XXXX XXXXXXX FUNDS II
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 17th day of October, 2005, between Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Investment Management Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Adviser"), and American Century Investment Management, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Subadviser"). In consideration of the mutual covenants
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER
The Subadviser undertakes to act as investment subadviser to, and, subject
to the supervision of the Trustees of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds II (the "Trust") and
the terms of this Agreement, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the
assets of the Portfolios specified in Appendix A to this Agreement as it shall
be amended by the Adviser and the Subadviser from time to time (the
"Portfolios"). The Subadviser will be an independent contractor and will have no
authority to act for or represent the Trust or Adviser in any way except as
expressly authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust and
Adviser.
2. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST
a. Subject always to the direction and control of the Trustees of the Trust,
the Subadviser will manage the investments and determine the composition of
the assets of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios'
registration statement, as amended. In fulfilling its obligations to manage
the investments and reinvestments of the assets of the Portfolios, the
Subadviser will:
i. formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each
Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related
investment policies for each such Portfolio as described in the
Trust's registration statement, as amended;
ii. take whatever steps are necessary to implement these investment
programs by the purchase and sale of securities including the placing
of orders for such purchases and sales;
iii. regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the
implementation of these investment programs; and
iv. provide reasonable assistance to the Trust's Custodian regarding the
fair value of securities held by the Portfolios for which market
quotations are not readily available. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the parties agree that it is not the Subadvisor's responsibility to
fair value securities and that Subadviser will only provide assistance
when so requested by the Trust's Custodian or the Adviser.
b. The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment
and management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it
to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii) administrative facilities,
including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the
efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolios (excluding
determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services).
c. The Subadviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all transactions
subject to the following conditions: The Subadviser will place all
necessary orders with brokers, dealers, or issuers, and will negotiate
brokerage commissions if applicable. The Subadviser is directed at all
times to seek to execute brokerage transactions for the Portfolios in
accordance with such policies or practices as may be established by the
Trustees and described in the Trust's registration statement as amended.
The Subadviser may pay a broker-dealer which provides research and
brokerage services a higher spread or commission for a particular
transaction than otherwise might have been charged by another
broker-dealer, if the Subadviser determines that the higher spread or
commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services that such broker-dealer provides, viewed in terms of
either the particular transaction or the Subadviser's overall
responsibilities with respect to accounts managed by the Subadviser. The
Subadviser may use for the benefit of the Subadviser's other clients, or
make available to companies affiliated with the Subadviser or to its
directors for the benefit of its clients, any such brokerage and research
services that the Subadviser obtains from brokers or dealers.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing shall require the Subadviser to use
a broker that provides such research services or to use a particular broker
recommended by the Adviser or the Trustees.
d. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security
to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as other clients of the
Subadviser, the Subadviser to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate or, if
appropriate, cross sales and purchase orders of 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 Subadviser in accordance with its
allocation policy. If any trades are crossed, the Subadviser may charge the
Portfolios for customary transfer fees incurred in such cross trades,
excluding brokerage commissions or other remuneration paid in connection
with the transaction. A transaction fee charged by a broker or a custodial
bank will be considered a customary transfer fee for purposes of this
Agreement.
e. The Subadviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect
to the Portfolios as are required of an investment adviser of a registered
investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Investment Company Act") and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
"Investment Advisers Act") and the rules thereunder.
f. Pursuant to the Trust's voting policies and procedures as in effect on the
date of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall vote proxies relating to the
Portfolio's investment securities in accordance with the proxy voting
policies and procedures adopted by the Subadviser in conformance with Rule
206 (4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act. The Subadviser shall review
its proxy voting activities on a periodic basis with the Trustees.
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3. COMPENSATION OF SUBADVISER
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser with respect to each Portfolio the
compensation specified in Appendix A to this Agreement.
4. LIABILITY OF SUBADVISER
Neither the Subadviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees
shall be liable to the Adviser or the Trust for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust in connection with the
matters to which this Agreement relates except for losses resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or from the
reckless disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its directors.
5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
It is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the
Trust are or may be interested in the Subadviser as trustees, officers, partners
or otherwise; that employees, agents and partners of the Subadviser are or may
be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, shareholders or otherwise;
that the Subadviser may be interested in the Trust; and that the existence of
any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of any
transactions hereunder except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust and the Articles of Incorporation of the
Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.
6. REGULATION
The Subadviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies
having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any
information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this
Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
7. COMPLIANCE
a. The Adviser shall perform quarterly and annual tax compliance tests and
promptly furnish reports of such tests to the Subadviser after each quarter
end to ensure that the Portfolios are in compliance with Subchapter M and
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"). The Adviser shall apprise the Subadviser promptly after each
quarter end of any potential non-compliance with the diversification
requirements in such Code provisions. If so advised, the Subadviser shall
take prompt action so that the Portfolios comply with such Code
diversification provisions, as directed by the Adviser. The Adviser also
shall inform the Subadviser of any potential non-compliance with the
distribution requirements of Code Sections 852(a) and 4982. If so advised,
the Subadviser shall take prompt action so that the Portfolios comply with
such Code distribution requirements, as directed by the Adviser. The
Adviser will file the appropriate forms with the Internal Revenue Service
when setting up trading accounts for the Portfolios.
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b. The Adviser will promptly notify the Subadviser of any proposed change in
investment objective or strategy of the Portfolios proposed by the Adviser
or any other change that would affect the Subadviser's obligations
hereunder prior to the adoption of any such proposal. No such change may be
imposed without the prior written consent of the Subadviser which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such consent is not required where such
change is required to: (a) comply with applicable law or regulation or (b)
to comply with any order of any court of competent jurisdiction.
8. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Portfolio on the
later of (i) its execution and (ii) the date of the meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, at which meeting this Agreement is approved as described
below. The Agreement will continue in effect for a period more than two years
from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually either by the Trustees of the Trust or by a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of each of the Portfolios, provided that in
either event such continuance shall also be approved by the vote of a majority
of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the
Investment Company Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required
shareholder approval of the Agreement or of any continuance of the Agreement
shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the series (as defined in Rule 18f-2(h) under
the Investment Company Act) of shares of that Portfolio votes to approve the
Agreement or its continuance, notwithstanding that the Agreement or its
continuance may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the Agreement or (b) all the
portfolios of the Trust.
If any required shareholder approval of this Agreement or any continuance
of the Agreement is not obtained, the Subadviser will continue to act as
investment subadviser with respect to such Portfolio pending the required
approval of the Agreement or its continuance or of a new contract with the
Subadviser or a different adviser or subadviser or other definitive action;
provided, that the compensation received by the Subadviser in respect of such
Portfolio during such period is in compliance with Rule 15a-4 under the
Investment Company Act.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or with respect to any Portfolio by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio,
on sixty days' written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the
Adviser or Subadviser on sixty days' written notice to the Trust and the other
party. This Agreement will automatically terminate, without the payment of any
penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) or in the event the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust
terminates for any reason.
9. PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY SUBADVISER
The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events:
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a. the Subadviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order
to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
b. the Subadviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and
c. any change in actual control or management of the Subadviser or the
portfolio manager of any Portfolio.
10. SERVICES TO OTHER CLIENTS
The Adviser understands, and has advised the Trust's Board of Trustees,
that the Subadviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an investment adviser
to fiduciary and other managed accounts and as investment adviser or subadviser
to other investment companies. Further, the Adviser understands, and has advised
the Trust's Board of Trustees that the Subadviser and its affiliates may give
advice and take action for its accounts, including investment companies, which
differs from advice given on the timing or nature of action taken for the
Portfolio. The Subadviser is not obligated to initiate transactions for a
Portfolio in any security which the Subadviser, its partners, affiliates or
employees may purchase or sell for their own accounts or other clients.
11. CONSULTATION WITH SUBADVISERS TO OTHER TRUST PORTFOLIOS
As required by Rule 17a-10 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Subadviser is prohibited from consulting with the entities listed below
concerning transactions for a Portfolio in securities or other assets:
1. other subadvisers to a Portfolio
2. other subadvisers to a Trust portfolio
3. other subadvisers to a portfolio under common control with the Portfolio
12. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and
by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested
persons of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required shareholder approval shall
be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of that Portfolio vote to approve the amendment,
notwithstanding that the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the
amendment or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
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13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the
parties.
14. HEADINGS
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
15. NOTICES
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered or mailed to the last known business address of the Trust or
applicable party in person or by registered mail or a private mail or delivery
service providing the sender with notice of receipt. Notice shall be deemed
given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this paragraph.
16. SEVERABILITY
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in
law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as
if such portion had never been contained herein.
17. GOVERNING LAW
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the
applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions in this
Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act,
the latter shall control.
18. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a copy of which, together with all
amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name " Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Funds II" refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as
Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be held to any personal liability,
nor shall resort be had to their private property, for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim, in connection with the affairs of the Trust or any
portfolio thereof, but only the assets belonging to the Trust, or to the
particular Portfolio with respect to which such obligation or claim arose, shall
be liable.
19. CONFIDENTIALITY OF TRUST PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Subadviser agrees to treat Trust portfolio holdings as confidential
information in accordance with the Trust's "Policy Regarding Disclosure of
Portfolio Holdings," as such policy may be amended from time to time, and to
prohibit its employees from trading on any such confidential information.
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20. COMPLIANCE
Upon execution of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser
with the Subadviser's written policies and procedures ("Compliance Policies") as
required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act. Throughout the term
of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall submit to the Adviser: (i) quarterly
reports of any material changes to the Compliance Policies, (ii) prompt
notification of the commencement of a regulatory examination of the Subadviser
and documentation describing the results of any such examination and of any
periodic testing of the Compliance Policies, (iii) prompt notification of any
material compliance matter that relates to the services provided by the
Subadviser to the Trust including any material violation of a Compliance Policy
or the Subadviser's code of ethics as long as such violation relates to the
services provided to the Trust by the Subadviser, and (iv) quarterly reports of
any other material violation of the Compliance Policies or of the Subadviser's
code of ethics. Throughout the term of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall
provide the Adviser with any certifications, information and access to personnel
and resources that the Adviser may reasonably request to enable the Trust to
comply with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act.
(THE REMAINDER OF THIS SPACE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first mentioned above.
XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
SERVICES, LLC
By: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.),
Managing Member
By: /s/Xxxx X. XxxXxxx III
Name: Xxxx X. XxxXxxx III
Title: Chairman
AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President
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APPENDIX A
The Subadviser shall serve as investment subadviser for each Portfolio of
the Trust listed below. The Adviser will pay the Subadviser, as full
compensation for all services provided under this Agreement with respect to each
Portfolio, the fee computed separately for such Portfolio at an annual rate as
follows (the "Subadviser Fee"):
Between Between
$250 million $500 million
First and and Excess Over
$250 million $500 million $1 billion $1 billion
of Aggregate of Aggregate of Aggregate of Aggregate
Portfolio Net Assets* Net Assets* Net Assets* Net Assets*
Vista Fund 0.450% 0.400% 0.375% 0.350%
First Excess Over
$125 million $125 million
of Aggregate of Aggregate
Portfolio Net Assets* Net Assets*
Small Company Fund 0.600% 0.550%
*The term Aggregate Net Assets includes the net assets of a Portfolio of the
Trust. It also includes with respect to each Portfolio the net assets of one or
more other portfolios as indicated below, but in each case only for the period
during which the Subadviser for the Portfolio also serves as the subadviser for
the other portfolio(s). For purposes of determining Aggregate Net Assets and
calculating the Subadviser Fee, the net assets of the Portfolio and each other
portfolio of the Trust are determined as of the close of business on the
previous business day of the Trust, and the net assets of each portfolio of each
other fund are determined as of the close of business on the previous business
day of that fund.
Trust Portfolio(s) Other Portfolio(s)
Vista Fund -- Vista Trust, a series of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Trust
Small Company Fund Small Company Fund, a series of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Trust
The Subadviser Fee for a Portfolio shall be based on the applicable annual
fee rate for the Portfolio which for each day shall be equal to (i) the sum of
the amounts determined by applying the annual percentage rates in the table to
the applicable portions of Aggregate Net Assets divided by (ii) Aggregate Net
Assets (the "Applicable Annual Fee Rate"). The Subadviser Fee for each Portfolio
shall be accrued for each calendar day, and the sum of the daily fee accruals
shall be paid monthly to the Subadviser within 30 calendar days of the end of
each month. The daily fee accruals will be computed by multiplying the fraction
of one over the number of calendar days in the year by the Applicable Annual Fee
Rate, and multiplying this product by the net assets of the Portfolio. The
Adviser shall provide Subadviser with such information as Subadviser may
reasonably request supporting the calculation of the fees paid to it hereunder.
Fees shall be paid either by wire transfer or check, as directed by Subadviser.
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If, with respect to any Portfolio, this Agreement becomes effective or
terminates, or if the manner of determining the Applicable Annual Fee Rate
changes, before the end of any month, the fee (if any) 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 or from the beginning of such month to the date such
change, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which
such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination
or change occurs.
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