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Exhibit D(1)
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this ___ day of _________, 2001 between
Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("NMSF"), and
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC., a Wisconsin limited liability
company ("NMIS") (NMIS being hereinafter referred to as the "Manager").
WHEREAS, NMSF is a series company as contemplated by the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and currently has fifteen series, each of which is
represented by a separate class of capital stock, and four of which are subject
to this agreement: X. Xxxx Price Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Growth
Portfolio, Capital Guardian Domestic Equity Portfolio and Asset Allocation
Portfolio (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, NMSF and Manager wish to enter into an agreement setting forth
the terms on which the Manager will perform certain services for NMSF and the
Portfolios.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed as follows:
1. NMSF hereby employs the Manager to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of each Portfolio, to determine the composition of
the assets of each Portfolio, including the purchase, retention or sale of the
securities and cash contained in the Portfolio, subject to the supervision of
the Board of Directors of NMSF, for the period and on the terms in this
Agreement set forth. The Manager will perform its duties in accordance with the
investment objectives and policies of each Portfolio as stated in NMSF's
Articles of Incorporation, By-laws and Registration Statement and amendments
thereto filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in resolutions
adopted by NMSF's Board of Directors. The Manager hereby accepts such employment
and agrees during such period, at its own expense, to render the services and to
assume the obligations herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
The Manager shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent
contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no
authority to act for or represent NMSF in any way or otherwise be deemed an
agent of NMSF.
2. The Manager, at its own expense, shall furnish to each
Portfolio office space in the offices of Manager or in such other place as may
be agreed upon from time to time, and all necessary office facilities, equipment
and personnel for managing the affairs and investments
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and keeping the books of the Portfolios, and shall arrange, if desired by NMSF,
for members of the Manager's organization to serve without salaries from NMSF as
officers or agents of NMSF. The Manager assumes and shall pay or reimburse each
Portfolio for their share of the compensation (if any) of the directors and
officers of NMSF as such, and all expenses not hereinafter specifically assumed
by the Portfolios that are incurred by the Manager or by the Portfolio in
connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the assets
of the Portfolios and the administration of the affairs of the Portfolios. The
Portfolio assumes and shall pay charges and expenses of any custodian or
depository appointed by the Portfolio for the safekeeping of its cash,
securities and other property; charges and expenses of independent auditors;
charges and expenses of any transfer agents and registrars appointed by the
Portfolio; the cost of stock certificates representing shares of the Portfolio;
fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the
Portfolio and of its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(including the preparation and printing of prospectuses for filing with the
Commission); all expenses of shareholders' and directors' meetings and of
preparing and printing reports to shareholders; charges and expenses of legal
counsel in connection with the Portfolio's corporate existence, corporate and
financial structure and relations with its shareholders; broker's commissions
and issue and transfer taxes, chargeable to the Portfolio in connection with
securities transactions to which the Portfolio is a party; and all taxes payable
by the Portfolio to federal, state or other governmental agencies, including
foreign taxes.
In connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the
account of each Portfolio, neither the Manager nor any of its directors,
officers or employees will act as a principal or receive any commission as
agent.
The services of the Manager to the Portfolios hereunder are not to be
deemed exclusive, and the Manager shall be free to render similar services to
others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.
3. For the services to be rendered and the charges and expenses assumed
and to be paid by the Manager as provided in paragraph 2 hereof, each Portfolio
shall pay to the Manager
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compensation at the annual rate of the percentage of the current value of the
net assets of the Portfolio as set forth below:
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Portfolio First $100 Next $150 Excess
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Million Million
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X. Xxxx Price Small Cap Value Portfolio 0.85% 0.85% 0.85%
International Growth Portfolio 0.75% 0.65% 0.55%
Capital Guardian Domestic Equity Portfolio 0.65% 0.55% 0.50%
Asset Allocation Portfolio 0.60% 0.50% 0.40%
Such compensation shall be payable monthly. Such compensation shall be
calculated on the basis of the aggregate of the averages of all the valuations
of the net assets of the Portfolio made as of the close of business on each
valuation day during the period for which such compensation is paid.
Such compensation shall be charged to each Portfolio on each valuation
day. The amount of the compensation will be deducted on each valuation day from
the value of the Portfolio prior to determining the Portfolio's net asset value
for the day and shall be transmitted or credited to the Manager.
4. The Portfolios shall cooperate with the Manager in the registration
or qualification of its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each
Portfolio shall use its best efforts to maintain such registration and
qualifications.
5. NMSF shall cause the books and accounts of each Portfolio to be
audited at least once each year by a reputable independent public accountant or
organization of public accountants who shall render a report to NMSF.
6. Subject to the Articles of Incorporation of NMSF and of the Manager
respectively, it is understood that directors, officers, employees, agents and
stockholders of NMSF are or may be interested in the Manager (or any successor
thereof) as directors, officers, employees, agents, or stockholders, or
otherwise, that directors, officers, agents and stockholders of the Manager are
or may be interested in NMSF as directors officers, employees, agents or
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stockholders or otherwise, and that the Manager (or any successor) is or may be
interested in NMSF as a stockholder or otherwise.
7. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence,
or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the
Manager or its corporate affiliates, the Manager and its corporate affiliates
shall not be subject to liability to NMSF for any act or omission in the course
of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may
be sustained in the purchase, holding, or sale of any security. No provision of
this Agreement shall be construed to protect the Manager and its corporate
affiliates from liability in violation of section 17(i) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
8. This Agreement shall continue in effect so long as its continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of those
directors of NMSF who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons of
any such party cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval and by either a majority of the Board of Directors of NMSF or a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Portfolio (as defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940). Shareholder approval shall be effective
with respect to any Portfolio vote for the approval, notwithstanding that a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of NMSF or of the other Portfolios
have not voted for approval.
This Agreement may at any time be terminated without the payment of any
penalty either by vote of the Board of Directors of NMSF or by vote of the
majority of the voting securities of any Portfolio, on sixty days' written
notice to the Manager. This Agreement may also be terminated by the Manager on
ninety days' written notice to NMSF. This Agreement shall immediately terminate
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940). Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and
delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the other party at any office of such party.
9. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement NMSF hereby
authorizes the Manager to employ investment sub-advisers for the purpose of
providing investment management services for the X. Xxxx Price Small Cap Value
Portfolio and the Capital Guardian
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Domestic Equity Portfolio pursuant to this Agreement, provided, however, that
(1) the compensation to be paid to such investment sub-advisers shall be the
sole responsibility of the Manager, (2) the duties and responsibilities of the
investment sub-advisers shall be as set forth in sub-advisory agreements
including NMIS and the investment sub-adviser as parties, (3) such sub-advisory
agreements shall be adopted and approved in conformity with the applicable laws
and regulations, and (4) such sub-advisory agreements may be terminated at any
time by NMIS, the Board of Directors of NMSF, or by a majority vote of the
relevant Portfolio's outstanding voting securities on not more than 60 days'
written notice to the sub-adviser.
10. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual consent of the
parties, provided that such consent on the part of NMSF shall have been
approved, with respect to any Portfolio, by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio (as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940) as provided in paragraph 8, if such vote is required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the day and year first above written.
Attest: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL SERIES
FUND, INC.
__________________________________________ By ___________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Secretary Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President
Attest: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL INVESTMENT SERVICES, LLC
__________________________________________ By ___________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Assistant Secretary Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
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