companies advised by the Sub-Advisor have available funds
for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated
in accordance with procedures reasonably believed to be equitable to each
entity. Similarly, opportunities to sell securities will be allocated in an
equitable manner. WM Advisors recognizes that in some cases this procedure may
limit the size of the position that may be acquired or disposed of for the Fund.
In addition, WM Advisors understands that the persons employed by the
Sub-Advisor to assist in the performance of the Sub-Advisor's duties hereunder
will not devote their full time to such service and nothing contained herein
shall be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the Sub-Advisor or any
affiliate of the Sub-Advisor to engage in and devote time and attention to other
business or to render services of whatever kind or nature. WM Advisors
recognizes and agrees that the Sub-Advisor may provide advice to other clients
which may differ from or be identical to advice given with respect to the Fund.
9. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written
above, shall continue for a period of two years thereafter, and shall continue
in effect for a period of more than two years thereafter only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or (b) a vote of a "majority" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, provided that in either event the
continuance is also approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees who are not
"interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to this
Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval. This Agreement is terminable, without penalty, on 30 days'
written notice, by WM Advisors, the Board of Trustees for the Trust or by vote
of holders of a majority of the Fund's shares, or upon 60 days' written notice
by the Sub-Advisor and will terminate automatically upon any termination of the
advisory agreement between the Trust and WM Advisors. In addition, this
Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act). The Sub-Advisor agrees to notify the Trust of any
circumstances that, to its best knowledge and belief, might result in this
Agreement being deemed to be assigned.
10. Representations of WM Advisors and the Sub-Advisor
WM Advisors represents and acknowledges, for itself and on behalf of
the Fund, that (a) a copy of the Trust's Master Trust Agreement, dated February
22, 1989, together with all amendments thereto, is on file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, (b) the appointment of the
Sub-Advisor has been duly authorized, (c) it has acted and will continue to act
in conformity with the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, (d) it is authorized
to perform the services herein, and (e) it has received a copy of Part II of
Sub-Advisor's current Form ADV, at least 48 hours prior to signing this
Agreement.
The Sub-Advisor represents that it is authorized to perform the
services described herein. Further, the Sub-Advisor represents that it maintains
errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall
provide prior written notice to WM Advisors (a) of any material changes in its
insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (b) if any material claims will be
made on its insurance. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall upon reasonable
request provide WM Advisors any information it may reasonably require concerning
the amount of or scope of such insurance.
11. Indemnification
WM Advisors shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Advisor from and
against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and other related expenses), howsoever arising from or in
connection with this Agreement or the performance by the Sub-Advisor of its
duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require
that the Sub-Advisor be indemnified for Disqualifying Conduct.
Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless WM Advisors and the Fund
from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including
reasonable attorneys' fees and other related expenses), howsoever arising from
or in connection with this Agreement attributable to Disqualifying Conduct.
12. Amendment of this 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.
13. Indemnification Use of Names
The parties agree and acknowledge that the Sub-Advisor is the sole
owner of the name and xxxx "Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware
Management Business Trust," and that all use of any designation comprised in
whole or part of Delaware Management Company, a series of Delaware Management
Business Trust, (a "Sub-Advisor Xxxx") under this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of the Sub-Advisor. The use by the Trust on its own behalf or on behalf
of the Fund of any Sub-Advisor Xxxx in any advertisement or sales literature or
other materials promoting the Fund shall be with the consent of the Sub-Advisor.
The Trust and WM Advisors shall not, without the consent of the Sub-Advisor,
make representations regarding the Sub-Advisor intended to be disseminated to
the investing public in any disclosure document, advertisement or sales
literature or other materials promoting the Fund. Such consent shall not be
required for any documents or other materials intended for broker-dealer use
only, for use by the Trust's trustees and for internal use by the Trust and WM
Advisors. Consent by the Sub-Advisor to such use of any Sub-Advisor Xxxx and any
such representation shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall be deemed to be
given if no written objection is received by the Trust, the Fund or WM Advisors
within 3 business days after the request is made by the Trust, the Fund or WM
Advisors for such use of any Sub-Advisor Xxxx or any such representation. Upon
termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Trust and WM Advisors shall
cease all use of any Sub-Advisor Xxxx(s) as soon as reasonably practicable.
The Sub-Advisor agrees and acknowledges that the Trust is the sole
owner of the name and xxxx "WM Variable Trust" and WM Advisors is the sole owner
of the name and xxxx "WM Advisors, Inc." and that any and all use of any
designation comprised in whole or in part of "WM Variable Trust" or "WM
Advisors, Inc." (each a "WM Xxxx") under this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of the Trust or WM Advisors, respectively. Except as used to identify
the Fund to third parties as a client, the use by the Sub-Advisor on its own
behalf of any WM Xxxx in any advertisement or sales literature or other
materials promoting the Sub-Advisor shall be with the consent of the Trust or WM
Advisors, respectively. The Sub-Advisor shall not, without the consent of the
Trust or WM Advisors, as applicable, make representations regarding the Trust,
the Fund or WM Advisors in any disclosure document, advertisement or sales
literature or other materials promoting the Sub-Advisor. Consent by the Trust
and WM Advisors to such use of any WM Xxxx and any such representations shall
not be unreasonably withheld and shall be deemed to be given if no written
objection is received by the Sub-Advisor within 5 business days after the
request by the Sub-Advisor is made for such use of any WM Xxxx or any such
representations. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Sub-
Advisor shall cease any and all use of any WM Xxxx as soon as reasonably
practicable.
14. Declaration of Trust and Limitation of Liability
A copy of the Master Trust Agreement of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby
given that this Agreement is executed by an officer of the Trust, as an officer
and not individually, on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust, as trustees and
not individually, on further behalf of the Fund, and that the obligations of
this Agreement with respect to the Fund shall be binding upon the assets and
properties of the Fund only and shall not be binding upon the assets and
properties of any other series of the Trust or upon any of the Trustees,
officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Fund or the Trust
individually.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment of Management Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
hereto, except that WM Advisors and the Trust are also parties to an Investment
Management Agreement relating to the Fund dated May 11, 2004 as Amended and
Restated (the "Management Agreement").
The Trust and WM Advisors hereby amend the Management Agreement, for so
long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, to provide that: (a) The Trust,
on behalf of the Fund, shall pay to WM Advisors a monthly fee equal to the
excess, if any, of (i) the fee set forth in Section 5 of the Management
Agreement (the "Management Fee") over (ii) the fee paid by the Fund under this
Agreement or any other sub-advisory agreement with respect to the Fund; (b) WM
Advisors shall not be entitled to any other fees under the Management Agreement
with respect to the Fund; (c) The Trust acknowledges and agrees that, for so
long as Sub-Advisor meets the standard of care set forth in this Agreement, WM
Advisors shall have no obligation to (i) furnish a continuous investment program
for the Fund, (ii) determine from time to time what securities will be
purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the Fund's assets
will be held as cash, or (iii) place orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities for the Fund with brokers or dealers selected by WM
Advisors; (d) Notwithstanding this Agreement, WM Advisors remains authorized to
determine what securities or other property shall be purchased or sold by or for
the Fund; (e) In exchange for the fee paid by the Fund under the Management
Agreement and in recognition of its obligation to select and monitor the
Sub-Advisor, and not for the services provided by the Sub-Advisor pursuant to
the Sub-Advisory Agreement, WM Advisors shall indemnify and hold the Trust
harmless from and against any and all claims, costs, expenses (including
attorneys' fees), losses, damages, charges, payments and liabilities of any sort
or kind which may be asserted against the Trust or for which the Trust may be
held liable arising out of or attributable to any actual or alleged failure of
Sub-Advisor to meet the standard of care set forth in this Agreement.
16. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
17. Miscellaneous
(a) Unless WM Advisors or the Trust gives the Sub-Advisor written
instructions to the contrary, the Sub-Advisor shall vote all proxies solicited
by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the portion
of the Fund under the Sub-Advisor's management may be invested. The Sub-Advisor
shall use its best good faith judgment to vote such proxies in a manner which
best serves the interests of the Fund's shareholders. The Fund shall cause all
proxies received by it or on its behalf that relate to securities within the
portion of the Fund managed by the Sub-Advisor to be delivered to the
Sub-Advisor or its agent on a timely basis.
(b) WM Advisors shall provide the Sub-Advisor with a copy of the Fund's
agreement (the "Custody Agreement") with the custodian (the "Custodian")
designated to hold the assets of the Fund and any modification thereto in
advance. The Fund's assets shall be maintained in the custody of the Custodian
identified in, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, the Custody
Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of
the Custodian. Any assets added to the portion of the Fund to be managed by the
Sub-Advisor shall be delivered directly to the Custodian. The Sub-Advisor shall
under no circumstances act as custodian for the Fund.
(c) The Sub-Advisor may perform its services through any employee,
officer or agent of the Sub-Advisor, and the Trust and the Fund shall not be
entitled to the advice, recommendation, or judgment of any specific person.
(d) In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Sub-Advisor is and
shall be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided
herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or
represent the Fund, the Trust, or WM Advisors in any way or otherwise be deemed
to be an agent of the Fund, the Trust, or WM Advisors. If any occasion should
arise in which the Sub-Advisor gives any advice to its clients concerning the
shares of the Fund, the Sub-Advisor will act solely as investment counsel for
such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
(e) The headings of paragraphs contained in this Agreement are provided
for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its
construction.
(f) This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) All written notices, requests or other communications to any party
hereunder shall be given to the following addresses and telecopy numbers, or
such other address and telecopy number communicated to the other parties from
time to time:
If to WM Advisors, to: Attn: [Xxxxx Xxx]
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Fund, to: Attn: Xxxxx X. XxXxxx of Ropes & Xxxx LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
If to the Sub-Advisor, to: Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, with a copy to General
Counsel at same address
(h) The Sub-Advisor is permitted to include the performance of the
portion of the Fund managed by the Sub-Advisor in calculating the performance of
its composites; provided, that the Sub-Advisor shall indemnify the Fund and WM
Advisors for any liability that results from such use.
18. Confidential Information
"Confidential Information" of any party shall mean ideas, expressions,
trade secrets, customer lists, products, policies, forms, business methods,
business plans, software and information from third parties (such as software
and its related documentation) for which such party has a duty of
confidentiality, as well as information which from all relevant circumstances
should reasonably be assumed by a party to be confidential information, whether
any of which is marked "Confidential Information" or not. Each party will make
reasonable effort to advise each other party when information disclosed to that
other party is Confidential Information. Confidential Information relating to a
party shall be held in confidence by each other party to the same extent and in
at least the same manner as such party protects its own Confidential
Information, but in no case to a lesser extent or manner than a reasonable
degree of care under the circumstances. Confidential Information shall not be
disclosed to third parties without specific written permission of the protected
party. Each party shall, however, be permitted to disclose relevant aspects of
each other party's Confidential Information to its officers, agents,
subcontractors and employees to the extent that such disclosure is reasonably
necessary for the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement; provided, however, that such party shall take all reasonable measures
to ensure that Confidential Information of the other party is not disclosed or
duplicated in contravention of the provisions of the Agreement by such officers,
agents, sub contractors, and employees.
The obligations in this Section 18 shall not restrict any disclosure by
any party pursuant to any applicable state or federal laws, or by order of any
court or government agency (provided that, the disclosing party shall give
prompt notice to the non-disclosing party of such order) and shall not apply
with respect to information which (1) is independently developed by the other
party without violating the disclosing party's proprietary rights, (2) is or
becomes publicly known (other than through unauthorized disclosure), (3) is
intentionally disclosed by the owner of such information to a third party free
of any obligation of confidentiality, (4) is already known by such party without
an obligation of confidentiality other than pursuant to this Agreement or of any
confidentiality agreements entered into before the effective date of this
Agreement as evidenced by the written records of such party, or (5) is
rightfully received by a party free of any obligation of confidentiality.
The parties agree that they shall abide by the provisions of the
Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act ("GLB") and other applicable privacy laws and shall each
establish commercially reasonable controls to ensure the confidentiality of the
Confidential Information and to ensure that the Confidential Information is not
disclosed contrary to the provisions of this Agreement, GLB or any other
applicable privacy laws and regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, each
party shall implement such physical and other security measures as are necessary
to (i) ensure the security and confidentiality of the Confidential Information
(ii) protect against any threats or hazards to the security and integrity of the
Confidential Information and (iii) protect against any unauthorized access to or
use of the Confidential Information. To the extent that any duties and
responsibilities under the Agreement are delegated to an agent or other
subcontractor, the party shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such agents
and subcontractor adhere to the same requirements. Each party shall have the
right, during regular office hours and upon reasonable notice, to audit the
other party to ensure compliance with the terms of this Agreement, GLB and other
privacy laws and regulations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 18 shall
impose no obligations on the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first written above.
WM ADVISORS, INC. WM VARIABLE TRUST, on behalf of its Small
Cap Growth Fund series
By_____________________________ By________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President Title: First Vice President
DELAWARE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
a series of DELAWARE MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TRUST
By________________________ Dated: [_____], 2006
Name: Xxxx X.X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President/Global Marketing & Client Services
Annex A
1. For purposes of calculating the fee to be paid to the Sub-Advisor under this
Agreement:
"Fund Assets" shall mean the net assets of the portion of the Fund
managed by the Sub-Advisor;
"Other Assets" shall mean the net assets of the portion of the Growth
Fund series of WM Trust managed by the Sub-Advisor.
"Combined Assets" shall mean the sum of Fund Assets and Other Assets;
and
"Average Daily Net Fund Assets," "Average Daily Net Other Assets" and
"Average Daily Net Combined Assets" shall mean the average of the value
of the Fund Assets, Other Assets or Combined Assets, as the case may
be, on each business day.
2. The Sub-Advisor fee shall be paid in arrears (within 10 days of month end)
based upon the Average Daily Net Combined Assets during the preceding month. The
fee payable for the month shall be calculated by applying the annual rate, as
set forth in the fee schedule below, to the Average Daily Net Combined Assets,
and dividing by twelve. The portion of the monthly fee to be paid by the Fund
under this Agreement shall be prorated based upon the Average Daily Net Fund
Assets as compared to the Average Daily Net Combined Assets. For a month in
which this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, the portion of the
Sub-Advisor fee due hereunder shall be prorated on the basis of the number of
days that the Agreement is in effect during the month.
3. The following fee schedule shall be used to calculate the fee to be paid to
the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement:
First Next Over
$250 $250 $500
Million Million Million
------- ------- -------
0.60% 0.50% 0.40%
