USALLIANZ VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made this 29th day of April, 2005 by and among USAllianz
Advisers, LLC (the "Manager"), USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust (the
"Trust"), and Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC ("Portfolio Manager").
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware business trust of the series type
organized under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 13, 1999 (the
"Declaration") and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, management series-type investment
company;
WHEREAS, the Manager has been appointed by the Trust, pursuant to an
investment management agreement dated April 27, 2001 ("Investment Management
Agreement"), to act as investment manager to the series of the Trust (the
"Managed Funds");
WHEREAS, the Manager wishes to retain the Portfolio Manager to render
portfolio management services to the Trust with respect to the portfolio(s) set
forth in Exhibit A hereto (the "Fund(s)") and the Portfolio Manager is willing
to furnish such services;
WHEREAS, the Portfolio Manager is registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager and the Portfolio Manager as
follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. Pursuant to authority granted in the Investment Management
Agreement and with the approval of the Trustees, the Manager hereby appoints the
Portfolio Manager, to act as subadviser for the Fund(s) for the periods and on
the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser accepts such appointment and
agrees to furnish the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein
provided.
2. PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT DUTIES. Subject to the overall supervision of the
Trustees of the Trust and the Manager, the Portfolio Manager is hereby granted
full responsibility and discretion, with respect to such portion of the assets
of the Fund(s) as shall be allocated to it by the Manager for management
pursuant to this Agreement from time to time (the "Assets"), for (a) the
management of the Assets in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives,
policies and limitations as stated in its prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information included as part of the Trust's registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as they may be amended from time
to time ("Registration Statement"), copies of which shall be provided to the
Portfolio Manager by the Manager; and (b) the placement of orders to purchase
and sell securities for the Fund. At the request of the Trustees or the Manager,
the Portfolio Manager shall report to the Board of Trustees of the Trust or
Manager regularly at such times and in such detail as the Board or Manager may
from time to time determine to be appropriate. The Manager has herewith
furnished the Portfolio Manager copies of the Fund's current Prospectus,
Statement of Additional Information, Declaration and Bylaws and agrees during
the continuance of this Agreement to furnish the Portfolio Manager copies of any
amendments or supplements
thereto before or at the time the amendments or supplements become effective.
The Portfolio Manager will be entitled to rely on all such documents furnished
to it by the Manager or the Trust.
The Portfolio Manager further agrees that, in performing its duties
hereunder, it will:
(a) comply with the applicable sections of the 1940 Act and all applicable
rules and regulations thereunder, the Advisers Act, the Internal Revenue Code
(the "Code") and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations,
and with any applicable procedures adopted by the Trustees copies of which are
provided to the Portfolio Manager by the Manager or the Trust;
(b) use reasonable efforts to manage the Assets, and to coordinate its
activities with the Manager and any other adviser of the applicable Fund, so
that the Fund will qualify, and continue to qualify, as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder;
(c) place orders for the investment of the Assets directly with the issuer,
or with any broker or dealer, in accordance with applicable policies expressed
in the prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information with respect to the
Fund and in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Specifically, in
executing portfolio transactions and selecting broker-dealers, the Portfolio
Manager will use its best efforts to seek best execution on behalf of each Fund.
In assessing the best execution available for any transaction, the Portfolio
Manager shall consider 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-dealer, the reasonableness of the
commission, if any (all for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis).
In evaluating the best execution available, and in selecting the broker-dealer
to execute a particular transaction, the Portfolio Manager may also consider the
brokerage and research services (as those terms are used in Section 28(e) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) provided to a Fund and for other accounts
over which the Portfolio Manager or an affiliate of the Portfolio Manager
exercises investment discretion. The Portfolio Manager is authorized to pay a
broker-dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for
executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of
commissions another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that
transaction if, but only if the Portfolio Manager determines in good faith that
such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by such broker-dealer viewed in terms of that
particular transaction or in terms of all of the accounts over which investment
discretion is so exercised.
Provided the investment objectives of the Fund and applicable law are adhered
to, the Portfolio Manager may aggregate sale and purchase orders of securities
and other investments held in the Fund with similar orders being made
simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager or with
accounts of affiliates of the Portfolio Manager, if in the Portfolio Manager's
reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit
to the Fund, taking into consideration an advantageous selling or purchase
price, brokerage commissions and other expenses, and beneficial timing of
transactions, or a combination of these and other factors;
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(d) furnish to the Trust, the Manager whatever statistical information the
Trust , the Manager may reasonably request with respect to the Assets or
contemplated investments; keep the Manager and the Trustees informed of
developments materially affecting the Fund's portfolio; and, on the Portfolio
Manager's own initiative, furnish to the Trust, the Manager from time to time
whatever information the Portfolio Manager believes appropriate for this
purpose;
(e) make available to the Trust's administrator (the "Administrator"), the
Trust or the Manager, promptly upon their request, such copies of its investment
records and ledgers with respect to the Fund as may be required to assist the
Administrator, the Trust or the Manager in their compliance with applicable laws
and regulations. The Portfolio Manager will furnish the Trustees or the Manager
with such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund as the Trustees or the
Manager may reasonably request;
(f) immediately notify the Trust and the Manager in the event that the
Portfolio Manager or any of their affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is
subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Portfolio Manager from
serving as a subadviser pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) becomes aware that it
is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC
or other regulatory authority. The Portfolio Manager further agrees to notify
the Trust and the Manager immediately of any material fact known to the
Portfolio Manager respecting or relating to the Portfolio Manager that is not
contained in the Trust's Registration Statement regarding the Fund, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein,
and of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material
respect;
(g) in making investment decisions with respect to the Assets, use no
material non-public information that may be in its possession, nor will the
Portfolio Manager seek to obtain any such information.
(h) disclose portfolio holdings to no one other than the Manager, the
Trust, or the Administrator except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or
in the ordinary course of business in connection with placing orders for the
purchase and sale of securities or obtaining investment licenses in various
countries or the opening of custody accounts and dealing with settlement agents
in various countries, or if such disclosure is required by applicable federal or
state law or regulations or regulatory authorities having the requisite
authority or if such disclosure is to Portfolio Manager's affiliates or third
party service providers for reporting or to provide services to the Fund,
consultants, accountants or legal advisors, all of whom are required to keep
such information confidential.
(i) in connection with securities transactions, the Portfolio Manager (or
any affiliated person of the Portfolio Manager) and any other portfolio manager
that is advising an affiliate of the Fund entering into the transaction are
prohibited from consulting with each other concerning transactions for the Fund
in securities or other assets. This prohibition does not apply to communications
in connection with the Manager's (i) responsibility for evaluating and
monitoring the portfolio manager(s); (ii) determination of the allocation of
assets among the portfolio managers; and (iii) investment discretion with
respect to the investment of Fund assets not otherwise assigned to a portfolio
manager.
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Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Portfolio Manager shall
not be responsible hereunder for compliance monitoring, reporting or testing or
for preparing or maintaining books and records for the Fund or otherwise
providing accounting services to the Fund and such services shall be provided by
others retained by the Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall have access to such
reports and records to assist it in performing its services hereunder.
The Portfolio Manager shall not be responsible for pursuing legal causes of
action that may be based on the purchase, sale or holding of a security by a
Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall, however, provide notice to the Manager of any
such potential claim of which it is aware and provide reasonable cooperation to
the Manager in any possible proceeding.
3. BANKING AND CUSTODY ACCOUNTS. The Portfolio Manager shall not be
required to provide or arrange for banking accounts for the Fund or to hold
money or assets on the Fund's behalf. The Portfolio Manager shall not be
required to act as the registered holder of any investment or to provide or
procure any custody or settlement services in connection with its services
hereunder. The Fund has entered into one or more agreements with providers of
banking and custody services (Custodians) whom the Fund will authorize to act
upon instructions from properly authorized representatives of the Portfolio
Manager, in connection with its services hereunder, directing the Custodian(s)
to pay, deliver or receive cash and securities in settlement of transactions
authorized by the Portfolio Manager on the Fund's behalf. The Fund's
agreement(s) with such Custodian(s) will require the Custodian(s) to settle all
transactions directed by the Portfolio Manager on the Fund's behalf.
4. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
The Portfolio Manager shall not be required to pay any expenses of the
Trust or the Fund other than those specifically allocated to the Portfolio
Manager in this section 4. In particular, but without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Portfolio Manager shall not be responsible for the following
expenses of the Trust or the Fund: organization and offering expenses of the
Trust and the Fund (including out-of-pocket expenses, but not including the
Portfolio Manager's overhead and employee costs); fees payable to or expenses of
other advisers or consultants; legal expenses; auditing and accounting expenses;
interest expenses; telephone, telex, facsimile, postage and other communications
expenses; taxes and governmental fees; fees, dues and expenses incurred by or
with respect to the Trust or the Fund in connection with membership in
investment company trade organizations; costs of insurance; fees and expenses of
the Trust's Administrator or of any custodian, subcustodian, transfer agent,
registrar, or dividend disbursing agent of the Trust or the Fund; payments for
portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents, accountants, bankers
and other specialists, if any; other expenses in connection with the issuance,
offering, distribution, redemption or sale of securities issued by the Fund;
expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering and
qualifying shares of the Fund for sale; freight, insurance and other charges in
connection with the shipment of the Fund's portfolio securities; brokerage
commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio securities
or other assets of the Fund, or of entering into other transactions or engaging
in any investment practices with respect to the Fund; expenses of printing and
distributing prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, reports,
notices and dividends to shareholders; costs of preparing, printing and filing
documents with regulatory agencies; costs of
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stationery and other office supplies; expenses of any litigation or other
extraordinary or nonrecurring events and expenses relating to the issuance,
registration and qualification of the shares of the Fund; costs of shareholders'
and other meetings; the compensation and all expenses (specifically including
travel expenses relating to the business of the Trust or the Fund) of officers,
Trustees and employees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the
Portfolio Manager; and travel expenses (or an appropriate portion thereof) of
officers or Trustees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of
the Portfolio Manager to the extent that such expenses relate to attendance at
meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust , or any committees thereof or
advisory group thereto or other business of the Trust or the Funds.
5. COMPENSATION. As compensation for the services provided and expenses
assumed by the Portfolio Manager under this Agreement, the Manager, out of its
fees from the Fund pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, will
calculate and pay the Portfolio Manager at the end of each calendar month an
investment management fee computed daily at an annual rate equal to the
percentage of each Fund's average daily net assets specified in Exhibit A
hereto. The "average daily net assets" shall mean the average of the values
placed on the net Assets as of the time at which, and on such days as, the Fund
lawfully determines the value of its net assets in accordance with the
prospectus or otherwise. The value of the net Assets, and of the net assets of
the Fund, shall always be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of
the Declaration and the Registration Statement. If, pursuant to such provisions,
the determination of net asset value for a Fund is suspended for any particular
business day, then for the purposes of this section 5, the value of the net
Assets as last determined shall be deemed to be the value of the net Assets as
of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or as of such
other time as the value of the net assets of the Fund's portfolio may lawfully
be determined, on that day. If the determination of the net asset value of the
shares of the Fund has been so suspended for a period including any month end
when the Portfolio Manager's compensation is payable pursuant to this section,
then the Portfolio Manager's compensation payable at the end of such month shall
be computed on the basis of the value of the net Assets as last determined
(whether during or prior to such month). If the Fund determines the value of the
net assets of its portfolio more than once on any day, then the last such
determination thereof with respect to the net Assets on that day shall be deemed
to be the sole determination thereof on that day with respect to the net Assets
for the purposes of this section 5. If the Portfolio Manager serves less than
the whole of any period specified, its compensation will be prorated. The
Portfolio Manager may from time to time and for such periods as deemed
appropriate reduce its compensation to the extent that the Fund's expenses
exceed such lower expense as the Manager may, by notice to the Trust,
voluntarily declare to be effective.
6. BOOKS AND RECORDS. The Portfolio Manager agrees to maintain such books
and records with respect to its services to the Fund as are required by the
applicable portions of Section 31 under the 1940 Act, and rules adopted
thereunder, and by other applicable legal provisions, and to preserve such
records for the periods and in the manner required by that Section, and those
rules and legal provisions. The Portfolio Manager also agrees that records it
maintains and preserves pursuant to Rules 31a-1 and 31 a-2 under the 1940 Act
and otherwise in connection with its services hereunder are the property of the
Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Trust upon its request; provided,
however, the Portfolio Manager may maintain
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copies of such records at its own expense in order to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements. The Portfolio Manager further agrees that it will
furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information
or reports in connection with its services hereunder which may be requested by
the Manager in order to determine whether the operations of the Trust and the
Fund are being conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
7. STANDARD OF CARE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Portfolio Manager
shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the services provided by it under
this Agreement. The Portfolio Manager shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Fund or
the holders of the Fund's shares in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
protect or purport to protect the Portfolio Manager against any liability to the
Trust, the Fund or to holders of the Fund's shares to which the Portfolio
Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith
or negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of the
Portfolio Manager's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. As used in this Section 7, the term "Portfolio Manager" shall include
any officers, directors, employees or other affiliates of the Portfolio Manager
performing services with respect to the Trust or the Fund.
8. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. It is understood that the services of the
Portfolio Manager are not exclusive, and that nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent the Portfolio Manager from providing similar services to other
investment companies or to other series of investment companies (whether or not
their investment objectives and policies are similar to those of the Fund or
another Fund of the Trust) or from engaging in other activities, provided such
other services and activities do not, during the term of this Agreement,
interfere in a material manner with the Portfolio Manager's ability to meet its
obligations to the Trust, the Manager and the Fund hereunder.
The Manager and the Trust acknowledge that the Portfolio Manager and its
officers, affiliates, and employees, and the Portfolio Manager's other clients,
may at any time have, acquire, increase, decrease, or dispose of positions in
investments which are at the same time being acquired for or disposed of from
the Fund. The Portfolio Manager shall have no obligation to acquire for the Fund
a position in any investment which the Portfolio Manager and its officers,
affiliates or employees may acquire for its or their own accounts or for the
account of another client, if in the reasonable discretion of the Portfolio
Manager, it is not feasible or desirable to acquire a position in such
investment for the Fund.
The Manager and the Trust acknowledge that the Portfolio Manager may give advice
and take action with respect to any of their other clients or for their own
account which may differ from the timing or nature of action taken by the
Portfolio Manager with respect to the Funds. The Manager and the Trust
acknowledge that the performance of a Fund may differ from the performance of
other accounts or investment companies managed by the Portfolio Manager and that
the Portfolio Manager is not expected to replicate the holdings or returns of
any other account or fund that the Portfolio Manager manages.
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When the Portfolio Manager recommends the purchase or sale of a security for
other investment companies and other clients, and at the same time the Portfolio
Manager recommends the purchase or sale of the same security for the Fund, it is
understood that in light of its fiduciary duty to the Fund, such transactions
will be executed on a basis that is fair and equitable to the Fund. In
connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the account of
the Fund, neither the Portfolio Manager nor any of its Trustees, officers or
employees shall act as a principal or agent or receive any commission. If the
Portfolio Manager provides any advice to its clients concerning the shares of
the Fund or other funds of the Trust, the Portfolio Manager shall act solely as
investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Trust,
the Fund or another fund of the Trust.
9. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall continue in effect for
two years from the date set forth above and thereafter shall continue
automatically for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Trustees or (ii) by vote of a
"majority" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), provided that in either event the
continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties
to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any
party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement may be terminated: (a) at any time without penalty (i) by the Manager,
(ii) by the Trust upon the vote of a majority of the Trustees or (iii) by vote
of the majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, each upon sixty
(60) days' written notice to the Portfolio Manager; or (b) by the Portfolio
Manager at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the
Trust or the Manager. This Agreement will also terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
10. AMENDMENTS. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or
regulatory relief, 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 amendment of this Agreement shall be effective
until approved by an affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees, including a
majority of Trustees 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, if such approval is required by applicable law.
11. PROXIES AND RIGHTS. Unless the Trust or the Manager gives written
instructions to the contrary, the Portfolio Manager shall (a) vote all proxies
solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the Assets
are invested, using its best good faith judgment to vote such proxies in a
manner which best serves the interests of the Fund's shareholders, and (b)
exercise all other rights attaching to or arising with respect to the Assets,
subject to the Fund's investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated
in its Registration Statement, directing the Custodian to make any required
payment or settlement in connection therewith.
12. USE OF NAME. The logo and names "Xxxxxxxx," "Xxxxxxxx Associates," or
"Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC" are the property of the Portfolio Manager for
copyright and other purposes. The Portfolio Manager agrees that the logo and
names "Xxxxxxxx," "Xxxxxxxx
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Associates," or "Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC" may be used in the name of the
Fund(s). Such use of the logo and names "Xxxxxxxx," "Xxxxxxxx Associates," or
"Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC" may include use of the logo and names in prospectuses,
reports, and sales materials. The Manager and the Trust agree that the logo and
names "Xxxxxxxx," "Xxxxxxxx Associates," or "Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC" may be
used by the Portfolio Manager for other investment companies, entities or
purposes. In the event that the Portfolio Manager is no longer the portfolio
manager for a particular Fund previously managed by the Portfolio Manager, the
Manager and the Trust shall with reasonable promptness take all necessary
actions to remove the logo and names "Xxxxxxxx," "Xxxxxxxx Associates," or
"Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC" from the Fund. Neither the Fund, the Manager or the
Trust shall use the Portfolio Manager's name or logo in promotional or sales
related materials prepared by or on behalf of the Manager, Trust or the Funds,
without prior review and approval by the Portfolio Manager, which may not be
unreasonably withheld. The Manager and the Trust agree that the Portfolio
Manager may use the name of the Manager, Trust, or Funds on a list of clients
used in the Portfolio Manager's marketing materials or for internal reporting
purposes.
13. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or rules or orders of the
SEC thereunder.
b. The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only
and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.
c. 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 hereby and, to this extent, the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
d. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Portfolio
Manager as an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
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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 date first above
written.
USAllianz Variable Insurance Products Trust
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title President
Xxxxxxxx Associates, LLC
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title Executive Vice President
USAllianz Advisers, LLC
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
President
SCHEDULE A
Fees payable to the Portfolio Manager pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof
shall be at the following annual rates for each Fund:
FUND PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS
USAZ Xxxxxxxx Growth Fund First $100 million 0.55%
Next $400 million 0.45%
Next $500 million 0.40%
Greater than $1 billion 0.35%
USAZ Xxxxxxxx 20/20 Focus Fund First $100 million 0.55%
Next $400 million 0.45%
Next $500 million 0.40%
Greater than $1 billion 0.35%
The management fee shall be accrued and paid to the Portfolio Manager as
provided in Section 5 of the Porfolio Management Agreement.
