LOCALSHARES INVESTMENT TRUST INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT
Exhibit (d)(1)
This Contract is made this 19th day of July, 2013, between LocalShares, Inc., a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business in Nashville, Tennessee (the “Adviser”), and LocalShares Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, having its principal place of business in Nashville, Tennessee (the “Trust”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and is registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 engaged in the business of rendering investment advisory and management services.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. The Trust hereby appoints Adviser as Investment Adviser for each of the portfolios (“Funds”) of the Trust which executes an exhibit to this Contract, and Adviser accepts the appointments. Subject to the direction of the Trustees, Adviser shall provide investment research and supervision of the investments of the Funds and conduct a continuous program of investment evaluation and of appropriate sale or other disposition and reinvestment of each Fund’s assets.
2. The Adviser, in its supervision of the investments of each of the Funds will be guided by each of the Fund’s investment objective and policies and the provisions and restrictions contained in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust and as set forth in the Registration Statement(s) and exhibits, and any exemptive orders as may be on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
3. The Adviser will be responsible for all expenses of the Funds, the costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, except for the following: (i) brokerage expenses and other expenses (such as stamp taxes) connected with the execution of portfolio transactions or in connection with creation and redemption transactions; (ii) legal fees or expenses in connection with any arbitration, litigation or pending or threatened arbitration or litigation, including any settlements in connection therewith; (iii) interest; (iv) taxes; (v) independent trustee fees and expenses; and (vi) extraordinary expenses.
4. Each of the Funds shall pay to Adviser, for all services rendered to each Fund by Adviser hereunder, the fees set forth in the exhibits attached hereto. The Adviser shall look exclusively to the assets of a Fund for payments of the Fund’s advisory fee.
5. The Adviser may from time to time and for such periods as it deems appropriate reduce its compensation (and, if appropriate, assume expenses of one or more of the Funds) to the extent that any Fund’s expenses exceed such lower expense limitation as the Adviser may, by notice to the Fund, voluntarily declare to be effective.
6. This Contract shall begin for each Fund as of the date of execution of the applicable exhibit and shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund presently set forth on an exhibit (and any subsequent Funds added pursuant to an exhibit during the initial term of this Contract) for two years from the date of this Contract set forth above and thereafter for successive periods of one year, subject to the provisions for termination and all of the other terms and conditions hereof if: (a) such continuation shall be specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose; and (b) Adviser shall not have notified a Fund in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to the anniversary date of this Contract in any year thereafter that it does not desire such continuation with respect to that Fund. If a Fund is added after the first approval by the Trustees as described above, this Contract will be effective as to that Fund upon execution of the applicable exhibit and will continue in effect until the next annual approval of this Contract by the Trustees and thereafter for successive periods of one year, subject to approval as described above.
7. Notwithstanding any provision in this Contract, it may be terminated at any time with respect to any Fund, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of the shareholders of that Fund on sixty (60) days’ written notice to Adviser.
8. This Contract may not be assigned by Adviser and shall automatically terminate in the event of any assignment. Adviser may employ or contract with such other person, persons, corporation, or corporations at its own cost and expense as it shall determine in order to assist it in carrying out this Contract. Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and approval of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, the Adviser may retain a sub-adviser to a Fund, including an affiliated person (as defined under the 0000 Xxx) of the Adviser, to perform some or all of the services for which the Adviser is responsible pursuant to this Agreement. The Adviser shall supervise the activities of the sub-adviser(s), and the retention of a sub-adviser by the Adviser shall not relieve the Adviser of its responsibilities under this Agreement. Any such sub-adviser shall be registered and in good standing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and capable of performing its sub-advisory duties. The Adviser will compensate the sub-adviser for its services to the Fund.
9. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the obligations or duties under this Contract on the part of Adviser, Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or to any of the Funds or to any shareholder for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with the performance of this Contract.
10. This Contract may be amended at any time by agreement of the parties provided that the amendment shall be approved both by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, and, where required by Section 15(a)(2) of the 1940 Act, on behalf of a Fund by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000 Xxx.
11. The Adviser acknowledges that all sales literature for investment companies (such as the Trust) are subject to strict regulatory oversight. The Adviser agrees to submit any proposed sales literature for the Trust (or any Fund) or for itself or its affiliates which mentions the Trust (or any Fund) to the Trust’s distributor for review and filing with the appropriate regulatory authorities prior to the public release of any such sales literature, provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed so as to create any obligation or duty on the part of the Adviser to produce sales literature for the Trust (or any Fund). The Trust agrees to cause its distributor to promptly review all such sales literature to ensure compliance with relevant requirements, to promptly advise Adviser of any deficiencies contained in such sales literature, to promptly file complying sales literature with the relevant authorities, and to cause such sales literature to be distributed to prospective investors in the Trust.
12. Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of liability as set forth in Article 9 of the Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations pursuant to this Contract of a particular Fund and of the Trust with respect to that particular Fund be limited solely to the assets of that particular Fund, and Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from any other Fund, the shareholders of any Fund, the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust, or any of them.
13. Adviser agrees to maintain the security and confidentiality of nonpublic personal information (“NPI”) of Fund customers and consumers, as those terms are defined in Xxxxxxxxxx X-X, 00 XXX Part 248. Adviser agrees to use and redisclose such NPI for the limited purposes of processing and servicing transactions; for specific law enforcement and miscellaneous purposes; and to service providers or in connection with joint marketing arrangements directed by the Fund(s), in each instance in furtherance of fulfilling Adviser’s obligations under this Contract and consistent with the exceptions provided in 17 CFR Sections 248.14, 248.15 and 248.13, respectively.
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14. The parties hereto acknowledge that Adviser has reserved the right to grant the non-exclusive use of the name “LocalShares Investment Trust” or any derivative thereof to any other investment company, investment company portfolio, investment adviser, distributor or other business enterprise, and to withdraw from the Trust and one or more of the Funds the use of the name “LocalShares Investment Trust.” The name “LocalShares Investment Trust” will continue to be used by the Trust and each Fund so long as such use is mutually agreeable to the Adviser and the Trust.
15. This Contract shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
16. This Contract will become binding on the parties hereto upon their execution of the attached exhibits to this Contract.
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EXHIBIT A
to the
Nashville Area ETF
For all services rendered by Adviser hereunder, the above-named Fund of the LocalShares Investment Trust shall pay to Adviser and Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation for all services rendered hereunder, an annual investment advisory fee equal to 0.65% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The portion of the fee based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund shall be accrued daily at the rate of 1/365th of 0.65% applied to the daily net assets of the Fund.
The advisory fee so accrued shall be paid to Adviser monthly.
Witness the due execution hereof this 19th day of July, 2013.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
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Name:
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
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Title:
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President & Treasurer | ||
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LocalShares, Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
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Name:
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer | ||
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LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, dated as of July 19, 2013, that LocalShares Investment Trust, a statutory trust duly organized under the laws of the state of Delaware (the “Trust”), does hereby nominate, constitute and appoint LocalShares, Inc. a corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Adviser”), to act hereunder as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the Trust, acting on behalf of each of the series portfolios for which the Adviser acts as investment adviser shown on Schedule 1 attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein (each such series portfolio being hereinafter referred to as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”), for the specific purpose of executing and delivering all such agreements, instruments, contracts, assignments, bond powers, stock powers, transfer instructions, receipts, waivers, consents and other documents, and performing all such acts, as the Adviser may deem necessary or reasonably desirable, related to the acquisition, disposition and/or reinvestment of the funds and assets of a Fund of the Trust in accordance with Adviser’s supervision of the investment, sale and reinvestment of the funds and assets of each Fund pursuant to the authority granted to the Adviser as investment adviser of each Fund under that certain investment advisory contract dated July __, 2013 by and between the Adviser and the Trust (such investment advisory contract, as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time is hereinafter referred to as the “Investment Advisory Contract”).
The Adviser shall exercise or omit to exercise the powers and authorities granted herein in each case as the Adviser in its sole and absolute discretion deems desirable or appropriate under existing circumstances. The Trust hereby ratifies and confirms as good and effectual, at law or in equity, all that the Adviser, and its officers and employees, may do by virtue hereof. However, despite the above provisions, nothing herein shall be construed as imposing a duty on the Adviser to act or assume responsibility for any matters referred to above or other matters even though the Adviser may have power or authority hereunder to do so. Nothing in this Limited Power of Attorney shall be construed (i) to be an amendment or modifications of, or supplement to, the Investment Advisory Contract, (ii) to amend, modify, limit or denigrate any duties, obligations or liabilities of the Adviser under the terms of the Investment Advisory Contract or (iii) exonerate, relieve or release the Adviser any losses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments and suits and other costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Adviser (x) under the terms of the Investment Advisory Contract or (y) at law, or in equity, for the performance of its duties as the investment adviser of any of the Funds.
The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Adviser and its trustees, officers and employees (each of the foregoing an “Indemnified Party” and collectively the “Indemnified Parties”) against and from any and all losses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments and suits and other costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against an Indemnified Party, other than as a consequence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Indemnified Party, arising out of or in connection with this Limited Power of Attorney or any other agreement, instrument or document executed in connection with the exercise of the authority granted to the Adviser herein to act on behalf of the Trust, including without limitation the reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements in connection with defending such Indemnified Party against any claim or liability related to the exercise or performance of any of the Adviser’s powers or duties under this Limited Power of Attorney or any of the other agreements, instruments or documents executed in connection with the exercise of the authority granted to the Adviser herein to act on behalf of the Trust, or the taking of any action under or in connection with any of the foregoing. The obligations of the Trust under this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Limited Power of Attorney with respect to actions taken by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust during the term of this Limited Power of Attorney. No Fund shall have any joint or several obligation with any other Fund to reimburse or indemnify an Indemnified Party for any action, event, matter or occurrence performed or omitted by or on behalf of the Adviser in its capacity as agent or attorney-in-fact of the Trust acting on behalf of any other Fund hereunder.
Any person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity dealing with the Adviser in its capacity as attorney-in-fact hereunder for the Trust is hereby expressly put on notice that the Adviser is acting solely in the capacity as an agent of the Trust and that any such person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity must look solely to the Trust in question for enforcement of any claim against the Trust, as the Adviser assumes no personal liability whatsoever for obligations of the Trust entered into by the Adviser in its capacity as attorney-in-fact for the Trust.
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Each person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity which deals with a Fund of the Trust through the Adviser in its capacity as agent and attorney-in-fact of the Trust, is hereby expressly put on notice (i) that all persons or entities dealing with the Trust must look solely to the assets of the Fund of the Trust on whose behalf the Adviser is acting pursuant to its powers hereunder for enforcement of any claim against the Trust, as the Trustees, officers and/or agents of such Trust, the shareholders of the various classes of shares of the Trust and the other Funds of the Trust assume no personal liability whatsoever for obligations entered into on behalf of such Fund of the Trust, and (ii) that the rights, liabilities and obligations of any one Fund are separate and distinct from those of any other Fund of the Trust.
The execution of this Limited Power of Attorney by the Trust acting on behalf of the several Funds shall not be deemed to evidence the existence of any express or implied joint undertaking or appointment by and among any or all of the Funds. Liability for or recourse under or upon any undertaking of the Adviser pursuant to the power or authority granted to the Adviser under this Limited Power of Attorney under any rule of law, statute or constitution or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or by legal or equitable proceedings or otherwise shall be limited only to the assets of the Fund of the Trust on whose behalf the Adviser was acting pursuant to the authority granted hereunder.
The Trust hereby agrees that no person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity dealing with the Adviser shall be bound to inquire into the Adviser's power and authority hereunder and any such person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity shall be fully protected in relying on such power or authority unless such person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity has received prior written notice from the Trust that this Limited Power of Attorney has been revoked. This Limited Power of Attorney shall be revoked and terminated automatically upon the cancellation or termination of the Investment Advisory Contract between the Trust and the Adviser. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the powers and authorities herein granted may be revoked or terminated by the Trust at any time provided that no such revocation or termination shall be effective until the Adviser has received actual notice of such revocation or termination in writing from the Trust.
This Limited Power of Attorney constitutes the entire agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, may be changed only by a writing signed by both of them, and shall bind and benefit their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, the Adviser shall have no power or authority hereunder to appoint a successor or substitute attorney in fact for the Trust.
This Limited Power of Attorney shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to principles of conflicts of laws. If any provision hereof, or any power or authority conferred upon the Adviser herein, would be invalid or unexercisable under applicable law, then such provision, power or authority shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to render it valid or exercisable while most nearly preserving its original intent, and no provision hereof, or power or authority conferred upon the Adviser herein, shall be affected by the invalidity or the non-exercisability of another provision hereof, or of another power or authority conferred herein.
This Limited Power of Attorney may be executed in as many identical counterparts as may be convenient and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts. This Limited Power of Attorney shall become binding on the Trust when the Trust shall have executed at least one counterpart and the Adviser shall have accepted its appointment by executing this Limited Power of Attorney. Immediately after the execution of a counterpart original of this Limited Power of Attorney and solely for the convenience of the parties hereto, the Trust and the Adviser will execute sufficient counterparts so that the Adviser shall have a counterpart executed by it and the Trust, and the Trust shall have a counterpart executed by the Trust and the Adviser. Each counterpart shall be deemed an original and all such taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Limited Power of Attorney to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||
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Name:
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||
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Title:
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President & Treasurer | ||||
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Accepted and agreed to this July 19, 2013
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LocalShares, Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||
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Name:
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer | ||||
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Schedule 1
to Limited Power of Attorney
dated as of July 19, 2013
(the “Trust”), acting on
behalf of each of the series portfolios
listed below, and appointing
LocalShares, Inc.
the attorney-in-fact of the
Trust
List of Series Portfolios
Nashville Area ETF
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