INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
NATIONS SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of May 1, 2001, by and between BANC OF
AMERICA ADVISORS, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (the
"Adviser"), BANC OF AMERICA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC., a North Carolina limited
liability company (the "Sub-Adviser"), and NATIONS SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST, a
Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), on behalf of those series of the Trust
now or hereafter identified on Schedule I (each a "Portfolio" and collectively,
the "Portfolios").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") as an open-end management investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered with the Commission as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act");
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is also registered with the Commission as an
investment adviser under the Advisers Act;
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Trust have entered into an investment
advisory agreement (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"), pursuant to which the
Adviser manages the investment operations of each Portfolio and may delegate
certain duties of the Adviser to one or more investment sub-adviser(s); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the
Trust (the "Board"), including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons" (defined herein) of any party to this Agreement, desires to
delegate to the Sub-Adviser the duty to manage the portfolio investments of the
Portfolios;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment of Sub-Adviser. The Adviser hereby appoints the
Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to manage the portfolio
investments of each Portfolio subject to the terms of this Agreement and subject
to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board.
2. Services of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall perform all services
necessary for the management of the portfolio investments of each Portfolio,
including but not limited to:
(a) Managing the investment and reinvestment of all
assets, now or hereafter acquired by each Portfolio,
including determining what securities and other
investments are to be purchased or sold for each
Portfolio and executing transactions accordingly;
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(b) Transmitting trades to each Portfolio's custodian for
settlement in accordance with each Portfolio's
procedures and as may be directed by the Trust;
(c) Assisting in the preparation of all shareholder
communications, including shareholder reports, and
participating in shareholder relations;
(d) Making recommendations as to the manner in which
voting rights, rights to consent to Portfolio action
and any other rights pertaining to each Portfolio's
portfolio securities shall be exercised;
(e) Making recommendations to the Adviser and the Board
with respect to Portfolio investment policies and
procedures, and carrying out such investment policies
and procedures as are approved by the Board or by the
Adviser under authority delegated by the Board to the
Adviser;
(f) Supplying reports, evaluations, analyses, statistical
data and information to the Adviser, the Board or to
the Portfolios' officers and other service providers
as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably request
from time to time or as may be necessary or
appropriate for the operation of the Trust as an
open-end investment company or as necessary to comply
with Section 3(a) of this Agreement;
(g) Maintaining all required books and records with
respect to the investment decisions and securities
transactions for each Portfolio;
(h) Furnishing any and all other services, subject to
review by the Board, that the Adviser from time to
time determines to be necessary or useful to perform
its obligations under the Investment Advisory
Agreement or as the Board may reasonably request from
time to time.
3. Responsibilities of Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its obligations
under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees that it will:
(a) Comply with all applicable law, including but not
limited to the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
and the conditions of any order affecting the Trust
or a Portfolio issued thereunder;
(b) Use the same skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to other
fiduciary accounts for which it has investment
responsibilities;
(c) Not make loans to any person for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Portfolio shares;
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(d) Place, or arrange for the placement of, all orders
pursuant to its investment determinations for the
Portfolios either directly with the issuer or with
any broker or dealer (including any affiliated broker
or dealer). In executing portfolio transactions and
selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will
use its best efforts to seek on behalf of each
Portfolio 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 or dealer to execute a
particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also
consider whether such broker or dealer furnishes
research and other information or services to the
Sub-Adviser;
(e) Adhere to the investment objective, strategies and
policies and procedures of the Trust adopted on
behalf of each Portfolio;
(f) Maintain a policy and practice of conducting its
investment advisory services hereunder independently
of the commercial banking operations of its
affiliates. In making investment recommendations for
a Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser's investment advisory
personnel will not inquire or take into consideration
whether the issuers (or related supporting
institutions) of securities proposed for purchase or
sale for a Portfolio's account are customers of the
commercial departments of its affiliates. In dealing
with commercial customers, such commercial
departments will not inquire or take into
consideration whether securities of those customers
are held by the Portfolio.
4. Confidentiality of Information. Each party agrees that it will treat
confidentially all information provided by another party regarding such other
party's business and operations, including without limitation the investment
activities or holdings of a Portfolio. All confidential information provided by
a party hereto shall not be disclosed to any unaffiliated third party without
the prior consent of the providing party. The foregoing shall not apply to any
information that is public when provided or thereafter becomes public or which
is required to be disclosed by any regulatory authority in the lawful and
appropriate exercise of its jurisdiction over a party, by any auditor of the
parties hereto, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable
law or regulation.
5. Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Sub-Adviser
hereunder are deemed not to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to
furnish similar services to others so long as its provision of services under
this Agreement is not impaired thereby. To the extent that the purchase or sale
of securities or other investments of the same issuer may be deemed by the
Sub-Adviser to be suitable for two or more accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser,
the available securities or investments may be allocated in a manner believed by
the Sub-Adviser to be equitable to each account. It is recognized that in some
cases this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by a
Portfolio or the size of the position obtainable for or disposed of by a
Portfolio. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of
the
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Sub-Adviser's partners, officers or employees to engage in any other business or
to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other
aspects of any business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, nor limit or
restrict the Sub-Adviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
6. Delivery of Documents. The Trust will provide the Sub-Adviser with
copies, properly certified or authenticated, of each of the following:
(a) the Trust's Certificate of Trust, as filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware, and Declaration of
Trust (such Declaration of Trust, as presently in
effect and as from time to time amended, is herein
called the "Declaration of Trust");
(b) the most recent prospectus(es) and statement(s) of
additional information relating to each Portfolio
(such prospectus(es) together with the related
statement(s) of additional information, as presently
in effect and all amendments and supplements thereto,
are herein called the "Prospectus"); and
(c) any and all applicable policies and procedures
approved by the Board.
The Trust will promptly furnish the Sub-Adviser with copies of any and
all amendments of or additions or supplements to the foregoing.
7. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it
maintains for each Portfolio under this Agreement are the property of the Trust
and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust or the Adviser any of such
records upon request. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
8. Expenses of the Portfolios. Except to the extent expressly assumed
by the Sub-Adviser and except to any extent required by law to be paid or
reimbursed by the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall have no duty to pay any
ordinary operating expenses incurred in the organization and operation of the
Portfolios. Ordinary operating expenses include, but are not limited to,
brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, taxes, legal, auditing,
printing, or governmental fees, other Portfolio service providers' fees and
expenses, expenses of issue, sale, redemption and repurchase of shares, expenses
of registering and qualifying shares for sale, expenses relating to Board and
shareholder meetings, and the cost of preparing and distributing reports and
notices to shareholders.
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9. Compensation. Except as otherwise provided herein, for the services
provided to each Portfolio and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement,
the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will accept as full
compensation therefor a fee determined in accordance with Schedule I attached
hereto. It is understood that the Adviser shall be solely responsible for
compensating the Sub-Adviser for performing any of the duties delegated to the
Sub-Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall have no claim against the
Trust or any Portfolio with respect to compensation under this Agreement. The
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser may, from time to time, agree to reduce, limit or
waive the amounts payable hereunder with respect to one or more Portfolios for
such period or periods they deem appropriate.
10. Liability of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser
or the Trust in connection with the performance of its duties under 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 negligence on the part of the Sub-Adviser or any of
its officers, directors, employees or agents, in the performance of their duties
under this Agreement, or from reckless disregard by it or obligations and duties
under this Agreement.
11. Term and Approval. This Agreement will become effective as of the
date set forth herein above, and shall continue in effect until the second
anniversary of its effective date. This Agreement will become effective with
respect to each additional Portfolio as of the date set forth on Schedule I when
each such Portfolio is added thereto. The Agreement shall continue in effect for
a Portfolio after the second anniversary of the effective date for successive
annual periods ending on each anniversary of such date, provided that the
continuation of the Agreement is specifically approved for the Portfolio at
least annually:
(a)(i) by the Board or (ii) by the vote of "a majority of
the outstanding voting securities" of the Portfolio
(as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000 Xxx); and
(b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees
of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or
"interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
a party to this Agreement (other than as Trustees of
the Trust), by votes cast in person at a meeting
specifically called for such purpose.
12. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated without payment of
any penalty at any time by:
(a) the Trust with respect to a Portfolio, by vote of the
Board or by vote of a majority of a Portfolio's
outstanding voting securities, upon sixty (60) days'
written notice to the other parties to this
Agreement; or
(b) the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser with respect to a
Portfolio, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to
the other parties to this Agreement.
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Any party entitled to notice may waive the notice provided for herein.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment,
unless an order is issued by the Commission conditionally or unconditionally
exempting such assignment from the provisions of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act,
in which event this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect subject to
the terms of such order. For the purposes of this paragraph, the definitions
contained in Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act and the applicable rules under the
1940 Act shall apply.
14. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, except by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver,
discharge or termination is sought.
15. Notices. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to such address as may be
designated for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice, it is agreed
that the address of the Trust shall be c/o Stephens Inc., 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Secretary, that of the Adviser shall be
Xxx Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President and that of the Sub-Adviser shall be Xxx
Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President.
16. Release. The names "Nations Separate Account Trust" and "Trustees
of Nations Separate Account Trust" refer respectively to the Trust created by
the Declaration of Trust and the Trustees as Trustees but not individually or
personally. All parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any and all
liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement
will be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Trust and that no Trustee,
officer or shareholder shall be personally liable for any such liabilities. All
persons dealing with any Portfolio of the Trust must look solely to the property
belonging to such Portfolio for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust.
17. Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the parties hereto. Each provision of this Agreement is intended to be
severable. 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.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, Delaware law and the federal securities laws, including the
1940 Act and the Advisers Act.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first
above written.
NATIONS SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
on behalf of the Portfolios
By: /s/ A. Xxx Xxxxxx
A. Xxx Xxxxxx
President and Chairman of
the Board of Trustees
BANC OF AMERICA ADVISORS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
BANC OF AMERICA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
President
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SCHEDULE I
The Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser, as full compensation for
services provided and expenses assumed hereunder, a sub-advisory fee for each
Portfolio, computed daily and payable monthly at the annual rates listed below
as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio:
Rate of
Portfolio Compensation Effective Date
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Nations Small Company Portfolio 0.25% 5/1/01
Nations Asset Allocation Portfolio 0.25% 5/1/01
(non-equity portion)
Nations Capital Growth Portfolio 0.25% 5/1/01
Nations MidCap Growth Portfolio 0.25% 5/1/01
Approved: November 29, 2000
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