INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
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This AGREEMENT is effective this 29th day of April, 2013, by and between
CURIAN CAPITAL, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company and registered
investment adviser ("Adviser"), BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware
corporation and registered investment adviser ("Sub-Adviser") and Curian
Variable Series Trust, a Massachusetts business trust ("Trust").
WHEREAS, Adviser is the investment manager for the Trust, an open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended ("1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser represents that it has entered into an Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement ("Management Agreement") dated as of December
19, 2011, with amendments thereto, with the Trust; and
WHEREAS, Adviser desires to retain Sub-Adviser as Adviser's agent to
furnish investment advisory services to the investment portfolios of the Trust
listed on Schedule A hereto (the "Funds" or each a "Fund").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. Subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust
(the "Board of Trustees"), Adviser represents and warrants that it has
full legal power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
delegate investment advisory services, and hereby appoints Sub-Adviser to
provide certain sub-investment advisory services to the Funds for the
period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and the appointment
of Sub-Adviser hereunder is permitted by Trust's and Adviser's governing
documents and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other
action. Adviser represents that this Agreement has been duly authorized
and will be binding upon Adviser.
Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services
herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
In the event the Adviser designates one or more funds other than the Funds
with respect to which the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to
render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the
Sub-Adviser in writing. If the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such
services, it shall notify the Adviser in writing, whereupon such fund
shall become a Fund hereunder, and be subject to this Agreement, all
subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
2. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. Adviser has furnished, or will furnish, to
Sub-Adviser copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the
following prior to the commencement of the Sub-Adviser's services:
a) the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as filed with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September
7, 2011 and all amendments thereto or restatements thereof (such
Declaration, as presently in effect and as it
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shall from time to time be amended or restated, is herein called the
"Declaration of Trust");
b) the Trust's By-Laws and amendments thereto (together with the
Declaration of Trust, the "Trust Documents");
c) resolutions of the Board of Trustees authorizing the appointment of
Sub-Adviser and approving this Agreement;
d) the Trust's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A under the 1940
Act as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC");
e) the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act") and under the 1940 Act as filed
with the SEC and all amendments thereto insofar as such Registration
Statement and such amendments relate to the Funds; and
f) the Trust's most recent prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information for the Funds (collectively called the "Prospectus").
During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser agrees to furnish the
Sub-Adviser at its principal office all proxy statements, reports to
shareholders, sales literature or other materials prepared for
distribution to shareholders of each Fund, and Prospectus of each Fund,
prior to the use thereof, and the Adviser shall not use any such materials
if the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days
(or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
The Sub-Adviser's right to object to such materials is limited to the
portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its
services and its clients. The Adviser agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to ensure that materials prepared by its employees or agents or
its affiliates that refer to the Sub-Adviser or its clients in any way are
consistent with those materials previously approved by the Sub-Adviser as
referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph. The materials
referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph will be furnished to
the Sub-Adviser by e-mail, first class or overnight mail, facsimile
transmission equipment or hand delivery.
Adviser will furnish the Sub-Adviser with copies of all amendments of or
supplements to the foregoing within a reasonable time before they become
effective. Any amendments or supplements that impact the Sub-Adviser's
management of the Funds will not be deemed effective with respect to the
Sub-Adviser until the Sub-Adviser's approval thereof, which such approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3. MANAGEMENT. Subject always to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board
of Trustees, Sub-Adviser will furnish an investment program in respect of,
and shall have full investment authority and discretion for, all assets of
the Funds and place all orders for the purchase and sale of securities,
including foreign or domestic securities, and other property (including
financial futures, options of any type, commodities and other derivative
instruments), all on behalf of the Funds as the Sub-Adviser shall
determine in accordance with each Fund's investment restrictions, policies
and Prospectus.
Sub-Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Funds to: (a) enter into
agreements and execute any documents (e.g., any derivatives documentation
such as exchange traded and over-the-counter, as applicable) required to
make investments pursuant to the Prospectus, which shall include any
market and/or industry standard documentation and the standard
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representations contained therein; and (b) acknowledge the receipt of
brokers' risk disclosure statements, electronic trading disclosure
statements and similar disclosures.
The Sub-Adviser further shall have the authority to instruct the custodian
to: (a) deliver or accept delivery of, upon receipt of payment or payment
upon receipt of, securities, commodities or other property underlying any
futures or options contracts, and other property purchased or sold in the
Funds; and (b) deposit margin or collateral which shall include the
transfer of money, securities, or other property to the extent necessary
to meet the obligations of the Funds with respect to any investments made
pursuant to the Prospectus.
Adviser and/or the Fund's custodian will handle matters relating to the
Fund participating in any class action settlements and Sub-Adviser shall
not have any obligations thereto. Without Adviser's prior consent to each
transaction, Sub-Adviser shall have full discretionary authority as agent
and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and full authority
in the Fund's name, to (a) buy, sell, hold, exchange, convert or otherwise
deal in any manner in any assets; (b) place orders for the execution of
such assets and other transactions with or through such brokers, dealers,
counter-parties, issuers, agents or arrangers as Sub-Adviser may select;
(c) execute, on behalf of the Fund, such brokerage, derivatives,
subscription and other agreements and documents (including, without
limitation, ISDA and LSTA documentation) as Sub-Adviser deems necessary or
appropriate in connection with the Fund's investment activities; and (d)
negotiate, enter into, make and perform any other contracts, agreements or
other undertakings it may deem advisable in connection with the
performance of the Sub-Adviser's duties hereunder.
In the performance of its duties, Sub-Adviser will satisfy its fiduciary
duties to the Funds (as set forth below), and will monitor the Funds'
investments, and will comply with the provisions of the Trust Documents,
as amended from time to time, and the stated investment objectives,
policies and restrictions of the Funds, which may be amended from time to
time, provided that Sub-Adviser will be responsible for such monitoring of
and compliance with any amendments to the Trust's Trust Documents,
investment objectives, policies, and restriction, only after Sub-Adviser's
receipt of such amendments from the Adviser, and applicable regulatory
requirements. Sub-Adviser and Adviser will each make its officers and
employees available to the other from time to time at reasonable times to
review investment policies of the Funds and to consult with each other
regarding the investment affairs of the Funds. Sub-Adviser will report to
the Board of Trustees and to Adviser with respect to the implementation of
such program, as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees or the
Adviser. Sub-Adviser, solely with respect to the assets of each Fund which
are under its management pursuant to this Agreement, and based on
information provided by the Funds' administrator, custodian and other
service providers, shall take reasonable steps to comply with the
diversification provisions of Section 851 and Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("IRC"), and its accompanying
Regulation, Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5, applicable to each Fund.
Adviser will not act in a manner that would result in Sub-Adviser failing
to maintain the required diversification and if the failure to diversify
is inadvertent, Adviser shall in good faith and in conjunction with
Sub-Adviser follow the procedures specified in Section 851(d) of the IRC
and Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(a)(2) and Revenue Procedure 2008-41 (or
its successor) to request relief from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Service. In such an
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event Adviser and Sub-Adviser shall work together in the preparation of
any request for relief or closing agreement and, to the extent that
Adviser is seeking indemnification under Section 11 hereof, no filings or
agreements shall be made with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service
without the prior written approval of Sub-Adviser.
The Sub-Adviser is expressly authorized to rely upon any and all
instructions, approvals and notices given on behalf of the Adviser by any
one or more of those persons designated as representatives of the Trust
whose names, titles and specimen signatures appear in Schedule C attached
hereto. The Adviser shall provide a Secretary Certificate, Incumbency
Certificate, or similar document indicating that the persons designated as
representatives have the authority to bind the Trust. The Adviser may
amend such Schedule C from time to time by written notice to the
Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall continue to rely upon these
instructions until notified by the Adviser to the contrary.
The Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any
failure to recommend the purchase or sale of any security on behalf of any
Fund on the basis of any information which might, in the Sub-Adviser's
reasonable opinion, constitute a violation of any federal or state laws,
rules or regulations.
The Sub-Adviser further agrees that it:
a) will use the same skill and care in providing such services as it
uses in providing services to its other similar client mandates for
which it has investment responsibilities;
b) will comply with all applicable Rules and Regulations of the SEC in
all material respects and in addition will conduct its activities
under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable regulations
of any governmental authority pertaining to its investment advisory
activities, including but not limited to compliance with Rule
206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Advisers Act");
c) will comply in all material respects with all foreign laws,
regulations, and regulatory requirements as set forth by foreign
regulatory agencies, as applicable;
d) will report regularly to Adviser and to the Board of Trustees as
reasonably agreed between the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, or as
reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees, and will make
appropriate persons available for the purpose of reviewing with
representatives of Adviser and the Board of Trustees on a regular
basis at reasonable times agreed to by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser,
or at such times as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees,
including, without limitation, review of the general investment
strategies of the Funds, the performance of the Funds in relation to
the specified benchmarks and will provide various other reports from
time to time as reasonably requested by Adviser or the Board of
Trustees;
e) will provide to the Adviser (i) a monthly compliance checklist
developed for each Fund by Adviser and Sub-Adviser, (ii) quarterly
reports developed for each Fund by Adviser and Sub-Adviser, and
(iii) other compliance and reporting information as reasonably
requested by the Adviser or the Board of Trustees from time-to-time;
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f) as a service provider to the Funds, will cooperate fully with the
Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in the execution of his/her
responsibilities to monitor service providers to the Funds under
Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, including any applicable document
requests;
g) will prepare and maintain such books and records with respect to
each Fund's securities transactions in accordance with Section 7
herein, and will furnish Adviser and the Board of Trustees such
periodic and special reports as the Adviser may reasonably request;
h) will prepare and cause to be filed in a timely manner Form 13F and,
if required, Schedule 13G with respect to securities held for the
account of the Funds subject to Sub-Adviser's supervision;
i) will act upon reasonable instructions from Adviser not inconsistent
with the fiduciary duties and investment objectives hereunder;
j) will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the
Trust all such records and other information relative to the Trust
maintained by the Sub-Adviser, and will not use such records and
information for any purpose other than performance of its
responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior
notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, 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, when requested to divulge such information by
duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by Trust,
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Sub-Adviser
may disclose such information as required by applicable law,
regulation or upon request by a regulator or auditor of Sub-Adviser;
k) will have the sole authority and responsibility to exercise whatever
powers the Adviser may possess with respect to any of its assets
held in the Funds, including, but not limited to, the right to vote
proxies, in accordance with the Sub-Adviser's proxy voting
guidelines, as amended from time to time, which shall be provided to
the Trust and the Adviser, the power to exercise rights, options,
warrants, conversion privileges, and redemption privileges, and to
tender securities pursuant to a tender offer, consistent with the
Sub-Adviser's fiduciary duties hereunder; and may, at its discretion
(subject to Sub-Adviser's responsibility and liability under the
terms of this Sub-Advisory Agreement), elect to use one or more
third parties, including proxy voting services, in fulfilling its
obligations hereunder; provided however, Adviser will, or will
direct the Fund's custodian to, send all proxy solicitation material
and other related material, including interim reports, annual
reports and other issuer mailings with respect to the Account, to
Sub-Adviser or its agent;
l) will vote and take all action related to corporate reorganization
matters (e.g., conversions, tender and exchange offers, mergers,
stock splits, right offerings, recapitalizations, amendments,
modifications or waivers or other rights or powers); provided
however, that Adviser will, or will direct the Fund's custodian to,
deliver all materials and information relating to corporate
reorganization matters to Adviser or its agent;
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m) may not consult with any other sub-adviser of the Trust, if any, or
the sub-adviser to any other investment company (or separate series
of an investment company) managed by the Adviser concerning the
Trust's transactions in securities or other assets for any
investment portfolio of the Trusts, including the Funds, except for
the purpose of complying with the conditions of Rule 12d3-1 (a) and
(b) under the 1940 Act, and except that such consultations are
permitted between the current and successor sub-advisers of the
Funds in order to effect an orderly transition of sub-advisory
duties so long as such consultations are not concerning transactions
prohibited by Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act;
n) will provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser or the Trust's
custodian, as the case may be, in determining the value of any
portfolio security; provided, that Adviser acknowledges and agrees
that Sub-Adviser is not a valuation agent. In addition, the
Sub-Adviser shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day
with information relating to all transactions concerning each Fund's
assets under Sub-Adviser's supervision, and shall provide Adviser
with such information upon the reasonable request of the Adviser;
o) promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust to the extent required by
applicable law in the event that the Sub-Adviser or any of its
affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory
disqualification that prevents the Sub-Adviser from serving as an
investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) becomes aware
that it is the subject of an administrative proceeding or
enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The
Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify the Trust and the Adviser
promptly of any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or
relating to the Sub-Adviser that would make any written information
previously provided to the Adviser or the Trust materially
inaccurate or incomplete or if any such written information becomes
untrue in any material respect; and
p) promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust if the Sub-Adviser suffers
a material adverse change in its business that would materially
impair its ability to perform its relevant duties for a Fund. For
the purposes of this paragraph, a "material adverse change" shall
include, but is not limited to, a material loss of assets or
accounts under management or the departure of senior investment
professionals responsible for advising the Funds or the departure of
a member of senior management of the Sub-Adviser to the extent such
professionals are not replaced promptly with professionals of
comparable experience and quality.
The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each further agree that:
a) to the extent that the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended ("CEA"),
and the then-current Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC")
regulations require (i) registration by either party as a Commodity
Pool Operator or Commodity Trading Advisor, (ii) specific
disclosure, as applicable to it or (iii) filing of reports and other
documents, each shall fully comply with such requirements;
b) Sub-Adviser shall comply with all requirements of the applicable CEA
and then-current CFTC regulations that apply to Sub-Adviser with
regard to the Fund, and with regard to all Funds for which it serves
as Sub-Adviser; and
PAGE 6 OF 16
c) Sub-Adviser shall cooperate by assisting the Adviser in fulfilling
any disclosure or reporting requirements applicable to the Fund
under the CEA and/or then-current CFTC regulations.
4. CUSTODY OF ASSETS. Title to all investments shall be held in the name of
the Funds, provided that for convenience in buying, selling and exchanging
securities (stocks, bonds, commercial paper, etc.), title to such
securities may be held in the name of the Trust's custodian bank, or its
nominee. All cash and the indicia of ownership of all other investments
shall be held by the Trust's custodian bank. Sub-Adviser shall not act as
custodian of the assets held in the Funds and shall at no time have the
right to physically possess the assets of the Funds or have the assets
registered in its own name or the name of its nominee, nor shall
Sub-Adviser in any manner acquire or become possessed of any income,
whether in kind or cash, or proceeds, whether in kind or cash,
distributable by reason of selling, holding or controlling such assets of
the Funds. In accordance with the preceding sentence, Sub-Adviser shall
have no responsibility with respect to the collection of income, physical
acquisition or the safekeeping of the assets of the Funds. All such duties
of collection, physical acquisition and safekeeping shall be the sole
obligation of the custodian. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any
act or omission of such custodian, except by reason of the Sub-Adviser's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, fraud, reckless
disregard or willful misconduct in connection with any actions that
Sub-Adviser has taken or should have taken with respect to the custodian.
5. BROKERAGE. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell
securities for each Fund, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of
brokerage commission rates. Sub-Adviser shall have the express authority
to negotiate, open, continue and terminate brokerage accounts and other
brokerage arrangements with respect to all portfolio transactions entered
into by Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Funds. Adviser shall provide such
assistance to the Sub-Adviser in setting up and maintaining brokerage
accounts and other accounts as the Sub-Adviser shall reasonably request to
allow for the purchase or sale of various forms of securities and
instruments pursuant to this Agreement. Sub-Adviser will provide copies of
all such agreements to the Adviser upon the Adviser's reasonable request.
It is the Sub-Adviser's general policy in selecting a broker to effect a
particular transaction to seek to obtain "best execution," which means
prompt and efficient execution of the transaction at the best obtainable
price and taking into account all relevant factors and considerations of
the specific transaction, with payment of commissions which are reasonable
in relation to the value of the brokerage services provided by the broker.
Consistent with this policy, and when selecting a broker the Sub-Adviser
will take relevant factors into consideration, including (as applicable),
but not limited to: the best price available; the reliability, integrity
and financial condition of the broker-dealer; the size of and difficulty
in executing the order; the broker's execution capabilities and any
research provided by the broker that aids the Sub-Adviser's investment
decision-making process, as described below; and the value of the expected
contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment performance of the
applicable Fund on a continuing basis. Subject to such policies and
procedures as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Sub-Adviser shall
have discretion to effect investment transactions for each Fund through
broker-dealers (including, to the extent permissible under applicable law,
broker-dealer affiliates) who provide brokerage and/or research services,
as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and as interpreted by the SEC,
and to cause such Fund to pay any such
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broker-dealers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio
investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another
broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the
Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage or research services
provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
investment transaction or the Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities with
respect to such Fund and other accounts to which the Sub-Adviser exercises
investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the
1934 Act). Allocation of orders placed by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of a
Fund to such broker-dealers shall be in such amounts and proportions as
the Sub-Adviser shall determine in good faith in conformity with its
responsibilities under applicable laws, rules and regulations. The
Sub-Adviser will submit reports on such allocations to the Adviser as
reasonably requested by the Adviser, in such form as may be mutually
agreed to by the parties hereto, indicating the broker-dealers to whom
such allocations have been made and the basis therefore. The Sub-Adviser
shall not be liable for any act or omission of any brokerage firm or firms
or counterparties designated by the Adviser or chosen by the Sub-Adviser
except by reason of the Sub-Adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, fraud, reckless disregard or willful misconduct in
connection with selecting such brokerage firms or firms or counterparties.
6. EXPENSES. The Sub-Adviser shall bear all expenses incurred by it in
connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement. Each
Fund or the Adviser will bear the other expenses to be incurred in its
operation, including, but not limited to, investment advisory fees, and
administration fees; fees for necessary professional and brokerage
services; transaction fees and expenses; costs relating to local
administration of securities; and fees for any pricing services. All other
expenses not specifically assumed by the Sub-Adviser hereunder or by the
Adviser under the Management Agreement are borne by the applicable Fund or
the Trust.
7. BOOKS AND RECORDS. 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 Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees
to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's
request, copies of which may be retained by the Sub-Adviser. 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 related to each Fund's portfolio transactions. The Adviser shall
maintain all books and records not related to the Fund's portfolio
transactions.
8. COMPENSATION. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant
to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the
Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefore, a
sub-advisory fee accrued daily and payable monthly on the average daily
net assets in the Fund in accordance with Schedule B hereto.
9. SERVICES TO OTHERS. Adviser understands, and has advised the Board of
Trustees, that Sub-Adviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an
investment adviser to fiduciary and other managed accounts, and as
investment adviser or sub-investment adviser to other investment companies
or accounts. Adviser has no objection to Sub-Adviser acting in such
capacities, provided that whenever the Fund and one or more other
investment
PAGE 8 OF 16
advisory clients of Sub-Adviser have available funds for investment,
investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a
manner reasonably believed by Sub-Adviser to be fair and equitable to
each. Sub-Adviser may group orders for a Fund with orders for other funds
and accounts to obtain the efficiencies that may be available on larger
transactions when it reasonably determines that investment decisions are
appropriate for each participating account. Sub-Adviser cannot assure that
such policy will not adversely affect the price paid or received by a
Fund. Adviser recognizes, and has advised the Board of Trustees, that in
some cases this procedure may adversely affect the size and the
opportunities of the position that the participating Fund may obtain in a
particular security. In addition, Adviser understands, and has advised the
Board of Trustees, that the persons employed by Sub-Adviser to assist in
Sub-Adviser's duties under this Agreement will not devote their full time
to such service, and nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed to
limit or restrict the right of Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates to
engage in and devote time and attention to other businesses or to render
services of whatever kind or nature.
Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the Sub-Adviser shall
have no obligation to perform the following services or to have employees
of the Sub-Adviser perform the following roles, as applicable: a)
shareholder services or support functions, such as responding to
shareholders' questions about a Fund or its investments or strategies; b)
providing employees of the Sub-Adviser to serve as officers of a Fund; or
c) providing employees of the Sub-Adviser to serve as the Fund's Chief
Compliance Officer and associated staff.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
a) Sub-Adviser, its officers, directors, employees, agents or
affiliates will not be subject to any liability to the Adviser or
the Funds or their directors, officers, employees, agents or
affiliates for any act, omission, error of judgment or mistake of
law or for any loss suffered by the Funds, any shareholder of the
Funds or the Adviser either in connection with the performance of
Sub-Adviser's duties under this Agreement or its failure to perform
due to events beyond the reasonable control of the Sub-Adviser or
its agents, except for a loss resulting from Sub-Adviser's willful
misfeasance, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under this Agreement.
b) The Sub-Adviser makes no representation or warranty, express or
implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be
achieved by the Funds or that a Fund will perform comparably with
any standard or index, including other clients of the Sub-Adviser,
whether public or private. The Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to
have breached this Agreement or any investment restrictions or
policies applicable to a Fund in connection with fluctuations
arising from market movements and other events outside the control
of the Sub-Adviser.
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c) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Adviser, the Funds or
their shareholders, or the Trust for any action taken or failure to
act in good faith reliance upon: (i) information, instructions or
requests, whether oral or written, with respect to the Funds made to
the Sub-Adviser by a duly authorized officer of the Adviser or the
Trust; (ii) the advice of counsel to the Trust; and (iii) any
written instruction or certified copy of any resolution of the
Board; all except by reason of the Sub-Adviser's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, fraud, reckless disregard
or willful misconduct in connection with performing its
responsibilities hereunder.
d) In any action in which the Sub-Adviser or any of its controlling
persons, or any shareholders, partners, directors, officers and/or
employees of any of the foregoing, are parties, the Adviser agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the foregoing persons against any
losses to which such persons may become subject, insofar as such
losses arise out of or are based upon the Adviser's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, fraud, reckless disregard
or willful misconduct in performing its responsibilities hereunder,
including without limitation the operation of a Fund, the contents
of the Funds' Prospectus, or the wrongful conduct of persons with
respect to the sale of interests in a Fund, provided that the loss,
claim, settlement, damage, charge, liability, cost or expense did
not relate to, was not based upon, or did not arise out of an act or
omission of the Sub-Adviser or any of its controlling persons, or
any shareholders, partners, directors, officers and/or employees
constituting reckless disregard, willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.
e) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the
Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser will be liable for any indirect,
special, incidental or consequential damages.
11. INDEMNIFICATION. Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each agree to indemnify the
other party (and each such party's affiliates, employees, directors and
officers), and Sub-Adviser further agrees to indemnify the Funds, against
any claim, damages, loss or liability (including reasonable attorneys'
fees) arising out of any third party claims brought against an indemnified
party that are found to constitute willful misfeasance or gross negligence
on the part of the indemnifying party.
12. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement will become effective as to a
Fund upon execution or, if later, on the date that initial capital for
such Fund is first provided to it and, unless sooner terminated as
provided herein, the initial term will continue in effect through December
31, 2014. Thereafter, if not terminated as to a Fund, this Agreement will
continue from year to year through December 31st for each Fund covered by
this Agreement, as listed on Schedule A, PROVIDED that such continuation
is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund, and
in either event approved also by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust
who are not interested persons of the Trust, or of the Adviser, or of the
Sub-Adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be
terminated as to a Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty,
on sixty days' written notice by the Trust or Adviser, or on sixty days'
written notice by the Sub-Adviser. This Agreement will immediately
terminate in the event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the
terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
PAGE 10 OF 16
"interested persons" and "assignment" have the same meaning of such terms
as in the 1940 Act.) Sections 10 and 11 herein shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
13. REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE ADVISER. Adviser acknowledges,
represents and warrants that:
a) If the Sub-Adviser is registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor
under the CEA, the Adviser consents to the Sub-Adviser's compliance
with the alternative disclosure and recordkeeping standards
available to exempt accounts under CFTC Rule 4.7 with respect to a
Fund's trading in commodity interests, provided that the Sub-Adviser
has duly filed a notice of claim for such relief pursuant to Rule
4.7(d). The Adviser will take reasonable steps to cooperate with the
Sub-Adviser in connection with establishing and maintaining such
exemption under Rule 4.7, including, upon request, confirming
whether a Fund is a "qualified eligible person" as defined in Rule
4.7.
b) If the Adviser is excluded from the definition of a commodity pool
operator under CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to a Fund, the Adviser
will furnish the Sub-Adviser with a copy of the notice of
eligibility filed pursuant to Rule 4.5 (c) with respect to such
exclusion, or, if more recent, the most recent annual notice
affirming the basis of such eligibility that has been filed pursuant
to Rule 4.5(c)(5).
c) The Trust is a "qualified institutional buyer" ("QIB") as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
Adviser will promptly notify the Sub-Adviser if the Trust ceases to
be a QIB;
d) The assets in the Funds are free from all liens and charges and
undertakes that no liens or charges will arise from the acts or
omissions of the Adviser and the Trust which may prevent the
Sub-Adviser from giving a first priority lien or charge on the
assets solely in connection with the Sub-Adviser's authority to
direct the deposit of margin or collateral to the extent necessary
to meet the obligations of the Funds with respect to any investments
made pursuant to the Prospectus; and
e) The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is not the compliance
agent for the Funds or for the Adviser, and does not have access to
all of the Funds' books and records necessary to perform certain
compliance testing. To the extent that the Sub-Adviser has agreed to
perform the services specified in Section 3 hereof in accordance
with applicable law (including the asset diversification provisions
referenced in Section 3 hereof, the Act and the Advisers Act
("Applicable Law") and in accordance with the Trust Documents,
policies and determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Trust
and the Adviser, and the Funds' Prospectus (collectively the
"Charter Requirements") the Sub-Adviser shall perform such services
solely based upon its books and records with respect to the Funds,
which comprise a portion of the Trust's books and records, and upon
written instructions received from the Funds, the Adviser or the
Trust's administrator, and shall not be held responsible under this
Agreement so long as it performs such services in accordance with
this Agreement, the Charter Requirements and Applicable Law based
upon such books and records and such instructions provided by the
Funds, the Adviser or the Trust's administrator. The Sub-Adviser
shall be afforded a reasonable amount of time to implement any such
instructions (for example, if instructed not to trade on behalf of
securities of certain specified Adviser or the
PAGE 11 OF 16
Trust's affiliates, the Sub-Adviser shall be notified and afforded
five business days after receipt of such instruction to implement
this trading restriction).
14. OBLIGATIONS OF ADVISER. The Adviser agrees to provide or complete, as the
case may be, the following prior to the commencement of the Sub-Adviser's
investment advisory services as specified under this Agreement:
a) A list of first tier affiliates and second tier affiliates (i.e.,
affiliates of affiliates) of the Fund;
b) A list of restricted securities for each Fund (including CUSIP,
Sedol or other appropriate security identification);
c) A copy of the current compliance procedures for each Fund; and
d) A list of legal and compliance contacts.
The Adviser also agrees to promptly update the above referenced items in
order to ensure their accuracy, completeness and/or effectiveness.
15. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT. All information and advice furnished by one party
to the other party (including their respective agents, employees and
representatives) hereunder shall be treated as confidential and shall not
be disclosed to third parties, except as may be necessary to comply with
applicable laws, rules and regulations, subpoenas or court orders. It is
understood that any information or recommendation supplied by, or produced
by, Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the
Adviser and the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Adviser and the
Trust will only disclose portfolio information in accordance with the
Trust's portfolio information policy as adopted by the Board of Trustees.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes
the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Funds. 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.
17. NOTICE. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed (postage prepaid) or sent via electronic mail or
facsimile to the other party at such address as designated herein.
a) TO ADVISER:
Curian Capital LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
E-mail: xxxxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
-----------------------
b) TO SUB-ADVISER:
BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
PAGE 12 OF 16
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxx-xx-xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
--------------------------------
WITH A COPY TO:
BlackRock
0 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
c) TO THE TRUST:
Curian Variable Series Trust
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
E-mail: xxxxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
-----------------------
In accordance with the foregoing, Adviser hereby consents to receive
Sub-Adviser's Form ADV Part 2 and other Sub-Adviser Communications via
e-mail to Adviser's e-mail address set out above. Although Adviser does
not impose any additional charges for electronic delivery, Adviser may, of
course, incur costs associated with Adviser's electronic access, such as
usage charges from Adviser's Internet access providers. Adviser may revoke
its election to receive such Sub-Adviser Communications via e-mail at any
time by written notice to the Sub-Adviser requesting that Sub-Adviser send
Sub-Adviser Communications via facsimile or in hardcopy via the postal
service to the address set out above or as notified to the Sub-Adviser by
Adviser from time to time.
18. MISCELLANEOUS. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision
of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute,
rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto.
Sub-Adviser represents, and the Trust and the Adviser acknowledge and
agree, that Sub-Adviser (or an affiliate of Sub-Adviser (as applicable))
is the sole owner of the names "BlackRock, Inc." and "BlackRock Financial
Management, Inc." or any derivative thereof and certain logos,
derivatives, trademarks or service marks associated with such names (the
"BlackRock Marks"). The Trust and Adviser agree that the BlackRock Marks
are the valuable property of the Sub-Adviser and Sub-Adviser's affiliates.
The Trust and Adviser shall have the right to use the BlackRock Marks only
with the prior written approval of the Sub-Adviser, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed so long as this Agreement is in
effect. The Sub-Adviser agrees that the Trust and the Adviser have the
right to use "BlackRock" in the names of the Funds as set forth in
Schedule A to this Agreement.
The Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that the names "Curian Variable
Series Trust" and Curian Capital, LLC, and abbreviations or logos
associated with those names, are the valuable property of the Adviser and
its affiliates; that the Trust, has the right to use such names,
abbreviations and logos; and that the Sub-Adviser shall use the names
"Curian
PAGE 13 OF 16
Variable Series Trust," Curian Capital, LLC, and associated abbreviations
and logos, only in connection with the Sub-Adviser's performance of its
duties hereunder. Further, in any communication with the public and in any
marketing communications of any sort, the Sub-Adviser agrees to obtain
prior written approval from the Adviser before using or referring to
"Curian Variable Series Trust" and the Adviser, or the Funds or any
abbreviations or logos associated with those names; provided that nothing
herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Sub-Adviser from referring to the
performance of the Funds in the Sub-Adviser's marketing material as long
as such marketing material does not constitute "sales literature" or
"advertising" for the Funds, as those terms are used in the rules,
regulations and guidelines of the SEC and FINRA.
The name "Curian Variable Series Trust" and "Trustees of Curian Variable
Series Trust" refer respectively to the Trust created by, and the
Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time
to time under, the Declaration of Trust, to which reference is hereby made
and a copy of which is on file at the office of the Secretary of State of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and elsewhere as required by law, and to
any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The
obligations of the "Curian Variable Series Trust" entered in the name or
on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents are
made not individually but only in such capacities and are not binding upon
any of the Trustees, Shareholders or representatives or agents of Trust
personally, but bind only the assets of Trust, and persons dealing with
the Funds must look solely to the assets of Trust belonging to such Fund
for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust.
19. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER. The Sub-Adviser hereby
represents that this Agreement does not violate any existing agreements
between the Sub-Adviser and any other party, it has all requisite
authority to enter into, execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under this Agreement and the performance of the Sub-Adviser's obligations
under this Agreement does not conflict with any applicable law, regulation
or order to which the Sub-Adviser is subject.
The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a duly
registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended and has provided to the Adviser a copy of its most recent Form
ADV, Part 1 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well
as a copy of its current Part 2 of Form ADV.
The Sub-Adviser further represents that it has reviewed the initial, pre-
and/or post effective amendment(s) to the Registration Statement for the
Funds filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that contains
disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, and represents and warrants that, with
respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or information relating 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 necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading.
20. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
applicable federal law and the laws of the State of New York.
21. COUNTERPART SIGNATURES. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, including via facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an
original for all purposes,
PAGE 14 OF 16
including judicial proof of the terms hereof, and all of which together
shall constitute and be deemed one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and Trust have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of this 12th day of February, 2013.
CURIAN CAPITAL, LLC BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
Title: President and Chief Executive Title: Managing Director
Officer -------------------------------
--------------------------------
CURIAN VARIABLE SERIES TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Title: Assistant Secretary
--------------------------------
PAGE 15 OF 16
LIST OF SCHEDULES
-----------------
Schedule A Funds
Schedule B Compensation
Schedule C Designated Representatives
PAGE 16 OF 16
SCHEDULE A
DATED APRIL 29, 2013
(Funds)
---------------------------------------------------
Curian/BlackRock Global Long Short Credit Fund
---------------------------------------------------
A-1
SCHEDULE B
DATED APRIL 29, 2013
(Compensation)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURIAN/BLACKROCK GLOBAL LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND(1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS ANNUAL RATE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0 to $500 Million 0.65%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over $500 Million 0.60%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------
(1) THE CURIAN/BLACKROCK GLOBAL LONG SHORT CREDIT FUND (THE "FUND") IS
CO-SUB-ADVISED BY BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND BLACKROCK
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (THE "CO-SUB-ADVISERS"). THE SUB-ADVISORY FEE LISTED IN
SCHEDULE B IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY THE ADVISER TO THE CO-SUB-ADVISERS. THE
ADVISER WILL PAY THE MONTHLY FEE DUE TO THE CO-SUB-ADVISERS PURSUANT TO THIS
AGREEMENT TO BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC. THE ADVISER'S MONTHLY
OBLIGATION PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT WILL BE DEEMED SATISFIED UPON PAYMENT OF
THE FULL AMOUNT OF SUCH OBLIGATION TO BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC., AND
THE ADVISER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FURTHER PAYMENTS FOR SUCH MONTHLY FEE.
B-1
SCHEDULE C
DATED APRIL 29, 2013
(Designated Representatives of the Trust)
Name/Title Signature
* *
--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
*See the attached List of Authorized Persons
C-1
