SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
October 9, 2002
Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited
Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XXXXXX XXX 0000
Dear Sir/Madam:
Credit Suisse Trust (the "Fund"), a business trust organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with respect to its Global Technology
Portfolio, a duly organized series thereof (the "Portfolio"), and Credit Suisse
Asset Management, LLC, as investment adviser to the Fund ("CSAM"), herewith
confirms their agreement with Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited
(the "Sub-Adviser"), a company registered under the laws of the State of
Victoria, Australia, as follows:
1. Investment Description; Appointment
The Fund desires to employ the capital of the Portfolio by investing and
reinvesting in securities of the kind and in accordance with the limitations
specified in the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as may be amended
from time to time (the "Agreement and Declaration of Trust"), and in the
Portfolio's Prospectus(es) and Statement(s) of Additional Information, as from
time to time in effect (the "Prospectus" and "SAI," respectively) and in such
manner and to such extent as may from time to time be approved by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund. Copies of the Prospectus, SAI and Agreement and
Declaration of Trust have been or will be submitted to the Sub-Adviser. The
Fund agrees to promptly provide the Sub-Adviser with copies of all amendments to
the Prospectus and SAI on an on-going basis. The Fund employs CSAM as its
investment adviser. CSAM desires to employ and hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser
to act as its sub-investment adviser with respect to the Portfolio upon the
terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts the appointment and
agrees to furnish the services set forth below for the compensation provided for
herein.
2. Services as Sub-Investment Adviser
(a) Subject to the supervision and direction of CSAM, the Sub-Adviser will
provide investment advisory and portfolio management advice to all or that
portion of the Portfolio's assets designated by CSAM from time to time (the
"Assets") in accordance with (a) the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, (b)
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and all
applicable Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") and all other applicable laws and regulations, and (c) the Portfolio's
investment objective and policies as stated in the Prospectus and SAI and
investment parameters provided by CSAM from time to time. In connection
therewith, the Sub-Adviser will:
(i) manage the Assets or furnish recommendations to manage the
Assets in accordance with the Portfolio's investment objective and policies;
(ii) make investment decisions or recommendations with respect to the
Assets;
(iii) if requested by CSAM will place purchase and sale orders for
securities on behalf of the Portfolio with respect to the Assets;
(iv) exercise voting rights with respect to the Assets if requested
by CSAM; and
(v) furnish CSAM and the Fund's Board of Trustees with such periodic
and special reports as the Fund or CSAM may reasonably request.
In providing those services, the Sub-Adviser will, if requested by CSAM, provide
investment research and supervision of the Assets and conduct a continued
program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and reinvestment of
the Assets.
(b) In connection with the performance of the services of the Sub-Adviser
provided for herein, the Sub-Adviser may contract at its own expense with third
parties for the acquisition of research, clerical services and other
administrative services that would not require such parties to be required to
register as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act; provided that the
Sub-Adviser shall remain liable for the performance of its duties hereunder.
3. Execution of Transactions
(a) In executing transactions for the Assets, selecting brokers or dealers
and negotiating any brokerage commission rates, the Sub-Adviser will use its
best efforts to seek the best overall terms available. In assessing the best
overall terms available for any portfolio transaction, the Sub-Adviser will
consider all factors it deems relevant including, but not limited to, the
breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial
condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer and the
reasonableness of any commission for the specific transaction and for
transactions executed through the broker or dealer in the aggregate. In
selecting brokers or dealers to execute a particular transaction and in
evaluating the best overall terms available, to the extent that the execution
and price offered by more than one broker or dealer are comparable the
Sub-Adviser may consider any brokerage and research services (as those terms
are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided
to the Sub-Adviser or to CSAM for use on behalf of the Fund or other clients of
the Sub-Adviser or CSAM.
(b) It is understood that the services of the Sub-Adviser are not
exclusive, and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Sub-Adviser from
providing similar services to other investment companies or from engaging in
other activities, provided that those activities do not adversely affect the
ability of the Sub-Adviser to perform its services under this Agreement. The
Fund and CSAM further understand and acknowledge that the persons employed by
the Sub-Adviser to assist in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
will not devote their full time to that service. Nothing contained in this
Agreement will be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the Sub-Adviser or
any affiliate of the Sub-Adviser to engage in and devote time and attention to
other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or nature, provided that
doing so does not adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to perform its
services under this Agreement.
(c) On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a
security to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as of other
investment advisory clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the
extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but shall not be obligated
to, aggregate the securities to be so sold or purchased with those of its other
clients. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as
well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the
Sub-Adviser in a manner that is fair and equitable, in the judgment of the
Sub-Adviser, in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio and
to such other clients. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to CSAM and the Fund all
information reasonably requested by CSAM and the Fund relating to the decisions
made by the Sub-Adviser regarding allocation of securities purchased or sold, as
well as the expenses incurred in a transaction, among the Portfolio and the
Sub-Adviser's other investment advisory clients.
(d) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the
Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser will provide such information as may be reasonably
necessary to enable the custodian and co-administrators to perform their
administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Fund.
4. Disclosure Regarding the Sub-Adviser
(a) The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser
contained in the Fund's registration statement and represents and warrants that,
with respect to such disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or information related,
directly or indirectly, to the Sub-Adviser, such registration statement
contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and
does not omit any statement of a material fact which is required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees to notify CSAM and the Fund promptly of (i) any
statement about the Sub-Adviser contained in the Fund's registration statement
that becomes untrue in any material respect, (ii) any omission of a material
fact about the Sub-Adviser in the Fund's registration statement which is
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading, or (iii) any reorganization or change in the
Sub-Adviser, including any change in its ownership or key employees.
(c) Prior to the Fund or CSAM or any affiliated person (as defined in the
1940 Act, an "Affiliate") of either using or distributing sales literature or
other promotional material referring to the Sub-Adviser ("Promotional
Material"), the Fund or CSAM, where applicable, shall forward such material to
the Sub-Adviser and shall allow the Sub-Adviser reasonable time to review the
material. The Sub-Adviser will not act unreasonably in its review of
Promotional Material and the Fund or CSAM, where applicable, will use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that all Promotional Material used or distributed
by or on behalf of the Fund or CSAM will comply with the requirements of the
Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) The Sub-Adviser has supplied CSAM and the Fund copies of its Form ADV
with all exhibits and attachments thereto and will hereinafter supply CSAM and
the Fund, promptly upon preparation thereof, copies of all amendments or
restatements of such document.
5. Representations and Warranties
5.1 The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants that:
(a) it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, a
duly registered investment adviser in any and all states of the United States
in which the Sub-Adviser is required to be so registered and has obtained all
necessary licenses and approvals in order to perform the services provided in
this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser covenants to maintain all necessary
registrations, licenses and approvals in effect during the term of this
Agreement.
(b) it has read and understands the Prospectus and SAI and warrants that in
investing the Portfolio's assets it will use all reasonable efforts to adhere to
the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and restrictions contained
therein.
(c) it has adopted a written Code of Ethics in compliance with Rule 17j-1
under the 1940 Act and will provide the Fund with any amendments to such Code.
5.2 The Fund represents and warrants that:
(a) it has full power to enter into the terms of this Agreement and to enter
into transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that its entry into the
Agreement nor the exercise by the Sub-Adviser of its discretions or powers
under this Agreement will result in any default under any contract or other
agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party, or any statute or rule,
regulation or order of any governmental agency or body applicable to the Fund.
(b) information which has been provided to the Sub-Adviser in relation to
the Fund's status, residence and domicile for taxation purposes is complete and
correct, and the Fund agrees to provide any further information properly
required by any competent authority.
(c) it will notify the Sub-Adviser promptly if there is any material change
in any of the above information and will provide such other relevant information
as the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request in order to fulfill its regulatory
and contractual obligations. The Fund acknowledges that a failure to provide
such information may adversely affect the quality of the services that the
Sub-Adviser may provide.
5.3 CSAM represents and warrants that:
it has full power to enter into the terms of this Agreement and to enter into
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that neither its entry into the
Agreement nor the exercise by the Sub-Adviser of its discretions or powers
under this Agreement will result in any default under any contract or other
agreement or instrument to which CSAM is a party, or any statute or rule,
regulation or order of any governmental agency or body applicable to CSAM.
6. Compliance
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify CSAM and the Fund
(i) in the event that the SEC or any other regulatory authority has censured its
activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked its registration as an
investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may
result in any of these actions, (ii) in the event that there is a change in the
Sub-Adviser, financial or otherwise, that adversely affects its ability to
perform services under this Agreement or (iii) upon having a reasonable basis
for believing that, as a result of the Sub-Adviser's investing the Portfolio's
assets, the Portfolio's investment portfolio has ceased to adhere to the
Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the
Prospectus or SAI or is otherwise in violation of applicable law.
(b) CSAM agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser in the event
that the SEC has censured CSAM or the Fund; placed limitations upon any of their
activities, functions or operations; suspended or revoked CSAM's registration as
an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings or an investigation that may
result in any of these actions.
(c) The Fund and CSAM shall be given access to the records with respect to
the Portfolio of the Sub-Adviser at reasonable times solely for the purpose of
monitoring compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the rules and
regulations applicable to the Sub-Adviser relating to its providing investment
advisory services to the Portfolio, including without limitation records
relating to trading by employees of the Sub-Adviser for their own accounts and
on behalf of other clients, provided that such access does not constitute a
breach of any obligation of client confidentiality to which the Sub-Adviser is
bound. The Sub-Adviser agrees to cooperate with the Fund and CSAM and their
representatives in connection with any such monitoring efforts.
7. Books and Records
(a) In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act,
the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund
or the Portfolio are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender
promptly to the Fund any of such upon request. The Sub-Adviser further agrees
to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the
records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to
preserve the records required by Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act for the
period specified therein.
(b) The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to furnish to regulatory authorities
having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with
services that the Sub-Adviser renders pursuant to this Agreement which may be
requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Portfolio are
being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
8. Provision of Information; Proprietary and Confidential Information
(a) CSAM agrees that it will furnish to the Sub-Adviser information related
to or concerning the Fund or the Portfolio that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably
request.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund all records and other
information relative to the Fund or the Portfolio, CSAM and prior, present or
potential shareholders and not to use such records and information for any
purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder
except, where practicable, after prior notification to and approval in writing
of the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where the Sub-Adviser may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to comply or when requested to divulge such information
by duly constituted authorities.
(c) The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants that neither it nor any
affiliate will use the name of the Fund or the Portfolio, CSAM or any of their
affiliates in any prospectus, sales literature or other material in any manner
without the prior written approval of the Fund or CSAM, as applicable.
9. Standard of Care
The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the services
described herein. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or CSAM in connection
with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except that the Sub-Adviser
shall be liable for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty by the
Sub-Adviser with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; provided
that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect or purport to protect the
Sub-Adviser against any liability to the Fund or CSAM or to shareholders of the
Fund to which the Sub-Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its
duties or by reason of the Sub-Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations
and duties under this Agreement. The Fund and CSAM understand and agree that
the Sub-Adviser may rely upon information furnished to it reasonably believed by
the Sub-Adviser to be accurate and reliable and, except as herein provided, the
Sub-Adviser shall not be accountable for loss suffered by the Fund or the
Portfolio by reason of such reliance of the Sub-Adviser.
10. Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, CSAM will
pay the Sub-Adviser such amounts as the parties may agree upon from time to time
as set forth on Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
11. Expenses
(a) The Sub-Adviser will bear all expenses in connection with the
performance of its services under this Agreement, which shall not include the
Fund's expenses listed in paragraph 11(b).
(b) The Fund will bear certain other expenses to be incurred in its
operation, including: investment advisory and administration fees; taxes,
interest, brokerage fees and commissions, if any; fees of Trustees of the Fund
who are not officers, directors, or employees of CSAM or the Sub-Adviser or
affiliates of any of them; fees of any pricing service employed to value shares
of the Fund; SEC fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees and any foreign
qualification fees; charges of custodians and transfer and dividend disbursing
agents; the Fund's proportionate share of insurance premiums; outside auditing
and legal expenses; costs of maintenance of the Fund's existence; costs
attributable to investor services, including, without limitation, telephone and
personnel expenses: costs of preparing and printing prospectuses and statements
of additional information for regulatory purposes and for distribution to
existing shareholders; costs of shareholders' reports and meetings of the
shareholders of the Fund and of the officers or Board of Trustees of the Fund;
and any extraordinary expenses.
12. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall commence on the date first written above and shall
continue for an initial two-year period commencing on the date first written
above, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual
periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by
(a) the Board of Trustees of the Fund or (b) a vote of a "majority" (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, provided that
in either event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Board of
Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined the 0000 Xxx) of any party
to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval. This Agreement is terminable, without penalty, (i) by
CSAM on 60 (sixty) days' written notice to the Fund and the Sub-Adviser, (ii) by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by vote of holders of a majority of the
Portfolio's shares on 60 (sixty) days' written notice to CSAM and the
Sub-Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Adviser upon 60 (sixty) days' written notice to
the Fund and CSAM. This Agreement will also terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) by any party hereto. In
the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, all records relating
to the Fund or the Portfolio kept by the Sub-Adviser shall promptly be returned
to CSAM or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such records
by the Sub-Adviser. In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved
in the foregoing manner, the provisions contained in paragraph numbers 4(c), 7,
8 and 9 shall remain in effect.
13. Amendments
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no
amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by an affirmative
vote of (a) the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Portfolio and (b) the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of
Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the
Fund or of either party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required
by applicable law.
14. Notices
14.1 All communications hereunder shall be given (a) if to the Sub-Adviser,
to Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited, Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
telephone: 000-0000-0000 facsimile: 000-0000-0000, email,
xxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx (b) if to CSAM, to Credit Suisse Asset Management,
LLC, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 3147 (Attention: Xxx
Xxxxxx), telephone: (000) 000-0000, telecopy: (000) 000-0000, and (c) if to the
Fund, c/o Credit Suisse Funds, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000-0000, telephone: (000) 000-0000, telecopy: (000) 000-0000 (Attention:
President).
14.2 The Sub-Adviser may rely on, and act without further enquiry upon, any
instruction, notice or request of any person(s) who is or who the Sub-Adviser
reasonably believes in good faith to be person(s) designated by CSAM or the
Fund to give such instruction, notice or request, and further provided that
such instruction, notice or request is made in writing and sent by original
signed letter, facsimile or electronic means in accordance with the provisions
of Clause 14.1.
14.3 CSAM and the Fund will provide a list of person(s) who are authorized to
give instructions and sign documents and take other actions in respect of the
Assets. CSAM or the Fund shall notify the Sub-Adviser promptly of any amendment
to such list and provide specimen signatures of new signatories, and the
Sub-Adviser shall accept any such amendments.
15. Choice of Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of the State of New York in the United States, including choice of law
principles; provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or any applicable rules,
regulations or orders of the SEC.
16. Miscellaneous
(a) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in
no way define or limit any of the provisions herein or otherwise affect their
construction or effect.
(b) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, by statute or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall
not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed to be severable.
(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to make the Sub-Adviser an agent of
CSAM or the Fund.
(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, with the same effect as
if the signatures were upon the same instrument.
17. Limitation of Liability
It is expressly agreed that this Agreement was executed by or on behalf of the
Fund and not by the Trustees of the Fund or its officers individually, and the
obligations of the Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees,
shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund individually,
but bind only the assets and property of the Fund, as provided in the Agreement
and Declaration of Trust of the Fund. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees and the sole shareholder of the
Portfolio and signed by an authorized officer of the Fund, acting as such, and
neither such authorization by such Trustees and shareholder nor such execution
and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of then
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall
bind only the trust property of the Fund as provided in its Agreement and
Declaration of Trust.
******************
[signature page follows]
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding by
indicating your acceptance hereof at the place below indicated, whereupon it
shall become a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/Xxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
CREDIT SUISSE TRUST on behalf of its
GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO
By: /s/Xxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET
MANAGEMENT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED,
ABN 57 007 305 384, in accordance with its Articles of Association
By: /s/Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director/Secretary
[SEAL]
SCHEDULE A
CSAM will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee of $480,000 (the "Total Fee"), one quarter
of which shall be payable in U.S. dollars in arrears on the last business day of
each calendar quarter. The fee for the first period during which this Agreement
is in effect shall be pro-rated for the portion of the calendar quarter that the
Agreement is in effect. The Total Fee shall be an aggregate fee paid for
services rendered with respect to this Fund and such other Credit Suisse Funds
for which the Sub-Adviser has been appointed as such and which CSAM and the Sub
Adviser agree will be governed by this fee schedule.
The portion of the Total Fee allocable with respect to the Fund for any calendar
quarter or portion thereof is equal to the product of (a) the Total Fee and (b)
a fraction: (i) the numerator of which is the average monthly net assets of the
Fund during such calendar quarter or portion thereof and (ii) the denominator
of which is the sum of the total aggregate average monthly net assets of the
Fund and other registered investment companies for which the Sub-Adviser has
been appointed as such during such calendar quarter or portion thereof.
