SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 30th day of June, 2016 between ASTON ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware and having its principal place of business in Chicago, Illinois (the “Adviser”) and GW&K INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and having its principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts (the “Subadvisor”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser is engaged principally in the business of rendering investment management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Subadvisor is engaged principally in the business of rendering investment management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act; and
WHEREAS, Aston Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Trust currently offers shares in the ASTON Small Cap Fund (formerly ASTON/TAMRO Small Cap Fund) (the “Fund”), such series together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust with respect to which the Subadvisor renders management and investment advisory services pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, being herein referred to as the “Fund”; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2014, between the Trust and the Adviser, as amended (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser is required to perform investment advisory services for the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH: That it is hereby agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
| 1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISOR. |
(a) ASTON Small Cap Fund. The Adviser hereby employs the Subadvisor to provide investment advisory services to the ASTON Small Cap Fund with respect to the assets allocated to the Subadvisor (the “Allocated Assets”) for the period and on the terms herein set forth. The Subadvisor accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
(b) Additional Funds. In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of shares other than the ASTON Small Cap Fund with respect to which the Adviser desires to retain the Subadvisor to render investment advisory services hereunder, the Adviser shall so notify the Subadvisor in writing, indicating the advisory fee to be payable with respect to the additional series of shares. If the Subadvisor is willing to render such services on the terms provided for herein, it shall so notify the Adviser in writing, whereupon such series shall become a Fund hereunder.
| 2. | DUTIES OF ADVISER AND SUBADVISOR. |
(i) Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Subadvisor with true copies of each of the following:
(a) The Trust’s Trust Instrument and all amendments and supplements thereto (such Trust Instrument, as presently in effect and as it shall from time to time be amended or supplemented, is herein called the “Declaration”);
(b) The Trust’s By-Laws and amendments and supplements thereto (such By-Laws, as presently in effect and as it shall from time to time be amended and supplemented, is herein called the “By-Laws”);
(c) Resolutions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Adviser and Subadvisor and approving the Advisory Agreement and this Agreement;
(d) The Trust’s Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act (File Nos. 033-68666 and 811-08004) with respect to the Fund as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2015, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”);
(e) The most recent prospectus (such prospectus, as in effect from time to time and all amendments and supplements thereto are herein called a “Prospectus”) of the Fund;
(f) All resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust pertaining to the objectives, investment policies and investment restrictions of the Fund; and
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(g) Copies of the executed Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser relating to the Fund.
The Adviser will furnish the Subadvisor from time to time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) to the extent such amendments or supplements relate to or affect the obligations of the Subadvisor hereunder with respect to the ASTON Small Cap Fund or any other series of the Trust that hereafter becomes a Fund hereunder.
(ii) The Subadvisor, at its own expense, shall furnish the following services to the Trust with respect to each Fund:
(a) Investment Program. The Subadvisor is hereby authorized and directed and hereby agrees, subject to the stated investment objective and policies of the Fund as set forth in the Trust’s current Registration Statement and subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, to (i) develop and furnish continuously an investment program and strategy for the Fund in compliance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as set forth in the Trust’s current Registration Statement, (ii) provide research and analysis relative to the investment program and investments of the Fund, (iii) determine (subject to the overall supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust) what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Fund shall be held in cash or cash equivalents, and (iv) make changes on behalf of the Trust in the investments of the Fund. In accordance with paragraph 2(ii)(b), the Subadvisor shall arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investments for the Fund’s account and will exercise full discretion and act for the Trust in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the Trust might or could do with respect to such purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or transactions. The Subadvisor will make its officers and employees available to meet with the Adviser’s officers and directors on due notice at reasonable times to review the investments and investment program of the Fund in the light of current and prospective economic and market conditions.
The Subadvisor shall exercise voting authority with respect to proxies that the Fund is entitled to vote by virtue of the ownership of assets attributable to that portion of the Fund for which the Subadvisor has investment management responsibility; provided that the exercise of such authority shall be subject to periodic review by the Adviser and the Trustees of the Trust; provided, further that such authority may be revoked in whole or in part by the Adviser if required by applicable law. The
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Subadvisor shall exercise its proxy voting authority hereunder in accordance with such proxy voting policies and procedures as the Trust may designate from time to time. The Subadvisor shall provide such information relating to its exercise of proxy voting authority hereunder (including the manner in which it has voted proxies and its resolution of conflicts of interest) as reasonably requested by the Adviser from time to time.
In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Subadvisor is and shall be an independent contractor and except as expressly provided for herein or otherwise expressly provided or authorized shall have no authority to act for or represent any Fund or the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed to be an agent of any Fund, the Trust or of the Adviser. If any occasion should arise in which the Subadvisor gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares of a Fund, the Subadvisor will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Trust or any Fund.
(b) Portfolio Transactions. In connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the Fund, the Subadvisor, acting by its own officers, directors or employees or by a duly authorized subcontractor, is authorized to select the broker or dealers that will execute purchase and sale transactions for the Trust.
In executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, if any, the Subadvisor will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Subadvisor shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in and the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, with respect to the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker or dealer, if any, to execute a particular transaction, the Subadvisor may also consider the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided to the Subadvisor with respect to the Fund and/or other accounts over which the Subadvisor exercises investment discretion. The Subadvisor may pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Subadvisor determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided.
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The Subadvisor may buy securities for a Fund at the same time it is selling such securities for another client account and may sell securities for a Fund at the time it is buying such securities for another client account. In such cases, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and in compliance with such procedures of the Trust as may be in effect from time to time, the Subadvisor may effectuate cross transactions between a Fund and such other account if it deems this to be advantageous. The Subadvisor also may cause a Fund to enter into other types of investment transactions (e.g., a long position on a particular securities index) at the same time it is causing other client accounts to take opposite economic positions (e.g., a short position on the same index).
On occasions when the Subadvisor deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients, the Subadvisor, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, and in compliance with such procedures of the Trust as may be in effect from time to time, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. 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 Subadvisor in the manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the subject Fund and to such clients.
The Subadvisor will advise a Fund’s custodian or such depository or agents as may be designated by the custodian and the Adviser promptly of each purchase and sale of a portfolio security, specifying the name of the issuer, the description and amount or number of shares of the security purchased, the market price, the commission and gross or net price, the trade date and settlement date and the identity of the effecting broker or dealer. The Subadvisor shall not have possession or custody of any Fund investments. The Trust shall be responsible for all custodial agreements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees and, upon the Subadvisor giving proper instructions to the custodian, the Subadvisor shall have no responsibility or liability for the acts, omissions or other conduct of the custodian.
The Subadvisor shall, upon due notice from the Adviser, provide such periodic and special reports describing any such research, advice or other services received and the incremental commissions, net price or other consideration to which they relate.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subadvisor agrees that the Adviser shall have the right by written notice to identify securities that may not be purchased on behalf of any Fund and/or brokers and dealers through which portfolio transaction on behalf of the Funds may not be effected, including, without limitation, brokers or dealers affiliated with the Adviser. The Subadvisor shall refrain from purchasing such securities for a Fund or directing any portfolio transaction to any such broker or dealer on behalf of the Fund, unless and until the written approval of the Adviser to do so is obtained, but the Subadvisor shall not be liable to the Fund for so acting. In addition, the Subadvisor agrees that it shall not direct portfolio transactions for a Fund through any broker or dealer that is an “affiliated person” of the Subadvisor (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act or interpreted under applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) without the prior written approval of the Adviser, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Adviser agrees that it will provide the Subadvisor with a list of brokers and dealers that are “affiliated persons” of the Funds.
(c) Reports. The Subadvisor shall render to the Board of Trustees of the Trust such periodic and special reports as the Board of Trustees may request with respect to matters relating to the duties of the Subadvisor set forth herein.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Subadvisor shall have the right to engage a third-party for purposes of providing proxy advisory and/or voting services.
| 3. | SUBADVISORY FEE. |
As compensation for the services enumerated herein, the Adviser will pay the Subadvisor a fee with respect to the Allocated Assets, which shall be calculated and payable monthly in arrears based on the average daily net assets of the Fund as set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the Fund’s “net assets” shall be determined as provided in the Fund’s then-current Prospectus (as used herein, this term includes the related Statement of Additional Information).
In the case of commencement or termination of this Agreement with respect to any Fund during any calendar month, the fee with respect to such Fund for that month shall be reduced proportionately based upon the number of calendar days during which it is in effect, and the fee shall be computed during the average daily net assets of such Fund for the days during which it is in effect.
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| 4. | EXPENSES. |
During the term of this Agreement, the Subadvisor will bear all expenses incurred by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, other than those expenses specifically assumed by the Trust hereunder. Subject to any expense limitation agreement as in effect from time to time with respect to the Fund, the Trust shall assume and shall pay (i) issue and transfer taxes chargeable to the Trust in connection with securities transactions to which any Fund is a party, and (ii) interest on borrowed money, if any. In addition to these expenses, the Trust shall pay all brokers’ and underwriting commissions chargeable to the Trust in connection with the securities transactions to which any Fund is a party.
| 5. | COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. |
In performing its duties hereunder, the Subadvisor
(i) shall establish compliance procedures (copies of which shall be provided to the Adviser, and shall be subject to review and approval by the Adviser) reasonably calculated to ensure compliance at all times with: all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder; Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; the provisions of the Registration Statement; the provisions of the Declaration and the By-Laws of the Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time; and any other applicable provisions of state, federal or foreign law.
(ii) acknowledges that the Trust has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and that the Subadvisor and certain of its employees, officers and directors may be subject to reporting requirements thereunder and, accordingly, agrees that it shall, on a timely basis, furnish, and shall cause its employees, officers and directors to furnish, to the Adviser and/or to the Trust, all reports and information required to be provided under such code of ethics with respect to such persons.
(iii) agrees that it will maintain for the Trust all and only such records as required under Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the 1940 Act in respect to its services hereunder and that such records are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any such records upon the Trust’s request all in accordance with Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act.
| 6. | LIABILITY OF SUBADVISOR; INDEMNIFICATION. |
Neither the Subadvisor nor the officers, directors, employees, agents, or legal representatives (collectively, “Related Persons”) of the Subadvisor shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by any Fund or its shareholders in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates; provided that, except as set forth in the succeeding paragraph, no provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Subadvisor or its Related Persons against any liability to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence or the reckless disregard of the Subadvisor’s obligations and duties (each of which is hereby referred to as a “Culpable Act”) under this Agreement.
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Neither the Subadvisor nor its Related Persons shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or its Related Persons in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates; provided that this provision shall not be deemed to protect the Subadvisor or its Related Persons against any liability to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any Culpable Act by the Subadvisor or its Related Persons.
The Adviser shall indemnify the Subadvisor and its Related Persons and hold them harmless from and against any and all actions, suits or claims whether groundless or meritorious and from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities (collectively, “Damages”) arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the performance of services by the Subadvisor or its Related Persons hereunder to the extent such Damages result from any Culpable Act of the Adviser or any Related Person of the Adviser.
The Subadvisor shall indemnify the Adviser and its Related Persons from and against any Damages arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the performance of services by the Adviser or its Related Persons under this Agreement or the Advisory Agreement, in each case, to the extent such Damages result from any Culpable Act of the Subadvisor or any of its Related Persons.
| 7. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
(a) Adviser. The Adviser represents and warrants to the Subadvisor that (i) the retention of the Subadvisor by the Adviser as contemplated by this Agreement is authorized by the respective governing documents of the Trust and the Adviser; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of each of this Agreement and the Advisory Agreement does not violate any obligation by which the Trust or the Adviser or their respective property is bound, whether arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise; and (iii) each of this Agreement and the Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized by appropriate action of the Trust and the Adviser and when executed and delivered by the Adviser will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust and the Adviser, enforceable against the Trust and Adviser in accordance with its terms hereof subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or law).
(b) Subadvisor. The Subadvisor represents and warrants to the Adviser that (i) the retention of the Subadvisor by the Adviser as contemplated by this Agreement is authorized by the Subadvisor’s governing documents; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not violate any obligation by which the Subadvisor or its property is bound, whether arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise; and (iii) this Agreement has been duly authorized by appropriate action of the
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Subadvisor and when executed and delivered by the Subadvisor will be the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Subadvisor, enforceable against the Subadvisor in accordance with its terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or law).
| 8. | DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. |
(a) Duration. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Small Cap Fund on or about June 30, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) and, with respect to any additional Fund, on the date of receipt by the Adviser of notice from the Subadvisor in accordance with Paragraph 1(b) hereof that the Subadvisor is willing to serve as Subadvisor with respect to such Fund. Unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for two years from the Effective Date with respect to the Fund and, with respect to each additional Fund, for two years from the date on which such Fund becomes a Fund hereunder. Subsequent to such initial periods of effectiveness, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for periods of one year thereafter with respect to the Fund so long as such continuance with respect to any such Fund is approved at least annually (a) by either the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of such Fund, and (b) in either event, by the 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 any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by agreement of the parties, provided that the amendment shall be approved both by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, and by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.
(c) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by vote of the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of that Fund, (ii) by the Adviser, or (iii) by the Subadvisor, in each case on sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other party. Upon the effective date of termination of this Agreement, the Subadvisor shall deliver all books and records of the Trust or any Fund held by it (i) to such entity as the Trust may designate as a successor, or (ii) to the Adviser.
(d) Automatic Termination. This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Subadvisor shall notify the Trust in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act, as will enable the Trust to consider whether an assignment under the 1940 Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadvisor or such other steps as the Trustees of the Trust may deem appropriate.
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(e) Approval, Amendment or Termination by Individual Fund. Any approval, amendment or termination of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any Fund shall be effective to continue, amend or terminate this Agreement with respect to any such Fund notwithstanding (i) that such action has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other Fund affected thereby, and (ii) that such action has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, unless such action shall be required by any applicable law or otherwise.
| 9. | SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. |
The services of the Subadvisor to the Adviser in connection with the Funds hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadvisor shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby. It is understood that the persons employed by the Subadvisor to assist in the performance of its duties hereunder will not devote their full time to such services and nothing hereunder contained shall be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the Subadvisor to engage in or devote time and attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or nature.
| 10. | RESERVATION OF NAME. |
The parties hereby acknowledge that Aston Asset Management, LLC has reserved the right to grant the nonexclusive use of the name “Aston Funds” or any derivative thereof to any other investment company, investment adviser, distributor or other business enterprise, and to withdraw from the Trust the use of the name “Aston Funds.” The name “Aston Funds” will continue to be used by the Trust so long as such use is mutually agreeable to Aston Asset Management, LLC and the Trust. The Subadvisor and the Trust acknowledge that the Trust shall cease using the name “Aston Funds” as a part of the Trust’s name and that the Subadvisor, the Trust or any Fund, or any of their affiliates, shall not promote the Trust or any Fund or conduct the business of the Trust or any Fund in any way in such name if this Agreement is terminated for any reason and the Adviser does not expressly consent in writing to such use of the name “Aston Funds.” Future names adopted by the Trust for itself or any Fund, insofar as such names include identifying words requiring the consent of the Adviser, shall be the property of the Adviser and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the above, Aston Asset Management, LLC consents to the use of its name, including in connection with the name of the Trust or a Fund, in a representative client list in connection with the completion of marketing materials.
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| 11. | MISCELLANEOUS. |
(a) Notices. All notices or other communications given under this Agreement shall be made by guaranteed overnight delivery, telecopy or certified mail; notice is effective when received. Notice shall be given to the parties at the following addresses:
| The Adviser: | Aston Asset Management, LLC 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Legal/Compliance |
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| Subadvisor: | GW&K Investment Management, LLC 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 Attention: Compliance Department |
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(b) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder shall not be thereby affected.
(c) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
(d) Counterparties. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(e) Entire Agreement. This Agreement states the entire agreement of the parties hereto, and is intended to be the complete and exclusive statement of the terms hereof. It may not be added to or changed orally, and may not be modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto and in accordance with the 1940 Act, when applicable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Adviser and the Subadvisor have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.
| ASTON ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| GW&K INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ T. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx III | |
| Name: T. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx III | ||
| Title: Co-President | ||
Acknowledged and agreed to as of the date first set forth above with respect to the Trust’s obligations under this Agreement.
| ASTON FUNDS | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Operating Officer | ||
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SCHEDULE A
ASTON SMALL CAP FUND
The Adviser shall pay to the Subadvisor an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, of (x) 50% of the advisory fee payable to the Investment Adviser with respect to the Allocated Assets of the Fund (before deduction of the fee payable to the Subadvisor) minus (y) the sum of: (i) 50% of any investment advisory fees waived by the Investment Adviser pursuant to an expense limitation or reimbursement agreement with the Fund, (ii) 50% of any reimbursement of expenses by the Adviser pursuant to an expense limitation or reimbursement agreement with the Fund, and (iii) the Specified Percentage (as defined below) of any payments made by the Adviser to third parties that provide distribution, shareholder services or similar services on behalf of the Fund; provided that such fee shall equal 50% of the advisory fee payable to the Adviser with respect to the Allocated Assets if average monthly net assets exceed $625 million. If the foregoing calculation results in a negative amount, such amount shall be payable by the Subadvisor within 30 days of receipt of notice from the Adviser, which notice shall include the basis for the calculation.
The Specified Percentage means the rate set forth in the table below, which percentage shall be determined monthly based on average monthly net assets of the Fund. If average monthly net assets exceed a Trigger Level, the Subadvisor is responsible for the Specified Percentage for that level for as long as the Fund’s average monthly net assets remain in the corresponding Asset Range. If the Fund’s average monthly net assets fall below the Asset Range corresponding to a Trigger Level, then the Specified Percentage shall be the rate corresponding to the new Asset Range, and such Specified Percentage would decrease only if the applicable higher Trigger Level is reached.
| Trigger Level (Average (Monthly Net Assets) |
Asset Range (Average (Monthly Net Assets) |
Specified Percentage |
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| $0 | Less than $500 million | 50 | % | |||
| $525 million | $500 million to $550 million | 40 | % | |||
| $575 million | $550 million to $600 million | 25 | % | |||
| $625 million | $600 million and higher | None | ||||
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