EXHIBIT 23 (D) (15)
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THE DLB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ EMERGING MARKETS FUND
INTERIM SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
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Interim Sub-Advisory Agreement executed as of March 20, 2000 between
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND COMPANY INCORPORATED (the "Manager") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
IVORY INTERNATIONAL (the "Sub-Adviser").
W I T N E S S E T H:
That in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is
agreed as follows:
1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUB-ADVISER TO THE MANAGER.
(a) Subject always to the control of the Trustees of The DLB Fund Group
(the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust, and to such policies as the
Trustees or the Manager, as the case may be, may determine, the Sub-Adviser
will, at its expense, (i) furnish continuously an investment program for the DLB
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Emerging Markets Fund (the "Fund") and will make investment
decisions on behalf of the Fund and place all orders for the purchase and sale
of its portfolio securities and (ii) furnish office space and equipment and
provide bookkeeping and clerical services (excluding determination of net asset
value, shareholder accounting services and fund accounting services). In the
performance of its duties, the Sub-Adviser will comply with the provisions of
the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws of the Trust and the Fund's
stated investment objective, policies and restrictions.
(b) In placing orders for the portfolio transactions of the Fund, the
Sub-Adviser will seek the best 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 shall
consider all factors it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the
overall net economic result to the Fund (involving price paid or received and
any commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency with which the transaction
is effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is
involved, availability of the broker to stand ready to execute possibly
difficult transactions in the future and the financial strength and stability of
the broker. Subject to such policies as the Trustees or the Manager, as the case
may be, 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 or dealer 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 or dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction, if the
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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 or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to the
Fund and to other clients of the Sub-Adviser as to which the Sub-Adviser
exercises investment discretion.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall not be obligated under this Agreement to pay
any expenses of or for the Trust or 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.
It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and
employees of the Trust may be a partner, shareholder, director, officer or
employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Sub-Adviser, and in any person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Adviser, and
that the Sub-Adviser and any person controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Sub-Adviser may have an interest in the Trust. It is also
understood that the Sub-Adviser and persons controlling, controlled by or under
common control with the Sub-Adviser have and may have advisory, management
service, distribution or other contracts with other organizations and persons,
and may have other interests and businesses; provided, however, that without the
prior consent of the Manager, neither the Sub-Adviser nor any of its affiliates
shall undertake to act as investment adviser or sub-adviser for any U.S.
registered investment company that has substantially similar investment policies
to the Fund.
3. COMPENSATION TO BE PAID BY THE MANAGER TO THE SUB-ADVISER.
The Manager will pay to the Sub-Adviser as compensation (the
"Compensation") for the Sub-Adviser's services rendered, for the facilities
furnished and for the expenses borne by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to Section 1, a
fee, computed and paid monthly at the annual rate of 0.875% of the Fund's
average daily net asset value. Such average daily net asset value of the Fund
shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such
net asset value during such month while this Agreement is in effect. Such fee
shall be payable for each month within five (5) business days after the end of
such month.
In the event that expenses of the Fund for any fiscal year should
exceed the expense limitation on investment company expenses imposed by any
statute or regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of the Trust
are qualified for offer and sale, the Compensation due the Sub-Adviser for such
fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of such excess by a reduction or
refund thereof. In the event that the expenses of the Fund exceed any expense
limitation which the Sub-Adviser may, by written notice to the Manager,
voluntarily declare to be effective with respect to the Fund, subject to such
terms and conditions as the Sub-Adviser may prescribe in such notice, the
Compensation due the Sub-Adviser shall be reduced, and, if necessary, the
Sub-Adviser shall bear the Fund's expenses to the extent required by such
expense limitation.
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If the Sub-Adviser shall serve for less than the whole of a month, the
foregoing compensation shall be prorated.
Further:
(a) The Compensation shall be held in an interest-bearing escrow
account with Investors Bank & Trust Company pursuant to an escrow letter
substantially in the form attached hereto;
(b) If a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities approve a
new Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser before 150 days after March 20,
2000, the amount in the escrow account (including interest earned thereon) with
respect to such Fund shall be paid to the Sub-Adviser; and
(c) If a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities do not
approve a new Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall
be paid, from the escrow account, the lesser of an amount equal to:
(1) any costs incurred in performing this Agreement (plus
interest earned on that amount in the escrow account) or
(2) the total amount in the escrow account (plus interest
earned thereon).
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 Management
Contract between the Manager and the Trust relating to the Fund shall have
terminated for any reason; and this Agreement shall not be amended unless such
amendment is 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 Trustees
of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Manager or of
the Sub-Adviser.
5. EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective on March 20, 2000 with respect to
the Fund and will continue in effect until a new Sub-Advisory Agreement between
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser is approved by the shareholders of the Fund or
for 150 days, whichever is sooner.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on ten days' written notice to the
Sub-Adviser, or by the Sub-Adviser on sixty days' written notice to the Trust.
This Agreement will automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty,
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act).
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6. CERTAIN INFORMATION.
The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Manager 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 or any other agreement
concerning the provision of investment advisory services to the Trust, (b) the
Sub-Adviser shall be disqualified from serving as investment adviser to the Fund
pursuant to Section 9 of the 1940 Act, or otherwise, (c) the Sub-Adviser shall
have been served or otherwise have notice of any action, suit, proceeding or
inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public
board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust, (d) there is a change in
control of the Sub-Adviser or any parent of the Sub-Adviser within the meaning
of the 1940 Act or (e) there is a material adverse change in the business or
financial position of the Sub-Adviser.
7. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the "affirmative vote of a majority
of the outstanding shares" of the Fund 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 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under said Act; and the phrase "specifically approve at
least annually" shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder.
8. NONLIABILITY OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
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 Trust,
or to any shareholder of the Trust, for any act or omission in the course of, or
connected with, rendering services hereunder.
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9. EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS.
Except as instructed otherwise by the Trustees of the Trust or the
Manager, the Sub-Adviser shall at its discretion exercise or procure the
exercise of any voting right attaching to investments of the Fund.
10. NAME "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇."
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser agree that the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇" may
only be used as part of the name of the Fund for so long as this Agreement shall
remain in full force. The Manager agrees that upon any termination of this
Agreement it will promptly inform the Trust of such termination.
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS.
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on
file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the
Trustees of the Trust as Trustees and not individually and the obligations of
this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Company and ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ivory International 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.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ AND COMPANY INCORPORATED
By_______________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ IVORY INTERNATIONAL
By_______________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇'▇▇▇▇▇
Managing Director
Accepted and agreed to as of the day and year first above written:
THE DLB FUND GROUP,
on behalf of its
DLB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Emerging Markets Fund
By________________________
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President
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