EXHIBIT G(2)
SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT dated as of August ___, 1999, between The BlackRock
Strategic Municipal Trust, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), BlackRock
Advisors, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the "Adviser"), and BlackRock Financial
Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Adviser has agreed to furnish investment advisory
services to the Trust, a closed-end management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide it
with sub-advisory services as described below in connection with Adviser's
advisory activities on behalf of the Trust;
WHEREAS, the advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust
dated _______, 1999 (such Agreement or the most recent successor agreement
between such parties relating to advisory services to the Trust is referred to
herein as the "Advisory Agreement") contemplates that the Adviser may sub-
contract investment advisory services with respect to the Trust to a sub-adviser
pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement agreeable to the Trust and approved in
accordance with the provisions of the Act; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved in accordance with the
provisions of the Act, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services
upon the terms and conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. Appointment. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act
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as sub-adviser with respect to the Trust and the Sub-Adviser accepts such
appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth for the
compensation herein provided.
2. Services of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to the succeeding provisions
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of this section, the oversight and supervision of the Adviser and the direction
and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser will supervise the
day-to-day operations of the Trust and perform the following services: (a) act
as investment adviser for and manage the investment and reinvestment of the
Trust's assets and in connection therewith have complete discretion in
purchasing and selling securities and other assets for the Trust and in voting,
exercising consents and exercising all other rights appertaining to such
securities and other assets on behalf of the Trust; (b) manage continuously the
investment program of the Trust and the composition of its investment portfolio;
(c) arrange, subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 hereof, for the purchase
and sale of securities and other assets held in the investment portfolio of the
Trust; (d) provide investment research and credit analysis concerning the
Trust's investments, (e) determine what portion of the Trust's assets will be
invested in cash, cash equivalents and money market instruments, (f) place
orders for all purchases and sales of the investments made for the Trust, and
(g) maintain the books and records as are required to support Trust investment
operations. At the request of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will also, subject to
the oversight and supervision of the Adviser and the direction and control of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, provide to the Adviser or the Trust any of the
facilities and equipment and perform any of the services described in Section 3
of the Advisory Agreement. In addition, the Sub-Adviser will keep the Trust and
the Adviser informed of developments materially affecting the Trust and shall,
on its own initiative, furnish to the Trust from time to time whatever
information the Sub-Adviser believes appropriate for this purpose. The Sub-
Adviser will periodically communicate to the Adviser, at such times as the
Adviser may direct, information concerning the purchase and sale of securities
for the Trust, including: (a) the name of the issuer, (b) the amount of the
purchase or sale, (c) the name of the broker or dealer, if any, through which
the purchase or sale is effected, (d) the CUSIP number of the instrument, if
any, and (e) such other information as the Adviser may reasonably require for
purposes of fulfilling its obligations to the Trust under the Advisory
Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services rendered by it under this
Agreement in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions (as currently in effect and as they may be amended or supplemented
from time to time) as stated in the Trust's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information and the resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
3. Covenants. In the performance of its duties under this Agreement,
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the Sub-Adviser shall at all times conform to, and act in accordance with, any
requirements imposed by:
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(a) (i) the provisions of the Act and the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended and all applicable Rules and Regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); (ii) any other applicable
provision of law; (iii) the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
and By-Laws of the Trust, as such documents are amended from time to time; (iv)
the investment objectives and policies of the Trust as set forth in its
Registration Statement on Form N-2; and (v) any policies and determinations of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust;
(b) will place orders either directly with the issuer or with
any broker or dealer. Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, in
placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Adviser will attempt to obtain
the best price and the most favorable execution of its orders. In placing
orders, the Sub-Adviser will consider the experience and skill of the firm's
securities traders as well as the firm's financial responsibility and
administrative efficiency. Consistent with this obligation, the Sub-Adviser may
select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services
they provide to the Trust and other clients of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser.
Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and
not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Sub-Adviser
hereunder. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which
another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction,
provided that the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is
reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of
the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser to the Trust's and their other clients and that
the total commissions paid by the Trust will be reasonable in relation to the
benefits to the Trust over the long-term. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is
authorized to take into account the sale of shares of the Trust in allocating
purchase and sale orders for portfolio securities to brokers or dealers
(including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser or the Sub-
Adviser), provided that the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the
transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other
qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Trust's securities be
purchased from or sold to the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person
thereof, except to the extent permitted by the SEC or by applicable law;
(c) will maintain books and records with respect to the Trust's
securities transactions and will render to the Adviser and the Trust's Board of
Trustees such periodic and special reports as they may request;
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(d) will maintain a policy and practice of conducting its
investment advisory services hereunder independently of the commercial banking
operations of its affiliates. When the Sub-Adviser makes investment
recommendations for the Trust, its investment advisory personnel will not
inquire or take into consideration whether the issuer of securities proposed for
purchase or sale for the Trust's account are customers of the commercial
department of its affiliates; and
(e) will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of
the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust, and the
Trust's prior, current or potential shareholders, and will not use 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 may not be
withheld where the Sub-Adviser 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.
4. Services Not Exclusive. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
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the Sub-Adviser or any officer, employee or other affiliate thereof from acting
as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation, or from
engaging in any other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or
restrict the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers, employees or agents from
buying, selling or trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for
the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting; provided, however,
that the Sub-Adviser will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will
adversely affect the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
5. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule
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31a-3 under the Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Trust any such records upon the Trust's request. The
Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2
under the Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the Act
(to the extent such books and records are not maintained by the Adviser).
6. Agency Cross Transactions. From time to time, the Sub-Adviser or
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brokers or dealers affiliated with it may find themselves in a position to buy
for certain of their brokerage clients (each an "Account") securities which the
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Sub-Adviser's investment advisory clients wish to sell, and to sell for certain
of their brokerage clients securities which advisory clients wish to buy. Where
one of the parties is an advisory client, the Adviser or the affiliated broker
or dealer cannot participate in this type of transaction (known as a cross
transaction) on behalf of an advisory client and retain commissions from both
parties to the transaction without the advisory client's consent. This is
because in a situation where the Sub-Adviser is making the investment decision
(as opposed to a brokerage client who makes his own investment decisions), and
the Sub-Adviser or an affiliate is receiving commissions from one or both sides
of the transaction, there is a potential conflicting division of loyalties and
responsibilities on the Sub-Adviser's part regarding the advisory client. The
Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a rule under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended which permits the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates
to participate on behalf of an Account in agency cross transactions if the
advisory client has given written consent in advance. By execution of this
Agreement, the Trust authorizes the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates to participate
in agency cross transactions involving an Account. The Trust may revoke its
consent at any time by written notice to the Sub-Adviser.
7. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will
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bear all costs and expenses of its employees and any overhead incurred by the
Sub-Adviser in connection with its duties hereunder; provided that the Board of
Trustees of the Trust may approve reimbursement to the Sub-Adviser of the pro-
rata portion of the salaries, bonuses, health insurance, retirement benefits and
all similar employment costs for the time spent on Trust operations (other than
the provision of investment advice and administrative services required to be
provided hereunder) of all personnel employed by the Sub-Adviser who devote
substantial time to the Trust operations or the operations of other investment
companies advised or subadvised by the Sub-Adviser.
8. Compensation.
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(a) The Adviser agrees to pay to the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-
Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation for all services rendered by the
Sub-Adviser as such, a monthly fee in arrears at an annual rate equal to 0.35%
of the average weekly value of the Trust's Managed Assets. "Managed Assets"
means the total assets of the Trust minus the sum of accrued liabilities (other
than the aggregate indebtedness constituting financial leverage). For any period
less than a month during which this Agreement is in effect, the fee shall be
prorated according to the
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proportion which such period bears to a full month of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, as
the case may be.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the Managed Assets of the
Trust shall be calculated pursuant to the procedures adopted by resolutions of
the Trustees of the Trust for calculating the value of the Trust's assets or
delegating such calculations to third parties.
9. Indemnity.
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(a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify the Sub-Adviser and
each of the Sub-Adviser's directors, officers, employees, agents, associates and
controlling persons and the directors, partners, members, officers, employees
and agents thereof (including any individual who serves at the Sub-Adviser's
request as director, officer, partner, member, trustee or the like of another
entity) (each such person being an "Indemnitee") against any liabilities and
expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or
as fines and penalties, and counsel fees (all as provided in accordance with
applicable state law) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with
the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether
civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in
which such Indemnitee may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise
or with which such Indemnitee may be or may have been threatened, while acting
in any capacity set forth herein or thereafter by reason of such Indemnitee
having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which
such Indemnitee shall have been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in
the reasonable belief that such Indemnitee's action was in the best interest of
the Trust and furthermore, in the case of any criminal proceeding, so long as
such Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was
unlawful; provided, however, that (1) no Indemnitee shall be indemnified
hereunder against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders or any expense
of such Indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith,
(iii) gross negligence or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such Indemnitee's position (the conduct referred to in such clauses
(i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as "disabling conduct"), (2)
as to any matter disposed of by settlement or a compromise payment by such
Indemnitee, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either
for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless there has
been a determination that such settlement or compromise is in the best interests
of the Trust and that such Indemnitee appears to have acted in good faith in the
reasonable belief that such Indemnitee's action was
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in the best interest of the Trust and did not involve disabling conduct by such
Indemnitee and (3) with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding
voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be
mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by
such Indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the full Board of Trustees of
the Trust.
(b) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the
expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be
sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation of the Indemnitee's
good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has
been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is
subsequently determined that such Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification
and if the trustees of the Trust determine that the facts then known to them
would not preclude indemnification. In addition, at least one of the following
conditions must be met: (A) the Indemnitee shall provide a security for such
Indemnitee-undertaking, (B) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by
reason of any lawful advance, or (C) a majority of a quorum consisting of
trustees of the Trust who are neither "interested persons" of the Trust (as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act) nor parties to the proceeding
("Disinterested Non-Party Trustees") or an independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts
(as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that
the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(c) All determinations with respect to indemnification hereunder
shall be made (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that such Indemnitee is not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, or (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a
majority vote of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees of the Trust,
or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or even, if obtainable, if a majority
vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
All determinations that advance payments in connection with the expense of
defending any proceeding shall be authorized shall be made in accordance with
the immediately preceding clause (2) above.
The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these provisions
shall not exclude any other right to which such Indemnitee may be lawfully
entitled.
10. Limitation on Liability.
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(a) The Sub-Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or by the Trust in
connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from
a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for
services or 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 duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, as provided in Section
5.1 of Article V of the Declaration of Trust, this Agreement is executed by the
Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, not individually but as such Trustees
and/or officers of the Trust, and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon
any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually but bind only the estate of the
Trust.
11. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective
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as of the date hereof and, unless sooner terminated with respect to the Trust as
provided herein, shall continue in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter,
if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the
Trust for successive periods of 12 months, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by both (a) the vote of a majority of
the Trust's Board of Trustees or a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust at the time outstanding and entitled to vote and (b) by
the vote of a majority of the Trustees, who are not parties to this Agreement or
interested persons (as such term is defined in the Act) of any such party, cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust or
the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon giving the
Sub-Adviser 60 days' notice (which notice may be waived by the Sub-Adviser),
provided that such termination by the Trust or the Adviser shall be directed or
approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust in office at the
time or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting securities of the
Trust at the time outstanding and entitled to vote, or by the Sub-Adviser on 60
days' written notice (which notice may be waived by the Trust and the Adviser),
and will terminate automatically upon any termination of the Advisory Agreement
between the Trust and the Adviser. This Agreement will also immediately
terminate in the event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms
"majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested person" and
"assignment" shall have the same meanings of such terms in the Act.)
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12. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing to
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the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to
time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the
earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if
such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
13. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may
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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. Any amendment of this Agreement shall be
subject to the Act.
14. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for
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convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be
affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
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in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for contracts to be
performed entirely therein without reference to choice of law principles thereof
and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by
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the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and
all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their duly authorized officers designated below as of the day and
year first above written.
BLACKROCK ADVISORS, INC.
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BLACKROCK STRATEGIC
MUNICIPAL TRUST
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
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