Exhibit 4(b)
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 30th day of September; 2003, by and between FUND
ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (hereinafter referred to
as "FAM"), and XXXXXXX XXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K. LIMITED, a corporation
organized under the laws of England and Wales (hereinafter referred to as "MLAM
U.K.").
W i t n e s s e t h:
Whereas, Master bond trust (the "Fund") is a Delaware statutory trust
engaged in business as an open-end investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the
"Investment Company Act"); and
Whereas, FAM and MLAM U.K. are engaged principally in rendering investment
advisory services and are registered as investment advisers under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
Whereas, MLAM U.K. is a member of the Investment Management Regulatory
Organization, a self-regulating organization recognized under the Financial
Services Act of 1986 of the United Kingdom (hereinafter referred to as "IMRO"),
and the conduct of its investment business is regulated by IMRO; and
Whereas, FAM has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the
"Advisory Agreement") dated the date hereof, pursuant to which FAM provides
investment advisory and certain administrative services to the Fund; and
Whereas, MLAM U.K. is willing to provide investment advisory services to
FAM in connection with the Fund's operations on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
hereinafter contained, MLAM U.K. and FAM hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Duties of MLAM U.K.
FAM hereby employs MLAM U.K. to act as investment adviser to FAM and to
furnish, or arrange for affiliates to furnish, the investment advisory services
described below, subject to the broad supervision of FAM and the Fund, for the
period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. MLAM U.K.
hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period, at its own
expense, to render, or arrange for the rendering of, such services and to assume
the obligations herein set forth for the compensation provided for herein. FAM
and its affiliates shall for all purposes herein be deemed a Professional
Investor as defined under the rules promulgated by IMRO (hereinafter referred to
as the "IMRO Rule"). MLAM U.K. and its affiliates shall for all purposes herein
be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly
provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in
any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
MLAM U.K. shall have the right to make unsolicited calls on FAM and shall
provide FAM with such investment research, advice and supervision as the latter
may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the
assets of the Fund; shall furnish continuously an investment program for the
Fund and shall make recommendations from time to time as to which securities
shall be purchased,
sold or exchanged and what portion of the assets of the Fund shall be held in
the various securities in which the Fund invests, options, futures, options on
futures or cash; all of the foregoing subject always to the restrictions of the
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund, as they may be amended and/or
restated from time to time, the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the
statements relating to the Fund's investment objective, investment policies and
investment restrictions as the same are set forth in the currently effective
prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the shares of the
Fund (the "Prospectus" and "Statement of Additional Information", respectively).
MLAM U.K. shall make recommendations and effect transactions with respect to
foreign currency matters, including foreign exchange contracts, foreign currency
options, foreign currency futures and related options on foreign currency
futures and forward foreign currency transactions. MLAM U.K. shall also make
recommendations or take action as to the manner in which voting rights, rights
to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio
securities of the Fund shall be exercised.
MLAM U.K. will not hold money on behalf of FAM or the Fund, nor will MLAM
U.K. be the registered holder of the registered investments of FAM or the Fund
or be the custodian of documents or other evidence of title.
ARTICLE II
Allocation of Charges and Expenses
MLAM U.K. assumes and shall pay for maintaining the staff and personnel
necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and shall at its own
expense provide the office space, equipment and facilities which it is obligated
to provide under Article I hereof and shall pay all compensation of officers of
the Fund and all Trustees of the Fund who are affiliated persons of MLAM U.K.
ARTICLE III
Compensation of MLAM U.K.
For the services rendered, the facilities furnished and expenses assumed by
MLAM U.K., FAM shall pay to MLAM U.K. a fee in an amount to be determined from
time to time by FAM and MLAM U.K. but in no event in excess of the amount that
FAM actually receives for providing services to the Fund pursuant to the
Advisory Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
Limitations of Liability of MLAM U.K.
MLAM U.K. shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law
or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the
performance of sub-advisory services rendered with respect to the Fund, except
for willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder. As used in this Article IV, MLAM U.K. shall include any affiliates of
MLAM U.K. performing services for FAM contemplated hereby and directors,
officers and employees of MLAM U.K. and such affiliates.
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ARTICLE V
Activities of MLAM U.K.
The services of MLAM U.K. to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive,
MLAM U.K. and any person controlled by or under common control with MLAM U.K.
(for purposes of this Article V referred to as "affiliates") being free to
render services to others. It is understood that Trustees, officers, employees
and shareholders of the Fund are or may become interested in MLAM U.K. and its
affiliates, as directors, officers, employees and shareholders or otherwise and
that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of MLAM U.K. and its
affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Fund, and that MLAM
U.K. and directors, officers, employees, partners and shareholders of its
affiliates may become interested in the Fund as shareholders or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
MLAM U.K. Statements Pursuant to IMRO Rules
Any complaints concerning MLAM U.K. should be in writing addressed to the
attention of the Managing Director of MLAM U.K. FAM has the right to obtain from
MLAM U.K. a copy of the IMRO complaints procedure and to approach IMRO directly.
MLAM U.K. may make recommendations, subject to the investment restrictions
referred to in Article I herein, regarding Investments Not Readily Realisable
(as that term is used in the IMRO Rules) or investments denominated in a
currency other than British pound sterling. There can be no certainty that
market makers will be prepared to deal in unlisted or thinly traded securities
and an accurate valuation may be hard to obtain. The value of investments
recommended by MLAM U.K. may be subject to exchange rate fluctuations which may
have favorable or unfavorable effects on investments.
MLAM U.K. may make recommendations, subject to the investment restrictions
referred to in Article I herein, regarding options and futures of contracts for
differences. Markets can be highly volatile and such investments carry a high
degree of risk of loss exceeding the original investment and any margin on
deposit.
ARTICLE VII
Duration and Termination of this Agreement
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written
and shall remain in force until the date of termination of the Advisory
Agreement (but not later than two years after the date hereof) and thereafter,
but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by (i) the Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund and (ii) a majority of those Trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by FAM or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, or by MLAM U.K., on sixty days' written notice to the other party.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event if its assignment or
in the event of the termination of the Advisory Agreement. Any termination shall
be without prejudice to the completion of transactions already initiated.
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ARTICLE VIII
Amendments of this Agreement
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by (i) the Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a
majority of outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) a majority of
those Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any such party cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
ARTICLE IX
Definitions of Certain Terms
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities",
"assignment", "affiliated person" and "interested person", when used in this
Agreement, shall have the respective meaning specified in the Investment Company
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however, to such
exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under
said Act.
ARTICLE X
Governing Law
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the
extent that the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act, the latter shall control.
In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Fund Asset Management, L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Treasurer
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Asset Management U.K.
Limited
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Treasurer
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