INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Between
SEARAY FINANCIAL FUNDS
THE XXXXXXXX FUND
and
THE XXXXXXXX FINANCIAL GROUP
This Agreement is effective the 1st day of March, 2000, by and between THE
XXXXXXXX FUND (the "Fund"), a separate investment series of Searay Financial
Funds, a business trust organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, operating as an open-end investment company (the
"Trust") , and THE XXXXXXXX FINANCIAL GROUP, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Adviser").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end management
investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is engaged principally in the business of rendering
investment supervisory services and is registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment and
supervisory services to the Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
I
INVESTMENT RESPONSIBILITY
(1) In providing the services and assuming the obligations set forth
herein, the Adviser may, at its expense, employ one or more subadvisers.
References herein to the Adviser shall include any subadviser employed by the
Adviser. Any agreement between the Adviser and a subadviser shall be subject to
the renewal, termination and amendment provisions of section V hereof.
The Trust hereby retains the Adviser to supervise and assist in the
management of the assets for the Fund and to furnish the Fund with a continuous
program for the investment of the Fund's assets in accordance with the Fund's
currently effective registration statement, including:
a. Recommendations as to specific securities to be purchased for or
eliminated from the Fund, and
b. Recommendations as to the portion of the Fund's assets that should be
held uninvested.
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser may
itself, and at its own expense, contract for such supplementary advisory and
research services as it deems necessary or desirable to fulfill its obligations
under paragraph (1) above, provided that any such contract shall have been
approved by the Fund and its shareholders to the extent, and in the manner,
required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(3) The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust the services of one or more
persons who shall be authorized by the Trust to place orders for the purchase
and sale of securities for the account of the Fund. Acting through a person so
authorized by the Trust, the Adviser shall place such orders for the Fund.
(4) Notwithstanding the generality of paragraph (3) above, and subject to
the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6) below, the Adviser shall endeavor to
secure for the Fund the best possible price and execution of every purchase and
sale for the account of the Fund. In seeking such best price and execution the
Adviser shall use its own judgment as to the implementation of its own
investment recommendations, including the Adviser's judgment as to the time when
an order should be placed, the number of securities to be bought or sold in any
one trade that is a part of any particular recommendation, and the market in
which an order should be placed.
(5) The Adviser shall use its own judgment in determining the
broker-dealers who shall be employed to execute orders for the purchase or sale
of securities for the Fund, in order to:
a. Secure best price and execution on purchases and sales for the Fund;
and
b. Secure supplemental research and statistical data for use in making
its recommendations to the Fund.
(6) The Adviser shall use its discretion as to when, and in which market,
the Fund's transactions shall be executed, in order to secure for the Fund the
benefits of best price and execution, and supplemental research and statistical
data. The use of such discretion shall be subject to review by the Trustees of
the Trust at any time and form time to time. The Trust, acting by its Trustees,
may withdraw said discretion at any time, and may direct the execution of
portfolio transactions for the Fund in any lawful manner different from that
provided for herein. Until a decision is made to withdraw or limit the
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discretion herein granted, the Adviser shall not be liable for any loss suffered
by the Fund through the exercise by the Adviser of that discretion unless the
Adviser shall be guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
II
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
During the continuance of this Agreement, Adviser shall provide the Fund
with a continuous program of general administration including:
a. Office space, equipment, supplies and utility services as shall be
required to conduct Fund business;
b. The provision and supervision of all persons performing the executive,
administrative, and clerical functions necessary for the conduct of the Fund's
business except as set forth in g., below;
c. The supervision of accounting, and of records and record-keeping for the
Fund;
d. The preparation and distribution of mandatory reports to Fund
shareholders and regulatory bodies;
e. The supervision of the daily net asset value of the Fund;
f. The preparation and distribution on behalf of the Fund of notices of
shareholder and Trustee meetings, agendas, proxies, and proxy statements; and
g. Other facilities, services, and activities necessary for the conduct of
the Fund's business, except for services by the Fund's Custodian, Registrar,
Transfer Agent, Administrator, Accounting Services Agent, Dividend Disbursing
Agent, Auditors, and Legal Counsel.
III
ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES
The Adviser shall pay the Fund's pro rata share of the cost and expenses of
the following services, facilities and activities: necessary office space,
equipment, supplies, utility services and all other ordinary office expenses;
the salaries and other compensation of the Trust's trustees, officers and
employees who are affiliated persons of the Adviser; and fees for supplementary
advisory and research services performed for the Adviser. The Fund shall pay all
other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund and the continuous offering
of interests in the Fund, including, but not limited to, the following:
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a. The Fund's pro rata share of the fees and expenses of counsel in
connection with the organization of the Fund.
b. The regular fees or special charges of any Custodian, Transfer Agent,
Administrator, Registrar, Accounting Services Agent or Dividend Disbursing Agent
allocable to the Fund.
c. The Fund's pro rata share of the compensation or fees of the Trust's
auditors and legal counsel, and compensation and costs relating to legal or
administrative proceedings or to litigation.
d. Income, franchise, stock transfer and other taxes attributable to the
Fund.
e. Initial or renewal fees payable to governmental agencies in connection
with the filing of reports, notices, registration statements, and other material
required to be filed in connection with the Fund's business.
f. The Fund's pro rata share of any insurance or bond premiums.
g. The Fund's pro rata share of association dues or assessments.
h. Brokerage fees or commissions on all Fund transactions.
i. The Fund's pro rata share of interest on borrowed funds or otherwise.
j. The Fund's distribution (12b-1) and service fees to the extent permitted
by the Fund's distribution (12b-1) and service plan.
k. Any extraordinary expenses attributable directly to the Fund.
IV
COMPENSATION
The Fund shall pay the Adviser a fee, based on the value of the net assets
of the Fund determined in accordance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust, and
computed as follows:
(a) The annual advisory fee (the "Fee") shall be equal to the sum of 1.00%
of the Fund's average daily net assets.
(b) The amounts due the Adviser in payment of the Fee set forth above. The
Fee will be accrued daily and shall be paid to the Adviser in pro rata monthly
installments due and payable on the first business day of each calendar month.
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V
DURATION AND TERMINATION
(1) The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date first written above
and, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall
remain in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter this Agreement shall
continue in effect from year to year, subject to the termination provisions and
all other terms and conditions hereof; if: (a) such continuation shall be
specifically approved at least annually by vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the vote, cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of
the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party; and (b) the
Adviser shall not have notified the Fund, in writing, at least 60 days prior to
the expiration of any term, that it does not desire such continuation. The
Adviser shall furnish to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such information
as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any
extension, renewal or amendment hereof.
(2) This Agreement may not be amended, transferred, sold or in any manner
hypothecated or pledged, without the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and this Agreement shall
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment.
(3) This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto, without the
payment of any penalty, upon at least 60 days' notice in writing to the other
party, provided, that in the case of termination by the Fund such action shall
have been authorized by resolution of the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
VI
MISCELLANEOUS
(1) The Adviser shall not deal with the Fund as broker or dealer but the
Adviser may enter orders for the purchase or sale of the Fund's securities
through a company or companies that are under common control with the Adviser,
provided such company acts as broker and charges a commission that does not
exceed the usual and customary broker's commission if the sale is effected on a
securities exchange, or, 1 per centum of the purchase or sale price of such
securities if the sale is otherwise effected. In connection with the purchase or
sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund, neither the Adviser
nor any officer or director or affiliate of the Adviser shall act as a
principal.
(2) Except as expressly prohibited in this Agreement, nothing herein shall
in any way limit or restrict the Adviser, or any officers, shareholders or
employees of Adviser, from buying selling or trading in any security for its or
their own account. Neither the Adviser nor any Officer or Director thereof shall
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take a short position in any interests of the Fund or otherwise purchase such
interests for any purpose other than that of investment. However, the Adviser
may act as underwriter or distributor provided it does so pursuant to a written
contract approved in the manner specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(3) The Adviser may act as investment adviser to, and provide management
services for, other investment companies, and may engage in businesses that are
unrelated to investment companies, without limitation, provided the performance
of such services and the transaction of such businesses does not impair the
Adviser's performance of this Agreement.
(4) The Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of
law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which
this Agreement relates (including, but not limited to, loss sustained by reason
of the adoption or implementation of any investment policy or the purchase, sale
or retention of any security), except for loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Adviser in the performance of
its duties or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of its obligations and
duties under this Agreement.
(5) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this
Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be resolved by
reference to such term or provision of the Act and to interpretations thereof,
if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling
decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Securities
and Exchange Commission validly issued pursuant to said Act. Specifically, the
terms "vote by a majority of the outstanding voting securities", "annually",
"interested person", "assignment", and "affiliated person", as used herein,
shall have the meanings assigned to them by the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, reflected in any provision of this contract is
relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, whether of special or of general application, such provision shall
be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
(6) The Trust will provide the Adviser with all information concerning the
investment policies and restrictions of the Fund as the Adviser may from time to
time request or which the Trust deems necessary. In the event of any change in
the investment policies or restrictions of the Fund, the Trust will promptly
provide Adviser with all information concerning such change including, but not
limited to, copies of all documents filed by the Fund with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
(7) The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust shall not be
personally bound by or liable hereunder, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim hereunder.
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(8) Except to the extent the provisions of this Agreement are governed by
federal law, they shall be governed by the law of Delaware, without reference to
its choice of law rules.
(9) This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties
hereto.
(10) This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be considered an original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and
year first above written.
SEARAY FINANCIAL FUNDS
THE XXXXXXXX FUND
Attest:________________________ By: __________________________
Secretary
THE XXXXXXXX FINANCIAL GROUP
Attest:________________________ By: ___________________________
Secretary
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