INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (d)(20)
THIS INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), made
this 1st day of January, 2009, by and between Xxxxxx Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “Advisor”), and Cadence Capital Management LLC a Delaware limited liability company
(“Sub-Advisor”).
Advisor and Sub-Advisor agree as follows:
1. Advisor hereby engages the services of Sub-Advisor in connection with Advisor’s
management of the Xxxxxx/Cadence Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of MLIG
Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”). Pursuant to this Agreement and subject to the oversight
and supervision by Advisor and the officers and the board of trustees of the Trust, Sub-Advisor
shall manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Portfolio that
the Advisor shall, from time to time, direct.
2. Sub-Advisor hereby accepts appointment by Advisor in the foregoing capacity and
agrees, at its own expense, to render the services set forth herein and to provide the office
space,
furnishings, equipment and personnel required by it to perform such services on the terms and
for the compensation provided in this Agreement.
3. Sub-Advisor shall be responsible for furnishing continuously an investment program for
the Portfolio and determining from time to time in its discretion the securities and other
investments to be purchased or sold or exchanged and what portions of the Portfolio shall be held
in various securities, cash or other investments. The Sub-Advisor hereby accepts that
responsibility and shall provide Advisor and the officers and trustees of the Trust with such
reports and documentation as the latter shall reasonably request regarding its management of the
Portfolio assets.
4. Sub-Advisor shall carry out its responsibilities under this Agreement in compliance with:
(a) the Portfolio’s investment objective, policies and restrictions as set forth in the Trust’s
current
registration statement, (b) such policies or directives as the Trust’s trustees may from time to
time establish or issue and communicate to the Sub-Advisor in writing, and (c) applicable law
and related regulations. Advisor shall promptly notify Sub-Advisor in writing of changes to (a)
or (b) above and shall notify Sub-Advisor in writing of changes to (c) above promptly after it
becomes aware of such changes.
In particular, Sub-Advisor shall be responsible to ensure that the Portfolio: (a) complies
with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, (the “Code”) and regulations issued thereunder as these apply to separate accounts
through which variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts are issued, and (b)
continuously qualifies as a regulated investment company under Sub-Chapter M of the Code.
Sub-Advisor shall not consult with other sub-advisers of the Portfolio, or with sub-advisers
of other investment portfolios of the Trust, concerning transactions in portfolio securities or
other portfolio investments of the Portfolio.
5. Sub-Advisor shall take all actions which it considers necessary to implement the
investment policies of the Portfolio as these relate to the Portfolio, and in particular, to place
all orders for the purchase or sale of securities or other investments for the Portfolio with
brokers or dealers selected by it, and to that end, Sub-Advisor is authorized as the agent of the
Trust to give instructions to the Trust’s custodian as to deliveries of securities or other
investments and payments of cash for the account of the Portfolio. In connection with the selection
of brokers or dealers and the placing of purchase and sale orders with respect to investments of
the Portfolio, except where Advisor or the Trust instruct Sub-Advisor to place orders with a
particular broker or dealer, Sub-Advisor is directed at all times to seek to obtain best execution
and price within the policy guidelines determined by the Trust’s board of trustees and set forth in
the Trust’s current registration statement.
To the extent permitted by the policy guidelines set forth in the Trust’s current registration
statement, Sub-Advisor is authorized to consider, in the selection of brokers and dealers to
execute portfolio transactions, not only the available prices and rates of brokerage commissions,
but also other relevant factors which may include, without limitation: (a) the execution
capabilities of such brokers and dealers, (b) research, custody and other services provided by such
brokers and dealers which the Sub-Advisor believes will enhance its general portfolio management
capabilities, (c) the size of the transaction, (d) the difficulty of execution, (e) the operational
facilities of such brokers and dealers, (f) the risk to such a broker or dealer of positioning a
block of securities, and (g) the overall quality of brokerage and research services provided by
such brokers and dealers. In connection with the foregoing, Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized
to pay those brokers and dealers who provide brokerage and research services to it a higher
commission than that charged by other brokers and dealers if the Sub-Advisor determines in good
faith that the amount of such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of such services in
terms of either the particular transaction or in terms of Sub-Advisor’s overall responsibilities
with respect to the Portfolio and to any other client accounts or portfolios which it advises. The
execution of such transactions shall not be considered to represent an unlawful breach of any duty
created by this Agreement or otherwise.
In connection with the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing of purchase and sale
orders with respect to investments of the Portfolio, when instructed to do so by either the Trust
or the Advisor, Sub-Advisor agrees and is authorized to place orders with one or more brokers or
dealers identified by the Trust or Advisor (including brokers or dealers who are affiliated persons
of the Trust or Advisor). The execution of such transactions shall not be considered to represent
an unlawful breach of any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise.
Sub-Advisor also is authorized to aggregate purchase and sale orders for securities held (or
to be held) in the Portfolio with similar orders being made on the same day for other client
accounts or portfolios managed by Sub-Advisor. When an order is so aggregated: (a) the actual
prices applicable to the aggregated transaction will be averaged and the Portfolio and each other
account or portfolio participating in the aggregated transaction shall be treated as having
purchased
or sold its portion of the securities at such average price, and (b) all transaction
costs incurred in effecting the aggregated transaction shall be shared on a pro-rata basis among
the accounts or portfolios (including the Portfolio) participating in the transaction. Advisor
recognizes that in some cases this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position
obtainable for the Portfolio.
When recommending or effecting a transaction in a particular security or investment for more
than one client account or portfolio (including the Portfolio), Sub-Advisor may allocate such
recommendations or transactions among all accounts and portfolios for whom the recommendation is
made or transaction is effected on a basis that Sub-Advisor considers equitable.
6. Sub-Advisor’s services under this Agreement are not exclusive. Sub-Advisor may
provide the same or similar services to other clients. Advisor acknowledges that, except when
transactions for multiple clients are aggregated, transactions in a specific security or other
investment may not be recommended or executed at the same time or price for all client accounts
or portfolios (including the Portfolio) for which that security or investment is recommended or
executed. This Agreement does not require Sub-Advisor to give priority to the Portfolio over
other client accounts or portfolios.
7. Sub-Advisor 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 Advisor, the Trust or the Portfolio or otherwise be deemed agents of the Advisor, the Trust or
the Portfolio. Consistent with the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor shall have no responsibility to
make filings or notifications on behalf of the Portfolio in response to a notification that the
issuer
of one of the securities held in the Portfolio is the subject of a threatened or pending class
action
lawsuit. Consistent with the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor shall have no responsibility to make
filings or notifications on behalf of the Portfolio in response to a notification that the issuer
of
one of the securities held in the Portfolio is the subject of a threatened or pending class action
lawsuit.
8. Sub-Advisor or an affiliated person of Sub-Advisor may act as broker for the Portfolio in
connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other investments for the Portfolio, subject
to: (a) the requirement that Sub-Advisor seek to obtain best execution and price within the
policy guidelines determined by the Trust’s board of trustees and set forth in the Trust’s current
registration statement; (b) the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(the “Advisers Act”); (c) the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
and (d) other applicable provisions of law. Such brokerage services are not within the scope
of the duties of Sub-Advisor under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable
law and any procedures adopted by Trust’s board of trustees, Sub-Advisor or their affiliated
persons may receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration from the Portfolio or
the Trust for such services in addition to Sub-Advisor’s fees for services under this
Agreement.
9. The Advisor delegates the Advisor’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with
respect to the securities and other investments in the Portfolio to Sub-Advisor. Sub-Advisor
shall exercise these voting rights unless and until the Advisor revokes this delegation. The
Advisor may revoke this delegation at any time without cause. Sub-Advisor shall maintain and
preserve a record, in an easily-accessible place for a period of not less than three years, of
Sub-Advisor’s voting procedures, and of Sub-Advisor’s actual votes, and shall supply this record to
the Advisor, or any authorized representative of the Advisor, upon the written request of the
Advisor or the Advisor’s authorized representative, as appropriate.
10. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Sub-Advisor to take or receive physical
possession of cash, securities or other investments of the Portfolio.
11. Sub-Advisor is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Advisers Act. Sub-Advisor shall remain so registered throughout the term of this Agreement and
shall notify Advisor immediately if Sub-Advisor ceases to be so registered as an investment
adviser.
12. Sub-Advisor: (a) is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, (b) has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this
Agreement, (c) is not prohibited by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the
“1940 Act”) or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement,
(d) has met, and will continue to seek to meet for the duration of this Agreement, any other
applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or
industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met in order to perform the services this
Agreement, and (e) will promptly notify Advisor of the occurrence of any event that would
disqualify it from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company pursuant to Section
9(a) of the 1940 Act.
13. Advisor: (a) is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, (b) has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this
Agreement, (c) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the Advisers Act from performing the
services contemplated by this Agreement, (d) has met, and will continue to seek to meet for the
duration of this Agreement, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable
requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met in order to
perform the services this Agreement, and (e) will promptly notify Sub-Advisor of the occurrence
of any event that would disqualify it from serving as an investment adviser to an investment
company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act. Advisor represents that the Trust is (and
during the term of this Agreement, will remain) registered as an open-end management
investment company under the 1940 Act and that the shares of the Trust representing an interest
in the Portfolio are (and during the term of this Agreement will remain) registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 and under any applicable state securities laws.
14. Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of
Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide Advisor and the Trust with a copy of that code,
together with evidence of its adoption. Within 20 days of the end of each calendar quarter during
which this Agreement remains in effect, the president or a vice president of Sub-Advisor shall
certify to Advisor or the Trust that Sub-Advisor has complied with the requirements of Rule 17j-1
during
the previous quarter and that there have been no violations of
Sub-Advisor’
codes of ethics or, if such a violation has occurred, that appropriate action has been taken in
response to such violation. Upon written request of Advisor or the Trust, Sub-Advisor shall permit
representatives of Advisor or the Trust to examine the reports (or summaries of the reports)
required to be made to Sub-Advisor by
Rule 17j-1(c)(1) and other records evidencing enforcement of the code of ethics.
Rule 17j-1(c)(1) and other records evidencing enforcement of the code of ethics.
15. For the services rendered, the facilities furnished and the expenses assumed by Sub-
Advisor, Advisor shall pay Sub-Advisor at the end of each month a fee based on the average
daily net assets of the Portfolio at the following annual rates:
0.35% on the first $200 million
0.27% on the next $200 million
and
0.25% on amounts in excess of $400 million
0.27% on the next $200 million
and
0.25% on amounts in excess of $400 million
Sub-Advisor’s fee shall be accrued daily at 1/365th of the applicable annual rate set forth above.
For the purpose of accruing compensation, the net assets of the Portfolio shall be determined in
the manner and on the dates set forth in the current prospectus of the Trust, and, on days on which
the net assets are not so determined, the net asset value computation to be used shall be as
determined on the immediately preceding day on which the net assets were determined. In the event
of termination of this Agreement, all compensation due through the date of termination will be
calculated on a pro-rated basis through the date of termination and paid within thirty business
days of the date of termination.
During any period when the determination of net asset value is suspended, the net asset value
of the Portfolio as of the last business day prior to such suspension shall for this purpose be
deemed to be the net asset value at the close of each succeeding business day until it is again
determined.
16. Sub-Advisor hereby undertakes and agrees to maintain, in the form and for the period
required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act, all records relating to the Portfolio’s investments that
are required to be maintained by the Trust pursuant to the requirements of paragraphs (b)(5),
(b)(6), (b)(7), (b)(9), (b)(10) and (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Advisor agrees that all books and records which it maintains for the Portfolio or the
Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Advisor or the
Trust any such books, records or information upon the Advisor’s or the Trust’s reasonable request
(provided, however, that Sub-Advisor may retain copies of such records). All such books and records
shall be made available, within five business days of a written request, to the Trust’s accountants
or auditors during regular business hours at Sub-Advisor’s offices. Advisor and the Trust or either
of their authorized representative shall have the right to copy any records in the possession of
Sub-Advisor which pertain to the Portfolio or the Trust. Such books, records, information or
reports shall be made available to properly authorized government representatives consistent with
state and federal law and/or regulations. In the event of the
termination of this Agreement, all such books, records or other information shall be returned to
Advisor or the Trust.
Sub-Advisor agrees that the policies and procedures established by the Sub-Advisor for managing the
Portfolio, including, but not limited to, all policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance
with federal and state regulations governing the sub-adviser/client relationship and management and
operation of the Portfolio, shall be made available for inspection by the Advisor and the Trust or
either of their authorized representatives not less frequently than annually.
17. Sub-Advisor agrees that it will not disclose or use any records or confidential information
obtained pursuant to this Agreement in any manner whatsoever except as authorized in this
Agreement or specifically by Advisor or the Trust, or if such disclosure is required by federal or
state regulatory authorities.
Sub-Advisor may disclose the investment performance of the Portfolio, provided that such
disclosure does not reveal the identity of the Advisor, the Portfolio or the Trust. Sub-Advisor
may, however, disclose that Advisor, the Trust and the Portfolio are its clients, provided that
such disclosure does not reveal the investment performance or the composition of the Portfolio.
18. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of Sub-Advisor or its officers, trustees or employees, or reckless disregard by Sub-Advisor of its duties
under this Agreement (together, “disabling conduct”), Sub-Advisor shall not be liable to
Advisor, the Portfolio, the Trust or to any shareholder of the Portfolio for any act or omission in
the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be
sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security, except to the extent otherwise provided
in Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with
respect to the receipt of compensation for services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, breach by the
Sub-Advisor of the second paragraph of section 4 hereof is deemed to be disabling conduct.
19. Sub-Advisor agrees to indemnify and defend Advisor, its officers, trustees, partners,
employees and any person who controls Advisor for any loss or expense (including attorneys’
fees) arising out of any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding arising out of any actual or
alleged material misstatement or omission in the Trust’s registration statement, any proxy
statement, or communication to current or prospective investors in the Portfolio relating to
disclosure about Sub-Advisor provided to Advisor by Sub-Advisor.
Sub-Advisor agrees to indemnify and defend Advisor, its officers, trustees, partners,
employees and any person who controls Advisor for any loss or expense (including attorneys’ fees)
arising out of any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding arising out of the Sub-Advisor’s
failure to ensure that the Portfolio: (a) complies with the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations issued thereunder as these apply to separate accounts
through which variable life insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts are issued, and (b)
continuously qualifies as a regulated investment company under Sub-Chapter M of the Code.
20. Advisor agrees to indemnify and defend Sub-Advisor, its officers, trustees, partners,
employees and any person who controls Sub-Advisor for any loss or expense (including
attorneys’ fees) arising out of any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding arising out of any
actual or alleged material misstatement or omission in the Trust’s registration statement, any
proxy statement, or other communication to current or prospective investors in the Portfolio
(other than a misstatement or omission relating to disclosure about Sub-Advisor approved by the
Sub-Advisor or provided to Advisor or the Trust by Sub-Advisor).
21. The Sub-Advisor agrees to permit the Advisor and the Trust to use its name, along side
the Advisor’s name, in the Portfolio’s name and in descriptions of the Portfolio, as these appear
in the Trust’s prospectus(es) and/or sales literature related to the Portfolio, provided, however,
that the Advisor and the Trust shall cease such use of the Sub-Advisor’s name in the event that
this Agreement is terminated.
22. This Agreement shall not become effective unless and until it is approved by the board of
trustees of the Trust, including a majority of trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or
interested persons of any such party to this Agreement, and, to the extent required by law, a
majority of the outstanding shares of the class of the Trust’s stock representing an interest in
the
Portfolio. This Agreement shall come into full force and effect on the date which it is so
approved. This Agreement shall continue in effect for two years and shall thereafter continue in
effect from year to year so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by
(a) the board of trustees of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the
class of stock representing an interest in the Portfolio, and (b) a majority of those trustees 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.
23. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Agreement may be
terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust’s board of trustees, or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class of stock representing an interest in the
Portfolio on sixty days written notice to the Advisor and Sub-Advisor, or by the Advisor, or by
the Sub-Advisor, on sixty days written notice to the other. This Agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its assignment or in the event of the termination of the investment
advisory agreement between the Advisor and the Trust regarding the Advisor’s management of
the Portfolio.
24. This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is specifically
approved by (a) a majority of those trustees 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, and, if required by applicable law, (b) a majority of votes attributable to the
outstanding Trust shares of the class representing an interest in the Portfolio.
25. The
terms “assignment”, “affiliated person” and “interested person ”, when used in this Agreement, shall
have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act. The term “majority of the outstanding
shares of the class” means the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the votes attributable to shares of
such class present at a meeting if more than 50% of the votes attributable to such
shares are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the votes attributable to
shares of such class.
26. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with laws of the State of Delaware, and
applicable provisions of the Advisers Act and 1940 Act.
27. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
| Xxxxxx Advisors, LLC | ||||||
| By: Name: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
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| Title: | President | |||||
ATTEST: |
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| Cadence Capital Management LLC | ||||||
| By: Title: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Skillmen
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ATTEST: |
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/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
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