ADVANCED SERIES TRUST AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 14 day of December, 2015 between Prudential
Investments LLC (PI), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (formerly American Skandia Investment
Services, Inc.) (AST), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC, a California
limited liability company (Affinity or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement
(the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business
trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PI and AST act as Co-Managers of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement,
desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified
in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion
of the Trust as the Co-Managers shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory
services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the
Co-Managers, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies
and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement
of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"),
and subject to the following understandings:
(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Co-Managers shall direct, and shall
determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what
portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust,
the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Co-Managers
(the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate
with the Co-Managers' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and
comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall,
among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the Commission). The Co-Managers shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Co-Managers (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the
amount of commission another Broker
would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light
of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Co-Managers (or the Subadviser) with respect
to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35)
of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or
sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the
best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws
and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to
be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold,
as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be
the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect
to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's
Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably
available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect
to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian
on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and
shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co-Managers.
(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the
Subadviser and Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co-Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style,
the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative
analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract
with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding
the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified
pursuant to this process.
(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the
Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees
that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio
or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(a) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors,
officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected.
Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers
or employees.
(b) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required
to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information
relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Co-Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required
by Rule 31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the
Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's
request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required
to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c) In the event that the Subadviser engages in conduct that requires it to be registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and/or the National Futures Association (the NFA), the Subadviser will promptly become registered with the CFTC and/or the NFA, as the case may be and upon registration, shall continue to maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, if the Subadviser becomes registered with the CFTC and/or the NFA, the Subadviser agrees that it will notify the Co-Managers promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, where applicable, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e) The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f) The Subadviser shall furnish to the Co-Managers copies of all records prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Co-Managers may reasonably request.
(g) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers.
(h) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying the Co-Managers upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
(i) The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Trust's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Co-Managers if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(j) The Subadviser shall comply with the Trust’s Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(k) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s Co-Managers informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 0000 Xxx) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
2. The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all
services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee
and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's
custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of
the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all
other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of
minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Co-Managers to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Co-Managers' receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Co-Managers. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers.
4. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment
or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except
a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties
or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities
laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability
and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Co-Managers' willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the
1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, their affiliated persons, their
officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result
of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation
of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
5. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more
than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with
the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund, or by the Co-Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty,
on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser
agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment
(as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Co-Managers
at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Secretary (for PI) and Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx,
00000, Attention: Secretary (for AST); (2) to the Trust at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Secretary;
or (3) to the Subadviser at _____________________________________________________, Attention: _________________________________.
6. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right
of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust 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, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render
services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
7. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof
and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in
writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement,
the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or
other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The
Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and
to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All
such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution
to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder
by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
8. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent
of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
9. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
10. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart 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 Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
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.
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: VP Inv. Mgmt
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: VP, Inv. Mgmt
Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: CFO
SCHEDULE A
As compensation for services provided by Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC, Prudential Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. will pay Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC an advisory fee on the net assets managed by Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
|
Portfolio Name
|
Advisory Fee for the Portfolio*
|
|
AST New Discovery Asset Allocation Portfolio
|
0.25% of average daily net assets to $75 million; 0.225% of average daily net assets over $75 million to $150 million; 0.20% of average daily net assets over $150 million to $250 million; and 0.19% of average daily net assets over $250 million. |
* In the event Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC invests Portfolio assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: December 14, 2015
