Exhibit 23(d)(28)
Sub-Advisory Agreement
On Behalf of BlackRock Global Science & Technology,
BlackRock Large Cap Growth and BlackRock Mid-Cap Growth
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN
AEGON/TRANSAMERICA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
BLACKROCK ADVISORS, INC.
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, made as of the 16th day of July, 2001
between AEGON/Transamerica Investment Management, Inc. ("Investment
Adviser"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Florida and BlackRock Advisors, Inc.
("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 AEGON/Transamerica Series Fund, Inc. ("Fund"), a Maryland corporation which
is engaged in business as an open-end 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 BlackRock Large
Cap Value, the BlackRock Mid Cap Growth and the BlackRock Global Science &
Technology (each a "Portfolio", collectively the "Portfolios"), each a separate
series of the Fund; and
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 Portfolios 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 Portfolios 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 Portfolios in accordance with each
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 each Portfolio in a manner consistent with each
Portfolio's investment objective, policies, and restrictions. In furtherance of
this duty, the Sub-Adviser, on behalf of the Portfolios, is authorized, in its
discretion and without prior consultation with each 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.
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
each Portfolio may own or contemplate acquiring from time to time;
(2) cause its officers to attend meetings of the Fund 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 each
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, 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.
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 as specified in Schedule A of this Agreement, less 100% of any
amount paid pursuant to any expense limitation or the amount of any other
reimbursement made by the Investment Adviser to each Portfolio. Should the
amount of any such reimbursement be greater than the Sub-Adviser's compensation
expressed in this section, the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for the full
amount of the reimbursement to the Fund. The management fee shall be payable by
the Investment Adviser monthly to the Sub-Adviser upon receipt by the Investment
Adviser from each 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.
4. Duties of the Investment Adviser.
A. The Investment Adviser shall continue to have
responsibility for all services to be provided to the Portfolios pursuant to the
Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of
its duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the Investment Advisory
Agreement, the Sub-Adviser has the authority to buy, sell, exchange, convert,
lend, and otherwise trade in any stocks, bonds and other securities or assets on
behalf of the Portfolios.
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"):
(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, on Form N-1A, as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating
to each 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 (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 each 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 Portfolios or to the public,
which refer to the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other advisory
accounts advised or sponsored by 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 objects in writing within 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). Pursuant to such factors, the Sub-Adviser may utilize
one or more of its affiliates as broker for transactions for each Portfolio. 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
each Portfolio shall be placed in accordance with the standards set forth in the
Advisory Agreement.
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(f) 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 management and corporate administrative services to other investment
companies, to act as investment manager or investment counselor to 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 continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in
effect, any 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 immediately 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 material amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC,
furnish a copy of such amendment to the Investment Adviser.
The Investment Adviser represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
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 or
the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement;
(iii) has met, and will continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains
in effect, any 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 immediately 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.
10. Indemnification.
The Sub-Adviser shall exercise its best judgment in rendering the
services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser shall
not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or
omission or any loss suffered by any Portfolio in connection with the matters to
which this Agreement relates, provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
protect or purport to protect the Sub-Adviser against any liability to any
Portfolio or its shareholders, or the Adviser, to which the Sub-Adviser would
otherwise be subject by reason of 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 ("disabling
conduct"). The Adviser will indemnify the Sub-Adviser against, and hold harmless
from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees and expenses), including any amount paid in satisfaction
of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties, not resulting from
disabling conduct by the Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall be entitled to advances
from the Adviser for payment of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with
the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification in the manner and to the
fullest extent permissible under law.
11. 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 each Portfolio's outstanding voting securities. Unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect
until April 30, 2003, from its effective date. Thereafter, this Agreement shall
continue in effect from year to year, with respect to each 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 each
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.
12. Termination of Agreement.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically with respect to each
Portfolio upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement with respect to any
such Portfolio. This Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to
each Portfolio, without penalty, by the Investment Adviser or by the Fund's
Board by giving 60 days' written notice of such termination to the Sub-Adviser
at its principal place of business, provided that, if terminated by the Fund,
such termination is approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund or by vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as that phrase is defined in
Section 2(a)(42) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of any such Portfolio, or per the terms of the
exemptive order - Release No. 23379 - under section 6(c) of the Act from section
15(a) and rule 18f-2 under the Act. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
by Sub-Adviser by giving 60 days' written notice of such termination to the
Fund's Board and the Investment Adviser at their respective principal places of
business.
13. 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 each Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, unless
otherwise permitted in accordance with the 1940 Act.
14. Sub-Adviser Name.
It is understood and hereby agreed that the word "BlackRock" is the
property of the Sub-Adviser for copyright and other purposes. The Investment
Adviser further agrees that, in the event that the Sub-Adviser shall cease to
act as an investment adviser with respect to the investment of assets allocated
to the Fund, both the Investment Adviser and the Fund shall promptly take all
necessary and appropriate action to change their product names to names which do
not include the word "BlackRock" provided, however, that the Investment Adviser
and the Fund may continue to use the word "BlackRock" if the Sub-Adviser
consents specifically in writing to such use.
15. 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. T0 he 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.
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: AEGON/TRANSAMERICA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
________________________________ By: _________________________________
Name: Name
Title: Title:
Attest: BLACKROCK ADVISORS, INC.
________________________________ By _________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
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FUND SUB-ADVISER TERMINATION DATE
COMPENSATION
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50% of the advisory fees received by
BlackRock Large Cap Value AEGON/Transamerica Investment April 30, 2003
Management, Inc.
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50% of the advisory fees received by
BlackRock Mid Cap Growth AEGON/Transamerica Investment April 30, 2003
Management, Inc.
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50% of the advisory fees received by
BlackRock Global Science & Technology AEGON/Transamerica Investment April 30, 2003
Management, Inc.
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