SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99(d)(15)
This Agreement is made as of May 1, 2014, by and between Ohio National Investments, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Adviser”), and Janus Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”).
WHEREAS, Ohio National Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), is a Maryland corporation that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (together with the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (together with the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, the “Advisers Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser has been appointed as investment adviser to the Fund in accordance with the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act; and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and engages in the business of providing investment advisory services; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has authorized the Adviser to appoint the Sub-Adviser, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, as one of the sub-advisers with respect to those portions of the assets of the Fund designated as the Risk Managed Balanced Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of the Fund on the terms and conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
SECTION 1. Investment Advisory Services
(a) The Adviser hereby retains the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser hereby accepts engagement by the Adviser, to supervise and manage on a fully-discretionary basis the cash, securities and other assets of the Portfolio that the Adviser shall from time to time place under the supervision of the Sub-Adviser (such cash, securities and other assets initially and as same shall thereafter be increased or decreased by the investment performance thereof and by additions thereto and withdrawals therefrom by the Adviser shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Balanced Component”). The Portfolio’s allocation between the Balanced Component and the remaining assets of the Portfolio (the “Risk Management Component”) will be monitored by the Adviser and the sub-adviser to the Risk Management Component. The Sub-Adviser shall assist the Adviser and the sub-adviser to the Risk Management Component in managing the periodic rebalancing between the components as detailed in the Fund prospectus. The Fund is the owner of all cash, securities and other assets of the Portfolio, and there are no restrictions on the pledge, hypothecation, transfer or sale of such cash, securities or assets. To enable the Sub-Adviser to exercise fully its discretion hereunder, the Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as agent and Attorney-in-Fact for the Balanced Component of the Portfolio with full authority to buy, sell and otherwise deal in securities and other intangible investments and contracts relating to the same for the Portfolio.
(b) All activities by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Adviser and the Portfolio shall be in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the 1940 Act and in the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended from time to time (together, the “Prospectus”) and as interpreted from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Fund and by the Adviser (as communicated to the Sub-Adviser in writing by the Fund or the Adviser). All activities of the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Adviser and the Portfolio shall also be subject to the due diligence oversight and direction of the Adviser.
(c) Subject to the supervision of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility to select members of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and futures commission merchants for the execution of transactions of the Balanced Component of the Portfolio and, when applicable, shall negotiate commissions and trading agreements in connection therewith. All such selections shall be made in accordance with the Fund’s policies and restrictions regarding brokerage allocation set forth in the Prospectus and in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s best execution policies. The Sub-Adviser may, on behalf of the Balanced Component of the Portfolio, pay brokerage commissions to a broker which provides brokerage and research services to the Sub-Adviser in excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting the transaction, provided (i) the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the executing broker in terms of the particular transactions or in terms of the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Portfolio and the accounts as to which the Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion, (ii) such payment is made in compliance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other applicable laws and regulations, and (iii) in the opinion of the Sub-Adviser, the total commissions paid by the Portfolio will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Portfolio over the long term. It is recognized that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in connection with the Sub-Adviser’s services to other clients. The Adviser shall provide such assistance in setting up brokerage or other accounts as the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request.
(d) In carrying out its obligations to manage the investments and reinvestments of the Balanced Component of the Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser shall:
| (1) | obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial and other information affecting sectors and industries and the individual companies included in the Balanced Component of the Portfolio or under consideration for inclusion therein; |
| (2) | formulate and implement a continuous investment program for the Balanced Component of the Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related investment policies and restrictions for the Portfolio as set forth in the Prospectus; |
| (3) | take such steps as are necessary to implement the aforementioned investment program by placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities; and |
| (4) | coordinate with the Adviser and the sub-adviser to the Risk Management Component of the Portfolio to assure compliance with the Prospectus, qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and compliance with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code. |
(e) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities of the Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser shall arrange for the transmission to the Adviser and the Portfolio’s custodian on a daily basis such confirmation, trade tickets and other documents as may be necessary to enable them to perform their administrative responsibilities with respect to the Portfolio. With respect to Portfolio securities to be purchased or sold through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Adviser shall arrange for the automatic transmission of the I.D. confirmation of the trade to the Portfolio’s custodian.
(f) In connection with the placement of orders for the execution of the Portfolio’s securities transactions, the Sub-Adviser shall create and maintain all necessary records of the Portfolio as are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company including, but not limited to, records required by the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act. All such records pertaining to the Portfolio shall be the property of the Fund and shall be available for inspection and use by the Securities and Exchange Commission, any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction, the Fund, the Adviser or any person retained by the Fund or the Adviser. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by the Sub-Adviser for the period and in the place required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
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(g) The Sub-Adviser shall render such reports to the Adviser and/or to the Board of Directors of the Fund concerning the investment activity and composition of the Balanced Component, and the Portfolio as a whole, in such form and at such intervals as the Adviser or the Board may from time to time reasonably require.
(h) In acting under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall be an independent contractor and not an agent of the Adviser, the other sub-adviser or the Fund.
(i) The Portfolio assets shall be maintained in the custody of the custodian. Any assets added to the Portfolio shall be delivered directly to such custodian. The sub-Adviser shall have no responsibility for the segregation requirement of the 1940 Act or other applicable law.
(j) The Sub-Adviser makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be achieved by the Portfolio or that the Portfolio will perform comparably with any standard of index, including other clients of the sub-Adviser, whether public or private.
SECTION 2. Expenses
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall assume and pay all of its own costs and expenses, including those for furnishing such office space, office equipment, office personnel and office services as the Sub-Adviser may require in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.
(b) The Fund shall bear all expenses of the Portfolio’s organization and registration, and the Fund and Adviser shall bear all of their respective expenses of their operations and businesses not expressly assumed or agreed to be paid by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Fund shall pay any fees due to the Adviser, all interest, taxes, governmental charges or duties, fees, brokerage and commissions of every kind arising hereunder or in connection herewith, expenses of transactions with shareholders of the Portfolio, expenses of offering interests in the Portfolio for sale, insurance, association membership dues, all charges of custodians (including fees as custodian and for keeping books, performing portfolio valuations and rendering other services to the Fund), independent auditors and legal counsel, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing all prospectuses, proxy and class action material, reports and notices to shareholders of the Fund, and all other costs incident to the Portfolio’s existence.
SECTION 3. Use of Services of Others
The Sub-Adviser may (at its expense except as set forth in Section 2 hereof) employ, retain or otherwise avail itself of the services or facilities of other persons or organizations for the purpose of providing the Sub-Adviser with such statistical or factual information, such advice regarding economic factors and trends or such other information, advice or assistance as the Sub-Adviser may deem necessary, appropriate or convenient for the discharge of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations hereunder or otherwise helpful to the Fund and the Portfolio.
SECTION 4. Sub-Advisory Fees
In consideration of the Sub-Adviser’s services to the Fund hereunder, the Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to sub-advisory fees, payable monthly, at the annual rate 0.35% of the first five hundred million dollars ($500 million) of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio, and 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio in excess of five hundred million dollars ($500 million) (the “Sub-Advisory Fees”). The Sub-
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Advisory Fees shall be accrued for each calendar day and the sum of the daily Sub-Advisory Fees accruals shall be paid monthly to the Sub-Adviser on or before the fifth business day of the next succeeding month. The daily fee accruals will be computed on the basis of the valuations of the total net assets of the Portfolio as of the close of business each day. The Sub-Advisory Fees shall be payable solely by the Adviser, and the Fund shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser for any unpaid Sub-Advisory Fees.
SECTION 5. Limitation of Liability of Sub-Adviser
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall be liable for losses resulting from its own acts or omissions caused by the Sub-Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or its reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement, and nothing herein shall protect the Sub-Adviser against any such liability to the shareholders of the Fund or to the Adviser. Except as provided in the previous sentence, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund or to the Adviser for any claim or loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties under this Agreement, or for any loss or damage resulting from the imposition by any government of exchange control restrictions which might affect the liquidity of the Fund’s assets maintained with custodians or securities depositories in foreign countries, or from any political acts of any foreign governments to which such assets might be exposed, or for any tax of any kind (other than taxes on the Sub-Adviser’s income), including without limitation any statutory, governmental, state, provincial, regional, local or municipal imposition, duty, contribution or levy imposed by any government or governmental agency upon or with respect to such assets or income earned with respect thereto (collectively “Taxation”). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and the provisions of Section 5(b), the Sub-Adviser shall be liable for taxes or tax penalties incurred by the Fund for, and shall indemnify the Fund and hold it harmless from and against, any failure of the Portfolio to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M, or to meet the diversification requirements of Section 817(h), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the extent resulting from the Sub-Adviser’s management of the Balanced Component of the Portfolio.
(b) In the event the Sub-Adviser is assessed any Taxation in respect of the assets, income or activities of the Portfolio, the Adviser and the Fund jointly will indemnify the Sub-Adviser for all such amounts wherever imposed, together with all penalties, charges, costs and interest relating thereto and all expenditures, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the defense or settlement of any such assessment. The Sub-Adviser shall undertake and control the defense or settlement of any such assessment, including the selection of counsel or other professional advisers, provided that the selection of such counsel and advisers and the settlement of any assessment shall be subject to the approval of the Adviser and the Fund, which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Adviser and the Fund shall have the right to retain separate counsel and assume the defense or settlement on behalf of the Adviser and the Fund, as the case may be, of any such assessment if representation of the Adviser and the Fund by counsel selected by the Sub-Adviser would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest.
SECTION 6. Services to Other Clients and the Fund
(a) Subject to compliance with the 1940 Act, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliated persons from acting, and being separately compensated for acting, in one or more capacities on behalf of the Fund. The Adviser and the Fund understand that the Sub-Adviser may act as investment manager or in other capacities on behalf of other customers including entities registered under the 1940 Act.
(b) While information, recommendations and actions which the Sub-Adviser supplies to and does on behalf of the Portfolio shall in the Sub-Adviser’s judgment be appropriate under the circumstances in light of the investment objectives and policies of the Fund, as set forth in the Prospectus delivered to the Sub-Adviser from time to time, it is understood and agreed that they may be different from the information,
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recommendations and actions the Sub-Adviser or its affiliated persons supply to or do on behalf of other clients. The Sub-Adviser and its affiliated persons shall supply information, recommendations and any other services to the Portfolio and to any other client in an impartial and fair manner in order to seek good results for all clients involved. As used herein, the term “affiliated person” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the 1940 Act.
(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 other customers, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, aggregate the securities to be so sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution or lower brokerage commissions, if any. The Sub-Adviser may also on occasion purchase or sell a particular security for one or more customers in different amounts. On either occasion, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, 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 the manner it considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other customers.
(d) The Sub-Adviser agrees to use the same skill and care in providing services to the Fund as it uses in providing services to other similar accounts for which it has investment responsibility. The Sub-Adviser will conform with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECTION 7. Reports to the Sub-Adviser
The Adviser shall furnish to the Sub-Adviser the Prospectus, proxy statements, reports and other information relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as the Sub-Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge the Sub-Adviser’s duties under this Agreement.
SECTION 8. Proxies and Class Actions
The Adviser shall vote proxies for securities held by the Fund in accordance with the Adviser’s policies for proxy voting. The Adviser agrees it shall provide the Sub-Adviser a copy of the Adviser’s policies upon written request.
The Adviser acknowledges and agrees that the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for taking any action or rendering advice with respect to any class action claim relating to any assets held in the Balanced Component of the Portfolio. The Adviser will instruct the applicable service providers not to forward to the Sub-Adviser any information concerning such actions. The Sub-Adviser will, however, forward to the Adviser any information it receives regarding any legal matters involving any asset held in the Balanced Component of the Portfolio.
SECTION 9. Term of Agreement
Provided that this Agreement shall have first been approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the members thereof who are not interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of either party, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval, then this Agreement shall be effective on the date hereof for an initial term of two (2) years. This Agreement shall thereafter continue in effect from year to year, subject to approval annually by the Board of Directors of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the voting securities of the Portfolio and also, in either event, by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any such person.
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SECTION 10. Termination of Agreement; Assignment
(a) This Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser without the payment of any penalty, upon 90 days’ prior notice in writing to the other party and to the Fund, or upon 60 days’ written notice by the Fund to the two parties; provided, that in the case of termination by the Fund such action shall have been authorized by resolution of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the voting securities of the Portfolio. In addition, this Agreement shall terminate upon the later of (1) the termination of the Adviser’s agreement to provide investment advisory services to the Portfolio or (2) notice to the Sub-Adviser that the Adviser’s agreement to provide investment advisory services to the Portfolio has terminated.
(b) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
(c) Termination of this Agreement for any reason shall not affect rights of the parties that have accrued prior thereto.
SECTION 11. Notices
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) any change in the Portfolio’s portfolio manager; (2) the Sub-Adviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Sub-Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (3) the Sub-Adviser is the subject of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Portfolio; or (4) any proposed change in control of the Sub-Adviser.
(b) Any notice given hereunder shall be in writing and may be served by being sent by telex, facsimile or other electronic transmission or sent by registered mail or by courier to the address set forth below for the party for which it is intended. A notice served by mail shall be deemed to have been served seven days after mailing and in the case of telex, facsimile or other electronic transmission twelve hours after dispatch thereof. Addresses for notice may be changed by written notice to the other party.
If to the Adviser:
Ohio National Investments, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Fax No. (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President
Ohio National Investments, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Janus Capital Management LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
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SECTION 12. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and subject to the requirements of the laws of the State of Ohio without reference to the choice of law provisions thereof.
SECTION 13. Applicable Provisions of Law
The Agreement shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, and to the extent that any provisions herein contained conflict with any such applicable provisions of law, the latter shall control. The parties agree to comply with all applicable law in connection with the performance of this Agreement.
SECTION 14. Counterparts
This Agreement may be entered into in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
SECTION 15. Confidentiality and Use of Name
Subject to the duties of the Adviser, the Fund and the Sub-Adviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and the actions of the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof.
The Adviser will not, directly or indirectly, and will not permit its affiliates, employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors the Sub-Adviser to the Risk Management Component, or the Portfolio to, in any form or by any means, use disclose, or furnish, to any person or entity, records or information concerning the business of the Sub-Adviser, except as necessary for the performance of its duties under this Agreement or its agreement to provide investment advisory services to the Fund, or as required by law upon prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is the sole owner of the name or xxxx “Xxxxx.” The Adviser shall not, and shall not permit its affiliates, employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, or the Portfolio to, without prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser, use the name or xxxx “Janus” or make representations regarding the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Adviser shall immediately cease, and the Adviser shall cause the Portfolio to immediately cease, all use of the Janus name or any Xxxxx xxxx.
The Adviser, for itself and on behalf of the sub-adviser to the Risk Management Component, and Sub-Adviser will not use any information concerning the Portfolio’s holdings, including, without limitation, the names of the portfolio holdings and the values thereof for purposes of making any decision about whether to purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio or to execute any other securities transaction except as necessary for the performance of its duties under this Agreement, its agreement to provide investment advisory services to the Fund, or the sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the sub-adviser to the Risk Management Component.
SECTION 16. Amendment
This Agreement may be amended only in accordance with applicable law, and only by a written instrument signed by all the parties in this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
| Ohio National Investments, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President | ||
| Janus Capital Management LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President | ||
| Accepted and Agreed: | ||
| Ohio National Fund, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President | ||
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