INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of this 5th day of
December, 2016 by and between THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND III (the "Trust"),
a Delaware statutory trust registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and Fiera Capital
Inc. (the "Adviser"), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of
business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of the Trust has selected the
Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Trust on behalf of the series set
forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (the "Fund"), as such Schedule may be
amended from time to time upon mutual agreement of the parties, and to provide
certain related services, as more fully set forth below, and to perform such
services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set
forth herein, the Trust and the Adviser do hereby agree as follows:
1. THE ADVISER'S SERVICES.
(a) DISCRETIONARY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES. The Adviser shall
act as investment adviser with respect to the Fund. In such capacity, the
Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the Board, regularly provide
the Fund with investment research, advice and supervision and shall furnish
continuously an investment program for the Fund, consistent with the
investment objectives and policies of the Fund. The Adviser shall
determine, from time to time, what securities shall be purchased for the
Fund, what securities shall be held or sold by the Fund and what portion of
the Fund's assets shall be held uninvested in cash, subject always to the
provisions of the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and
its registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement")
under the 1940 Act, and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), covering Fund shares, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), and to the investment objectives,
policies and restrictions of the Fund, as each of the same shall be from
time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations, the Adviser shall
exercise full discretion and act for the Fund in the same manner and with
the same force and effect as the Fund itself might or could do with respect
to purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all
other such things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of
such purchases, sales or other transactions. No reference in this Agreement
to the Adviser having full discretionary authority over the Fund's
investments shall in any way limit the right of the Board, in its sole
discretion, to establish or revise policies in connection with the
management of the Fund's assets or to otherwise exercise its right to
control the overall management of the Fund.
1
The Adviser may delegate certain of its duties under this Agreement with
respect to a Fund to one or more sub-advisers (each, a "Sub-Adviser" and
collectively, the "Sub-Advisers") by entering into a sub-advisory agreement
with one or more Sub-Advisers (each, a "Sub-Advisory Agreement" and
collectively, the "Sub-Advisory Agreements") and, except as otherwise
permitted under the terms of any exemptive relief granted to the Trust and
Adviser by the Commission, or by rule or regulation, the Adviser may only
enter into Sub-Advisory Agreements or materially amend Sub-Advisory
Agreements with the approval of the Board and the approval of the
shareholders of the affected Fund. The Adviser shall be responsible for
overseeing the performance of the Sub-Advisers and recommending changes in
Sub-Advisers as appropriate.
In providing services under this Agreement, the Adviser is hereby
authorized to avail itself and use the resources and personnel of its
affiliates, to the extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however,
that the use of such resources and personnel of its affiliates does not
relieve the Adviser from any obligation under this Agreement.
(b) COMPLIANCE. The Adviser agrees to comply with the requirements of
the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Advisers Act"), the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), the Commodity Exchange Act and the respective
rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other
applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and case law that
relate to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the
conduct of its business as a registered investment adviser. The Adviser
also agrees to comply with the objectives, policies and restrictions set
forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, of the
Fund, and with any policies, guidelines, instructions and procedures
approved by the Board and provided to the Adviser, provided the Adviser has
reasonable advance notice so as to enable implementation of any material
change to such policies, guidelines, instructions or procedures. In
selecting the Fund's portfolio securities and performing the Adviser's
obligations hereunder, the Adviser shall cause the Fund to comply with the
diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification
as a regulated investment company. The Adviser shall maintain compliance
procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure its
compliance with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the
Board shall limit the Adviser's full responsibility for any of the
foregoing.
(c) PROXY VOTING. The Board has the authority to determine how proxies
with respect to securities that are held by the Fund shall be voted, and
the Board has initially determined to delegate the authority and
responsibility to vote proxies for the Fund's securities to the Adviser. So
long as proxy voting authority for the Fund has been delegated to the
Adviser, the Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting responsibilities. The
Adviser shall carry out such responsibility in accordance with any
instructions that the Board shall provide from time to time, and at all
times in a manner consistent with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and
its fiduciary responsibilities to the Trust. The
2
Adviser shall provide periodic reports and keep records relating to proxy
voting as the Board may reasonably request or as may be necessary for the
Fund to comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable law. Any such
delegation of proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser may be revoked or
modified by the Board at any time.
The Adviser is authorized to instruct the Fund's custodian and/or
broker(s) to forward promptly to the Adviser or designated service
provider(s) copies of all proxies and shareholder communications relating
to securities held in the portfolio of a Fund (other than materials
relating to legal proceedings against the Fund). The Adviser may also
instruct the Fund's custodian and/or broker(s) to provide reports of
holdings in the portfolio of the Fund. The Adviser has the authority to
engage a service provider to assist with administrative functions related
to voting Fund proxies. The Trust shall direct the Fund's custodian and/or
broker(s) to provide any assistance requested by the Adviser in
facilitating the use of a service provider. In no event shall the Adviser
have any responsibility to vote proxies that are not received on a timely
basis. The Trust acknowledges that the Adviser, consistent with the
Adviser's written proxy voting policies and procedures, may refrain from
voting a proxy if, in the Adviser's discretion, refraining from voting
would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
(d) RECORDKEEPING. The Adviser shall not be responsible for the
provision of administrative, bookkeeping or accounting services to the
Fund, except as otherwise provided herein or as may be necessary for the
Adviser to supply to the Trust or its Board the information required to be
supplied under this Agreement.
The Adviser shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all
matters pertaining to Fund assets advised by the Adviser required by Rule
31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by any
administrator, custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Fund) relating
to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Fund, and
shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed
therefore by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the "Fund Books and Records").
The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Board at any time upon
request, shall be delivered to the Trust upon the termination of this
Agreement and shall be available without delay during any day the Trust is
open for business.
(e) HOLDINGS INFORMATION AND PRICING. The Adviser shall provide
regular reports regarding Fund holdings, and may, on its own initiative,
furnish the Trust and its Board from time to time with whatever information
the Adviser believes is appropriate for this purpose. The Adviser agrees to
notify the Trust promptly if the Adviser reasonably believes that the value
of any security held by the Fund may not reflect fair value. The Adviser
agrees to provide upon request any pricing information of which the Adviser
is aware to the Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in
the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market
quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance
with the 1940 Act or the Trust's valuation procedures for the purpose of
calculating the Fund net asset value in accordance with procedures and
methods established by the Board.
3
(f) COOPERATION WITH AGENTS OF THE TRUST. The Adviser agrees to
cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Trust, any Trust
custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust pricing agents and all other
agents and representatives of the Trust with respect to such information
regarding the Fund as such entities may reasonably request from time to
time in the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses to
reasonable requests made by such persons and establish appropriate
interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information
and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
2. CODE OF ETHICS. The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics that it
reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940
Act, which it has provided to the Trust. The Adviser shall ensure that its
Access Persons (as defined in the Adviser's Code of Ethics) comply in all
material respects with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to
time. Upon request, the Adviser shall provide the Trust with a (i) copy of the
Adviser's current Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and (ii)
certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent
Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Adviser's Code of
Ethics. Annually, the Adviser shall furnish a written report, which complies
with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Adviser's Code of Ethics to
the Trust's Board. The Adviser shall respond to reasonable requests for
information from the Trust as to violations of the Code by Access Persons and
the sanctions imposed by the Adviser. The Adviser shall promptly notify the
Trust of any material violation of the Code, whether or not such violation
relates to a security held by the Fund.
3. INFORMATION AND REPORTING. The Adviser shall provide the Trust and its
officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Adviser has
assumed under this Agreement as the Trust may from time to time reasonably
request.
(a) NOTIFICATION OF BREACH / COMPLIANCE REPORTS. The Adviser shall
notify the Trust's chief compliance officer promptly upon detection of (i)
any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment
objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach
of any of the Fund's or the Adviser's policies, guidelines or procedures.
In addition, the Adviser shall provide a quarterly report regarding the
Fund's compliance with its investment objectives and policies, applicable
law, including, but not limited to the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the
Code, and the Fund's policies, guidelines or procedures as applicable to
the Adviser's obligations under this Agreement. Unless the Adviser and the
Trust mutually agree that correcting such failure is not in the best
interests of the Fund or is not practicable, the Adviser agrees to correct
any such failure promptly in a manner mutually agreeable between the
Adviser and the Trust and to take any action that the Board may reasonably
request in connection with any such breach. Upon request, the Adviser shall
also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in
connection with such certifications of Fund
4
financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act. The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the
Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding
class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by
reason of the Fund's ownership of shares in the defendant) or the
compliance by the Adviser with the federal or state securities laws or (ii)
an actual change in control of the Adviser resulting in an "assignment" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.
(b) BOARD AND FILINGS INFORMATION. The Adviser will provide the Trust
with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the
Fund required for any meeting of the Board, or for any shareholder report,
Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX, Form N-SAR, amended registration
statement, proxy statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the
Trust with the Commission. The Adviser will make its officers and employees
available to meet with the Board from time to time on due notice to review
its investment management services to the Fund in light of current and
prospective economic and market conditions and shall furnish to the Board
such information as may reasonably be necessary in order for the Board to
evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.
(c) TRANSACTION INFORMATION. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust
such information concerning portfolio transactions as may be necessary to
enable the Trust or its designated agent to perform such compliance testing
on the Fund and the Adviser's services as the Trust may, in its sole
discretion, determine to be appropriate. The provision of such information
by the Adviser to the Trust or its designated agent in no way relieves the
Adviser of its own responsibilities under this Agreement.
4. BROKERAGE.
(a) PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. In connection with purchases or sales of
securities for the account of the Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its
directors, officers or employees will act as a principal or agent or
receive any commission except as permitted by the 1940 Act.
(b) PLACEMENT OF ORDERS. The Adviser shall arrange for the placing of
all orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund's account
either directly with the issuer or with brokers or dealers selected by the
Adviser. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of
such orders, the Adviser is directed at all times to seek for the Fund
"best execution" under the circumstances as required by applicable law. It
is also understood that it is desirable for the Fund that the Adviser have
access to brokerage and research services provided by brokers who may
execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Fund than may result
when allocating brokerage to other brokers, consistent with section 28(e)
of the 1934 Act and any Commission staff
5
interpretations thereof. Therefore, the Adviser is authorized to place
orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund with such
brokers, subject to review by the Board from time to time with respect to
the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that the
services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Adviser in
connection with its or its affiliates' services to other clients.
(c) AGGREGATED TRANSACTIONS. On occasions when the 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 Adviser, the Adviser may, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for
securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Adviser will
allocate securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as
the expenses incurred in the transaction, in the manner the Adviser
reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary
obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.
(d) AFFILIATED BROKERS. The Adviser or any of its affiliates may act
as broker in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other
investments for the Fund, subject to: (a) the requirement that the Adviser
seek to obtain best execution and price within the policy guidelines
determined by the Board and set forth in the Fund's current Registration
Statement; (b) the provisions of the 1940 Act; (c) the provisions of the
Advisers Act; (d) the provisions of the 1934 Act; and (e) other provisions
of applicable law. These brokerage services are not within the scope of the
duties of the Adviser under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of
applicable law and any procedures adopted by the Board, the Adviser or its
affiliates may receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration
from the Fund for these services in addition to the Adviser's fees for
services under this Agreement.
5. CUSTODY. Nothing in this Agreement shall permit the Adviser to take or
receive physical possession of cash, securities or other investments of the
Fund.
6. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES. The Adviser will bear its own costs
of providing services hereunder. Other than as herein specifically indicated,
the Adviser shall not be responsible for the Fund's expenses, including
brokerage and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and
sale of securities and other investment instruments.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE ADVISER.
(a) PROPERLY REGISTERED. The Adviser is registered as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act, and will remain so registered for the
duration of this Agreement. The Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers
Act or the 1940 Act from performing the services contemplated by this
Agreement, and to the best knowledge of the Adviser, there is no proceeding
or investigation that is reasonably likely to result in the Adviser being
prohibited from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement. The
Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event
that would disqualify
6
the Adviser from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company.
The Adviser is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
federal and state law in connection with its investment management
operations.
(b) COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. The Adviser will comply, and in
connection with the performance of its services hereunder, cause the Fund
to comply, in all material respects with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and
all other applicable laws and regulation to which it or the Fund may be
subject, including, without limitation, the diversification and source of
income requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a
regulated investment company, subject in each case to the obligations of
SEI Investments Global Funds Services ("SEI") as set forth in one or more
agreements by and among SEI and the Trust and/or SEI and the Adviser.
(c) ADV DISCLOSURE. The Adviser has provided the Trust with a copy of
its Form ADV Part 1 as most recently filed with the Commission and will,
promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the Commission,
furnish a copy of such amendments or updates to the Trust. The information
contained in the Adviser's Form ADV is accurate and complete in all
material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(d) FUND DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS. The Adviser has reviewed, and will in
the future review, the Registration Statement, summary prospectus,
prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic reports to
shareholders, reports and schedules filed with the Commission (including
any amendment, supplement or sticker to any of the foregoing) and
advertising and sales material relating to the Fund (collectively the
"Disclosure Documents") as and when furnished to the Adviser by the Fund or
the Fund's service providers and represents and warrants that, with respect
to disclosure about the Adviser, the manner in which the Adviser manages
the Fund and information relating directly or indirectly to the Adviser
(the "Adviser Disclosure"), such Disclosure Documents contain or will
contain, no untrue statement of any material fact and do not and will not
omit any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(e) USE OF THE NAMES "FIERA" AND "LARCH LANE". The Adviser has the
right to use the names "Fiera" and "Larch Lane" in connection with its
services to the Trust and that, subject to the terms set forth in Section 8
of this Agreement, the Trust shall have the right to use the names "Fiera"
and "Larch Lane" in connection with the management and operation of the
Fund. The Adviser is not aware of any threatened or existing actions,
claims, litigation or proceedings that would adversely affect or prejudice
the rights of the Adviser or the Trust to use the names "Fiera" and "Larch
Lane."
7
(f) INSURANCE. The Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance
coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to
the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or
insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its
insurance policies. Furthermore, the Adviser shall, upon reasonable
request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require
concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
(g) NO DETRIMENTAL AGREEMENT. The Adviser represents and warrants that
it has no arrangement or understanding with any party, other than the
Trust, that would influence the decision of the Adviser with respect to its
selection of securities for the Fund, and that all selections shall be done
in accordance with what is in the best interest of the Fund.
(h) CONFLICTS. The Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in
the best interests of the Trust including requiring any of its personnel
with knowledge of Fund activities to place the interest of the Fund first,
ahead of their own interests, in all personal trading scenarios that may
involve a conflict of interest with the Fund, consistent with its fiduciary
duties under applicable law.
(i) REPRESENTATIONS. The representations and warranties in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to be made on the date this Agreement is executed
and at the time of delivery of the quarterly compliance report required by
Section 3(a), whether or not specifically referenced in such report.
8. THE NAMES "FIERA" AND "LARCH LANE". The Adviser grants to the Trust a
right to use the names "Fiera" and "Larch Lane" (the "Names") as part of the
name of the Fund. Any use of the Names by the Trust other than as part of the
name of the Fund shall require the prior written consent of Fiera. The foregoing
authorization by the Adviser to the Trust to use the Names as part of the name
of the Fund is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to
authorize others to use, the Names; the Trust acknowledges and agrees that, as
between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or
authorize others to use, the Names.
9. ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Fund shall pay to the Adviser, as
compensation for the Adviser's services hereunder, a fee, determined as
described in Schedule A that is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee
shall be computed daily and paid not less than monthly in arrears by the Fund.
The method for determining net assets of the Fund for purposes hereof shall
be the same as the method for determining net assets for purposes of
establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund shares as described in
the Fund's prospectus. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee
provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on
the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect subject to a pro rata
adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current month as a
percentage of the total number of days in such month.
8
10. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR; SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. In the performance of
its duties hereunder, the Adviser is and shall be an independent contractor and,
unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing,
shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Fund in any way
or otherwise be deemed to be an agent of the Trust or the Fund. The services
furnished by the Adviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the
Adviser shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its
services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. If any occasion should
arise in which the Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares
of the Fund, the Adviser will act solely as investment counsel for such clients
and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
11. ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement shall automatically
terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment
(as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act); provided that such termination
shall not relieve the Adviser of any liability incurred hereunder.
This Agreement may not be added to or changed orally and may not be
modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto and in
accordance with the 1940 Act, when applicable.
12. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date executed and shall
remain in full force and effect continually thereafter, subject to renewal as
provided in Section 12(c) and unless terminated automatically as set forth in
Section 11 hereof or until terminated as follows:
(a) The Trust may cause this Agreement to terminate either (i) by vote
of its Board or (ii) with respect to the Fund, upon the affirmative vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or
(b) The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more
than sixty (60) days' nor less than thirty (30) days' written notice
delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Trust; or
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate two years from the
date of its execution unless its renewal is specifically approved by such
second anniversary and at least annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote
of the Trustees, including a majority vote of such Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser, at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval; or (ii) the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund; provided, however, that if the
continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Fund
for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance
of this Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve
hereunder as to the Fund in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder; and
9
(d) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section shall be
without payment of any penalty.
In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Adviser
shall, immediately upon notice of termination or on such later date as may be
specified in such notice, cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and with
respect to any of its assets, except as otherwise required by any fiduciary
duties of the Adviser under applicable law. In addition, the Adviser shall
deliver the Fund Books and Records to the Trust by such means and in accordance
with such schedule as the Trust shall direct and shall otherwise cooperate, as
reasonably directed by the Trust, in the transition of portfolio asset
management to any successor of the Adviser.
13. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund" shall have the meaning as set forth in the 1940
Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the
Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission
staff.
(b) "Interested persons" and "Assignment" shall have their respective
meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions
as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any
interpretations of the Commission staff.
14. LIABILITY OF THE ADVISER.
(a) The Adviser shall have responsibility for the accuracy and
completeness (and liability for the lack thereof) only of statements in the
Fund's Disclosure Documents with respect to the Adviser Disclosure,
provided that no changes regarding such matters are made to any applicable
Disclosure Documents without the written consent or other acknowledgment of
the Adviser from and after the time that such Disclosure Documents are
reviewed by the Adviser.
(b) The Adviser shall be liable to the Fund for any loss (including
transaction costs) incurred by the Fund as a result of any investment made
by the Adviser or any Sub-Adviser in contravention of: (i) any investment
policy, guideline or restriction set forth in the Registration Statement or
as approved by the Board from time to time and provided to the Adviser; as
well as any loss resulting from a trade error caused in whole or part by
the Adviser or any Sub-Adviser of the Fund; or (ii) applicable law,
including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code (including but not
limited to the Fund's failure to satisfy the diversification or source of
income requirements of Subchapter M of the Code) (the investments described
in this subsection (b) collectively are referred to as "Improper
Investments"). If a loss to the Fund is caused in whole or part by a
Sub-Adviser, the Adviser shall only be liable to the extent that the
Sub-Adviser does not fully reimburse the Fund for such loss in accordance
with the terms of its Sub-Advisory Agreement.
10
(c) The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust with
respect to each Fund managed by the Adviser, the Trust's trustees and
officers and each person who controls the Trust within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (any such person, an "Indemnified Party")
against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities
(including the reasonable cost of investigating and defending any alleged
loss, claim, damage, expense or liability and reasonable counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith) to which any such person may become
subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) a breach by the
Adviser of this Agreement or of the representations and warranties made by
the Adviser herein; (ii) any Improper Investment; (iii) the Adviser's
performance or non-performance of its duties hereunder to the extent that
the Adviser has acted with willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence or
with reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder or (iv) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any Disclosure Document or the omission or alleged omission from a
Disclosure Document of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, for purposes of
this Section 14(c)(iv) solely with respect to the Adviser Disclosure (it
being understood, however, that this indemnification and agreement to hold
harmless shall not apply to the extent that any such untrue statement,
alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is the result of any
change made to any applicable Disclosure Document without the written
consent or other acknowledgment of the Adviser from and after the time that
such Disclosure Document has been reviewed by the Adviser, as contemplated
in Section 7(d) hereof); provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
deemed to protect any Indemnified Party who is a Trustee or officer of the
Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its shareholders to which
such Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason or willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with the Trust.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser shall not be liable for any such
loss to the extent such loss was caused by an Indemnified Party's, or its
agent's, willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard
of its duties hereunder ("Disabling Conduct"), such Disabling Conduct
having been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or an
arbitration proceeding to which such individual or entity was a party. For
the avoidance of doubt, the Adviser shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties
for such loss and will only be reimbursed by the Indemnified Parties after
such determination is made.
(d) For purposes of clarification, and subject to the above provisions
of this Section 14, except with respect to Adviser Disclosure or Improper
Investments, the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any
act or omission in the execution of securities transactions for the Fund,
provided that nothing in this Agreement shall protect the Adviser against
any liability to the Fund to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject
11
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the
performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties hereunder.
15. ENFORCEABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
16. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and
agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, and of
any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of
the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or holder of shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund shall be personally liable for any of the foregoing
liabilities. The Trust's Certificate of Trust, as amended from time to time, is
on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Such Certificate of Trust and the Trust's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust describe in detail the respective responsibilities and
limitations on liability of the Trustees, officers, and holders of shares of
beneficial interest.
17. CHANGE IN THE ADVISER'S OWNERSHIP. The Adviser agrees that it shall
notify the Trust reasonably in advance of any anticipated or otherwise
reasonably foreseeable change in the ownership of the Adviser that would result
in an "assignment" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of this Agreement.
18. JURISDICTION. This Agreement is made and to be principally performed in
the State of New York and except insofar as the 1940 Act or other federal laws
and regulations may be controlling, this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New
York.
19. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The headings of paragraphs contained in this
Agreement are provided for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and
shall not affect its construction.
20. COUNTERPARTS; ELECTRONIC DELIVERY. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. Signatures on this Agreement may be communicated by electronic
transmission (which shall include facsimile or email) and shall be binding upon
the parties so transmitting their signatures.
21. CFTC DISCLOSURE.
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION UNDER CFTC RULES IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF
QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO
BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED
12
WITH THE CFTC. THE CFTC DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A
TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR
DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE CFTC HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING
PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND III, on behalf of the
Fund(s) listed on Schedule A
By: /S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
FIERA CAPITAL INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXXX XXXXXX
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx XxXxxx
Title: General Counsel
14
SCHEDULE A
TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
DATED DECEMBER 5, 2016 BETWEEN
THE ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND III
AND
FIERA CAPITAL INC.
The Trust will pay to the Adviser as compensation for the Adviser's services
rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily
net assets of the Fund in accordance the following fee schedule:
FUND RATE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiera Capital Diversified Alternatives Fund 1.75%
A-1
