MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
This MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (?Agreement?) is made this 27th
day of April, 2007, by and between Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable
Equity Trust (the ?Trust?) and Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the ?Manager?).
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Maryland business trust registered
as a management investment company under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the ?1940 Act?);
WHEREAS, the Manager is engaged primarily in rendering
investment advisory, management and administrative services and
is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain the Manager to provide
investment advisory, management, and administrative services to
the Trust with respect to the series of the Trust designated in
Schedule A annexed hereto (the ?Fund?); and
WHEREAS, the Manager is willing to furnish such services on
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual
covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. The Trust hereby appoints the Manager to act as
investment adviser and administrator of the Fund for the period
and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Manager
accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services
herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. The Fund shall at all times keep the Manager fully
informed with regard to the securities owned by it, its funds
available, or to become available, for investment, and generally
as to the condition of its affairs. It shall furnish the
Manager with such other documents and information with regard to
its affairs as the Manager may from time to time reasonably
request.
3. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Trust?s Board
of Trustees (the ?Board?), the Manager shall regularly provide
the Fund with investment research, advice, management and
supervision and shall furnish a continuous investment program
for the Fund's portfolio of securities and other investments
consistent with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions, as stated in the Fund?s current Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information. The Manager shall
determine from time to time what securities and other
investments will be purchased (including, as permitted in
accordance with this paragraph, swap agreements, options and
futures), retained, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what
portion of the assets of the Fund?s portfolio will be held in
the various securities and other investments in which the Fund
invests, and shall implement those decisions (including the
execution of investment documentation), all subject to the
provisions of the Trust?s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
(collectively, the ?Governing Documents?), the 1940 Act, and the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the ?SEC?) and interpretive
guidance issued thereunder by the SEC staff and any other
applicable federal and state law, as well as the investment
objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund referred to
above, and any other specific policies adopted by the Board and
disclosed to the Manager. The Manager is authorized as the
agent of the Trust to give instructions to the custodian of the
Fund as to deliveries of securities and other investments and
payments of cash for the account of the Fund. Subject to
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and direction from the
Board, the investment program to be provided hereunder may
entail the investment of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Fund in one or more investment companies. The Manager
will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for
the Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or
dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or
others selected by it. In connection with the selection of such
brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, subject to
applicable law, brokers or dealers may be selected who also
provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are
defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the ?Exchange Act?)) to the Funds and/or the other
accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates exercise
investment discretion. The Manager is authorized to pay a
broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research
services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for
the Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another
broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction if the Manager determines in good faith that such
amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or
dealer. This determination may be viewed in terms of either
that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities
which the Manager and its affiliates have with respect to
accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. The
Board may adopt policies and procedures that modify and restrict
the Manager?s authority regarding the execution of the Fund?s
portfolio transactions provided herein. The Manager shall also
provide advice and recommendations with respect to other aspects
of the business and affairs of the Fund, shall exercise voting
rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other
rights pertaining to the Fund's portfolio securities subject to
such direction as the Board may provide, and shall perform such
other functions of investment management and supervision as may
be directed by the Board. The Manager may execute on behalf of
the Fund certain agreements, instruments and documents in
connection with the services performed by it under this
Agreement. These may include, without limitation, brokerage
agreements, clearing agreements, account documentation, futures
and option agreements, swap agreements, other investment related
agreements, and any other agreements, documents or instruments
the Manager believes are appropriate or desirable in performing
its duties under this Agreement.
(b) Subject to the direction and control of the Board, the
Manager shall perform such administrative and management
services as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the
Fund as necessary for the operation of the Fund, such as (i)
supervising the overall administration of the Fund, including
negotiation of contracts and fees with and the monitoring of
performance and xxxxxxxx of the Fund's transfer agent,
shareholder servicing agents, custodian and other independent
contractors or agents, (ii) providing certain compliance, fund
accounting, regulatory reporting, and tax reporting services,
(iii) preparing or participating in the preparation of Board
materials, registration statements, proxy statements and reports
and other communications to shareholders, (iv) maintaining the
Fund?s existence, and (v) during such times as shares are
publicly offered, maintaining the registration and qualification
of the Fund?s shares under federal and state laws.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager shall not be deemed
to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be
responsible for, the distribution of the shares of any Fund, nor
shall the Manager be deemed to have assumed or have any
responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by
any transfer agent, fund accounting agent, custodian,
shareholder servicing agent or other agent, in each case
employed by the Fund to perform such functions.
(c) The Fund hereby authorizes any entity or person
associated with the Manager which is a member of a national
securities exchange to effect any transaction on the exchange
for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a)
of the Exchange Act and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Fund
hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such
transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager agrees that it will
not deal with itself, or with members of the Board or any
principal underwriter of the Fund, as principals or agents in
making purchases or sales of securities or other property for
the account of the Fund, nor will it purchase any securities
from an underwriting or selling group in which the Manager or
its affiliates is participating, or arrange for purchases and
sales of securities between the Fund and another account advised
by the Manager or its affiliates, except in each case as
permitted by the 1940 Act and in accordance with such policies
and procedures as may be adopted by the Fund from time to time,
and will comply with all other provisions of the Governing
Documents and the Fund?s then-current Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information relative to the Manager and its
directors and officers.
4. Subject to the Board's approval, the Manager or the
Fund may enter into contracts with one or more investment
subadvisers or subadministrators, including without limitation,
affiliates of the Manager, in which the Manager delegates to
such investment subadvisers or subadministrators any or all its
duties specified hereunder, on such terms as the Manager will
determine to be necessary, desirable or appropriate, provided
that in each case the Manager shall supervise the activities of
each such subadviser or subadministrator and further provided
that such contracts impose on any investment subadviser or
subadministrator bound thereby all the conditions to which the
Manager is subject hereunder and that such contracts are entered
into in accordance with and meet all applicable requirements of
the 1940 Act.
5. (a) The Manager, at its expense, shall supply the
Board and officers of the Trust with all information and reports
reasonably required by them and reasonably available to the
Manager and shall furnish the Fund with office facilities,
including space, furniture and equipment and all personnel
reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. The Manager
shall oversee the maintenance of all books and records with
respect to the Fund's securities transactions and the keeping of
the Fund's books of account in accordance with all applicable
federal and state laws and regulations. In compliance with the
requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Manager
hereby agrees that any records that it maintains for the Fund
are the property of the Fund, and further agrees to surrender
promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund's
request. The Manager further agrees to arrange for the
preservation of the records required to be maintained by Rule
31a-1 under the 1940 Act for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-
2 under the 1940 Act. The Manager shall authorize and permit
any of its directors, officers and employees, who may be elected
as Board members or officers of the Fund, to serve in the
capacities in which they are elected.
(b) The Manager shall bear all expenses, and shall furnish
all necessary services, facilities and personnel, in connection
with its responsibilities under this Agreement. Other than as
herein specifically indicated, the Manager shall not be
responsible for the Fund's expenses, including, without
limitation, advisory fees; distribution fees; interest; taxes;
governmental fees; voluntary assessments and other expenses
incurred in connection with membership in investment company
organizations; organization costs of the Fund; the cost
(including brokerage commissions, transaction fees or charges,
if any) in connection with the purchase or sale of the Fund?s
securities and other investments and any losses in connection
therewith; fees and expenses of custodians, transfer agents,
registrars, independent pricing vendors or other agents; legal
expenses; loan commitment fees; expenses relating to share
certificates; expenses relating to the issuing and redemption or
repurchase of the Fund's shares and servicing shareholder
accounts; expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund's
shares for sale under applicable federal and state law; expenses
of preparing, setting in print, printing and distributing
prospectuses and statements of additional information and any
supplements thereto, reports, proxy statements, notices and
dividends to the Fund's shareholders; costs of stationery;
website costs; costs of meetings of the Board or any committee
thereof, meetings of shareholders and other meetings of the
Fund; Board fees; audit fees; travel expenses of officers,
members of the Board and employees of the Fund, if any; and the
Fund's pro rata portion of premiums on any fidelity bond and
other insurance covering the Fund and its officers, Board
members and employees; litigation expenses and any non-recurring
or extraordinary expenses as may arise, including, without
limitation, those relating to actions, suits or proceedings to
which the Fund is a party and the legal obligation which the
Fund may have to indemnify the Fund?s Board members and officers
with respect thereto.
6. No member of the Board, officer or employee of the
Trust or Fund shall receive from the Trust or Fund any salary or
other compensation as such member of the Board, officer or
employee while he is at the same time a director, officer, or
employee of the Manager or any affiliated company of the
Manager, except as the Board may decide. This paragraph shall
not apply to Board members, executive committee members,
consultants and other persons who are not regular members of the
Manager's or any affiliated company's staff.
7. As compensation for the services performed and the
facilities furnished and expenses assumed by the Manager,
including the services of any consultants retained by the
Manager, the Fund shall pay the Manager, as promptly as possible
after the last day of each month, a fee, computed daily at an
annual rate set forth opposite the Fund?s name on Schedule A
annexed hereto, provided however, that if the Fund invests all
or substantially all of its assets in another registered
investment company for which the Manager or an affiliate of the
Manager serves as investment adviser or investment manager, the
annual fee computed as set forth on such Schedule A shall be
reduced by the aggregate management fees allocated to that Fund
for the Fund's then-current fiscal year from such other
registered investment company. The first payment of the fee
shall be made as promptly as possible at the end of the month
succeeding the effective date of this Agreement, and shall
constitute a full payment of the fee due the Manager for all
services prior to that date. If this Agreement is terminated as
of any date not the last day of a month, such fee shall be paid
as promptly as possible after such date of termination, shall be
based on the average daily net assets of the Fund in that period
from the beginning of such month to such date of termination,
and shall be that proportion of such average daily net assets as
the number of business days in such period bears to the number
of business days in such month. The average daily net assets of
the Fund shall in all cases be based only on business days and
be computed as of the time of the regular close of business of
the New York Stock Exchange, or such other time as may be
determined by the Board.
8. The Manager assumes no responsibility under this
Agreement other than to render the services called for
hereunder, in good faith, and shall not be liable for any error
of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of
any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of
securities transactions for the Fund, provided that nothing in
this Agreement shall protect the Manager against any liability
to the Fund to which the Manager would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in
the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. As used in
this Section 8, the term ?Manager? shall include any affiliates
of the Manager performing services for the Trust or the Fund
contemplated hereby and the partners, shareholders, directors,
officers and employees of the Manager and such affiliates.
9. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the
right of any director, officer, or employee of the Manager who
may also be a Board member, officer, or employee of the Trust or
the Fund, to engage in any other business or to devote his time
and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any
other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar
nature, nor to limit or restrict the right of the Manager to
engage in any other business or to render services of any kind,
including investment advisory and management services, to any
other fund, firm, individual or association. If the purchase or
sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of
the Fund or one or more other accounts of the Manager is
considered at or about the same time, transactions in such
securities will be allocated among the accounts in a manner
deemed equitable by the Manager. Such transactions may be
combined, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,
and consistent with the Manager?s policies and procedures as
presented to the Board from time to time.
10. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Fund's ?net
assets? shall be determined as provided in the Fund?s then-
current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and
the terms ?assignment,? ?interested person,? and ?majority of
the outstanding voting securities? shall have the meanings given
to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act, subject to such
exemptions as may be granted by the SEC by any rule, regulation
or order.
11. This Agreement will become effective with respect to
the Fund on the date set forth opposite the Fund?s name on
Schedule A annexed hereto, provided that it shall have been
approved by the Trust?s Board and by the shareholders of the
Fund in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, will continue in
effect until November 30, 2007. Thereafter, if not terminated,
this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the
Fund, so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually (i) by the Board or (ii) by a vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that
in either event the continuance is also approved by a majority
of the Board members who are not interested persons of any party
to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval.
12. This Agreement is terminable with respect to the Fund
without penalty by the Board or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, in each case on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the
Manager, or by the Manager upon not less than 90 days' written
notice to the Fund, and will be terminated upon the mutual
written consent of the Manager and the Trust. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment by
the Manager and shall not be assignable by the Trust without the
consent of the Manager.
13. The Manager agrees that for services rendered to the
Fund, or for any claim by it in connection with services
rendered to the Fund, it shall look only to assets of the Fund
for satisfaction and that it shall have no claim against the
assets of any other portfolios of the Trust. The undersigned
officer of the Trust has executed this Agreement not
individually, but as an officer under the Trust?s Declaration of
Trust and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon
any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust
individually.
14. 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
material amendment of the Agreement shall be effective until
approved, if so required by the 1940 Act, by vote of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities.
15. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject
matter hereof. Should any part of this Agreement be held or
made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise,
the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
16. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York.
[signature page to follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their officers thereunto duly
authorized.
XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE
EQUITY TRUST
By:
Name:
Title:
XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR,
LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
Schedule A
Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Aggressive Growth Portfolio
Date:
April 27, 2007
Fee:
The following percentage of the Fund?s average daily net assets:
First $1 billion--0.75%
Next $1 billion--0.725%
Next $3 billion--0.70%
Next $5 billion--0.675%
Over $10 billion--0.65%
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