INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of
the 19th day of December 2007, by and among A I M Advisors,
Inc., a Delaware corporation located at 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx,
XX, 00000 (the “Sub-Adviser”), and FundQuest
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX
00000 (the “Manager”).
WHEREAS, the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser are each registered as investment advisers under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940; and
WHEREAS, the Advisors Series
Trust, a Delaware statutory Trust located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Trust”) is engaged in business
as an open-end investment company. The Trust is a series type of
investment company issuing one or more separate series of shares and is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”). The 1940 Act prohibits any person from acting as an investment
adviser of a registered investment company except pursuant to a written
contract; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has
retained the Manager to perform investment advisory services for the certain
funds within the Trust (the “Funds”) under the terms of an investment advisory
agreement, dated December 24, 2007, between the Manager and the Trust on behalf
of the Funds (the “Management
Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Manager, acting
pursuant to the Management Agreement, wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser, and the
Trust’s Board has approved the retention of the Sub-Adviser, to provide
investment advisory services to a portion of the assets (the “Allocated Portion”) of the
Fund(s) listed on Schedule A (as it may be amended from time to
time);
WHEREAS, each Fund listed in
Schedule A is a separate series of the Trust having separate assets and
liabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and the
Fund(s) are third party beneficiaries of such arrangements;
NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH:
That the parties, which shall include the Trust on behalf of the Fund(s) for the
purposes of the indemnification provisions of section 6, hereby agree as
follows:
1.
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APPOINTMENT OF
SUB-ADVISER.
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(a)
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Acceptance. The
Sub-Adviser is hereby appointed and the Sub-Adviser hereby accepts the
appointment, on the terms herein set forth and for the compensation herein
provided, to act as investment adviser to the Fund’s
assets.
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(b)
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Independent
Contractor. The Sub-Adviser shall for all purposes
herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless
otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for
or be deemed an agent of the Fund other than in furtherance of the
Sub-Adviser’s duties and responsibilities as set forth in this
Agreement.
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(c)
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The Sub-Adviser’s
Representations. The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants
and agrees that it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants and agrees
that it is registered as an adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended.
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(d)
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The Manager’s
Representations. The Manager represents, warrants and
agrees that it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary
corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement. The Manager further represents, warrants and
agrees that it has the authority under the Management Agreement to appoint
the Sub-Adviser. The Manager further represents and
warrants that it has received a copy of Part II of the
Sub-Adviser’s Form ADV. The Manager further represents and
warrants that the Fund is either (i) excluded from the
definition of the term “pool” under Section 4.5 of the General Regulations
under the Commodity Exchange Act (“Rule 4.5”), or (ii) a
qualifying entity under Rule 4.5(b) for which a notice of eligibility has
been filed.
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(e)
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Plenary authority of
the Board of Trustees. The Sub-Adviser and Manager both
acknowledge that the Fund is a mutual fund that operates as a series of
the Trust under the authority of the Board of
Trustees.
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2.
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PROVISION OF INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES.
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The
Sub-Adviser will provide for the Fund a continuing and suitable investment
program consistent with the investment policies, objectives and restrictions of
the Fund, as established by the Fund and the Manager and provided to the
Sub-Adviser in writing. The current policies, objectives and
restrictions are attached hereto as Exhibit
A. From time to time, the Manager or the Fund may provide the
Sub-Adviser with written copies of additional or amended investment policies,
guidelines and restrictions, which shall become effective at such time as agreed
upon by both parties. The Sub-Adviser will manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets in the Fund, and perform the functions set forth
below, subject to the overall supervision, direction, control and review of the
Manager, consistent with the applicable investment policies, guidelines and
restrictions, or any directions or instructions delivered to the Sub-Adviser in
writing by the Manager or the Fund from time to time, and further subject to the
plenary authority of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Consistent with
Exhibit A, or
unless otherwise directed in writing by the Manager or the Fund, the Sub-Adviser
shall have full discretionary authority to manage the investment of the assets
in the Fund, including the authority to purchase, sell, cover open positions,
and generally to deal in securities, financial and commodity futures contracts,
options, short-term investment vehicles and other property comprising or
relating to the Fund.
In
addition, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense:
(a)
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advise
the Manager and the Fund in connection with investment policy decisions to
be made by it regarding the Fund and, upon request, furnish the Manager
and the Fund with research, economic and statistical data in connection
with the Fund’s investments and investment
policies;
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(b)
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submit
such reports and information as the Manager or the Fund may reasonably
request to assist the Fund’s custodian (the “Custodian”) in its
determination of the market value of securities held in the Fund;
provided, however, that the parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is
not the fund accounting agent for the Fund(s) and is not responsible for
pricing determinations or calculations and any information provided
pursuant to this position by Sub-Adviser will be provided for information
purposes only;
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(c)
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place
orders for purchases and sales of portfolio investments for the
Fund;
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(d)
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give
instructions to the Custodian concerning the delivery of securities and
transfer of cash for the Fund;
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(e)
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maintain
and preserve the records relating to its activities hereunder required by
applicable law to be maintained and preserved by the Manager, to the
extent not maintained by the Manager or another agent of the Fund, and the
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund
are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to
the Fund copies of any such records upon the Fund’s request; provided,
however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain such copies as required by
applicable law or Sub-Adviser’s record retention
policies;
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(f)
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as
soon as practicable after the close of business each day but no later than
11:00 a.m. Eastern time the following business day, provide the Custodian
with copies of trade tickets for each transaction effected for the Fund,
provide copies to the Manager and the Fund upon request, and promptly
forward to the Custodian copies of all brokerage or dealer
confirmations;
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(g)
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as
soon as practicable following the end of each calendar month, provide the
Manager and the Fund with written statements showing all transactions
effected for the Fund during the month, a summary listing all investments
held in the Fund as of the last day of the month, and such other
information as the Manager or the Fund may reasonably request in
connection with any accounting or marketing services that the Manager
provides for the Fund. The Manager and the Fund acknowledges
that Sub-Adviser and Custodian may use different pricing vendors, which
may result in valuation
discrepancies;
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(h)
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absent
specific instructions to the contrary provided to it by the Manager or the
Fund, and subject to its receipt of all necessary voting materials, vote
all proxies with respect to investments of the Fund in accordance with the
Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policy as most recently provided to the Manager
and approved by the Trust; The Manager hereby delegates to the
Sub-Adviser the Manager’s discretionary authority to exercise voting
rights with respect to the securities and investments of the Allocated
Portion of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policies shall comply
with any rules or regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). The
Sub-Adviser shall maintain and preserve a record, in an easily-accessible
place for a period of not less than three (3) years (or longer, if
required by law), of the Sub-Adviser’s voting procedures, of the
Sub-Adviser’s actual votes, and such other information required for the
Fund to comply with any rules or regulations promulgated by the
SEC. The Sub-Adviser shall supply updates of this record to the
Manager or any authorized representative of the Manager, or to the Fund on
a quarterly basis (or more frequently, if required by law). The
Sub-Adviser shall provide the Manager and the Fund with information
regarding the policies and procedures that the Sub-Adviser uses to
determine how to vote proxies relating to the Allocated
Portion.
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3
(i)
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To
the extent reasonably requested by the Trust, use its best efforts to
assist the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in respect of Rule 38a-1
under the 1940 Act, as amended (the “1940 Act”) including,
without limitation, providing the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust
with (a) current copies of the compliance policies and procedures of the
Sub-Adviser in effect from time to time (including prompt notice of any
material changes thereto), (b) a summary of such policies and procedures
in connection with the annual review thereof by the Trust required under
Rule 38a-1, and (c) upon request, a certificate of the chief compliance
officer of the Sub-Adviser to the effect that the policies and procedures
of the Sub-Adviser are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the
Federal Securities Laws (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1);
and
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(j)
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Except
as permitted by the Trust’s policies and procedures, not disclose but
shall treat confidentially all information in respect of the portfolio
investments of the Fund, including, without limitation, the identification
and market value or other pricing information of any and all portfolio
securities or other financial instruments held by the Fund, and any and
all trades of portfolio securities or other transactions effected for the
Fund (including past, pending and proposed trades); provided however, the
Trust and the Manager each understand and acknowledge and agree that the
Fund is managed by the Sub-Adviser using investment models which are used
by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates to manage other accounts
(specifically including, but not limited to, other registered mutual
funds), that such other accounts may have portfolio holdings that are
substantially similar or identical to those of the Fund, and that the use
of such other portfolio holdings information is not subject to the
restrictions of this Agreement of the Trust’s policies and procedures
related to the disclosure of portfolio
holdings.
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The Fund
or its agent will provide timely information to the Sub-Adviser regarding such
matters as inflows to and outflows from the Fund and the cash requirements of,
and cash available for investment in, the Fund. The Fund or its agent
will timely provide the Sub-Adviser with copies of monthly accounting statements
for the Fund, and such other information as may be reasonably necessary or
appropriate in order for the Sub-Adviser to perform its responsibilities
hereunder.
Manager
will be responsible for all class actions and lawsuits involving the Fund or
securities held, or formerly held, in the Fund. Sub-Adviser is not
required to take any action or to render investment-related advice with respect
to lawsuits involving the Fund, including those involving securities presently
or formerly held in the Fund, or the issuers thereof, including actions
involving bankruptcy. In the case of notices of class action suits
received by Sub-Adviser involving issuers presently or formerly held in the
Fund, Sub-Adviser shall promptly forward such notices to Manager and, with the
consent of the Manager, may provide information about the Fund to third parties
for purposes of participating in any settlements relating to such class
actions.
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3.
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ALLOCATION OF
EXPENSES.
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Each
party to this Agreement shall bear the costs and expenses of performing its
obligations hereunder. In this regard, the Manager specifically
agrees that the Fund shall assume the expense of:
(a)
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brokerage
commissions for transactions in the portfolio investments of the Fund and
similar fees and charges for the acquisition, disposition, lending or
borrowing of such portfolio
investments;
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(b)
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custodian
fees and expenses;
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(c)
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all
taxes, including issuance and transfer taxes, and reserves for taxes
payable by the Fund to federal, state or other government agencies;
and
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(d)
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interest
payable on any Fund borrowings.
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The
Sub-Adviser specifically agrees that with respect to the operation of the Fund,
the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for (i) providing the personnel, office
space and equipment reasonably necessary to provide its sub-advisory services to
the Fund hereunder, and (ii) the costs of any special Board of Trustees meetings
or shareholder meetings convened for the primary benefit of the Sub-Adviser. If
the Manager has agreed to limit the operating expenses of the Fund, the Manager
shall also be solely responsible on a monthly basis for any operating expenses
that exceed the agreed upon expense limit. Nothing in this Agreement
shall alter the allocation of expenses and costs agreed upon between the Fund
and the Manager in the Management Agreement or any other agreement to which they
are parties.
4.
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SUB-ADVISORY
FEES.
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For all
of the services rendered with respect to the Fund as herein provided, the
Manager shall pay to the Sub-Adviser a fee (for the payment of which the Fund
shall have no obligation or liability), based on the Current Net Assets of the
Fund (as defined below), as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a
part hereof. Such fee shall be accrued daily and payable monthly, as
soon as practicable after the last day of each calendar month. In the
case of termination of this Agreement with respect to the Fund during any
calendar month, the fee with respect to such Portfolio accrued to, but
excluding, the date of termination shall be paid promptly following such
termination. For purposes of computing the amount of advisory fee
accrued for any day, “Current Net Assets” shall mean the Fund’s net assets,
managed by the Sub-Adviser, as of the most recent preceding day for which the
Fund’s net assets were computed.
5.
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PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS.
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In
connection with the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, the
Sub-Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute
purchase and sale transactions for the Fund’s portfolio (the “Portfolio”) and to use all
reasonable efforts to obtain the best available price and most favorable
execution with respect to all such purchases and sales of portfolio securities
for said Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may take into consideration the
best net price available; the reliability, integrity and financial condition of
the broker-dealer; the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and the
value of the expected contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment
performance of the Fund on a continuing basis. The Sub-Adviser shall
maintain records adequate to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of
this section. Subject to the policies as the Board of Trustees of the
Fund may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, the Sub-Adviser shall have the right to follow a policy
of selecting brokers who furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or
to the Sub-Adviser, and who charge a higher commission rate to the Fund than may
result when allocating brokerage solely on the basis of seeking the most
favorable price and execution. The Sub-Adviser shall determine in
good faith that such higher cost was reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and research services provided and shall make reasonable reports
regarding such determination and description of the products and services
obtained if so requested by the Fund.
5
The
Manager and the Fund authorize and empower the Sub-Adviser to direct the
Custodian to open and maintain brokerage accounts for securities and other
property (all such accounts hereinafter called “brokerage accounts”) for and
in the name of the Fund and to execute for the Fund as its agent and
attorney-in-fact standard customer agreements with such broker or brokers as the
Sub-Adviser shall select as provided above. The Sub-Adviser may,
using such of the securities and other property in the Fund as the Sub-Adviser
deems necessary or desirable, direct the Custodian to deposit for the Fund
original and maintenance brokerage and margin deposits and otherwise direct
payments of cash, cash equivalents and securities and other property into such
brokerage accounts and to such brokers as the Sub-Adviser deems desirable or
appropriate. The Sub-Adviser shall cause all securities and other
property purchased or sold for the Fund to be settled at the place of business
of the Custodian or as the Custodian shall direct. All securities and
other property of the Fund shall remain in the direct or indirect custody of the
Custodian. The Sub-Adviser shall notify the Custodian as soon as
practicable of the necessary information to enable the Custodian to effect such
purchases and sales.
The
Sub-Adviser further shall have the authority to instruct the Custodian (i) to
pay cash for securities and other property delivered to the Custodian for the
Fund, (ii) to deliver securities and other property against payment for the
Fund, and (iii) to transfer assets and funds to such brokerage accounts as the
Sub-Adviser may designate, all consistent with the powers, authorities and
limitations set forth herein. The Sub-Adviser shall not have
authority to cause the Custodian to deliver securities and other property, or
pay cash to the Sub-Adviser except as expressly provided herein.
6.
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LIABILITY; STANDARD OF
CARE.
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The
Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, agents and employees, shall be indemnified by the
Manager against all liabilities, losses or claims (including reasonable expenses
arising out of defending such liabilities, losses or claims):
(a)
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arising
from Fund’s or the Manager’s directions to the Sub-Adviser or Custodian,
or brokers, dealers or others with respect to the making, retention or
sale of any investment or reinvestment hereunder;
or
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(b)
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arising
from the acts or omissions of the Manager, the Custodian or the Fund,
their respective affiliates, agents or
employees;
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6
except
for any such liability or loss which is due to the gross negligence, willful
misconduct, or lack of good faith of the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates, agents and
employees, or the Sub-Adviser’s reckless disregard of its duties and
obligations. The Sub-Adviser shall also be without liability
hereunder for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and without
negligence.
The
Sub-Adviser shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the
discharge of its duties under this Agreement; shall (as provided in Section 2
above) comply with the investment policies, guidelines and restrictions of the
Fund; shall act at all times in the best interests of the Fund; and shall
discharge its duties with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the
circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity
and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of a similar
enterprise. The Sub-Adviser shall be liable to the Fund for any loss
(including brokerage charges) incurred by the Fund as a result of any investment
made by the Sub-Adviser in violation of Section 2 hereof.
However,
the Sub-Adviser shall not be obligated to perform any service not described in
this Agreement, and shall not be deemed by virtue of this Agreement to have made
any representation or warranty that any level of investment performance or level
of investment results will be achieved.
Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party to this Agreement (as an
“Indemnifying Party”), including the Trust on behalf of the Fund, shall
indemnify and hold harmless the other party and the shareholders, directors,
officers, and employees of the other party (any such person, an “Indemnified
Party”) against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense (including the
reasonable cost of investigating and defending any alleged loss, liability,
claim, damage, or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith) arising out of the Indemnifying Party’s performance or
non-performance of any duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that
indemnification shall not be paid hereunder with respect to any matter to the
extent to which the loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense was determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by the Indemnified Party’s
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of duties
hereunder or reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement,
and provided further, however, that the Sub-Adviser shall only be required to
indemnify and hold harmless an Indemnified Party to the extent the loss,
liability, claim, damage, or expense of such Indemnified Party was attributable
to the willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard
of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations or duties hereunder.
If
indemnification is to be sought hereunder, then the Indemnified Party shall
promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of the assertion of any claim or the
commencement of any action or proceeding in respect thereof; provided, however,
that the failure so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may otherwise have to the
Indemnified Party provided such failure shall not affect in a material adverse
manner the position of the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party with
respect to such claim. Following such notification, the Indemnifying Party may
elect in writing to assume the defense of such action or proceeding and, upon
such election, it shall not be liable for any legal costs incurred by the
Indemnified Party (other than reasonable costs of investigation previously
incurred) in connection therewith, unless (i) the Indemnifying Party has failed
to provide counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party in a timely
manner or (ii) counsel which has been provided by the Indemnifying Party
reasonably determines that its representation of the Indemnified Party would
present it with a conflict of interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Indemnified Party shall be entitled to employ separate counsel at its own
expense and, in such event, the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense as it deems necessary.
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The
provisions of this paragraph 6 shall not apply in any action where the
Indemnified Party is the party adverse, or one of the parties adverse, to the
other party.
7.
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TERM AND TERMINATION OF THIS
AGREEMENT; NO ASSIGNMENT
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(a) This
Agreement shall go into effect as to the Fund on the date set forth above and
shall, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in effect for a
period of two years from the date of approval by shareholders of the Fund at a
meeting called for the purpose of such approval. This Agreement shall
continue in effect thereafter for additional periods not exceeding one (l) year
so long as such continuation is approved for the Fund at least annually by (i)
the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement nor interested
persons thereof, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval. The terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities” and
“interested persons” shall have the meanings as set forth in the 1940
Act;
(b) This
Agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of the Fund at any time
without payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, by the
Manager, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund
without the payment of any penalties, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to
the Sub-Adviser, and by the Sub-Adviser upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to
the Fund and the Manager. In the event of a termination, the
Sub-Adviser shall cooperate in the orderly transfer of the Fund’s affairs and,
at the request of the Board of Trustees or the Manager, transfer any and all
books and records of the Fund maintained by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the
Fund; and
(c) This
Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of any transfer or
assignment thereof, as defined in the 1940 Act. This Agreement will
also terminate in the event that the Management Agreement is
terminated.
8.
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SERVICES NOT
EXCLUSIVE
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The
services of the Sub-Adviser to the Manager and the Fund are not to be deemed
exclusive and it shall be free to render similar services to others so long as
its services hereunder are not impaired thereby. It is specifically
understood that directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser and of its
subsidiaries and affiliates may continue to engage in providing portfolio
management services and advice to other investment advisory
clients. The Manager agrees that Sub-Adviser may give advice and take
action in the performance of its duties with respect to any of its other clients
which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with
respect to the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
require Sub-Adviser, its principals, affiliates, agents or employees to purchase
or sell for the Fund any security which it or they may purchase or sell for its
or their own account or for the account of any other client.
9.
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AGGREGATION OF
ORDERS
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Nothing
in this Agreement, shall preclude the combination of orders for the sale or
purchase of portfolio securities of the Fund with those for other accounts
managed by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, if orders are allocated in a
manner deemed equitable by the Sub-Adviser among the accounts and at a price
approximately averaged. The Sub-Adviser agrees that (i) it will not
aggregate transactions unless aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek
best execution; (ii) no account will be favored over any other account; each
account participating in an aggregated order will participate at the average
share price for all transactions in that security or a given business day, with
transaction costs shared pro-rata based on each account’s participation in the
transaction; and (iii) allocations will be made in accordance with the
Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures..
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10.
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NO SHORTING; NO
BORROWING
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The
Sub-Adviser agrees that neither it nor any of its officers or employees shall
take any short position in the shares of the Fund. This prohibition shall not
prevent the purchase of such shares by any of the officers or employees of the
Sub-Adviser or any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for such
persons or affiliates thereof, at a price not less than the net asset value
thereof at the time of purchase, as allowed pursuant to rules promulgated under
the 1940 Act. The Manager agrees that neither it nor any of its officers or
employees shall borrow from the Fund or pledge or use the Fund's assets in
connection with any borrowing not directly for the Fund's benefit. For this
purpose, failure to pay any amount due and payable to the Fund for a period of
more than thirty (30) days shall constitute a borrowing.
11.
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AMENDMENT
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No
provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by all parties.
12.
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NONPUBLIC PERSONAL
INFORMATION.
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Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, the Sub-Adviser hereto agrees on behalf of
itself and its directors, trustees, shareholders, officers, and employees (1) to
treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund (a) all records
and other information relative to the Fund’s prior, present, or potential
shareholders (and clients of said shareholders) and (b) any Nonpublic Personal
Information, as defined under Section 248.3(t) of Regulation S-P (“Regulation S-P”), promulgated
under the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act (the “G-L-B Act”), and (2) except
after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, not to use
such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its
responsibilities and duties hereunder, or as otherwise permitted by Regulation
S-P or the G-L-B Act, and if in compliance therewith, the privacy policies
adopted by the Trust and communicated in writing to the
Sub-Adviser. Such written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld
by the Trust and may not be withheld where the Sub-Adviser may be exposed to
civil or criminal contempt or other proceedings for failure to comply after
being requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities.
13.
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CERTIFICATIONS; DISCLOSURE
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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The
Sub-Adviser acknowledges that, in compliance with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002
(the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act”), and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, the Trust
and the Fund are required to make certain certifications and have adopted
disclosure controls and procedures. To the extent reasonably requested by the
Trust, the Sub-Adviser agrees to use its best efforts to assist the Trust and
the Fund in complying with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and implementing the Trust’s
disclosure controls and procedures. The Sub-Adviser agrees to inform
the Trust of any material development related to the Fund that the Sub-Adviser
reasonably believes is relevant to the Fund’s certification obligations under
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
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14.
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REPORTS AND
ACCESS
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The
Sub-Adviser agrees to supply such information to the Manager and to permit such
compliance inspections by the Manager or the Fund as shall be reasonably
necessary to permit the administrator to satisfy its obligations and respond to
the reasonable requests of the Trust.
15.
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NOTIFICATION
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The
Sub-Adviser agrees that it will provide prompt notice to the Manager and Fund
about material changes in the employment status of key investment management
personnel involved in the management of the Fund, material changes in the
investment process used to manage the Fund and any changes in senior management,
operations or ownership of the Sub-Adviser’s Firm.
16.
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NOTICES
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Notices
and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in
writing, shall be deemed to be effectively delivered when actually received, and
may be delivered by US mail (first class, postage prepaid), by facsimile
transmission, by hand or by commercial overnight delivery service, addressed as
follows:
MANAGER:
|
FundQuest
Incorporated
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx 00xx
Xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Compliance Officer
|
SUB-ADVISER:
|
A I
M Advisors, Inc.
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
|
FUND:
|
On
behalf of Active Passive International Equity Fund
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Secretary
|
17.
|
ASSIGNMENT
|
This
Agreement may not be assigned by any party, either in whole or in part, without
the prior written consent of each other party.
10
18.
|
OTHER
MATTERS
|
The
Sub-Adviser may from time to time employ or associate with itself any person or
persons believed to be particularly fit to assist in its performance of services
under this Agreement, provided no such person serves or acts as an investment
adviser separate from the Sub-Adviser so as to require a new written contract
pursuant to the 1940 Act. The compensation of any such person will be
paid by the Sub-Adviser, and no obligation will be incurred by, or on behalf of,
the Trust or the Fund(s) with respect to them.
19.
|
SEVERABILITY
|
If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
20.
|
CAPTIONS
|
The
caption in this Agreement are not included for convenience of reference only and
in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect.
21.
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
This
agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the state of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles
of Delaware or any other jurisdiction; provided that nothing herein shall be
construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or
rule, including the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
[SIGNATURE PAGE
FOLLOWS]
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day first set
forth above.
FUNDQUEST
INCORPORATED:
By:
/s/Xxxxxxx X.
XXxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: CIO
|
A I
M Advisors, Inc. (Sub-Adviser)
By: /s/Xxxx X.
Weudler
Name:
Xxxx X. Weudler
Title:
Senior Vice President
|
As
a Third Party Beneficiary, and as a party for purposes of
Section 6
|
On
behalf of Active Passive International Equity Fund
By:
/s/Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
President
|
12
EXHIBIT A
INVESTMENT
GUIDELINES
Investment Objectives and
Policies
As
described in Fund’s current prospectus and SAI provided by Manager and as agreed
to by Sub-advisor.
The
Sub-advisor will generally:
Ø
|
Invest
in a diversified portfolio of international equity securities whose
issuers are considered by the Sub-advisor to have strong earnings
momentum.
|
Ø
|
Focus
on marketable equity securities of foreign companies that are listed on a
recognized foreign or U.S. securities exchange or traded in a foreign or
U.S. over the counter-market
|
Ø
|
Will
normally invest in the securities of at least four countries outside of
the United States, emphasizing investment in companies in the developed
countries of Western Europe and the Pacific
Basin.
|
Investment
Restrictions
As
described in Fund’s current prospectus and SAI provided by Manager and as agreed
to by Sub-advisor.
Ø
|
The
Sub-advisor intends to invest no more than 20% of the Allocated Portion of
a Fund’s assets in companies located in developing countries (those
countries which are not included in the MSCI World
Index).
|
SCHEDULE A
FUNDS AND FEES
Series of Advisors
Series Trust
|
Annual Fee
Rate
|
Active
Passive International Equity Fund
|
60
bps for the first $150m
55
bps for the next $100m
50
bps thereafter
|