INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made the 28th day of October, 2010, by and between XXXXXXXXXXX GLOBAL STRATEGIC INCOME FUND/VA (CAYMAN) LTD. (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), and OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. (hereinafter referred to as "OFI" or the “Investment Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Fund is an exempt company organised under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and OFI is an investment adviser registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Fund desires that OFI shall act as its investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by and between the parties, as follows:
1. General Provision.
The Fund hereby appoints OFI and OFI hereby undertakes to act as the investment adviser of the Fund and to perform for the Fund such other duties and functions as are hereinafter set forth. OFI shall, in all matters, give to the Fund and the Fund’s board of directors (“Board of Directors”) the benefit of its best judgment, effort, advice and recommendations and shall, at all times conform to, and use its best efforts to enable the Fund to conform to (i) the provisions of Cayman Island law and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) the provisions of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of the Fund as amended from time to time; (iii) policies and determinations of the Board of Directors of the Fund; (iv) the fundamental policies and investment restrictions of the Fund as communicated to OFI in writing by the Fund in effect from time to time. The appropriate officers and employees of OFI shall be available upon reasonable notice for consultation with any of the Directors and officers of the Fund with respect to any matters dealing with the business and affairs of the Fund including the valuation of portfolio securities of the Fund which are either not registered for public sale or not traded on any securities market. OFI shall provide these services pursuant to the policies and procedures applicable to the investment management of the U. S. registered investment company that is the sole shareholder of the Fund (the “Controlling Fund”) to the extent such policies and procedures are in the judgment of OFI relevant to the Fund and are permitted by Cayman Island law.
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2. |
Authority of OFI. |
In connection with its obligations hereunder, OFI will have the authority for and in the name of the Fund, subject to the overall direction and control of the Fund's board of directors, to:
(a) invest and reinvest the Fund's assets, on margin or otherwise, in securities and other financial instruments of United States and foreign entities, including, without limitation, capital stock; shares of beneficial interest; partnership interests and similar financial instruments; bonds, notes and debentures (whether subordinated, convertible or otherwise); currencies; commodities; interest rate, currency, commodity, equity and other derivative products, including, without limitation, (i) futures contracts (and options thereon) relating to stock indices, currencies, United States Government securities and securities of foreign governments, other financial instruments and all other commodities, (ii) swaps, options, warrants, caps, collars, floors and forward rate agreements, (iii) spot and forward currency transactions and (iv) agreements relating to or securing such transactions; equipment lease certificates; equipment trust certificates; loans; accounts and notes receivable and payable held by trade or other creditors; trade acceptances; contract and other claims; executory contracts; participations; mutual funds, exchange traded funds and similar financial instruments; money market funds; obligations of the United States or any state thereof, foreign governments and instrumentalities of any of them; commercial paper; certificates of deposit; bankers' acceptances; choses in action; trust receipts; and any other obligations and instruments or evidences of indebtedness of whatever kind or nature; in each case, of any person, corporation, government or other entity whatsoever, whether or not publicly traded or readily marketable (all such items being called herein a "Security" or "Securities"), and to sell Securities short and cover such sales. OFI shall delegate all investment discretion with respect to futures contracts, option on futures contracts, or other instruments regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Xxxxxxxxxxx Real Asset Management, Inc., except in situations in which OFI would be permitted to act as a commodities trading advisor to a U.S. registered investment company under applicable law or regulation;
(b) provide research and analysis and direct the formulation of investment policies and strategies for the Fund;
(c) acquire a long position or a short position with respect to any Security and to make purchases or sales increasing, decreasing or liquidating such position or changing from a long position to a short position or from a short position to a long position, without any limitation as to the frequency of the fluctuation in such positions or as to the frequency of the changes in the nature of such positions;
(d) purchase Securities and hold them for investment;
(e) enter into contracts for or in connection with investments in Securities;
(f) invest in other pooled investment vehicles for any purpose, which investments shall be subject in each case to the terms and conditions of the respective governing document for such vehicle;
(g) possess, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal in, and exercise all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to, Securities and other property and funds held or owned by the Fund;
(h) lend, either with or without security, any Securities, funds or other properties of the Fund, including by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, and, from time to time, without limit as to the amount, borrow or raise funds, including by entering into repurchase agreements, and secure the payment of obligations of the Fund by mortgage upon, or pledge or hypothecation of, all or any part of the property of the Fund;
(i) open, maintain and close accounts, including futures, margin and custodial accounts, with brokers, including brokers affiliated with OFI, which power shall include the authority to issue all instructions and authorisations to brokers regarding the Securities and/or money therein; to pay, or authorise the payment and reimbursement of, commissions that may be in excess of the lowest rates available that are paid to brokers who execute transactions for the account of the Fund and who supply, or pay for (or rebate a portion of the Fund's brokerage commissions to the Fund for payment of) the cost of, brokerage, research or execution services utilised by the Fund, OFI and its affiliates, members, partners, officers and employees (collectively, excluding OFI, "Affiliates"); provided that the Fund does not pay a rate of commissions in excess of what is competitively available from comparable brokerage firms for comparable services, taking into account various factors, including commission rates, reliability, financial responsibility, strength of the broker and ability of the broker to efficiently execute transactions, the broker's facilities, and the broker's provision or payment of the costs of research and other services or property that are of benefit to the Fund, OFI and Affiliates;
(j) open, maintain and close accounts, including custodial accounts, with banks, including banks located outside the United States, and draw checks or other orders for the payment of monies as authorised by the Board of Directors of the Fund;
(k) combine purchase or sale orders on behalf of the Fund with orders for other accounts to whom OFI or any of its affiliates provide investment services ("Other Accounts") and allocate the Securities or other assets so purchased or sold, on an average-price basis or by any other method of fair allocation, among such accounts;
(l) enter into arrangements with brokers to open "average price" accounts wherein orders placed during a trading day are placed on behalf of the Fund and Other Accounts and are allocated among such accounts using an average price;
(m) organise one or more corporations or other entities formed to hold record title, as nominee for the Fund (whether alone or together with the Other Accounts), to Securities or funds of the Fund as authorised by the Board of Directors;
(n) cause the Fund to engage in agency, agency cross and principal transactions with affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable securities laws;
(o) supply the administrator of, or other service providers to, the Fund with such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable such person or persons to perform their duties in accordance with the applicable agreements;
(p) engage personnel, whether part-time or full-time, and subadvisors, attorneys, independent accountants, or such other persons as OFI may deem necessary or advisable;
(q) authorise any employee or other agent of OFI or any employee or other agent of the Fund to act for and on behalf of the Fund in all matters incidental to the foregoing; and
(r) do any and all acts on behalf of the Fund as it may deem necessary or advisable in connection with the maintenance and administration of the Fund, and exercise all rights of the Fund, with respect to its interest in any person, including, without limitation, the voting of Securities (including voting of proxies), participation in arrangements with creditors, the institution and settlement or compromise of suits and administrative proceedings and other like or similar matters.
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3. |
Liability. |
The Investment Adviser will be liable to the Fund and, without duplication, to the Controlling Fund, as a third party beneficiary hereof, for the losses to the Fund or the Controlling Fund which are the direct result of the Investment Adviser's bad faith, gross negligence, wilful default or breach of the express terms of this Agreement. Except as set forth in the foregoing sentence, neither the Investment Adviser nor its officers, employees or agents shall be liable hereunder for any act or omission or for any error of judgment in managing the Fund. The Investment Adviser shall not be responsible for any special, indirect or consequential damages, or any loss incurred by reasons of any act or omission of the Fund or any broker, dealer or custodian used hereunder or any authorised representative of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Fund may have under the federal securities or other applicable law.
4. Other Duties of OFI.
OFI shall, at its own expense, provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical personnel as shall be required to provide effective corporate administration for the Fund, including but not limited to:
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a) |
Maintenance of a database of all transactions, open position, portfolio and account/fund information. |
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b) |
Preparation and maintenance of portfolio valuation reports and records based upon the daily activity reflecting cost and market valuations, realized gains and losses, and unrealized gains and losses on open position in accordance with the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of the Fund. |
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c) |
Co-ordination of the receipt of account statements from all custodians such as brokers and other clearing organizations and reconcile portfolio positions and cash balances in all such accounts. |
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d) |
Preparation and calculation of a daily net asset value of the fund in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Fund. |
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e) |
Liaising with auditors, as appointed by the Fund from time to time, and the preparation of the Fund’s annual financial statements. |
OFI shall, at its own expense, provide such officers for the Fund as the Board of Directors may request.
5. Allocation of Expenses.
All other costs and expenses of the Fund not expressly assumed by OFI under this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund, including, but not limited to: (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions; (iii) insurance premiums for fidelity and other coverage requisite to its operations; (iv) compensation and expenses of its directors other than those affiliated with OFI; (v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) custodian and transfer agent fees and expenses; (vii) expenses incident to the redemption of its shares; (viii) expenses incident to the issuance of its shares against payment therefor by or on behalf of the subscribers thereto; (ix) fees and expenses, other than as hereinabove provided, incident to its status as a Cayman Island exempt company; (x) expenses of printing and mailing reports, notices and proxy materials to shareholders of the Fund; (xi) except as noted above, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Fund's shareholders; and (xii) such extraordinary non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation, affecting the Fund and any legal obligation which the Fund may have to indemnify its officers and trustees with respect thereto. Any officers or employees of OFI or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with OFI who also serve as officers, directors or employees of the Fund shall not receive any compensation from the Fund for their services.
6. Compensation of OFI.
The Fund agrees to pay OFI and OFI agrees to accept as full compensation for the performance of all functions and duties on its part to be performed pursuant to the provisions hereof, a fee computed on the aggregate net asset value of the shares of the Fund as of the close of each business day and payable monthly at the following annual rate:
0.75% of the first $200 million of net assets;
0.72% of the next $200 million;
0.69% of the next $200 million;
0.66% of the next $200 million;
0.60% of the next $200 million; and
0.50% of net assets in excess of $1 billion
7. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.
(a) OFI is authorised, in arranging the purchase and sale of the Fund's portfolio investments, to employ or deal with such members of securities or commodities exchanges, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants (hereinafter "broker-dealers"), including "affiliated" broker-dealers (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act), as may, in its best judgment, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain the "best execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security price obtainable) of the Fund's portfolio transactions as well as to obtain, consistent with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this paragraph 7, the benefit of such investment information or research as will be of significant assistance to the performance by OFI of its investment management functions.
(b) OFI shall select broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions on the basis of its estimate of their ability to obtain best execution of particular and related portfolio transactions. The abilities of a broker-dealer to obtain best execution of particular portfolio transaction(s) will be judged by OFI on the basis of all relevant factors and considerations including, insofar as feasible, the execution capabilities required by the transaction or transactions; the ability and willingness of the broker-dealer to facilitate the Fund's portfolio transactions by participating therein for its own account; the importance to the Fund of speed, efficiency or confidentiality; the broker-dealer's apparent familiarity with sources from or to whom particular securities might be purchased or sold; as well as any other matters relevant to the selection of a broker-dealer for particular and related transactions of the Fund.
(c) OFI shall have discretion, in the interests of the Fund, to allocate brokerage on the Fund's portfolio transactions to broker-dealers, other than an affiliated broker-dealer, qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services (as such services are defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the U. S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934) for the Fund and/or other accounts for which OFI exercises "investment discretion" (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the U. S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to cause the Fund to pay such broker-dealers a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer adequately qualified to effect such transaction would have charged for effecting that transaction, if OFI determines, in good faith, that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of OFI with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion. In reaching such determination, OFI will not be required to place or attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and/or research services provided or being provided by such broker-dealer. In demonstrating that such determinations were made in good faith, OFI shall be prepared to show that all commissions were allocated for purposes contemplated by this Agreement and that the total commissions paid by the Fund over a representative period selected by the Fund's trustees were reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund.
(d) OFI shall have no duty or obligation to seek advance competitive bidding for the most favorable commission rate applicable to any particular portfolio transactions or to select any broker-dealer on the basis of its purported or "posted" commission rate but will, to the best of its ability, endeavor to be aware of the current level of the charges of eligible broker-dealers and to minimise the expense incurred by the Fund for effecting its portfolio transactions to the extent consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by the determinations of the Board of Directors of the Fund and the provisions of this paragraph 7.
(e) The Fund recognises that an affiliated broker-dealer: (i) may act as one of the Fund's regular brokers for the Fund so long as it is lawful for it so to act; (ii) may be a major recipient of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund; and (iii) may effect portfolio transactions for the Fund only if the commissions, fees or other remuneration received or to be received by it are determined in accordance with procedures contemplated by any rule, regulation or order adopted under the Investment Company Act for determining the permissible level of such commissions.
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8. |
Duration. |
This Agreement will take effect on the date first set forth above. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to paragraph 9 hereof, this Agreement shall remain in effect from year to year, so long as OFI remains the investment adviser for the Fund and for the Controlling Fund.
9. Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event that the Investment Advisory Agreement between OFI and the Controlling Fund is terminated. This Agreement may also be terminated (i) by OFI at any time without penalty upon sixty days' written notice to the Fund (which notice may be waived by the Fund); or (ii) by the Fund or the Controlling Fund at any time without penalty upon sixty days' written notice to OFI (which notice may be waived by OFI) provided that such termination by the Fund or the Controlling Fund, as the case may be, shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of all of the directors of the Fund or the Controlling Fund, as the case may be, then in office or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund or the Controlling Fund, as the case may be.
10. Notice.
Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party, with a copy to the Fund, at the addresses below or such other address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice.
If to OFI:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
2 World Financial Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
If to the Fund:
Xxxxxxxxxxx Global Strategic Income Fund/VA (Cayman) Ltd.
c/o M&C Corporate Services Limited
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
P.O. Box 309GT
Xxxxxx Town, Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
British West Indies
If to any party, copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxxx Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
11. Assignment or Amendment.
This Agreement may not be amended or the rights of OFI hereunder sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise in any manner encumbered without the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of the "majority" of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment," as defined in the Investment Company Act.
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12. |
Governing Law |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance, with the laws of the Colorado.
13. Definitions.
The terms and provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions and definitions contained in the Investment Company Act.
XXXXXXXXXXX GLOBAL STRATEGIC INCOME FUND/VA (CAYMAN) LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Director
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxx
Name: Xxxx Xxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
