▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
SUBADVISORY CONTRACT
This SubAdvisory Contract is dated as of February 27, 2014
between and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the Manager), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENTS
LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales
(PIL), and THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the SubAdvisor).
WHEREAS, the Manager is the investment manager of each of
the investment companies registered under the United States
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are identified
on Schedule A hereto, as they may from time to time be amended by
the Manager (the Funds), and a registered investment adviser
under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended;
WHEREAS, PIL is a registered investment adviser under the
United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, is
licensed as an investment manager by the Financial Conduct
Authority of the United Kingdom (the FCA) and is a submanager of
each of the Funds pursuant to that certain SubManagement Contract
dated as of July 1, 2013 (the PIL SubManagement Contract),
between the Manager and PIL whereby the Manager has contracted
with PIL for the management of certain portions of each of the
Funds (each, a PILAdvised Sleeve);
WHEREAS, the SubAdvisor is a registered investment adviser
under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, and is an investment adviser authorized to provide
discretionary investment advice and management in Singapore;
WHEREAS, the Manager and PIL currently engage the SubAdvisor
from time to time to provide discretionary investment management
services from the SubAdvisors office in Singapore with respect to
a portion of certain of the Funds:
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUBADVISOR.
(a) The SubAdvisor, at its expense, will furnish
continuously an investment program for that portion of any Fund
identified on Schedule A the management of which is allocated
from time to time by the Manager or PIL to the SubAdvisor (an
Allocated Sleeve). The Manager or PIL, as the case may be, shall,
in its sole discretion, determine which Funds will have an
Allocated Sleeve and the amount of assets allocated from time to
time to each such Allocated Sleeve; provided that, with respect
to any Fund, the Trustees of such Fund must have approved the use
of the SubAdvisor prior to the creation of an Allocated Sleeve
for such Fund. The SubAdvisor will determine what investments
shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by any Allocated
Sleeve and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Allocated
Sleeve shall be held uninvested and shall, on behalf of the Fund,
make changes in the Funds investments held in such Allocated
Sleeve.
(b) The Manager may, and in the case of a PILAdvised Sleeve,
PIL may, each at its discretion, also request the SubAdvisor to
provide assistance with purchasing and selling securities for any
Fund, including the placement of orders with brokerdealers
selected in accordance with Section 1(c), even if the Manager or
PIL, as the case may be, has not established an Allocated Sleeve
for such Fund.
(c) The SubAdvisor shall place all orders for the purchase
and sale of portfolio investments for any Allocated Sleeve with
brokers or dealers selected by the SubAdvisor. In the selection
of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the
SubAdvisor shall use its best efforts to obtain for the related
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 SubAdvisor, bearing
in mind the Funds 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 Funds may determine, the SubAdvisor 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 a Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides
brokerage and research services to the Manager or, in the case of
a PILAdvised Sleeve, PIL, or the SubAdvisor 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 SubAdvisor
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 its overall
responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of
the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, or the SubAdvisor as to
which the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, or the SubAdvisor
exercises investment discretion. The SubAdvisor agrees that in
connection with purchases or sales of portfolio investments for
any Fund, neither the SubAdvisor nor any officer, director,
employee or agent of the SubAdvisor shall act as a principal or
receive any commission other than as provided in Section 3.
(d) The SubAdvisor at its expense will furnish all
necessary investment and management facilities, including
salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties
faithfully.
(e) The SubAdvisor shall not be obligated to pay any
expenses of or for the Manager, PIL or any Fund not expressly
assumed by the SubAdvisor pursuant to this Section 1.
(f) In the performance of its duties, the SubAdvisor will
comply with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust and ByLaws of each applicable Fund and such Funds stated
investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and will use
its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of such
Fund and to comply with other policies which the Manager, PIL or
the Trustees may from time to time determine and shall exercise
the same care and diligence expected of the Manager and PIL.
2. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.
It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees,
officers and employees of a Fund may be a shareholder, director,
officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the
SubAdvisor, and in any person controlled by or under common
control with the SubAdvisor, and that the SubAdvisor and any
person controlled by or under common control with the SubAdvisor
may have an interest in such Fund. It is also understood that the
SubAdvisor and any person controlled by or under common control
with the SubAdvisor have and may have advisory, management,
service or other contracts with other organizations and persons,
and may have other interests and business.
3. COMPENSATION.
Except as provided below, the Manager or PIL, as the case
may be, will pay to the SubAdvisor as compensation for the
SubAdvisors services rendered a fee, computed and paid quarterly
at the annual rate of 0.35% per annum of average net asset value
of the assets in each Allocated Sleeve of Funds identified on
Schedule A.
Such average net asset value shall be determined by taking
an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value
during a quarter at the close of business on each business day
during such quarter while this Contract is in effect. Such fee
shall be payable for each quarter within 30 days after the close
of such quarter. The SubAdvisor shall look only to the Manager or
PIL, as the case may be, for payment of its fees. No Fund shall
have any responsibility for paying any fees due the SubAdvisor.
If the SubAdvisor shall serve for less than the whole of a
quarter, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.
4. ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS CONTRACT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS
CONTRACT.
This Contract shall automatically terminate, without the
payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment; and this
Contract shall not be amended with respect to any Allocated
Sleeve unless such amendment be approved at a meeting 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 related Fund
who are not interested persons of such 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) Any party hereto or, with respect to any Allocated
Sleeve, the related Fund 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 parties, or
(b) With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, if (i) the
Trustees of the related Fund or the shareholders by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such
Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of such Fund who are
not interested persons of such 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 close of business on the
anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year
from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever
is later, or
(c) With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, automatically
upon termination of the Managers investment management contract
with the related Fund, or with respect to any Allocated Sleeve
for which PIL has contracted with the SubAdvisor to provide
services under this Contract, automatically upon termination of
the PIL SubManagement Contract.
Action by a 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 such 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 a Fund means the
affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of
shareholders of such Fund, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of
the shares of such Fund present (in person or by proxy) and
entitled to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50%
of the outstanding shares of such Fund entitled to vote at such
meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders
of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such 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 United States Investment
Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder (the
1940 Act), subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act; and the
term specifically approve at least annually shall be construed in
a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder.
7. NONLIABILITY OF SUBADVISOR.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of the SubAdvisor, or reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties hereunder, the SubAdvisor shall not
be subject to any liability to the Manager, PIL, any Fund or to
any shareholder of any Fund, for any act or omission in the
course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.
8. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.
(a) PIL represents that it is regulated by the FCA in the
conduct of its investment business. PIL has in operation a
written procedure in accordance with FCA rules for the effective
consideration and proper handling of complaints from customers.
Any complaint by the Manager or any Fund should be sent to the
Compliance Officer of PIL. The Manager and any Fund is also
entitled to make any complaints about PIL to the Financial
Ombudsman Service established by the FCA. The Manager and any
Fund may also request a statement describing its rights to
compensation in the event of PILs inability to meet its
liabilities.
(b) The Manager represents that it and each Fund are
Professional Customers in the meaning of the FCAs rules.
(c) Although each Fund is not a party hereto and shall have
no responsibility for the Managers, PILs or the SubAdvisors
obligations hereunder, each Fund is named as explicit third party
beneficiary of the parties agreements hereunder.
In witness whereof, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENTS LIMITED and THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC
have each caused this instrument to be signed on its behalf by an
officer duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above
written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENTS LIMITED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Director of Trustee Relations
and Authorized Person
THE ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Associate General Counsel
Schedule A
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Absolute Return 100 Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Absolute Return 300 Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Absolute Return 500 Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Absolute Return 700 Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Asia Pacific Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Spectrum Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Emerging Markets Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Equity Spectrum Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Europe Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Consumer Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Dividend Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Energy Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Financials Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Health Care Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Industrials Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Natural Resources Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Sector Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Technology Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Telecommunications Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Utilities Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ International Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ International Growth Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ International Value Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Research Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 2
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 3
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Absolute Return 500 Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Global Asset Allocation Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Global Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Global Health Care Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Global Utilities Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT International Equity Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT International Growth Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT International Value Fund
▇▇▇▇▇▇ VT Research Fund
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