INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 20th day of December, 2010, by and among
Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), First Trust Advisors L.P., an
Illinois limited partnership and a federally registered investment adviser
("Manager"), and Four Corners Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and a federally registered investment adviser ("Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Fund has retained Manager to serve as the investment manager
for the Fund pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement between Manager and
the Fund (as such agreement may be modified from time to time, "Management
Agreement");
WHEREAS, Management Agreement provides that Manager may, subject to the
initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the 1940 Act,
appoint one or more sub-advisers for the purpose of furnishing certain services
required under Management Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and Manager desire to retain Sub-Adviser to furnish
investment advisory services for a certain designated portion of the Fund's
investment portfolio, upon the terms and conditions hereafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment. The Fund and Manager hereby appoint Sub-Adviser to
provide certain sub-investment advisory services to the Fund for the period and
on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment
and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein
provided.
2. Services to be Performed. Subject always to the supervision of Fund's
Board of Trustees and Manager, Sub-Adviser will act as sub-adviser for, manage
the investment and reinvestment of the Fund's assets with respect to, furnish an
investment program in respect of, make investment decisions for, and place all
orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the portion of the Fund's
investment portfolio invested or to be invested in U.S. dollar denominated
senior secured floating-rate loans issued by U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that
manage, own and/or operate infrastructure and utility assets (the "Senior Loan
Component") all on behalf of the Fund and as described in the Fund's most recent
registration statement on Form N-2 as declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and as the same may be amended from time to time. In the
performance of its duties, Sub-Adviser will satisfy its fiduciary duties to the
Fund, will monitor the Fund's investments in the Senior Loan Component, and will
comply with the provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust and By-laws, as
amended from time to time and communicated by the Fund or Manager to Sub-Adviser
in writing, and the stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions of
the Fund applicable to the Senior Loan Component, as such objectives, policies
and restrictions may subsequently be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees and
communicated by the Fund or Manager to Sub-Adviser in writing. The Fund or
Manager will promptly provide Sub-Adviser with current copies of the Fund's
Declaration of Trust, By-laws, prospectus, statement of additional information
and any amendments to any thereof.
Sub-Adviser is authorized to select the brokers, dealers or banks that
will execute the purchases and sales of the Fund's assets comprising the Senior
Loan Component on behalf of the Fund upon such instructions as may be given or
authorized by Sub-Adviser. In placing orders for corporate loans, which are
generally privately negotiated principal transactions, Sub-Adviser may select
the agent bank or selling party, in its discretion, in a manner consistent with
the principles of best execution. The selection of the agent or selling party
will be determined by Sub-Adviser based upon a number of factors, including the
best price obtainable, dealer spread or commission, size and difficulty of the
transaction the desired time of the trade, confidentiality, execution and
operational capabilities, ongoing borrower diligence, reputation for integrity,
sound financial condition and practices and research or other services provided.
Subject to compliance with the policies and procedures adopted by the Board of
Trustees for the Fund and to the extent permitted by and in conformance with
applicable law (including Rule 17e-1 of the 1940 Act), Sub-Adviser may select
brokers or dealers affiliated with Sub-Adviser. It is understood that
Sub-Adviser will not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached a
fiduciary duty to the Fund, or be in breach of any obligation owing to the Fund
under this Agreement, or otherwise, solely by reason of its having caused the
Fund to pay a member of a securities exchange, a broker or a dealer a commission
for effecting a transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount of commission
another member of an exchange, broker or dealer would have charged if
Sub-Adviser determined in good faith that the commission paid was reasonable in
relation to the brokerage or research services provided by such member, broker
or dealer, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or Sub-Adviser's
overall responsibilities with respect to its accounts, including the Fund, as to
which it exercises investment discretion. In addition, if in the judgment of
Sub-Adviser, the Fund would be benefited by supplemental services, Sub-Adviser
is authorized to pay spreads or commissions to brokers or dealers furnishing
such services in excess of spreads or commissions that another broker or dealer
may charge for the same transaction, provided that Sub-Adviser determined in
good faith that the commission or spread paid was reasonable in relation to the
services provided and complies with the Fund's policies and procedures.
In addition, Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities placed with respect to the
Senior Loan Component with similar orders being made simultaneously for other
accounts managed by Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, if in Sub-Adviser's
reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit
to the Fund, taking into consideration the selling or purchase price, brokerage
commissions and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of an asset
of the Fund occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase orders, the
objective of Sub-Adviser and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction
shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses
incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in an equitable
manner. Nevertheless, the Fund and Manager acknowledge that under some
circumstances, such allocation may adversely affect the Fund with respect to the
price or size of the positions obtainable or salable. Whenever the Fund and one
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or more other investment advisory clients of Sub-Adviser have available funds
for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated
in a manner believed by Sub-Adviser to be equitable to each, although such
allocation may result in a delay in one or more client accounts being fully
invested that would not occur if such an allocation were not made. Moreover, it
is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons,
Sub-Adviser and its affiliates may purchase securities of an issuer for one
client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or
similar types of securities for another client.
Sub-Adviser will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between the
Fund and other accounts advised by Sub-Adviser or its affiliates unless (a) such
purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law (including Rule 17a-7
of the 0000 Xxx) and the Fund's policies and procedures, (b) Sub-Adviser
determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund, and (c)
the Fund's Board of Trustees have approved these types of transactions.
Subject to compliance with applicable law, the Fund's investment
objectives, policies and restrictions and the policies and procedures adopted by
the Board of Trustee for the Fund, Sub-Adviser may cause the Fund to invest in
securities of issuers advised or managed by persons affiliated with Sub-Adviser.
To the extent the Fund seeks to adopt, amend or eliminate any objectives,
policies, restrictions or procedures in a manner that modifies or restricts
Sub-Adviser's authority regarding the execution of the Fund's portfolio
transactions, the Fund agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts to consult
with Sub-Adviser regarding the modifications or restrictions prior to such
adoption, amendment or elimination.
Sub-Adviser will communicate to the officers and trustees of the Fund such
information relating to transactions for the Fund as they may reasonably
request. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to
Manager, Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of any of the Fund, Manager, or
Sub-Adviser, except as may be permitted under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Adviser further agrees that it:
(a) will use the same degree of skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to other fiduciary accounts for
which it has investment responsibilities;
(b) will, in all material respects, conform to all applicable Rules
and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and comply with
all policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees for the Fund
and communicated to Sub-Adviser in writing and, in addition, will conduct
its activities under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable
regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to its investment
advisory activities;
(c) will report regularly to Manager and to the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (generally on a quarterly basis) and will make appropriate
persons available for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of
Manager and the Board of Trustees on a regular basis at reasonable times
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the management of the Fund, including, without limitation, review of the
general investment strategies of the Fund, the performance of the Fund's
investment portfolio in relation to relevant standard industry indices and
general conditions affecting the marketplace and will provide various
other reports from time to time as reasonably requested by Manager or the
Board of Trustees of the Fund; and
(d) will prepare and maintain such books and records with respect
to the Fund's securities and other transactions for the Senior Loan
Component as required for registered investment advisers under applicable
law or as otherwise reasonably requested by Manager and will prepare and
furnish Manager and the Fund's Board of Trustees such periodic and special
reports as the Board or Manager may reasonably request. Sub-Adviser
further agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the
property of the Fund and Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund
any such records upon the request of Manager or the Fund; (provided,
however, that Sub-Adviser shall be permitted to retain copies thereof) and
shall be permitted to retain originals (with copies to the Fund) to the
extent required under Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or
other applicable law.
The Sub-Adviser's duties and obligations shall be limited to those
expressly set out in this Agreement. The Manager and the Fund acknowledge such
limitation.
3. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, Sub-Adviser will pay all
expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement
other than the cost of securities and other assets (including, legal expenses
and the costs and expenses of due diligence undertaken by third parties incurred
by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the purchase or proposed purchase of such
securities or assets, previously approved in writing by the Fund's Chief
Financial Officer, and brokerage commissions, if any). However, if approved in
writing by the Fund's Chief Financial Officer, Sub-Adviser may be reimbursed for
certain extraordinary expenses.
4. Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed
pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay Sub-Adviser, and Sub-Adviser
agrees to accept as full compensation therefor, a portfolio management fee
("Management Fee") equal to the annual rate of 0.60% multiplied by that portion
of the Total Assets (defined below) comprising the Senior Loan Component. For
purposes of calculating the Management Fee, Total Assets means the average daily
gross asset value of the Fund (including assets attributable to the Fund's
preferred shares, if any, and the principal amount of borrowings), minus the sum
of the Fund's accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares
and accrued liabilities (other than the principal amount of any borrowings
incurred, commercial paper or notes or other forms of indebtedness issued by the
Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares. The
Management Fee shall be payable in arrears on or about the last day of each
fiscal quarter during the term of this Agreement.
For the quarter and year in which this Agreement becomes effective or
terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration of the Management Fee on the
basis of the number of days that the Agreement is in effect during the quarter
and year, respectively.
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5. Services to Others. The Fund and Manager acknowledge that Sub-Adviser
now acts, and may in the future act, as an investment adviser to other managed
accounts and as investment adviser or investment sub-adviser to one or more
other investment companies. In addition, the Fund and Manager acknowledge that
the persons employed by Sub-Adviser to assist in Sub-Adviser's duties under this
Agreement will not devote their full time to such efforts. It is also agreed
that Sub-Adviser may use any supplemental research obtained for the benefit of
the Fund in providing investment advice to its other investment advisory
accounts and for managing its own accounts.
6. Limitation of Liability. Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for, and the
Fund and Manager will not take any action against Sub-Adviser to hold
Sub-Adviser liable for, any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss
suffered by the Fund (including, without limitation, by reason of the purchase,
sale or retention of any security) in connection with the performance of
Sub-Adviser's duties under this Agreement, except for a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of Sub-Adviser in
the performance of its duties under this Agreement, or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
7. Term; Termination. This Agreement shall become effective with respect
to the Fund on the same date as Management Agreement between the Fund and
Manager becomes effective, provided that it has been approved by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund in accordance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, and shall remain in full force until the two-year
anniversary of the date of its effectiveness unless sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided. This Agreement shall continue in force from year to year
thereafter, but only as long as such continuance is specifically approved for
the Fund at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder; provided, however, that if the continuation of this
Agreement is not approved for the Fund, Sub-Adviser may continue to serve in
such capacity for the Fund in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the
termination of Management Agreement or other termination of or resignation by
Manager as investment adviser to the Fund shall not in and of itself cause the
termination of this Agreement. In such cases, Sub-Adviser may continue to
provide the services herein set forth for the compensation provided herein.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment and may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty
by Manager or Sub-Adviser upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the other
parties. This Agreement may also be terminated by the Fund by action of the
Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of such Fund upon sixty (60) days' written notice to Sub-Adviser by
the Fund without payment of any penalty.
Manager and Sub-Adviser have entered into an agreement that provides,
among other things, that if Manager or the Fund terminates or fails to renew
this Agreement other than for cause (as defined in the agreement), Manager shall
resign as adviser to the Fund and shall not be reinstated as investment adviser
or sub-adviser to the Fund. The Fund acknowledges that the terms of such
agreement have been fully described to the Board of Trustees.
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The terms "assignment" and "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities" shall have the meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the right of Sub-Adviser to
receive payments on any unpaid balance of the compensation described in Section
4 hereof earned prior to such termination and for any additional period during
which Sub-Adviser serves as such for the Fund, subject to applicable law.
8. Notice. Any notice under this Agreement shall be sufficient in all
respects if given in writing and delivered by commercial courier providing proof
of delivery or sent by facsimile and addressed as follows or addressed to such
other person or address as such party may designate for receipt of such notice.
If to Manager or Fund: If to Sub-Adviser:
Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/ Four Corners Capital Management, LLC
Utilities Dividend & Income Fund 000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
First Trust Advisors L.P. Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxx: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
If by Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 If by Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
9. Limitations on Liability. All parties hereto are expressly put on
notice of the Fund's Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto, a copy of
which is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
the limitation of shareholder and trustee liability contained therein. This
Agreement is executed on behalf of the Fund by the Fund's officers in their
capacity as officers and not individually and is not binding upon any of the
Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Fund individually but the obligations
imposed upon the Fund by this Agreement are binding only upon the assets and
property of the Fund, and persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
assets of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims.
10. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This
Agreement will be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors.
11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
applicable federal law and (except as to Section 9 hereof which shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts) the laws of the State of
Illinois.
12. Amendment, Etc. This Agreement may only be amended, or its provisions
modified or waived, in a writing signed by the party against which such
amendment, modification or waiver is sought to be enforced.
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13. Authority. Each party represents to the others that it is duly
authorized and fully empowered to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
The Fund represents that engagement of Sub-Adviser has been duly authorized by
the Fund and is in accordance with the Fund's Declaration of Trust and other
governing documents of the Fund.
14. Severability. Each provision of this Agreement is intended to be
severable from the others so that if any provision or term hereof is illegal or
invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the validity of the remaining provisions and terms hereof; provided,
however, that the provisions governing payment of the Management Fee described
in Section 4 hereof are not severable.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire
agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter of this Agreement.
Any written or oral agreements, statements, promises, negotiations or
representations not expressly set forth in this Agreement are of no force and
effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund, Manager and Sub-Adviser have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. FOUR CORNERS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, President By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
MACQUARIE/FIRST TRUST GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE/UTILITIES
DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
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