ADVANCED SERIES TRUST AST Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AST Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
Agreement made as of this 30th day of March, 2020 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and X.X. Xxxxxx Investment Management Inc., a Delaware corporation, (X.X. Xxxxxx or the Subadviser), and effective as of a date mutually agreed upon by the Co-Managers and Subadviser;
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments and AST act as Co-Managers of the Trust;
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually, a Portfolio or the Trust and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Co-Managers shall from time to time direct and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers (the “Allocated Portion”), including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of the Allocated Portion of the Trust's investments as the Co-Managers shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Co-Managers (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that are not inconsistent with the Trust Documents), cooperate with the Co-Managers’ (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal laws and regulations. In addition, the Subadviser shall manage the Allocated Portion in conformity with applicable state laws and regulations and such state insurance laws as Manager informs Subadviser are applicable to the Trust (“State Insurance Laws”). In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, assist the Co-Managers in the preparation and filing of such reports as the Trust is, or may in the future be, required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Co-Managers shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by the Allocated Portion, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), as it determines in its discretion subject to the requirements of this subsection (iii). In executing transactions for the Trust and selecting Brokers, the Subadviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Trust the best overall terms available. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser shall consider all the factors that it deems relevant including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the Broker, the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis and, for any portion of the Portfolio managed by the Subadviser from its offices outside the United Kingdom, the research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser’s other clients may be a party. (If the Subadviser manages a portion of the Portfolio’s assets from its offices in the United Kingdom (“UK Managed Assets”), the brokerage commissions paid on transactions in the UK Managed Assets will compensate the broker for trade execution only. Brokerage commissions paid on transactions involving assets the Subadviser manages from its offices outside the United Kingdom (“Non-UK Managed Assets”) may compensate the broker for both trade execution and investment research services.)
For Non-UK Managed Assets, the Co-Managers (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain the best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Co-Managers or Subadviser determine(s) in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Co-Managers (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it or an affiliate may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act).
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients. The Co-Managers recognize that, in some cases, this procedure may limit the size of the position that may be acquired or sold for the Trust. The Co-Managers hereby acknowledge receipt of the current best execution policy of Subadviser’s London branch and consent to Subadviser following such policy. Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with updated versions of such policy as it may be amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time. Subject to the requirements of U.S. laws rules, and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act), and the rules thereunder, the Co-Managers agree that the Subadviser’s London branch may follow the then-current version of such best execution policy in managing the portion of the Portfolio’s assets assigned to it. In addition, the Co-Managers agree that in managing the portion of the Portfolio’s assets assigned to it, the Subadviser’s London branch may execute trades outside a trading venue as that term is defined in the “Markets in Financial Instruments Directive.”
(iv) The Subadviser is authorized to purchase, sell, hold and generally deal in and with derivatives as set forth in the Prospectus of the Trust. The Co-Managers hereby authorize Subadviser to open accounts and execute documents, representations, warranties, indemnities and representation letters in the name of, binding against and on behalf of the Trust, including without limitation, futures account agreements and master agreements related to derivatives transactions for all purposes necessary or desirable in Subadviser’s view to effectuate Subadviser’s activities under this Agreement. To the extent the Portfolio qualifies as a “qualified eligible person” within the meaning of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Regulation Rule 4.7, the Co-Managers on behalf of the Portfolio consent to the Portfolio’s treatment by the Subadviser as a qualified eligible person.
(v) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(vi) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Allocated Portion, and shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co-Managers.
(vii) The Subadviser and the Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co-Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(viii) The Co-Managers acknowledge that investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Manager agrees that Subadviser may give advice and take action with respect to any of its other clients which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Trust. It is Subadviser's policy, to the extent practicable, to allocate investment opportunities among clients over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis. Manager recognizes that Subadviser, in effecting transactions for its various accounts, may not always be able to take or liquidate investment positions in the same security at the same time and at the same price. It is understood that Subadviser shall not have any obligations to purchase or sell, or to recommend for purchase or sale, for the Trust any security which Subadviser or its affiliates, their directors, officers, principals or employees may purchase or sell for its or their own accounts or for the account of any other client, if in the opinion of Subadviser such transaction or investment appears unsuitable, impractical or undesirable for the Trust, except as required by law. Nothing in this Agreement will in any way limit or restrict Subadviser or any of its respective officers, directors, principals, affiliates or employees from buying, selling or trading in any securities for its or their own accounts or other accounts. Manager acknowledges and agrees that Subadviser and its affiliates may make different investment decisions with respect to each of its clients or for its own account, and that such fact shall not be relied upon by Manager or any of Manager’s agents or representatives as evidence of a breach of Subadviser 's duties hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of the Subadviser, the Co-Managers, the Trust, or any of their respective directors, officers, affiliates or employees to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature.
(ix) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(x) Conflicts of interest may arise in the course of providing the Subadviser's services and information on the Subadviser's conflicts of interest policy may be found in the Subadviser’s FCA Disclosure Document and its current Form ADV provided to the Co-Managers.
(b) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Co-Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Co-Managers promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) to the extent permitted by law, regulation, regulatory requirement or the Subadviser’s policy, the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures designed to comply with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable federal regulations and state law and/or requirements, State Insurance Laws and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures designed to comply with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal laws and regulations, state law and/or requirements and State Insurance Laws. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Co-Managers copies of (i) all records prepared in connection with the performance of this Agreement and (ii) any reports prepared for external distribution in accordance with the compliance procedures maintained pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Co-Managers may reasonably request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Allocated Portion in accordance with the Subadviser’s proxy voting policy in effect from time to time and the Subadviser will comply with such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers.
(h) The Subadviser agrees to provide reasonable assistance to the Co-Managers or the Trust's Custodian in determining the value of any of the Trust’s portfolio investments. Such reasonable assistance shall include (but is not limited to): (i) upon the request of the Co-Managers or the Trust's Custodian, assisting in obtaining bids and offers or quotes from broker/dealers or market-makers with respect to portfolio investments; and (ii) notifying the Co-Managers in the event the Subadviser has reason to believe that the price it has received for a portfolio investment held by the Allocated Portion does not appear to reflect corporate actions, news, significant events or such investment otherwise requires review to determine if fair valuation may be necessary under the Trust’s valuation procedures. Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser shall make its employees and officers reasonably available for consultation with the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers to assist them in their valuation of the investments of the Trust as the valuation committee or the Co-Managers may request from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
(i) The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Trust's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Co-Managers if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(j) The Subadviser shall comply with the applicable portions of the Trust’s Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(k) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s Manager informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 0000 Xxx) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Managers to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
2. The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the Allocated Portion, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Allocated Portion, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the Allocated Portion as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Co-Managers to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Co-Managers’ receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Trust and the Co-Managers. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers.
4. Confidentiality. (a) Each party agrees that it will treat confidentially all information provided by any other party (the “Discloser”) regarding the Discloser’s businesses and operations, including without limitation the investment activities or holdings of the Allocated Portion (“Confidential Information”). All Confidential Information provided by the Discloser shall be used only by the other party hereto (the “Recipient”) solely for the purposes of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement, and shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of the Discloser, except for a limited number of employees, attorneys, accountants and other advisers of the Recipient and its affiliates under common control with Recipient on a need-to-know basis and solely for the purposes of rendering services under this Agreement.
(b) Confidential Information shall not include any information that: (i) is public when provided or thereafter becomes public through no wrongful act of the Recipient; (ii) is demonstrably known to the Recipient prior to execution of this Agreement; (iii) is independently developed by the Recipient through no wrongful act of the Recipient in the ordinary course of business outside of this Agreement; (iv) is generally employed by the trade at the time that the Recipient learns of such information or knowledge; or (v) has been rightfully and lawfully obtained by the Recipient from any third party.
(c) In the event that the Recipient is requested or required (by deposition, interrogatories, requests for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoenas, civil investigative demand or similar process, or by a governmental or regulatory agency or authority), in connection with any proceeding, to disclose any of the Discloser’s Confidential Information, the Recipient will, to the extent permitted by law, regulation or regulatory authority, give the Discloser prompt written notice of such request or requirement to allow the Discloser an opportunity to obtain a protective order or otherwise obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded to such Confidential Information. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, disclosure shall be made of only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed. All Confidential Information disclosed as required by law shall nonetheless continue to be deemed Confidential Information. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, no such notification shall be required in respect of any disclosure to regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Recipient or any of its affiliates.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, to the extent that any market counterparty with whom Subadviser deals requires information relating to the Portfolio or the Trust (including, but not limited to, the identity and market value of the Portfolio, or the Allocated Portion), Subadviser shall be permitted to disclose such information to the extent necessary to effect transactions on behalf of the Trust.
5. The Parties’ Information Security Programs. Each party represents and warrants the following:
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(a) |
It and its parent company have implemented and currently maintain an effective information security program (the “Information Security Program”) which includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures necessary to protect (i) the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (ii) against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (iii) against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information. |
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(b) |
Its Information Security Program complies with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the privacy and data security of Confidential Information. |
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(c) |
It shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to its employees who require such access in order to provide the services under this Agreement. |
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(d) |
It or its parent company conducts risk assessments as it determines to be reasonably necessary to identify and assess risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluates, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls. |
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(e) |
In the event that it confirms unauthorized access, disclosure, or material damage to Confidential Information (each a “Security Incident”), it shall notify the other party as soon as reasonably practicable. |
(f) It shall provide the other party with information related to its Information Security Program.
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(g) |
Upon Co-Managers’ request, Subadviser will include a member(s) of its staff that is familiar with its Information Security Program in the periodic due diligence meetings with Co-Managers’ staff to provide a presentation and answer questions on its Information Security Program. |
6. (a) The Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide discretionary investment management services to the Allocated Portion without the express written consent of the Co-Managers. The Subadviser may employ an affiliate or a third party to perform administrative duties such as accounting, reporting, proxy voting and other ancillary services without the prior consent of the Co-Managers. In either case, the Subadviser will act in good faith in the selection, use and monitoring of affiliates and other third parties, and any delegation or appointment hereunder shall not relieve the Subadviser of any of its obligations under this Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it remains liable to the Co-Managers for an affiliate’s or third party’s compliance with this Agreement, applicable regulations and requirements to the same extent as if the Subadviser itself had acted or failed to act instead of the affiliate or third party.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, the Subadviser: (i) may provide information about the Co-Managers and the Trust to any affiliate or any unaffiliated third party for purposes of this Section 6; and (ii) shall ensure that any affiliate or unaffiliated third party to which services have been delegated hereunder is subject to confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the Subadviser is subject under this Agreement.
7. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, and their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a direct result of the Co-Managers’ willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, its affiliated persons, and their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a direct result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. Neither the Co-Managers nor the Subadviser shall be liable for any special, consequential, incidental or punitive damages.
8. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust, or by the Co-Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a Portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated Portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the close of business on the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers will commence the transition process for the delegated Portfolio or portion thereof of the Portfolio listed on Schedule A at the close of business on a date mutually agreed upon by the Co-Managers and the Subadviser and the Subadviser will become a subadviser of the Portfolio at that time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, if the Co-Managers engage a transition manager to execute purchases and sales in the delegated Portfolio or delegated portion thereof, the Subadviser will not be liable for losses caused by the default, fraud, act or omission, negligence or willful misconduct of such transition manager.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Co-Managers at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments) and Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, Attention: Secretary (for ASTIS); (2) to the Trust at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx.
9. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
10. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
11. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
12. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
12. The Co-Managers and the Trust each acknowledges that the Subadviser operates so as to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The Co-Managers and the Trust each hereby acknowledges that it or its service provider agent has policies and procedures in place designed to comply with Anti -Money Laundering (“AML”) requirements in the United States, including the Bank Secrecy Act as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations in those jurisdictions where the Co-Managers or the Trust operate, relating to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing (“AML Program”). The Co-Managers and the Trust each also acknowledges that it or its service provider agent has policies and procedures in place designed to comply with the prohibitions and restrictions mandated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and all other sanctions laws and regulations applicable in the jurisdictions in which it operates. To the knowledge of the Co-Managers and the Trust, any solicitations and other activities by it or, as applicable, its service providers in connection with the Trust have been and will be conducted in accordance with such applicable AML and sanctions laws and regulations
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
AST Investment Services, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President
X.X. XXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
As compensation for services provided by X.X. Xxxxxx Investment Management Inc. (X.X. Xxxxxx), PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. will pay X.X. Xxxxxx a subadvisory fee on the average daily net assets managed by X.X. Xxxxxx that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
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Portfolio Name
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Subdvisory Fee for the Portfolio*
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AST Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
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0.48% of average daily net assets to $200 million; 0.45% of average daily net assets from $200 million to $500 million; and
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* In the event X.X. Xxxxxx invests Trust assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, X.X. Xxxxxx will waive its subadvisory fee for the Trust in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to X.X. Xxxxxx with respect to the Trust assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: March 30, 2020
