INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 31st day of January, 2022, between Vanguard Scottsdale Funds Ariel Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company .
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THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 31st day of January, 2022, between Vanguard Scottsdale | ||
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Ariel Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability | ||
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W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered
WHEREAS, the Trust offers a series of shares known as Vanguard Explorer Value Fund (the
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Advisor to render investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Advisor is willing to render such services.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings set forth in this
1.Appointment of Advisor. The Trust hereby employs the Advisor as investment advisor, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, for the portion of the assets of t
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to time, make additions to, and withdrawals from, the assets of the Fund assigned to the Advisor. The Advisor accepts such employment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2.Duties of Advisor. The Trust employs the Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx; to continuously review, supervise, and administer an investment program for the Ariel Portfolio; to determine in its discretion the securities to be purchased or sold and the portion of such assets to be held uninvested; to provide the Fund with all records concerning
officers and the Board of Trustees concerning the discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. The Advisor will xxxxx
and the Board of Trustees, and in compliance with the objective, policies, and limitations set forth in the 
nformation, any additional operating policies or procedures that the Fund communicates to the Advisor in writing, and applicable laws and regulations. The Advisor agrees to provide, at its own expense, the office space, furnishings and equipment, and personnel required by it to perform the services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein.
3.Securities Transactions. The Advisor is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute purchases and sales of securities for the Ariel Portfolio, and is directed to seek to obtain best execution for such transactions, consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In selecting brokers or dealers to execute trades for the Ariel Portfolio, the Advisor will comply with all applicable statutes, rules, interpretations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, other applicable law, and the written policies and procedures established by the Board of Trustees and communicated to the Advisor in writing.
4.Compensation of Advisor. For services to be provided by the Advisor pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay to the Advisor, and the Advisor agrees to accept as full compensation
therefor, an investment advisory fee consisting of a base fee plus a performance adjustment at the rates specified in Schedule A to this Agreement, payable quarterly in arrears.
5.Reports. The Fund and the Advisor agree to furnish to each other current prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request, including, but not limited to, information about changes in investment officers of the Advisor who are responsible for managing the Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx.
6.Compliance. The Advisor agrees to comply with all Applicable Law and all policies, procedures or reporting requirements that the Board of Trustees reasonably adopts and communicates to
the Advisor in writing, including, without limitation, any such policies, procedures, or reporting
-1(e)(1) under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, and (ii) any and all other laws, rules, and regulations, whether foreign or domestic, in each case applicable at any time and from time to time to the investment management operations of the Advisor in relation to the Ariel Portfolio.
7.Status of Advisor. The services of the Advisor to the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Advisor will be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Fund are not impaired thereby. The Advisor will be deemed to be an independent contractor and will, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund or the Trust.
8.Liability of Advisor. No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to protect the Advisor against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
9.Limitations on Consultations. The Advisor is prohibited from consulting with other advisors of the Fund, except Vanguard, concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets.
10.Duration; Termination; Notices; Amendment. This Agreement will become effective on the date hereof and will continue in effect for a period of two years thereafter, and shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods thereafter, only so long as each such continuance specifically is approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not parties to such Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; such meeting shall be in person as required under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act unless the Board of Trustees otherwise complies with the terms of an order or other guidance issued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission granting an exemption from the in-
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. In addition, the question of continuance of the Agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event, such continuance will be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, (i) this Agreement may at any time be terminated without payment of any penalty either by vote of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding 
en notice to the Advisor, (ii) this Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, and (iii) this Agreement may be terminated by the
Advisor on ninety day
Any notice under this Agreement will be given in writing and is deemed to have been provided upon receipt of the same at their respective addresses set forth below. All written notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement will be delivered by personal service, by postage mail return receipt requested or by facsimile machine, e-mail or a similar
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means of same delivery which provides evidence of receipt (with a confirming copy by mail as set forth herein).
If to the Fund, at:
Vanguard Explorer Value Fund 000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Telephone: 000-000-0000 Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
If to the Advisor, at:
Ariel Investments, LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Suite 2900
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be approved (i) by a majority of those members of the Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person (or as otherwise permitted under the terms of an In-Person Exemptive Order) at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment, and (ii) to the extent required by the 1940 Act, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
2(a)(19) and Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act.
11.Severability. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
12.Confidentiality. The Advisor shall keep confidential any and all information obtained in connection with the services rendered hereunder and relating directly or indirectly to the Fund, the Trust, or Vanguard and shall not disclose any such information to any person other than the Trust, the Board of Trustees, Vanguard, and any director, officer, or employee of the Trust or Vanguard, except (i) with the prior written consent of the Trust, (ii) as required by law, regulation, court order or the rules or regulations of any self-regulatory organization, governmental body, or official having jurisdiction over the Advisor, or
(iii)for information that is publicly available other than due to disclosure by the Advisor or its affiliates or becomes known to the Advisor from a source other than the Trust, the Board of Trustees, or Vanguard.
13.Proxy Policy. The Advisor shall vote proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of
securities in which the Ariel Portfolio 
policies and procedures in a manner that complies with applicable law and regulations, and any additional operating policies or procedures that the Fund communicates to the Advisor in writing.
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14.Governing Law. All questions concerning the validity, meaning, and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws (without giving effect to the conflict-of-law principles thereof) of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in that state.
15.Electronic Signatures. The parties agree that this Agreement and any documents related hereto may be electronically signed. The parties agree that any electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement and any related documents are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Investment Advisory Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth herein.
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