INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
TIP FUNDS
AGREEMENT made this 31st day of December, 1997, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment
Partners, Inc. (the "Adviser") and Penn Capital Management Company, Inc. (the
"Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, TIP Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust") is
registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement
dated December 31, 1997 (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, pursuant to
which the Adviser will act as investment adviser to the TIP Target Select Equity
Fund (the "Fund"), which is a series of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, with the approval of the Trust, desires to retain the
Sub-Adviser to provide investment advisory services to the Adviser in connection
with the management of the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such
investment advisory services.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER. Subject to supervision by the Adviser and the
Trust's Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the
securities and other assets of the Fund entrusted to it hereunder (the
"Assets"), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets,
in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and
restrictions as stated in the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional
information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from
time to time (referred to collectively as the "Prospectus"), and subject to
the following:
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall, in consultation with and subject to the
direction of the Adviser, determine from time to time what Assets will
be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the
Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash.
(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement,
the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Trust's Declaration
of Trust (as defined herein) and the Prospectus and with the
instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust and will conform to and comply with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each
is amended from time to time.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by
the Fund as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or
through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with
respect to brokerage set forth in the Fund's Registration Statement
(as defined herein) and Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees or the
Adviser may direct from time to time, in conformity with federal
securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers
or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on
behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the
best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser
shall consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the
breadth of the market in the security, the price of the
security, the financial condition and execution capability of the
broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any,
both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In
evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the
broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may
also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those
terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a
broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a
commission for executing a fund transaction for the Fund which is in
excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the
Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research
services provided by such broker or dealer -- viewed in terms of that
particular transaction or terms of the overall responsibilities of the
Sub-Adviser to the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to
allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers
(including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser,
Sub-Adviser or the Trust's principal underwriter) to take into account
the sale of shares of the Trust if the Sub-Adviser believes that the
quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what
they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however,
will the Fund's Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-
Adviser, the Trust's principal underwriter, or any affiliated person
of either the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal
underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the
extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and
the 1940 Act.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to
transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5),
(6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the
1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser or the Board of
Trustees such periodic and special reports, balance sheets or
financial information, and such other information with regard to its
affairs as the Adviser or Board of Trustees may reasonably request.
The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the
Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this
Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information
relating to the Sub-Adviser's services under this Agreement needed by
the Adviser to keep the other books and records of the Fund required
by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish
to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is
required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent
to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted
thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the
Trust obtains from the SEC. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records
that it maintains on behalf of the Fund are property of the Fund and
the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such
records upon the Fund's request; provided, however, that the
Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the
duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the
periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records
as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and
shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the
termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor
sub-adviser, to the Adviser).
(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Fund's custodian on each business
day with information relating to all transactions concerning the
Fund's Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon
request of the Adviser.
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(f) The investment management services provided by the Sub-Adviser under
this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser
shall be free to render similar services to others, as long as such
services do not impair the services rendered to the Adviser or the
Trust.
(g) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser of any financial
condition that is likely to impair the Sub-Adviser's ability to
fulfill its commitment under this Agreement.
(h) The Sub-Adviser shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be
responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the
Assets. The Adviser shall instruct the custodian and other parties
providing services to the Fund to promptly forward misdirected proxies
to the Sub-Adviser.
Services to be furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement may be
furnished through the medium of any of the Sub-Adviser's partners, officers
or employees.
2. DUTIES OF THE ADVISER. The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility
for all services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory
Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of
its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that in connection with
its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve
the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for compliance with the Trust's
Declaration of Trust (as defined herein), the Prospectus, the instructions
and directions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the requirements of
the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and all other applicable
federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to
time.
3. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with
copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following
documents:
(a) The Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as filed with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (such
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement and as amended from time to time, herein called the
"Declaration of Trust");
(b) By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement and as amended from time to time, are herein called the
"By-Laws");
(c) Prospectus(es) of the Fund.
4. COMPENSATION TO THE SUB-ADVISER. For the services to be provided by the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the
Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation
therefor, a sub-advisory fee at the rate specified in the Schedule(s) which
is attached hereto and made part of this Agreement. The fee will be
calculated based on the average MONTHLY MARKET VALUE OF THE ASSETS under
the Sub-Adviser's management and will be paid to the Sub-Adviser monthly.
Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any
then current SEC staff interpretation), the Sub-Adviser may, in its
discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee.
5. INDEMNIFICATION. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages
(including reasonable attorney's fees and other related expenses) howsoever
arising from or in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser's
obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser's
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obligation under this Section 5 shall be reduced to the extent that the
claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Adviser,
is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Adviser's own, or any
other sub-adviser's, willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, or to
the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
6. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall become effective upon its
approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and by the vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall
continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof
only so long as continuance is specifically approved at least annually in
conformance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may
be terminated with respect to the Fund (a) by the Fund at any time, without
the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of Trustees of the
Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, (b) by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to
the Sub-Adviser, or (c) by the Sub-Adviser at any time, without the payment
of any penalty, on 90 days' written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its
assignment, or in the event of a termination of the Adviser's agreement
with the Trust. As used in this Section 6, the terms "assignment" and "vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under
the 1940 Act.
7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to conflict of law principles;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as being
inconsistent with the 1940 Act.
8. SEVERABILITY. Should any part of this Agreement be held 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.
9. NOTICE. Any notice, advice or report to be given pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by registered, certified
or overnight mail, postage prepaid addressed by the party giving notice to
the other party at the last address furnished by the other party:
To the Adviser at: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Partners, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
To the Sub-Adviser at: Penn Capital Management Company, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement's subject matter.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together,
constitute only one instrument.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State
of the Commonwealth of
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Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that the obligations of this
instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of
the Fund or the Trust.
Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any
provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation or order of the
SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first written
above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Partners, Inc. Penn Capital Management Company, Inc.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
-------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Chief Operating Officer Title: Executive Vice President
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SCHEDULE A
TO THE
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC.
AND
PENN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
Pursuant to Article 4, the Adviser shall pay the Sub-Adviser compensation at an
annual rate as follows:
TIP Target Select Equity Fund .80%