EXHIBIT 5(vii)
FORM OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE
UTILITY PORTFOLIO OF THE FUND
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
FEDERATED INVESTMENT COUNSELING
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of January, 1997,
between WRL Investment Management, Inc. ("Investment Adviser"), a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida and Federated
Investment Counseling ("Sub-Adviser"), a business trust organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory
Agreement dated as of the 1st day of January, 1997 ("Advisory Agreement") with
the WRL Series Fund, Inc. ("Fund"), a Maryland corporation which is engaged in
business as an open-end investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares of the Utility
Portfolio ("Portfolio"), a separate series of the Fund;
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is engaged principally in the business of
rendering investment advisory services and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act");
and
WHEREAS, the Investment Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser as
sub-adviser to furnish certain investment advisory services to the Investment
Adviser with respect to the Portfolio and the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish
such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises
herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
Investment Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser as its investment
sub-adviser with respect to the Portfolio for the period and on the terms set
forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ADVISER.
A. INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES. Subject to the supervision of
the Fund's Board of Directors ("Board") and the Investment Adviser, the
Sub-Adviser shall act as the investment sub-adviser and shall supervise and
direct the investments of the Portfolio in accordance with the Portfolio's
investment objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as currently in effect and
as amended or supplemented from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the
"Prospectus"), and such other limitations and procedures adopted by the Board as
directed by the appropriate officers of the Investment Adviser or the Fund by
notice in writing to the Sub-Adviser. The parties hereto agree that the
Sub-Adviser is not a pricing agent of the Fund, and that all prices will be
finally determined by the entity acting as pricing agent to the Fund. The
Sub-Adviser shall obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy,
industries, businesses, securities markets, and securities as it may deem
necessary or useful in the discharge of its obligations hereunder and shall
formulate and implement a continuing program for the management of the assets
and resources of the Portfolio in a manner consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective, policies, and restrictions. In furtherance of this duty,
the Sub-Adviser, on behalf of the Portfolio, is authorized, in its discretion
and without prior consultation with the Portfolio or the Investment Adviser, to:
(1) buy, sell, exchange, convert, lend, and otherwise trade in any
stocks, bonds and other securities or assets; and
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(2) place orders and negotiate the commissions (if any) for the
execution of transactions in securities or other assets with or
through such brokers, dealers, underwriters or issuers as the
Sub-Adviser may select.
B. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In addition to the above,
Sub-Adviser shall:
(1) furnish continuous investment information, advice and
recommendations to the Fund as to the acquisition, holding or
disposition of any or all of the securities or other assets which
the Portfolio may own or contemplate acquiring from time to time;
(2) cause its officers to attend meetings of the Fund and furnish
oral or written reports, as the Fund may reasonably require, in
order to keep the Fund and its officers and Board fully informed as
to the condition of the investment securities of the Portfolio, the
investment recommendations of the Sub-Adviser, and the investment
considerations which have given rise to those recommendations; and
(3) furnish such statistical and analytical information and reports
as may reasonably be required by the Fund from time to time.
C. FURTHER DUTIES OF SUB-ADVISER. In all matters relating to the
performance of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the
Fund's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, as each may be amended or
supplemented, and currently effective Registration Statement (as defined below)
and with the written instructions and directions of the Board and the Investment
Adviser, and shall comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers
Act, the rules thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules
thereunder or other applicable law, the Fund and WRL Management agree 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 Securities Act of 1933 controls the
Sub-Adviser, shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses,
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.
3. COMPENSATION.
For the services provided and the expenses assumed by the Sub-Adviser
pursuant to this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall receive a monthly investment
management fee from the Investment Adviser as a percentage of the Portfolio's
average daily net assets at an annual rate of 0.50% of the first $30 million of
assets, 0.35% of the next $20 million in assets, and 0.25% of assets in excess
of $50 million. The management fee shall be payable by the Investment Adviser
monthly to the Sub-Adviser upon receipt by the Investment Adviser from the
Portfolio of advisory fees payable to the Investment Adviser. If this Agreement
becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month, the investment
management fee for the period from the effective date to the end of such month
or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the case may
be, shall be pro-rated according to the pro-ration which such period bears to
the full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
4. DUTIES OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
A. The Investment Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for
all services to be provided to the Portfolio pursuant to the Advisory Agreement
and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser's performance of its duties under
this Agreement.
B. The Investment Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies
of each of the following documents and will furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its
principal office all future amendments and supplements to such documents, if
any, as soon as practicable after such documents become available:
(1) The Articles of Incorporation of the Fund, as filed with the
State of Maryland, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended
from time to time ("Articles"):
(2) The By-Laws of the Fund as in effect on the date hereof and as
amended from time to time ("By-Laws");
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(3) Certified resolutions of the Board of the Fund authorizing the
appointment of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and
approving the form of the Advisory Agreement and this Agreement;
(4) The Fund's Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-1A, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to the
Portfolio and its shares and all amendments thereto ("Registration
Statement");
(5) The Notification of Registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act
on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC and any amendments thereto:
(6) The Fund's Prospectus (as defined above);
(7) A certified copy of any publicly available financial statement
or report prepared for the Fund by certified or independent public
accountants, and copies of any financial statements or reports made
by the Portfolio to its shareholders or to any governmental body or
securities exchange;
(8) A copy of the Advisory Agreement currently in effect, and all
amendments; and
(9) Fund procedures adopted by the Board.
The Investment Adviser shall furnish the Sub-Adviser with any further
documents, materials or information that the Sub-Adviser may reasonably request
to enable it to perform its duties pursuant to this Agreement.
C. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment Adviser shall
furnish to the Sub-Adviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material
prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Portfolio or the public, which
refer to the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other advisory accounts
advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser or investment companies or other
advisory accounts advised or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser in any way, prior to
the use thereof, and the Investment Adviser shall not use any such materials if
the Sub-Adviser reasonably objects in writing fifteen business days (or such
other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.
5. BROKERAGE.
A. The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in placing orders with
broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, it shall
attempt to obtain quality execution at favorable security prices (best price and
execution); provided that, on behalf of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser may, in its
discretion, agree to pay a broker-dealer that furnishes brokerage or research
services as such services are defined under Section 28(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), a higher commission than that
which might have been charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same
transactions, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission
is reasonable in relation to the brokerage and research services provided by the
broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser or its affiliated person with
respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion (as such
term is defined under Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act). In no instance will
portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to the Sub-Adviser, or any
affiliated person thereof, except in accordance with the federal securities laws
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
B. On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of
a security to be in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of
the Sub-Adviser or its affiliated person, the Sub-Adviser, to the extent
permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no
obligation to, aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to
obtain a more favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient
execution. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as
well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the
Sub-Adviser in the manner the Sub-Adviser considers to be the most equitable and
consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to its other clients.
C. In addition to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser agrees that orders
with broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities by the
Portfolio shall be placed in accordance with the standards set forth in the
Advisory Agreement.
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6. OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS.
The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records required to be
maintained by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to transactions on behalf of the
Fund. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the
Sub-Adviser hereby agrees: (i) that all records that it maintains for the Fund
are the property of the Fund, (ii) to preserve for the periods prescribed by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records that it maintains for the Fund and
that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and (iii)
agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any records that it maintains for the
Fund upon request by the Fund; provided, however, the Sub-Adviser may retain
copies of such records.
7. REPORTS.
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Board or the Investment Adviser,
or both, as appropriate, such information, reports, evaluations, analyses and
opinions as the Sub-Adviser and the Board or the Investment Adviser, as
appropriate, may mutually agree upon from time to time.
8. SERVICES TO OTHERS CLIENTS.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit or restrict (i) the
freedom of the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person thereof, to render
investment management and corporate administrative services to other investment
companies, to act as investment manager or investment counselor to other
persons, firms, or corporations, or to engage in any other business activities,
or (ii) the right of any director, officer, or employee of the Sub-Adviser, who
may also be a director, officer, or employee of the Fund, to engage in any other
business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or
other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar
nature.
9. REPRESENTATIONS OF SUB-ADVISER.
The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:
A. The Sub-Adviser: (i) is registered as an investment adviser
under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this
Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act or the
Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii)
has met, and will continue to meet for so long as this Agreement remains in
effect, any applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable
requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency, necessary to
be met in order to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) has
the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this
Agreement; and (v) will immediately notify the Investment Adviser of the
occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an
investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9 (a) of the
1940 Act or otherwise.
B. The Sub-Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying
with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and, if it has not
already done so, will provide the Investment Adviser and the Fund with a copy of
such code of ethics, together with evidence of its adoption.
C. The Sub-Adviser has provided the Investment Adviser and the Fund
with a copy of its Form ADV as most recently filed with the SEC and will,
promptly after filing any amendment to its Form ADV with the SEC, furnish a copy
of such amendment to the Investment Adviser.
10. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first above
written, provided that this Agreement shall not take effect unless it has first
been approved (i) by a vote of a majority of those Directors of the Fund who are
not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii)
by vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities. Unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for two years from its effective date. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue
in effect from year to year, with respect to the Portfolio, subject to the
termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof, so long as
such continuation shall
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be specifically approved at least annually (a) by either the Board, or by vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio; and (b) in
either event, by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, of a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The
Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Fund, promptly upon its request such
information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this
Agreement or any extension, renewal, or amendment hereof.
11. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any
time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board or by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio on at least 60
days' prior written notice to the Sub-Adviser. This Agreement may also be
terminated by the Investment Adviser: (i) on at least 60 days' prior written
notice to the Sub-Adviser, without the payment of any penalty; or (ii) if the
Sub-Adviser becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this
Agreement. The Sub-Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time, or preclude
its renewal without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days' prior
notice to the Investment Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.
12. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged, or
terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge, or termination is
sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by
vote of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting securities, unless
otherwise permitted in accordance with the 1940 Act.
13. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to the conflicts of
laws principles thereof, and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable
laws of the State of Maryland conflict with the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act, the latter shall control.
B. CAPTIONS. The captions contained in this Agreement are included
for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
C. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties hereto and shall supersede any prior agreements
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior
agreements shall be deemed terminated upon the effectiveness of this Agreement.
D. INTERPRETATION. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to
require the Fund to take any action contrary to its Articles or By-Laws, or any
applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by
which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for
and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Fund.
E. DEFINITIONS. Any question of interpretation of any term of
provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a
term or provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United
States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court,
by rules, regulations, or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940
Act. As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "affiliated person," "interested person," "assignment," "broker,"
"investment adviser," "net assets," "sale," "sell," and "security" shall have
the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption
as may be granted by the SEC by any rule, regulation, or order. Where the effect
of a requirement of the federal securities laws reflected in any provision of
this Agreement is made less restrictive by a rule, regulation, or order of the
SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, or order, unless the
Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree to the contrary.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their duly authorized signatories as of the date and year first
above written.
Attest: WRL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
____________________________ By: __________________________
Assistant Secretary Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President and Treasurer
Attest: FEDERATED INVESTMENT COUNSELING
____________________________ By __________________________
Name:
Title:
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