INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of June 4, 1999 by and between EQUITY 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO, a New York trust (herein called the "Trust") and BANKERS TRUST
COMPANY (herein called the "Investment Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Investment Adviser to render
investment advisory and other services to the Trust with respect to certain of
its series of shares of beneficial interests as may currently exist or be
created in the future (each, a "Fund") as listed on Exhibit A hereto, and the
Investment Adviser is willing to so render such services on the terms
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement
W I T N E S S E T H:
In consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained,
it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Investment Adviser to act
as investment adviser to each Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Agreement. The Investment Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
2. Management. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of
the Trust, the Investment Adviser will provide a continuous investment program
for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all
securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents in the Fund. The Investment
Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other investments
will be purchased, retained or sold by each Fund. The Investment Adviser will
provide the services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with the investment
objective(s) and policies of each Fund as stated in the Fund's then-current
prospectus and statement of additional information (or the Fund's then current
registration statement on Form N-1A as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and the then-current offering memorandum if the Fund is
not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"). The
Investment Adviser further agrees that it:
(a) will conform with all applicable rules and regulations of
the SEC (herein called the "Rules") and with all applicable provisions of the
1933 Act; as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and will, in
addition, conduct
its activities under this Agreement in accordance with regulations of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pertaining to the investment advisory
activities of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries;
(b) will place orders pursuant to its investment
determinations for each Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker
or dealer selected by it. In placing orders with brokers and dealers, the
Investment Adviser will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the best net
price and the most favorable execution of its orders, after taking into account
all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the
security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution
capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if
any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. Consistent
with this obligation, the Investment Adviser may, to the extent permitted by
law, purchase and sell portfolio securities to and from brokers and dealers who
provide brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of
the 0000 Xxx) to or for the benefit of any fund and/or other accounts over which
the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates exercises investment discretion.
Subject to the review of the Trust's Board of Trustees from time to time with
respect to the extent and continuation of the policy, the Investment Adviser is
authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research
services a commission for effecting a securities transaction which is in excess
of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting that transaction if the Investment Adviser determines in good faith
that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage
and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of
either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of the
Investment Adviser with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises
investment discretion; and
(c) will maintain books and records with respect to the
securities transactions of each Fund and will render to the Trust's Board of
Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board may request.
3. Services Not Exclusive. The investment advisory services rendered by
the Investment Adviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the
Investment Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others so long as
its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
4. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
of the Rules under the 1940 Act, the Investment 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
request of the Trust. The Investment Adviser further agrees to preserve for the
periods prescribed by Rule 31 a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31 a-1 under the 1940 Act and to comply in full with the
requirements of Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act pertaining to
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the maintenance of books and records.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser
will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under
this Agreement other than the cost of purchasing securities (including brokerage
commissions, if any) for the Fund.
6. Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed
pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Investment Adviser, and the
Investment Adviser will accept as full compensation therefor, fees, computed
daily and payable monthly, an amount equal to the rate of 0.075% of the
Portfolio's average daily net assets.
7. Limitation of Liability of the Investment Adviser: Indemnification.
(a) The Investment Adviser shall not be liable for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection
with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a
breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for
services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of the Investment Adviser in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement;
(b) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in
Section 7(c) below:
(i) the Investment Adviser (hereinafter referred to
as a "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the respective Fund to the
fullest extent permitted by law, against liability and against all expenses
reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding in which he becomes involved, as a party or otherwise, by virtue of
his being or having been the Investment Adviser of the Fund, and against amounts
paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;
(ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or
"proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil,
criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or
thereafter, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without
limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement,
fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(c) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a
Covered Person:
(i) who shall have been adjudicated by a court or
body before which
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the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or to one or more
Funds' investors by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, or
(B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was
in the best interest of a Fund; or
(ii) in the event of a settlement, unless there has
been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office;
(A) by the court or other body approving
the settlement; or
(B) by at least a majority of those
Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the
matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
trial-type inquiry); or
(C) by written opinion of independent legal
counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full
trial-type inquiry); provided, however, that any investor in a Fund may, by
appropriate legal proceedings, challenge any such determination by the Trustees
or by independent counsel.
(d) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be
insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall
not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may
now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of
such person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification
to which Trust personnel and any other persons, other than a Covered Person, may
be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(e) Expenses in connection with the preparation and
presentation of a defense to any claim, suit or proceeding of the character
described in subsection (b) of this Section 7 may be paid by the Trust on behalf
of the respective Fund from time to time prior to final disposition thereto upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such
amount will be paid over by him to the Trust on behalf of the respective Fund if
it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under
this Section 7; provided, however, that either (i) such Covered Person shall
have provided appropriate security for such undertaking or (ii) the Trust shall
be insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (iii)
either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the
Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts
as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation, that there is reason
to believe that such Covered Person will be entitled to
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indemnification under this Section 7.
8. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall be effective as to a
Fund as of the date the Fund commences investment operations after this
Agreement shall have been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust with
respect to that Fund and the Investor(s) in the Fund in the manner contemplated
by Section 15 of the 1940 Act and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein,
shall continue until the second anniversary of such date. Thereafter, if not
terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect as to such Fund for
successive periods of 12 months each, provided such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those members of the
Board of Trustees of the Trust 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, or (b) by Vote of a Majority of the
Outstanding Voting Securities of the Trust; provided, however, that this
Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, by Vote of a Majority of the
Outstanding Voting Securities of the Trust on 60 days' written notice to the
Investment Adviser, or by the Investment Adviser as to the Trust at any time,
without payment of any penalty, on 90 days' written notice to the Trust. This
Agreement will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (as used in
this Agreement, the terms "Vote of a Majority of the Outstanding Voting
Securities," "Interested Person" and "Assignment' shall have the same meanings
as such terms have in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulatory constructions
thereunder.)
9. Amendment of this Agreement. No material term 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, and no amendment of a material term of this
Agreement shall be effective with respect to a Fund, until approved by Vote of a
Majority of the Outstanding Voting Securities of that Fund.
10. Representations and Warranties. The Investment Adviser hereby
represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Investment Adviser is exempt from registration under
the 1940 Act:
(b) The Investment Adviser has all requisite authority to
enter into, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement;
(c) This Agreement is legal, valid and binding, and
enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
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(d) The performance by the Investment Adviser of its
obligations under this Agreement does not conflict with any law to which it is
subject.
11. Covenants. The Investment Adviser hereby covenants and agrees that,
so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect:
(a) The Investment Adviser shall remain either exempt from, or
registered under, the registration provisions of the Advisers Act; and
(b) The performance by the Investment Adviser of its
obligations under this Agreement shall not conflict with any law to which it is
then subject.
12. Notices. Any notice required to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage
prepaid, (a) to the Investment Adviser, Mutual Funds Services, 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx (One Bankers Trust Plaza), New York, New York 10006 or (b) to the Trust,
c/o BT Alex. Xxxxx, Inc., Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
13. Waiver. With full knowledge of the circumstances and the effect of
its action, the Investment Adviser hereby waives any and all rights which it may
acquire in the future against the property of any investor in a Fund, other than
shares in that Fund, which arise out of any action or inaction of the Trust
under this Agreement.
14. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be
affected thereby.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New York, without reference to principles of conflicts of
law. The Trust is organized under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to
a Declaration of Trust dated December 11, 1991, as amended. No Trustee, officer
or employee of the Trust shall be personally bound by or liable hereunder, nor
shall resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim hereunder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first
above written.
EQUITY 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Secretary
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
