Exhibit (d)12
ALLEGIANT FUNDS
ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of April 29, 2008 between ALLEGIANT FUNDS, a
Massachusetts business trust, located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (the
"Trust") and ALLEGIANT ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, located in Cleveland, Ohio (the
"Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end, management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser as investment adviser
to the High Yield Bond Fund (the "Fund");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed among the parties hereto as follows:
1. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Adviser acknowledges that it has received
copies of each of the following:
(a) The Trust's Declaration of Trust, as filed with the
State Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
on January 29, 1986 and all amendments thereto (such
Declaration of Trust, as presently in effect and as
it shall from time to time be amended, is herein
called the "Declaration of Trust");
(b) The Trust's Code of Regulations, and amendments
thereto (such Code of Regulations, as presently in
effect and as it shall from time to time be amended,
is herein called the "Code of Regulations");
(c) Resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees
authorizing the appointment of the Adviser and
approving this Agreement;
(d) The Trust's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A
under the 1940 Act as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") on September 26, 1985 and
all amendments thereto;
(e) The Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act")
(File No. 33-488) and under the 1940 Act as filed
with the SEC on September 26, 1985 and all amendments
thereto; and
(f) The Trust's most recent prospectuses and statements
of additional information with respect to the Fund
(such prospectuses and statements of additional
information, as presently in effect and all
amendments and supplements thereto are herein called
individually, a "Prospectus", and collectively, the
"Prospectuses").
The Trust will furnish the Adviser from time to time with
execution copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing.
2. SERVICES. The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as investment
adviser to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. Intending to be legally bound, the Adviser accepts such
appointment and agrees to furnish the services required herein to the
Fund for the compensation hereinafter provided.
Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees,
the Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for the Fund,
including investment research and management with respect to all
securities and investments and cash equivalents in the Fund. The
Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other
investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund. The
Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance
with the Fund's investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as
stated in the Prospectus and resolutions of the Trust's Board of
Trustees applicable to the Fund.
3. SUBCONTRACTORS. It is understood that the Adviser may from time to
time employ or associate with itself such person or persons as the
Adviser may believe to be particularly fitted to assist in the
performance of this Agreement; provided, however, that the compensation
of such person or persons shall be paid by the Adviser and that the
Adviser shall be as fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and
omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts and omissions.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that
investment advisory services to the Fund may be provided by a
sub-adviser agreeable to the Adviser and approved in accordance with
the provisions of the 1940 Act. Any such sub-advisers are hereinafter
referred to as the "Sub-Advisers." In the event that any Sub-Adviser
appointed hereunder is terminated, the Adviser may provide investment
advisory services pursuant to this Agreement to the Fund involved
without further shareholder approval. Notwithstanding the employment of
any Sub-Adviser, the Adviser shall in all events: (a) establish and
monitor general investment criteria and policies for the Fund; (b)
review investments in the Fund on a periodic basis for compliance with
its investment objective, policies and restrictions as stated in the
Prospectus; (c) review periodically any Sub-Adviser's policies with
respect to the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities; (d) review, monitor, analyze and report to the
Board of Trustees on the performance of any Sub-Adviser; (e) furnish to
the Board of Trustees or any Sub-Adviser, reports, statistics and
economic information as may be reasonably requested; and (f) recommend,
either in its sole discretion or in conjunction with any Sub-Adviser,
potential changes in investment policy.
4. COVENANTS BY ADVISER. The Adviser agrees with respect to the
services provided to the Fund that it:
(a) will comply with all applicable Rules and Regulations
of the SEC and will in addition conduct its
activities under this Agreement in accordance with
other applicable law;
(b) will use the same skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to similar
fiduciary accounts for which it has investment
responsibilities;
(c) will not make loans to any person to purchase or
carry shares in the Fund, or make interest-bearing
loans to the Trust or the Fund;
(d) will maintain a policy and practice of conducting its
investment management activities independently of the
Commercial Departments of all banking affiliates. In
making investment recommendations for the Fund,
personnel will not inquire or take into consideration
whether the issuers (or related supporting
institutions) of securities proposed for purchase or
sale for the Fund's accounts are customers of the
Commercial Department. In dealing with commercial
customers, the Commercial Department will not inquire
or take into consideration whether securities of
those customers are held by the Fund;
(e) will place orders pursuant to its investment
determinations for the Fund either directly with the
issuer or with any broker or dealer. In selecting
brokers or dealers for executing portfolio
transactions, the Adviser will use its best efforts
to seek on behalf of the Trust and the Fund the best
overall terms available. In assessing the best
overall terms available for any transaction the
Adviser shall consider all factors it deems relevant,
including the breadth of the market in the security,
the price of the security, the financial condition
and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and
the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both
for the specific transaction and on a continuing
basis. In evaluating the best overall terms
available, and in selecting the broker or dealer to
execute a particular transaction, the Adviser may
also consider the brokerage and research services (as
those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided
to the Fund and/or other accounts over which the
Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser exercises
investment discretion. The Adviser is authorized,
subject to the prior approval of the Board, to
negotiate and pay to a broker or dealer who provides
such brokerage and research services a commission for
executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund which
is in excess of the amount of commission another
broker or dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction if, but only if, the Adviser
determines in good faith that such commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage
and research services provided by such broker or
dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction
or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the
Adviser with respect to the accounts as to which it
exercises investment discretion. In no instance will
Fund securities be purchased from or sold to the
Adviser, any Sub-Adviser, Professional Funds
Distributor, LLC ("PFD") (or any other principal
underwriter to the Trust) or an affiliated person of
either the Trust, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or SEI
(or such other principal underwriter) unless
permitted by an order of the SEC or applicable rules.
In executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, the
Adviser may, but shall not be obligated to, to the
extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations,
aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased with
those of other investment portfolios of Allegiant
Funds and its other clients where such aggregation is
not inconsistent with the policies set forth in the
Trust's registration statement. In such event, the
Adviser will allocate the securities so purchased or
sold, and the expenses incurred in the transaction,
in the manner it considers to be the most equitable
and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the
Fund and such other clients;
(f) will maintain all books and records with respect to
the securities transactions for the Fund and furnish
the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and
special reports as the Board may request; and
(g) will treat confidentially and as proprietary
information of the Trust all records and other
information relative to the Fund and prior, present
or potential shareholders, and will not use such
records and information for any purpose other than
performance of its responsibilities and duties
hereunder (except after prior notification to and
approval in writing by the Trust, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld and will be deemed granted where the Adviser
may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to
divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Trust).
5. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The services furnished by the Adviser
hereunder are deemed not to be exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free
to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under
this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
6. BOOKS AND RECORDS. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further
agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the
Trust's request. The Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
7. EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser will pay
all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under
this Agreement other than the cost of securities (including brokerage
commissions, if any) purchased for the Fund.
8. COMPENSATION. For the services provided to the Fund and the expenses
assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Adviser from
the assets belonging to the Fund and the Adviser will accept as full
compensation therefor fees, computed daily and paid monthly, at the
annual rate of 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Adviser shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Trust in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a
loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser
in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of
its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement will become effective upon
approval of this Agreement by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, and, unless sooner terminated as
provided herein, shall continue in effect until September 30, 2008.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for successive twelve month periods ending on September 30, provided
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the
vote of a majority of those members of the Trust's Board of Trustees
who are not interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval,
and (b) by the Trust's Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the
payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by the Trust's Board of Trustees
or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund), or by the Adviser on 60 days' written notice. This Agreement
will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. (As used in
this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "interested persons" and "assignment" shall have the same
meaning of such terms in the 1940 Act.)
11. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of
the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. No amendment of
this Agreement shall be effective until approved by vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
12. MISCELLANEOUS. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of
the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made 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 and shall be governed by Delaware law.
13. NAMES. The names "ALLEGIANT FUNDS" and "Trustees of ALLEGIANT
FUNDS" refer respectively to the Trust created and the Trustees, as
trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to time
under a Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1986 which is hereby
referred to and a copy of which is on file at the office of the State
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the principal office
of the Trust. The obligations of "ALLEGIANT FUNDS" entered into in the
name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or
agents are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, or representatives of
the Trust personally, but bind only the Trust property, and all persons
dealing with any class of shares of the Trust must look solely to the
Trust property belonging to such class for the enforcement of any
claims against the Trust.
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.
ALLEGIANT FUNDS
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Title: Chief Administrative Officer
ALLEGIANT ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title: Managing Director
