SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT TOUCHSTONE TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST
Exhibit 99.(d)(20)
TOUCHSTONE TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND
This SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT is made as of May 19, 2011 (this “Agreement”), by and between TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC., an Ohio corporation (the “Advisor”), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PARTNERS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Advisor”).
WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and has been retained by Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware business trust organized pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 25, 1993 (as amended) and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to provide investment advisory services with respect to certain assets of the Touchstone Total Return Bond Fund (the “Fund”); and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor also is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it with portfolio management services in connection with the Advisor’s investment advisory services on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor is willing to furnish such services to the Advisor and the Fund;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, it is agreed as follows:
1. Employment of the Sub-Advisor. In accordance with and subject to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Advisor hereby appoints the Sub-Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to it by the Advisor (the “Fund Assets”), in conformity with the Fund’s currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and subject to the control and direction of the Advisor and the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), for the period and on the terms hereinafter set forth. The Sub-Advisor hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render the services and to perform the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation herein provided. The Sub-Advisor shall at all times maintain its registration as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act, and shall otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal. The Sub-Advisor shall for all purposes herein be deemed an independent contractor and shall, except as expressly provided or authorized (whether herein or otherwise), have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2. Duties of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor will provide the following services and undertake the following duties:
a. The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets, subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund and in conformity with the Fund’s currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and any written directions which the Advisor or the Board may give to the Sub-Advisor from time to time with respect to the Fund. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund Assets and the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or advisable to implement the same. The Sub-Advisor will, unless and until otherwise directed by the Advisor, exercise all rights of security holders with respect to securities held by the Fund, including, but not limited to, voting proxies in accordance with the Sub-Advisor’s then-current proxy voting policies. The Sub-Advisor shall not be responsible for acting on behalf of the Fund in legal matters such as class actions, settlements and related proofs of claim, or bankruptcies, involving securities purchased or held by the Fund. Should the Sub-Advisor receive notices or related materials for the Fund involving securities purchased by the Sub-Advisor for the Fund, the Sub-Advisor shall transmit copies of such notices to the Fund’s current sub-administrator within a commercially reasonable period of time. The Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the Board and to the Advisor (or such other advisor or advisors as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as the Trust or the Advisor shall from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, the individual primarily responsible for management of Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend in person more than one meeting per year with the trustees of the Trust.
b. The Sub-Advisor shall immediately notify the Advisor if the Sub-Advisor reasonably believes that the value of any security held by the Fund may not reflect fair value. The Sub-Advisor agrees to provide any pricing information of which the Sub-Advisor is aware to the Advisor and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Fund’s valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating the Fund’s net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board.
c. Regulatory Compliance.
(i) The Sub-Advisor agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933 Act, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that relate to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business as a registered investment adviser. In selecting the Fund’s portfolio securities and performing the Sub-Advisor’s obligations hereunder, the Sub-Advisor shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company. The Sub-Advisor shall maintain compliance procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure compliance with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Advisor shall limit the Sub-Advisor’s full responsibility for any of the foregoing.
(ii) The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which it will provide to the Advisor and the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time. Upon request, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Fund with (i) a copy of the Sub-Advisor’s current Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. No less frequently than annually, the Sub-Advisor shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics to the Fund and the Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall respond to requests for information from the Advisor as to violations of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor of any material violation of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by any Fund.
(iii) The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and Advisor immediately upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of any of the Fund’s or the Advisor’s policies, guidelines or procedures related to the Fund. The Sub-Advisor agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board and/or the Advisor may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. In addition, the Sub-Advisor shall provide a quarterly report regarding the Fund’s compliance with its investment objectives and policies and applicable law, including, but not limited to the 1940 Act, the Code, and the Fund’s and the Advisor’s policies, guidelines or procedures as applicable to the Sub-Advisor’s obligations under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor may, in its discretion, provide such quarterly compliance certifications to the Board. The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the Sub-Advisor 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 (excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund’s ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Sub-Advisor with the federal or state securities laws or (ii) the controlling stockholder of the Sub-Advisor changes or an actual change in control resulting in an “assignment” (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.
(iv) The Sub-Advisor shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund’s assets advised by the Sub-Advisor, as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Advisor, custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Fund), relating to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Fund, and shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed therefore by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the “Fund Books and Records” ). The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Advisor and the Board at any time upon request, shall be delivered to the Trust upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available for telecopying without delay during any day the Fund is open for business. The Sub-Advisor may retain copies of Fund Books and Records as required by applicable law.
d. The Sub-Advisor shall provide support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisor’s name as provided in Section 5, (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor with respect to a composite of other funds managed by the Sub-Advisor that are comparable, in investment objective and composition, to the Fund, (iii) reasonable access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor, (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual manager(s), and (v) permission to use the names of those clients pre-approved by the Sub-Advisor to which the Sub-Advisor provides investment management services, subject to receipt of the consent of such clients to the use of their names.
e. The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies with respect thereto set forth in the Trust’s registration statements under the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, as such registration statements may be in effect from time to time. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisor’s primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and subject to seeking the most favorable price and execution and compliance with Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions of the Fund that promote or sell shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall not be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of any broker or dealer, except to the extent that such loss is attributable to the Sub-Advisor’s negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will make commercially reasonable efforts, or as required by law, to require that brokers and dealers selected by
the Sub-Advisor perform their obligations with respect to the Fund. The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including, without limitation, Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction, in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer, but only if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisor’s overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonable benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board reasonably shall request.
f. The Sub-Advisor shall maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material decrease in its insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
g. In the event of any reorganization or other material change in the Sub-Advisor, its investment principals, supervisors or members of its investment (or comparable) committee, the Sub-Advisor shall give the Advisor and the Board written notice of such reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days) after such reorganization or change.
h. The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as are expressly undertaken by the Advisor or the Trust.
i. The Sub-Advisor shall not be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of any act or omission of any custodian, including but not limited to any loss arising from, on account of or in connection with any custodian failing to timely notify the Sub-Advisor of any corporate action or similar transaction, except to the extent of the Sub-Advisor’s negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance.
3. Compensation of the Sub-Advisor.
a. As compensation for the services to be rendered and duties undertaken hereunder by the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a monthly fee equal on an annual basis to 0.225% of the average daily net assets of the Fund if the assets under management are $3,000,000,000 or less, and 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund if the assets under management exceed $3,000,000,000, without regard
to any total expense limitation of the Trust or the Advisor. Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the Sub-Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of any period specified in this Section 3a, the compensation to the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating the Sub-Advisor’s fee, the daily value of the Fund Assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses to compute the net asset value of the Fund for purposes of purchases and redemptions of shares thereof.
b. The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or a part of its fees hereunder.
4. Activities of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as the Board reasonably shall request, subject to the limitation on personal attendance at such meetings set forth in Section 2.a): (i) the financial condition and prospects of the Sub-Advisor, (ii) the nature and amount of transactions affecting the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and affiliates of the Sub-Advisor, (iii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of its continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts, and (iv) such other information as the Board shall reasonably request regarding the Fund, the Fund’s performance, the services provided by the Sub-Advisor and affiliates of the Sub-Advisor to the Fund as compared to its other accounts and the plans of, and the capability of, the Sub-Advisor with respect to providing future services to the Fund and its other accounts. The Sub-Advisor agrees to submit to the Trust a statement defining its policies with respect to the allocation of securities among the Fund and its other clients.
The Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of its Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments thereto at least 48 hours prior to the effective date of this Agreement pursuant to Rule 204-3 under the Advisers Act (including the Sub-Advisor’s statement of financial condition) and will hereafter supply to the Advisor, promptly upon the preparation thereof, copies of all amendments or restatements of such document.
5. Use of Names. Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature or other material relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by the Sub-Advisor; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will approve all uses of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or a state securities commission; and provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the Trust shall each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor hereunder or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
6. Liability of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the
1940 Act) (collectively, the “Sub-Advisor Indemnitees”) against any and all actual losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (including reasonable legal expenses) caused by or arising out of (“Sub-Advisor Violations”): (a) the Sub-Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule or regulation or any investment policy or restriction set forth in the Funds’ Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information or any written guidelines or instruction provided in writing by the Board, or (b) the Sub-Advisor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence generally in the performance of its duties hereunder or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. As used in this Section 6, the term “Sub-Advisor” shall include the Sub-Advisor and/or any of its affiliates and the directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Advisor and/or any of its affiliates.
Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or any other federal securities law, neither the Sub-Advisor nor any of its officers, affiliates, employees or consultants (its “Affiliates”) shall be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) incurred or suffered by the Advisor, the Fund or the Trust as a result of any error of judgment or for any action or inaction taken in good faith by the Sub-Advisor or its Affiliates with respect to the Fund, except that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to exculpate, waive or limit the liability of the Sub-Advisor or its Affiliates for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Advisor, its Affiliates and controlling persons may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or under any other statute, or common law or otherwise arising out of or based on any Sub-Advisor Violations.
7. Limitation of Trust’s Liability. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trust’s liability set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the Trust’s obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the Fund Assets and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the holders of shares of the Fund, other than the Advisor, nor from any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
8. Force Majeure. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions but shall have no liability with respect thereto.
9. Renewal, Termination and Amendment.
a. This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, until May 19, 2013; and it shall continue thereafter provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the parties and, in addition, at least annually by (i) the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as herein defined) of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the Board and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
either the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor upon not more than sixty (60) days’ nor less than thirty (30) days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Advisor; (ii) by the Sub-Advisor upon not less than sixty (60) days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Advisor; or (iii) by the Trust upon either (y) the majority vote of its Board or (z) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
c. This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties hereto, subject to approval by the Board and, if required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such change.
d. The terms “assignment,” “interested persons” and “majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.
10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
11. Notice. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing addressed and delivered personally (or by telecopy) or mailed postage-paid, to the other party at such address as such other party may designate in accordance with this paragraph for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address of the Trust and that of the Advisor for this purpose shall be ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and that the address of the Sub-Advisor shall be ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
12. Miscellaneous. Each party agrees to perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and the Sub-Advisor consents to the jurisdiction of courts, both state or federal, in Ohio, with respect to any dispute under this Agreement.. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered in their names and on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.
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TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. | ||
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Attest: |
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/s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: |
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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President |
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Title: |
Vice President, Product Management |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PARTNERS, LLC | |
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Attest: |
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/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | |
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Name: |
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: |
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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CCO |
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Manager |
Signature Page