ADVISORSHARES TRUST INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (d)(25)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 25th day of August 2022 by and between AdvisorShares Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and Ranger Alternative Management, L.P. (the “Sub-Adviser”), a Texas partnership with its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, AdvisorShares Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, the Adviser acts as investment adviser to each series of the Trust set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each a “Fund”), as such schedule may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties;
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser previously entered into investment sub-advisory agreements, the most recent of which was dated February 5, 2018, which terminated automatically upon its assignment on August 25, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, with the approval of the Trust, desires to continue to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide investment sub-advisory services in connection with the portfolio management of each Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such investment sub-advisory services;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Duties of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to the oversight and supervision of the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees and consistent with its fiduciary duties to each Fund, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the securities and other assets of a Fund entrusted to it hereunder (the “Assets”), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively as the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following: |
| (a) | The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to subparagraph (b), determine from time to time what Assets will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash. |
| (b) | In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust (as defined herein) and the Prospectus and with the instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time. |
| (c) | The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by the Fund as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees or the Adviser may direct in writing from time to time, in conformity with all federal securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors that 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 or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the Trust’s principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Trust’s principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Trust, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the 1940 Act. |
| (d) | The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(1), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the Sub-Adviser’s services under this Agreement as needed by the Adviser to keep the other books and records of the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of the Fund are property of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser). |
| (e) | The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund’s custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon request of the Adviser. |
| (f) | The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial condition that is reasonably and foreseeably likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement. |
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| (g) | The Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for reviewing proxy solicitation materials or voting and handling proxies in relation to the securities held as Assets in the Fund. |
| (h) | In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Fund or a sub-adviser to any other series of the Trust or portfolio that is under common control with the Fund concerning the Assets, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice with respect to any assets of the Fund other than the Assets. This limitation will not prohibit the Sub-Adviser from consulting with the Adviser. |
| (i) | 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 may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Sub-Adviser will allocate securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in a manner the Sub-Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances. |
| (j) | The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Adviser or the Board of Trustees such reasonably requested periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial information, and such other information with regard to its affairs as the Adviser or Board of Trustees may reasonably request. Upon the request of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC. |
To the extent permitted by law, the services to be furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement may, at the sole discretion of the Sub-Advisor and consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, be furnished through the medium of any of the Sub-Adviser’s partners, officers, employees or control affiliates; provided, however, that the use of such mediums does not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any obligation or duty under this Agreement.
| 2. | Duties of the Adviser. The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to a Fund pursuant to its investment advisory agreement with the Trust and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that in connection with its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for compliance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust (as defined herein), the Prospectus, the instructions and directions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time. |
| 3. | Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with, or will make available upon request, copies of each of the following documents: |
| (a) | The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (such Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, herein called the “Declaration of Trust”); |
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| (b) | By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, are herein called the “By-Laws”); |
| (c) | Prospectus of each Fund; |
| (d) | Resolutions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees approving the engagement of the Sub-Adviser as a sub-adviser to a Fund; |
| (e) | Resolutions, policies and procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees with respect to the Assets to the extent such resolutions, policies and procedures may affect the duties of the Sub-Adviser hereunder; |
| (f) | A list of the Trust’s principal underwriter and each affiliated person of the Adviser, the Trust or the principal underwriter; and |
| (g) | A list of each other investment sub-adviser to a Fund. |
The Adviser shall promptly furnish the Sub-Adviser with, or make available upon request, copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing. Until so provided, the Sub-Adviser may continue to rely on those documents previously provided. The Adviser shall not nor permit a Fund to, use the Sub-Adviser’s name or make representations regarding the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates without prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser’s approval is not required when the information regarding the Sub-Adviser used by the Adviser or a Fund is limited to information disclosed in materials provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and the information is used (a) as required by applicable law, rule or regulation, in the Prospectus or in Fund shareholder reports or proxy statements; or (b) as may be otherwise specifically approved in writing by the Sub-Adviser prior to use.
| 4. | Compensation to the Sub-Adviser. For the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefor, a sub-advisory fee at the annual rate specified in Schedule A attached hereto. The fee will be calculated based on the average daily net asset value of the Assets under the Sub-Adviser’s management and will be paid to the Sub-Adviser monthly. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the fact that the Agreement has not been terminated, no fee will be accrued under this Agreement with respect to any day that the value of the Assets under the Sub-Adviser’s management equals zero. Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any then current SEC staff interpretation), the Sub-Adviser may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee. |
Except for expenses assumed or agreed to be paid by the Sub-Adviser pursuant hereto, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any costs or expenses of the Trust including, without limitation, (a) interest (short or leverage) and taxes, (b) brokerage commissions and other costs in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other investment instruments with respect to the Fund, and (c) operational or administrative expenses of the Trust (including custodial and administrative fees), and (d) accounting and legal expenses. The Sub-Adviser will pay its own overhead and salary expenses incurred in furnishing the services to be provided by it pursuant to this Agreement.
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| 5. | Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser’s obligation under this Paragraph 5 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement. |
The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Adviser’s obligation under this Paragraph 5 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Sub-Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
| 6. | Representations and Warranties of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and each Fund as follows: |
| (a) | The Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”); |
| (b) | The Sub-Adviser will immediately notify the 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; |
| (c) | The Sub-Adviser is fully authorized under all applicable law to serve as an investment sub-adviser to each Fund and to perform the services described under this Agreement; |
| (d) | The Sub-Adviser is a partnership duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Texas with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted; |
| (e) | The execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement are within the Sub-Adviser’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its members, and no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Sub-Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a default under (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Sub-Adviser’s governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Sub-Adviser; |
| (f) | This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Sub-Adviser; |
| (g) | The Form ADV of the Sub-Adviser previously provided to the Adviser is a true and complete copy of the form filed with the SEC and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects as of its filing date, and does not omit any material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; |
| (h) | The Sub-Adviser shall not divert any of a Fund’s portfolio securities transactions to a broker or dealer in consideration of such broker or dealer’s promotion or sales of shares of the Fund, any other series of the Trust, or any other registered investment company. |
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| 7. | Duration and Termination. |
| (a) | Duration. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first above written, provided that this Agreement shall not take effect with respect to a Fund unless it has first been approved by a vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of two years from the date hereof, subject thereafter to being continued in force and effect from year to year if specifically approved each year by the Board of Trustees or by the vote of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities. In addition to the foregoing, each renewal of this Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Prior to voting on the renewal of this Agreement, the Trust’s Board of Trustees may request and evaluate, and the Sub-Adviser shall furnish, such information as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Trust’s Board of Trustees to evaluate the terms of this Agreement. |
| (b) | Termination. Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time without payment of any penalty: |
| (i) | By vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund upon 60 days written notice to the Sub-Adviser; |
| (ii) | By the Adviser upon 60 days written notice to the Sub-Adviser; |
| (iii) | By the Adviser upon breach by the Sub-Adviser of any representation or warranty contained in Paragraphs 6 and 8 hereof, if such breach has not been cured within 20 days of the Sub-Adviser’s receipt of written notice of such breach; |
| (iv) | By the Adviser immediately upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser if the Sub-Adviser becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement; or |
| (v) | By the Sub-Adviser upon 120 days written notice to the Adviser and the Fund. |
This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment or in the event that the Adviser no longer serves as investment adviser to the Trust. As used in this Paragraph 7, the terms “assignment”, “interested persons”, and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.
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| 8. | Compliance Program of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants that: |
| (a) | in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by the Sub-Adviser and its supervised persons (as such term is defined in the Advisers Act) of the Advisers Act and the rules the SEC has adopted under the Advisers Act; and |
| (b) | to the extent that the Sub-Adviser’s activities or services could affect a Fund, the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the “federal securities laws” (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 0000 Xxx) by the Fund and the Sub-Adviser (the policies and procedures referred to in this Paragraph 8(b), along with the policies and procedures referred to in Paragraph 8(a), are referred to herein as the Sub-Adviser’s “Compliance Program”). |
| 9. | Confidentiality. Subject to the duty of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all non-public information pertaining to a Fund and the actions of the Sub-Adviser and the Fund in respect thereof. It is understood that any information or recommendation supplied by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Adviser, a Fund, the Trust’s Board of Trustees, or such persons as the Adviser may designate in connection with the Fund. It is also understood that any information supplied to the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder, particularly, but not limited to, any list of investments which, on a temporary basis, may not be bought or sold for a Fund is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Sub-Adviser in connection with its obligation to provide investment advice and other services to the Fund. The parties acknowledge and agree that all nonpublic personal information with regard to shareholders in a Fund shall be deemed proprietary information of the Adviser, and that the Sub-Adviser shall use that information solely in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and shall take reasonable steps to safeguard the confidentiality of that information. Further, the Sub-Adviser shall maintain and enforce adequate security procedures with respect to all materials, records, documents and data relating to any of its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement including all means for the effecting of investment transactions. |
| 10. | Reporting of Compliance Matters. |
| (a) | The Sub-Adviser shall promptly provide to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) the following documents: |
| (i) | reasonable access, at the Sub-Adviser’s principal office or such other place as may be mutually agreed to by the parties, to all SEC examination correspondences, including correspondences regarding books and records examinations and “sweep” examinations, issued during the term of this Agreement, in which the SEC identified any concerns, issues or matters (such correspondences are commonly referred to as “deficiency letters”) relating to any aspect of the Sub-Adviser’s investment advisory business and the Sub-Adviser’s responses thereto; provided that the Sub-Adviser may redact from such correspondences client specific confidential information, material subject to the attorney-client privilege, and material non-public information, that the Sub-Adviser reasonably determines should not be disclosed to the Trust’s CCO; |
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| (ii) | a report of any material violations of the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program or any “material compliance matters” (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 0000 Xxx) that have occurred with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program; |
| (iii) | on a quarterly basis, a report of any material changes to the policies and procedures that compose the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program; |
| (iv) | a copy of the Sub-Adviser’s chief compliance officer’s report (or similar document(s) that serve the same purpose) regarding his or her annual review of the Sub-Adviser’s Compliance Program, as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; and |
| (v) | an annual (or more frequently as the Trust’s CCO may reasonably request) representation regarding the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with Paragraphs 6 and 8 of this Agreement. |
| (b) | The Sub-Adviser shall also provide the Trust’s CCO with reasonable access, during normal business hours, to the Sub-Adviser’s facilities for the purpose of conducting pre-arranged on-site compliance related due diligence meetings with personnel of the Sub-Adviser. |
| 11. | The Name “AdvisorShares”. The Adviser grants to the Sub-Adviser a sublicense to use the name “AdvisorShares” (the “Name”). The foregoing authorization by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser to use the Name is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Sub-Adviser and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Sub-Adviser shall (1) only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Sub-Adviser nor any affiliate or agent of it shall make reference to or use the Name or any of Adviser’s respective affiliates or clients names without the prior approval of Adviser, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to cause any affiliate or agent of the Sub-Adviser to satisfy the foregoing obligation. |
| 12. | Portability of Fund Ticker Symbols. If the Sub-Adviser voluntarily resigns as sub-adviser to a Fund, and subsequently provides investment advisory services to a new fund, the Adviser will not impede the Sub-Adviser’s efforts to transfer or otherwise use the ticker symbol assigned to a Fund. The Sub-Adviser, however, agrees and acknowledges that the national securities exchange or marketplace upon which shares of the Fund are listed is solely responsible for the assignment of ticker symbols, including the Funds’ ticker symbols, and that the Adviser does not have any influence or role in such assignment process. The Sub-Adviser further agrees and acknowledges that the Adviser is under no obligation to assist the Sub-Adviser financially or otherwise in its efforts to transfer or otherwise use a ticker symbol previously assigned to a Fund. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser will indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages however arising from or in connection with the Sub-Adviser’s efforts to transfer or use of a ticker symbol previously assigned to a Fund. |
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| 13. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act. |
| 14. | Severability. Should any part of this Agreement be held 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. |
| 15. | Notice. Any notice, advice, or report to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by registered, certified, or overnight mail, postage prepaid and addressed by the party giving notice to the last address furnished by the other party or by electronic transmission if mutually agreed to by the parties: |
| To the Adviser at: | AdvisorShares Investments, LLC 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Legal Department
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AdvisorShares Investments, LLC 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx
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| To the Sub-Adviser at: | Ranger Alternative Management, L.P. 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx |
| 16. | Non-Hire/Non-Solicitation. The parties hereby agree that so long as the Sub-Adviser provides services to the Adviser or the Trust and for a period of one year following the date on which the Sub-Adviser ceases to provide services to the Adviser and the Trust, neither party shall, for any reason, directly or indirectly, on its own behalf or on behalf of others, hire any person employed by the other party (a “Restricted Person”) or engage an entity to which a Restricted Person is an employee or principal who becomes known to such party in connection with this Agreement or services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, whether or not such Restricted Person is a full-time employee or whether or not any Restricted Person’s employment is pursuant to a written agreement or is at-will. The parties further agree that, to the extent that a party breaches the covenant described in this paragraph, the other party shall be entitled to pursue all appropriate remedies in law or equity. |
| 17. | Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and only in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
| 18. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement’s subject matter. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument. |
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In the event the terms of this Agreement are applicable to more than one Fund, the Adviser is entering into this Agreement with the Sub-Adviser on behalf of each Fund severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered paragraph hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each Fund as if contained in separate agreements between the Adviser and Sub-Adviser for each such Fund. In the event that this Agreement is made applicable to any additional Funds by way of a schedule executed subsequent to the date first indicated above, provisions of such schedule shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement as it relates to such Fund so that, for example, the execution date for purposes of Paragraph 7 of this Agreement with respect to such Fund shall be the execution date of the relevant schedule.
| 19. | Miscellaneous. |
| (a) | A copy of the Certificate of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware, and notice is hereby given that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of a Fund or the Trust. |
| (b) | Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or Advisers Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered 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. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.
| AdvisorShares Investments, LLC | Ranger Alternative Management, L.P. | |||
| By: | By: | |||
| Xxx Xxxxxx | [ ] | |||
| Managing Director/COO | Authorized Signatory | |||
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Schedule A
to the
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement
Dated August 25, 2022
between
AdvisorShares Investments, LLC
and
Ranger Alternative Management, L.P.
| A. | List of Funds |
AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF
| B. | Sub-Advisory Fee |
Pursuant to Paragraph 4, the Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser a fee for its services to the AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF calculated daily at an annual rate of 1.00% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Agreed and Accepted:
| AdvisorShares Investments, LLC | Ranger Alternative Management, L.P. | |||
| By: | By: | |||
| Xxx Xxxxxx | [ ] | |||
| Managing Director/COO | Authorized Signatory | |||
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