SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ING VP NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of August 2003 between ING Investments,
LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (the "Manager"), and Aeltus Investment
Management Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, ING VP Natural Resources Trust (the "Fund") is registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an
open-end, management investment company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue separate series, each
series having its own investment objective or objectives, policies, and
limitations; and
WHEREAS, the Fund may offer shares of additional series in the
future; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, dated
September 1,2000 (the "Management Agreement?'), a copy of which has been
provided tote Sub-Adviser the Fund has retained the Manager to render advisory
and management services with respect to certain of the Fund's series; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Manager in the
Management Agreement the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish
investment advisory services to one or more of the series of the Fund, and the
Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises
and mutual covenants herein contained it is agreed between the Manager mid the
Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act
as the investment adviser and manager to The series of the Fund set forth on
Schedule A hereto (the "Series") for the periods and on the terms set forth in
this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish
the services herein sot xxxxx xxxxx compensation herein provided.
In the event the Fund designates one of more series (other than the
Series) with respect to which the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to
render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the Sub-Adviser
in wilting. If the Sub-Adviser is willing to render 2110)1 services, it shall
notify the Manager in writing whereupon such sales shall become a Series
hereunder. and be subject to this Agreement.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject tote supervision of the Funds Board
of Trustees and the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous
investment program for each Series' portfolio and. determine in Its discretion
the composition of the Meets of each Series'
-1-
portfolio, including determination of the purchase, retention, or sale of the
securities, cash, and other investments contained in the portfolio. The
Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of
evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of each Series' assets by
determining the securities and other investments tat shall be purchased, entered
into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions should
be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Series should be held in the
various securities and other investments in which it may invest. To the extent
permitted by the investment policies of each Series, the Sub-Adviser shall make
decisions for the Series as to foreign currency matters and make determinations
as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts on behalf of
the Series. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in
accordance with each Series' investment objective or objectives, policies, and
restrictions as stated in the Fund's Registration Statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as amended, copies of which shall be
sent to the Sub-Adviser by the Manager prior to the commencement of this
Agreement and promptly following any such amendment. The Sub-Adviser further
agrees as follows:
(a) The Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and
regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of
Trustees of which the Sub-Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions of
the Registration Statement of the Fund filed under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act") and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of which the
Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Manager's portfolio manager
operating policies and procedures as in effect on the date hereof; as such
policies and procedures may be revised or amended by the Manager and agreed to
by the Sub-Adviser. In carrying out its duties wider the Sub-Adviser Agreement
The Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Adviser will manage each Series so that it meets the
income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy solicited
by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series
are invested unless the Manager gives the Sub-Adviser written instructions to
the contrary. The Sub-Adviser will immediately forward any proxy it receives on
behalf of the Fund solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in
which assets of the Series are invested to the Manager or to any agent of the
Manager designated by the Manger in writing.
The Sub-Adviser will make appropriate personnel reasonably available
for consultation for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of the
Manager and/or the Board any proxy solicited by or with respect to the issuers
of securities in which assets of the Series are Invested. Upon request, the
Sub-Adviser will submit a voting recommendation to the Manager for such proxies.
In making such recommendations, the Sub-Adviser shall use its good faith
judgment to act in the best interests of the Series. The Sub-Adviser shall
disclose to the best of its knowledge any conflict of interest with the issuers
of securities that are the subject of such recommendation Including whether such
issuers are clients or are being solicited as clients of the Sub-Adviser or of
its affiliates.
-2-
(iii) in connection with the purchase and sale of securities for
each Series, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission to the custodian
and portfolio accounting agent for the Series on a daily basis, such
confirmation, trade ticket% and other documents and information, including, but
not limited to, Cusip, Cedel, or other numbers that identify securities to be
purchased or sold on behalf of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to
enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its
administrative and record keeping responsibilities with respect to the Series.
With respect to portfolio securities to be settled through the Depository Trust
Company, the Sub-Adviser will mange for the prompt transmission of the
confirmation of such trades to the Fund's custodian and portfolio accounting
agent.
(iv) The Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio
accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming, consistent with the
procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement forte Fund or
adopted by the Board of Trustees, the value of any portfolio securities or other
assets of the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent
seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser. The parties
acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of the Series' assets and
will not take possession or custody of such assets.
(v) The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager, no later than the 10th
business day following the end of each Series' semi-annual period and fiscal
year, a letter to shareholders (to be subject to review and editing by the
Manager) containing a discussion of those factors referred to in Item 5(a) of
1940 Act Form N-1A in respect of both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to
date.
(vi) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager a
written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Manager for each month by
the 10th business day of the following month.
(b) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager by the
10th business day of each month a written report on each Series of the Fund that
contains the following information as of the immediately previous month's end:
(i) A performance comparison to the Series benchmark listed in the
prospectus as well as a comparison to other mutual funds as listed in to
rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc., or
similar independent services that monitor the performance of mutual funds or wit
other appropriate indexes of investment securities;
(ii) Composition of the assets of each Series' portfolio and the
impact of key portfolio holdings and sector concentrations on the Series; and
(iii) Confirmation of each Series' current investment objective and
Sub-Adviser's projected plan to realize the Series' investment objectives.
-3-
(c) The Sub-Adviser will contact Morningstar to clarify any style
box conflicts with each Series' style and the anticipated timeframe in which
Morningstar will remedy such conflicts, it' any.
(d) The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Fund and the Manager,
promptly upon request any of the Series' investment records and ledgers
maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and ledgers
maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Fund) as are
necessary to assist the Fund and the Manager to comply with requirements of the
1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), as well
as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities
having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with
such services in respect to the Series which may be requested in order to
ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner
consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
(e) The Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Fund's Board of
Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the
investment program for each Series and the issuers and securities represented in
each Series' portfolio, and will furnish the Fund's Board of trustees with
respect to each Series such periodic and special reports as the Trustees and the
Manager may reasonably request.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make
decisions to buy and sell securities and other Investments for each Series'
portfolio, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission
rates in effecting a security transaction. The Sub-Adviser's primary
consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best
execution for the Series, taking into account the factors specified in the
prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Fund, and
determined in consultation with the Manager, which include price (including the
applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread), the size of the order, the
nature of the market for the security, the timing of the transaction, the
reputation, the experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer
involved, the quality of the service, the difficulty of execution, and the
execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved, and the
firm's risk in positioning a block of securities. Accordingly, the price to a
Series in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another
broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the
Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations tote Fund, by other
aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Subject to such policies as
the Fund's Board of Trustees or Manager may determine and consistent with
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sub-Adviser shall not
be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this
Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Series to pay a
broker-dealer for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the
amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith tat such amount of
commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research
services provided by such broker-dealer viewed in terms of either that
particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser or the Manager's overall
responsibilities with respect tote Series and to their respective other clients
as to which they exercise investment discretion. The Sub-Adviser will consult
with the Manager to the end that portfolio transactions an behalf of a Series
are directed to broker-dealers on the basis of criteria reasonably considered
appropriate by
-4-
the Manager. To the extent consistent with these standards, the Sub-Adviser is
further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of a Series to
the Sub-Adviser if it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. to an
affiliated broker-dealer, or to such brokers and dealers who also provide
research or statistical material, or other services to the Series, the
Sub-Adviser, or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser Such allocation shall be in such
amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with the
above standards, and the Sub-Adviser will report on said allocation regularly to
the Fund's Xxxxx of Trustees indicating the broker-dealers to which such
allocations have been made and the basis therefore.
4, Disclosure about Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the
mast recent Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Fund
filed with the SEC that contains disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and
represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the
Sub-Adviser or information relating, directly or Indirectly, to the Sub-Adviser,
such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement
of any material let and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly
registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will maintain such
registration so Tong. This Agreement remains in effect The Sub-Adviser will
provide the Manager with a copy of the Sub-Adviser's Form ADV, Part II at the
time the Form ADV is filed with the SEC.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will
pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in
connection with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement The Manager
or the Fund shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund's operations.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to each Series, the
Manager will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified for
such Series in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears. The fee will be
appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this
Agreement is not in effect among the parties. In accordance with the provisions
of the Management Agreement, the Manager is solely responsible for the payment
of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its
fees solely from the Manager provided, however, that if the Fund fails to pay
the Manager all or a portion of the management fee under said Management
Agreement when due; and the amount that was paid is insufficient to cover the
Sub-Adviser's fee under this Agreement for the period in question, then the
Sub-Adviser may enforce against the Fund any rights it may have as a third-party
beneficiary under the Management Agreement and the Manager will take all steps
appropriate under the circumstances to collect the amount due from the Fund.
7. Marketing Materials.
(a) During the term of this Agreement the Sub-Adviser agrees to
furnish the Manager at its principal office for prior review and approval by the
Manager all written and/or printed materials, including but not limited to,
PowerPoint(R) or slide presentations, news releases, advertisements, brochures,
fact sheets and other promotional, informational or marketing materials (the
"Marketing Materials') for internal use or public dissemination, that are
-5-
produced or are for use or reference byte Sub-Adviser, its affiliates or other
designees, broker-dealers or the public in connection with the Series, and
Sub-Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Manager reasonably objects
in writing within five business days (or such other period as may be mutually
agreed) after receipt thereof, Marketing Materials may be furnished to the
Manager by first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment,
electronic delivery or hand delivery.
(b) During the term of this Agreement the Manager agrees to furnish
the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements,
reports to shareholders, or Marketing Materials prepared for distribution to
shareholders of each Series, or the public that refer to the Sub-Adviser in
anyway, prior to the use thereof and the Manager shall not use any such
materials if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business
days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof The
Sub-Adviser's right to object to such materials is limited to the portions of
such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its services and its
clients. The Manager agrees to use its reasonable beet efforts to ensure that
materials prepared by its employees or agents or its affiliates tint refer to
the Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are consistent with those materials
previously approved by to Sub-Adviser as referenced in the first sentence of
this paragraph. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Sub-Adviser by first
class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment, electronic delivery
or hand delivery.
8. Compliance.
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees to use reasonable compliance techniques
as the Manager or the Board of Trustees may adopt, including any written
compliance procedures.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees That it shall promptly notify the Manager
and the Fund (1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser; placed
limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked
its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an
investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (2) upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might
not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager and the Fund
promptly of any material feet known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to
the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement or
prospectus for the Fund (which describes the Series), or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or if any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in
any material respect.
(c) The Manager agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser
(1) in the event that the SEC has censured the Manager or the Fund; placed
limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations; suspended
or revoked the Manager's registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced
proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, or (2)
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to
qualify or might not quality as a regulated investment company under Subchapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code.
-6-
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records
which it maintains for the Series may be the property of the Fund and flitter
agrees to promptly make available to the Fund any of such records upon the
Fund's or the Manager's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule
31a-3 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the
periods prescribed by Rule Sla-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement
agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental
authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including but not limited to, the
SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement
or the Fund. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as
confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and actions of the Fund, the
Manager and the Sub-Adviser, and the Manager shall treat as confidential and use
only in connection with the Series all information furnished to the Fund or the
Manager by the Sub-Adviser, in connection with its duties under the agreement
except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if
required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the
public through means other than by disclosure byte Sub-Adviser or the Manager,
or if available from a source other than the Manager, Sub-Adviser or this Fund.
11. Representations Respecting Sub-Adviser. The Manager agrees that
neither the Manager, nor affiliated persons of the Manager, shall give any
information or make any representations or statements in connection with the
sale of shares of the Series concerning the Sub-Adviser or the Series other than
the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement
prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Fund's shares, as
they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy
statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved in advance by the Sub-Adviser, except with the prior permission of the
Sub-Adviser.
12. Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement,
it is understood and agreed that the Fund shall at all times retain the ultimate
responsibility for and control of oil functions performed pursuant to this
Agreement and has reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder
taken on its behalf by the Sub-Adviser.
13. Liability. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act
or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Manager agrees that the
Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any,
who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Sub-Adviser
(1) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for
any act or omission respecting any series of the Fund that is not a Series
hereunder, and (2) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses,
or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out
of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the
Sub-Adviser's duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Sub-Adviser's
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
-7-
14. Indemnification.
(a) The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any,
who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls ("controlling
person") the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred to as "Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Persons") against any and all losses, claims; damages, liabilities,
or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser
indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the
Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out
of the Manager's responsibilities to the Fund which (1) may be based upon the
Manager's negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad fifth in the performance of
its duties (which could include a negligent action or a negligent omission to
act), or by reason of the Manager's reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material hot contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus covering shares of the Fund or any Series, or any amend
inert thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material hot required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was
made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager or the Fund or to any
affiliated person of the Manager by a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided
however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to
which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, at
by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 13 of tins Agreement, the Sub-Adviser
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, any affiliated person of the
Manager, and any controlling person of the Manager (all of such persons being
referred to as "Manger Indemnified Persons") against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to
which a Manager Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940
Act, the Advisers Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise,
mining out of the Sub-Adviser's responsibilities as Sub-Adviser of the Series
which (1) may be based upon the Sub-Adviser's negligence, willful misfeasance,
or bad faith in the performance of its duties (which could include a negligent
action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Sub-Adviser's
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (2)
may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged under statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the shares
of the Fund or any Series, or any amendment or supplement Thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which
should have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement
or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager, the
Fund, or any affiliated person of the Manager or Fund by the Sub-Adviser or any
affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser provided, however, that in no ease shall
the indemnity in favor of a Manager Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such
person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance
of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties wider this Agreement
-8-
(c) The Manager shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this
Section 14 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser indemnified
Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have notified the
Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first
legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been
served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after such Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any such claim shall not relieve
the Manager from any liability which it may have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified
Person against whom such action is brought except to the extent the Manager is
prejudiced by the failure or delay in giving such notice. In case any such
action is brought against the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will
be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after
notice to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Manager
assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the
Manager to represent the Manager and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person would
result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable
judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately represent the
interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will, at its own
expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Manager and, also at its own
expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, which
counsel shall be satisfactory to the Manager and to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified
Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of
any additional counsel retained by it, and. the Manager shall not be liable to
the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable casts
of Investigation. The Manager shall not have the right to compromise on or
settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Person If the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a
finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this
Section 14 with respect to any claim made against a Manager Indemnified Person
unless such Manager Indemnified Person shall have notified the Sub-Adviser in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving intimation of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Manager Indemnified Person (or after such Manager Indemnified Person shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify
the Sub-Adviser of any such claim stall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any
liability which it may have to the Manager Indemnified Person against whom such
action is brought except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced byte
failure or delay In giving such notice. In case any such action is brought
against the Manager indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the
Manager Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the Manager Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser assumes the
defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Sub-Adviser to
represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Manager Indemnified Person would result
in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment
of the Manager Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the
Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense, assume the
defense with counsel to the Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with
separate counsel to the Manager Indemnified Person, which counsel
-9-
shall be satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser and to the Manager Indemnified Person.
The Manager Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the
Manager Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred byte Manager Indemnified Person independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. The Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or
settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Manager
Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a
finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Manager Indemnified person,
15. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first
indicated above, subject to the condition that the Fund's Board of Trustees,
including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested persons (as such
term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Manager or the Sub-Adviser, and the
shareholders of each Series, shall have approved this Agreement. Unless
terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall remain in 1141 force and
effect until September 1,2004 and continue on an annual basis thereafter with
respect to each Series covered by this Agreement: provided that such annual
continuance is specifically approved each year by (a) the Board of Trustees of
the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of each Series, and (b) the vote of a majority of those
Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such
term is defined In the 0000 Xxx) of any such party to this Agreement cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. However,
any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of a Series shall be effective to continue
this Agreement with respect to such Series notwithstanding (i) that this
Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of any other Series or (ii) that this agreement has not been approved by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of to Fund, unless such
approval she]] be required by any other applicable law or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to
any Series covered by this Agreement: (a) by the Manager at any lime, upon sixty
(60) days' mitten notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Fund, (b) at any time
without payment of any penalty by the Fund, by the Fund's Board of Trustees or a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Series, upon sixty (60)
days' mitten notice to the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, or (c) by the
Sub-Adviser upon three (3) months' written notice unless the Fund or The Manager
requests additional time to find a replacement for the Sub-Adviser, in which
case the Sub-Adviser shall allow the additional time requested by the Fund or
Manager not to exceed three (3) additional months beyond the initial three-month
notice period, provided, however; that the Sub-Adviser may terminate this
Agreement at any time without penalty, effective upon mitten notice to the
Manager and the Fund, in The event either the Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith
or the Manager ceases to be registered as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act or other Wise becomes legally incapable of providing investment
management services pursuant to its respective contract wit the Fund, or in the
event the Manager becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out its
obligations under this Agreement, or in the event that the Sub-Adviser does not
receive compensation for its services from the Manager or the Fund as required
byte terms of this agreement.
-10-
In the event of termination for any reason, all records of each
Series for winch the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to the
Manager or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record
by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and
retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in
the event of its assignment (as such term is described in the 1940 Act). in the
event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described
above, the Sections or Paragraphs numbered 9,10, 11, 12,13 and 14 of this
Agreement shall remain in effect as welt as any applicable provision of this
Section numbered 15 and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the
Sub-Adviser as compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in
effect, Section 6.
(b) Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by telegram or
electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in wilting by postage prepaid first
class air mall simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by internationally
recognized overnight courier service (with receipt confirmed by such overnight
courier service), or (4) when sent by registered or certified mail, to the other
party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as
such party may from time to time specify in writing tote other party.
If to the Fund:
ING VP Natural Resources Trust
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Aeltus investment Management, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
16. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing
signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge
or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective
until approved as required by applicable law.
17. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Arizona, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
Inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC
thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principle thereof. The
term "affiliate" or "affiliated person" as used in this Agreement shall mean
"affiliated person" as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
-11-
(b) The Manager and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Fund enjoys
the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement and the Manager
acknowledges That the Sub-Adviser enjoys the tights of a third party beneficiary
under the Management Agreement.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only
and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect.
(d) To the extent permitted under Section 15 of this Agreement, this
Agreement may only be assigned by' any party with the prior written consent of
the other parties.
(e) 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, and to this extent, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(f) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the
Sub-Adviser as an agent or co-partner of the Manager, or constituting the
Manager as an agent or co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
(g) This agreement may be executed in counterparts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Executive Vice President
AELTUS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Title
-12-
SCHEDULE A
with respect to the
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC
and
AELTUS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
Series Annual Sub-Adviser Fee
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)
ING VP Natural Resources Trust .45%
- 13 -
FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ING VP NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST
This First Amendment, effective as of September 1, 2003, amends the
Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "Agreement") dated the 1st day of August, 2003
between ING Investments, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (the
"Manage?), and Aeltus Investment Management, Inc., a Connecticut corporation
(the "Sub-Adviser"), with regards to ING VP Natural Resources Trust, a Series of
ING VP Natural Resources Trust.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Agreement and agree tat the
amendment will be effective as of September 1, 2003.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. The following Section 11 is hereby inserted between existing Section 10
and Section 11:
11. Non-Exclusivity. The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Series
and the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Sub-Adviser shall be
free to render investment advisory or other services to others (including other
investment companies) and to engage in other activities, provided, however, that
the Sub-Adviser may not consult with any other sub-adviser of the Fund
concerning transactions in securities or other assets far any investment
portfolio of the Fund, including the Series, except that such consultations ate
permitted between the current and successor sub-advisers of the Series in order
to effect an orderly transition of sub-advisory duties so long as such
consultations are not concerning transactions prohibited by Section 17(a) of the
1940 Act
2. Each Section number and applicable references to each Section following
the inserted Section 11 above, will increase numerically by one (i.e., Section
13 will be Section 14, etc.).
3. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement
4. In all other respects, the Agreement is hereby confirmed and remains in
full force and effect.
-l-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Executive Vice President
AELTUS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
-2-
