SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
TOUCHSTONE INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
TOUCHSTONE VARIABLE SERIES TRUST
This SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made as of January 1, 1999, by and
between TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC., an Ohio corporation (the "Advisor"), and
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, a New York general partnership (the
"Sub-Advisor").
WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment advisor registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and has been retained by Touchstone
Variable Series Trust (formerly Select Advisors Variable Insurance Trust) (the
"Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust organized pursuant to a Declaration of
Trust dated February 7, 1994 and registered as an open-end diversified
management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act"), to provide investment advisory services to the Touchstone
International Equity Fund (the "Fund"); and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor also is an investment advisor registered under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it
with portfolio management services in connection with the Advisor's investment
advisory activities on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor is willing to
furnish such services to the Advisor and the Fund;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth, it is agreed as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT OF THE SUB-ADVISOR. In accordance with and subject to the
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, attached hereto
as Exhibit A (the "Advisory Agreement"), the Advisor hereby appoints the
Sub-Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of those assets of the
Fund allocated to it by the Advisor (the "Fund Assets"), subject to the control
and direction of the Advisor and the Trust's Board of Trustees, for the period
and on the terms hereinafter set forth. The Sub-Advisor hereby accepts such
employment and agrees during such period to render the services and to perform
the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation herein provided.
The Sub-Advisor shall at all times maintain its registration as an investment
advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and shall otherwise comply in
all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and
federal. The Sub-Advisor shall for all purposes herein be deemed an independent
contractor and shall, except as expressly provided or authorized (whether herein
or otherwise), have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or
otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISOR. The Sub-Advisor will provide the
following services and undertake the following duties:
a. The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment
of the assets of the Fund, subject to and in accordance with the
investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund and any
directions which the Advisor or the Trust's Board of Trustees may give
from time to time with respect to the Fund. In furtherance of the
foregoing, the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to
the investment of the assets of the Fund and the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or
advisable to implement the same. The Sub-Advisor also will determine
the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate
action and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities will
be exercised. The Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the
Trust's Board of Trustees, to the Advisor and to BARRA RogersCasey,
Inc. (or such other advisor or advisors as the Advisor shall engage to
assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the
Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and
with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as
the Trust, the Advisor or BARRA RogersCasey, Inc. shall from time to
time reasonably request.
b. The Sub-Advisor shall provide support to the Advisor with
respect to the marketing of the Fund, consisting of: (i) permission to
use the Sub-Advisor's name as provided in Section 5, (ii) permission to
use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor as
the same is applicable to the Fund, (iii) access to the individual(s)
responsible for the management of the Fund for marketing conferences,
teleconferences and other activities involving the promotion of the
Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor and to the
limitation that the individual primarily responsible for management of
the Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend more
than one meeting of the Trust's Trustees in any one year, (iv)
permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor
and individual manager(s), and (v) permission to use the names of
clients to which the Sub-Advisor provides investment management
services, subject to any restrictions imposed by clients on the use of
such names.
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c. The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders
for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the
policies with respect thereto set forth in the Trust's registration
statements under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as such
registration statements may be in effect from time to time. In
connection with the placement of orders for the execution of portfolio
transactions, the Sub-Advisor will create and maintain all necessary
brokerage records of the Fund in accordance with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations, including but not limited to records required by
Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act. All records shall be the property of the
Trust and shall be available for inspection and use by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Trust or any person retained
by the Trust. Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by the
Advisor for the periods and in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under
the 1940 Act. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the
Sub-Advisor's primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable
price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders
the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without
limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund
(including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but
ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing
competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker,
the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability
to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and
the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute
possibly difficult transactions in the future. The Sub-Advisor is
specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including,
without limitation, Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), to pay a broker or dealer who
provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission
for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of
commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting
such transaction, in recognition of such additional research services
rendered by the broker or dealer, but only if the Sub-Advisor
determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided
by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction
or the Sub-Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to
discretionary accounts that it manages. The Sub-Advisor will present a
written report to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, at least
quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as
well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses,
broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the
Board of Trustees reasonably shall request.
d. In the event of any reorganization or other change in the
Sub-Advisor, its investment principals, supervisors or members of its
investment (or comparable) committee, the Sub-Advisor shall give the
Advisor and the Trust's Board of Trustees written notice of such
reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than
30 days) after such reorganization or change. In addition, the
Sub-Advisor will notify the Advisor of any change in the membership of
the Sub-Advisor within a reasonable time (but not more than 30 days)
after such change takes place.
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e. The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing
services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as
are undertaken by the Advisor or the Trust.
f. Based on account information regarding the Fund provided by
the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor will manage the Fund Assets and the
investment and reinvestment of such assets so as to comply with the
provisions of the 1940 Act and with Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; provided, however, that with respect
to the provisions of the 1940 Act regarding transactions with
affiliates, the obligations of the Sub-Advisor shall be limited to
matters involving its own affiliates and such other persons as the
Advisor shall expressly identify as affiliated persons.
3. COMPENSATION OF THE SUB-ADVISOR.
a. As compensation for the services to be rendered
and duties undertaken hereunder by the Sub-Advisor, the
Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a monthly fee equal on an
annual basis to 0.85% of the first $30 million of the average
daily net assets of the Fund, 0.80% of the average daily net
assets of the Fund in excess of $30 million and up to $50
million, 0.60% of the average daily net assets of the Fund in
excess of $50 million and up to $75 million, and 0.50% of the
average daily net assets of the Fund in excess of $75 million.
Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the
Sub-Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of
any period specified in this Section 3a, the compensation to
the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating
the Sub-Advisor's fee, the daily value of the Fund's net
assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses
to compute the net asset value of the Fund for purposes of
purchases and redemptions of shares thereof.
b. The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or
a part of its fees hereunder.
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4. ACTIVITIES OF THE SUB-ADVISOR. It is understood that the Sub-Advisor
may perform investment advisory services for various other clients, including
other investment companies. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board of Trustees
of the Trust (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as such
Board of Trustees reasonably shall request) information reasonably requested by
such Board of Trustees regarding (i) the nature and amount of transactions
affecting the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and affiliates of the
Sub-Advisor, (ii) any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of its
continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts,
and (iii) such other matters as the Board of Trustees shall reasonably request
regarding the Fund, the Fund's performance, the services provided by the
Sub-Advisor to the Fund as compared to its other accounts and the plans of, and
the capability of, the Sub-Advisor with respect to providing future services to
the Fund and its other accounts. The Sub-Advisor agrees to submit to the Trust a
statement defining its policies with respect to the allocation of business among
the Fund and its other clients.
It is understood that the Sub-Advisor may become interested in the
Trust as a shareholder or otherwise.
The Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of its
Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments thereto (including the Sub-Advisor's
statement of financial condition) and will hereafter supply to the Advisor,
promptly upon the preparation thereof, copies of all amendments or restatements
of such document.
5. USE OF NAMES. Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name
of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature or other material
relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by
the Sub-Advisor; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will approve all uses
of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or
which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and provided
further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The
Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material
relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor
or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the
Trust shall each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer
in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor hereunder or which are
required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further,
that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE SUB-ADVISOR.
a. Absent willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the
part of the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall not be subject to
liability to the Advisor, the Trust or to any shareholder in the
Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with,
rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be
sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security. As
used in this Section 6, the term "Sub-Advisor" shall include the
Sub-Advisor and/or any of its affiliates and the directors,
officers and employees of the Sub-Advisor and/or any of its
affiliates.
b. The Trust or the Advisor will indemnify the Sub-Advisor
against, and hold it harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel
fees and expenses) resulting from its activities under and
pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses result from the
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance of the
Sub-Advisor or from a breach of its obligations or duties
hereunder. Indemnification shall be made only after: (i) a final
decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the
proceeding was brought that the Trust or the Advisor was liable
for the damages claimed or (ii) in the absence of such a
decision, a reasonable determination based upon a review of the
facts, that the Trust or the Advisor was liable for the damages
claimed, which determination shall be made by either (a) the vote
of a majority of a quorum of Trustees of the Trust who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust nor parties to the
proceeding ("disinterested non-party Trustees") or (b) an
independent legal counsel satisfactory to the parties hereto,
whose determination shall be set forth in a written opinion. The
Sub-Advisor shall be entitled to advances from the Trust for
payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection
with the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification in the
manner and to the fullest extent that would be permissible under
the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of Ohio.
The Sub-Advisor shall provide to the Trust a written affirmation
of its good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary
for indemnification under such law has been met and a written
undertaking to repay any such advance if it should ultimately be
determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In
addition, at least one of the following additional conditions
shall be met: (a) the Sub-Advisor shall provide security in form
and amount acceptable to the Trust for its undertaking; (b) the
Trust is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance;
or (c) a majority of a quorum of the Trustees of the Trust, the
members of which majority are disinterested non-party Trustees,
or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have
determined, based on a review of facts readily available to the
Trust at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there
is reason to believe that the Sub-Advisor will ultimately be
found to be entitled to indemnification.
7. LIMITATION OF TRUST'S LIABILITY. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that
it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trust's liability
set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the
Trust's obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under
the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the assets of the Fund
and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from
the holders of shares of the Fund nor from any Trustee, officer, employee or
agent of the Trust.
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8. FORCE MAJEURE. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or
errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but
not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work
stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or
failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns
beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take reasonable steps to minimize
service interruptions but shall have no liability with respect thereto.
9. RENEWAL, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.
a. This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner
terminated as hereinafter provided, until December 31, 1999; and it
shall continue thereafter provided that such continuance is
specifically approved by the parties and, in addition, at least
annually by (i) the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities (as herein defined) of the Fund or by
vote of a majority of the Trust's Board of Trustees and (ii) by the
vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of either the Advisor or the
Sub-Advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
b. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without
payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor, by the Trust's Board of
Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, in any such case upon not less than 60 days'
prior written notice to the Sub-Advisor and (ii) by the Sub-Advisor
upon not less than 60 days' prior written notice to the Advisor and the
Trust. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
c. This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties
hereto, subject to approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and, if
required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by
such change.
d. The terms "assignment," "interested persons" and "majority
of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the meaning set forth
for such terms in the 1940 Act.
10. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or
shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise,
the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
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11. NOTICE. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing
addressed and delivered personally (or by telecopy) or mailed postage-paid, to
the other party at such address as such other party may designate in accordance
with this paragraph for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice to the
other party, it is agreed that the address of the Trust and that of the Advisor
for this purpose shall be 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 and that the
address of the Sub-Advisor shall be One Citicorp Center, 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
12. MISCELLANEOUS. Each party agrees to perform such further actions
and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. The captions in this Agreement are
included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered in their names and on their behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.
Attest:
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx BY /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx President
Title: Chief Compliance Officer
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT
Attest:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx BY /s/ Xxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: General Counsel
600518.02
