PRINCIPAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT executed as of March 21, 2016, by and between
PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (hereinafter called
the "Manager"), and PRINCIPAL GLOBAL INVESTORS, LLC
(hereinafter called the "Sub-Advisor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Manager is the manager and investment
adviser to each Series of Principal Exchange-Traded Funds (the
"Fund"), an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Manager desires to retain the Sub-Advisor
to furnish it with portfolio selection and related research and
statistical services in connection with the investment advisory
services for all or a portion of the assets of each Series of the
Fund identified in Appendix A hereto, as may be amended from
time to time (hereinafter called "Series"), which the Manager has
agreed to provide to the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor desires to
furnish such services; and
WHEREAS, The Manager has furnished the Sub-Advisor
with copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the
following and will promptly provide the Sub-Advisor with copies
properly certified or authenticated of any amendment or
supplement thereto:
(a) Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement")
with the Fund
(b) The Fund's registration statement and financial statements
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC");
(c) The Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and
By-laws
(d) Policies, procedures or instructions adopted or approved
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund relating to obligations
and services to be provided by the Sub-Advisor.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Appointment of Sub-Advisor
In accordance with and subject to the Management
Agreement, the Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Advisor
to perform the services described in Section 2 below for
investment and reinvestment of such portion of the assets
of each Series as may be allocated to the Sub-Advisor by
the Manager, from time to time (the "Allocated Assets"),
subject to the control and direction of the Manager and the
Fund's Board of Trustees, for the period and on the terms
hereinafter set forth. The Sub-Advisor accepts such
appointment and agrees to furnish the services hereinafter
set forth for the compensation herein provided. The
Sub-Advisor shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be
an independent contractor and shall, except as expressly
provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or
represent the Fund or the Manager in any way or
otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund or the
Manager.
2. Obligations of and Services to be Provided by the Sub-
Advisor
The Sub-Advisor will:
(a) Provide investment advisory services, including but
not limited to research, advice and supervision for
the Allocated Assets of each Series.
(b) Furnish to the Board of Trustees of the Fund for
approval (or any appropriate committee of such
Board), and revise from time to time as conditions
require, a recommended investment program for
each Series consistent with each Series' respective
investment objective(s) and policies and any
specific criteria applicable to the Allocated Assets.
(c) Implement the approved investment program for
the Allocated Assets by placing orders for the
purchase and sale of securities without prior
consultation with the Manager and without regard
to the length of time the securities have been held,
the resulting rate of portfolio turnover or any tax
considerations, subject always to the provisions of
the Fund's registration statement, Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws and the requirements of
the 1940 Act, as each of the same shall be from
time to time in effect.
(d) Advise and assist the officers of the Fund, as
requested by the officers, in taking such steps as
are necessary or appropriate to carry out the
decisions of its Board of Trustees, and any
appropriate committees of such Board, regarding
the general conduct of the investment business of
each Series.
(e) Maintain, in connection with the Sub-Advisor's
investment advisory services provided to the
Allocated Assets, compliance with the 1940 Act and
the regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder and
the Series' investment strategies and restrictions as
stated in the Fund's prospectus and statement of
additional information and any specific criteria
applicable to the Allocated Assets.
(f) Report to the Board of Trustees of the Fund at such
times and in such detail as the Board of Trustees
may reasonably deem appropriate in order to
enable it to determine that the investment policies,
procedures and approved investment program of
each Series (and any specific criteria applicable to
the Allocated Assets) are being observed.
(g) Upon request, provide assistance and
recommendations for the determination of the fair
value of certain securities when reliable market
quotations are not readily available for purposes of
calculating net asset value in accordance with
procedures and methods established by the Fund's
Board of Trustees.
(h) Furnish, at its own expense, (i) all necessary
investment and management facilities, including
salaries of clerical and other personnel required for
it to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii)
administrative facilities, including bookkeeping,
clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the
efficient conduct of the investment advisory affairs
of each Series.
(i) Open accounts with Foreign Account Tax
Compliance Act compliant broker-dealers and
futures commission merchants ("broker-dealers"),
select broker-dealers to effect all transactions for
each Series, place all necessary orders with
broker-dealers or issuers (including affiliated
broker-dealers), and negotiate commissions, if
applicable. To the extent consistent with applicable
law, purchase or sell orders for each Series may be
aggregated with contemporaneous purchase or sell
orders of other clients of the Sub-Advisor. In such
event allocation of securities so sold or purchased,
as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction,
will be made by the Sub-Advisor in the manner the
Sub-Advisor considers to be the most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund
and to other clients. The Sub-Advisor will report on
such allocations at the request of the Manager, the
Fund or the Fund's Board of Trustees providing
such information as the number of aggregated
trades to which each Series was a party, the
broker-dealers to whom such trades were directed
and the basis for the allocation for the aggregated
trades. The Sub-Advisor shall use its best efforts to
obtain execution of transactions for each Series at
prices which are advantageous to the Series and at
commission rates that are reasonable in relation to
the benefits received. However, the Sub-Advisor
may select brokers or dealers on the basis that they
provide brokerage, research or other services or
products to the Sub-Advisor. To the extent
consistent with applicable law, the Sub-Advisor
may pay a broker or dealer an amount of
commission for effecting a securities transaction in
excess of the amount of commission or dealer
spread another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-
Advisor determines in good faith that such amount
of commission is reasonable in relation to the value
of the brokerage and research products and/or
services provided by such broker or dealer. This
determination, with respect to brokerage and
research products and/or services, may be viewed
in terms of either that particular transaction or the
overall responsibilities which the Sub-Advisor and
its affiliates have with respect to each Series as
well as to accounts over which they exercise
investment discretion. Not all such services or
products need be used by the Sub-Advisor in
managing the Allocated Assets. In addition, joint
repurchase or other accounts may not be utilized
by the Series except to the extent permitted under
any exemptive order obtained by the Sub-Advisor
provided that all conditions of such order are
complied with.
(j) Maintain all accounts, books and records with
respect to the Allocated Assets as are required of
an investment advisor of a registered investment
company pursuant to the 1940 Act and Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers
Act"), and the rules thereunder, and furnish the
Fund and the Manager with such periodic and
special reports as the Fund or the Manager may
reasonably request. In compliance with the
requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the
Sub-Advisor hereby agrees that all records that it
maintains for each Series are the property of the
Fund, agrees to preserve for the periods described
by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that
it maintains for the Series and that are required to
be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act,
and further agrees to surrender promptly to the
Fund any records that it maintains for a Series
upon request by the Fund or the Manager. The
Sub-Advisor has no responsibility for the
maintenance of Fund records except insofar as is
directly related to the services the Sub-Advisor
provides to a Series.
(k) Observe and comply with Rule 17j-1 under the
1940 Act and the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics
adopted pursuant to that Rule as the same may be
amended from time to time. The Manager
acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Sub-
Advisor's current Code of Ethics. The Sub-Advisor
shall promptly forward to the Manager a copy of
any material amendment to the Sub-Advisor's Code
of Ethics along with certification that the Sub-
Advisor has implemented procedures for
administering the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics.
(l) From time to time as the Manager or the Fund may
request, furnish the requesting party reports on
portfolio transactions and reports on investments
held by a Series, all in such detail as the Manager
or the Fund may reasonably request. The Sub-
Advisor will make available its officers and
employees to meet with the Fund's Board of
Trustees at the Fund's principal place of business
on due notice to review the investments of a Series.
(m) Provide such information as is customarily provided
by a sub-advisor, or as may be required or
reasonably requested by the Manager, for the Fund
or the Manager to comply with their respective
obligations under applicable laws, including, without
limitation, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), the 1940 Act, the Advisers
Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and any state securities laws, and
any rule or regulation thereunder. Such information
includes, but is not limited to: the Sub-Advisor's
compliance manual and policies and procedures
adopted to comply with Rule 206(4)-7 of the
Advisers Act; the Sub-Advisor's most recent annual
compliance report or a detailed summary of such
report; timely and complete responses to all
Quarterly Compliance Questionnaires (including the
identification of any material compliance maters
and a copy of any material changes to the Sub-
Advisor's Rule 206(4)-7 compliance policies and
procedures, marked to show changes along with a
written summary of the purpose of each such
change); Annual Proxy Voting Questionnaires;
Annual Best Execution and Soft Dollar
Questionnaires, and responses to all other requests
from the Manager. The Sub-Advisor agrees to
make available for the Manager's review all
deficiency letters issued by the SEC together with
all responses given by Sub-Advisor to such letters.
The Sub-Advisor will advise the Manager of any
material changes in the Sub-Advisor's ownership
within a reasonable time after any such change.
(n) Vote proxies received on behalf of each Series
(with respect to the portion thereof allocated to the
Sub-Advisor) in a manner consistent with the Sub-
Advisor's proxy voting policies and procedures and
provide a record of votes cast containing all of the
voting information required by Form N-PX in an
electronic format to enable the Series to file Form
N-PX as required by SEC rule.
(o) Respond to tender offers, rights offerings and other
voluntary corporate action requests affecting
securities held by each Series.
(p) Cooperate with the Manager in its performance of
quarterly and annual tax compliance tests to
monitor the Series' compliance with Subchapter M
of the Code and Section 817(h) of the Code. If it is
determined by the Manager or its tax advisors that
the Series is not in compliance with the
requirements imposed by the Code, the Sub-
Advisor, in consultation with the Manager and its
tax advisors, will take prompt action to bring the
Series back into compliance with the time permitted
under the Code.
3. Prohibited Conduct
In providing the services described in this agreement, the
Sub-Advisor will not consult with any other investment
advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to
any investment company sponsored by Principal Life
Insurance Company regarding transactions for the Fund in
securities or other assets.
4. Compensation
As full compensation for all services rendered and
obligations assumed by the Sub-Advisor hereunder with
respect to the Allocated Assets, the Manager shall pay the
compensation specified in Appendix A to this Agreement.
5. Liability of Sub-Advisor
Neither the Sub-Advisor nor any of its directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable to the
Manager, the Fund or its shareholders for any loss
suffered by the Manager or the Fund resulting from any
error of judgment made in the good faith exercise of the
Sub-Advisor's investment discretion in connection with
selecting investments for a Series or as a result of the
failure by the Manager or any of its affiliates to comply with
the terms of this Agreement, except for losses resulting
from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of,
or from reckless disregard of, the duties of the Sub-Advisor
or any of its Trustees, officers, employees, agents, or
affiliates.
6. Trade Errors
The Sub-Advisor will notify the Manager of any Trade
Error(s), regardless of materiality, promptly upon the
discovery such Trade Error(s) by the Sub-Advisor.
Notwithstanding Section 5, the Sub-Advisor shall be liable
to the Manager, the Fund or its shareholders for any loss
suffered by the Manager or the Fund resulting from Trade
Errors due to negligence, misfeasance, or disregard of
duties of the Sub Advisor or any of its directors, officers,
employees, agents (excluding any broker-dealer selected
by the Sub-Advisor), or affiliates. For purposes under this
Section 6, "Trade Errors" are defined as errors due to (i)
erroneous orders by the Sub-Advisor for the Series that
result in the purchase or sale of securities that were not
intended to be purchased or sold; (ii) erroneous orders by
the Sub-Advisor that result in the purchase or sale of
securities for the Series in an unintended amount or price;
or (iii) purchases or sales of financial instruments which
violate the investment limitations or restrictions disclosed in
the Fund's registration statement and/or imposed by
applicable law or regulation (calculated at the Sub-
Advisor's portfolio level), unless otherwise agreed to in
writing.
7. Supplemental Arrangements
The Sub-Advisor may enter into arrangements with other
persons affiliated with the Sub-Advisor or with unaffiliated
third parties to better enable the Sub-Advisor to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement for the provision of
certain personnel and facilities to the Sub-Advisor, subject
to written notification to and approval of the Manager and,
where required by applicable law, the Board of Trustees of
the Fund; provided, however, that entry into any such
arrangements shall not relieve the Sub-Advisor of any of its
obligations under this Agreement.
8. Regulation
The Sub-Advisor shall submit to all regulatory and
administrative bodies having jurisdiction over the services
provided pursuant to this Agreement any information,
reports or other material which any such body may request
or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
9. Duration and Termination of This Agreement
No amendment of this Agreement shall be effective unless
in writing and signed by both parties. This Agreement shall
become effective with respect to a Series as of the
corresponding date set forth on Appendix B to this
Agreement, as may be amended from time to time, and,
unless otherwise terminated with respect to such Series,
shall continue in effect thereafter for the initial term set
forth on Appendix B to this Agreement, and thereafter from
year to year, provided that in each case the continuance is
specifically approved within the period required by the
1940 Act either by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by
a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Series and in either event by a vote of a majority of the
Board of Trustees of the Fund who are not interested
persons of the Manager, Principal Life Insurance
Company, the Sub-Advisor or the Fund cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
If the shareholders of a Series fail to approve the
Agreement or any continuance of the Agreement in
accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Sub-Advisor will continue to act as Sub-Advisor with
respect to the Allocated Assets of such Series pending the
required approval of the Agreement or its continuance or of
any contract with the Sub-Advisor or a different manager or
sub-advisor or other definitive action; provided, that the
compensation received by the Sub-Advisor in respect to
the Allocated Assets of such Series during such period is
in compliance with Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act.
This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a
Series at any time without the payment of any penalty by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by the Sub-Advisor,
the Manager or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Series on sixty days' written notice.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment. In interpreting the provisions of this
Section 8, the definitions contained in Section 2(a) of the
1940 Act (particularly the definitions of "interested person,"
"assignment," "voting security" and "majority of the
outstanding voting securities") shall be applied.
10. Amendment of this Agreement
No material amendment of this Agreement shall be
effective until approved, if required by the 1940 Act or the
rules, regulations, interpretations or orders issued
thereunder, by vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Series (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) and by vote of a majority of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Manager, the Sub-Advisor,
Principal Life Insurance Company or the Fund cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
11. Additional Series
In the event the Manager wishes to appoint the Sub-
Advisor to perform the services described in this
Agreement with respect to one or more additional Series of
the Fund after the effective date of this Agreement, such
Series will become a Series under this Agreement upon
approval of this Agreement in the manner required by the
1940 Act and the amendment of Appendices A and B
hereto.
12. General Provisions
(a) Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary
to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement
shall be construed and enforced in accordance with
and governed by the laws of the State of Iowa. The
captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience only and in no way define or delimit
any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect.
(b) Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered or mailed postage
pre-paid to the other party at such address as such
other party may designate for the receipt of such
notices. Until further notice to the other party, it is
agreed that the address of the Manager and Sub-
Advisor for this purpose shall be Principal Financial
Group, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000.
(c) The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Manager in
writing of the occurrence of any of the following
events:
1. the Sub-Advisor fails to be registered as an
investment adviser under the Advisers Act or
under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Sub-Advisor is required to be registered as an
investment advisor in order to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
2. the Sub-Advisor is served or otherwise receives
notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
investigation, at law or in equity, before or by
any court, public board or body, involving the
affairs of a Series.
3. the Sub-Advisor becomes aware of any
pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation that is reasonably likely
to result in a conviction, order, judgment or
decree issued with respect to it or any affiliate
that could reasonably be expected to result in
the Sub-Advisor becoming ineligible to serve as
an investment adviser of a registered
investment company under the 0000 Xxx.
4. the Sub-Advisor becomes aware of a
transaction or series of transactions that is
reasonably likely to result in a change in the
management or control of the Sub-Advisor or a
controlling person thereof or otherwise in the
assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of this
Agreement by the Sub-Advisor.
(d) The Manager shall provide (or cause the Series
custodian to provide) timely information to the Sub-
Advisor regarding such matters as the composition
of the assets of a Series, cash requirements and
cash available for investment in a Series, and all
other reasonable information as may be necessary
for the Sub-Advisor to perform its duties and
responsibilities hereunder.
(e) The Sub-Advisor represents that it will not enter
into any agreement, oral or written, or other
understanding under which the Fund directs or is
expected to direct portfolio securities transactions,
or any remuneration, to a broker or dealer in
consideration for the promotion or sale of Fund
shares or shares issued by any other registered
investment company. The Sub-Advisor further
represents that it is contrary to the Sub-Advisor's
policies to permit those who select brokers or
dealers for execution of Fund portfolio securities
transactions to take into account the broker's or
dealer's promotion or sale of Fund shares or shares
issued by any other registered investment
company.
(f) The Sub-Advisor agrees that neither it nor any of its
affiliates will in any way refer to its relationship with
the Fund, the Series, or the Manager or any of their
respective affiliates in offering, marketing or other
promotional materials without the express written
consent of the Manager
(g) This Agreement contains the entire understanding
and agreement of the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed
this Agreement on the date first above written.
PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
/s/Xxxxxxx X. Beer
By Xxxxxxx X. Beer,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
/s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
By Xxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Counsel
PRINCIPAL GLOBAL INVESTORS, LLC
/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
By Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Managing Director - Global Equities
/s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
By Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Assistant General Counsel
APPENDIX A
Sub-Advisor shall serve as investment sub-advisor for each Series
identified below. The Manager will pay Sub-Advisor, as full
compensation for all services provided under this Agreement, a
fee, computed and paid monthly, at an annual rate as shown
below of the Series' net assets as of the first day of each month
allocated to Sub-Advisor's management.
If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end
of any month, the fee (if any) for the period from the effective date
to the end of such month or from the beginning of such month to
the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated
according to the proportion which such period bears to the full
month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
Sub-Advisor Percentage Fee as a Percentage of Net Assets
Principal Price Setters Index ETF
0.10%
Principal Shareholder Yield Index ETF
0.10%
APPENDIX B
Effective Date and Initial Term of Sub-Advisory Agreement
for each Series
Series
Effective Date
Initial Term
Principal Price Setters Index ETF
03/21/2016
2 Years
Principal Shareholder Yield Index ETF
03/21/2016
2 Years
