INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT
AGREEMENT made this 22nd day of June, 1998 by and between ANCHOR STRATEGIC
ASSETS TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (hereinafter called the "Trust")
and ANCHOR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COPR., an Massachusetts corporation
(hereinafter sometimes called the "Advisor").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Advisor wish to enter into an agreement setting
forth the terms on which the Advisor will perform certain investment advisory
and management services for the Trust;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
hereinafter contained, the Trust and the Advisor agree as follows:
l. The Trust hereby employs the Advisor to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of the Trust, subject to the supervision of the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, for the period and on the terms in this agreement set
forth. The Advisor hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period,
at its own expense, to render the services and to assume the obligations herein
set forth, for the compensation herein provided. The Advisor 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 Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
2. The Advisor, at its own expense, shall furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Trust office space in the offices of the Advisor or in such other place
as may be agreed upon from time to time, and arrange for all necessary office
facilities, equipment and personnel for managing the investments of the Trust,
and shall arrange, if desired by the Trust, for members of the Advisor's
organization to serve without salaries from the Trust as officers or agents of
the Trust. The Advisor assumes and shall pay or reimburse the Trust for: (l) the
compensation (if any) of the Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated persons of
the Advisor and of all officers of the Trust as such and (2) all expenses
incurred by the Advisor or by the Trust in connection with the management of the
investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Trust, other than those
specifically assumed by the Trust herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided
above, the Trust assumes and shall pay, (l) all charges and expenses of any
custodian or depository appointed by the Trust for the safekeeping of its cash,
securities and other property, (2) the charges and expenses of auditors and of
keeping the books of the Trust, (3) the charges and expenses of any transfer
agents and registrars appointed by the Trust, (4) the fees of all Trustees not
affiliated with the Advisor, (5) broader commissions and issue and transfer
taxes chargeable to the Trust in connection with securities transactions to
which the Trust is a party, (6) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the
Trust to federal, state or other governmental agencies, (7) the cost of stock
certificates representing shares of the Trust, (8) fees and expenses involved in
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registering and maintaining registrations of the Trust and of its shares with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualifying its shares under state or
other securities laws including the preparation and printing of prospectuses for
filing with said Commission and other authorities, (9) all expenses of
shareholders' and trustees' meetings and of preparing and printing reports to
shareholders, (l0) charges and expenses of legal counsel for the Trust in
connection with legal matters relating to the Trust, including without
limitation, legal services rendered in connection with the Trust's corporate
existence, corporate and financial structure and relations with its
shareholders, registrations and qualifications of securities under federal,
state and other laws, issues of securities and expenses which the Trust has
herein assumed, and (11) the charges of the Trust's administrator for providing
and coordinating the foregoing administrative services to the Trust.
The services of the Advisor to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed
exclusive, and the Advisor shall be free to render similar services to others so
long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
As compensation for the Advisor's services to the Trust, the Trust shall
pay to the Advisor a fee at the rate of 1 1/2% per annum of the average of
the daily aggregate net asset values of the Trust computed as of the close of
business of each business day.
Such compensation shall be payable in arrears at such intervals, not more
frequently than monthly and not less frequently than quarterly (except for an
additional fee), as the Board of Trustees of the Trust may from time to time
determine; provided that such compensation shall be paid proportionately for any
period ending with the termination of this agreement.
3. The Trust shall cause its books and accounts to be audited at least
once each year by a reputable, independent public accountant or organization of
public accountants who shall render a report to the Trust.
4. Subject to and in accordance with the Declaration of Trust of the Trust
and of the Advisor respectively, it is understood that the Trustees, officers,
agents and stockholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Advisor (or
any successor thereof) as directors, officers or stockholders, or otherwise,
that directors, officers, agents and stockholders of the Advisor are or may be
interested in the Trust as Trustees, officers, stockholders or otherwise, that
the Advisor (or any such successor) is or may be interested in the Trust as
stockholder or otherwise and that the effect of any such adverse interests shall
be governed by said Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws.
5. No Trustee or shareholder of the Trust shall be personally liable under
this Agreement, all such liability being limited to the assets of the Trust.
6. The Advisor shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or
suffered to be taken by it in its reasonable judgment, in good faith and
believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers
conferred upon it by this Agreement, or in accordance with (or in the absence
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of) specific directions or instructions from the Trust, provided, however, that
such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Advisor's willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
7. This Agreement shall continue in effect from the date hereof until June
21, 2000 and from year to year thereafter (a) if its continuance is specifically
approved on or before said date and at least annually thereafter by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust and (b) if the terms and any renewal of this Agreement
have been approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, who
are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons, as that term is defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, of any such party, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, provided, however,
that (1) this Agreement may at any time be terminated without the payment of any
penalty either by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, on not more than
sixty days' prior written notice to the Advisor, (2) this Agreement shall
immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940) by either party to this Agreement, and (3) this
Agreement may be terminated by the Advisor on ninety days' prior written notice
to the Trust. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing
addresses and delivered or mailed postpaid to the other party at any office of
such party.
This agreement may be amended at any time by mutual consent of the
parties, provided that such consent on the part of the Trust shall have been
approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Trust. A "majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust" shall
have, for all purposes of this Agreement, the meaning provided therefore in said
Investment Company Act.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement on the
day and year first above written.
ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
By: /s/ XXXXX X.X. XXXXXX
Chairman
ANCHOR INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORP.
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
President
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