RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
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RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made the 1st day of January, 2013, by and between Oppenheimer Quest for Value Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), and OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “OFI GLOBAL”).
WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), and OFI GLOBAL is an investment adviser registered as such with the Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxxxxxx Flexible Strategies Fund is a separately capitalized Series (the “Series”) of the Shares of beneficial interest to be issued by the Company (“Shares”) pursuant to the Company’s registration statement;
WHEREAS, the Company desires that OFI GLOBAL shall act as its investment adviser with respect to the Series pursuant to this Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”);
WHEREAS, this Agreement restates the Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 1, 2005, by and between the Company and OppenheimerFunds, Inc. for the Series;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, it is agreed by and between the parties, as follows:
| 1. | General Provisions. |
The Company hereby employs OFI GLOBAL and OFI GLOBAL hereby undertakes to act as the investment adviser of the Company in connection with, and for the benefit of, the Series (including any Series hereafter created) and to perform for the Company such other duties and functions in connection with the Series for the period and on such terms as set forth in this Agreement. OFI GLOBAL shall, in all matters, give to the Company and its Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) the benefit of its best judgment, effort, advice and recommendations and shall, at all times conform to, and use its best efforts to enable the Company to conform to (i) the provisions of the Investment Company Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) any other applicable provisions of state or Federal law; (iii) the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Company as amended from time to time; (iv) policies and determinations of the Trustees; (v) the fundamental policies and investment restrictions of the Series as reflected in the registration statement of the Company under the Investment Company Act or as such policies may, from time to time, be amended and (vi) the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Series in effect from time to time. The appropriate officers and employees of OFI GLOBAL shall be available upon reasonable notice for consultation with any of the Trustees and officers of the Company with respect to any matters dealing with the business and affairs of the Company including the valuation of portfolio securities of the Company which are either not registered for public sale or not traded on any securities market.
2. Investment Management.
(a) OFI GLOBAL shall, subject to the direction and control by the Trustees, (i) regularly provide investment advise and recommendations to the Company with respect to the investments, investment policies and the purchase and sale of securities and other investments for the Series; (ii) supervise continuously the investment program of the Series and the composition of its portfolio and determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by; and (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, for the purchase of securities and other investments for the Series and the sale of securities and other investments held in the portfolio of the Series.
(b) Provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any compensation for services under this Agreement other than as provided by the terms of the Agreement and subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, OFI GLOBAL may obtain investment information, research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to supplement, update or otherwise improve its investment management services including entering into sub-advisory agreements with other affiliated or unaffiliated registered investment advisors to obtain specialized services.
(c) Provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect OFI GLOBAL from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, OFI GLOBAL shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of good faith errors or omissions in connection with any matters to which this Agreement relates.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent OFI GLOBAL or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with OFI GLOBAL or any officer thereof from acting as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation or in any way limit or restrict OFI GLOBAL or any of its directors, officers, stockholders or employees from buying, selling or trading any securities or other investments for its or their own account or for the account of others for whom it or they may be acting, provided that such activities will not adversely affect or otherwise impair the performance by OFI GLOBAL of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
3. Other Duties of OFI GLOBAL.
OFI GLOBAL shall, at its own expense, provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical personnel as shall be required to provide effective corporate administration for the Company, including the compilation and maintenance of such records with respect to its operations as may reasonably be required; the preparation and filing of such reports with respect thereto as shall be required by the Commission; composition of periodic reports with respect to operations of the Series for its shareholders; composition of proxy materials for meetings of the Series’ shareholders; and the composition of such registration statements as may be required by Federal and state securities laws for continuous public sale of Shares of the Series. OFI GLOBAL shall, at its own cost and expense, also provide the Company with adequate office space, facilities and equipment. OFI GLOBAL shall, at its own expenses, provide such officers for the Company as the Board of Trustees may request.
4. Allocation of Expenses.
All other costs and expenses of the Series of the Company not expressly assumed by OFI GLOBAL under this Agreement, or to be paid by the Distributor of the Shares of the Series, shall be paid by the Company on behalf of the Series, including, but not limited to: (i) interest, taxes and governmental fees; (ii) brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in acquiring or disposing of the portfolio securities and other investments of the Series; (iii) insurance premiums for fidelity and other coverage requisite to its operations; (iv) compensation and expenses of its Trustees other than those affiliated with OFI GLOBAL; (v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) custodian and transfer agent fees and expenses; (vii) expenses incident to the redemption of its Shares; (viii) expenses incident to the issuance of its Shares against payment therefor by or on behalf of the subscribers thereto; (ix) fees and expenses, other than as hereinabove provided, incident to the registration under Federal and state securities laws of Shares of the Series for public sale; (x) expenses of printing and mailing reports, notices and proxy materials to shareholders of the Company and the Series; (xi) except as noted above, all other expenses incidental to holding meetings of the Company’s shareholders; and (xii) such extraordinary non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation, affecting the Company or any Series thereof and any legal obligation which the Company or the Series, may have to indemnify its officers and Trustees with respect thereto. Any officers or employees of OFI GLOBAL (or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with OFI GLOBAL) who also serve as officers, Trustees or employees of the Company shall not receive any compensation from the Company or the Series for their services.
5. Compensation of OFI GLOBAL.
The Company agrees to pay OFI GLOBAL and OFI GLOBAL agrees to accept as full compensation for the performance of all functions and duties on its part to be performed pursuant to the provisions hereof, a fee computed on the total net asset value of the Series of the Company as of the close of each business day and payable monthly at the annual rate for the Series set forth on Schedule A hereto.
6. Use of Name “Xxxxxxxxxxx” or “Quest For Value”.
OFI GLOBAL hereby grants to the Company a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use the name “Xxxxxxxxxxx” or “Quest For Value” in the name of the Company for the duration of this Agreement and any extensions or renewals thereof. To the extent necessary to protect OFI GLOBAL’s rights to the name “Xxxxxxxxxxx” or “Quest For Value” under applicable law, such license shall allow OFI GLOBAL to inspect and, subject to control by the Company’s Board, control the nature and quality of services offered by the Company under such name and may, upon termination of this Agreement, be terminated by OFI GLOBAL, in which event the Company shall promptly take whatever action may be necessary to change its name and discontinue any further use of the name “Xxxxxxxxxxx” or “Quest For Value” in the name of the Company or otherwise. The name “Xxxxxxxxxxx” and “Quest For Value” may be used or licensed by OFI GLOBAL in connection with any of its activities, or licensed by OFI GLOBAL to any other party.
7. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.
(a) OFI GLOBAL (and any Sub Advisor) is authorized, in arranging the purchase and sale of the portfolio securities and other investments of the Series to employ or deal with such members of securities or commodities exchanges, brokers or dealers (hereinafter “broker-dealers”), including “affiliated” broker dealers (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act), as may, in its best judgment, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain, at reasonable expense, the “best execution” (prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable security price obtainable) of the portfolio transactions of the Series as well as to obtain, consistent with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this paragraph 7, the benefit of such investment information or research as will be of significant assistance to the performance by OFI GLOBAL (and any Sub Advisor) of its (their) investment management functions.
(b) OFI GLOBAL (and any Sub Advisor) shall select broker-dealers to effect the portfolio transactions of the Series on the basis of its estimate of their ability to obtain best execution of particular and related portfolio transactions. The abilities of a broker-dealer to obtain best execution of particular portfolio transaction(s) will be judged by OFI GLOBAL (or any Sub Advisor) on the basis of all relevant factors and considerations including, insofar as feasible, the execution capabilities required by the transaction or transactions; the ability and willingness of the broker-dealer to facilitate the portfolio transactions of the Series by participating therein for its own account; the importance to the Series of speed, efficiency or confidentiality; the broker-dealer’s apparent familiarity with sources from or to whom particular securities or other investments might be purchased or sold; as well as any other matters relevant to the selection of a broker-dealer for particular and related transactions of the Series.
(c) OFI GLOBAL (and any Sub Advisor) shall have discretion, in the interest of the Company and the Series, to allocate brokerage on the portfolio transactions of the Series to broker-dealers, other than an affiliated broker-dealers, qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services (as such services are defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) for the Series and/or other accounts for which OFI GLOBAL or its affiliates (or any Sub Advisor) exercise “investment discretion” (as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to cause the Company or the Series to pay such broker-dealers a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction for the Company or the Series that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker dealer adequately qualified to effect such transaction would have charged for effecting that transaction, if OFI GLOBAL (or any Sub Advisor) determines, in good faith, that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of OFI GLOBAL or its affiliates (or any Sub Advisor) with respect to accounts as to which they exercise investment discretion. In reaching such determination, OFI GLOBAL (or any Sub Advisor) will not be required to place or attempt to place a specific dollar value on the brokerage and/or research services provided or being provided by such broker-dealer. In demonstrating that such determinations were made in good faith, OFI GLOBAL (and any Sub Advisor) shall be prepared to show that all commissions were allocated for purposes contemplated by this Agreement and that the total commissions paid by the Company and the Series over a representative period selected by the Company’s Trustees were reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Company and the Series.
(d) OFI GLOBAL (or any Sub Advisor) shall have no duty or obligation to seek advance competitive bidding for the most favorable commission rate applicable to any particular portfolio transactions or to select any broker-dealer on the basis of its purported or “posted” commission rate but will, to the best of its ability, endeavor to be aware of the current level of the charges of eligible broker-dealers and to minimize the expense incurred by the Company and the Series for effecting its portfolio transactions to the extent consistent with the interests and policies of the Company and the Series as established by the determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Company and the provisions of this paragraph 7.
(e) The Company recognizes that an affiliated broker-dealer: (i) may act as one of the Company’s regular brokers for the Company or the Series thereof so long as it is lawful for it so to act; (ii) may be a major recipient of brokerage commissions paid by the Company or a Series thereof; and (iii) may effect portfolio transactions for the Company or the Series only if the commissions, fees or other remuneration received or to be received by it are determined in accordance with procedures contemplated by any rule, regulation or order adopted under the Investment Company Act to be within the permissible level of such commissions.
8. Duration.
This Agreement will take effect on the date first set forth above. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to paragraph 10 hereof, this Agreement shall remain in effect from year to year, so long as such continuance shall be approved at least annually by the Company’s Board of Trustees, including the vote of the majority of the Trustees of the Company who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or by the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, or the Series thereof, and by such a vote of the Company’s Board of Trustees.
9. Disclaimer of Shareholder or Trustee Liability.
OFI GLOBAL understands and agrees that the obligations of the Company under this Agreement are not binding upon any shareholder or Trustee of the Company personally, but bind only the Company and the Company’s property; OFI GLOBAL represents that it has notice of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Company disclaiming shareholder or Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Company.
10. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated (i) by OFI GLOBAL at any time without penalty upon sixty days’ written notice to the Company (which notice may be waived by the Company); or (ii) by the Company at any time without penalty upon sixty days’ written notice to OFI GLOBAL (which notice may be waived by OFI GLOBAL) provided that such termination by the Company shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of all of the Trustees of the Company then in office or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (as defined in the Investment Company Act).
11. Assignment or Amendment.
This Agreement may not be amended, or the rights of OFI GLOBAL hereunder sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise in any manner encumbered without the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of the “majority” of the outstanding voting securities of the Company. This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its “assignment,” as defined in the Investment Company Act.
12. Definitions.
The terms and provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions and definitions contained in the Investment Company Act.
Xxxxxxxxxxx Quest for Value Funds,
for its Series,
Oppenheimer Flexible Strategies Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Treasurer
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Executive Vice President and Director
Schedule A
to
Investment Advisory Agreement between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds
and
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc.
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Name of Series |
Annual Fee as a Percentage of Daily Total Net Assets |
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Oppenheimer Flexible Strategies Fund |
0.85% of first $1 billion of net assets 0.80% of next $500 million of net assets 0.75% of next $500 million of net assets 0.70% of next $500 million of net assets 0.65% of next $500 million of net assets 0.60% of next $500 million of net assets 0.55% of next $500 million of net assets 0.50% of net assets over $4 billion |
