NASL SERIES TRUST SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
(Assigned to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Inc. on June 28, 2002, which has the rights to
the name “Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx”)
NASL SERIES TRUST
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 31st day of December, 1996, between NASL Financial Services, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation (“NASL Financial” or the “Adviser”), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, LLP,
a Pennsylvania limited liability partnership (the “Subadviser”). In consideration of the mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER |
The Subadviser undertakes to act as investment subadviser to, and, subject to the supervision
of the Trustees of NASL Series Trust (the “Trust”) and the terms of this Agreement, to manage the
investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Portfolios specified in Appendix A to this
Agreement as it shall be amended by the Adviser and the Subadviser from time to time (the
“Portfolios”). The Subadviser will be an independent contractor and will have no authority to act
for or represent the Trust or Adviser in any way except as expressly authorized in this Agreement
or another writing by the Trust and Adviser.
2. | SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST | |
a. | Subject always to the direction and control of the Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser will manage the investments and determine the composition of the assets of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios’ registration statement, as amended. In fulfilling its obligations to manage the investments and reinvestments of the assets of the Portfolios, the Subadviser will: |
i. | obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial and other information affecting the economy generally and individual companies or industries the securities of which are included in the Portfolios or are under consideration for inclusion in the Portfolios; | ||
ii. | formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related investment policies for each such Portfolio as described in the Trust’s registration statement, as amended; | ||
iii. | take whatever steps are necessary to implement these investment programs by the purchase and sale of securities including the placing of orders for such purchases and sales; | ||
iv. | regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the implementation of these investment programs; and | ||
v. | provide determinations, in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Trustees of the Trust, of the fair value of securities held by the Portfolios for which market quotations are not readily available for purposes of enabling the Trust’s Custodian to calculate net asset value. |
b. | The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolios (excluding determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services). | |
c. | The Subadviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all transactions subject to the following conditions: The Subadviser will place all orders with brokers, dealers, or issuers, and will negotiate brokerage commissions if applicable. The Subadviser is directed at all times to seek to execute brokerage transactions for the Portfolios in accordance with such policies or practices as may be established by the Trustees and described in the Trust’s registration statement as amended. The Subadviser may pay a broker-dealer which provides research and |
brokerage services a higher spread or commission for a particular transaction than otherwise might have been charged by another broker-dealer, if the Subadviser determines that the higher spread or commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services that such broker-dealer provides, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the Subadviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to accounts managed by the Subadviser. The Subadviser may use for the benefit of the Subadviser’s other clients, or make available to companies affiliated with the Subadviser or to its directors for the benefit of its clients, any such brokerage and research services that the Subadviser obtains from brokers or dealers. In accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and subject to any other applicable laws and regulations including Section 17(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and Rule 17e-1 thereunder, the Subadviser may engage its affiliates as broker-dealers to effect portfolio transactions in securities for the Portfolios. | ||
d. | The Subadviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Portfolios as are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Investment Advisers Act”) and the rules thereunder. | |
3. | COMPENSATION OF SUBADVISER |
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser with respect to each Portfolio the compensation specified
in Appendix A to this Agreement.
4. | LIABILITY OF SUBADVISER |
Neither the Subadviser nor any of its affiliates, officers, partners or employees nor anyone
who controls the Subadviser (or any of its affiliates, officers, partners or employees) within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) shall be liable to the Adviser
or Trust for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust resulting from any error of judgment made in
the good faith exercise of the Subadviser’s investment discretion in connection with selecting
Portfolio investments except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence of, or from reckless disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its
affiliates, partners or employees; and neither the Subadviser nor any of its affiliates, officers,
partners or employees, nor anyone who controls the Subadviser (or any of its affiliates, officers,
partners or employees) within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall be liable to the
Adviser or Trust for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust resulting from any other matters to
which this Agreement relates (i.e., those other matters specified in Sections 2 and
8 of this Agreement), except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of, or from disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its
affiliates partners or employees.
5. | SUPPLEMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS |
The Subadviser may enter into arrangements with other persons affiliated with the Subadviser
to better enable it to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement for the provision of certain
personnel and facilities to the Subadviser.
6. | CONFLICTS OF INTEREST |
It is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be
interested in the Subadviser as trustees, officers, partners or otherwise; that directors,
officers, agents and partners of the Subadviser are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees,
officers, shareholders or otherwise; that the Subadviser may be interested in the Trust; and that
the existence of any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of any transactions
hereunder except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust and
the Partnership Agareement of the Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable
law.
2
7. | REGULATION |
The Subadviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies having jurisdiction
over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any information, reports or other material
which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws
and regulations.
8. | DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT |
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Portfolio on the later of (i) its
execution, (ii) the effective date of the registration statement of the Portfolio and (iii) the
date of the meeting of the shareholders of the Portfolio, at which meeting this Agreement is
approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the
Investment Company Act) of the Portfolio. The Agreement will continue in effect for a period more
than two years from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually either by the Trustees of the Trust or by a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of each of the Portfolios, provided that in either event such continuance shall
also be approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested
persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The required shareholder approval of
the Agreement or of any continuance of the Agreement shall be effective with respect to any
Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the series (as defined in Rule
18f-2(h) under the Investment Company Act) of shares of that Portfolio votes to approve the
Agreement or its continuance, notwithstanding that the Agreement or its continuance may not have
been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio
affected by the Agreement or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
If the shareholders of any Portfolio fail to approve the Agreement or any continuance of the
Agreement that is submitted to shareholders for approval, the Subadviser will continue to act as
investment subadviser with respect to such Portfolio pending the required approval of the Agreement
or its continuance or of any contract with the Subadviser or a different adviser or subadviser or
other definitive action; provided, that the compensation received by the Subadviser in respect of
such Portfolio during such period is in compliance with Rule 15a-4 under the Investment Company
Act.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the
Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust,
or with respect to any Portfolio by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Portfolio, on sixty days’ written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the Adviser
or Subadviser on sixty days’ written notice to the Trust and the other party. This agreement will
automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) or in the event the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser
and the Trust terminates for any reason.
9. | PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY SUBADVISER |
The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the occurrence of any of the
following events:
a. | the Subadviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement; | |
b. | the Subadviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and | |
c. | there is a change in the membership of the subadvisers partnership; | |
d. | there is a change of control of the Subadviser which constitutes an assignment of this Agreement under the 1940 Act; | |
e. | the portfolio manager of any Portfolio changes. | |
10. | AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT |
3
Except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act or the rules and regulations
thereunder or pursuant to any exemptive order issued thereunder, this Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of each of the Portfolios affected by the amendment and by the vote
of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of any party to this
Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The
required shareholder approval shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio vote to approve the amendment, notwithstanding that
the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of (a)
any other Portfolio affected by the amendment or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
11. | HEADINGS |
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only
and shall not constitute a part hereof.
12. | NOTICES |
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered or mailed to
the last known business address of the Trust or applicable party in person or by registered mail or
a private mail or delivery service providing the sender with notice of receipt. Notice shall be
deemed given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this paragraph.
13. | SEVERABILITY |
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in law or in equity,
the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as if such portion had never been
contained herein.
14. | GOVERNING LAW |
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act. To the extent that the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the
provisions in this Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act,
the latter shall control.
15. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 28, 1988, a copy of which, together
with all amendments thereto (the “Declaration”), is on file in the office of the Secretary of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name “NASL Series Trust” refers to the Trustees
under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no
Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be held to any personal
liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property, for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim, in connection with the affairs of the Trust or any portfolio thereof, but only
the assets belonging to the Trust, or to the particular portfolio with which the obligee or
claimant dealt, shall be liable.
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by
their duly authorized officers as of the date first mentioned above.
[SEAL] | NASL Financial Services, Inc. | |||||
by: | /s/Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
by: | /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |||||
[SEAL] | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP | |||||
by: | /s/M. C. Xxxxxxxxxxx | |||||
0
XXXXXXXX X
The Subadviser shall serve as investment subadviser for the following portfolio of the Trust.
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser, as full compensation for all services provided under this
Agreement, the fee computed separately for each such Portfolio at an annual rate as follows (the
“Subadviser Percentage Fee”):
Value Portfolio: of the first $50,000,000, between $50,000,000 and $200,000,000, between
$200,000,000 and $500,000,000 and on the excess over $500,000,000 of the current value of
the net assets of the Portfolio;
High Yield Portfolio: of the first $50,000,000, between $50,000,000 and $200,000,000,
between $200,000,000 and $500,000,000 and on the excess over $500,000,000 of the current
value of the net assets of the Portfolio;
The Subadviser Percentage Fee for each Portfolio shall be accrued for each calendar day and
the sum of the daily fee accruals shall be paid monthly to the Subadviser. The daily fee accruals
will be computed by multiplying the fraction of one over the number of calendar days in the year by
the applicable annual rate described in the preceding paragraph, and multiplying this product by
the net assets of the Portfolio as determined in accordance with the Trust’s prospectus and
statement of additional information as of the close of business on the previous business day on
which the Trust was open for business.
If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month, the fee (if
any) for the period from the effective date to the end of such month or from the beginning of such
month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion
which such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
6