EXHIBIT d(i)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
AGREEMENT made this 25th day of July, 2000 by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Funds, an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Trust"), on behalf of The International
Equity Fund series (the "Fund"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Overseas Ltd., a Scotland
company (the "Adviser"),
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end series management
investment company and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is engaged in the business of rendering investment
advisory and management services and is registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and regulated in the United Kingdom by
the Investment Management Regulatory Organization ("IMRO"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment
advisory services and certain other services to the Fund;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF ADVISER. The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as
investment adviser of the Fund for the period and on the terms herein set forth.
The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein
set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES OF ADVISER. (a) The Adviser, at its expense, will furnish
continuously an investment program for the Fund, will determine, subject to the
overall supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, what investments shall be
purchased, held, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion, if any, of the
assets of the Fund will be held uninvested, and shall, on behalf of the Fund,
make changes in the investments of the Fund. Subject always to the supervision
of the Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser will also manage, supervise and
conduct the other affairs and business of the Fund and matters incidental
thereto, subject always to the provisions of the Trust's Declaration of Trust
and Bylaws and of the 1940 Act. The Adviser, and any affiliate thereof, shall be
free to
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render similar services to other investment companies and other clients and to
engage in other activities, so long as the services rendered to the Fund
hereunder are not impaired.
(b) The Adviser shall provide, without cost to the Fund all necessary
office space and the services of executive personnel for administering the
affairs of the Fund.
(c) The Adviser, at its own expense, shall place all orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund with
issuers, brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser. In executing portfolio
transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Adviser will use its best
efforts to seek, on behalf of the Fund, the best overall terms available. In
assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Adviser
shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the
market in the security, the financial condition and execution capabilities of
the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any (for the
specific transaction and on a continuing basis). In evaluating the best overall
terms available and in selecting the broker or dealer to execute a particular
transaction, the Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services
(as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Fund or other accounts over which
the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser exercises investment discretion. The
Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage
and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the
Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer
would have charged for effecting that transaction, if, but only if, the Adviser
determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the
value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer,
viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or in terms of all of the
accounts over which the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser exercises
investment discretion.
3. COMPENSATION OF ADVISER. (a) As full compensation for the services and
facilities furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Trust agrees to
pay to the Adviser a fee at the annual rate of 0.35% of the Fund's average net
asset value. Such fee shall be accrued and payable quarterly. For purposes of
calculating such fee, such net asset value shall be determined by taking the
average of all determinations of net asset value made at the end of each month
and such determinations shall be made in the manner provided in the Fund's
current Offering Memorandum and Statement of Additional Information.
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(b) For any period less than a full quarter during which this Agreement is
in effect the compensation payable to the Adviser hereunder shall be calculated
by reference to the termination date (not the last day of the quarter) and shall
be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to a full year.
4. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF ADVISER. The Adviser shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in
connection with any investment policy or the purchase, sale, or retention of any
security on the recommendation of the Adviser; provided, however, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed to protect the Adviser against any liability
to the Fund by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
5. TERM AND TERMINATION. (a) This Agreement shall become effective on the
date first written above. Unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect as to the Fund for two years from the date
hereof and shall continue in full force and effect for successive periods of one
year thereafter, but only so long as each continuance is approved (i) by either
the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund, and, in either event, (ii)
by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty by vote of the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund or by the
Adviser, on sixty days' written notice to the other party.
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
6. USE OF NAME. The Adviser owns the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds" which may
be used by the Trust only with the consent of the Adviser. The Adviser consents
to the use by the Trust of the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds" or any other name
embodying the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" into such forms as the Adviser shall in
writing approve, but only on condition and so long as (i) this Contract shall
remain in full force and (ii) the Trust shall fully perform, fulfill and comply
with all provisions of this Contract expressed herein to be performed, fulfilled
or complied with by it. No such name shall be used by the Trust at any time or
in any place or for any purposes
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or under any conditions except as provided in this section. The foregoing
authorization by the Adviser to the Trust to use said name and initials as part
of a business or name is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to
use, or to authorize others to use, the same; the Trust acknowledges and agrees
that as between the Adviser and the Trust, the Adviser has the exclusive right
so to authorize others to use the same; the Trust acknowledges and agrees that
as between the Adviser and the Trust, the Adviser has the exclusive right so to
use, or authorize others to use, said name and initials and the Trust agrees to
take such action as may reasonably be requested by the Adviser to give full
effect to the provisions of this section (including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Trust agrees that, upon any termination of this
Contract by either party or upon the violation of any of its provisions by the
Trust, the Trust will, at the request of the Adviser made within six months
after the Adviser has knowledge of such termination or violation, use its best
efforts to change the name of the Trust so as to eliminate all reference, if
any, to the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" and will not thereafter transact any business
in a name containing the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" in any form or combination
whatsoever, or designate itself as the same entity as or successor to an entity
of such name, or otherwise use the name "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" or any other reference
to the Adviser. Such covenants on the part of the Trust shall be binding upon
it, its trustees, officers, stockholders, creditors and all other persons
claiming under or through it.
7. VOTING. The adviser will be entitled to give voting instructions to the
Custodian in respect of the exercise of any voting or other rights attached to
any investment of the Fund at the discretion of the Adviser or as the Trust may
instruct from time to time.
8. TRADING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. The Adviser is authorized to
contract with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. for the provision to the Adviser of trading
services and administrative services as the Adviser may require. The Adviser
will alone be responsible for paying any fees charged and expenses incurred by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., in connection with the provision of such services.
9. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is governed by and to be construed in
accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts without giving
effect to conflicts of interest laws thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, on behalf of
The International Equity Fund
By /s/ ANGUS ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Angus ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Secretary
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ OVERSEAS LIMITED
By /s/ R. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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R. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Director
NOTICE
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby
given that this Agreement is executed with respect to the Trust's International
Equity Fund series on behalf of the Trust by officers of the Trust as officers
and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding
upon the Trustees, officers or holders of shares individually but are binding
only upon the assets and property of The International Equity Fund series.
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