PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Exhibit (6)
▇▇▇▇▇▇ MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Management Contract dated as of January 1, 2006 between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”).
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY MANAGER TO FUND.
(a) The Manager, at its expense, will furnish continuously an investment program for the Fund, will determine what investments will be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Fund shall be held uninvested and shall, on behalf of the Fund, make changes in the Fund's investments. In the performance of its duties, the Manager will comply with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws of the Fund and its stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and will use its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of the Fund and to comply with other policies which the Trustees may from time to time determine and shall exercise the same care and diligence expected of the Trustees.
(b) The Manager, at its expense, except as such expense is paid by the Fund as provided in Section 1(d), will furnish all necessary investment and related management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties faithfully. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1(d), the Manager will pay the compensation, if any, of certain officers of the Fund carrying out the investment management and related duties provided for by this Contract.
(c) The Manager, at its expense, will place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by the Manager. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Manager shall use its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In using its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Manager, bearing in mind the Fund’s best interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker or dealer involved, and the quality of service rendered by the broker or dealer in other transactions. Subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Fund may determine, the Manager shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to
have breached any duty created by this Contract or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Manager an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Manager’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Manager as to which the Manager exercises investment discretion. The Manager agrees that in connection with purchases or sales of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account, neither the Manager nor any officer, director, employee or agent of the Manager shall act as a principal or receive any commission other than as provided in Section 3.
(d) The Fund will pay or reimburse the Manager for the compensation in whole or in part of such officers of the Fund and persons assisting them as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund. The Fund will also pay or reimburse the Manager for all or part of the cost of suitable office space, utilities, support services and equipment attributable to such officers and persons, as may be determined in each case by the Trustees of the Fund. The Fund will pay the fees, if any, of the Trustees of the Fund.
(e) The Manager will not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Fund not expressly assumed by the Manager pursuant to this Section 1 other than as provided in Section 3.
2. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.
It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers, and employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Manager, and in any person controlled by or under common control with the Manager, and that the Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Manager may have an interest in the Fund. It is also understood that the Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Manager have and may have advisory, management, service or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and business.
3. COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE FUND TO THE MANAGER.
The Fund will pay to the Manager as compensation for the Manager’s services rendered, for the facilities furnished and for the expenses borne by the Manager pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of Section 1, a fee, computed and paid quarterly at the lower of the following annual rates.
(a) 0.35% of the Fund's average net asset value, or
(b) 0.45% of the first $500 million of the Fund's average net asset value;
0.35% of the next $500 million;
0.30% of the next $500 million;
0.25% of the next $5 billion;
0.225% of the next $5 billion;
0.205% of the next $5 billion;
0.19% of the next $5 billion; and
0.18% of any excess thereafter.
Such average net asset value shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during such quarter at the close of business on the last business day of each week, for each week which ends during such quarter. Such fees shall be payable for each fiscal quarter within 30 days after the close of such quarter.
The fees payable by the Fund to the Manager pursuant to this Section 3 shall be reduced by any commissions, fees, brokerage or similar payments received by the Manager or any affiliated person of the Manager in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio investments of the Fund, less any direct expenses approved by the Trustees incurred by the Manager or any affiliated person of the Manager in connection with obtaining such payments.
In the event that expenses of the Fund for any fiscal year should exceed the expense limitation on investment company expenses imposed by any statute or regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of the Fund are qualified for offer or sale, the compensation due the Manager for such fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of such excess by a reduction or refund thereof. In the event that the expenses of the Fund exceed any expense limitation which the Manager may, by written notice to the Fund, voluntarily declare to be effective subject to such terms and conditions as the Manager may prescribe in such notice, the compensation due the Manager will be reduced, and, if necessary, the Manager will assume expenses of the Fund, to the extent required by such expense limitation.
In the event that the amount of dividends payable with respect to any outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund with preference rights (“Preferred Shares”) during any period for which regular payments of dividends or other distributions on such Preferred Shares are payable (each, a “Dividend Period”) plus expenses attributable to such Preferred Shares for such Dividend Period exceeds the portion of the Fund’s net income and net short-term capital gains (but not long-term capital gains) accruing during such Dividend Period as a result of the fact that such Preferred Shares were outstanding during such Dividend Period, then the fee payable to the Manager pursuant to this Section 3 shall be reduced by the amount of such excess; provided, however, that the amount of such reduction for any such Dividend Period shall not exceed the amount determined by multiplying (i) the aggregate liquidation preference of the average number of Preferred Shares outstanding during the Dividend Period, by (ii) the percentage of the aggregate net asset value of the Fund which the fee payable to the Manager during such Dividend Period pursuant to this Section 3 would constitute without giving effect to such reduction. The amount of such reduction attributable to any Dividend Period shall reduce the amount of the next quarterly payment of the fee payable pursuant to this Section 3
following the end of such Dividend Period, and of any subsequent quarterly or more frequent payments, as may be necessary. The expenses attributable to Preferred Shares and the portion of the Fund’s net income and net short-term capital gains accruing during any Dividend Period as a result of the fact that Preferred Shares were outstanding during such Dividend Period shall be determined by the Trustees of the Fund.
If the Manager serves for less than the whole of a quarter, the foregoing compensation will be prorated.
4. ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS CONTRACT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS CONTRACT.
This Contract will automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment; and this Contract shall not be amended unless such amendment be approved at a meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager.
5. EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT.
This Contract shall become effective upon its execution, and shall remain in full force and effect continuously thereafter (unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:
(a) Either party hereto may at any time terminate this Contract by not more than sixty days' nor less than thirty days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party, or (b) If (i) the Trustees of the Fund or the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the respective Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the continuance of this Contract, then this Contract shall automatically terminate at the closed of business on the second anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is later.
Action by the Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a majority of its Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Termination of this Contract pursuant to this Section 5 will be without the payment of any penalty.
6. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Contract, the “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund" means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of shareholders of the Fund, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of
the Fund present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at the meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less.
For the purposes of this Contract, the terms “affiliated person”, “control”, “interested person”, and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange under said Act; the term "specifically approve at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder; and the term “brokerage and research services” shall have the meaning given in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.
7. NON-LIABILITY OF MANAGER.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Manager, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Manager shall not be subject to any liability to the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS.
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC have each caused this instrument to be signed in duplicate in its behalf by its officer thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES | ||
| TRUST | ||
| By: _/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. PORTER_ | ||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Executive Vice President, Associate | ||
| Treasurer and Principal Executive Officer | ||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| By: _/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. PAPPAS___ | ||
| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Managing Director |