INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
SEI INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS TRUST
AGREEMENT made this 13th day of December, 1999, between SEI Investments
Management Corporation, (the "Adviser") and BlackRock International, Ltd. (the
"Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, a Massachusetts business
trust (the "Trust"), is registered as an open-end management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement
dated June 14, 1996 (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, pursuant to which
the Adviser will act as investment adviser to the International Equity Fund (the
"Fund"), which is a series of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, with the approval of the Trust, desires to retain
the Sub-Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the Adviser in
connection with the management of the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to
render such investment advisory services.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER. Subject to supervision by the Adviser and
the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the
securities and other assets of the Fund entrusted to it hereunder (the
"Assets"), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the
Assets, in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in the Fund's prospectus and statement of
additional information, as currently in effect and as amended or
supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively as the
"Prospectus"), and subject to the following:
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall, in consultation with and subject to the
direction of the Adviser, determine from time to time what Assets will
be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the
Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash.
(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement,
the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Trust's Declaration of
Trust (as defined herein) and the Prospectus and with the instructions
and directions of the Adviser and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust
and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act,
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and all other applicable federal and
state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by
the Fund as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or
through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with
respect to brokerage set forth in the Fund's Registration Statement (as
defined herein) and Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees or the
Adviser may direct from time to time, in conformity with federal
securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers
or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf
of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best
overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall
consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the breadth of
the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial
condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the
reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific
transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall
terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a
particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage
and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Consistent with any
guidelines established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the
Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides
such brokerage and research services a commission for executing
a portfolio transaction for the Fund which is in excess of the amount
of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good
faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or
dealer -- viewed in terms of that particular transaction or terms of
the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to the Fund. In
addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale
orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and
dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the
Trust's principal underwriter) to take into account the sale of shares
of the Trust if 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 Fund's
Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the
Trust's principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of either the
Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting
as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the 1940 Act.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to
transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5),
(6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the
1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser or the Board of
Trustees such periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial
information, and such other information with regard to its affairs as
the Adviser or Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets
required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and
shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the
Sub-Adviser's services under this Agreement needed by the Adviser to
keep the other books and records of
3
the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser
shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to
the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust
with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including
the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that
the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC. The Sub-Adviser agrees
that all records that it maintains on behalf of the Fund are property
of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund
any of such records upon the Fund's request; provided, however, that
the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for
the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such
records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this
Agreement, and shall transfer said records to any successor
sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there
is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser).
(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund's custodian on each business day
with information relating to all transactions concerning the Fund's
Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon request
of the Adviser.
(f) The investment management services provided by the Sub-Adviser under
this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser shall
be free to render similar services to others, as long as such services
do not impair the services rendered to the Adviser or the Trust.
(g) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial
condition that is likely to impair the Sub-Adviser's ability to fulfill
its commitment under this Agreement.
4
(h) The Sub-Adviser shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be
responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the
securities held in the Fund. The Adviser shall instruct the custodian
and other parties providing services to the Fund to promptly forward
misdirected proxies to the Sub-Adviser.
Services to be furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement may be
furnished through the medium of any of the Sub-Adviser's partners,
officers or employees.
2. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER. The Adviser shall continue to have
responsibility for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to
the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's
performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that
in connection with its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall
be construed to relieve the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for
compliance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust (as defined herein),
the Prospectus, the instructions and directions of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, and all other applicable federal and state laws
and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.
3. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with
copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following
documents:
(a) The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as filed with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (such Agreement
and Declaration of Trust, as in effect on the date of this Agreement
and as amended from time to time, herein called the "Declaration of
Trust");
(b) By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement and as amended from time to time, are herein called the
"By-Laws");
5
(c) Prospectus(es) of the Fund.
4. COMPENSATION TO THE SUB-ADVISER. For the services to be provided by the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the
Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation
therefor, a sub-advisory fee at the rate specified in the Schedule(s)
which is attached hereto and made part of this Agreement. The fee will
be calculated based on the average monthly market value of the Assets
under the Sub-Adviser's management and will be paid to the Sub-Adviser
monthly. Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation
(including any then current SEC staff interpretation), the Sub-Adviser
may, in its discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its
fee.
5. INDEMNIFICATION. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or
damages (including reasonable attorney's fees and other related
expenses) howsoever arising from or in connection with the performance
of the Sub-Adviser's obligations under this Agreement; provided,
however, that the Sub-Adviser's obligation under this Section 5 shall
be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability
or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise
directly related to the Adviser's own willful misfeasance, bad faith or
negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this
Agreement.
6. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall become effective upon
its approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; provided,
however, that at any time the Adviser shall have obtained exemptive
relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting it to
engage a Sub-Adviser without first obtaining approval of the Agreement
from a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund(s)
involved, the Agreement shall become effective upon its approval by
6
the Trust's Board of Trustees. Any Sub-Adviser so selected and approved
shall be without the protection accorded by shareholder approval of an
investment adviser's receipt of compensation under Section 36(b) of the
1940 Act.
This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two
years from the date hereof only so long as continuance is specifically
approved at least annually in conformance with the 1940 Act; provided,
however, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund
(a) by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the
vote of a majority of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (b) by the
Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more
than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the Sub-Adviser,
or (c) by the Sub-Adviser at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, on 90 days' written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its
assignment, or in the event of a termination of the Adviser's agreement
with the Trust. As used in this Section 6, the terms "assignment" and
"vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have
the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by
the SEC under the 1940 Act.
7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of law
principles; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed
as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act.
8. SEVERABILITY. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors.
7
9. NOTICE: Any notice, advice or report to be given pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by
registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid addressed by
the party giving notice to the other party at the last address
furnished by the other party:
To the Adviser at: SEI Investments Management Corporation
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Legal Department
To the Sub-Adviser at: BlackRock International, Ltd.
0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx EH 00 XX
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Attention: President
10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement's subject
matter. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts
shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of
State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that the
obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees,
officers or shareholders of the Fund or the Trust.
8
Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any
provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation or order of the
SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first written
above.
SEI INVESTMENTS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION BLACKROCK INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
By: By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Title: Title:
Vice President Chief Financial Officer
9
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
SEI INVESTMENTS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
AND
BLACKROCK INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
Pursuant to Article 4, the Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser compensation at an
annual rate as follows:
International Equity Fund X.XX%
10