Exhibit 5 (d)
MENTOR FUNDS
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
[February 10, 1999]
Xxx Xxxxxx American Capital Management, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
Under an agreement (the "Management Agreement") between Mentor Variable
Investment Portfolios, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and Mentor
Investment Advisors, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (the "Adviser"),
the Adviser serves as the Trust's investment adviser to Mentor VIP High Income
Portfolio, a series of shares of the Trust (the "Portfolio").
The Adviser hereby confirms its agreement with Xxx Xxxxxx American
Capital Management, Inc. (the "Sub-Adviser") and the Trust with respect to the
Sub-Adviser's serving as the sub-adviser of the Portfolio as follows:
Section 1. Investment Description; Appointment
(a) The Trust desires to employ the Portfolio's capital by investing
and reinvesting in investments of the kind and in accordance with the investment
objectives, policies and limitations specified in the prospectus (the
"Prospectus") and in the statement of additional information (the "Statement of
Additional Information") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") as part of the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as amended
from time to time (the "Registration Statement"). The Adviser has herewith
furnished the Sub-Adviser copies of the Trust's Prospectus, Statement of
Additional Information, Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as currently in effect
and agrees during the continuance of the Agreement to furnish the Sub-Adviser
copies of any amendments or supplements thereto before or at the time the
amendments or supplements become effective. The Sub-Adviser will be entitled to
rely on all such documents furnished to it by the Adviser or the Trust.
(b) The Adviser, with the approval of the Trust, hereby appoints the
Sub-Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Portfolio for the periods and on
the terms set forth in this
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Agreement, and with respect to the assets of the Portfolio designated by the
Adviser to the Sub-Adviser from time to time (the "Designated Assets"). The
Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein
set forth for the compensation herein provided.
Section 2. Portfolio Management Duties
(a) Subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Trust's Board of
Trustees, the Sub-Adviser will (i) manage the Designated Assets in accordance
with the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated
in the Trust's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information; (ii) make
investment decisions for the Portfolio in respect of the Designated Assets; and
(iii) place orders to purchase and sell securities and (where appropriate)
commodity futures contracts for the Portfolio in respect of the Designated
Assets.
(b) The Sub-Adviser will keep the Trust and the Adviser informed of
developments materially affecting the Portfolio and shall, on the Sub-Adviser's
own initiative and as reasonably requested by the Adviser or the Trust, furnish
to the Trust and the Adviser from time to time whatever information the Adviser
reasonably believes appropriate for this purpose.
(c) The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in the performance of the duties
required of it by this Agreement, it will comply with the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), and all rules and regulations thereunder, all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations and with any applicable
procedures adopted by the Trust's Board of Trustees and identified in writing to
the Sub-Adviser. The Adviser will provide to the Sub-Adviser any specific
procedures that must be followed in the performance of Sub-Adviser's duties
hereunder by reason of the affiliation of other sub-advisers or service
providers with the Trust.
Section 3. Brokerage
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it will place orders pursuant to its
investment determinations for the Portfolio either directly with the issuer or
with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with the
standards specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3. Until notified
to the contrary by the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may place orders for the
Portfolio with affiliates of the Adviser in accordance with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, Section 17(e) of
the Act and Rule 17e-1 thereunder and other applicable laws and regulations. The
Sub-Adviser will identify to the Adviser in writing any brokers or dealers which
are affiliates of the Sub- Adviser. The Adviser will identify to the Sub-Adviser
in writing any brokers and dealers which are affiliates of the Adviser and will
forward to each Sub-Adviser information provided by the other Sub-Advisers with
respect to affiliated broker-dealers of such Sub-Advisers.
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(b) In placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Adviser will
seek the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms
available for any portfolio transaction, the Sub-Adviser will consider all
factors it deems relevant including, but not limited to, 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 any
commission for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis.
(c) Subject to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) above, in
selecting brokers or dealers to execute a particular transaction and in
evaluating the best overall terms available, the Adviser shall have the right to
request in writing that transactions giving rise to brokerage commissions shall
be executed by brokers and dealers that provide brokerage and research services
(as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) to the Trust or will be of value to the Trust in the management of its
assets or the Adviser's performance of its management services provided to the
Trust. In addition, subject to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) above
and the applicable Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., the Trust shall have the right to request that such
transactions be executed by brokers and dealers by or through whom sales of
shares of the Trust are made.
Section 4. Information Provided to the Adviser and the Trust
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it will make available to the Adviser
and the Trust promptly upon their request copies of all of its records with
respect to the Portfolio to assist the Adviser and the Trust in monitoring
compliance with the Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Advisers Act"), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub- Adviser will furnish
the Trust's Board of Trustees with respect to the Portfolio such periodic and
special reports as the Adviser and the Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it will immediately notify the Adviser
and the Trust in the event that the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates: (i)
becomes subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-Adviser
from serving as investment advisor pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) if it is
or expects to become the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement
action by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The Sub-Adviser has provided
the information about itself set forth in the Registration Statement and
acknowledges that, as of the date hereof, it is true and correct and contains no
material misstatement or omission, and the Sub-Adviser further agrees to notify
the Adviser immediately of, (i) any material fact known to the Sub-Adviser
respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is not contained in the
Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information of the Trust, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, if the omission of such would make such document
misleading, (ii) any statement contained therein relating to the Sub-Adviser
that becomes untrue in any material respect, or (iii) any material change in the
investment objective and policies of the mutual fund advised by the Sub-Adviser
and identified in the Prospectus as being a model for the Portfolio.
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(c) The Sub-Adviser represents that it is an investment adviser
registered under the Advisers Act and other applicable laws and that the
statements contained in the Sub-Adviser's registration under the Advisers Act on
Form ADV, as of the date hereof, are true and correct and do not omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading. The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain the
completeness and accuracy of its registration on Form ADV in accordance with all
legal requirements relating to that Form. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that it
is an "investment advisor" to the Portfolio within the meaning of the Act and
the Advisers Act.
Section 5. Books and Records
In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the Act, the
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust are
the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust
copies of any such records upon the Trust's request. The Sub-Adviser further
agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the Act the
records with respect to the Sub-Adviser's duties hereunder required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the Act and to preserve the records required by
Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act for the period specified in that Rule.
Section 6. Compensation
(a) In consideration of services rendered pursuant to this Agreement,
the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee that is computed daily and paid
monthly at the annual rate set forth in Appendix I to this Agreement (the
"Portfolio Advisory Fee"). From time to time the Sub-Adviser may agree to
reimburse the Trust additional expenses or waive a portion or all of its fee, in
the sole discretion of the Sub-Adviser.
(b) The Portfolio Advisory Fee for the period from the date that the
Portfolio commences investment operations to the end of the month during which
the Portfolio commences investment operations shall be prorated according to the
proportion that such period bears to the full monthly period. Upon any
termination of this Agreement before the end of a month, the fee for such part
of that month shall be prorated according to the proportion that such period
bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of
termination of this Agreement.
(c) For the purposes of determining fees payable to the Sub-Adviser,
the value of the Trust's net assets shall be computed at the times and in the
manner specified in the Trust's Prospectus and/or the Statement of Additional
Information.
Section 7. Costs and Expenses
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During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay all
expenses incurred by it and its staff in connection with the performance of its
services under this Agreement, including the payment of salaries of all officers
and employees who are employed by it, but not including expenses to be paid by
the Trust or the Adviser such as brokerage fees and commissions and custodian
charges. The Trust shall assume and pay any expenses for services rendered by a
custodian for the safekeeping of the Trust's securities or other property, for
keeping its books of account, for any other charges of the custodian, and for
calculating the net asset value of the Trust as provided in the prospectus of
the Trust. The Sub-Adviser shall not be required to pay and the Trust (or the
Adviser) shall assume and pay the charges and expenses of the Trust's
operations, including compensation of the trustees, charges and expenses of
independent auditors, of legal counsel, of any transfer or dividend disbursing
agent, and of any registrar of the Trust, costs of acquiring and disposing of
portfolio securities, interest, if any, on obligations incurred by the Trust,
costs of share certificates and of reports, membership dues in the Investment
Company Institute or any similar organization, costs of reports and notices to
shareholders, other like miscellaneous expenses and all taxes and fees payable
to federal, state or other governmental agencies on account of the registration
of securities issued by the Trust, filing of trust documents or otherwise.
Section 8. Standard of Care
The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or the Trust 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
Sub-Adviser against any liability to the Adviser or the Trust to which the
Sub-Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by
reason of the Sub-Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under this Agreement.
Section 9. Services to Other Companies or Accounts
(a) Except as otherwise agreed between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser,
it is understood that the services of the Sub-Adviser are not exclusive, and
nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Sub-Adviser from providing similar
services to other investment companies (whether or not their investment
objectives and policies are similar to those of the Trust) or from engaging in
other activities.
(b) When the Sub-Adviser recommends the purchase or sale of a security
for other investment companies and other clients, and at the same time the
Sub-Adviser recommends the purchase or sale of the same security for the Trust,
it is understood that in light of its fiduciary duty to the Trust, such
transactions will be executed on a basis that it is fair and equitable to the
Trust.
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(c) The Trust and the Adviser understand and acknowledge that the
persons employed by the Sub-Adviser to assist in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement will not devote their full time to that service; nothing
contained in this Agreement will be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the
Sub-Adviser or any affiliate of the Sub-Adviser to engage in and devote time and
attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or nature,
except as otherwise agreed between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser.
Section 10. Duration and Termination
(a) The Trust represents that this Agreement has been approved by the
Trust's Board of Trustees and shareholders pursuant to Section 15 of the Act.
This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and shall continue for
two years from that date, and thereafter shall continue automatically for
successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (i) the Trust's Board of Trustees or (ii) a vote of a majority
of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act),
provided that the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of the Trust, by vote cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated (i)
by the Adviser at any time without penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the
Sub-Adviser and the Trust, (ii) at any time without penalty by the Trust, upon
the vote of a majority of the Trust's Trustees or by vote of the majority of the
Trust's outstanding voting securities, upon 60 days' written notice to the
Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Adviser at any time without
penalty, upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser and the Trust.
(c) This Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the Act and in rules adopted under the Act).
Section 11. Amendments
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 whom enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved in
accordance with applicable law.
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Section 12. Limitations of Liability of Trustees, Officers, Employees, Agents
and Shareholders of the Trust
The Sub-Adviser is expressly put on notice of the limitation of
liability as set forth in the Declaration of Trust and agrees that the
obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in
any case to the Trust and its assets and that the Sub-Adviser shall not seek
satisfaction of any such obligations from the shareholders of the Trust, the
Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust, or any of them.
Section 13. Miscellaneous
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 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 thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(d) Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser
as an agent of the Trust or the Adviser.
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If the terms and conditions described above are in accordance with your
understanding, kindly indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing and
returning to us the enclosed copy of this Agreement.
MENTOR INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
MENTOR VARIABLE INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIOS
By:__________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
XXX XXXXXX AMERICAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
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APPENDIX I
The Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser an annual fee not to exceed the following
percentage of Portfolio assets as follows:
SUB-ADVISER'S RATE
OF FEE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 6 OF THE
THE MENTOR FUNDS AGREEMENT
Mentor VIP High Income Portfolio .20% of average net assets of
the Portfolio
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