Exhibit d(15)
SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
October 9, 2002
Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited
Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XXXXXX XXX 0000
Dear Sir/Madam:
Credit Suisse Trust (the "Fund"), a business trust organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with respect to its
Emerging Markets Portfolio, a duly organized series thereof (the "Portfolio"),
and Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, as investment adviser to the Fund
("CSAM"), herewith confirms their agreement with Credit Suisse Asset Management
(Australia) Limited (the "Sub-Adviser"), a company registered under the laws of
the State of Victoria, Australia, as follows:
1. Investment Description; Appointment
The Fund desires to employ the capital of the Portfolio by
investing and reinvesting in securities of the kind and in accordance with the
limitations specified in the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as may
be amended from time to time (the "Agreement and Declaration of Trust"), and in
the Portfolio's Prospectus(es) and Statement(s) of Additional Information, as
from time to time in effect (the "Prospectus" and "SAI," respectively) and in
such manner and to such extent as may from time to time be approved by the Board
of Trustees of the Fund. Copies of the Prospectus, SAI and Agreement and
Declaration of Trust have been or will be submitted to the Sub-Adviser. The Fund
agrees to promptly provide the Sub-Adviser with copies of all amendments to the
Prospectus and SAI on an on-going basis. The Fund employs CSAM as its investment
adviser. CSAM desires to employ and hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as
its sub-investment adviser with respect to the Portfolio upon the terms set
forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts the appointment and agrees to
furnish the services set forth below for the compensation provided for herein.
2. Services as Sub-Investment Adviser
(a) Subject to the supervision and direction of CSAM, the
Sub-Adviser will provide investment advisory and portfolio management advice to
all or that portion of the Portfolio's assets designated by CSAM from time to
time (the "Assets") in accordance with (a) the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, (b) the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and all
applicable Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") and all other applicable laws and regulations, and (c) the Portfolio's
investment objective and policies as stated in the Prospectus and SAI and
investment parameters provided by CSAM from time to time. In connection
therewith, the Sub-Adviser will:
(i) manage the Assets or furnish recommendations
to manage the Assets in accordance with the Portfolio's investment
objective and policies;
(ii) make investment decisions or recommendations
with respect to the Assets;
(iii) if requested by CSAM will place purchase and
sale orders for securities on behalf of the Portfolio with respect to
the Assets;
(iv) exercise voting rights with respect to the
Assets if requested by CSAM; and
(v) furnish CSAM and the Fund's Board of
Trustees with such periodic and special reports as the Fund or CSAM may
reasonably request.
In providing those services, the Sub-Adviser will, if requested by
CSAM, provide investment research and supervision of the Assets and conduct a
continued program of investment, evaluation and, if appropriate, sale and
reinvestment of the Assets.
(b) In connection with the performance of the services of
the Sub-Adviser provided for herein, the Sub-Adviser may contract at its own
expense with third parties for the acquisition of research, clerical services
and other administrative services that would not require such parties to be
required to register as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act; provided
that the Sub-Adviser shall remain liable for the performance of its duties
hereunder.
3. Execution of Transactions
(a) In executing transactions for the Assets, selecting
brokers or dealers and negotiating any brokerage commission rates, the
Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek the best overall terms available.
In assessing the best overall terms available for any portfolio transaction, the
Sub-Adviser 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 any commission for the specific transaction and
for transactions executed through the broker or dealer in the aggregate. In
selecting brokers or dealers to execute a particular transaction and in
evaluating the best overall terms available, to the extent that the execution
and price offered by more than one broker or dealer are comparable the
Sub-Adviser may consider any brokerage and research services (as those terms are
defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided to the
Sub-Adviser or to CSAM for use on behalf of the Fund or other clients of the
Sub-Adviser or CSAM.
(b) It is understood that the services of the Sub-Adviser
are not exclusive, and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Sub-Adviser
from providing similar services to other investment companies or from engaging
in other activities, provided that those activities do not
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adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to perform its services under
this Agreement. The Fund and CSAM further understand and acknowledge that the
persons employed by the Sub-Adviser to assist in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement will not devote their full time to that service. Nothing
contained in this Agreement will be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the
Sub-Adviser or any affiliate of the Sub-Adviser to engage in and devote time and
attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or nature,
provided that doing so does not adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser
to perform its services under this Agreement.
(c) On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase
or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as of
other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to
the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but shall not be
obligated to, aggregate the securities to be so sold or purchased with those of
its other clients. 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
Sub-Adviser in a manner that is fair and equitable, in the judgment of the
Sub-Adviser, in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio and
to such other clients. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to CSAM and the Fund all
information reasonably requested by CSAM and the Fund relating to the decisions
made by the Sub-Adviser regarding allocation of securities purchased or sold, as
well as the expenses incurred in a transaction, among the Portfolio and the
Sub-Adviser's other investment advisory clients.
(d) In connection with the purchase and sale of
securities for the Portfolio, the Sub-Adviser will provide such information as
may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and co-administrators to
perform their administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to
the Fund.
4. Disclosure Regarding the Sub-Adviser
(a) The Sub-Adviser has reviewed the disclosure about the
Sub-Adviser contained in the Fund's registration statement and represents and
warrants that, with respect to such disclosure about the Sub-Adviser or
information related, directly or indirectly, to the Sub-Adviser, such
registration statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of
any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which is
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees to notify CSAM and the Fund
promptly of (i) any statement about the Sub-Adviser contained in the Fund's
registration statement that becomes untrue in any material respect, (ii) any
omission of a material fact about the Sub-Adviser in the Fund's registration
statement which is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading, or (iii) any reorganization or
change in the Sub-Adviser, including any change in its ownership or key
employees.
(c) Prior to the Fund or CSAM or any affiliated person
(as defined in the 1940 Act, an "Affiliate") of either using or distributing
sales literature or other promotional material referring to the Sub-Adviser
("Promotional Material"), the Fund or CSAM, where applicable, shall forward such
material to the Sub-Adviser and shall allow the Sub-Adviser reasonable time
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to review the material. The Sub-Adviser will not act unreasonably in its review
of Promotional Material and the Fund or CSAM, where applicable, will use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that all Promotional Material used or distributed
by or on behalf of the Fund or CSAM will comply with the requirements of the
Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) The Sub-Adviser has supplied CSAM and the Fund copies
of its Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments thereto and will hereinafter
supply CSAM and the Fund, promptly upon preparation thereof, copies of all
amendments or restatements of such document.
5. Representations and Warranties
5.1 The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants that:
(a) it is a duly registered investment adviser under the
Advisers Act, a duly registered investment adviser in any and all states of the
United States in which the Sub-Adviser is required to be so registered and has
obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in order to perform the services
provided in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser covenants to maintain all necessary
registrations, licenses and approvals in effect during the term of this
Agreement.
(b) it has read and understands the Prospectus and SAI
and warrants that in investing the Portfolio's assets it will use all reasonable
efforts to adhere to the Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions contained therein.
(c) it has adopted a written Code of Ethics in compliance
with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide the Fund with any amendments
to such Code.
5.2 The Fund represents and warrants that:
(a) it has full power to enter into the terms of this
Agreement and to enter into transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that
its entry into the Agreement nor the exercise by the Sub-Adviser of its
discretions or powers under this Agreement will result in any default under any
contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party, or any
statute or rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body
applicable to the Fund.
(b) information which has been provided to the
Sub-Adviser in relation to the Fund's status, residence and domicile for
taxation purposes is complete and correct, and the Fund agrees to provide any
further information properly required by any competent authority.
(c) it will notify the Sub-Adviser promptly if there is
any material change in any of the above information and will provide such other
relevant information as the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request in order to
fulfill its regulatory and contractual obligations. The Fund acknowledges that a
failure to provide such information may adversely affect the quality of the
services that the Sub-Adviser may provide.
5.3 CSAM represents and warrants that:
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it has full power to enter into the terms of this Agreement
and to enter into transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that neither
its entry into the Agreement nor the exercise by the Sub-Adviser of its
discretions or powers under this Agreement will result in any default under any
contract or other agreement or instrument to which CSAM is a party, or any
statute or rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body
applicable to CSAM.
6. Compliance
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify
CSAM and the Fund (i) in the event that the SEC or any other regulatory
authority has censured its activities, functions or operations; suspended or
revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced proceedings
or an investigation that may result in any of these actions, (ii) in the event
that there is a change in the Sub-Adviser, financial or otherwise, that
adversely affects its ability to perform services under this Agreement or (iii)
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that, as a result of the
Sub-Adviser's investing the Portfolio's assets, the Portfolio's investment
portfolio has ceased to adhere to the Portfolio's investment objectives,
policies and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus or SAI or is otherwise in
violation of applicable law.
(b) CSAM agrees that it shall promptly notify the
Sub-Adviser in the event that the SEC has censured CSAM or the Fund; placed
limitations upon any of their activities, functions or operations; suspended or
revoked CSAM's registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced
proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions.
(c) The Fund and CSAM shall be given access to the
records with respect to the Portfolio of the Sub-Adviser at reasonable times
solely for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the terms of this Agreement
and the rules and regulations applicable to the Sub-Adviser relating to its
providing investment advisory services to the Portfolio, including without
limitation records relating to trading by employees of the Sub-Adviser for their
own accounts and on behalf of other clients, provided that such access does not
constitute a breach of any obligation of client confidentiality to which the
Sub-Adviser is bound. The Sub-Adviser agrees to cooperate with the Fund and CSAM
and their representatives in connection with any such monitoring efforts.
7. Books and Records
(a) In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Fund or the Portfolio are the property of the Fund and further
agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such upon request. The
Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2
under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the
1940 Act and to preserve the records required by Rule 204-2 under the Advisers
Act for the period specified therein.
(b) The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees to furnish to
regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports
in connection with services that the Sub-Adviser renders pursuant to this
Agreement which may be requested in order to ascertain
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whether the operations of the Portfolio are being conducted in a manner
consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
8. Provision of Information; Proprietary and Confidential
Information
(a) CSAM agrees that it will furnish to the Sub-Adviser
information related to or concerning the Fund or the Portfolio that the
Sub-Adviser may reasonably request.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees on behalf of itself and its
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund all
records and other information relative to the Fund or the Portfolio, CSAM and
prior, present or potential shareholders and not to use such records and
information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and
duties hereunder except, where practicable, after prior notification to and
approval in writing of the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld and may not be withheld where the Sub-Adviser may be exposed to civil
or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply or when requested to
divulge such information by duly constituted authorities.
(c) The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants that neither
it nor any affiliate will use the name of the Fund or the Portfolio, CSAM or any
of their affiliates in any prospectus, sales literature or other material in any
manner without the prior written approval of the Fund or CSAM, as applicable.
9. Standard of Care
The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering
the services described herein. The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or CSAM in
connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except that the
Sub-Adviser shall be liable for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty
by the Sub-Adviser with respect to the receipt of compensation for services;
provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect or purport to protect
the Sub-Adviser against any liability to the Fund or CSAM or to shareholders of
the Fund to which the Sub-Adviser 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 the Sub-Adviser's reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Fund and CSAM understand
and agree that the Sub-Adviser may rely upon information furnished to it
reasonably believed by the Sub-Adviser to be accurate and reliable and, except
as herein provided, the Sub-Adviser shall not be accountable for loss suffered
by the Fund or the Portfolio by reason of such reliance of the Sub-Adviser.
10. Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered pursuant to this
Agreement, CSAM will pay the Sub-Adviser such amounts as the parties may agree
upon from time to time as set forth on Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
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11. Expenses
(a) The Sub-Adviser will bear all expenses in connection
with the performance of its services under this Agreement, which shall not
include the Fund's expenses listed in paragraph 11(b).
(b) The Fund will bear certain other expenses to be
incurred in its operation, including: investment advisory and administration
fees; taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions, if any; fees of Trustees
of the Fund who are not officers, directors, or employees of CSAM or the
Sub-Adviser or affiliates of any of them; fees of any pricing service employed
to value shares of the Fund; SEC fees, state Blue Sky qualification fees and any
foreign qualification fees; charges of custodians and transfer and dividend
disbursing agents; the Fund's proportionate share of insurance premiums; outside
auditing and legal expenses; costs of maintenance of the Fund's existence; costs
attributable to investor services, including, without limitation, telephone and
personnel expenses: 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 Fund;
and any extraordinary expenses.
12. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall commence on the date first written above
and shall continue for an initial two-year period commencing on the date first
written above, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual
periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by
(a) the Board of Trustees of the Fund or (b) a vote of a "majority" (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of the Portfolio'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 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, (i) by
CSAM on 60 (sixty) days' written notice to the Fund and the Sub-Adviser, (ii) by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by vote of holders of a majority of the
Portfolio's shares on 60 (sixty) days' written notice to CSAM and the
Sub-Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Adviser upon 60 (sixty) days' written notice to
the Fund and CSAM. This Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event
of its assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) by any party hereto. In the event
of termination of this Agreement for any reason, all records relating to the
Fund or the Portfolio kept by the Sub-Adviser shall promptly be returned to CSAM
or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in such records by the
Sub-Adviser. In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the
foregoing manner, the provisions contained in paragraph numbers 4(c), 7, 8 and 9
shall remain in effect.
13. Amendments
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 (a) the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio and (b) the Board of Trustees of
the
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Fund, including a majority of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund or of either party to this Agreement, by
vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.
14. Notices
14.1 All communications hereunder shall be given (a) if
to the Sub-Adviser, to Credit Suisse Asset Management (Australia) Limited, Xxxxx
00, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, telephone: 000-0000-0000 facsimile: 000-0000-0000, email,
xxxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx (b) if to CSAM, to Credit Suisse Asset Management,
LLC, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000 (Attention: Xxx
Xxxxxx), telephone: (000) 000-0000, telecopy: (000) 000-0000, and (c) if to the
Fund, c/o Credit Suisse Funds, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000-0000, telephone: (000) 000-0000, telecopy: (000) 000-0000 (Attention:
President).
14.2 The Sub-Adviser may rely on, and act without further
enquiry upon, any instruction, notice or request of any person(s) who is or who
the Sub-Adviser reasonably believes in good faith to be person(s) designated by
CSAM or the Fund to give such instruction, notice or request, and further
provided that such instruction, notice or request is made in writing and sent by
original signed letter, facsimile or electronic means in accordance with the
provisions of Clause 14.1.
14.3 CSAM and the Fund will provide a list of person(s)
who are authorized to give instructions and sign documents and take other
actions in respect of the Assets. CSAM or the Fund shall notify the Sub-Adviser
promptly of any amendment to such list and provide specimen signatures of new
signatories, and the Sub-Adviser shall accept any such amendments.
15. Choice of Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York in the United States,
including choice of law principles; provided that nothing herein shall be
construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or any
applicable rules, regulations or orders of the SEC.
16. Miscellaneous
(a) The captions of this Agreement are included for
convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions herein or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(b) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or
made invalid by a court decision, by statute or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to make the
Sub-Adviser an agent of CSAM or the Fund.
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(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, with
the same effect as if the signatures were upon the same instrument.
17. Limitation of Liability
It is expressly agreed that this Agreement was executed by or
on behalf of the Fund and not by the Trustees of the Fund or its officers
individually, and the obligations of the Fund hereunder shall not be binding
upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees
of the Fund individually, but bind only the assets and property of the Fund, as
provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees and the sole
shareholder of the Portfolio and signed by an authorized officer of the Fund,
acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees and shareholder
nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been
made by any of then individually or to impose any liability on any of them
personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund as provided in
its Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
******************
[signature page follows]
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Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding by indicating your acceptance hereof at the place below indicated,
whereupon it shall become a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/Xxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
CREDIT SUISSE TRUST on behalf of its
EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
By: /s/Xxx Xxxxxx
Name: Xxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET
MANAGEMENT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED,
ABN 57 007 305 384, in accordance with its Articles of Association
By: /s/Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director/Secretary
[SEAL]
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SCHEDULE A
CSAM will pay the Sub-Adviser a fee of $480,000 (the "Total
Fee"), one quarter of which shall be payable in U.S. dollars in arrears on the
last business day of each calendar quarter. The fee for the first period during
which this Agreement is in effect shall be pro-rated for the portion of the
calendar quarter that the Agreement is in effect. The Total Fee shall be an
aggregate fee paid for services rendered with respect to this Fund and such
other Credit Suisse Funds for which the Sub-Adviser has been appointed as such
and which CSAM and the Sub-Adviser agree will be governed by this fee schedule.
The portion of the Total Fee allocable with respect to the
Fund for any calendar quarter or portion thereof is equal to the product of (a)
the Total Fee and (b) a fraction: (i) the numerator of which is the average
monthly net assets of the Fund during such calendar quarter or portion thereof
and (ii) the denominator of which is the sum of the total aggregate average
monthly net assets of the Fund and other registered investment companies for
which the Sub-Adviser has been appointed as such during such calendar quarter or
portion thereof.
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