EXHIBIT 5(xiv)
FORM OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE
U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO OF THE FUND
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
GE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of January, 1997, between WRL
Investment Management, Inc. ("Investment Adviser"), a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of State of Florida and GE Investment Management
Incorporated ("Sub-Adviser"), a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory
Agreement dated as of the 1st day of January, 1997 ("Advisory Agreement") with
the WRL Series Fund, Inc. ("Fund"), a Maryland corporation which is engaged in
business as an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares of the U.S. Equity Portfolio
("Portfolio"), a separate series of the Fund;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is engaged principally in the business of rendering
investment advisory services and is registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser as
sub-adviser to furnish certain investment advisory services to the Investment
Adviser with respect to the Portfolio and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish
such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein
set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
Investment Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as its investment
sub-adviser with respect to the Portfolio for the period and on the terms set
forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
A. INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES. Subject to the supervision of the
Fund's Board of Directors ("Board") and the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser
shall act as the investment sub-adviser and shall supervise and direct the
investments of the Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's investment
objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the Fund's Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, as currently in effect and as amended or
supplemented from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus"),
and such other limitations as directed by the appropriate officers of the
Investment Adviser or the Fund by notice in writing to the Sub-Adviser. The
Sub-Adviser shall obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy,
industries, businesses, securities markets, and securities as it may deem
necessary or useful in the discharge of its obligations hereunder and shall
formulate and implement a continuing program for the management of the assets
and resources of the Portfolio in a manner consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective, policies, and restrictions. In furtherance of this duty,
the Sub-Adviser, on behalf of the Portfolio, is authorized, in its discretion
and without prior consultation with the Portfolio or the Investment Adviser, to:
(1) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and otherwise trade in any
stocks, bonds and other securities or assets; and
(2) place orders and negotiate the commissions (if any) for the
execution of transactions in securities or other assets with or through
such brokers, dealers, underwriters or issuers as the Sub-Adviser may
select.
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B. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In addition to the above,
Sub-Adviser shall:
(1) furnish continuous investment information, advice and
recommendations to the Fund as to the acquisition, holding or
disposition of any or all of the securities or other assets which the
Portfolio may own or contemplate acquiring from time to time;
(2) cause its officers to attend quarterly (or such less frequent)
meetings of the Fund in person, via telephone or teleconference
capabilities and furnish oral or written reports, as the Fund may
reasonably require, in order to keep the Fund and its officers and
Board fully informed as to the condition of the investment securities
of the Portfolio, the investment recommendations of the Sub-Adviser,
and the investment considerations which have given rise to those
recommendations; and
(3) furnish such statistical and analytical information and reports as
may reasonably be required by the Fund from time to time.
C. FURTHER DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In all matters relating to the
performance of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the
Fund's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, as each may be amended or
supplemented, and currently effective Registration Statement (as defined below)
and with the written instructions and directions of the Board and the Investment
Adviser, either as reflected in the Registration Statement (as defined below) or
otherwise provided in writing to the Sub-Adviser by the Investment Adviser, and
shall comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the rules
thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations,
either as reflected in the Registration Statement (as defined below), or
otherwise provided in writing to the Sub-Adviser by the Investment Adviser.
3. COMPENSATION.
For the services provided and the expenses assumed by the Sub-Adviser
pursuant to this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall receive a monthly investment
management fee equal to (i) 50% of the fees received by the Investment Adviser
for services rendered under the Advisory Agreement by the Investment Adviser
with respect to the Portfolio, less (ii) 50% of the amount paid by the
Investment Adviser on behalf of the Portfolio pursuant to any expense limitation
applicable to the Portfolio. The management fee shall be payable by the
Investment Adviser monthly to the Sub-Adviser upon receipt by the Investment
Adviser from the Portfolio of advisory fees payable to the Investment Adviser.
If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month,
the investment management fee for the period from the effective date to the end
of such month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as
the case may be, shall be pro-rated according to the pro-ration which such
period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination
occurs. Any amount borne by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to (ii) above in this
paragraph constitutes an agreement between the Investment Adviser and
Sub-Adviser only for the first twelve months following commencement of
operations of the Portfolio. The fee payable to the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this
paragraph will not be waived by the Sub-Adviser or otherwise reduced by any
waiver or expense limitation affecting the fee that is payable to the Investment
Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, except as may be mutually agreed to by the
Sub-Adviser and the Investment Adviser.
4. DUTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
A. The Investment Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Portfolio pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and
shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of its duties under this
Agreement.
B. The Investment Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies of
each of the following documents and will furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its
principal office all future amendments and supplements to such documents, if
any, as soon as practicable after such documents become available:
(1) The Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as filed with the
State of Maryland, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended
from time to time ("Articles");
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(2) The By-Laws of the Fund as in effect on the date hereof and
as amended from time to time ("By-Laws");
(3) Certified resolutions of the Board of the Fund authorizing
the appointment of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and
approving the form of the Advisory Agreement and this Agreement;
(4) The Fund's Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), on Form N-1A, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating
to the Portfolio and its shares and all amendments thereto
("Registration Statement");
(5) The Notification of Registration of the Fund under the 1940
Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC and any amendments thereto;
(6) The Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
(as defined above); and
(7) A certified copy of any publicly available financial
statement or report prepared for the Fund by certified or
independent public accountants, and copies of any financial
statements or reports made by the Portfolio to its shareholders or
to any governmental body or securities exchange.
The Investment Adviser shall furnish the Sub-Adviser with any further
documents, materials or information that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request
to enable it to perform its duties pursuant to this Agreement.
C. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser shall
furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material
prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Portfolio or the public, which
refer to the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other advisory accounts
advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to the use thereof,
and the Investment Adviser shall not use any such materials if the Sub-Adviser
reasonably objects in writing fifteen business days (or such other time as may
be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
5. BROKERAGE.
A. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in placing orders with broker-dealers
for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, it shall attempt to obtain
quality execution at favorable security prices (best price and execution);
provided that, on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may, in its discretion,
agree to pay a broker-dealer that furnishes brokerage or research services as
such services are defined under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), a higher commission than that which might have
been charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same transactions, if
the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in
relation to the brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer,
viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall
responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser with respect to the accounts as to which it
exercises investment discretion (as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(35)
of the 1934 Act). In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or
sold to the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, except in accordance
with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
B. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a
security to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of the
Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities
to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable price or lower
brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the
securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the
transaction, will be made by the Sub-Adviser in the manner the Sub-Adviser
considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations
to the Fund and to its other clients.
C. In addition to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser agrees that orders
with broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the
Portfolio shall be placed in accordance with the standards set forth in the
Advisory Agreement, and the Investment Adviser acknowledges in this Agreement
the specific authority given
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to both the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreement
with respect to the placement of brokerage.
6. OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS.
The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records required to be
maintained by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to transactions on behalf of the
Fund. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees: (i) that all records that it maintains for the Fund
are the property of the Fund, (ii) to preserve for the periods prescribed by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that it maintains for the Fund and
that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and (iii)
agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any records that it maintains for the
Fund upon request by the Fund; provided, however, the Sub-Adviser may retain
copies of such records.
7. REPORTS.
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board or the Investment Adviser, or
both, as appropriate, such information, reports, evaluations, analyses and
opinions as the Sub-Adviser and the Board or the Investment Adviser, as
appropriate, may mutually agree upon from time to time.
8. SERVICES TO OTHERS CLIENTS.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or restrict (i) the freedom
of the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, to render investment
advisory, management and corporate administrative services to any other
investment companies, to act as investment manager or investment counselor to
any other persons, firms, or corporations, or to engage in any other business
activities, or (ii) the right of any director, officer, or employee of the
Sub-Adviser, who may also be a director, officer, or employee of the Fund, to
engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part
to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar
nature or a dissimilar nature.
9. REPRESENTATIONS OF SUB-ADVISER.
The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser: (i) is registered as an investment adviser under
the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this
Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the
Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii)
has met, and will seek to continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains
in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable
requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to
be met in order to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) has
the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this
Agreement; and (v) will promptly notify the Investment Adviser of the occurrence
of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment
adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9 (a) of the 1940 Act or
otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with
the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and, if it has not already
done so, will provide the Investment Adviser and the Fund with a copy of such
code of ethics, together with evidence of its adoption.
C. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Investment Adviser and the Fund
with a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the SEC and will,
promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC, furnish a copy
of such amendment to the Investment Adviser.
10. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
The Investment Adviser represents, warrants and agrees as follows:
A. The Investment Adviser (i) is registered as an investment adviser
under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this
Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act from
performing the services contemplated by the Advisory Agreement; (iii) has met,
and will seek to continue
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to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable
federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory
or industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to be met in order to perform the
services contemplated by the Advisory Agreement; (iv) has the authority to enter
into and perform the services contemplated by the Advisory Agreement and has the
authority to enter into this Agreement; and (v) will promptly notify the
Sub-Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Investment
Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant
to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
B. The Investment Adviser agrees that it will notify the Sub-Adviser,
to the extent possible, within a reasonable period of time prior to any
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 14 which arises from a
termination of the Advisory Agreement (including any termination by assignment
resulting from a foreseeable change in control of the Investment Adviser that is
a matter of public information).
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of
law or for any loss suffered by the Portfolio, the Fund or its shareholders or
by the Investment Adviser in connection with the matters to which this Agreement
relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless
disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
12. INDEMNIFICATION.
A. The Investment Adviser agrees to indemnify the Sub-Adviser, its
officers and directors, and any person who controls the Sub-Adviser within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act for any loss or expense (including
attorney's fees) arising out of any claim, demand, action or suit in the event
that the Sub-Adviser has been found to be without fault and the Investment
Adviser or any other investment sub-adviser to the Portfolio, or any person who
controls the Investment Adviser or such other investment sub-adviser within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act has been found at fault (i) by the final
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (ii) in any order of settlement
of any claim, demand, action or suit that has been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Investment Adviser, such other investment sub-adviser or such
other controlling person.
B. The Sub-Adviser agrees to indemnify the Investment Adviser, its
officers and directors, and any person who controls the Investment Adviser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act for any loss or expense
(including attorney's fees) arising out of any claim, demand, action or suit in
the event that the Investment Adviser has been found to be without fault and the
Sub-Adviser or any person who controls the Sub-Adviser within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act has been found at fault (i) by the final judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction or (ii) in any order of settlement of any
claim, demand, action or suit that has been approved by the Board of Directors
of the Sub-Adviser or such other controlling person.
13. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first above written,
provided that this Agreement shall not take effect unless it has first been
approved (i) by a vote of a majority of those Directors of the Fund who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii)
by vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities. Unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for two years from its effective date. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue
in effect from year to year, with respect to the Portfolio, subject to the
termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof, so long as
such continuation shall be specifically approved at least annually (a) by either
the Board, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolio; and (b) in either event, 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 parties to this Agreement or interested
persons of any such party. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Fund, promptly
upon its request such information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the
terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal, or amendment hereof.
14. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board or by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio on at least 60
days' prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser. This Agreement may also be
terminated by the Investment
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Adviser: (i) on at least 60 days' prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser,
without the payment of any penalty; or (ii) if the Sub-Adviser becomes unable to
discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser may
terminate this Agreement at any time, or preclude its renewal without the
payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior notice to the Investment
Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.
15. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged, or
terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge, or termination is
sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by
vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, unless
otherwise permitted in accordance with the 1940 Act.
16. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to the conflicts of laws
principles thereof, and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of
the State of Maryland conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act,
the latter shall control.
B. CAPTIONS. The captions contained 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.
C. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto and shall supersede any prior agreements
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior
agreements shall be deemed terminated upon the effectiveness of this Agreement.
D. INTERPRETATION. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require
the Fund to take any action contrary to its Articles or By-Laws, or any
applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by
which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for
and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Fund.
E. DEFINITIONS. Any question of interpretation of any term of provision
of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or
provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United
States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court,
by rules, regulations, or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940
Act. As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "affiliated person," "interested person," "assignment," "broker,"
"investment adviser," "net assets," "sale," "sell," and "security" shall have
the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption
as may be granted by the SEC by any rule, regulation, or order. Where the effect
of a requirement of the federal securities laws reflected in any provision of
this Agreement is made less restrictive 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, unless the
Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree to the contrary.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their duly authorized signatories as of the date and year first
above written.
Attest: WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
__________________________ By: __________________________________
Assistant Secretary Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Treasurer
Attest: GE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
__________________________ By: __________________________________
Assistant Secretary Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President