2
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
This MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this 1st day
of August, 2006, by and between WESTERN ASSET Municipal
Partners Fund II Inc. (the "Fund") and Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund
Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Manager").
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as a management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Manager is engaged primarily in rendering
investment advisory, management and administrative services and
is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to retain the Manager to provide
investment advisory, management, and administrative services to
the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Manager is willing to furnish such services on
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual
covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints the Manager to act as investment
adviser and administrator of the Fund for the period and on the
terms set forth in this Agreement. The Manager accepts such
appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth,
for the compensation herein provided.
2. The Fund shall at all times keep the Manager fully informed
with regard to the securities owned by it, its funds available,
or to become available, for investment, and generally as to the
condition of its affairs. It shall furnish the Manager with such
other documents and information with regard to its affairs as the
Manager may from time to time reasonably request.
3. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of
Directors (the "Board"), the Manager shall regularly provide the
Fund with investment research, advice, management and supervision
and shall furnish a continuous investment program for the Fund's
portfolio of securities and other investments consistent with the
Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions, as
stated in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information. The Manager shall determine from time to time what
securities and other investments will be purchased, retained,
sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion of the assets of
the Fund's portfolio will be held in the various securities and
other investments in which the Fund invests, and shall implement
those decisions, all subject to the provisions of the Fund's
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws (collectively, the
"Governing Documents"), the 1940 Act, and the applicable rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and interpretive guidance issued
thereunder by the SEC staff and any other applicable federal and
state law, as well as the investment objectives, policies and
restrictions of the Fund referred to above, and any other
specific policies adopted by the Board and disclosed to the
Manager. The Manager is authorized as the agent of the Fund to
give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries
of securities and other investments and payments of cash for the
account of the Fund. Subject to applicable provisions of the
1940 Act and direction from the Board, the investment program to
be provided hereunder may entail the investment of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Fund in one or more
investment companies. The Manager will place orders pursuant to
its investment determinations for the Fund either directly with
the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer,
futures commission merchant or others selected by it. In
connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the
placing of such orders, subject to applicable law, brokers or
dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research
services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"))
to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Manager or
its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Manager is
authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage
and research services a commission for executing a portfolio
transaction for the Fund which is in excess of the amount of
commission another broker or dealer would have charged for
effecting that transaction if the Manager determines in good
faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to
the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such
broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed in terms of
either that particular transaction or the overall
responsibilities which the Manager and its affiliates have with
respect to accounts over which they exercise investment
discretion. The Board may adopt policies and procedures that
modify and restrict the Manager's authority regarding the
execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions provided herein.
The Manager shall also provide advice and recommendations with
respect to other aspects of the business and affairs of the Fund,
shall exercise voting rights, rights to consent to corporate
action and any other rights pertaining to the Fund's portfolio
securities subject to such direction as the Board may provide,
and shall perform such other functions of investment management
and supervision as may be directed by the Board.
(b) Subject to the direction and control of the Board, the
Manager shall perform such administrative and management services
as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Fund as
necessary for the operation of the Fund, such as (i) supervising
the overall administration of the Fund, including negotiation of
contracts and fees with and the monitoring of performance and
xxxxxxxx of the Fund's transfer agent, shareholder servicing
agents, custodian and other independent contractors or agents,
(ii) providing certain compliance, fund accounting, regulatory
reporting, and tax reporting services, (iii) preparing or
participating in the preparation of Board materials, registration
statements, proxy statements and reports and other communications
to shareholders, (iv) maintaining the Fund's existence, and (v)
during such times as shares are publicly offered, maintaining the
registration and qualification of the Fund's shares under federal
and state laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager shall
not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and
shall not be responsible for, the distribution of the shares of
the Fund, nor shall the Manager be deemed to have assumed or have
any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed
by any transfer agent, fund accounting agent, custodian,
shareholder servicing agent or other agent, in each case employed
by the Fund to perform such functions.
(c) The Fund hereby authorizes any entity or person
associated with the Manager which is a member of a national
securities exchange to effect any transaction on the exchange for
the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of
the Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the
Fund hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such
transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager agrees that it will
not deal with itself, or with members of the Board or any
principal underwriter of the Fund, as principals or agents in
making purchases or sales of securities or other property for the
account of the Fund, nor will it purchase any securities from an
underwriting or selling group in which the Manager or its
affiliates is participating, or arrange for purchases and sales
of securities between the Fund and another account advised by the
Manager or its affiliates, except in each case as permitted by
the 1940 Act and in accordance with such policies and procedures
as may be adopted by the Fund from time to time, and will comply
with all other provisions of the Governing Documents and the
Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
relative to the Manager and its directors and officers.
4. Subject to the Board's approval, the Manager or the Fund may
enter into contracts with one or more investment subadvisers or
subadministrators, including without limitation, affiliates of
the Manager, in which the Manager delegates to such investment
subadvisers or subadministrators any or all its duties specified
hereunder, on such terms as the Manager will determine to be
necessary, desirable or appropriate, provided that in each case
the Manager shall supervise the activities of each such
subadviser or subadministrator and further provided that such
contracts impose on any investment subadviser or subadministrator
bound thereby all the conditions to which the Manager is subject
hereunder and that such contracts are entered into in accordance
with and meet all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
5. (a) The Manager, at its expense, shall supply the Board and
officers of the Fund with all information and reports reasonably
required by them and reasonably available to the Manager and
shall furnish the Fund with office facilities, including space,
furniture and equipment and all personnel reasonably necessary
for the operation of the Fund. The Manager shall oversee the
maintenance of all books and records with respect to the Fund's
securities transactions and the keeping of the Fund's books of
account in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws
and regulations. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-
3 under the 1940 Act, the Manager hereby agrees that any records
that it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund, and
further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such
records upon the Fund's request. The Manager further agrees to
arrange for the preservation of the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The Manager shall
authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and
employees, who may be elected as Board members or officers of the
Fund, to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
(b) The Manager shall bear all expenses, and shall furnish
all necessary services, facilities and personnel, in connection
with its responsibilities under this Agreement. Other than as
herein specifically indicated, the Manager shall not be
responsible for the Fund's expenses, including, without
limitation, advisory fees; distribution fees; interest; taxes;
governmental fees; voluntary assessments and other expenses
incurred in connection with membership in investment company
organizations; organization costs of the Fund; the cost
(including brokerage commissions, transaction fees or charges, if
any) in connection with the purchase or sale of the Fund's
securities and other investments and any losses in connection
therewith; fees and expenses of custodians, transfer agents,
registrars, independent pricing vendors or other agents; legal
expenses; loan commitment fees; expenses relating to share
certificates; expenses relating to the issuing and redemption or
repurchase of the Fund's shares and servicing shareholder
accounts; expenses of registering and qualifying the Fund's
shares for sale under applicable federal and state law; expenses
of preparing, setting in print, printing and distributing
prospectuses and statements of additional information and any
supplements thereto, reports, proxy statements, notices and
dividends to the Fund's shareholders; costs of stationery;
website costs; costs of meetings of the Board or any committee
thereof, meetings of shareholders and other meetings of the Fund;
Board fees; audit fees; travel expenses of officers, members of
the Board and employees of the Fund, if any; and the Fund's pro
rata portion of premiums on any fidelity bond and other insurance
covering the Fund and its officers, Board members and employees;
litigation expenses and any non-recurring or extraordinary
expenses as may arise, including, without limitation, those
relating to actions, suits or proceedings to which the Fund is a
party and the legal obligation which the Fund may have to
indemnify the Fund's Board members and officers with respect
thereto.
6. No member of the Board, officer or employee of the Fund
shall receive from the Fund any salary or other compensation as
such member of the Board, officer or employee while he is at the
same time a director, officer, or employee of the Manager or any
affiliated company of the Manager, except as the Board may
decide. This paragraph shall not apply to Board members,
executive committee members, consultants and other persons who
are not regular members of the Manager's or any affiliated
company's staff.
7. As compensation for the services performed and the
facilities furnished and expenses assumed by the Manager,
including the services of any consultants retained by the
Manager, the Fund shall pay the Manager, as promptly as possible
after the last day of each month, a fee, computed daily at an
annual rate set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto, provided
however, that if the Fund invests all or substantially all of its
assets in another registered investment company for which the
Manager or an affiliate of the Manager serves as investment
adviser or investment manager, the annual fee computed as set
forth on such Schedule A shall be reduced by the aggregate
management fees allocated to that Fund for the Fund's then-
current fiscal year from such other registered investment
company. The first payment of the fee shall be made as promptly
as possible at the end of the month succeeding the effective date
of this Agreement, and shall constitute a full payment of the fee
due the Manager for all services prior to that date. If this
Agreement is terminated as of any date not the last day of a
month, such fee shall be paid as promptly as possible after such
date of termination, shall be based on the average weekly net
assets of the Fund in that period from the beginning of such
month to such date of termination, and shall be that proportion
of such average weekly net assets as the number of business days
in such period bears to the number of business days in such
month. The average weekly net assets of the Fund shall in all
cases be based only on business days and be computed as of the
time of the regular close of business of the New York Stock
Exchange, or such other time as may be determined by the Board.
8. The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement
other than to render the services called for hereunder, in good
faith, and 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 execution of securities
transactions for the Fund, provided that nothing in this
Agreement shall protect the Manager against any liability to the
Fund to which the Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties hereunder. As used in this Section
8, the term "Manager" shall include any affiliates of the Manager
performing services for the Fund contemplated hereby and the
partners, shareholders, directors, officers and employees of the
Manager and such affiliates.
9. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any director, officer, or employee of the Manager who may also
be a Board member, officer, or employee of the Fund, to engage in
any other business or to devote his time and attention in part to
the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of
a similar nature or a dissimilar nature, nor to limit or restrict
the right of the Manager to engage in any other business or to
render services of any kind, including investment advisory and
management services, to any other fund, firm, individual or
association. If the purchase or sale of securities consistent
with the investment policies of the Fund or one or more other
accounts of the Manager is considered at or about the same time,
transactions in such securities will be allocated among the
accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Manager. Such
transactions may be combined, in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations, and consistent with the Manager's policies and
procedures as presented to the Board from time to time.
10. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Fund's "net assets"
shall be determined as provided in the Fund's Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information and the terms "assignment,"
"interested person," and "majority of the outstanding voting
securities" shall have the meanings given to them by Section 2(a)
of the 1940 Act, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by
the SEC by any rule, regulation or order.
11. This Agreement will become effective with respect to the
Fund on the date set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto, provided
that it shall have been approved by the Fund's Board and by the
shareholders of the Fund in accordance with the requirements of
the 1940 Act and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein,
will continue in effect until November 30, 2007. Thereafter, if
not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect with
respect to the Fund, so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually (i) by the Board or (ii) by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,
provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by
a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons of
any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
12. This Agreement is terminable with respect to the Fund
without penalty by the Board or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, in each case on not
more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the
Manager, or by the Manager upon not less than 90 days' written
notice to the Fund, and will be terminated upon the mutual
written consent of the Manager and the Fund. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment by
the Manager and shall not be assignable by the Fund without the
consent of the Manager.
13. 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, and no
material amendment of the Agreement shall be effective until
approved, if so required by the 1940 Act, by vote of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities.
14. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject
matter hereof. Should any part of this Agreement 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 on and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors.
15. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.
[signature page to follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their officers thereunto duly
authorized.
WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS
FUND II INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR,
LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
Schedule A
WESTERN ASSET Municipal Partners Fund II Inc.
Date:
August 1, 2006
Fee:
The following percentage of the Fund's average weekly net assets:
0.55%
