SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of the 7th day of June, 2001, by and between American
Express Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("AEFC"), and EQSF
Advisers, Inc., a corporation ("Subadvisor").
RECITALS
1. The Fund listed in Exhibit A is a series of an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act").
2. AEFC has entered into an Investment Management Services Agreement dated May
10, 2001 (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Fund pursuant to which AEFC
provides investment advisory services to the Fund.
3. Adviser and the Fund each desire to retain Subadvisor to provide investment
advisory services to the Fund, and Subadvisor is willing to render such
investment advisory services.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. Subadvisor's Duties.
(a) Portfolio Management. Subject to supervision by AEFC and the Fund's
Board of Directors, Subadvisor shall manage the investment operations
and the composition of that portion of assets of the Fund which is
allocated to Subadvisor from time to time by AEFC (which portion may
include any or all of the Fund's assets), including the purchase,
retention, and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Fund's
investment objectives, policies, and restrictions, and subject to the
following understandings:
(i) Investment Decisions. Subadvisor shall determine from time to
time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained,
or sold by the Fund, and what portion of such assets will be
invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) Investment Limits. In the performance of its duties and
obligations under this Agreement, Subadvisor shall act in
conformity with applicable limits and requirements, as amended
from time to time, as set forth in the (A) Fund's, Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"); (B) instructions and
directions of AEFC and of the Board of Directors of the Fund; (C)
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, as applicable to the Fund, and all other applicable
federal and state laws and regulations; and (D) the procedures
and standards set forth in, or established in accordance with,
the Advisory Agreement.
(iii) Portfolio Transactions.
(A) Trading. With respect to the securities and other
investments to be purchased or sold for the Fund, Subadvisor
shall place orders with or through such persons, brokers,
dealers, or futures commission merchants (including, but not
limited to, broker-dealers that are affiliated with AEFC or
Subadvisor) selected by Subadvisor; provided, however, that
such orders shall be consistent with the brokerage policy
set forth in the Fund's Prospectus and SAI, or approved by
the Fund's Board of Directors; conform with federal
securities laws; and be consistent with securing the most
favorable price and efficient execution. Within the
framework of this policy, Subadvisor may consider the
research, investment information, and other services
provided by, and the financial responsibility of, brokers,
dealers, or futures commission merchants who may effect, or
be a party to, any such transaction or other transactions to
which Subadvisor's other clients may be a party.
(B) Aggregation of Trades. On occasions when Subadvisor deems
the purchase or sale of a security or futures contract to be
in the best interest of the Fund as well as other clients of
Subadvisor, Subadvisor, to the extent permitted by
applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no
obligation to, aggregate the securities or futures contracts
to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the most
favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient
execution. In such event, allocation of the securities or
futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by
Subadvisor in the manner Subadvisor considers to be the most
equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to
the Fund and to such other clients.
(iv) Records and Reports. Subadvisor shall maintain such books and
records required under the 1940 Act as shall be agreed upon from
time to time by the parties hereto, shall render to the Fund's
Board of Directors such periodic and special reports as the Board
of Directors of the Fund or AEFC may reasonably request, and
shall meet with any persons at the request of AEFC or the Board
for the purpose of reviewing Subadvisor's performance under this
Agreement at reasonable times and upon reasonable advance written
notice.
(v) Transaction Reports. Subadvisor shall provide the Fund's
custodian on each business day with information relating to all
transactions concerning the Fund's assets and shall provide AEFC
with such information upon AEFC's request.
(b) Subadvisor's Partners, Officers, and Employees. Subadvisor
shall authorize and permit any of its partners, officers,
and employees who may be elected as Directors or officers of
the Fund to serve in the capacities in which they are
elected. Services to be furnished by Subadvisor under this
Agreement may be furnished through any such partners,
officers, or employees.
(c) Maintenance of Records. Subadvisor shall timely furnish to
AEFC all information relating to Subadvisor's services
hereunder which are needed by AEFC to maintain the books and
records of the Fund required under the 1940 Act. Subadvisor
agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are
the property of the Fund and Subadvisor will surrender
promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund's
request; provided, however, that Subadvisor may retain a
copy of such records. Subadvisor further agrees to preserve
for the periods prescribed under the 1940 Act any such
records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to
paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d) Fidelity Bond and Code of Ethics. Subadvisor will provide
the Fund with reasonable evidence that, with respect to its
activities on behalf of the Fund, Subadvisor is maintaining
(i) adequate fidelity bond insurance, and (ii) an
appropriate Code of Ethics and related reporting procedures.
2. Adviser's Duties. AEFC shall continue to have responsibility for all other
services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and
shall oversee and review Subadvisor's performance of its duties under this
Agreement. AEFC shall also retain direct portfolio management
responsibility with respect to any assets of the Fund which are not
allocated by it to the portfolio management of Subadvisor as provided in
paragraph 1(a) hereof.
3. Documents Provided to Subadvisor. AEFC has delivered or will deliver to
Subadvisor current copies and supplements thereto of each of the Prospectus
and SAI pertaining to the Fund, and will deliver to it all future
amendments and supplements, if any.
4. Compensation of Subadvisor. For the services provided and the expenses
assumed pursuant to this Agreement, AEFC will pay to Subadvisor, effective
from the date of this Agreement, a fee which shall be accrued daily and
paid monthly, on or before the last business day of the next succeeding
calendar month, from the Fund's assets at the annual rates as a percentage
of the Fund's average daily net assets set forth in the attached Schedule
A, which Schedule can be modified from time to time to reflect changes in
annual rates or the addition or deletion of a Fund from the terms of this
Agreement, subject to appropriate approvals required by the 1940 Act, if
any. If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of
any month, the fee for the period from the effective date to the end of the
month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as
the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion that such
month bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination
occurs.
5. Liability of Subadvisor. Subadvisor agrees to perform faithfully the
services required to be rendered to the Fund under this Agreement, but
nothing herein contained shall make Subadvisor or any of its officers,
partners, or employees liable for any loss sustained by the Fund or its
officers, Directors, or shareholders, or any other person on account of the
services which Subadvisor may render or fail to render under this
Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall protect Subadvisor
against liability to the Fund or to any of its shareholders, to which
Subadvisor would otherwise be subject, by reason of its willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall protect
Subadvisor from any liabilities which it may have under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act.
6. Representations of Subadvisor. Subadvisor represents and warrants as
follows:
(a) Subadvisor (i) is registered as an investment advisor under the
Advisers Act of 1940 (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 seek
to continue to met for so long as this Agreement remains in effect,
any other 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 promptly notify
Advisor of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify
Subadvisor from serving as an investment advisor of an investment
company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
(b) Subadvisor has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the
requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and will provide Advisor
with a copy of the code of ethics, together with evidence of its
adoption. Within 45 days of the end of the last calendar quarter of
each year that this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized officer
of Subadvisor shall certify to Advisor that Subadvisor has complied
with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 during the previous year and that
has been no material violation of Subadvisor's code of ethics or, if
such a violation has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in
response to such violation. Upon the written request of Advisor,
Subadvisor shall permit Advisor, its employees, or its agents to
examine the reports required to be made to Subadvisor by Rule
17j-1(c)(1) and all other records relevant to Subadvisor's code of
ethics.
(c) Subadvisor has provided Advisor with a copy of its Form ADV, which as
of the date of this Agreement is its Form ADV as most recently filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and promptly will
furnish a copy of all amendments to Advisor at least annually.
(d) Subadvisor will promptly notify Advisor of any changes in the
controlling shareholder in the key personnel who are either the
portfolio manager(s) responsible for the Fund or senior management of
Subadvisor, or if there is otherwise an actual change in control or
management of Subadvisor.
(e) Subadvisor agrees that neither it nor any of its affiliates will in
any way refer directly or indirectly to its relationship with the Fund
or Advisor, or any of their respective affiliates in offering,
marketing, or other promotional materials without the prior written
consent of Advisor.
7. Liability and Indemnification.
(a) Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or any other
federal securities law, Subadvisor, any of its affiliates and any of
the officers, directors, employees, consultants, or agents thereof
shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
litigation (including legal and other expenses) incurred or suffered
by AEFC or the Fund as a result of any error of judgment or mistake of
law by Subadvisor with respect to the Fund, except that nothing in
this Agreement shall operate or purport to operate in any way to
exculpate, waive, or limit the liability of Subadvisor for, and
Subadvisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, AEFC, all
affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of
the 0000 Xxx) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act")) (collectively,
"AEFC Indemnitees") against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, or litigation (including reasonable legal and other
expenses) to which any of the AEFC Indemnitees may become subject
under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, or under any other
statute, at common law, or otherwise arising out of or based on (i)
any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard, or gross
negligence of Subadvisor in the performance of any of its duties or
obligations hereunder; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Prospectus and SAI, proxy materials, reports,
advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the
Fund or the omission to state therein a material fact known to
Subadvisor which was required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to AEFC or
the Fund by the Subadvisor Indemnitees (as defined below) for use
therein; or (iii) any violation of federal or state statutes or
regulations by Subadvisor. It is further understood and agreed that
Subadvisor may rely upon information furnished to it by AEFC that it
reasonably believes to be accurate and reliable. The federal
securities laws impose liabilities in certain circumstances on persons
who act in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way
constitute a waiver of limitation of any rights which AEFC may have
under any securities laws.
(b) Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or any other
federal securities law, AEFC and the Fund shall not be liable for any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including legal
and other expenses) incurred or suffered by Subadvisor as a result of
any error of judgment or mistake of law by AEFC with respect to the
Fund, except that nothing in this Agreement shall operate or purport
to operate in any way to exculpate, waive, or limit the liability of
AEFC for, and AEFC shall indemnify and hold harmless Subadvisor, all
affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of
the 0000 Xxx) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15
of the 1933 Act) (collectively, "Subadvisor Indemnitees") against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or litigation (including
reasonable legal and other expenses) to which any of the Subadvisor
Indemnitees may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the
Advisers Act, or under any other statute, at common law, or otherwise
arising out of or based on (i) any willful misconduct, bad faith,
reckless disregard, or gross negligence of AEFC in the performance of
any of its duties or obligations hereunder; (ii) any untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Prospectus and SAI, proxy
materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other
materials pertaining to the Fund or the omission to state therein a
material fact known to AEFC which was 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 AEFC or the Fund by a Subadvisor Indemnitee for use therein, or
(iii) any violation of federal or state statutes or regulations by
AEFC or the Fund.
(c) After receipt by AEFC or Subadvisor, its affiliates, or any partner,
officer, director, employee, or agent of any of the foregoing,
entitled to indemnification as stated in (a) or (b) above
("Indemnified Party") of notice of the commencement of any action, if
a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any person obligated
to provide indemnification under this section ("Indemnifying Party"),
such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing
of the commencement thereof as soon as practicable after the summons
or other first written notification giving information of the nature
of the claim has been served upon the Indemnified Party; provided that
the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any liability under this section, except to
the extent that the omission results in a failure of actual notice to
the Indemnifying Party and such Indemnifying Party is damaged solely
as a result of the failure to give such notice. The Indemnifying
Party, upon the request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified
Party in the proceeding, and shall pay the fees and disbursements of
such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party unless (1) the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel, or (2) the named parties to any such proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party and representation by both parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between them. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for
any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment.
8. Duration and Termination.
(a) Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall
continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date
written above only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the
1940 Act. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
automatically for successive periods of 12 months each, provided that
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a
vote of a majority of the Fund's directors who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any
such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Fund's Board of Directors or
by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any
time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Fund's Board of
Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund on 60 days'
written notice to Subadvisor. This Agreement may also be terminated,
without the payment of any penalty, by Advisor (i) upon 60 days'
written notice to Subadvisor; (ii) upon material breach by Subadvisor
of any representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement, if
such breach has not been cured within 20 days after written notice of
such breach; or (iii) immediately if, in the reasonable judgment of
Advisor, Subadvisor becomes unable to discharge its duties and
obligations under this Agreement, including circumstances such as the
insolvency of Subadvisor or other circumstances that could adversely
affect the Fund. Subadvisor may terminate this Agreement at any time,
without payment of any penalty, on 60 days' written notice to Advisor.
This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) or upon the termination of the
Advisory Agreement.
9. Subadvisor's Services Are Not Exclusive. Nothing in this Agreement shall
limit or restrict the right of any of Subadvisor's partners, officers, or
employees 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 business, whether of a
similar or a dissimilar nature, or limit or restrict Subadvisor's right to
engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other
corporation, firm, individual, or association.
10. References to Subadvisor. During the term of this Agreement, AEFC agrees to
furnish to Subadvisor at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy
statements, reports to shareholders, sales literature, or other material
prepared for distribution to sales personnel, shareholders of the Fund or
the public, which refer to Subadvisor or its clients in any way, prior to
use thereof and not to use such material if Subadvisor reasonably objects
in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed
upon) after receipt thereof. Sales literature may be furnished to
Subadvisor hereunder by first-class or overnight mail, facsimile
transmission, or hand delivery.
11. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement must be given in writing as
provided below or to another address as either party may designate in
writing to the other.
Subadvisor:
EQSF Adviser, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: W. Xxxxx Xxxx III
General Counsel
AEFC:
Vice President, Investment Administration
American Express Financial Corporation
53600 AXP Financial Center
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
fax: 000-000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Vice President and Group Counsel
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
50606 AXP Financial Center
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: 000-000-0000
12. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, subject to
approval by the Fund's Board of Directors and the Fund's shareholders to
the extent required by the 1940 Act.
13. Assignment. No assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) shall be made by
Advisor without the prior written consent of the Fund and AEFC.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment shall be deemed to result from
any changes in the directors, officers, or employees of Advisor except as
may be provided to the contrary in the 1940 Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles
thereof, or any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that
the laws of the State of Minnesota, or any of the provision of this
Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the 1940 ACT, the latter
shall control.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.
16. Severability. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a court
decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors.
17. Interpretation. Any questions of interpretation of any term or 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 in the 1940 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the
federal 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. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act
reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered 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.
18. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are intended solely as a
convenience and are not intended to modify any other provision herein.
19. Authorization. Each of the parties represents and warrants that the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action by such party and when so executed and
delivered, this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of such
party in accordance with its terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
American Express Financial Corporation EQSF Advisers, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Senior Vice President, President
Products Group
