AMENDED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (g)
AMENDED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) made as of November 13, 2017, between AETOS CAPITAL LONG/SHORT STRATEGIES FUND, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Fund”), and AETOS ALTERNATIVES MANAGEMENT, LLC (the “Investment Manager”), a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a closed-end management investment company and had previously retained the Investment Manager to furnish certain investment advisory and portfolio management services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Investment Manager dated as of January 22, 2008;
WHEREAS, the existing Agreement was approved by the Fund’s Board of Managers (the “Board”) on January 22, 2008 and by the members of the Fund on February 18, 2008;
WHEREAS, the existing Advisory Agreement was last renewed by the Fund’s Board on January 26, 2017;
WHEREAS, the Investment Manager and the Fund wish to amend the Agreement to provide for a lower fee payable by the Fund to the Investment Manager but that shall be, in all other material respects, identical in form to the existing Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. The Fund hereby appoints the Investment Manager as the investment adviser of the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Investment Manager accepts this appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein described.
2. Duties as Investment Manager.
(a) Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board, the Investment Manager will have full discretion and authority (i) to manage the assets and liabilities of the Fund and (ii) to manage the day-to-day business and affairs of the Fund. In furtherance of and subject to the foregoing, the Investment Manager will have full power and authority on behalf of the Fund, among other matters:
| (1) | to purchase, sell, exchange, trade and otherwise deal in and with securities and other property of the Fund and to loan securities of the Fund; |
| (2) | to do any and all acts and exercise all rights with respect to the Fund’s interest in any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity, including, without limitation, voting interests of the Portfolio Funds (as defined in the Fund’s Prospectus (the “Prospectus”)); |
| (3) | to enter into agreements with the Portfolio Funds irrevocably to forego the Fund’s right to vote its interests or shares of the Portfolio Funds; |
| (4) | to enter into agreements with the Portfolio Funds that provide for, among other things, the indemnification by the Fund of the Portfolio Funds and the Portfolio Managers (as defined in the Prospectus) to the same or different extent as provided for in respect of the Investment Manager, and to terminate such agreements; |
| (5) | to open, maintain and close accounts with brokers and dealers, to make all decisions relating to the manner, method and timing of securities and other investment transactions, to select and place orders with brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries for the execution, clearance or settlement of any transactions on behalf of the Fund on such terms as the Investment Manager considers appropriate, and to grant limited discretionary authorization to such persons with respect to price, time and other terms of investment and trading transactions, subject to Paragraph 2(b) hereof; |
| (6) | to borrow from banks or other financial institutions and to pledge Fund assets as collateral therefor, to trade on margin, to exercise or refrain from exercising all rights regarding the Fund’s investments, and to instruct custodians regarding the settlement of transactions, the disbursement of payments to the Fund’s investors (both direct and indirect) (the “Investors”) with respect to repurchases of interests in the Fund (“Interests”) and the payment of Fund expenses, including those relating to the organization and registration of the Fund; |
| (7) | to call and conduct meetings of Investors at the Fund’s principal office or elsewhere as it may determine and to assist the Board in calling and conducting meetings of the Board; |
| (8) | to engage and terminate such attorneys, accountants and other professional advisers and consultants as the Investment Manager may deem necessary or advisable in connection with the affairs of the Fund unless otherwise directed by the Board; |
| (9) | to engage and terminate the services of persons other than Portfolio Managers that manage a Portfolio Account (as defined in the Prospectus) (a “Sub-Advisor”) (the engagement of which shall be subject to Paragraph 2(a)(13) hereof) to assist the Investment Manager in providing, or to provide under the Investment Manager’s control and supervision, advice and management to the Fund at the expense of the Investment Manager and to terminate such services; |
| (10) | as directed by the Board, to commence, defend and conclude any action, suit, investigation or other proceeding that pertains to the Fund or any assets of the Fund; |
| (11) | if directed by the Board, to arrange for the purchase of (A) one or more “key man” insurance policies on the life of any principal of a member of the Investment Manager, the benefits of which are payable to the Fund, or (B) any insurance covering the potential liabilities of the Fund or relating to the performance of the Board or the Investment Manager, or any of their principals, directors, officers, members, employees and agents; |
| (12) | to execute, deliver and perform such contracts, agreements and other undertakings, and to engage in such activities and transactions as are, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary and appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Fund without the act, vote or approval of any other Investors or person; |
| (13) | (A) to direct the formulation of investment policies and strategies for the Fund using a multi-asset and multi-manager strategy whereby some or all of the Fund’s assets may be committed from time to time by the Investment Manager to the discretionary management of one or more Sub-Advisors, the selection of which shall be subject to the approval of a majority (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, unless the Fund receives an exemption from the provisions of the 1940 Act requiring such approval, (B) to enter into agreements with the Sub-Advisors that provide for, among other things, the indemnification by the Fund of the Sub-Advisors to the same or different extent as provided for in respect of the Investment Manager, and to terminate such agreements, (C) |
| to authorize the payment of fees and allocations of profits to Sub-Advisors pursuant to their respective governing documents and any rebates or reductions of such fees or allocations which shall be for the benefit of the Fund and (D) to identify appropriate Sub-Advisors, assess the most appropriate investment vehicles (limited partnerships, limited liability companies, separate managed accounts or other investment vehicles (pooled or otherwise)) that invest or trade in securities, and determine the assets to be committed to each Sub-Advisor and invested through the Sub-Advisor, which investments shall be subject in each case to the terms and conditions of the respective governing documents used by the Sub-Advisor; and |
| (14) | to provide administrative services to the Fund, including providing office space and other support services. |
(b) The Investment Manager, in its discretion, may use brokers who provide the Fund with research, analysis, advice and similar services to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund, and the Investment Manager may pay to those brokers in return for brokerage and research services a higher commission than may be charged by other brokers, subject to the Investment Manager’s good faith determination that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the particular transaction or of the overall responsibility of the Investment Manager to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long term. Whenever the Investment Manager simultaneously places orders to purchase or sell the same security on behalf of the Fund and one or more other accounts advised by the Investment Manager, such orders will be allocated as to price and amount among all such accounts in a manner believed to be equitable to each account. The Fund recognizes that in some cases this procedure may adversely affect the results obtained for the Fund.
3. Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Investment Manager hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and the Investment Manager shall be free to furnish similar services to others. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager or its affiliates, who also may be a Director, officer or employee of the Fund, to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature.
4. Expenses.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Fund will bear all expenses incurred in the business of the Fund, other than those specifically assumed by the Investment Manager and other service providers pursuant to their agreements with the Fund. Expenses to be borne by the Fund will include, but are not limited to, the following:
| (1) | all costs and expenses directly related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Fund’s account, including, but not limited to, brokerage commissions, research fees, interest and commitment fees on loans and debit balances, borrowing charges on securities sold short, dividends on securities sold short but not yet purchased, custodial fees, shareholder servicing fees, margin fees, transfer taxes and premiums and taxes withheld on foreign dividends, and expenses from investments in Portfolio Funds; |
| (2) | all costs and expenses associated with the organization, operation and registration of the Fund, certain offering costs and the costs of compliance with any applicable Federal or state laws; |
| (3) | the costs and expenses of holding any meetings of any Investors that are regularly scheduled, permitted or required to be held under the terms of the Fund’s Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), the 1940 Act or other applicable law; |
| (4) | the fees and disbursements of any attorneys, accountants, auditors and other consultants and professionals engaged on behalf of the Fund; |
| (5) | the costs of a fidelity bond and any liability or other insurance obtained on behalf of the Fund or the Board; |
| (6) | all costs and expenses associated with the organization of the Portfolio Funds managed by Sub-Advisors and with the selection of Portfolio Managers and Portfolio Funds, including due diligence and travel-related expenses; |
| (7) | all costs and expenses of preparing, setting in type, printing and distributing reports and other communications to Investors; |
| (8) | all expenses of computing the Fund’s net asset value, including any equipment or services obtained for the purpose of valuing the Fund’s investment portfolio, including appraisal and valuation services provided by third parties; |
| (9) | all charges for equipment or services used for communications between the Fund and any custodian, or other agent engaged by the Fund; |
| (10) | the fees of the Fund’s administrator and custodian and other persons providing administrative services to the Fund; and |
| (11) | such other types of expenses as may be approved from time to time by the Board. |
(b) The payment or assumption by the Investment Manager of any expenses of the Fund that the Investment Manager is not required by this Agreement to pay or assume shall not obligate the Investment Manager to pay or assume the same or any similar expense of the Fund on any subsequent occasion.
5. Compensation.
As full compensation for the services provided to the Fund and the expenses assumed by the Investment Manager under this Agreement, the Investment Manager shall receive from the Fund a monthly management fee (the “Management Fee”) computed at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s month end net asset value. The Management Fee is payable monthly within 10 days of the end of the relevant month.
6. Limitation of Liability of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or any Investors in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except to the extent that such a loss results from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, director, employee, or agent of the Investment Manager or its affiliates, who may be or become an officer, Manager, employee or agent of the Fund, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Fund or acting with respect to any business of the Fund, to be rendering such service to or acting solely for the Fund and not as an officer, director, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of the Investment Manager even though compensated by it.
7. Indemnification.
(a) The Fund will indemnify the Investment Manager and its affiliates, and each of their members, directors, officers and employees and any of their affiliated persons, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives (each, an “Indemnified Person”) against any and all costs, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, resulting in any way from the performance or non-performance of any Indemnified Person’s duties in respect of the Fund, except those
resulting from the willful malfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of an Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Person’s reckless disregard of such duties and, in the case of criminal proceedings, unless such Indemnified Person had reasonable cause to believe its actions unlawful (collectively, “disabling conduct”). Indemnification shall be made following: (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Indemnified Person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or (ii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts and reached by (A) the vote of a majority of the Board members who are not parties to the proceeding or (B) legal counsel selected by a vote of a majority of the Board in a written advice, that the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification hereunder. The Fund shall advance to an Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with defense of any action or proceeding arising out of such performance or non-performance. The Investment Manager agrees, and each other Indemnified Person will be required to agree as a condition to any such advance, that if one of the foregoing parties receives any such advance, the party will reimburse the Fund for such fees, costs and expenses to the extent that it shall be determined that the party was not entitled to indemnification under this Paragraph 7. The rights of indemnification provided hereunder shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any person may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
(b) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the provisions of this Paragraph 7 shall not be construed so as to relieve the Indemnified Person of, or provide indemnification with respect to, any liability (including liability under Federal securities laws, which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons who act in good faith) to the extent (but only to the extent) that such liability may not be waived, limited or modified under applicable law or that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this Paragraph 7 to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Paragraph 7 shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
8. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement will become effective as of January 1, 2018 (the “Effective Date”) and until that date the existing Agreement will remain in effect.
(b) Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the Effective Date. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue for successive one-year periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a vote of a majority of those Board members 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, and (ii) by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board or by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities on 60 days’ written notice to the Investment Manager or by the Investment Manager at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
9. Amendment of this Agreement. 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.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof, and in accordance with the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of New York conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
11. Consent to Jurisdiction. Any action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right arising out of, this Agreement may be brought against the Fund in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York, or, if the Investment Manager has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the Fund hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any action or proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence may be served on the Fund anywhere in the world.
12. 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. As used in this Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “affiliated person,” “interested person,” “assignment,” “broker,” “investment adviser,” “sell” and “security” shall have the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this contract is relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated as of the day and year first above written.
| AETOS CAPITAL LONG/SHORT STRATEGIES FUND, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Title: President | ||
| AETOS ALTERNATIVES MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Title: Co-President | ||
