Exhibit (d)(3)(xvii)
NEW ENGLAND BOND INCOME FUND
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
(BACK BAY ADVISORS, L.P.)
Sub-Advisory Agreement (this "Agreement") entered into as of August 30,
1996, and amended this 1st day of May, 1998, by and among New England Funds
Trust I, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), with respect to its New
England Bond Income Fund series (the "Series"), New England Funds Management,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Manager"), and Back Bay Advisors,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into an Advisory Agreement dated
August 30, 1996 (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, relating to the
provision of portfolio management and administrative services to the Series;
WHEREAS, the Advisory Agreement provides that the Manager may delegate
any or all of its portfolio management responsibilities under the Advisory
Agreement to one or more sub-advisers;
WHEREAS, the Manager and the trustees of the Trust desire to retain the
Sub-Adviser to render portfolio management services in the manner and on the
terms set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
set forth in this Agreement, the Trust, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser agree as
follows:
1. Sub-Advisory Services.
a. The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the
Manager and of any administrator appointed by the Manager (the
"Administrator"), manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets
of the Series, and have the authority on behalf of the Series to vote
all proxies and exercise all other rights of the Series as a security
holder of companies in which the Series from time to time invests. The
Sub-Adviser shall manage the Series in conformity with (1) the
investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Series set forth
in the Trust's prospectus and statement of additional information
relating to the Series, (2) any additional policies or guidelines
established by the Manager or by the Trust's trustees that have been
furnished in writing to the Sub-Adviser and (3) the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") applicable to "regulated investment
companies" (as defined in Section 851 of the Code), all as from time to
time in effect (collectively, the "Policies"), and with all applicable
provisions of law, including without limitation all applicable
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and
the rules and regulations thereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the
Sub-Adviser is authorized, in its discretion and without prior
consultation with the Manager, to buy, sell, lend and otherwise trade
in any stocks, bonds and other securities and investment instruments on
behalf of the Series, without regard to the length of time the
securities have been held and the resulting rate of portfolio turnover
or any tax considerations; and the majority or the whole of the Series
may be invested in such proportions of stocks, bonds, other securities
or investment instruments, or cash, as the Sub-Adviser shall determine.
b. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish the Manager and the
Administrator monthly, quarterly and annual reports concerning
portfolio transactions and performance of the Series in such form as
may be mutually agreed upon, and agrees to review the Series and
discuss the management of it. The Sub-Adviser shall permit all books
and records with respect to the Series to be inspected and audited by
the Manager and the Administrator at all reasonable times during normal
business hours, upon reasonable notice. The Sub-Adviser shall also
provide the Manager with such other information and reports as may
reasonably be requested by the Manager from time to time, including
without limitation all material requested by or required to be
delivered to the Trustees of the Trust.
c. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Manager a copy of the
Sub-Adviser's Form ADV as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and a list of the persons whom the Sub-Adviser wishes to
have authorized to give written and/or oral instructions to custodians
of assets of the Series.
2. Obligations of the Manager.
a. The Manager shall provide (or cause the Series' Custodian
(as defined in Section 3 hereof) to provide) timely information to the
Sub-Adviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets of the
Series, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the
Series, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for
the Sub-Adviser to perform its responsibilities hereunder.
b. The Manager has furnished the Sub-Adviser a copy of the
prospectus and statement of additional information of the Series and
agrees during the continuance of this Agreement to furnish the
Sub-Adviser copies of any revisions or supplements thereto at, or, if
practicable, before the time the revisions or supplements become
effective. The Manager agrees to furnish the Sub-Adviser with minutes
of meetings of the trustees of the Trust applicable to the Series to
the extent they may affect the duties of the Sub-Adviser, and with
copies of any financial statements or reports made by the Series to its
shareholders, and any further materials or information which the
Sub-Adviser may reasonably request to enable it to perform its
functions under this Agreement.
3. Custodian. The Manager shall provide the Sub-Adviser with a copy of
the Series's agreement with the custodian designated to hold the assets of the
Series (the "Custodian") and any modifications thereto (the "Custody
Agreement"), copies of such modifications to be provided to the Sub-Adviser a
reasonable time in advance of the effectiveness of such modifications. The
assets of the Series shall be maintained in the custody of the Custodian
identified in, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, the Custody
Agreement (or any sub-custodian properly appointed as provided in the Custody
Agreement). The Sub-Adviser shall have no liability for the acts or omissions of
the Custodian, unless such act or omission is taken in reliance upon instruction
given to the Custodian by a representative of the Sub-Adviser properly
authorized to give such instruction under the Custody Agreement. Any assets
added to the Series shall be delivered directly to the Custodian.
4. Proprietary Rights. The Manager agrees and acknowledges that the
Sub-Adviser is the sole owner of the name "Back Bay Advisors, L.P." and that all
use of any designation consisting in whole or part of "Back Bay Advisors, L.P."
under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Sub-Adviser. The Manager
on its own behalf and on behalf of the Series agrees not to use any such
designation in any advertisement or sales literature or other materials
promoting the Series, except with the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser.
Without the prior written consent of the Sub-Adviser, the Manager shall not, and
the Manager shall use its best efforts to cause the Series not to, make
representations regarding the Sub-Adviser in any disclosure document,
advertisement or sales literature or other materials relating to the Series.
Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Manager shall cease, and
the Manager shall use its best efforts to cause the Series to cease, all use of
any such designation as soon as reasonably practicable.
5. Expenses. Except for expenses specifically assumed or agreed to be
paid by the Sub-Adviser pursuant hereto, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for
any organizational, operational or business expenses of the Manager or the Trust
including, without limitation, (a) interest and taxes, (b) brokerage commissions
and other costs in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other
investment instruments with respect to the Series, and (c) custodian fees and
expenses. Any reimbursement of advisory fees required by any expense limitation
provision of any law shall be the sole responsibility of the Manager. The
Manager and the Sub-Adviser shall not be considered as partners or participants
in a joint venture. The Sub-Adviser will pay its own expenses incurred in
furnishing the services to be provided by it pursuant to this Agreement. Neither
the Sub-Adviser nor any affiliated person thereof shall be entitled to any
compensation from the Manager or the Trust with respect to service by any
affiliated person of the Sub-Adviser as an officer or trustee of the Trust
(other than the compensation to the Sub-Adviser payable by the Manager pursuant
to Section 7 hereof).
6. Purchase and Sale of Assets. The Sub-Adviser shall place all orders
for the purchase and sale of securities for the Series with brokers or dealers
selected by the Sub-Adviser, which may include brokers or dealers affiliated
with the Sub-Adviser, provided such orders comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940
Act in all respects. To the extent consistent with applicable law, purchase or
sell orders for the Series may be aggregated with contemporaneous purchase or
sell orders of other clients of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser shall use its
best efforts to obtain execution of transactions for the Series at prices which
are advantageous to the Series and at commission rates that are reasonable in
relation to the benefits received. However, the Sub-Adviser may select brokers
or dealers on the basis that they provide brokerage, research or other services
or products to the Series and/or other accounts serviced by the Sub-Adviser. To
the extent consistent with applicable law, the Sub-Adviser may pay a broker or
dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess
of the amount of commission or dealer spread another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction if the Sub-Adviser determines in good
faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research products and/or services provided by such broker or
dealer. This determination, with respect to brokerage and research services or
products, may be viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
overall responsibilities which the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have with
respect to the Series or to accounts over which they exercise investment
discretion. Not all such services or products need be used by the Sub-Adviser in
managing the Series.
7. Compensation of the Sub-Adviser. As full compensation for all
services rendered, facilities furnished and expenses borne by the Sub-Adviser
hereunder, the Sub-Adviser shall be paid at the annual rate of 0.2500% of the
first $100 million of the average daily net assets of the Series and 0.1875% in
excess of $100 million of such assets, respectively (or such lesser amount as
the Sub-Adviser may from time to time agree to receive). Such compensation shall
be paid by the Trust (except to the extent the Trust, the Sub-Advisor and the
Manager otherwise agree in writing from time to time). Such compensation shall
be payable monthly in arrears or at such other intervals, not less frequently
than quarterly, as the Manager is paid by the Series pursuant to the Advisory
Agreement.
8. Non-Exclusivity. The Manager and the Series agree that the services
of the Sub-Adviser are not to be deemed exclusive and that the Sub-Adviser and
its affiliates are free to act as investment manager and provide other services
to various investment companies and other managed accounts, except as the
Sub-Adviser and the Manager or the Administrator may otherwise agree from time
to time in writing before or after the date hereof. This Agreement shall not in
any way limit or restrict the Sub-Adviser or any of its directors, officers,
employees or agents from buying, selling or trading any securities or other
investment instruments for its or their own account or for the account of others
for whom it or they may be acting, provided that such activities do not
adversely affect or otherwise impair the performance by the Sub-Adviser of its
duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Manager and the Series
recognize and agree that the Sub-Adviser may provide advice to or take action
with respect to other clients, which advice or action, including the timing and
nature of such action, may differ from or be identical to advice given or action
taken with respect to the Series. The Sub-Adviser shall for all purposes hereof
be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise provided
or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Series or the
Manager in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Series or the Manager.
9. Liability. Except as may otherwise be provided by the 1940 Act or
other federal securities laws, neither the Sub-Adviser nor any of its officers,
directors, partners, employees or agents (the "Indemnified Parties") shall be
subject to any liability to the Manager, the Trust, the Series or any
shareholder of the Series for any error of judgment, any mistake of law or any
loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the course of,
connected with, or arising out of any service to be 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 by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations and duties hereunder.
The Manager shall hold harmless and indemnify the Sub-Adviser for any loss,
liability, cost, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees and
costs) arising from any claim or demand by any past or present shareholder of
the Series that is not based upon the obligations of the Sub-Adviser under this
Agreement.
10. Effective Date and Termination. This Agreement shall become
effective as of the date of its execution, and
a. unless otherwise terminated, this Agreement shall continue
in effect for two years from the date of execution, and from year to
year thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Series, and (ii)
by vote of a majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons of the Trust, the Manager or the Sub-Adviser, cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval;
b. this Agreement may at any time be terminated on sixty days'
written notice to the Sub-Adviser either by vote of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Series;
c. this Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment or upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement;
and
d. this Agreement may be terminated by the Sub-Adviser on
ninety days' written notice to the Manager and the Trust, or by the
Manager on ninety days' written notice to the Sub-Adviser.
Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be
without the payment of any penalty.
11. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual
consent of the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, provided that, if required by law,
such amendment shall also have been approved by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Series and by vote of a majority of the
trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust, the Manager
or the Sub-Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
12. Certain Definitions. For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms
"vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested person,"
"affiliated person" and "assignment" shall have their respective meanings
defined in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act.
13. General.
a. The Sub-Adviser may perform its services through any
employee, officer or agent of the Sub-Adviser, and the Manager shall
not be entitled to the advice, recommendation or judgment of any
specific person; provided, however, that the persons identified in the
prospectus of the Series shall perform the day-to-day portfolio
management duties described therein until the Sub-Adviser notifies the
Manager that one or more other employees, officers or agents of the
Sub-Adviser, identified in such notice, shall assume such duties as of
a specific date.
b. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances is held to be
invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement
or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances
shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the fullest
extent permitted by law.
c. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
NEW ENGLAND FUNDS MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By NEF Corporation, its general partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
Secretary & Clerk
NEW ENGLAND FUNDS TRUST I,
on behalf of its New England Bond Income Fund series
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
BACK BAY ADVISORS, L.P.
By Back Bay Advisors, Incorporated, its general partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
NOTICE
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing New
England Funds Trust I (the "Fund") is on file with the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that his Agreement is
executed with respect to the Fund's New England Bond Income Fund series (the
"Series") on behalf of the Fund by officers of the Fund as officers and not
individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are
not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders individually but
are binding only upon the assets and property belonging to the Series.
