FORM OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT] INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT G
[FORM OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT]
Agreement made this ___day of ___, 2006, by and between PACESETTER CAPITAL CORP., a Maryland
corporation (the “Corporation”), and PACESETTER MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Corporation is a newly organized specialty finance company that has elected to
become a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment
Company Act”);
WHEREAS, the Adviser is an investment adviser that is registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to retain the Adviser to furnish investment advisory services
to the Corporation on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and the Adviser wishes to be
retained to provide such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable
consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Duties of the Adviser.
(a) The Corporation hereby employs the Adviser to act as the investment adviser to the
Corporation and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Corporation, subject
to the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, for the period and upon the terms
herein set forth, (i) in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions that
are set forth in the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, dated ___, 2006, as the same
shall be amended from time to time (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), (ii) in accordance
with the Investment Company Act, subsequent to the time that the Corporation becomes a business
development company, and (iii) during the term of this Agreement in accordance with all other
applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Corporation’s charter and
by-laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and
subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the
Corporation, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such
changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the
Corporation; (iii) close, monitor and service the Corporation’s investments; (iv) determine the
securities and other assets that the Corporation will purchase, retain, or sell; and (v) provide
the Corporation with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the
Corporation may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds. The
Adviser shall have the power and
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authority on behalf of the Corporation to effectuate its investment decisions for the
Corporation, including the execution and delivery of all documents relating to the Corporation’s
investments and the placing of orders for other purchase or sale transactions on behalf of the
Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to acquire debt financing, the Adviser
will arrange for such financing on the Corporation’s behalf, subject to the oversight and approval
of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
(b) The Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees during the term hereof to render the
services described herein for the compensation provided herein.
(c) The Adviser is hereby authorized to enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with
other investment advisers (each, a “Sub-Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser may obtain the
services of the Sub-Adviser(s) to assist the Adviser in fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder.
Specifically, the Adviser may retain a Sub-Adviser to recommend specific securities or other
investments based upon the Corporation’s investment objective and policies, and work, along with
the Adviser, in structuring, negotiating, arranging or effecting the acquisition or disposition of
such investments and monitoring investments on behalf of the Corporation, subject to the oversight
of the Adviser and the Corporation. The Adviser or Pacesetter Management, LLC, the managing member
of the Adviser, and not the Corporation, shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any
Sub-Adviser. Any sub-advisory agreement entered into by the Adviser shall be in accordance with
the requirements of the Investment Company Act and other applicable federal and state laws.
(d) The Adviser shall for all purposes herein provided be deemed to be an independent
contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized herein, shall have no authority to act
for or represent the Corporation in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Corporation.
(e) The Adviser shall keep and preserve for the period required by the Investment Company Act
any books and records relevant to the provision of its investment advisory services to the
Corporation and shall specifically maintain all books and records with respect to the Corporation’s
portfolio transactions and shall render to the Corporation’s Board of Directors such periodic and
special reports as the Board may reasonably request. The Adviser agrees that all records that it
maintains for the Corporation are the property of the Corporation and will surrender promptly to
the Corporation any such records upon the Corporation’s request, provided that the Adviser may
retain a copy of such records.
2. Corporation’s Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Corporation. All
personnel of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory services
hereunder, and the compensation and expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, will be
provided and paid for by the Adviser, and not by the Corporation. The Corporation shall be
responsible for all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions, including (without
limitation) those relating to: organization and offering; calculating the Corporation’s net asset
value; effecting sales and repurchases of shares of the Corporation’s common stock and other
securities; investment advisory fees; fees payable to third parties relating to, or associated
with, making investments (in each case subject to approval of
the Corporation’s Board of Directors); transfer agent and custodial fees; costs and expenses
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relating to marketing and advertising the Corporation, including without limitation sponsorship of
industry events, attendance at industry conferences and travel and entertainment costs associated
with meeting relevant investors and prospective portfolio companies (to the extent not reimbursed
by such companies); the salary, bonus and benefits payable to the Corporation’s Chief Financial
Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Controller and administrative support staff; federal and state
registration fees; all costs of registration and listing the Corporation’s shares on any securities
exchange; federal, state and local taxes; independent Directors’ fees and expenses; costs of proxy
statements, stockholders’ reports and notices; fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and
omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums; direct costs such as printing,
mailing, long distance telephone, staff, independent auditors and outside legal costs; and all
other expenses incurred by the Corporation or Pacesetter Management, LLC (the “Administrator”) in
connection with administering the Corporation’s business, including payments under the
Administration Agreement between the Corporation and the Administrator based upon the Corporation’s
allocable portion of the Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under the
Administration Agreement, including rent.
3. Compensation of the Adviser. The Corporation agrees to pay to the Adviser, and the
Adviser agrees to accept as compensation for the services provided by the Adviser hereunder, a base
management fee (“Base Management Fee”) and an incentive fee (“Incentive Fee”) as hereinafter set
forth. The Adviser may agree to temporarily or permanently waive, in whole or in part, the Base
Management Fee and/or the Incentive Fee.
(a) The Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of the
Corporation’s gross assets. However, for services rendered during the period commencing from the
closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering (“IPO”) through the date on which the
Corporation will have fully invested or expanded the proceeds of the IPO, after fees and expenses,
including underlying discounts and commissions, the Adviser will waive 0.75% of the Base Management
Fee, reducing it to 1.25% of gross assets for that period. For services rendered during the period
commencing from the closing of the IPO, through and including December 31, 2006, the Base
Management Fee will be payable monthly in arrears, and will be calculated based on the initial
value of the Corporation’s net assets upon closing of such offering. For services rendered after
such time, the Base Management Fee will be payable monthly in arrears and will be calculated based
on the average value of the Corporation’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently
completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any capital share or debt transactions
effected during the current calendar quarter. Base Management Fees for any partial month or
quarter shall be appropriately pro rated.
(b) The Incentive Fee will have two parts. (i) The first part will be calculated and payable
quarterly in arrears based on the Corporation’s “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” for the
immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income”
means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other than
fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence
and consulting fees or other fees that the Corporation receives from portfolio companies) accrued
during the calendar quarter, minus the
Corporation’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses
payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and dividends paid on any
issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee
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Net
Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as
original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued
income that the Corporation has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital
appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of
return on the value of the Corporation’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding
calendar quarter, will be compared to a “hurdle rate” of 2% per quarter (8% annualized), subject to
a “catch-up” provisions measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. The Corporation’s net
investment income used to calculate this part of the incentive fee is also included in the amount
of gross assets used to calculate the 2% base management fee. The operation of the incentive fee
with respect to the Corporation’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for each quarter is as
follows:
• | no incentive fee is payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 2% (the “preferred return” or “hurdle”). | ||
• | 100% of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5% in any calendar quarter (10% annualized) is payable to the Adviser. This portion of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.5%) is the “catch-up.” For the purpose of clarity, it is understood that the “catch-up” provision is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20% on all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter. | ||
• | 20% of the amount of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter (10.0% annualized) is payable to the Adviser (once the hurdle is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 20% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income thereafter is allocated to the Adviser). |
(ii) The second part of the incentive fee will equal 20% of the Corporation’s “Incentive Fee
Capital Gains,” which will equal realized capital gains for each calendar year, computed net of all
realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation for that year. The incentive fee with
respect to Incentive Fee Capital Gains will be payable, in arrears, at the end of each calendar
year (or upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date),
commencing with the year ending December 31, 2006; provided that the incentive fee determined as of
December 31, 2006 will be calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take
into account any realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized
capital depreciation for the period ending December 31, 2006.
Examples setting forth the operation of the Incentive Fee are set forth in the Appendix
hereto.
4. Excess Brokerage Commissions. The Adviser is hereby authorized, to the fullest
extent now or hereafter permitted by law, to cause the Corporation to pay a member of a
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national
securities exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities
transaction in excess of the amount of commission another member of such exchange, broker or dealer
would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith, taking
into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer
spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the
firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities, that such amount of commission is
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such
member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall
responsibilities with respect to the Corporation’s portfolio, and constitutes the best net results
for the Corporation.
5. Limitations on the Employment of the Adviser. The services of the Adviser to the
Corporation are not exclusive, and the Adviser may engage in any other business or render similar
or different services to others so long as its services to the Corporation hereunder are not
impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager,
officer or employee of the Adviser to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and
attention in part to any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature. So long as
this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment remains in effect, the Adviser shall be the
only investment adviser for the Corporation, subject to the Adviser’s right to enter into
sub-advisory agreements. The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to
render the services called for hereunder. It is understood that directors, officers, employees and
stockholders of the Corporation are or may become interested in the Adviser and its affiliates, as
directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that
the Adviser and directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members and managers of the
Adviser and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Corporation as
stockholders or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser agrees that, during the term
of this Agreement, it will not serve as an investment adviser to another fund that has the primary
investment objective of investing in the equity securities of private U.S.-based technology-related
businesses.
6. Responsibility of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees. If any person who is
a manager, officer or employee of the Adviser is or becomes a director, officer and/or employee of
the Corporation and acts as such in any business of the Corporation, then such manager, officer
and/or employee of the Adviser shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the
Corporation, and not as a manager, officer or employee of the Adviser or under the control or
direction of the Adviser.
7. Limitation of Liability of the Adviser; Indemnification. The Adviser (and its
officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity
affiliated with the Adviser, including without limitation
Pacesetter Management, LLC) (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) shall not be liable to
the Corporation for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser in connection with the
performance of any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment
adviser of the Corporation, except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the Investment
Company Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt
of compensation for services, and the Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties and hold
them harmless from and against all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable
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attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in
or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other
proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation or its security
holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or
obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this Paragraph 7 to the contrary, nothing contained
herein shall protect or be deemed to protect the Indemnified Parties against or entitle or be
deemed to entitle the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any liability to the
Corporation or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s
duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
8. Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall become
effective as of the date above written. This Agreement shall remain in effect for two years, and
thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the vote of the Corporation’s Board
of Directors, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation
and (b) the vote of a majority of the Corporation’s Directors who are not parties to this Agreement
or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act)
of any such party, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written
notice, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, or by
the vote of the Corporation’s Directors or by the Adviser. This Agreement will automatically
terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of Section
15(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act). The provisions of Paragraph 7 of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.
9. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at its principal office.
10. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of
the Corporation must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.
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11. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of New York and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent the
applicable laws of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the
provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the
date above written.
PACESETTER CAPITAL CORP. |
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By: | ||||
Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
President and CEO | ||||
PACESETTER MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, LLC |
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By: | ||||
Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||||
Managing Member | ||||
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APPENDIX
Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee for Each Calendar Quarter(*)
Alternative 1
Assumptions
Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 1.25%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 0.55%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 0.55%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed hurdle rate, therefore there is no
income-related incentive fee.
Alternative 2
Assumptions
Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 2.3%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 2.3%
Incentive fee = 20% x Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (subject to “catch-up”)(4)
= 2.3% — 2%
= 0.3%
= 100% x 0.3%
= 0.3%
= 0.3%
= 100% x 0.3%
= 0.3%
1 | Represents 8% annualized hurdle rate. | |
2 | Represents 2% annualized management fee. | |
3 | Excludes organizational and offering expenses. | |
4 | The “catch-up” provision is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20% on all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if a hurdle rate did not apply when net investment income exceeds 2.5% in any calendar quarter. |
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Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds hurdle rate, but does not fully satisfy
“catch-up” provision, therefore the income-related incentive fee is 0.3%.
Alternative 3
Assumptions
Investment income (including interest, dividends, fees, etc.) = 3.4%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 2.7%
Hurdle rate(1) = 2%
Management fee(2) = 0.5%
Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.2%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
(investment income — (management fee + other expenses) = 2.7%
Incentive fee = 20% x Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (subject to “catch-up”)(4)
Incentive fee = 100% x “catch-up” + (20% x (Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income — 2.5%))
Incentive fee = 100% x “catch-up” + (20% x (Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income — 2.5%))
Catch-up = 2.5% — 2%
= 0.5%
Incentive fee = (100% x 0.5%) + (20% x (2.7% — 2.5%))
= 0.5% + (20% x 0.2%)
= 0.5% + 0.06%
= 0.54%
= 0.5% + 0.06%
= 0.54%
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds hurdle rate, and fully satisfies the
“catch-up” provision, therefore the income-related incentive fee is 0.54%.
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Example 2: Capital Gains Portion of Incentive Fee
Capital Gains Incentive Fee = 20% x Incentive Fee Capital Gains (i.e., realized capital gains
for each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital
depreciation for that calendar year).
Assumptions:
Year 1 = no realized capital gains or losses
Year 2 = 9% realized capital gains, 0% realized capital losses, 1% unrealized capital depreciation and 0% unrealized gains
Year 3 = 12% realized capital gains, 0% realized capital losses, 2% unrealized capital depreciation and 2% unrealized gains
Year 1 incentive fee • Total Incentive Fee Capital Gains = 0
• No capital gains incentive fee paid to the Adviser in Year 1.
Year 2 incentive fee • Total Incentive Fee Capital Gains = 8%
(9% realized capital gains less 1% unrealized capital depreciation)
• Total capital gains incentive fee paid to the Adviser in Year 2
= 20% x 8%
= 1.6%
Year 3 incentive fee • Total Incentive Fee Capital Gains = 10%
(12% realized capital gains less 2% unrealized capital depreciation)
• Total capital gains incentive fee paid to the Adviser in Year 3
= 20% x 10%
= 2%
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