SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
ING EQUITY TRUST
AGREEMENT made this 3rd day of April, 2006 between ING Investments, LLC,
an Arizona limited liability company (the "Manager"), and Tradewinds NWQ Global
Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Sub-Adviser" or
"NWQ") (the "Agreement").
WHEREAS, ING Equity Trust (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, management
investment company;
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue separate series, each series
having its own investment objective or objectives, policies, and limitations;
and
WHEREAS, the Fund may offer shares of additional series in the future; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, dated September
23, 2002, as amended (the "Management Agreement"), a copy of which has been
provided to the Sub-Adviser, the Fund has retained the Manager to render
advisory and management services with respect to certain of the Fund's series;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted to the Manager in the Management
Agreement, the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment
advisory services to one or more of the series of the Fund, and the Sub-Adviser
is willing to furnish such services to the Fund and the Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and
mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser as follows:
1. Appointment. The Manager hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as the
investment adviser and manager to the series of the Fund set forth on Schedule A
hereto (the "Series") for the periods and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the
services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
In the event the Fund designates one or more series (other than the
Series) with respect to which the Manager wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to
render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the Sub-Adviser
in writing. If the Sub-Adviser is willing to render such services, it shall
notify the Manager in writing, whereupon such series shall become a Series
hereunder, and be subject to this Agreement.
2. Sub-Adviser Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Fund's Board of
Trustees and the Manager, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment
program for each Series' portfolio and determine in its discretion the
composition of the assets of each Series' portfolio, including determination of
the purchase, retention, or sale of the securities, cash, and other investments
contained in the portfolio as the Fund's agent and attorney-in-fact with full
power and authority in connection with such assets without prior consultation
with any of the Manager, the Fund or the Fund's Board of Trustees. The
Sub-Adviser will provide investment research and conduct a continuous program of
evaluation, investment, sales, and reinvestment of each Series' assets by
determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased,
entered into, sold, closed, or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions
should be executed, and what portion of the assets of the Series should be held
in the various securities, cash and other investments in which it may invest. To
the extent permitted by the investment policies of each Series, the Sub-Adviser
shall make decisions for the Series as to foreign currency matters and make
determinations as to and execute and perform foreign currency exchange contracts
on behalf of the Series. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this
Agreement in accordance with each Series' respective investment objective or
objectives, policies, and restrictions as agreed upon by the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser and as set forth in the Fund's Registration Statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as amended to reflect such agreement
by the parties hereto, copies of which shall be sent to the Sub-Adviser by the
Manager prior to the commencement of this Agreement and promptly following any
such amendment. The Sub-Adviser further agrees as follows:
(a) The Sub-Adviser will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and
regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations, with any applicable procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of
Trustees of which the Sub-Adviser has been sent a copy, and the provisions
of the Registration Statement of the Fund filed under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, of
which the Sub-Adviser has received a copy, and with the Manager's
portfolio manager operating policies and procedures as in effect on the
date hereof, as such policies and procedures may be revised or amended by
the Manager and agreed to by the Sub-Adviser. If a procedure applicable to
a Series is to be revised, the Manager will provide reasonable prior
notice to the Sub-Adviser of the proposed revisions, including a copy of
the procedure as proposed to be revised.
(b) In carrying out its duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the
Sub-Adviser will comply with the following policies and procedures:
(i) The Sub-Adviser will manage each Series so that it meets
the income and asset diversification requirements of Section 851 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(ii) The Sub-Adviser will have no duty to vote any proxy
solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which
assets of the Series are invested unless the Manager gives the
Sub-Adviser written instructions to the contrary. The Sub-Adviser
will immediately forward any proxy solicited by or with respect to
the issuers of securities in which assets of the Series are invested
to the Manager or to any agent of the Manager designated by the
Manager in writing. The Manager will be solely responsible for
making all required filings of Form N-PX with the appropriate
regulatory bodies.
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The Sub-Adviser will make appropriate personnel reasonably
available for consultation for the purpose of reviewing with
representatives of the Manager and/or the Board any proxy solicited
by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of
the Series are invested. Upon request, the Sub-Adviser will submit a
written voting recommendation to the Manager for such proxies. In
making such recommendations, the Sub-Adviser shall use its good
faith judgment to act in the best interests of the Series. The
Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager, the Fund or any of
the Fund's shareholders as a result of any act, conduct or omission
of the Manager in connection with its voting of proxies associated
with securities contained in any of the Series. The Sub-Adviser
shall disclose to the best of its knowledge any conflict of interest
with the issuers of securities that are the subject of such
recommendation.
(iii) In connection with the purchase and sale of securities
for each Series, the Sub-Adviser will arrange for the transmission
to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Series, as
needed, such confirmation, trade tickets, and other documents and
information, including, but not limited to, Cusip, Sedol, or other
numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf
of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the
custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform its
administrative and record keeping responsibilities with respect to
the Series. With respect to portfolio securities to be settled
through the Depository Trust Company, the Sub-Adviser will arrange
for the prompt transmission of the confirmation of such trades to
the Fund's custodian and portfolio accounting agent.
(iv) The Sub-Adviser will assist the custodian and portfolio
accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming,
consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the
Registration Statement for the Fund or adopted by the Board of
Trustees, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of
the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent
seeks assistance from or identifies for review by the Sub-Adviser.
The parties acknowledge that the Sub-Adviser is not a custodian of
the Series' assets and will not take possession or custody of such
assets nor a pricing agent or the pricing agent for the Fund. The
Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any valuation determined or
adopted by the Fund, the Fund's custodian and/or portfolio
accounting agent, as contemplated in this Agreement, unless such
determination is made based upon information provided by the
Sub-Adviser that is materially incorrect or incomplete as a result
of the Sub-Adviser's gross negligence.
(v) The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager, no later than
the 10th business day following the end of each Series' semi-annual
period and fiscal year, a letter to shareholders (to be subject to
review and editing by the Manager) containing a discussion of those
factors referred to in Item 5(a) of 1940 Act Form N-1A in respect of
both the prior quarter and the fiscal year to date.
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(vi) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager
a written compliance checklist in a form provided by the Manager for
each month by the 10th business day of the following month.
(c) The Sub-Adviser will complete and deliver to the Manager by the
10th business day of each month a written report on each Series of the
Fund that contains the following information as of the immediately
previous month's end.
(i) A performance comparison to the Series benchmark listed in
the prospectus as well as a comparison to other mutual funds as
listed in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.,
Morningstar, Inc., or similar independent services that monitor the
performance of mutual funds or with other appropriate indexes of
investment securities;
(ii) Composition of the assets of each Series' portfolio and
the impact of key portfolio holdings and sector concentrations on
the Series; and
(iii) Confirmation of each Series' current investment
objective and Sub-Adviser's projected plan to realize the Series'
investment objectives.
(d) The Sub-Adviser will assist the Manager, as reasonably
requested, in its discussions with Morningstar to clarify any style box
conflicts with each Series' style and the anticipated timeframe in which
Morningstar will remedy such conflicts, if any.
(e) The Sub-Adviser will make available to the Fund and the Manager,
promptly upon request, any of the Series' investment records and ledgers
maintained by the Sub-Adviser (which shall not include the records and
ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the
Fund) as are necessary to assist the Fund and the Manager to comply with
requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
"Advisers Act"), as well as other applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser will
furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any
information or reports in connection with such services in respect to the
Series which may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations
of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable
laws and regulations.
(f) The Sub-Adviser will provide reports to the Fund's Board of
Trustees for consideration at meetings of the Board of Trustees on the
investment program for each Series and the issuers and securities
represented in each Series' portfolio, and will furnish the Fund's Board
of Trustees with respect to each Series such periodic and special reports
as the Trustees and the Manager may reasonably request.
(g) In rendering the services required under this Agreement, the
Sub-Adviser may, from time to time, employ or associate with itself such
person or persons as it believes necessary to assist it in carrying out
its obligations under this Agreement. However, the Sub-Adviser may not
retain as sub-adviser any company that would be an "investment adviser,"
as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, to the Series unless the contract
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with such company is approved by a majority of the Trust's Board of
Trustees and a majority of Trustees who are not parties to any agreement
or contract with such company and who are not "interested persons," as
defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, the Manager, or the Sub-Adviser, or
any such company that is retained as sub-adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall be
responsible for making reasonable inquiries and for reasonably ensuring
that any employee of the Sub-Adviser, any sub-adviser that the Sub-Adviser
has employed or with which it has associated with respect to the Series,
or any employee thereof has not, to the best of the Sub-Adviser's
knowledge, in any material connection with the handling of Trust assets:
(i) been convicted, in the last ten (10) years, of any felony
or misdemeanor arising out of conduct involving embezzlement, fraudulent
conversion, or misappropriation of funds or securities, involving
violations of Sections 1341, 1342, or 1343 of Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Code, or involving the purchase or sale of any security; or
(ii) been found by any state regulatory authority, within the
last ten (10) years, to have violated or to have acknowledged violation of
any provision of any state insurance law involving fraud, deceit, or
knowing misrepresentation; or
(iii) been found by any federal or state regulatory
authorities, within the last ten (10) years, to have violated or to have
acknowledged violation of any provision of federal or state securities
laws involving fraud, deceit, or knowing misrepresentation.
3. Broker-Dealer Selection. The Sub-Adviser is authorized to make
decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for each Series'
portfolio, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission
rates in effecting a security transaction. The Sub-Adviser's primary
consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best
execution for the Series, taking into account factors specified in the
prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Fund, the price of
the security or other investment (including the applicable brokerage commission
or dollar spread), the size of the order, the nature of the market for the
security, the timing of the transaction, the reputation, the experience and
financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of the service,
the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational
facilities of the firm involved, and the firm's risk in positioning a block of
securities. Accordingly, the price to a Series in any transaction may be less
favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is
reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser in the exercise of its
fiduciary obligations to the Fund, by other aspects of the portfolio execution
services offered. Subject to such policies as the Fund's Board of Trustees or
Manager may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, 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 a Series to pay a broker-dealer for
effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of
commission another broker-dealer 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
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services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that
particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser's overall responsibilities with
respect to the Series and to its other clients as to which it exercises
investment discretion. To the extent consistent with these standards, the
Sub-Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf
of a Series managed by the Sub-Adviser to an affiliated broker-dealer of either
the Sub-Adviser or the Manager or to such brokers and dealers who also provide
research or statistical material, or other services to the Series, the
Sub-Adviser, or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser. Such allocation shall be in
such amounts and proportions as the Sub-Adviser shall determine consistent with
the above standards, and the Sub-Adviser will report on said allocation
regularly to the Fund's Board of Trustees indicating the broker-dealers to which
such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
4. Representations.
(a) The Sub-Adviser agrees and represents that:
(i) the information it has provided for inclusion in the
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement for the Fund
filed with the SEC regarding the Series, including the prospectus
and statement of additional information (collectively, "Registration
Materials") is true and does not omit any statement of a material
fact which is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; and
(ii) the Sub-Adviser has reviewed such information, as
included in the Registration Materials, and, to the Sub-Adviser's
knowledge, with respect to the disclosure contained in the
Registration Materials based upon information provided by the
Sub-Adviser, such disclosure contains no untrue statement of a
material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact
which is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(b) The Sub-Adviser further represents and warrants that it is a
duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will
maintain such registration so long as this Agreement remains in effect.
The Sub-Adviser will provide the Manager with a copy of the Sub-Adviser's
Form ADV, Part II, and will promptly provide to the Manager any updates or
revisions to the Sub-Adviser's Form ADV.
(c) The Manager agrees and represents that:
(i) the Manager and representatives of the Fund prepared the
Registration Materials and the Registration Materials (including the
prospectus for each Series) comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations in each relevant
jurisdiction;
(ii) the Registration Materials (including the prospectus for
each Series) do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required by any applicable law to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading under applicable law; and
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(iii) the Manager and the Fund and all of their respective
officers, directors, partners, employees and agents will comply, in
all material respects, with all applicable laws and rules related to
the Manager, the Fund, the offering and sale of shares of the Series
and the business of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable
to the Manager, the Fund or any of the Fund's shareholders as a
result of any act, conduct or omission of the Manager or its
officers, employees, affiliates or agents.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will pay
all expenses incurred by it and its staff and for their activities in connection
with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement. The Manager or the
Fund shall be responsible for all the expenses of the Fund's operations. In
addition, if the Fund is required, under applicable law, to supplement the
Registration Materials because of a change requested by the Sub-Adviser, the
Sub-Adviser will reimburse the Fund and/or the Manager for the cost preparing
and distributing such supplement, unless the Sub-Adviser is requesting the
change in order to comply with an applicable law, rule or regulation.
6. Compensation. For the services provided to each Series, the Manager
will pay the Sub-Adviser an annual fee equal to the amount specified for such
Series in Schedule A hereto, payable monthly in arrears. The fee will be
appropriately prorated to reflect any portion of a calendar month that this
Agreement is not in effect among the parties. In accordance with the provisions
of the Management Agreement, the Manager is solely responsible for the payment
of fees to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to seek payment of its
fees solely from the Manager; provided, however, that if the Fund fails to pay
the Manager all or a portion of the management fee under said Management
Agreement when due, and the amount that was paid is insufficient to cover the
Sub-Adviser's fee under this Agreement for the period in question, then the
Sub-Adviser may enforce against the Fund any rights it may have as a third-party
beneficiary under the Management Agreement and the Manager will take all steps
appropriate under the circumstances to collect the amount due from the Fund.
7. Marketing Materials.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to
furnish the Manager at its principal office for prior review and approval
by the Manager all written and/or printed materials, including but not
limited to, PowerPoint(R) or slide presentations, news releases,
advertisements, brochures, fact sheets and other promotional,
informational or marketing materials (the "Marketing Materials") prepared
for public dissemination, that are produced by the Sub-Adviser or its
affiliates in connection with the Series, and Sub-Adviser shall not use
any such materials if the Manager reasonably objects in writing within
five business days (or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after
receipt thereof. Marketing Materials may be furnished to the Manager by
first class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment,
electronic delivery or hand delivery. The Manager agrees that the
Sub-Adviser may identify the Fund and each Series on its client list for
public distribution.
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(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Manager agrees to furnish
the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all Registration Materials (and
any constituent components of the Registration Materials) and any
amendments thereto, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, Marketing
Materials or other materials prepared for distribution to shareholders of
each Series or the public that refer to the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior
to the use thereof, and the Manager shall not use any such materials if
the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing within five business days
(or such other period as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
The Sub-Adviser's right to object to such materials is limited to the
portions of such materials that expressly relate to the Sub-Adviser, its
services, performance and strategies. Marketing Materials may be furnished
to the Sub-Adviser by first class or overnight mail, facsimile
transmission equipment, electronic delivery or hand delivery.
(c) Neither the Manager nor the Fund, nor any affiliate of either,
will use the registered trademarks, service marks, logos, names or other
proprietary designations of NWQ, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates
without NWQ's prior written approval. The Manager and the Fund will submit
to NWQ for its prior written approval any advertising or promotional
material using NWQ's name or any name associated with an affiliate of NWQ,
or any trademarks, service marks, logos or proprietary designations
related to any of the foregoing.
8. Compliance.
(a) The Sub-Adviser shall use reasonable compliance techniques as
the Manager or the Board of Trustees may adopt, including any written
compliance procedures.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall promptly notify the Manager
and the Fund (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Sub-Adviser;
placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations; suspended
or revoked its registration as an investment adviser; or has commenced
proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions,
or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has
ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Sub-Adviser further
agrees to notify the Manager and the Fund promptly of any material fact
known to the Sub-Adviser respecting or relating to the Sub-Adviser that is
not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund
(which describes the Series), or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
if any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material
respect.
(c) The Manager agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Adviser
(i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Manager or the Fund; placed
limitations upon either of their activities, functions, or operations;
suspended or revoked the Manager's registration as an investment adviser
or the Fund's registration under the 1940 Act; or has commenced
8
proceedings or an investigation against either the Manager or the Fund
that may result in any of these actions, or (ii) upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not
qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code.
9. Books and Records. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which
it maintains for the Series are the property of the Fund and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund's or the
Manager's request in compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the
1940 Act, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own expense, make and retain a
copy of such records. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act.
10. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to
provide reasonable cooperation with the other party and with all appropriate
governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not
limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to
this Agreement or the Fund. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall
treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Fund and actions of the
Fund, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, and the Manager shall treat as
confidential and use only in connection with the Series all information
pertaining to or furnished by the Sub-Adviser to the Fund or the Manager, in
connection with its duties under the Agreement except that the aforesaid
information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed
under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means other
than by disclosure by the Sub-Adviser, the Manager or the Fund, or if available
from a source other than the Manager, Sub-Adviser or the Fund.
11. Exclusivity.
(a) Beginning February 1, 2005 and ending on February 1, 2007 (the
"Exclusivity Term"), the Sub-Adviser agrees that it will not enter into an
investment advisory agreement with respect to any open-end investment
company registered under Section 8 of the 1940 Act, or, alternatively, any
portfolio or series thereof, as the case may be, that (i) has an
investment strategy substantially similar to that of any Series identified
at Schedule A to this Agreement; and (ii) has its shares offered primarily
on a retail basis in the United States through intermediaries (each such
investment company, or, alternatively, any portfolio or series thereof, as
the case may be, an "Excluded Fund"); except that, during such Exclusivity
Term, Sub-Adviser may enter into an investment advisory agreement with an
Excluded Fund that: (1) is organized and/or offered by Nuveen Investments,
Inc. and/or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof ("Nuveen"); and (2) has a
gross management fee equal to or higher than the lesser of (x) the gross
management fee of the corresponding Series or (y) 1.00%. For purposes of
the foregoing clause (2), any breakpoint fees attributable to an Excluded
Fund organized and/or offered by Nuveen, whether fund-specific or
complex-wide, which would have the effect of reducing the otherwise stated
management fee level, shall not be taken into account.
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(b) For purposes of clarification, it is understood and agreed by
the parties that this Section 11(a) shall have no force, effect on or
applicability to any fund, pool of assets, collective investment scheme or
any other client to which the Sub-Adviser provides advisory services as of
February 1, 2005 and that Section 11(a) shall never be applicable to any
client of Sub-Adviser that is not an Excluded Fund, except as provided in
the case of Nuveen above. Furthermore, for purpose of clarity, it is
understood and agreed by the parties hereto that Section 11(a) shall not
apply to any institutional fund or share class providing for minimum
investments of $250,000 or more nor shall it apply to the sale of any "R"
class of shares associated with any fund organized and/or offered by
Nuveen. In addition, this Section 11 will not apply in the case where the
Sub-Adviser manages a "sleeve" of a fund or to any "fund of funds,"
"manager of managers" or "multi-manager" arrangement or other collective
investment scheme(s). Lastly, it is understood and agreed by the parties
to this Agreement that this Section 11 shall immediately have no further
force, effect on or applicability to the parties to this Agreement upon
February 1, 2007 or, with respect to any Series identified at Schedule A
to this Agreement, if the Agreement is terminated with respect to that
Series prior to February 1, 2007.
12. Prohibited Conduct. The Sub-Adviser may not engage in prior
consultation with any other sub-adviser of the Fund concerning transactions in
securities or other assets for any investment portfolio of the Fund, including
the Series, except that such consultations are permitted between the current and
successor sub-advisers of the Series in order to effect an orderly transition of
sub-advisory duties so long as such consultations are not concerning
transactions prohibited by Section 17(a) of the 1940 Act. This Section 12 does
not apply to Sub-Adviser's disclosure of a Series' portfolio holdings in
accordance with the Fund's policies and procedures governing portfolio holdings
disclosure.
13. Representations Respecting Sub-Adviser. The Manager agrees that
neither the Manager, nor affiliated persons of the Manager, shall give any
information or make any representations or statements in connection with the
sale of shares of the Series concerning the Sub-Adviser or the Series other than
the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement,
prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Fund's shares, as
they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy
statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved in advance by the Sub-Adviser, except with the prior permission of the
Sub-Adviser.
14. Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is
understood and agreed that day-to-day management of the Series will be delegated
to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Manager and the Fund's Board
of Trustees, which shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and
control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement. The Fund has
reserved the right to reasonably direct any action hereunder taken on its behalf
by the Sub-Adviser.
15. Liability. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the
rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Manager agrees that the
Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if any,
who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Sub-Adviser
(a) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for
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any act or omission respecting any series of the Fund that is not a Series
hereunder, and (b) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses,
or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out
of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the
Sub-Adviser's duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Sub-Adviser's
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
16. Indemnification.
(a) The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Sub-Adviser, any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser, and each person, if
any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls
("controlling person") the Sub-Adviser (all of such persons being referred
to as "Sub-Adviser Indemnified Persons") against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal and other
expenses) to which a Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person may become subject
under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other
statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager's
responsibilities to the Fund which (1) may be based upon the Manager's
negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or reckless disregard in the
performance of its duties to the Fund (which could include a negligent
action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason of the Manager's
breach of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (2) may be
based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement or prospectus covering shares of the Fund or any
Series, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to
the Manager or the Fund or to any affiliated person of the Manager by a
Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person; provided however, that in no case shall
the indemnity in favor of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person be deemed to
protect such person against any liability to which any such person would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless
disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 15 of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, any affiliated person
of the Manager, and any controlling person of the Manager (all of such
persons being referred to as "Manager Indemnified Persons") against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which a Manager Indemnified Person may become
subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, under any other
statute, at common law or otherwise, arising as a result of the
Sub-Adviser's negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or reckless
disregard in the performance of its duties to the Fund (which could
include a negligent action or a negligent omission to act), or by reason
of the Sub-Adviser's breach of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement, or (2) may be based upon any untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus covering the
shares of the Fund or any Series, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or the omission to state therein a material fact known or which should
have been known to the Sub-Adviser and was required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to
the Manager, the Fund, or any affiliated person of the Manager or Fund by
11
the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser; provided,
however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of a Manager
Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability
to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of its duties, or by
reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
(c) The Manager shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this
Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Person unless such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have
notified the Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons
or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim
shall have been served upon such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person (or after
such Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such
service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any
such claim shall not relieve the Manager from any liability which it may
have to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person against whom such action is
brought except to the extent the Manager is prejudiced by the failure or
delay in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against
the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice
to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. If the Manager
assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the
Manager to represent the Manager and the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person
would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not, in the
reasonable judgment of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, adequately
represent the interests of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person, the Manager
will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Manager
and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Sub-Adviser
Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Manager and
to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person. The Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and the Manager shall not be liable to the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person
under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person independently in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Manager
shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without
the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person if the
compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of
wrongdoing on the part of the Sub-Adviser Indemnified Person.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this
Section 16 with respect to any claim made against a Manager Indemnified
Person unless such Manager Indemnified Person shall have notified the
Sub-Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other
first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall
have been served upon such Manager Indemnified Person (or after such
Manager Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on
12
any designated agent), but failure to notify the Sub-Adviser of any such
claim shall not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any liability which it may
have to the Manager Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought
except to the extent the Sub-Adviser is prejudiced by the failure or delay
in giving such notice. In case any such action is brought against the
Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice
to the Manager Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the Manager Indemnified Person. If the Sub-Adviser
assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the
Sub-Adviser to represent both the Sub-Adviser and the Manager Indemnified
Person would result in a conflict of interests and therefore, would not,
in the reasonable judgment of the Manager Indemnified Person, adequately
represent the interests of the Manager Indemnified Person, the Sub-Adviser
will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the
Sub-Adviser and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the
Manager Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the
Sub-Adviser and to the Manager Indemnified Person. The Manager Indemnified
Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained
by it, and the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager Indemnified
Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by the Manager Indemnified Person independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The
Sub-Adviser shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the
litigation without the prior written consent of the Manager Indemnified
Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result in a finding
of wrongdoing on the part of the Manager Indemnified Person.
17. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date first
indicated above, subject to the condition that the Fund's Board of
Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not interested
persons (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Manager or the
Sub-Adviser, and the shareholders of each Series, shall have approved this
Agreement. Unless terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect until November 30, 2007 and continue on an
annual basis thereafter with respect to each Series covered by this
Agreement; provided that such annual continuance is specifically approved
each year by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Fund, or by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of each Series, and (ii) the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are
not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such term is
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any such party to this Agreement cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
However, any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of a Series shall be
effective to continue this Agreement with respect to such Series
notwithstanding (i) that this Agreement has not been approved by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any other Series or
(ii) that this agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority
13
of the outstanding shares of the Fund, unless such approval shall be
required by any other applicable law or otherwise. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Series
covered by this Agreement: (i) by the Manager at any time, upon sixty (60)
days' written notice to the Sub-Adviser and the Fund, (ii) at any time
without payment of any penalty by the Fund, by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each
Series, upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser, or (iii) by the Sub-Adviser upon ninety (90) days' written
notice unless the Fund or the Manager requests additional time to find a
replacement for the Sub-Adviser, in which case the Sub-Adviser shall allow
the additional time requested by the Fund or Manager not to exceed thirty
(30) additional days beyond the initial ninety-day notice period;
provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at
any time without penalty, with respect to any Series immediately,
effective upon written notice to the Manager and the Fund, in the event
(i) either the Sub-Adviser (acting in good faith) or the Manager ceases to
be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act or otherwise
becomes legally incapable of providing investment management services
under applicable law or pursuant to its respective contract with the Fund;
(ii) the Manager becomes bankrupt or otherwise incapable of carrying out
its obligations under this Agreement or the Management Agreement; and/or
(iii) the Sub-Adviser does not receive compensation for its services from
the Manager or the Fund as required by the terms of this agreement.
In the event of termination for any reason, all records of each
Series for which the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to
the Manager or the Fund, free from any claim or retention of rights in
such record by the Sub-Adviser, although the Sub-Adviser may, at its own
expense, make and retain a copy of such records. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is
described in the 1940 Act). In the event this Agreement is terminated or
is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections or Paragraphs
numbered 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in
effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section numbered 17
and, to the extent that only amounts are owed to the Sub-Adviser as
compensation for services rendered while the agreement was in effect,
Section 6.
(b) Notices. Any notice must be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given (1) when delivered in person, (2) when dispatched by telegram or
electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed in writing by postage prepaid
first class air mail simultaneously dispatched), (3) when sent by
internationally recognized overnight courier service (with receipt
confirmed by such overnight courier service), or (4) when sent by
registered or certified mail, to the other party at the address of such
party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time
to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund:
ING Equity Trust
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
14
If to the Manager:
ING Investments, LLC
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
If to the Sub-Adviser:
Tradewinds NWQ Global Investors, LLC
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
18. Amendments. 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 as required by applicable law.
19. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Arizona, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the
SEC thereunder, and without regard for the conflicts of laws principle
thereof. The term "affiliate" or "affiliated person" as used in this
Agreement shall mean "affiliated person" as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of
the 0000 Xxx.
(b) The Manager and the Sub-Adviser acknowledge that the Fund enjoys
the rights of a third-party beneficiary under this Agreement, and the
Manager acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser enjoys the rights of a third
party beneficiary under the Management Agreement.
(c) The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only
and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.
(d) To the extent permitted under Section 17 of this Agreement, this
Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent
of the other parties.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
15
(f) Except as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, nothing
herein shall be construed as constituting the Sub-Adviser as an agent or
co-partner of the Manager, or constituting the Manager as an agent or
co-partner of the Sub-Adviser.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Senior Vice President
TRADEWINDS NWQ GLOBAL INVESTORS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
16
SCHEDULE A
with respect to the
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC
and
TRADEWINDS NWQ GLOBAL INVESTORS, LLC
Annual Sub-Adviser Fee
Series (as a percentage of average daily net assets)
------ ---------------------------------------------
ING MidCap Value Choice Fund 0.50% on the initial $250 million;
0.55% thereafter at any aggregate asset level
17
