XXXX XXXXXXX FUNDS II
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 17th day of October, 2005, between Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Investment Management Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Adviser"), and Massachusetts Financial Services Company, a Delaware corporation
(the "Subadviser"). In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER
The Subadviser undertakes to act as investment subadviser to, and, subject
to the supervision of the Trustees of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds II (the "Trust") and
the terms of this Agreement, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the
assets of the Portfolios specified in Appendix A to this Agreement as it shall
be amended by the Adviser and the Subadviser from time to time (the
"Portfolios"). The Subadviser will be an independent contractor and will have no
authority to act for or represent the Trust or Adviser in any way except as
expressly authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust and
Adviser.
2. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST
a. Subject always to the direction and control of the Trustees of the Trust,
the Subadviser will manage the investments and determine the composition of
the assets of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios'
Registration Statement, as amended. In fulfilling its obligations to manage
the investments and reinvestments of the assets of the Portfolios, the
Subadviser will:
i. obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial and
other information affecting the economy generally and individual
companies or industries the securities of which are included in the
Portfolios or are under consideration for inclusion in the Portfolios;
ii. formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each
Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related
investment policies for each such Portfolio as described in the
Trust's registration statement, as amended;
iii. take whatever steps are necessary to implement these investment
programs by the purchase and sale of securities including the placing
of orders for such purchases and sales;
iv. regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the
implementation of these investment programs; and
v. provide assistance to the Trust's Custodian regarding the fair value
of securities held by the Portfolios for which market quotations are
not readily available.
b. Copies of the Portfolios' Registration Statement as currently in effect
have been delivered to the Subadviser. The Adviser agrees, on an ongoing
basis, to notify the Subadviser of any change in the fundamental and
non-fundamental investment policies and restrictions of the Portfolios a
reasonable amount of time before such change becomes effective and to
provide to the Subadviser as promptly as practicable copies of all
amendments and supplements to the Portfolio's Registration Statement that
are applicable to the Portfolios. The Adviser also agrees, on an ongoing
basis, to notify the Subadviser of any amendments to the Trust compliance
procedures applicable to the Portfolios a reasonable amount of time before
such amendment becomes effective and agrees to promptly provide the
Subadviser with copies of all such amendments. The Adviser agrees to
provide the Subadviser with a list of all publicly traded affiliates of the
Adviser which may not be purchased by the Portfolios (such list shall
include security name, cusip number, sedol and/or applicable ticker) and a
list of all brokers and underwriters affiliated with the Adviser for
reporting transactions under applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. The
Adviser agrees, on an ongoing basis, to notify the Subadviser of any
changes in such lists a reasonable amount of time before such change
becomes effective.
c. The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment
and management facilities and (ii) administrative facilities, including
bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the efficient
conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolios (excluding
determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services).
d. The Subadviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all transactions
subject to the following conditions: The Subadviser will place all
necessary orders with brokers, dealers, or issuers, and will negotiate
brokerage commissions if applicable. The Subadviser is directed at all
times to seek to execute brokerage transactions for the Portfolios in
accordance with such policies or practices as may be established by the
Trustees and described in the Trust's registration statement as amended.
The Subadviser may pay a broker-dealer which provides research and
brokerage services a higher spread or commission for a particular
transaction than otherwise might have been charged by another
broker-dealer, if the Subadviser determines that the higher spread or
commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services that such broker-dealer provides, viewed in terms of
either the particular transaction or the Subadviser's overall
responsibilities with respect to accounts managed by the Subadviser. The
Subadviser may use for the benefit of the Subadviser's other clients, or
make available to companies affiliated with the Subadviser or to its
directors for the benefit of its clients, any such brokerage and research
services that the Subadviser obtains from brokers or dealers.
e. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security
to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as other clients of the
Subadviser, the Subadviser to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the
securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable
price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such
event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the
manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent
with its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio and to its other clients.
f. The Subadviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect
to the Portfolios as are required of an investment adviser of a registered
investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
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"Investment Company Act") and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
"Investment Advisers Act") and the rules thereunder ("Required Records").
The Advisers acknowledges that the Subadviser is not the compliance agent
for the Portfolios or the Adviser and does not hold the Portfolio's
official books and records necessary to perform certain compliance testing.
The Subadviser shall perform such compliance testing for the Portfolios
based on its own books and records relating to the Portfolios as may be
reasonably requested by the Adviser.
g. The Subadviser shall vote proxies relating to the Portfolio's investment
securities in accordance with the Trust's proxy voting policies and
procedures, which provide that the Subadviser shall vote all proxies
relating to securities held by the Portfolio and, subject to the Trust's
policies and procedures, shall use proxy voting policies and procedures
adopted by the Subadviser in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the
Investment Advisers Act. The Subadviser shall review its proxy voting
activities on a periodic basis with the Trustees.
3. COMPENSATION OF SUBADVISER
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser with respect to each Portfolio the
compensation specified in Appendix A to this Agreement.
4. LIABILITY OF SUBADVISER
Neither the Subadviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees
shall be liable to the Adviser or the Trust for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust in connection with the
matters to which this Agreement relates except for losses resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or from the
reckless disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its directors,
officers or employees.
5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
It is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the
Trust are or may be interested in the Subadviser as trustees, officers, partners
or otherwise; that employees, agents and partners of the Subadviser are or may
be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, shareholders or otherwise;
that the Subadviser may be interested in the Trust; and that the existence of
any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of any
transactions hereunder except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust and the articles of incorporation of the
Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.
6. REGULATION
The Subadviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies
having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, any
Required Records which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or
require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
7. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Portfolio on the
later of (i) its execution and (ii) the date of the meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, at which meeting this Agreement is approved as described
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below. The Agreement will continue in effect for a period more than two years
from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually either by the Trustees of the Trust or by a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of each of the Portfolios, provided that in
either event such continuance shall also be approved by the vote of a majority
of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the
Investment Company Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required
shareholder approval of the Agreement or of any continuance of the Agreement
shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the series (as defined in Rule 18f-2(h) under
the Investment Company Act) of shares of that Portfolio votes to approve the
Agreement or its continuance, notwithstanding that the Agreement or its
continuance may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the Agreement or (b) all the
portfolios of the Trust.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or with respect to any Portfolio by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio,
on sixty days' written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the
Adviser or Subadviser on sixty days' written notice to the Trust and the other
party. This Agreement will automatically terminate, without the payment of any
penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) or in the event the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust
terminates for any reason.
8. PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events:
a. the Subadviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order
to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
b. the Subadviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and
c. any change in actual control or management of the Subadviser or the
portfolio manager of any Portfolio.
The Adviser will promptly notify the Subadviser in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events:
a. the Adviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to
perform its obligations under this Agreement;
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b. the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board or body, relating to the Subadviser's management of the
Portfolios; and
c. any change in actual control or management of the Adviser which results in
the termination of the advisory agreement between the Trust and the
Adviser.
9. SERVICES TO OTHER CLIENTS
The Adviser understands, and has advised the Trust's Board of Trustees,
that the Subadviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an investment adviser
to fiduciary and other managed accounts and as investment adviser or subadviser
to other investment companies. Further, the Adviser understands, and has advised
the Trust's Board of Trustees that the Subadviser and its affiliates may give
advice and take action for its accounts, including investment companies, which
differs from advice given on the timing or nature of action taken for the
Portfolio. The Subadviser is not obligated to initiate transactions for a
Portfolio in any security which the Subadviser, its partners, affiliates or
employees may purchase or sell for their own accounts or other clients.
10. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and
by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested
persons of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required shareholder approval shall
be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of that Portfolio vote to approve the amendment,
notwithstanding that the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the
amendment or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the
parties.
12. HEADINGS
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
13. NOTICES
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered or mailed to the last known business address of the Trust or
applicable party in person or by registered mail or a private mail or delivery
service providing the sender with notice of receipt. Notice shall be deemed
given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this paragraph.
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14. SEVERABILITY
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in
law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as
if such portion had never been contained herein.
15. GOVERNING LAW
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the
applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions in this
Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act,
the latter shall control.
16. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a copy of which, together with all
amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name " Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Funds II" refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as
Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be held to any personal liability,
nor shall resort be had to their private property, for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim, in connection with the affairs of the Trust or any
portfolio thereof, but only the assets belonging to the Trust, or to the
particular Portfolio with respect to which such obligation or claim arose, shall
be liable.
17. USE OF NAME
The Adviser shall not use the names "Massachusetts Financial Services
Company," "MFS Investment Management," "MFS" or any derivative or logo or trade
or service xxxx thereof, or disclose information related to the business of the
Subadviser or any of its affiliates, in any prospectus, sales literature or
other material relating to the Portfolios in any manner not approved prior
thereto in writing by the Subadviser; provided, however, that the Subadviser
shall approve all uses of its name and that of its affiliates which merely refer
in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are required by the SEC
or any state insurance commission.
18. CONSULTATION WITH SUBADVISERS TO OTHER TRUST PORTFOLIOS
As required by Rule 17a-10 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Subadviser is prohibited from consulting with the entities listed below
concerning transactions for a Portfolio in securities or other assets:
1. other subadvisers to a Portfolio
2. other subadvisers to a Trust portfolio
3. other subadvisers to a portfolio under common control with the Portfolio
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19. CONFIDENTIALITY OF TRUST PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Subadviser agrees to treat Trust portfolio holdings as confidential
information in accordance with the Trust's "Policy Regarding Disclosure of
Portfolio Holdings," as such policy may be amended from time to time, and to
prohibit its employees from trading on any such confidential information.
20. COMPLIANCE
Upon execution of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser
with the Subadviser's written policies and procedures ("Compliance Policies") as
required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act. Throughout the term
of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly submit to the Adviser: (i) any
material changes to the Compliance Policies, (ii) notification of the
commencement of a regulatory examination of the Subadviser and documentation
describing the results of any such examination and of any periodic testing of
the Compliance Policies, and (iii) notification of any material compliance
matter that relates to the services provided by the Subadviser to the Trust
including but not limited to any material violation of the Compliance Policies
or of the Subadviser's code of ethics and/or related code. Throughout the term
of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser with any
certifications, information and access to personnel and resources (including
those resources that will permit testing of the Compliance Policies by the
Adviser) that the Adviser may reasonably request to enable the Trust to comply
with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act.
(THE REMAINDER OF THIS SPACE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed under seal by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
mentioned above.
XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
SERVICES, LLC
By: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.),
Managing Member
By: /s/Xxxx X. XxxXxxx III
Name: Xxxx X. XxxXxxx III
Title: Chairman
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMPANY
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Carp
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Carp
Title: Executive Vice Presiden
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APPENDIX A
The Subadviser shall serve as investment subadviser for each Portfolio of
the Trust listed below. The Adviser will pay the Subadviser, as full
compensation for all services provided under this Agreement with respect to each
Portfolio, the fee computed separately for such Portfolio at an annual rate as
follows (the "Subadviser Fee"):
Between Between $600 Between $900
First $300 million and million and million and Excess Over
$300 million $600 million of $900 million $1.5 billion $1.5 billion of
of Aggregate Aggregate Net of Aggregate of Aggregate Aggregate Net
Portfolio Net Assets* Assets* Net Assets* Net Assets* Assets*
Strategic Value Fund 0.400% 0.375% 0.350% 0.325% 0.250%
Utilities Fund 0.400% 0.375% 0.350% 0.325% 0.250%
*The term Aggregate Net Assets includes the net assets of a Portfolio of the
Trust. It also includes with respect to each Portfolio the net assets of one or
more other portfolios as indicated below, but in each case only for the period
during which the Subadviser for the Portfolio also serves as the subadviser for
the other portfolio(s). For purposes of determining Aggregate Net Assets and
calculating the Subadviser Fee, the net assets of the Portfolio and each other
portfolio of the Trust are determined as of the close of business on the
previous business day of the Trust, and the net assets of each portfolio of each
other fund are determined as of the close of business on the previous business
day of that fund.
Trust Portfolio(s) Other Portfolio(s)
Strategic Value Fund -- Strategic Growth Trust, a series of Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Trust
Utilities Fund Utilities Trust, a series of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Trust
The Subadviser Fee for a Portfolio shall be based on the applicable annual
fee rate for the Portfolio which for each day shall be equal to (i) the sum of
the amounts determined by applying the annual percentage rates in the table to
the applicable portions of Aggregate Net Assets divided by (ii) Aggregate Net
Assets (the "Applicable Annual Fee Rate"). The Subadviser Fee for each Portfolio
shall be accrued for each calendar day, and the sum of the daily fee accruals
shall be paid monthly to the Subadviser within 30 calendar days of the end of
each month. The daily fee accruals will be computed by multiplying the fraction
of one over the number of calendar days in the year by the Applicable Annual Fee
Rate, and multiplying this product by the net assets of the Portfolio. The
Adviser shall provide Subadviser with such information as Subadviser may
reasonably request supporting the calculation of the fees paid to it hereunder.
Fees shall be paid either by wire transfer or check, as directed by Subadviser.
If, with respect to any Portfolio, this Agreement becomes effective or
terminates, or if the manner of determining the Applicable Annual Fee Rate
changes, before the end of any month, the fee (if any) for the period from the
effective date to the end of such month or from the beginning of such month to
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the date of termination or from the beginning of such month to the date such
change, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which
such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination
or change occurs.
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