EX-99.(D)2(C)(2) 4 d461943dex99d2c2.htm AMENDMENT TO SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATE INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT Amendment to Sixth Amended and Restate Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement

AMENDMENT

TO

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT is made as of the 28th day of February, 2023, by and between Mason Street Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”).

WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are parties to a Sixth Amended and Restated Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 30, 2022 (the “Agreement”) relating to the Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.’s Growth Stock Portfolio (the “Portfolio”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser desire to amend the Agreement to modify the investment sub-advisory fee payable with respect to the Portfolio as set forth in this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. That portion of Schedule A to the Agreement that relates to the Growth Stock Portfolio shall be modified by deleting the text set forth therein and replacing it with the text set forth on Exhibit A attached to this Amendment, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

2. Except as modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and it is hereby ratified and confirmed.

3. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute one instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has caused this Amendment to be signed below by a duly authorized officer with full power and authority to execute this Amendment.

 

T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

  

MASON STREET ADVISORS, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Terence M. Baptiste                    

  

By:

 

/s/ Bonnie L. Tomczak                    

Name:

 

Terence M. Baptiste

  

Name:

 

Bonnie L. Tomczak

Title:

 

Vice President and Managing Legal

Counsel

  

Title:

 

President

 

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EXHIBIT A

SCHEDULE A

TO

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

MASON STREET ADVISORS, LLC

AND

T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

(That Portion of Schedule A as it relates to the Growth Stock Portfolio

As Amended February 28, 2023

Fee Effective : On or about April 1, 2023 (subject to regulatory review)

 

Portfolio    Fee

Growth Stock*

  

$0 – 50 Million – 0.50% of average daily net assets  

    

$50 – 100 Million – 0.40% of average daily net assets  

    

Reset at $ 100 Million – 0.40% of average daily net assets

    

Reset at $ 200 Million – 0.33% of average daily net assets

    

Reset at $ 500 Million – 0.325% of average daily net assets

    

Reset at $ 1 Billion – 0.30% of average daily net assets

    

$1 Billion – $ 2 Billion – 0.29% of average daily net assets

    

Reset at $ 2 Billion – 0.29% of average daily net assets

    

Over $3 Billion – 0.275% of average daily net assets

*Growth Stock Portfolio Transitional Fee Credits:

The Sub-Adviser will provide the Adviser a transitional credit to eliminate any discontinuity between the tiered fee schedule and the flat 0.40% fee schedule once assets reach $100 million. The credit will apply at asset levels between $87.5 million and $100 million. The credit will be applied against the fees assessed under the existing fee schedule and will have the effect of reducing the dollar fee until assets either (a) exceed $100 million, when the flat fee would be triggered, or (b) fall below a threshold of $87.5 million, which would trigger the application of the tiered fee schedule.

The credit is determined by prorating the difference between the tiered fee schedule and the flat 0.40% fee schedule over the difference between $100 million and the current portfolio size for billing purposes. The credit would approach $50,000 annually when the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets were close to $100 million and fall to zero at $87.5 million. The transitional credit is determined as follows:

 

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Current Portfolio Size for Billing Purposes – $87,500,000

     X $50,000  

$12,500,000

  

To accommodate circumstances where the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets approach or are beneath $200 million, the Sub-Adviser will provide a transitional credit at asset levels between $165 million and $200 million. The credit will be applied against the fees assessed under the existing fee schedule and will have the effect of reducing the dollar fee until assets either (a) exceed $200 million, when the 0.33% fee would be triggered, or (b) fall below a threshold of $165 million, which would trigger the application of the fee schedule of 0.40% on the first $200 million.

The credit is determined by prorating the difference between the 0.40% fee schedule and the 0.33% fee schedule over the difference between $200 million and the current portfolio size for billing purposes. The credit would approach $140,000 annually when the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets were close to $200 million and fall to zero at $165 million.

The transitional credit is determined as follows:

 

Current Portfolio Size for Billing Purposes – $165,000,000

     X $140,000  

$35,000,000

  

To accommodate circumstances where the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets approach or are beneath $500 million, the Sub-Adviser will provide a transitional credit at asset levels between approximately $492 million and $500 million. The credit will be applied against the fees assessed under the existing fee schedule and will have the effect of reducing the dollar fee until assets either (a) exceed $500 million, when the 0.325% fee would be triggered, or (b) fall below a threshold of approximately $492 million, which would trigger the application of the fee schedule of 0.33% on the first $500 million.

The credit is determined by prorating the difference between the 0.33% fee schedule and the 0.325% fee schedule over the difference between $500 million and the current portfolio size for billing purposes. The credit would approach $25,000 annually when the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets were close to $500 million and fall to zero at approximately $492 million.

The transitional credit is determined as follows:

 

Current Portfolio Size for Billing Purposes – $492,424,242.42

     X $25,000  

$7,575,757.58

  

 

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To accommodate circumstances where the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets approach or are beneath $1 billion, the Sub-Adviser will provide a transitional credit at asset levels between approximately $923 million and $1 billion. The credit will be applied against the fees assessed under the existing fee schedule and will have the effect of reducing the dollar fee until assets either (a) exceed $1 billion, when the 0.30% fee would be triggered, or (b) fall below a threshold of approximately $923 million, which would trigger the application of the fee schedule of 0.325% on the first $1 billion.

The credit is determined by prorating the difference between the 0.325% fee schedule and the 0.30% fee schedule over the difference between $1 billion and the current portfolio size for billing purposes. The credit would approach $250,000 annually when the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets were close to $1 billion and fall to zero at approximately $923 million.

The transitional credit is determined as follows:

 

Current Portfolio Size for Billing Purposes – $923,076,923.08

     X $250,000  

$76,923,076.92

  

To accommodate circumstances where the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets approach or are beneath $2 billion, the Sub-Adviser will provide a transitional credit at asset levels between approximately $1.97 billion and $2 billion. The credit will be applied against the fees assessed under the existing fee schedule and will have the effect of reducing the dollar fee until assets either (a) exceed $2 billion, when the 0.29% fee would be triggered, or (b) fall below a threshold of approximately $1.97 billion, which would trigger the application of the tiered fee schedule of 0.30% on the first $1 billion and 0.29% on the next $1 billion.

The credit is determined by prorating the difference between the tiered fee schedule and the 0.29% fee schedule over the difference between $2 billion and the current portfolio size for billing purposes. The credit would approach $100,000 annually when the Growth Stock Portfolio’s assets were close to $2 billion and fall to zero at approximately $1.97 billion.

The transitional credit is determined as follows:

 

Current Portfolio Size for Billing Purposes – $1,965,517,241.38

     X $100,000  

$34,482,758.62

  

 

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