EXHIBIT 99B.5.3
EXHIBIT 5(xvi)
FORM OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE
BOND PORTFOLIO OF THE FUND
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
AEGON USA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of January, 1998, between
WRL Investment Management, Inc. ("Investment Adviser"), a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Florida and AEGON USA Investment
Management, Inc. ("Sub-Adviser"), a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Iowa.
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory
Agreement dated as of the 1st day of January, 1997 ("Advisory Agreement") with
the WRL Series Fund, Inc. ("Fund"), a Maryland corporation which is engaged in
business as an open-end investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares of the Bond Portfolio
("Portfolio"), a separate series of the Fund;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is engaged principally in the business of
rendering investment advisory services and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser as
sub-adviser to furnish certain investment advisory services to the Investment
Adviser with respect to the Portfolio and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish
such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein
set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
Investment Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as its investment
sub-adviser with respect to the Portfolio for the period and on the terms set
forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
A. INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES. Subject to the supervision of the
Fund's Board of Directors ("Board") and the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser
shall act as the investment sub-adviser and shall supervise and direct the
investments of the Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's investment
objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the Fund's Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, as currently in effect and as amended or
supplemented from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus"),
and such other limitations as directed by the appropriate officers of the
Investment Adviser or the Fund by notice in writing to the Sub-Adviser. The
Sub-Adviser shall obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy,
industries, businesses, securities markets, and securities as it may deem
necessary or useful in the discharge of its obligations hereunder and shall
formulate and implement a continuing program for the management of the assets
and resources of the Portfolio in a manner consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective, policies, and restrictions. In furtherance of this duty,
the Sub-Adviser, on behalf of the Portfolio, is authorized, in its discretion
and without prior consultation with the Portfolio or the Investment Adviser, to:
(1) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and otherwise trade in any
stocks, bonds and other securities or assets; and
(2) place orders and negotiate the commissions (if any) for the
execution of transactions in securities or other assets with or through
such brokers, dealers, underwriters or issuers as the Sub-Adviser may
select.
B. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In addition to the above,
Sub-Adviser shall:
(1) furnish continuous investment information, advice and
recommendations to the Fund as to the acquisition, holding or
disposition of any or all of the securities or other assets which the
Portfolio may own or contemplate acquiring from time to time;
(2) cause its officers to attend meetings of the Fund and furnish oral
or written reports, as the Fund may reasonably require, in order to keep
the Fund and its officers and Board fully informed as to the condition
of the investment securities of the Portfolio, the investment
recommendations of the Sub-Adviser, and the investment considerations
which have given rise to those recommendations; and
(3) furnish such statistical and analytical information and reports as
may reasonably be required by the Fund from time to time.
C. FURTHER DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In all matters relating to the
performance of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the
Fund's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, as each may be amended or
supplemented, and currently effective Registration Statement (as defined below)
and with the written instructions and directions of the Board and the Investment
Adviser, and shall comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers
Act, the rules thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations. Sub-Adviser makes no representation or warranty, express or
implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be achieved by
any Portfolio, or that any Portfolio will perform comparably with any standard
or index, including other clients of Sub-Adviser, whether public or private.
3. COMPENSATION.
For the services provided and the expenses assumed by the Sub-Adviser
pursuant to this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall receive a monthly investment
management fee equal to (i) 0.20% of monthly average daily net assets of the
Portfolio, less (ii) 50% of the amount paid by the Investment Adviser on behalf
of the Portfolio pursuant to any expense limitation or the amount of any other
reimbursement made by the Investment Adviser to the Portfolio. The management
fee shall be payable by the Investment Adviser monthly to the Sub-Adviser upon
receipt by the Investment Adviser from the Portfolio of advisory fees payable to
the Investment Adviser. If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before
the end of any month, the investment management fee 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 pro-rated according to the
pro-ration which such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness
or termination occurs.
4. DUTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
A. The Investment Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Portfolio pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and
shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement.
B. The Investment Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies of
each of the following documents and will furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its
principal office all future amendments and supplements to such documents, if
any, as soon as practicable after such documents become available and, when
possible, before such amendments or supplements become effective:
(1) The Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as filed with the
State of Maryland, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended from
time to time ("Articles"):
(2) The By-Laws of the Fund as in effect on the date hereof and as
amended from time to time ("By-Laws");
(3) Certified resolutions of the Board of the Fund authorizing the
appointment of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and approving
the form of the Advisory Agreement and this Agreement and any other
resolutions of the Board applicable to the Sub-Adviser's duties under
this Agreement;
(4) The Fund's Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-1A, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to the Portfolio
and its shares and all amendments thereto ("Registration Statement");
(5) The Notification of Registration of the Fund under the 1940
Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC and any amendments thereto:
(6) The Fund's Prospectus (as defined above); and
(7) A certified copy of any publicly available financial statement
or report prepared for the Fund by certified or independent public
accountants, and copies of any financial statements or reports made by
the Portfolio to its shareholders or to any governmental body or
securities exchange.
The Investment Adviser shall furnish the Sub-Adviser with any further
documents, materials or information that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request
to enable it to perform its duties pursuant to this Agreement.
C. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser shall
furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material
prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Portfolio or the public, which
refer to the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other advisory accounts
advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other
advisory accounts advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to
the use thereof, and the Investment Adviser shall not use any such materials if
the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing fifteen business days (or such
other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
5. BROKERAGE.
A. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in placing orders with broker-dealers
for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, it shall attempt to obtain
quality execution at favorable security prices (best price and execution);
provided that, on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may, in its discretion,
agree to pay a broker-dealer that furnishes brokerage or research services as
such services are defined under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), a higher commission
than that which might have been charged by another broker-dealer for effecting
the same transactions, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such
commission is reasonable in relation to the brokerage and research services
provided by the broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser with respect to
the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion (as such term is
defined under Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act). In no instance will portfolio
securities be purchased from or sold to the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated
person thereof, except in accordance with the federal securities laws and the
rules and regulations thereunder.
B. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a
security to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the
Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities
to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable price or lower
brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the
securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the
transaction, will be made by the Sub-Adviser in the manner the Sub-Adviser
considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations
to the Fund and to its other clients.
C. In addition to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser agrees that orders with
broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the Portfolio
shall be placed in accordance with the standards set forth in the Advisory
Agreement.
6. OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS.
The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records required to be
maintained by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to transactions on behalf of the
Fund. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees: (i) that all records that it maintains for the Fund
are the property of the Fund, (ii) to preserve for the periods prescribed by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that it maintains for the Fund and
that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and (iii)
agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any records that it maintains for the
Fund upon request by the Fund; provided, however, the Sub-Adviser may retain
copies of such records.
7. REPORTS.
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board or the Investment Adviser, or
both, as appropriate, such information, reports, evaluations, analyses and
opinions as the Sub-Adviser and the Board or the Investment Adviser, as
appropriate, may mutually agree upon from time to time.
8. SERVICES TO OTHERS CLIENTS.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or restrict (i) the freedom
of the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, to render investment
management and corporate administrative services to other investment companies,
to act as investment manager or investment counselor to other persons, firms, or
corporations, or to engage in any other business activities, or (ii) the right
of any director, officer, or employee of the Sub-Adviser, who may also 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 nature or a dissimilar
nature.
9. REPRESENTATIONS OF SUB-ADVISER.
The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser: (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement
remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act
from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) has met, and
will continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any
applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any
regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met in order to
perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) has the authority to
enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; and (v) will
immediately notify the Investment Adviser of the occurrence of any event that
would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an
investment company pursuant to Section 9 (a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with
the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and, if it has not already
done so, will provide the Investment Adviser and the Fund with a copy of such
code of ethics, together with evidence of its adoption.
C. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Investment Adviser and the Fund with
a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the SEC and will, promptly
after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC, furnish a copy of such
amendment to the Investment Adviser.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.
Sub-Adviser will not, directly or indirectly, and will not permit its
affiliates employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, or the Portfolio
to use, disclose or furnish to any person or entity, records or information
concerning the business of Sub-Adviser, except as necessary for the performance
of its duties under this Agreement or the Advisory Agreement, or as required by
law upon prior written notice to Sub-Adviser. Sub-Adviser is the sole owner of
the name and xxxx "AEGON USA Investment Management, Inc." Sub-Adviser shall not,
and shall not permit the Portfolio to, without prior written consent of
Sub-Adviser, use the name or xxxx "AEGON USA Investment Management, Inc." or
make representations regarding Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. Upon termination
of this Agreement for any reason, Investment Adviser shall immediately cease,
and shall cause the Portfolio to immediately cease, all use of the AEGON USA
Investment Management, Inc. name or any AEGON USA Investment Management, Inc.
xxxx.
11. LIABILITY.
Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act, or other federal
securities laws, neither Sub-Adviser nor any of its affiliates, officers,
directors, shareholders, employees, or agents shall be liable for any loss,
liability, cost, damage, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs) (collectively, referred to in this Agreement as "Losses"), except for
Losses resulting from Sub-Adviser's gross negligence, bad faith, or willful
misconduct or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. Investment Adviser shall hold harmless and indemnify Sub-Adviser, its
affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents for any Loss
not resulting from Sub-Adviser's gross negligence, bad faith, or willful
misconduct or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. The obligations contained in this Section 11 shall survive
termination of this Agreement.
12. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first above written,
provided that this Agreement shall not take effect unless it has first been
approved (i) by a vote of a majority of those Directors of the Fund 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 vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities. Unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, this
Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from its effective date.
Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect from year to year, with
respect to the Portfolio, subject to the termination provisions and all other
terms and conditions hereof, so long as such continuation shall be specifically
approved at least annually (a) by either the Board, or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio; and (b) in either event, by
the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval, of a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish
to the Fund, promptly upon its request such information as may reasonably be
necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal, or
amendment hereof.
13. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
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 outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio on at least 60
days' prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser. This Agreement may also be
terminated by the Investment Adviser: (i) on at least 60 days' prior written
notice to the Sub-Adviser, without the payment of any penalty; or (ii) if the
Sub-Adviser becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this
Agreement. The Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time, or preclude
its renewal without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior
notice to the Investment Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.
14. AMENDMENT OF 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, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by
vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, unless
otherwise permitted in accordance with the 1940 Act.
15. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to the conflicts of laws
principles thereof, and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of
the State of Maryland conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act,
the latter shall control.
B. CAPTIONS. The captions contained 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.
C. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto and shall supersede any prior agreements
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior
agreements shall be deemed terminated upon the effectiveness of this Agreement.
D. INTERPRETATION. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require
the Fund to take any action contrary to its Articles or By-Laws, or any
applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by
which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for
and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Fund.
E. DEFINITIONS. Any question of interpretation of any term of provision
of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or
provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United
States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court,
by rules, regulations, or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940
Act. As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "affiliated person," "interested person," "assignment," "broker,"
"investment adviser," "net assets," "sale," "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 SEC by any rule, regulation, or order. Where the effect
of a requirement of the federal securities laws reflected in any provision of
this Agreement is made less restrictive by a rule, regulation, or order of the
SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, or order, unless the
Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree to the contrary.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their duly authorized signatories as of the date and year first
above written.
Attest: WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
------------------------- By:
Assistant Secretary ----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President and Treasurer
Attest: AEGON USA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
By:
------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
