Exhibit 4(e)
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the ___ day of ____________, 2000 by and between FUND
ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (hereinafter referred to
as "FAM"), and XXXXXXX XXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K. LIMITED, a corporation
organized under the laws of England and Wales (hereinafter referred to as "MLAM
U.K.").
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, MERCURY GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND (the "Fund") is one of the
separate portfolios of THE ASSET PROGRAM, INC. (the "Program") which is a
Maryland corporation engaged in business as a non-diversified, open-end
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (hereinafter referred to as the "Investment Company Act"); and
WHEREAS, FAM and MLAM U.K. are engaged principally in rendering investment
advisory services and are registered as investment advisers under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, MLAM U.K. is regulated by the Investment Management Regulatory
Organization, a self-regulating organization recognized under the Financial
Services Act of 1986 of the United Kingdom (hereinafter referred to as "IMRO"),
and the conduct of its investment business is regulated by IMRO; and
WHEREAS, FAM has entered into a management agreement (the "Management
Agreement") dated _______ __, 2000, pursuant to which FAM provides management
and investment and advisory services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, MLAM U.K. is willing to provide investment advisory services to
FAM in connection with the Fund's operations on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
hereinafter contained, MLAM U.K. and FAM hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
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Duties of MLAM U.K.
-------------------
FAM hereby employs MLAM U.K. to act as investment adviser to FAM and to
furnish, or arrange for affiliates to furnish, the investment advisory services
described below, subject to the broad supervision of FAM and the Fund, for the
period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. MLAM U.K.
hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period, at its own
expense, to render, or arrange for the rendering of, such services and to assume
the obligations herein set forth for the compensation provided for herein. FAM
and its affiliates shall for all purposes herein be deemed a Non Privated
Customer as defined under the rules promulgated by IMRO (hereinafter referred to
as the "IMRO Rules"). MLAM U.K. and its affiliates shall for all purposes
herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise
expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the
Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
MLAM U.K. shall have the right to make unsolicited calls on FAM and shall
provide FAM with such investment research, advice and supervision as the latter
may from time to time consider necessary for the proper supervision of the
assets of the Fund; shall furnish continuously an investment program for the
Fund and shall make recommendations from time to time as to which securities
shall be purchased, sold or exchanged and what portion of the assets
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of the Fund shall be held in the various securities in which the Fund invests,
options, futures, options on futures or cash; all of the foregoing subject
always to the restrictions of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Program, as they may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the
provisions of the Investment Company Act and the statements relating to the
Fund's investment objective, investment policies and investment restrictions as
the same are set forth in the currently effective prospectus and statement of
additional information relating to the shares of the Fund under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Prospectus" and "Statement of Additional
Information", respectively). MLAM U.K. shall make recommendations and effect
transactions with respect to foreign currency matters, including foreign
exchange contracts, foreign currency options, foreign currency futures and
related options on foreign currency futures and forward foreign currency
transactions. MLAM U.K. shall also make recommendations or take action as to the
manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any
other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities of the Fund shall be
exercised.
MLAM U.K. will not hold money on behalf of FAM or the Fund, nor will MLAM
U.K. be the registered holder of the registered investments of FAM or the Fund
or be the custodian of documents or other evidence of title.
ARTICLE II
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Allocation of Charges and Expenses
----------------------------------
MLAM U.K. assumes and shall pay for maintaining the staff and personnel
necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and shall at its own
expense provide the office space, equipment and facilities which it is obligated
to provide under Article I hereof and shall
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pay all compensation of officers of the Program and all Directors of the Program
who are affiliated persons of MLAM U.K.
ARTICLE III
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Compensation of MLAM U.K.
-------------------------
For the services rendered, the facilities furnished and expenses assumed by
MLAM U.K., FAM shall pay to MLAM U.K. a fee in an amount to be determined from
time to time by FAM and MLAM U.K. but in no event in excess of the amount that
FAM actually receives for providing services to the Fund pursuant to the
Management Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
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Limitation of Liability of MLAM U.K.
------------------------------------
MLAM U.K. shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law
or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the
performance of sub-advisory services rendered with respect to the Fund, except
for willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder. As used in this Article IV, MLAM U.K. shall include any affiliates
of MLAM U.K. performing services for FAM contemplated hereby and directors,
officers and employees of MLAM U.K. and such affiliates.
ARTICLE V
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Activities of MLAM U.K.
-----------------------
The services of MLAM U.K. to the Fund are not to be deemed to be exclusive,
MLAM U.K. and any person controlled by or under common control with MLAM U.K.
(for purposes of this Article V referred to as "affiliates") being free to
render services to others. It is understood
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that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Program are or may
become interested in MLAM U.K. and its affiliates, as directors, officers,
employees and shareholders or otherwise and that directors, officers, employees
and shareholders of MLAM U.K. and its affiliates are or may become similarly
interested in the Program, and that MLAM U.K. and directors, officers,
employees, partners and shareholders of its affiliates may become interested in
the Fund as shareholders or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
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MLAM U.K. Statements Pursuant to IMRO Rules
-------------------------------------------
Any complaints concerning MLAM U.K. should be in writing addressed to the
attention of the Managing Director of MLAM U.K. FAM has the right to obtain
from MLAM U.K. a copy of the IMRO complaints procedure and to approach IMRO and
the Investment Ombudsman directly.
MLAM U.K. may make recommendations, subject to the investment restrictions
referred to in Article I herein, regarding Investments Not Readily Realisable
(as that term is used in the IMRO Rules) or investments denominated in a
currency other than British pound sterling. There can be no certainty that
market makers will be prepared to deal in unlisted or thinly traded securities
and an accurate valuation may be hard to obtain. The value of investments
recommended by MLAM U.K. may be subject to exchange rate fluctuations which may
have favorable or unfavorable effects on investments.
MLAM U.K. may make recommendations, subject to the investment restrictions
referred to in Article I herein, regarding options, futures or contracts for
differences. Markets can be
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highly volatile and such investments carry a high degree of risk of loss
exceeding the original investment and any margin on deposit.
ARTICLE VII
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Duration and Termination of this Agreement
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This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written
and shall remain in force until the date of termination of the Management
Agreement (but not later than two years after the date hereof) and thereafter,
but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by (i) the Directors of the Program or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) a majority of those Directors
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.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by FAM or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, or by MLAM U.K., on sixty days' written notice to the other party.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment or
in the event of the termination of the Management Agreement. Any termination
shall be without prejudice to the completion of transactions already initiated.
ARTICLE VIII
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Amendments of this Agreement
----------------------------
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by (i) the Directors of the Program or by the vote of a
majority of outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) a majority of
those Directors who are not parties to this Agreement
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or interested persons of any such party cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval.
ARTICLE IX
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Definitions of Certain Terms
----------------------------
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities",
"assignment", "affiliated person" and "interested person", when used in this
Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment
Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however, to such
exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under
said Act.
ARTICLE X
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Governing Law
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This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the
extent that the applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act, the latter shall control.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By ________________________________________
Title:
XXXXXXX XXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K. LIMITED
By ________________________________________
Title:
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