INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT OF THE MARSICO FOCUS FUND OF THE MARSICO INVESTMENT FUND
Exhibit
(d)(1)
OF
THE XXXXXXX
FOCUS
FUND
OF
THE XXXXXXX
INVESTMENT
FUND
AGREEMENT, made
the
14thday
of December,
2007, between The MarsicoInvestment
Fund
(the “Trust”), on behalf of the Xxxxxxx
Focus
Fund (the
“Fund”), and Xxxxxxx
Capital
Management, LLC
(“MCM”),
a
Delaware limited liability company.
WHEREAS,the
Trust is a
Delaware business trust authorized to issue shares in series and is registered
as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act
of
1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”),
and the
Fund is a series of the Trust;
WHEREAS, MCM
is
registered as
an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(“Advisers Act”); and
WHEREAS,the
Trust wishes
to retain MCM
to
render
investment management services to the Fund, and MCM
is
willing to
furnish such services to the Fund;
NOW
THEREFORE,in
consideration
of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between
the
Trust and MCM
as
follows:
1.
Appointment
The
Trust hereby
appoints MCM
to
act as
investment adviser and manager of the Fund for the periods and on the terms
set
forth herein. MCM
accepts
the
appointment and agrees to furnish the services set forth herein for the
compensation provided herein.
2.
Services
As Investment Adviser
Subject
to the
general supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
MCM
will
(a) manage
the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as
stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as they may be amended from
time to time; (b) make investment decisions for the Fund; (c)
place
purchase
and sale orders on behalf of the Fund; and (d)
employ
portfolio
managers and securities analysts to provide research services to the Fund.
In
providing those services, MCM
will
provide the
Fund with ongoing research, analysis, advice, and judgments regarding individual
investments, general economic conditions and trends and long-range investment
policy. In addition, MCM
will
furnish the
Fund with
whatever
statistical information the Fund may reasonably request with respect to the
securities that the Fund may hold or contemplate
purchasing.
3.
Services
As Manager
Subject
to the
general supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
MCM
will
(a) assist
in supervising and managing all aspects of the Fund’s operations; (b) maintain
such books and records as an adviser of the Fund may be required to maintain
by
applicable federal or state law, and assist as appropriate in the maintenance
of
the Fund’s own books and records by the Fund’s independent administrator and
other third parties approved by the Trust; (c)
supply
the Fund
with office facilities, data processing services, clerical, accounting and
bookkeeping services, internal auditing and internal legal services, internal
executive and management services, and stationery and office supplies, with
the
aid of other service providers including the Fund’s independent administrator;
(d)
prepare,
file,
and arrange for the distribution of proxy materials and periodic reports to
the
shareholders of the Fund as required by applicable law, or supervise, as the
case may be, the preparation, filing, and distribution of proxy materials by
third parties including the Fund’s independent administrator to the shareholders
of the Fund as required by applicable law; (e)
prepare
or
supervise the preparation by third parties approved by the Trust including
the
Fund’s independent administrator of all federal, state, and local tax returns
and reports of the Fund required by applicable law; (f)
prepare
and
arrange for the filing of such registration statements and other documents
as
the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal and state regulatory
authorities may require by applicable law, with the aid of other service
providers including the Fund’s independent administrator; (g)
render
to the
Board of Trustees of the Trust such periodic and special reports respecting
the
Fund as the Trustees may reasonably request; and (h)
make
available
its officers and employees to the Board of Trustees and officers of the Trust
for consultation and discussions regarding the management of the
Fund.
4.
Performance
Of Duties By MCM
MCM
further
agrees
that, in performing its duties set forth in Sections 2 and 3 above, and
elsewhere hereunder, it will:
(a)
comply
with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, the Advisers Act,
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and all other
applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and with any applicable
procedures
adopted by the Trustees;
(b)
use
reasonable efforts to manage the Fund so that it will qualify, and continue
to
qualify, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter
M
of
the Code and
regulations issued thereunder;
(c)
maintain
books and records with respect to the Fund’s securities transactions, render to
the Board of Trustees of the Trust such periodic andspecial
reports
as the Board may reasonably request, and keep the Trustees informed of
developments materially
affecting
the
Fund’s portfolio;
(d)
make
available to the Trust, promptly upon request, such copies of its investment
records and ledgers with respect to the Fund as may be required to assist the
Trust in its compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and furnish the
Trustees with such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund as they
may
reasonably request;
(e)
immediately
notify the Trust in the event that MCM
or
any of its
affiliates: (1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory disqualification
that prevents MCM
from
serving as
investment adviser or manager pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) becomes aware
that it is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action
by
the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority.
MCM
further
agrees
to notify the Trust immediately of any material fact known to
MCM
respecting
or
relating to MCM
that
is not
contained in the Trust’s Registration Statement regarding the Fund, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein,
and of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material
respect.
MCM,
at
its discretion, may enter into contracts with third parties for the performance
of the services to be provided by it under this
Agreement.
5.
Documents
The
Fund has
delivered properly certified or authenticated copies of each of the following
documents to MCM
and
will deliver
to it all future amendments and supplements thereto, if
any:
(a)
certified
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust authorizing the appointment
of
MCM
and
approving
the general form of this Agreement;
(b)
the
Registration Statement as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and
any amendments thereto; and
(c)
exhibits,
powers of attorneys, certificates and any and all other documents relating
to or
filed in connection with the Registration Statement described
above.
6.
Brokerage
In
selecting
brokers or dealers to execute transactions on behalf of the Fund, MCM
will
use its
best efforts to seek the best overall terms available. In assessing the best
overall terms available for any Fund transaction, MCM
will
consider
all factors it deems relevant, including, but not limited to, the
breadth
of the
market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition
and
execution capability of the broker or dealer and the reasonableness of the
commission, if any, for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis.
In
selecting brokers or dealers to execute a particular transaction, and in
evaluating the best overall terms available, MCM
is
authorized to
consider the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in
Section 28(e)
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934
Act”))
provided
to the Fund and/or other accounts over which MCM
or
its
affiliates exercise investment discretion. In accordance with Section
11(a)
of
the 1934 Act and Rule 11a2-2(T)
thereunder,
and
subject to any other applicable laws and regulations, MCM
and
its
affiliates are authorized to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund as
agent
and to retain usual and customary brokerage commissions on such
transactions.
7.
Records
MCM
agrees
to
maintain and to preserve for the periods prescribed under the 1940 Act any
such
records as are required to be maintained by MCM
with
respect to
the Fund by the 1940 Act. MCM
further
agrees
that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund
and it will promptly surrender any of such records upon request, provided that
MCM may maintain a copy for its own records.
8.
Standard
Of Care
MCM
shall
exercise
its best judgment in rendering the services under this Agreement.
MCM
shall
not be
liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered
by
the Fund or the Fund’s shareholders in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect
or
purport to protect MCM
against
any
liability to the Fund or to its shareholders to which MCM
would
otherwise
be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence
on
its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of MCM’s
reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. As used in this
Section 8, the term “MCM”
shall
include
any officers, directors, employees, or other affiliates of MCM
performing
services with respect to the Fund.
9.
Compensation
In
consideration
of the services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay MCM
a
fee at an
annual rate equal to 0.85%
per year
of average daily net assets up to $3 billion in the Fund, and 0.75% per year
of
average daily net assets exceeding $3 billion in the Fund.
This fee shall
be computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. For the purpose of
determining fees payable to MCM,
the
value of the Fund’s average daily net assets shall be computed at the
times
and in the
manner specified in the Fund’s Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information.
10.
Expenses
MCM
will
bear all
expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this
Agreement. The Fund will bear certain other expenses to be incurred in its
operation, including: taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions; fees
and
expenses of Trustees of the Trust who are not officers, directors, or employees
of MCM;
Securities
and
Exchange Commission fees and state blue sky qualification fees; charges of
custodians and transfer and dividend disbursing agents and the independent
administrator; the Fund’s proportionate share of insurance premiums; outside
auditing and legal expenses; costs of membership in any industry trade groups;
costs of maintenance of the Fund’s existence; costs attributable to investor
services, including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses;
charges of independent pricing services; costs of preparing and printing
prospectuses and statements of additional information for regulatory purposes
and for distribution to existing shareholders; costs of shareholders’ reports
and meetings of the shareholders of the Fund and of the officers or Board of
Trustees of the Trust; and any extraordinary expenses. In
addition,
the
Fund will pay distribution fees pursuant to a Distribution Plan adopted under
Rule 12b-1
under
the 1940
Act.
11.
Services
To Other Companies Or Accounts
The
investment
advisory and administrative services provided by MCM
to
the Fund
under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and MCM,
or
any affiliate thereof, shall be free to render similar services to other
investment companies and other clients (whether or not their investment
objectives and policies are similar to those of the Fund) and to engage in
other
activities, so long as its services hereunder are not impaired
thereby.
12.
Reimbursement
Of Organization Expenses
The
Trust hereby
agrees to reimburse MCM
for
the
organization expenses of, and the expenses incurred in connection with, the
initial offering of the shares of the Fund.
13.
Duration
And Termination
This
Agreement
shall become effective on December 14, 2007 and shall continue in effect, unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, for two years from such date,
and shall continue from year to year thereafter, provided each continuance
is
specifically approved at least annually by (i)
the
vote of a
majority
of the
Board of Trustees of the Trust or (ii) a vote of a “majority” (as defined in the
0000 Xxx) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, provided that in either
event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees
who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to
this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of
voting on such approval. This Agreement is terminable, without penalty, on
sixty
(60) days’ written notice by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of
holders of a majority of the Fund’s shares or upon ninety (90) days’ written
notice by MCM.
This
Agreement
will also terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment” (as defined
in the 1940 Act).
14.
Amendment
No
provision of
this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but
only
by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of
the
change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this
Agreement shall be effective until approved by an affirmative vote of (i)
a
majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of Trustees 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, if such approval is required by
applicable law.
15.
Use
Of The Name “Marsico.”
Xxxxxxx
Capital
Management, LLC
has
consented to
and granted a non-exclusive license for the use by the Trust and by each Series
thereof to the phrase “Xxxxxxx
Capital”
or
the
identifying word “Marsico”
in
the name of the Trust and of each Series or any logo or symbol authorized by
Xxxxxxx
Capital.
Such
consent is conditioned upon the Trust’s employment of Xxxxxxx
Capital
or its
affiliates as investment adviser to the Trust and to each Series. As between
MarsicoCapital
and the
Trust, Xxxxxxx
Capital
shall
control the use of such name insofar as such name contains the phrase
“Xxxxxxx
Capital”
or
the
identifying word “Marsico.”
Marsico
may
from time to time use the phrase “Xxxxxxx
Capital”
or
the
identifying word “Marsico”
in
other connections and for other purposes, including without limitation in the
names of other investment companies, corporations or businesses that it may
manage, advise, sponsor or own or in which it may have a financial interest.
Xxxxxxx
Capital
may
require the Trust or any Series to cease using the phrase “Xxxxxxx
Capital”
or
the
identifying word “Marsico”
in
the name of the Trust or any Series or any logo or symbol authorized by
Xxxxxxx
Capital
if the
Trust or
Series ceases
to employ Xxxxxxx
Capital
or an
affiliate thereof as investment adviser.
16.
Miscellaneous
(a)
This
Agreement constitutes the full and complete agreement of the parties hereto
with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
(c)
This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all of which together shall
for all purposes constitute one Agreement, binding on all the
parties.
(d)
This
Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by, and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws
of the State of Delaware.
(e)
If any
provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any party or
circumstances shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be
invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or
the
application of such provision to such person or circumstance, other than those
as to which it is so determined to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be
affected thereby, and each provision hereof shall be valid and shall be enforced
to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(f)
Notices
of
any kind to be given to MCM
by
the Trust
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to
MCM
at
0000
00xx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Xxx Xxxxxx, or
at such other
address or to such individual as shall be specified by MCM
to
the Trust.
Notices of any kind to be given to the Trust by MCM
shall
be in
writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to 0000
00xx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
or
at such other address or to such individual as shall be specified by the Trust
to MCM.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,the
parties
hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated
below effective as of the day and year first above written.
THE
XXXXXXX
INVESTMENT FUND on Behalf of the Xxxxxxx Focus Fund
By: /s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice
President and Secretary
XXXXXXX
CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President