SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Sub-Advisory Agreement executed as of May 1, 1999, between LINCOLN
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC., an Illinois corporation (the "Adviser"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC., a Massachusetts corporation (the "Sub-Adviser").
Witnesseth:
That in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as
follows:
1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUB-ADVISER TO THE FUND.
(a) Subject always to the control of the Directors of Lincoln National
Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, which is
an eligible investment fund for certain variable annuity and variable life
insurance contracts issued by Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (the
"Variable Contracts"), the Sub-Adviser, at its expense, will furnish
continuously an investment program for the Fund which shall at all times
meet the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). The Sub-Adviser will make investment
decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and
sale of portfolio securities. In the performance of its duties, the
Sub-Adviser will comply with the provisions of the organizational documents
and Bylaws of the Fund and the stated investment objective, policies and
restrictions of the Fund, and will use its best efforts to safeguard and
promote the welfare of the Fund, and to comply with other policies which
the Directors or the Adviser, as the case may be, may from time to time
determine. The Sub-Adviser shall make its officers and employees available
to the Adviser from time to time at such reasonable times as the parties
may agree to review investment policies of the Fund and to consult with the
Adviser regarding the investment affairs of the Fund.
(b) The Sub-Adviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary
investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel,
required for it to execute its duties faithfully and (ii) administrative
facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment
necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Fund
(excluding determination of net asset value per share, portfolio accounting
and shareholder accounting services). As a particular service to be
rendered by Sub-Adviser, but not by way of limitation, Sub-Adviser shall
vote proxies relating to the Fund's portfolio securities.
(c) In the selection of brokers, dealers or futures commission
merchants and the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
investments for the Fund, the Sub-Adviser 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 Sub-Adviser, 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, dealer, or
futures commission merchant involved; and the quality of service
rendered by the broker, dealer or futures commission merchant in other
transactions. Subject to such policies as the Directors of the Fund may
determine, the Sub-Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully
or to have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise
solely by reason of its having caused the Fund to pay a broker, dealer
or futures commission merchant that provides brokerage and research
services to the Sub-Adviser an amount of commission for effecting a
portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission
another broker, dealer or futures commission merchant would have charged
for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Adviser 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,
dealer or futures commission merchant, viewed in terms of either that
particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser's over-all responsibilities
with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Sub-Adviser as to
which the Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or
for the Fund not expressly assumed by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this
Section 1 other than as provided in Section 3.
2. OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.
(a) It is understood that any of the shareholders, Directors, officers
and employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or
employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Sub-Adviser, and in any
person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Adviser; and that
the Sub-Adviser and any person controlled by or under common control with
the Sub-Adviser may have an interest in the Fund or the Variable Contracts,
or any other investment vehicle for which the Fund is an eligible
investment fund.
(b) The Adviser agrees that if any additional funds are created by the
Variable Contracts for which the Adviser undertakes to act as investment
adviser, it will discuss with the Sub-Adviser obtaining investment advisory
services from the Sub-Adviser for any such additional fund before seeking
such services from any other investment adviser not affiliated with the
Adviser.
3. COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE ADVISER TO THE SUB-ADVISER.
Until shareholder approval of this Agreement, the Adviser will pay to the
Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Adviser's services rendered and for the
expenses borne by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to Section 1, a fee, computed and
paid at the annual rate of 0.50 of 1% of the first $150 million of average daily
net assets of the Fund, and 0.35 of 1% of any excess over $150 million.
Upon shareholder approval of this Agreement, the Adviser will pay to the
Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Adviser's services rendered and for the
expenses borne by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to Section 1, a fee, computed and
paid at the annual rate of 0.50 of 1% of the first $250 million of average daily
net assets of the Fund, and 0.45 of 1% of any excess over $250 million.
Such fee shall be paid by the Adviser, and not by the Fund, and without
regard to any reduction in the fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser under its
management contract as a result of any statutory or regulatory limitation on
investment company expenses or voluntary fee reduction assumed by the Adviser.
Such fee to the Sub-Adviser shall be payable for each month within 10 business
days after the end of such month.
If the Sub-Adviser shall serve for less than the whole of a month, the
foregoing compensation shall be prorated.
4. ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any
penalty, in the event of its assignment or in the event that the investment
advisory contract between the Adviser and the Fund shall have terminated for any
reason; and this Agreement 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 Directors of the Fund
who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Adviser or of the
Sub-Adviser.
5. EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
This Agreement 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) The Fund may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more than
sixty days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage
prepaid, to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser; or
(b) If (i) the Directors of the Fund or the shareholders by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund and
(ii) a majority of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund
or of the Adviser or of the Sub-Adviser, 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 Agreement,
then this Agreement shall automatically terminate at the close 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; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is
submitted to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval and such
shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided
herein, the Sub-Adviser may continue to serve hereunder in a manner
consistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder; or
(c) The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not less
than ninety days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail,
postage prepaid, to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser may at any time
terminate this Agreement by not less than 90 days' written notice delivered
or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Adviser.
Action by the Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a
majority of its Directors, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund.
Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5 shall be without
the payment of any penalty.
6. CERTAIN INFORMATION.
The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events: (a) the Sub-Adviser shall fail to be
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended from time to time, and under the laws of any jurisdiction in which
the Sub-Adviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, (b) the Sub-Adviser shall have
been served or otherwise have 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 Fund, (c) the Sub-Adviser shall cease to be a
direct or indirect subsidiary of ▇▇▇▇▇ & McLennan Companies, Inc. and (d) the
President of the Sub-Adviser or any portfolio manager of the Fund shall have
changed.
7. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the "affirmative vote of a majority of
the outstanding shares" means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held
meeting of shareholders, (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 such meeting, if
the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the 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 the Fund entitled to vote at such
meeting, whichever is less.
For the purposes of this Agreement, 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 Commission 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.
8. NONLIABILITY OF SUB-ADVISER.
(a) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of the Sub-Adviser, or reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties hereunder, the Sub-Adviser 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.
(b) Failure by the Sub-Adviser to assure that the investment program
for the Fund meets the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of
the Code, as required by Article 1(a) of this Agreement, shall constitute
gross negligence per se under sub-paragraph 8(a) just above.
9. Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify the Adviser, the Variable Contracts and the
Depositor of the Variable Contracts for, and hold them harmless against, any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement
with the written consent of the Sub-Adviser) or litigation (including legal and
other expenses) to which the Adviser, the Variable Contracts or the Depositor of
the Variable Contracts may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements arise as a result of any failure by
the Sub-Adviser, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
adequately diversify the investment program of the Fund pursuant to the
requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code, and the regulations issued
thereunder (including, but not by way of limitation, Reg. Sec. 1.817-5, March 2,
1989, 54 F.R. 8730, 51 F.R. 32633), relating to the diversification requirements
for variable annuity,
endowment, and life insurance contracts, provided that the Sub-Adviser shall
have been given prompt written notice concerning any matter for which
indemnification is otherwise afforded hereunder.
10. RIGHT TO AUDIT.
The Sub-Adviser shall permit employees or legal representatives of the
Lincoln Entities (including independent auditors), or any of them, at their
discretion, to audit the books and records (including, but not by way of
limitation, electronic data processing E-mail, on-line data and any data on
storage) of Sub-Adviser which relate to transactions which are the subject of
this Agreement. Any audit will be conducted during normal business hours of the
Sub-Adviser and on the Sub-Adviser's premises, with reasonable prior notice to
Sub-Adviser. Sub-Adviser agrees to provide to the Lincoln Entities, without
charge, reasonable access to its facilities and personnel during the conduct of
an audit. Sub-Adviser may charge a reasonable fee for photocopying and other
out-of-pocket costs associated with an audit conducted under this Paragraph.
11. MARKETING MATERIALS.
The Fund shall furnish to the Sub-Adviser, prior to its use, each piece of
advertising, supplemental sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Sub-Adviser or any of its affiliates is named. No such material shall
be used except with prior written permission of the Sub-Adviser or its delegate.
The Sub-Adviser agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and
timely basis. Failure by the Sub-Adviser to respond within ten calendar days to
the Fund shall relieve the Fund of the obligation to obtain the prior written
permission of the Sub-Adviser.
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Fund, prior to its use, each piece of
advertising, supplemental sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund, the Adviser or any of the Adviser's affiliates is named. No such
material shall be used except with prior written permission of the Fund or its
delegate. The Fund agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and
timely basis. Failure by the Fund to respond within ten calendar days to the
Sub-Adviser shall relieve the Sub-Adviser of the obligation to obtain the prior
written permission of the Fund.
For purposes of this paragraph 11, the term "advertising, supplemental
sales material or other promotional material" shall not include any form of
client, adviser or fund company listing prepared by or on behalf of either party
as long as that listing contains only the name of the applicable party to this
Agreement (and/or its affiliates) and does not contain any other factual,
historical, editorial or predictive material.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LINCOLN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. have each caused this instrument to be signed in
duplicate on its behalf by its duly authorized representative, all as of the day
and year first above written.
LINCOLN INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT, INC.
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Name:
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
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Name:
Title:
Accepted and agreed to
as of the day and year
first above written:
LINCOLN NATIONAL AGGRESSIVE
GROWTH FUND, INC.
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President