Re: Sub-Advisory Agreement for Xxxxx Tax-Free High Income Fund, Inc.
This is to confirm that Xxxxx Selected Advisers, L.P. (the "Adviser") is
retaining Xxxxx Selected Advisers - NY, Inc. ("DSA-NY") as investment
sub-adviser for the portfolio of Xxxxx Tax-Free High Income Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund").
The terms and conditions of your retention are as follows:
1. DSA-NY shall act as an investment sub-adviser for the Fund and will
provide such investment management and research services as the Adviser
shall request subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors
of the Fund, Xxxxx Selected Advisers, L.P. (the "Adviser") and to any
applicable provisions as in effect from time to time of (a) the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Fund, (b) the prospectus, statement of
additional information and other information set forth in the Fund's
registration documents under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"), including any supplements
thereto, (c) the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and
the Fund (the "Investment Advisory Agreement"), the Adviser's and the
Fund's Code of Ethics and (d) any additional policies or guidelines
established by the Fund's Board of Directors or the Adviser. DSA-NY
acknowledges receipt of copies of the above documents as in effect on the
date of acceptance of this letter. The Adviser agrees that it will promptly
deliver to DSA-NY any amendments, changes or additions of or to these
documents.
2. DSA-NY agrees that all securities transactions will conform to (a) the
stated objectives and policies of the Fund, (b) the brokerage policies set
forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement (which are hereby
incorporated by reference herein) and the registration documents, and (c)
those investment and brokerage policies or guidelines directed by the
Board of Directors of the Fund, any committee thereof and the Adviser.
3. DSA-NY shall be an independent contractor. Unless otherwise expressly
provided or authorized hereunder, or by the Board of Directors of the Fund,
DSA-NY shall have no authority to represent the Fund or the Adviser in any
way or otherwise be an agent of the Adviser or the Fund, except with
regard to the execution of securities transactions on behalf of the Fund
with registered broker/dealers, including broker/dealers affiliated with
the Adviser, provided transactions with affiliated broker/dealers comply
with Rule 17e-1 of the 0000 Xxx.
4. DSA-NY shall provide the Adviser with any reports, analyses or other
documentation the Adviser requests including those related to placement
of security transactions, its administrative responsibilities and its
responsibility to monitor compliance with stated investment objectives,
policies and limitations and the investment performance of the Fund.
DSA-NY agrees, directly or through an agent, to provide daily information
in respect to any portfolio transactions of the Fund to the Adviser. DSA-NY
agrees to provide all documentation reasonably required by the Adviser to
maintain the Fund's accounting records in accordance with the 1940 Act
and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the regulations issued
thereunder, and to preserve copies of all documents and records related to
asset transactions, positions and valuations related to the Fund in the
manner and for the periods prescribed by such regulations. DSA-NY further
agrees that all documents and records it maintains relating to the Fund,
are the property of the Fund and will be surrendered to the Adviser or the
Fund upon the request of either. DSA-NY agrees to provide information and
to allow inspection of such documents and records at reasonable times by
any authorized representative of the Adviser, the Fund's Board of
Directors or any committee thereof, the Fund's independent public
accountants or appropriate regulatory authorities. DSA-NY shall provide to
the Adviser a copy of its Form ADV as filed with the SEC and as amended
from time to time and a written list of persons DSA-NY has authorized to
give written and/or oral instructions to the Adviser and the Fund
custodian.
5. DSA-NY agrees to make its personnel who are engaged in activities on
behalf of the Fund available at reasonable times for consultations with
the Adviser's personnel and the Fund's Board of Directors or any
committee thereof, including attendance at their meetings, wherever
situated. In addition, personnel of DSA-NY, at the request of the Adviser,
will attend other meetings to be scheduled at mutually convenient times.
6. DSA-NY agrees to provide all office facilities, equipment and personnel
needed for carrying out its duties hereunder at its own expense. In
addition, DSA-NY shall, if requested by the Adviser or the Fund, employ at
its own expense and subject to the prior written approval of the Adviser
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld (i) a public auditing
firm, (ii) attorneys and (iii) such other professional staff as in the sole
discretion of the Adviser are necessary to assure the fulfillment of the
terms and conditions of this agreement.
7. It is agreed that DSA-NY's services are not to be deemed exclusive and
DSA-NY shall be free to render similar services or other services to
others provided that (i) its services hereunder are not impaired and are
not in violation of federal or state securities laws and (ii) that it shall
not provide services to any registered investment company other than the
Fund or other investment companies managed by the Adviser without the
Adviser's prior express written permission.
8. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations or duties hereunder, DSA-NY, its
officers, directors and employees shall not be subject to liability for any
act or omission in the cause of, or connected with, rendering services
hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding
or sale of any security. In the event of any claim, arbitration, suit, or
administrative proceedings in which DSA-NY or the Adviser is a party and
in which it is finally determined that there is liability or wrongdoing by
only one of us, the party liable or found to be the wrongdoer shall pay for
all liability and expenses of such claim or proceeding including reasonable
attorneys' fees. If it is determined that there is liability or wrongdoing by
both or none of us, then each shall pay their own liability and expenses. In
the event of any settlement of any such claim, arbitration, suit or
proceeding before final determination by a court or arbitrator(s), the
liability and expenses shall be assumed as agreed between the parties, but
if there is no agreement within thirty (30) days of such settlement, then
the assumption of liability and expenses shall be settled by arbitration, in
accordance with the then applicable rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator shall be
final and binding and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The
parties shall pay for their own costs and expenses in respect to any such
arbitration and such costs may be included in the arbitrator's award.
9. As investment sub-adviser, DSA-NY understands that it will be
responsible for complying with all provisions of applicable law, including
the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Securities Fraud Enforcement Act of 1988 and all rules and
regulations thereunder. DSA-NY agrees to adopt and comply with the "Code
of Ethics of and for Xxxxx Selected Advisers, L.P. and the Companies For
Which It Acts As Investment Adviser" as in effect from time to time and
to keep in effect a policy and supervisory procedures designed to prevent
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx.
10. The parties acknowledge that DSA-NY is controlled by or under
common control with the Adviser. The Adviser shall pay DSA-NY all
reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the maintenance of
an office and the performance of the terms of this Agreement. The
Adviser shall also reimburse expenses expressly approved for
reimbursement by the Adviser. Payment for DSA-NY's services and
reimbursement of expenses approved by the Adviser shall be made
monthly, in arrears, by the 15th day of the following month.
11. This Agreement shall become effective on the later of December 1,
1996 or the first business day after the date this Agreement is approved
in accordance with the 1940 Act (provided that it is reflected in an
effective post-effective amendment under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the 1940 Act). Unless sooner terminated as hereunder provided, it shall
initially remain in effect for a period not exceeding two years.
Thereafter, subject to the termination provisions herein, this Agreement
shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only as long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner
required by the 1940 Act; provided, however, that if the continuation of
this Agreement is not approved, DSA-NY may continue to serve in the
manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
12. This Agreement shall automatically terminate immediately in the
event of its assignment (except as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act
or rules thereunder) or in the event of the termination of the Investment
Advisory Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated without payment
of any penalty at any time (a) upon sixty (60) days' written notice to
DSA-NY by the Adviser or upon such sixty (60) days' written notice to
DSA-NY by the Fund pursuant to action by its Board of Directors or by the
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or (b)
upon sixty (60) days' written notice by DSA-NY to the Adviser. The terms
"assignment" and "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities"
shall have the meaning set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect
DSA-NY's right to receive payments on any unpaid balance of the
compensation earned and reimbursable expenses incurred prior to such
termination. Upon receipt of notification of termination as provided above
DSA-NY shall immediately cease all activities in connection with the Fund
except as otherwise directed by the Adviser.
13. DSA-NY agrees that it shall abide by the terms of the agreement of the
Adviser with the Fund as to the names of the Fund and the Adviser and
shall not use the name of the Adviser or the Fund without the prior
written consent of the Adviser or the Fund.
14. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute or rule or otherwise, the remainder shall not be
thereby affected.
15. This Agreement shall be construed according to the laws of the State
of New Mexico. It may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.
If the foregoing terms and conditions are acceptable to you, please
acknowledge in the space provided. Upon your acceptance, the retention
and the mutual obligations in respect thereto shall be effective as
provided herein.
Sincerely,
Xxxxx Selected Advisers, L.P.
By Venture Advisers, Inc.,
General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx
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Its: President
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Accepted and Approved this 1st day of December, 1996
Xxxxx Selected Advisers - NY, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Street
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Its: Secretary
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