INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made the ____ day of October, 1995, by and between
XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the ("Company"), and XXXXXXXXXXX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
(hereinafter referred to as "OMC").
WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end, diversified management investment
company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment
Company Act"), and OMC is an investment adviser registered as such with the
Commission under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Company desires that OMC shall act as its investment adviser
with respect to each Series 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 PROVISIONS:
The Company hereby employs OMC and OMC hereby undertakes to act as the
investment adviser of the Company in connection with and for the benefit of each
Series, including any Series hereafter created and to perform for the Company
such other duties and functions in connection with each Series for the period
and on such terms as set forth in this Agreement. OMC shall, in all matters,
give to the Company and its Board of Directors (the "Directors") the benefit of
its best judgement, effort, advice and recommendations and shall, at all times
conform to, and use its best efforts to enable the Company to conform to (i) the
provisions of the Investment Company Act and any rules or regulations
thereunder; (ii) any
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other applicable provisions of state or Federal law; (iii) the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company as amended from time to
time; (iv) policies and determinations of the Directors; (v) the fundamental
policies and investment restrictions of each Series as reflected in the
registration statement of the Company under the Investment Company Act or as
such policies may, from time to time, be amended and (vi) the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information of each Series in effect from time to time.
The appropriate officers and employees of OMC shall be available upon reasonable
notice for consultation with any of the Directors and officers of the Company
with respect to any matters dealing with the business and affairs of the Company
including the valuation of portfolio securities of the Company which are either
not registered for public sale or not traded on any securities market.
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT:
(a) OMC shall, subject to the direction and control by the Directors,
(i) regularly provide investment advise and recommendations to the Company with
respect to the investments, investment policies and the purchase and sale of
securities for each Series; (ii) supervise continuously the investment program
of each Series of the Company and the composition of its portfolio and determine
what securities shall be purchased or sold by; and(iii) arrange, subject to the
provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, for the purchase of securities and other
investments for each Series of the Company and the sale of securities and other
investments held in the portfolio of each Series.
(b) Provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any
compensation for services under this Agreement other than as provided by the
terms of the Agreement and subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, OMC
may obtain investment information,
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research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to supplement,
update or otherwise improve its investment management services including
entering into sub-advisory agreements with other affiliated or unaffiliated
registered investment advisors to obtain specialized services.
(c) Provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect OMC from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement, OMC shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of good
faith errors or omissions in connection with any matters to which this Agreement
relates.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent OMC or any entity
controlling, controlled by or under common control with OMC or any officer
thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or
corporation or in any way limit or restrict OMC or any of its directors,
officers, stockholders or employees from buying, selling or trading any
securities for its or their own account or for the account of others for whom it
or they may be acting, provided that such activities will not adversely affect
or otherwise impair the performance by OMC of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
3. OTHER DUTIES OF OMC:
OMC 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 Company, including the compilation
and maintenance of such records with respect to its operations as may reasonably
be required; the preparation and filing of such reports with respect thereto as
shall be required by the Commission; composition of periodic reports with
respect to operations of each Series of the Company for its shareholders;
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composition of proxy materials for meetings of the Company's shareholders; and
the composition of such registration statements as may be required by Federal
and state securities laws for continuous public sale of Shares of each Series
and the Company. OMC shall, at its own cost and expense, also provide the
Company with adequate office space, facilities and equipment. OMC shall, at its
own expense, provide such officers for the Company as the Board of Directors may
request.
4. ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES:
All other costs and expenses of the Fund not expressly assumed by OMC
under this Agreement, or to be paid by the Distributor of the Shares of the
Fund, shall be paid by the Fund, including, but not limited to: (i) interest,
taxes and governmental fees; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses
incurred in acquiring or disposing of the portfolio securities and other
investments of each Series; (iii) insurance premiums for fidelity and other
coverage requisite to its operations; (iv) compensation and expenses of its
Directors other than those affiliated with OMC; (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 the
registration under Federal and state securities laws of Shares of the Company
and Series for public sale; (x) expenses of printing and mailing reports,
notices and proxy materials to shareholders of the Company and each Series; (xi)
except as noted above, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the
Company's shareholders; and (xii) such extraordinary non-recurring expenses as
may arise, including litigation, affecting the Company or any Series thereof and
any legal obligation
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which the Company, or any Series of the Company, may have to indemnify its
officers and Directors with respect thereto. Any officers or employees of OMC
or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, OMC who
also serve as officers, Directors or employees of the Company shall not receive
any compensation from the Company or any Series thereof for their services.
5. COMPENSATION OF OMC:
The Company agrees to pay OMC and OMC 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 total net
asset value of each Series of the Company as of the close of each business day
and payable monthly at the annual rate for each Series set forth on Schedule A
hereto.
6. USE OF NAME "XXXXXXXXXXX" OR "QUEST FOR VALUE":
OMC hereby grants to the Company a royalty-free, non-exclusive license
to use the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" or "Quest For Value" in the name of the Company
for the duration of this Agreement and any extensions or renewals thereof. To
the extent necessary to protect OMC's rights to the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" or "Quest
For Value" under applicable law, such license shall allow OMC to inspect and,
subject to control by the Company's Board, control the nature and quality of
services offered by the Company under such name and may, upon termination of
this Agreement, be terminated by OMC, in which event the Company shall promptly
take whatever action may be necessary to change its name and discontinue any
further use of the name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" or "Quest For Value" in the name of the
Company or otherwise. The name "Xxxxxxxxxxx" and "Quest For Value" may be used
or licensed by OMC in connection with any of its activities, or licensed by OMC
to any other party.
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7. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE:
(a) OMC (and any Sub Advisor) is authorized, in arranging the
purchase and sale of the portfolio securities of each Series of the Company to
employ or deal with such members of securities or commodities exchanges, brokers
or dealers (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, at reasonable expense, the
"best execution" (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security
price obtainable) of the portfolio transactions of each Series of the Company 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 OMC of its investment management
functions.
(b) OMC (and any Sub Advisor) shall select broker-dealers to effect
the portfolio transactions of each Series of the Company 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 OMC (or any
Sub Advisor) 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
portfolio transactions of each Series of the Company by participating therein
for its own account; the importance to the Company 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 each Series of the Company.
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(c) OMC (and any Sub Advisor) shall have discretion, in the interest
of the Company and each Series, to allocate brokerage on the portfolio
transactions of each Series of the Company to broker-dealers, other than an
affiliated broker-dealers, 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934) for the
Fund and/or other accounts for which OMC or its affiliates (or any Sub Advisor)
exercise "investment discretion" (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to cause the Company or a Series to
pay such broker-dealers a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction for
the Company or a Series 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 OMC (or any Sub Advisor) 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
OMC or its affiliates (or any Sub Advisor) with respect to accounts as to which
they exercise investment discretion. In reaching such determination, OMC (or
any Sub Advisor) will not be required to place or attempt to place a specific
dollar value on the brokerage and for research services provided or being
provided by such broker-dealer. In demonstrating that such determinations were
made in good faith, OMC (and any Sub Advisor) shall be prepared to show that all
commissions were allocated for purposes contemplated by this Agreement and that
the total commissions paid by the Company and each Series over a representative
period selected by the Company's Directors were reasonable in relation to the
benefits to the Company and each Series.
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(d) OMC (or any Sub Advisor) 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 minimize the expense incurred by the
Company and each Series for effecting its portfolio transactions to the extent
consistent with the interests and policies of the Company and each Series as
established by the determinations of the Board of Directors of the Company and
the provisions of this paragraph 7.
(e) The Company recognizes that an affiliated broker-dealer: (i) may
act as one of the Company's regular brokers for the Company or a Series thereof
so long as it is lawful for it so to act; (ii) may be a major recipient of
brokerage commissions paid by the Company or a Series; and (iii) may effect
portfolio transactions for the Company or a Series thereof only if the
commissions, fees or other renumeration 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 determined the permissible
level of such commissions.
(f) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 7, OMC
(and any Sub Advisor) may also consider sales of Shares of the Company, each
Series thereof and the other funds advised by OMC and its affiliates as a
factor in the selection of broker-dealers for its portfolio transactions.
8. DURATION:
This Agreement will take effect on the date first set forth above.
Unless earlier terminated pursuant to paragraph 10 hereof, this Agreement shall
remain in effect from year to year, so long as such continuance shall be
approved at least annually by the Company's
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Board of Directors, including the vote of the majority of the Directors of the
Company who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or by the holders of
a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company, or each Series thereof, and by such a vote of
the Company's Board of Directors.
9. TERMINATION.
This Agreement may be terminated (i) by OMC at any time without
penalty upon sixty days' written notice to the Company (which notice may be
waived by the Company); or (ii) by the Company at any time without penalty upon
sixty days' written notice to OMC (which notice may be waived by OMC) provided
that such termination by the Company shall be directed or approved by the vote
of a majority of all of the Directors of the Company then in office or by the
vote of the holders of a "majority" of the outstanding voting securities of the
Company (as defined in the Investment Company Act).
10. ASSIGNMENT OR AMENDMENT:
This Agreement may not be amended or the rights of OMC 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 Company. This Agreement shall
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment," as
defined in the Investment Company Act.
11. DEFINITIONS:
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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.
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XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE
FUND, INC.
Attest: By:
-------------------- ---------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
XXXXXXXXXXX MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION
Attest: By:
-------------------- ------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Secretary Executive Vice President
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SCHEDULE A
TO
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC.
AND
XXXXXXXXXXX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
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NAME OF SERIES ANNUAL FEE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
DAILY TOTAL NET ASSETS
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Xxxxxxxxxxx/Quest For Value Fund, Inc. 1.00% of first $400 million of all
net assets
0.90% of next $400 million of all net
assets
0.85% of net assets over $800 million
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