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EXHIBIT A
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Between
[ ]
and
ASEN AND CO., INC.
Asen and Co., Inc.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Gentlemen:
The undersigned (the "Client") hereby requests that Asen and Co., Inc.
(the "Adviser") act as investment adviser to the Client's above-captioned
Investment Advisory Account (the "Account") which is to be governed by the
following agreement (the "Agreement").
1. The Adviser will give advice with respect to the investment
and reinvestment of all cash and securities and other property in the Account,
taking into consideration the specific investment needs and objectives of the
Client as the Client communicates them to the Adviser. The Client will receive
prompt notification in writing of any purchase or sale made for the Account, and
the Client will also receive the benefit of the Adviser's written quarterly
valuation of the Account at current market prices. Representatives of the
Adviser will also be made available to meet with the Client periodically and to
review with the Client the Account and its progress.
2. The Account shall consist initially of such cash and
securities and other property as the Client designates, or which shall become
part of the Account as a result of transactions or otherwise. The Client may
make additions to and withdrawals from the Account as it shall at any time
direct, provided the Adviser receives at least seven business days prior written
notice of withdrawals.
3. The Adviser will keep in strict confidence all information
about the financial affairs of the Account.
4. The Adviser is authorized to invest and reinvest the cash and
securities and other property in the Account in its discretion and, without
being required to consult with the Client in advance, to exercise its judgment
with respect to proper investments in the best interest of the Client. The
Client understands and agrees that the Adviser is authorized to invest on behalf
of the Account in securities which are not actively traded or in securities for
which there is no existing public market and where size or circumstances has
created a relatively illiquid market, as well as in securities for which there
are legal or contractual restrictions on resale. The Client also understands and
agrees that the Adviser is authorized to purchase securities on behalf of the
account directly from the issuers of such securities through privately
negotiated transactions. In accordance with the foregoing, the Client authorizes
the Adviser to act as the agent of the Client to order deposits and the
investment of cash and purchases and sales (including, but not limited to the
exercise of rights and tender, exchange or conversion) of securities and other
property for the Client's Account and risk, and in the name of the Client. This
authorization shall be a continuing one and shall remain in full force and
effect until the Adviser has received written notice of revocation thereof.
5. As compensation for the services provided under this
Agreement, the Adviser is to receive a fee which is to be computed and payable
in accordance with Schedule A attached hereto.
6. It is understood that in the execution of transactions for the
Account, the Adviser is authorized to select any qualified broker or dealer and
to negotiate the transactions fees charged by such broker-dealers for
transactions executed for the Account.
7. The Client understands that the Adviser and its officers,
directors and employees may from time to time act as directors, officers or
employees of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and that as a
result, the Adviser's employees may acquire information of a confidential
nature. The Client agrees that the Adviser may, but shall not be required to,
render investment
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advice with respect to any such company and that the Adviser may in its
discretion withhold any such knowledge or information or refuse to advise with
respect to such company, whether or not the Account shall include securities of
such company, if in the Adviser's judgment the disclosure of such knowledge or
information or the rendering of investment advice on the basis thereof would be
unfair, inequitable, a breach of any fiduciary obligation of the Adviser to some
other person, or unlawful. For the same reasons, the Adviser may, in its
discretion, exclude securities and other property from the Account.
8. The Client further understands that differing investment
objectives, tax and other factors affect the desirability and timing of
particular transactions, and that clients of the Adviser as well as the Adviser
itself, its officers and employees and members of their families, may hold and
have transactions in securities, including longstanding positions in such
securities, and other property with respect to which services are provided
hereunder. The Client consents to such transactions, if not in violation of
applicable law, provided that the investment advisory services hereunder are at
all times provided in good faith.
9. The Adviser shall not be liable for any act or failure to act
with respect to investment advice hereunder except in the absence of good faith,
provided that this shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability imposed by
applicable law which cannot be waived.
10. The Client authorizes the Adviser to vote the proxies of any
stock, bonds or other securities, give general or specific proxies or power of
attorney with or without power of substitution. The Client will direct or cause
to direct the custodian of the assets of the Account to deliver proxies to the
Adviser in a timely manner. These authorizations shall be continuing ones and
shall remain in full force and effect until the Adviser has received written
notice of the revocation thereof.
11. Written notices and communications to the Client shall be
addressed as indicated at the end of this Agreement and written notices and
communications to the Adviser shall be addressed as indicated at the head of
this Agreement. Written notices and communications shall be addressed as
indicated above unless either the Client or the Adviser has received written
notice of the revocation thereof.
12. The Agreement shall terminate (1) immediately upon receipt by
the Adviser of written notice from the Client requesting such termination; or
(2) five days after the mailing, postage prepaid, by the Adviser, of notice of
termination, to the Client at the address indicated at the end of this
Agreement; or (3) at such time as otherwise mutually agreed upon in writing by
the Adviser and the Client. Termination by either the Client or the Adviser
shall not have the effect of canceling orders to deposit or invest cash or to
purchase or sell securities or other property placed prior to the receipt of the
notice of termination in accordance with the provisions of this Paragraph 12.
13. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party without
the consent of the other party, and this Agreement shall, until termination,
inure to the benefit of the Adviser and any successor or successors in interest.
14. This Agreement shall be constructed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Very truly yours,
By:
(Client)
(Client, if Joint Account)
Dated:
Accepted: Address of Client where all
ASEN AND CO., INC. communications should be directed:
By:
Dated:
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