INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT Polen Capital Credit ETFs
Exhibit (d)(i)
▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Credit ETFs
AGREEMENT made as of [DATE], 2025, between FUNDVANTAGE TRUST, a Delaware Statutory Trust (herein called the “Trust”) on behalf of the series of the Trust set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each referred to herein, individually, as the “Fund”), and ▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CREDIT, LLC (herein called the “Investment Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), and currently offers or proposes to offer shares representing interests in separate investment portfolios, including the Fund;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Investment Adviser to render certain investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Investment Adviser is willing to so render such services; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) has approved this Agreement, and the Investment Adviser is willing to furnish such services upon the terms and conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
SECTION 1. APPOINTMENT. The Trust hereby appoints the Investment Adviser to act as investment adviser for the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Investment Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
SECTION 2. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Trust has furnished or will furnish the Investment Adviser with copies of each of the following:
a. Resolutions of the Board of Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Investment Adviser and the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and
b. Each prospectus and statement of additional information for the Fund in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 (such prospectus and statement of additional information, as presently in effect and as they shall from time to time be amended and supplemented, are herein collectively called the “Prospectus” and “SAI,” respectively).
The Trust will furnish the Investment Adviser from time to time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing, if any. In addition all copies of the resolutions of the Board of Trustees or amendments or supplements thereof will, upon the Investment Adviser’s request, be properly certified or authenticated.
In addition to the foregoing, the Trust will also provide the Investment Adviser with copies of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, and any registration statement or service contracts related to the Fund, and will promptly furnish the Investment Adviser with any amendments of or supplements to such documents.
SECTION 3. MANAGEMENT. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Investment Adviser will provide for the management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents in the Fund, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold for the Fund, (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Fund, (iv) the entering into, execution and delivery of all agreements, certificates, and documents for the purchase, sale and other dealings related to investments of the Fund (including, without limitation, assignment agreements with respect to bank loan transactions), in its capacity as investment adviser on behalf of the Fund; (v) in connection with its management of the Fund, monitoring and assistance with anticipated purchases and redemptions of Creation Units (as defined in the Fund’s Prospectus and SAI) by shareholders and new investors, (vi) the determination of the amount of the cash component, the identity and number of shares of the securities to be accepted in exchange for “Creation Units” for the Fund and the securities that will be applicable that day to redemption requests received for the Fund (and may give directions to the Fund’s custodian with respect to such designations), (vii) the coordination of the Fund’s compliance with rules of the applicable securities exchange on which the Fund’s shares are listed, and (viii) the establishment, monitoring and maintaining the Fund’s website to comply with applicable law. The Investment Adviser will provide the services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, restrictions and policies as stated in the applicable Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, provided that the Investment Adviser has notice or knowledge of any changes by the Board of Trustees to such investment objectives, restrictions or policies. The Investment Adviser further agrees that it will render to the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports regarding the performance of its duties under this Agreement as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request. The Investment Adviser agrees to provide to the Trust (or its agents and service providers) prompt and accurate data with respect to the Fund’s transactions and, where not otherwise available, the daily valuation of securities in the Fund.
SECTION 4. BROKERAGE. Subject to the Investment Adviser’s obligation to obtain best price and execution, the Investment Adviser shall have full discretion to select brokers or dealers to effect the purchase and sale of securities. When the Investment Adviser places orders for the purchase or sale of securities for the Fund, in selecting brokers or dealers to execute such orders, the Investment Adviser is expressly authorized to consider the fact that a broker or dealer has furnished statistical, research or other information or services for the benefit of the Fund and, potentially, the Investment Adviser’s other clients, directly or indirectly. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investment Adviser is authorized to cause the Fund to pay brokerage commissions which may be in excess of the lowest rates available to brokers who execute transactions for the Fund or who otherwise provide brokerage and research services utilized by the Investment Adviser, provided that the Investment Adviser determines in good faith that the amount of each such commission paid to a broker is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker viewed in terms of either the particular transaction to which the commission relates or the Investment Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to accounts as to which the Investment Adviser exercises investment discretion. The Investment Adviser may aggregate securities orders so long as the Investment Adviser adheres to a policy of allocating investment opportunities to the Fund over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis relative to other clients. In no instance will the Fund’s securities be purchased from or sold to the Trust’s principal underwriter, the Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, except to the extent permitted by SEC exemptive order or by applicable law.
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The Investment Adviser shall report to the Board of Trustees at least quarterly with respect to brokerage transactions that were entered into by the Investment Adviser, pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, and shall certify to the Board of Trustees that the commissions paid were reasonable in terms either of that transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Investment Adviser to the Fund and the Investment Adviser’s other clients, that the total commissions paid by the Fund were reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund, and potentially, the Investment Adviser’s other clients, over the long term (it being understood that commissions with respect to fixed income transactions are built into the applicable bid-ask spread). Further, the Investment Adviser will disclose to the Board of Trustees: (i) all material new or amended arrangements it may have with regard to the Fund’ securities transactions, (ii) the utilization of “soft dollar commissions” by the Fund and the Investment Adviser with respect to the Fund, and (iii) such other matters as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
SECTION 5. DELEGATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISER’S OBLIGATIONS AND SERVICES. With respect to the Fund, the Investment Adviser may enter into one or more contracts (“Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with a sub-adviser in which the Investment Adviser delegates to such sub-adviser any or all of its obligations or services specified in Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement, provided that each Sub-Advisory Agreement imposes on the sub-adviser bound thereby all the duties and conditions the Investment Adviser is subject to under this Agreement, and further provided that each Sub-Advisory Agreement meets all requirements of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder.
SECTION 6. CONFORMITY WITH LAW; CONFIDENTIALITY. The Investment Adviser further agrees that it will comply with all applicable rules and regulations of all federal regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations having jurisdiction over the Investment Adviser in the performance of its duties hereunder. The Investment Adviser will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relating to the Trust and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Investment Adviser may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
Where the Investment Adviser may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply with a request for records or other information relating to the Trust, the Investment Adviser may comply with such request prior to obtaining the Trust’s written approval, provided that the Investment Adviser has taken reasonable steps to promptly notify the Trust, in writing, upon receipt of the request.
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SECTION 7. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The Investment Adviser and its officers may act and continue to act as investment managers for others, and nothing in this Agreement shall in any way be deemed to restrict the right of the Investment Adviser to perform investment management or other services for any other person or entity, and the performance of such services for others shall not be deemed to violate or give rise to any duty or obligation to the Fund or the Trust.
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Investment Adviser or any of its partners, officers, affiliates or employees from buying, selling or trading in any securities for its or their own account. The Trust acknowledges that the Investment Adviser and its partners, officers, affiliates, employees and other clients may, at any time, have, acquire, increase, decrease, or dispose of positions in investments which are at the same time being acquired or disposed of for the Fund. The Investment Adviser shall have no obligation to acquire for the Fund a position in any investment which the Investment Adviser, its partners, officers, affiliates or employees may acquire for its or their own accounts or for the account of another client, so long as it continues to be the policy and practice of the Investment Adviser not to favor or disfavor consistently or consciously any client or class of clients in the allocation of investment opportunities so that, to the extent practical, such opportunities will be allocated among clients over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis.
The Investment Adviser agrees that this Section does not constitute a waiver by the Trust of the obligations imposed upon the Investment Adviser to comply with Sections 17(d) and 17(j) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, nor constitute a waiver by the Trust of the obligations imposed upon the Investment Adviser under Section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder. Further, the Investment Adviser agrees that this Section 7 does not constitute a waiver by the Trust of the fiduciary obligation of the Investment Adviser arising under federal or state law, including Section 36 of the 1940 Act. The Investment Adviser agrees that this Section 7 shall be interpreted consistent with the provisions of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.
SECTION 8. BOOKS AND RECORDS. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Investment Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s request. The Investment Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records in the Investment Adviser’s possession required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
SECTION 9. EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement. In addition, for no additional compensation, the Investment Adviser shall pay all of the other operating expenses of each Portfolio, excluding: (i) its advisory fees payable under this Agreement; (ii) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; (iii) interest and other costs of borrowing expenses; (iv) brokerage expenses, trading expenses and other expenses (such as stamp taxes) in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions or in connection with creation and redemption transactions; (v) tax expenses (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (vi) acquired fund fees and expenses; (vii) accrued deferred tax liability; and (vi) extraordinary expenses, such as litigation costs, and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business. General expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to series of the Trust shall be allocated among all series of the Trust, including the Fund, by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees in such manner as the Board determines to be fair and equitable and such expenses as allocated to the Fund will be borne by the Investment Adviser or the Fund in accordance with this Section 9.
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SECTION 10. VOTING. The Investment Adviser shall have the authority to vote as agent for the Trust, either in person or by proxy, tender and take all actions incident to the ownership of all securities in which the Fund’s assets may be invested from time to time, subject to such policies and procedures as the Board of Trustees may adopt from time to time.
SECTION 11. RESERVATION OF NAME. The Investment Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund. The Investment Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual Trust or business activity without the consent of any shareholder and the Trust shall execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate the consent of the Trust to such use. The Trust hereby agrees that in the event that neither the Investment Adviser nor any of its affiliates acts as investment adviser to the Fund, the name of the Fund will be changed to one that does not contain the name “▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Credit, LLC,” “▇▇▇▇▇ Capital,” “▇▇▇▇▇ Credit,” or “▇▇▇▇▇” or otherwise suggest an affiliation with the Investment Adviser.
SECTION 12. COMPENSATION.
a. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Fund, the Trust will pay the Investment Adviser from the assets of the Fund and the Investment Adviser will accept as full compensation therefore from the Fund a fee, computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate as a percentage of average daily net assets set forth on Schedule B to this Agreement. For any period less than a full month during which this Agreement is in effect, the fee shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to a full month.
b. The fee attributable to the Fund shall be satisfied only against assets of the Fund and not against the assets of any other series of the Trust. The Investment Adviser may from time to time agree not to impose all or a portion of its fee otherwise payable hereunder (in advance of the time such fee or portion thereof would otherwise accrue) and/or undertake to pay or reimburse the Fund for all or a portion of its expenses not otherwise required to be borne or reimbursed by the Investment Adviser.
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SECTION 13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Investment Adviser shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Investment Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement (“disabling conduct”). The Fund will indemnify the Investment Adviser against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit not resulting from disabling conduct by the Investment Adviser. Indemnification shall be made only following: (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Investment Adviser was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Investment Adviser was not liable by reason of disabling conduct by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of trustees of the Trust who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested non-party trustees”) or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. The Investment Adviser shall be entitled to advances from the Fund for payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification in the manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Investment Adviser shall provide to the Fund a written affirmation of its good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Fund has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such advance if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In addition, at least one of the following additional conditions shall be met: (a) the Investment Adviser shall provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the Fund for its undertaking; (b) the Fund is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party trustees, or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of facts readily available to the Fund at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that the Investment Adviser will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification. Any amounts payable by the Fund under this Section shall be satisfied only against the assets of the Fund and not against the assets of any other investment portfolio of the Trust.
The limitations on liability and indemnification provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arising from the Investment Adviser’s rights to the Fund’s name. The Investment Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and the Fund for any claims arising from the use of the terms “▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Credit, LLC,” “▇▇▇▇▇ Capital” or “▇▇▇▇▇” in the name of the Fund.
SECTION 14. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall become effective and continue for an initial two year period as of the date first above written unless sooner terminated as provided herein with respect to the Fund. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue for successive annual periods, PROVIDED such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those members of the Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person (unless otherwise allowed by exemptive relief or regulatory changes) at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, on 60 days’ prior written notice to the Investment Adviser, or by the Investment Adviser at any time, without payment of any penalty, on 90 days’ prior written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment.
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In the event the Investment Adviser recommends to the Board of Trustees that the Fund reorganize, merge or enter into a business combination transaction with another registered investment company, the Trust will approve such reorganization, merger or other business combination transaction so long as such transaction is determined by the Board of Trustees, in a manner consistent with all applicable law and in the exercise of its fiduciary duty, to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
SECTION 15. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, discharged or terminated orally, except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement affecting the Fund shall be effective, to the extent required by the 1940 Act, until the applicable shareholders of the Fund approve such amendment in the manner required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, subject to any applicable orders of exemption issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECTION 16. MISCELLANEOUS. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 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. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and shall be governed by Delaware law.
SECTION 17. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the terms “affiliated person,” “assignment,” “interested person,” “majority of the outstanding voting securities” and “principal underwriter” shall have the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to any applicable orders of exemption issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECTION 18. NOTICE. All notices hereunder shall be given in writing and delivered by hand, national overnight courier, facsimile (provided written confirmation of receipt is obtained and said notice is sent via first class mail on the next business day) or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, as follows:
If to the Investment Adviser:
▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CREDIT, LLC
Attn: Legal Department
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Waltham, MA 02451
With copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Attn: Legal Department
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ #▇▇▇
Boca Raton, FL 33431
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If to the Trust:
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, President
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
With copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Del ▇▇▇▇, Esq.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
3000 Two ▇▇▇▇▇ Square
18th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
The effective date of any notice shall be (i) the date such notice is sent if such delivery is effected by hand or facsimile, (ii) one business day after the date such notice is sent if such delivery is effected by national overnight courier; or (iii) the third (3rd) business day after the date of mailing thereof.
SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
SECTION 20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
| FUNDVANTAGE TRUST | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | President | |
| ▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CREDIT, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | General Counsel | |
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SCHEDULE A
DATED [DATE], 2025
TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT DATED [DATE], 2025
BETWEEN
FUNDVANTAGE TRUST AND ▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CREDIT, LLC
Series of FundVantage Trust
▇▇▇▇▇ Floating Rate Income ETF
▇▇▇▇▇ High Income ETF
Sch. A-1
SCHEDULE B
DATED [DATE], 2025
TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT DATED [DATE], 2025
BETWEEN
FUNDVANTAGE TRUST AND ▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CREDIT, LLC
Investment Advisory Fee Schedule
| Fund | Annual Fee as a Percentage of Fund’s Average Daily Net Assets | |
| ▇▇▇▇▇ Floating Rate Income ETF | 0.59% (59 basis points) | |
| ▇▇▇▇▇ High Income ETF | 0.63% (63 basis points) |
Sch. B-1