EX-99.(D)(2)(SS) 47 e421282_ex99-d2ss.htm FORM OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Exhibit (d)(2)(SS)

 

Execution Copy

 

AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

AGREEMENT made this ____ day of ______________, 2015, by and among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Manager”), Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., an Illinois Limited Partnership (the “Lead Adviser”) and Tremblant Capital LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership (the “Underlying Adviser”);

 

WHEREAS, the American Beacon Funds, a Massachusetts Business Trust (the “Trust”), is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”), consisting of several series of shares, each having its own assets and investment objective(s), policies and restrictions; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust has retained the Manager to provide the Trust with business and asset management services, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust’s agreement with the Manager permits the Manager to delegate to other parties certain of its responsibilities thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager has retained the Lead Adviser to provide services to one or more series of shares of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager’s agreement with the Lead Adviser provides that the Lead Adviser may recommend Underlying Advisers to the Manager and the Board to manage all or a portion of the assets of a series of shares of the Trust; and

 

WHEREAS, the Underlying Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager and the Lead Adviser desire to retain, and are authorized to retain, the Underlying Adviser to render investment management services with respect to one or more series of the Trust identified in Schedule A hereto, as such schedule may be amended from time to time (the “Fund”) and as described in the Trust’s registration statement (“Registration Statement”) on Form N-1A as amended from time to time, and the Underlying Adviser is willing to render such services with respect to the Fund;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.          Appointment and Duties of the Underlying Adviser. Subject to the overall policies, direction and review of the Board, the Manager and the Lead Adviser hereby appoint the Underlying Adviser to manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion, if any, of the Fund’s assets as is designated by the Lead Adviser from time to time (the “Allocated Portion”), and, with respect to such Allocated Portion, to continuously review and administer the investment program of the Fund, to determine in the Underlying Adviser’s discretion, the securities, commodity interests (if any) and other investments to be purchased, retained or sold, to provide the Manager, the Lead Adviser and and/or the Trust, as applicable, with records as set forth in this Agreement concerning the Underlying Adviser’s activities with respect to the Allocated Portion which the Trust is required to maintain, and to render such reports as set forth in this Agreement as the Manager, the Lead Adviser and/or the Trust’s officers and Trustees may reasonably require to fulfill their respective responsibilities and duties to the Fund concerning the Underlying Adviser’s discharge of the foregoing responsibilities.

 

 

 

  

2.          Acceptance of Appointment; Standard of Performance. The Underlying Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to discharge its responsibilities as a discretionary adviser of the Allocated Portion and agrees to act in the best interests of the Fund with respect to the Allocated portion and, in connection therewith, perform its duties hereunder in conformity with (a) all applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, the Investment Company Act, the Advisers Act, and the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (“CEA”), the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations under each such act, and (b) the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, subject to its duties and obligations herein, the subadvisory services of the Underlying Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and although the Underlying Adviser acknowledges its fiduciary duty to the Fund in connection with its services to the Allocated Portion, the Underlying Adviser and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates do render similar and/or dissimilar services to others, and as such, conflicts of interests may arise.

 

3.          Services of Underlying Adviser. In providing discretionary management services to the Allocated Portion of the Funds, the Underlying Adviser shall be subject to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Trust as they apply to the Funds and as set forth in the Trust’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as part of the Trust’s Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and made available in advance to the Underlying Adviser by the Manager, and to the investment restrictions set forth in the Investment Company Act and the Rules thereunder, and subject to the Manager’s oversight, the Lead Adviser’s direction and the control of the officers and the Trustees of the Trust and in compliance with such policies as the Board may from time to time establish, and to investment guidelines, investment policies and investment restrictions (as amended from time to time) communicated in writing by the Lead Adviser to the Underlying Adviser (the “Investment Guidelines”). The Underlying Adviser shall not, without the Manager’s and Lead Adviser’s prior written approval, effect any transactions that would cause the Allocated Portion at the time of the transaction to be out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies or the Investment Guidelines applicable to the Allocated Portion. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the Underlying Adviser may rely solely on the Lead Adviser’s prior written approval to effect a transaction that, at the time of the transaction, would cause the Allocated Portion to be out of compliance with one or more Investment Guidelines, , so long as such transaction is not inconsistent with the Fund’s Prospectus or any Investment Guideline that was established or approved by the Board or otherwise required by the Trust’s Registration Statement. The Underlying Adviser shall adopt policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure continued compliance with the Investment Guidelines applicable to the Allocated Portion on a daily basis. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Underlying Adviser shall not be responsible for aspects of the Fund’s investment program other than managing the Allocated Portion in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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4.Transaction Procedures.

 

A.All transactions for the Allocated Portion shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the custodian of the Fund (the “Custodian”), or such authorized [sub-custodians, prime brokers,] depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities and other property due to or from the Fund. The Underlying Adviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or other property or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Underlying Adviser shall advise the Custodian of all investment orders for the Allocated Portion of the Funds placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth, as amended from time to time, by the custodian and made available to the Underlying Adviser (“proper instructions”). Except to the extent the Fund incurs an overdraft fee or other loss or penalty as a result of the Underlying Adviser’s act or omission or breach of this Agreement, the Trust, or its designee, shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees. Upon giving proper instructions (as described herein) to the Custodian, the Underlying Adviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian.

 

B.With respect to any of the Allocated Portion, the Lead Adviser will monitor daily cash inflows and outflows, and select the appropriate cash management investment vehicles and the Manager will administer the Fund’s interfund credit facility. The Lead Adviser will instruct the Custodian to hold and/or transfer the Fund’s assets in accordance with Proper Instructions received from the Lead Adviser. (For this purpose, the term “Proper Instructions” shall have the meaning(s) specified in the applicable agreement(s) between the Trust and its Custodian, but generally refers to a writing by the representatives of the Lead Adviser (or Underlying Adviser as applicable) who have been authorized by the Trust’s Board from time to time to provide instructions to the Trust’s custodian. For the purpose of clarification, “Proper Instructions” can be instructions in any format, including without limitation, electronic instructions that are agreed upon by the Lead Adviser and the Custodian.)

 

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C.The Underlying Adviser may, with prior notice to the Fund and the Manager and consistent with the investment discretion delegated to the Underlying Adviser herein, enter into agreements and execute any documents including without limitation, futures and options transactions, prime brokerage agreements, clearing agreements, account documentation, futures and option agreements, swap agreements, and other investment related agreements required to meet the obligations of the Trust with respect to any investments made for the Funds. The Underlying Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Manager and the Lead Adviser to make all elections required in such agreements, instruments and documentation and make and receive all related notices from brokers or other counterparties. The Manager and the Lead Adviser also authorize the Underlying Adviser as agent and attorney-in-fact, and in connection with the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and responsibilities hereunder, to make transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts on margin, for the Fund, and authorize each broker with whom the Underlying Adviser makes such transactions to follow its instructions with respect to such transactions. The Underlying Adviser will determine that such transactions are permitted before instructing a broker to enter into such transactions and it is understood that any broker receiving an order for any such transaction will have no independent obligation to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the Trust’s registration statement or the Fund’s investment guidelines. The Underlying Adviser shall (a) be responsible for ensuring that any such representations are consistent with the relevant Investment Guidelines; (b) be responsible for providing all notifications and delivering all documents required to be provided or delivered by a Fund under such documentation; and (c) monitor the counterparty risk associated with each such counterparty and promptly notify the Manager and the Lead Adviser of any material counterparty risk event, any event of default, , and any termination event affecting the Fund under documentation with such counterparty immediately upon Underlying Adviser becoming aware of such event. The Underlying Adviser further shall have the authority to provide Proper Instructions to the Custodian [or any authorized sub-custodian or prime broker] to: (i) pay cash for securities and other property delivered for the Fund, (ii) deliver or accept delivery of, upon receipt of payment or payment upon receipt of, securities, commodities or other property underlying any futures or options contracts, and other property purchased or sold for the Fund; and (iii) deposit margin or collateral which shall include the transfer of money, securities or other property to the extent necessary to meet the obligations of the Fund with respect to any investments made consistent with the Fund’ Prospectus, provided, however, that unless otherwise approved by the Manager, any such deposit of margin or collateral shall be effected by transfer to or segregation within an account maintained for the Fund by the Custodian[, or another custodian subject to an agreement, acceptable in form and substance to the Manager, pursuant to which such custodian agrees and accepts entitlement, orders or instructions from the secured party with respect to such margin or collateral]. The Underlying Adviser shall not have the authority to cause the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Trust to deliver securities or other property, or pay cash to the Underlying Adviser other than payment of the management fee provided for in this Agreement. The Underlying Adviser will not be responsible for the cost of securities or brokerage commissions or any other Trust expenses except as specified in this Agreement.

 

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5.          Allocation of Brokerage. The Underlying Adviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute transactions for the Allocated Portion of the Funds initiated by the Underlying Adviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed in accordance with the Underlying Adviser’s Form ADV, and trading and brokerage polices, a copy of which has been provided to the Manager and/or Lead Adviser (the “Allocation Procedures and Guidelines”).

 

A.In selecting broker-dealers for the placement of sale and purchase orders for the Allocated Portion, the Underlying Adviser’s primary responsibility shall be to seek the “best execution” of orders as described in the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time. Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, the Underlying Adviser agrees that, in placing any orders with selected brokers and dealers, the Underlying Adviser will seek to obtain best execution and otherwise act in accordance with its Allocation Procedures and Guidelines. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Underlying Adviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Allocated Portion of the Funds, as long as the Underlying Adviser determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided by such broker or dealer to the Underlying Adviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Underlying Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Allocated Portion, as to which the Underlying Adviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Allocated Portion may not be a direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Allocated Portion a lower commission on the particular transaction.

 

B.Subject to the Underlying Adviser’s Allocation Procedures and Guidelines, (i) the Underlying Adviser may manage other portfolios and accounts (together, the “other portfolios” or “other accounts”) and expects that the Allocated Portion and such other portfolios the Underlying Adviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the same securities. The Underlying Adviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of the Allocated Portion with orders on behalf of the other portfolios and (ii) securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, shall be allocated to the account of the Allocated Portion and each other portfolio that bought or sold such securities in a manner considered by the Underlying Adviser to be equitable and consistent with the Underlying Adviser’s fiduciary obligations in respect of the Allocated Portion and to such other accounts. The Manager acknowledges that while the Allocated Portion and the other accounts may invest in the same securities or type thereof, the Underlying Adviser may give advice or exercise investment responsibility and take such other action with respect to such other accounts which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Allocated Portion based on, among other factors, the respective investment guidelines and objectives, cash inflows/outflows or applicable tax or regulatory considerations.

 

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C.The Underlying Adviser shall not execute any transactions for the Allocated Portion with a broker or dealer that is an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of (i) the Fund; (ii) another series of the Trust; (iii) the Manager; (iv) the Underlying Adviser or any other underlying adviser (including the Lead Adviser) to the Fund; (v) the principal underwriter of the Trust’s shares; or (vi) any other affiliated person of the Fund, in each case, which affiliates are known or have been identified in writing to the Underlying Adviser, unless such transactions are permitted by applicable law or regulation and carried out in compliance with any applicable policies and procedures of the Trust. The Manager or the Lead Adviser, or a designee thereof, shall provide the Underlying Adviser with a (I) list (and any updates thereto) of brokers and dealers that are “affiliated persons” of the Fund, the Trust, each series of the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any other underlying adviser and the principal underwriter (collectively, the “Manager Affiliates List”), and (II) the applicable policies and procedures referred to in this paragraph (C). Upon the request of the Manager, the Underlying Adviser shall promptly, and in any event within three business days of a request, indicate whether any entity identified by the Manager in such request is an “affiliated person,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, of (i) the Underlying Adviser or (ii) to the knowledge of the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser, subject in each case to any confidentiality requirements applicable to the Underlying Adviser and/or its affiliates. Further, the Underlying Adviser shall provide the Manager with a list of (x) each broker-dealer entity that is an “affiliated person,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Underlying Adviser and (y) each affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser that has outstanding publicly-issued debt or equity (collectively, the “Underlying Adviser Affiliates List”). The Manager agrees to promptly update the Manager Affiliates List and the Underlying Adviser agrees promptly to update the Underlying Adviser Affiliates List whenever the Manager or the Underlying Adviser, as applicable, becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from such list of affiliated persons. In no event shall the Underlying Adviser be bound by any update or modification to, or amendment of, the Manager Affiliates List unless and until the Underlying Adviser receives a written or electronic copy of the update, modification or amendment.

 

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D.Consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund in respect of the Allocated Portion and subject to the requirements set forth herein, the Underlying Adviser may, under certain circumstances, arrange to have purchase and sale transactions effected between the Allocated Portion and another account managed by the Underlying Adviser (“cross transactions”), provided that such transactions are carried out in accordance with applicable law or regulation and any applicable policies and procedures of the Trust as provided in writing to the Underlying Adviser. The Trust, or its designee, has provided the Underlying Adviser with such applicable policies and procedures.

 

6.          Valuation. In accordance with procedures established by the Board as communicated to the Underlying Adviser, which may be amended from time to time, with respect to the Allocated Portion, the Underlying Adviser will (i) provide assistance to the Manager in determining the fair value of all securities and other investments owned by the Fund, (ii) use reasonable efforts to arrange for the provision of valuation information or prices from parties independent of the Underlying Adviser with respect to the securities or other investments owned by the Fund for which market prices are not readily available, and (iii) monitor the securities and other investments owned by the Fund for potential significant events that could affect their values and notify the Manager when, in its opinion, a significant event has occurred that may not be reflected in the market values of such securities. The Underlying Adviser will maintain adequate records with respect to securities valuation information provided hereunder, and shall provide such information or copies thereof to the Lead Adviser or the Manager upon request.

 

7.          Compliance and Other Matters of the Underlying Adviser. The Underlying Adviser, at its expense, shall provide the Manager and the Lead Adviser with such compliance reports and certifications relating to its duties under this Agreement and applicable federal securities laws as may be agreed upon by the parties to this Agreement from time to time. In addition:

 

A.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which failure to be so qualified would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon it, and it will continue to be so organized and in good standing for so long as this Agreement remains in effect;

 

B.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it (i) is registered as an “investment adviser” with the SEC under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer under Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; (iv) has adopted written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, and will provide notice promptly to the Manager of any material violations of such policies and procedures relating to the Trust; (v) has materially met and will seek to continue to materially meet for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, any other applicable federal or state requirements, or the applicable requirements of any regulatory or industry self-regulatory agency;

 

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C.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it is registered as a commodity trading advisor with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and is a member in good standing of the U.S. National Futures Association (the “NFA”) or duly exempt from such registration and it will maintain such registration or exemption continuously during the term of this Agreement or, alternatively, will become a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the CFTC and will be a member in good standing with the NFA;

 

D.The Underlying Adviser will immediately notify the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser of the occurrence of any event which would disqualify the Underlying Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9 of the Investment Company Act or otherwise. The Underlying Adviser will also notify the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser, as soon as is reasonably practicable, if it is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, including but not limited to the SEC and the CFTC which might reasonably be expected to impact the business of the Fund;

 

E.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, to the best of its knowledge, (i) there are no material pending, threatened, or contemplated actions, suits, proceedings, or investigations before or by any court, governmental, administrative or self-regulatory body, board of trade, exchange, or arbitration panel to which the Underlying Adviser or any of its directors, officers, employees, partners, shareholders, members or principals, or affiliates is a party, or to its or its affiliates’ assets are subject; and (ii) neither the Underlying Adviser nor any of its affiliates has received any notice of an investigation, inquiry, or dispute by any court, governmental, administrative, or self-regulatory body, board of trade, exchange, or arbitration panel regarding any of its or their activities, which might reasonably be expected to result in (1) a material adverse effect on the Trust or (2) a material adverse change in the Underlying Adviser’s condition (financial or otherwise) or business, or which might reasonably be expected to materially impair the Underlying Adviser’s ability to discharge its obligations under this Agreement. The Underlying Adviser will also notify the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser, as soon as is reasonably practicable, if the representation in this subsection E is no longer accurate;

 

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F.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it will, at all times, use its best judgment and effort in carrying out its obligations hereunder;

 

G.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it will use the same level of care and skill in providing such services as it uses in providing services to other non-ERISA accounts for which it has a fiduciary duty and similar investment management responsibilities;

 

H.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it will (i) cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance and information to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Trust’s administrator, Custodian, transfer agent and pricing agents and all other authorized agents and representatives of the Fund, the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser as each may reasonably require to satisfy its obligations to the Fund with respect to the Allocated Portion; (ii) in connection therewith, seek to provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons; and (iii) maintain any appropriate and reasonable interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Underlying Adviser shall comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements relating to derivatives transactions entered into by the Underlying Adviser for or on behalf of the Fund with respect to the Allocated Portion, including without limitation, compliance with all applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements pursuant to Parts 43, 45 and 46 of the regulations of the CFTC and comparable rules of the SEC (collectively, the “Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules”); ;

 

I.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it shall maintain a written code of ethics (“Code of Ethics”) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and shall provide the Manager and the Lead Adviser with a current copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. The Underlying Adviser shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Underlying Adviser shall certify to the Trust or its designee that the Underlying Adviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-1 during the previous calendar quarter and that, to the Underlying Advisers knowledge, (i) there has been no material violation of its Code of Ethics, (ii) there has been no material violation of Rule 17j-1(b), and (iii) no person covered under its Code of Ethics has unlawfully divulged or acted upon any material, non-public information, as such term is defined under relevant securities laws, and, if such a violation of its Code of Ethics has occurred, that appropriate action was taken in response to such violation. Except as prohibited by applicable law, the Underlying Adviser shall notify the Manager and Lead Adviser as soon as is reasonably practicable of any material violation of the Code of Ethics involving the Trust. Upon written request of the Manager or the Lead Adviser, the Underlying Adviser shall permit the Manager and/or Lead Adviser, during normal business hours, to examine the reports required to be made by the Adviser under Rules 204A-1(b) and 17j-1(d)(1) and the Code of Ethics and other records evidencing enforcement of the Code of Ethics as may be reasonably required for the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, as applicable, to fulfill its obligations with respect to the Trust. Further, the Underlying Adviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, nonpublic information by the Underlying Adviser and its employees. Annually, the Underlying Adviser shall furnish to the Board of the Trust a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Underlying Adviser’s Code of Ethics;

 

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J.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations by the Underlying Adviser and its supervised persons, and, to the extent the activities of the Underlying Adviser in respect of the Trust could affect the Trust, by the Trust, of “federal securities laws” (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act) with respect to the services to be provided to the Allocated Portion by the Underlying Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, and that the Underlying Adviser has, as of the effective date of this Agreement, provided the Trust with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) and related information reasonably requested by the Trust and/or the Manager or Lead Adviser. The Underlying Adviser agrees to cooperate with periodic reviews by the Trust’s and/or the Manager’s compliance personnel of the Underlying Adviser’s policies and procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Trust and/or the Manager from time to time such reasonable additional information and certifications in respect of the Underlying Adviser’s policies and procedures, compliance by the Underlying Adviser with federal securities laws and related matters as the Trust or the Manager may reasonably request or as required by Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Underlying Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Manager of any compliance violations which affect the Allocated Portion;

 

K.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall comply with the Trust’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund as described in the Trust’s current Registration Statement, and upon request from the Manager or the Lead Adviser, provide a certification to the Manager or the Lead Adviser with respect to compliance with the Fund’s selective disclosure policy;

 

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L.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall treat confidentially and as proprietary all records and other non-public information relating to the Fund, and 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 Manager and the Lead Adviser or when so requested by the Manager or the Lead Adviser or required by law or regulation; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underlying Adviser may disclose the total return earned by the Allocated Portion and may include such total return in the calculation of Underlying Adviser’s composite performance information. Furthermore, Underlying Adviser may not consult with any other underlying adviser of the Fund concerning transactions in securities or other assets for any series of the Trust, including the Fund, except that such consultations are permitted between the current underlying adviser and successor underlying adviser of a fund in order to effect an orderly transition of sub-advisory duties so long as such consultations are not concerning transactions prohibited by Section 17(a) of the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underlying Adviser may (i) disclose any information if (a) it becomes ascertainable from public information, (b) such disclosure is required by applicable federal, state or other law or regulation, or (c) such disclosure is required or requested by regulatory authorities or judicial process; and (ii) with prior notification to, and written approval from, the Manager and Lead Adviser, disclose the name of the Fund or the Trust, or information regarding the characteristics of the Fund or Allocated Portion, trading history, performance information or other related information, to any third party in compliance with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy;

 

M.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall promptly notify the Manager and the Lead Adviser of any impending change of a portfolio manager responsible for managing the assets of the Allocated Portion, or of an anticipated change in portfolio management strategy with respect to the Underlying Adviser’s management of the Allocated Portion, or any other material matter that the Underlying Adviser reasonably believes may require disclosure to the Board and/or shareholders of the Fund;

 

N.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it has or shall provide the Manager and the Lead Adviser with a current and complete copy of the Underlying Adviser’s Form ADV, and any supplements or amendments thereto and, to the extent applicable, if required by the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Underlying Adviser shall provide Lead Adviser and the Trust with a copy of its most recent CFTC disclosure document as from time to time required thereby or a written explanation of the reason why it is not required to deliver such a disclosure document;

 

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O.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall provide the Manager and the Lead Adviser with a current list of persons the Underlying Adviser wishes to have authorized to give instructions to the Custodian regarding assets of the Fund;

 

P.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall be responsible for the filing of Schedule 13D/13G and Form 13F, if any, and any non-U.S. securities filing equivalents of these filings, on behalf of the Trust, with respect to the Allocated Portion, reflecting holdings over which the Underlying Adviser and its affiliates have investment and/or voting discretion;

 

Q.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that , [it shall provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Trust or its agent in processing class action paperwork, for any security held within the Funds managed by the Underlying Adviser;

 

R.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall ensure that neither the Underlying Adviser nor any “affiliated person,” as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, of the Adviser that, to the Underlying Adviser’s knowledge, is or has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by reason of any misconduct, by order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction or regulatory authority, will continue to act as an investment adviser or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity or in connection with the purchase or sale of any security, as set forth in Section 9 of the Investment Company Act;

 

S.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, upon request, it shall report to the Manager, or its designee, and the Lead Adviser on the investment program for the Fund and furnish the Manager and the Lead Adviser, with respect to the Fund, such periodic and special reports as the Manager or the Lead Adviser may reasonably request in connection with its respective responsibilities and obligations to the Fund, including, but not limited to, reports providing general information concerning transactions and performance of the Allocated Portion and reports regarding: compliance with the Trust’s procedures pursuant to Rules 17e-1, 17a-7, 10f-3 and 12d3-1 under the Investment Company Act and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act; compliance with Investment Guidelines; trade errors; liquidity determinations; and compliance with the Underlying Adviser’s Code of Ethics, and such other procedures or requirements that the Manager and the Lead Adviser may reasonably request from time to time;

 

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T.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall promptly review the Fund’s Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, provided to the Underlying Adviser by the Manager or the Lead Adviser which relate to the Underlying Adviser or the Fund and confirm that, with respect to the disclosure respecting or relating to the Underlying Adviser or the Underlying Adviser’s investment management services to the Allocated Portion, including any performance information the Underlying Adviser provides for purpose of inclusion in the Fund’s Prospectus that is included therein or, to the Underlying Adviser’s knowledge serves as the basis for information included in the Prospectus (“Underlying Adviser Disclosure”), such Underlying Adviser Disclosure contains no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained in the Underlying Adviser Disclosure not misleading. The Underlying Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager and the Lead Adviser immediately of any material fact known to the Underlying Adviser respecting or relating to the Underlying Adviser and its management of the Allocated Portion that would cause the Underlying Adviser Disclosure to become untrue in any material respect. With respect to the disclosure respecting the Allocated Portion of each Fund, the Underlying Adviser represents and agrees that the description in the Trust’s prospectus and statement of additional information regarding investment objectives and strategies is consistent with the manner in which the Underlying Adviser intends to manage the Allocated Portion, and the description of risks is consistent with risks known to the Underlying Adviser that arise in connection with the manner in which the Underlying Adviser intends to manage the Allocated Portion. The Underlying Adviser further agrees to notify the Manager and the Lead Adviser immediately in the event that the Underlying Adviser becomes aware that the prospectus or statement of additional information for the Allocated Portion of a Fund is inconsistent in any material respect with the manner in which the Underlying Adviser is managing the Allocated Portion, and in the event that the principal risks description with respect to the Allocated Portion is inconsistent in any material respect with the risks known to the Underlying Adviser that arise in connection with the manner in which the Underlying Adviser is managing the Allocated Portion. In addition, the Underlying Adviser agrees to comply with the Manager and the Lead Adviser’s reasonable request for information regarding the personnel of the Underlying Adviser who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Allocated Portion as may be required to be disclosed in the Prospectus;

 

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U.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, upon request, it shall provide certifications to the principal executive and financial officers of the Trust (the “certifying officers”) as may be required or reasonable to support the certifications required to be made by the certifying officers in connection with the preparation and/or filing of the Trust’s Form N-CSRs, N-Qs, shareholder reports, financial statements, and other disclosure documents or regulatory filings, in such form and content as the Trust shall reasonably request or in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust;

 

V.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that it shall timely provide to the Manager the Lead Adviser and the Board the information they may reasonably request and as may be necessary or appropriate for the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Board, as applicable, to perform their duties with respect to the Allocated Portion and to comply with applicable law, including, without limitation, (i) information and commentary relating to the Underlying Adviser or the Allocated Portion for the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (for the avoidance of doubt, such commentary shall only be required in respect of the annual report), in a format reasonably approved by the Manager;

 

W.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that Underlying Adviser and the Underlying Adviser’s management of the Allocated Portion of the Funds (including, without limitation, compliance with the applicable procedures), in a format reasonably requested by the Manager, as it may be amended from time to time; and (iii) an annual certification from the Underlying Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, appointed under Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act with respect to the design and operation of the Underlying Adviser’s compliance program, in a format reasonably requested by the Manager or the Trust;

 

X.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that,, it shall promptly notify the Lead Adviser and the Manager in the event of (i) a permanent departure or long-term unavailability of the principal executive officer or principal financial officer, chief operating officer, chief compliance officer, chief risk officer (or such other persons the responsibilities for which would reasonably be performed by a person holding one of the foregoing titles, howsoever described by Underlying Adviser) or any Key Portfolio Manager(s) responsible for the Allocated Portion of the Funds as identified from time to time, in writing and provided to the Manager and Lead Adviser, by the Underlying Adviser (each, a “Key Portfolio Manager”), (ii) any actual or expected change of a portfolio management strategy, of the Underlying Adviser or a portfolio manager primarily responsible for managing the assets in the Allocated Portion, (iii) any actual or expected change in control of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of the Advisers Act or (iv) any other material matter with respect to the Allocated Portion or the Underlying Advisers duties and responsibilities under this Agreement that may require disclosure to the Board and/or shareholders of the Funds; and

 

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Y.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, it shall provide the Manager and the Lead Adviser with such other compliance reports and certifications relating to its duties under this Agreement and the federal securities laws as may be reasonably necessary or required by applicable law.

 

8.           Compliance and Other Matters of the Manager and Lead Adviser. Each of the Manager and Lead Adviser represents and warrants to the Underlying Adviser that it (i) is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered for so long as this Agreement remains in effect; (ii) is not prohibited by the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or other law, regulation or order from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) is either registered as a CPO and a member of the NFA or is relying on an exemption or exclusion from registration as a CPO or has made a permissible delegation of its duties and responsibilities as a CPO to another entity; (iv) has adopted and implemented a written code of ethics complying with requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act; (v) has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; (vi) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; and (vii) has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and this Agreement has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

 

9.           Proxies and Other Shareholder Actions.

 

A.Unless otherwise directed in writing by the Manager or the Lead Adviser, the Underlying Adviser shall receive and exercise the voting rights with respect to any and all proxies regarding the assets in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders and in accordance with the Underlying Adviser’s then current proxy voting policy and procedures, a copy of which has been provided to the Manager and the Lead Adviser. The Underlying Adviser shall report to the Manager and the Lead Adviser in a timely manner a record of all proxies voted, in such form and format that permits the Fund to comply with its filing obligations under all federal rules and regulations, including Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act. Upon request of the Manager or Lead Adviser, the Underlying Adviser shall certify annually or more often as may reasonably be requested by the Manager and the Lead Adviser as to its compliance with its proxy voting policies and procedures and applicable federal statutes and regulations in the voting of proxies with respect to the Allocated Portion. Upon prior notice to the Underlying Adviser, the Manager and the Lead Adviser reserve the right to exercise voting rights on any assets held in the Funds on an individual security or ongoing basis.

 

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B.The Underlying Adviser is authorized to deal with reorganizations, exchange offers and other voluntary corporate actions with respect to securities held in the Allocated Portion in such manner as the Underlying Adviser deems advisable, unless the Trust or the Manager otherwise specifically directs in writing. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Underlying Adviser shall not be responsible for the filing of claims (or otherwise causing the Trust to participate) in class action settlements or similar proceedings in which shareholders may participate related to securities currently or previously associated with the Allocated Portion, however it shall provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Trust or its agent in processing class action paperwork, for any security held or previously held within the Funds managed by the Underlying Adviser. With the Manager’s approval, on a case-by-case basis the Underlying Adviser may obtain the authority and take on the responsibility to: (i) identify, evaluate and pursue legal claims, including commencing or defending suits, affecting the securities held at any time in the Allocated Portion of the Funds, including claims in bankruptcy, class action securities litigation and other litigation; (ii) participate in such litigation or related proceedings with respect to such securities as the Underlying Adviser deems appropriate to preserve or enhance the value of the Allocated Portion of the Funds, including filing proofs of claim and related documents and serving as “lead plaintiff” in class action lawsuits; (iii) exercise generally any of the powers of an owner with respect to the supervision and management of such rights or claims, including the settlement, compromise or submission to arbitration of any claims, the exercise of which the Underlying Adviser deems to be in the best interest of the Allocated Portion of the Funds or required by applicable law, including ERISA, and (iv) employ suitable agents, including legal counsel, and to pay their reasonable fees, expenses and related costs from the Allocated Portion of the Funds.

 

10.          Compensation of the Underlying Adviser. For the services to be rendered by the Underlying Adviser as provided in Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Agreement, the Lead Adviser shall pay to the Underlying Adviser compensation at the rate specified in Schedule B attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement. Such compensation shall be accrued daily and paid to the Underlying Adviser monthly in arrears, and the Lead Adviser shall calculate the fee by applying the annual percentage rate(s) as specified in the attached Schedule B to the average daily net assets of the Allocated Portion during the relevant month. Solely for the purpose of calculating the applicable annual percentage rates specified in the attached Schedule B, there shall be included such other assets as are specified in said Schedule B. The Lead Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Underlying Adviser from the fees the Lead Adviser receives from the Manager.

 

The Underlying Adviser shall bear all expenses incurred by it and its staff with respect to all activities in connection with the performance of the Underlying Adviser’s services under this Agreement, including but not limited to personnel, salaries, benefits, overhead, travel, preparation of reports, office space, furnishings and equipment. Upon request by the Manager, the Underlying Adviser agrees to reimburse the Manager for reasonable costs associated with any supplement to the Fund’s Prospectus that may be required with respect to the Underlying Adviser requiring prompt disclosure in the Trust’s prospectus or to correct or update any information about the Underlying Adviser or its investment management of the Allocated Portion that was provided by the Underlying Adviser for the purpose of inclusion in the Prospectus. The Underlying Adviser also agrees to bear all reasonable expenses of the Trust or the Fund, if any, arising out of an assignment by, or change in control of, the Underlying Adviser. The Underlying Adviser shall reimburse the Manager or the Trust, as applicable, for all of the costs associated with generating such Supplements, and/or any required Board meeting and/or proxy expenses related to approving a change in control of the Underlying Adviser. Reimbursable costs may include, but are not limited to, costs of preparation, filing, printing, postage, and/or distribution of such Supplements to all existing Fund shareholders.

 

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11.          Other Services. At the request of the Trust or the Manager, the Underlying Adviser in its discretion may make available to the Trust office facilities, equipment, personnel, and other services. Such office facilities, equipment, personnel and services shall be provided for or rendered by the Underlying Adviser and billed to the Trust or the Manager at a price to be agreed upon by the Underlying Adviser and the Trust or the Manager.

 

12.Information and Reports.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser shall keep the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser informed of developments relating to its duties as Underlying Adviser of which the Underlying Adviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Funds. In this regard, the Underlying Adviser shall provide the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Underlying Adviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Trust, the Manager and the Lead Adviser may from time to time reasonably request. In addition, prior to each meeting of the Board, the Underlying Adviser shall provide the Manager, the Lead Adviser and the Board with reports regarding the Underlying Adviser’s management of the Allocated Portion of the Funds during the most recently completed quarter, which reports: (i) shall include the Underlying Adviser’s representation that its performance of its investment management duties hereunder and with regard to the Allocated Portion is in compliance with the Funds’ investment objectives and practices, the Investment Company Act and applicable rules and regulations under the Investment Company Act, and applicable Investment Guidelines provided to the Underlying Adviser by the Lead Adviser, and the diversification and minimum “good income” requirements of Subchapter M under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (ii) otherwise shall be in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Underlying Adviser and the Manager and Lead Adviser.

 

B.The Manager and the Lead Adviser shall provide to the Underlying Adviser, and the Underlying Adviser shall provide to the Manager and the Lead Adviser, a list of, to the best of each party’s respective knowledge, each of its affiliated persons (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person), and each party agrees promptly to update and deliver to the Underlying Adviser, or the Manager and Lead Adviser, as applicable, such update or updated list whenever the Manager, Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser becomes aware of any changes that should be added to or deleted from the list of affiliated persons.

 

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C.The Underlying Adviser shall also provide the Trust, the Manager and Lead Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Manager or Lead Adviser regarding its management of the Allocated Portion of the Funds required for any shareholder report, amended Registration Statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the SEC, and such other information with regard to its affairs as the others may reasonably request.

 

D.The Manager shall make available to the Underlying Adviser copies of the Prospectus, and shareholder reports, and also provide the Certificate of Trust, Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Bylaws, Compliance Policies and Procedures of the Trust, and any amendments thereto. The Underlying Adviser will be provided the opportunity to review and provide comments on any description of the Underlying Adviser set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and shareholder reports which will be clearly marked to indicate that they are documents of the Trust and/or the Fund rather than of the Underlying Adviser. The Underlying Adviser shall not be responsible or liable for loss caused by or relating to any description of the Underlying Adviser that the Underlying Adviser has not provided or has not had a chance to review or that does not incorporate material changes made by the Underlying Adviser. If the Underlying Adviser ceases to furnish services to the Trust, the Lead Adviser or the Manager, on behalf of the Trust and at the expense of the Trust, shall, as promptly as practicable, take all necessary action to cause the Fund’s Prospectus and shareholder reports to be amended to accomplish a change of name to eliminate any reference to the Underlying Adviser, and within 60 days after such date, shall cease to use in any other manner, including use in any sales literature or promotional material, the Underlying Adviser’s name (except as necessary or reasonably desirable to identify historical service providers). The Underlying Adviser also shall not be responsible or liable for any loss caused by or relating to disclosure relating to any cash management vehicles and/or interfund credit facility described in Section 4(B) of this Agreement with respect to which the Underlying Adviser has not provided any services or information.

 

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13.          Status of Underlying Adviser. The subadvisory services of the Underlying Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed exclusive, and although the Underlying Adviser acknowledges its fiduciary duty to the Fund, and the Underlying Adviser and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates shall be free to render similar or dissimilar services to others so long as its services to the Trust are not impaired thereby. The Underlying Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent to the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Trust or any Fund in any way, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as making the Trust, the Fund, the Manager or the Lead Adviser a partner or co-venturer with the Underlying Adviser or any of the Underlying Adviser’s affiliates. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Lead Adviser may appoint from time to time other underlying advisers in addition to the Underlying Adviser to manage the assets of the Fund that do not constitute the Allocated Portion and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted to grant the Underlying Adviser an exclusive arrangement to act as the sole underlying adviser to the Fund, although it shall be the sole underlying adviser to the Allocated Portion. It is further acknowledged and agreed that the Manager and Lead Adviser make no commitment to designate any portion of the Fund’s assets to the Underlying Adviser as the Allocated Portion.

 

14.          Certain Records. The Underlying Adviser shall maintain all records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act or the Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules , including without limitation those set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, and any of such records that are prepared or maintained by the Underlying Adviser in connection with its services hereunder and relate to its duties herein or management of the Allocated Portion or otherwise maintained on behalf of the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Allocated Portion are the property of the Manager, the Lead Adviser or the Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Manager, the Lead Underlying Adviser or Trust on request, provided that the Underlying Adviser shall be entitled to retain a copy of such records.

 

15.Liability and Indemnification by Parties

 

A.The Underlying Adviser, and its officers, members, partners and employees, shall have no liability to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Fund, Fund shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, except that the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Fund, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Allocated Portion or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact that was known, or should have been known, to the Underlying Adviser which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Fund by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by Manager or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Manager for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any claim for indemnification (“Claim”) for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

16.          Permissible Interests. To the extent permitted by law, Trustees, agents, and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Underlying Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or shareholders, or otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents, and shareholders of the Underlying Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as Trustees, shareholders or otherwise; and the Underlying Adviser (or any successor thereof) is or may be interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise; provided that all such interests shall be fully disclosed in the Trust’s registration statement as required by law.

 

17.          Duration and Termination. This Agreement, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue for two years after its execution as to the Fund and thereafter for periods of one year for so long as such continuance thereafter is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; provided, however, that if the shareholders of the Fund fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein, the Underlying Adviser may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and rules thereunder. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be “specifically approved at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. This Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, (a) by the Manager or the Lead Adviser upon not less than thirty days (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other parties hereto, (b) by vote of a majority of the Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund on not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days written notice to the Underlying Adviser or (c) by the Underlying Adviser at any time without the payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) days written notice to the Manager and the Lead Adviser. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Lead Adviser may from time to time, and at any time, decrease the Allocated Portion.

 

A notice period provided in this Section may be waived by the party(ies) required to be notified, in their absolute discretion.

 

As used in this Section 17, the terms “assignment”, “interested persons”, and a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC under said Act.

 

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This Agreement may also be terminated without the payment of any penalty, by the Manager , Lead Adviser or the Trust immediately by written notice to the Underlying Adviser upon: (i) a material breach by the Underlying Adviser of this Agreement which is not promptly cured (to the extent that such breach is curable); (ii) the portfolio manager primarily responsible for the management of the Allocated Portion who has been identified by the parties hereto as the “Key Portfolio Manager” ceasing to be employed by the Underlying Adviser or continuing to oversee the Underlying Adviser’s management of the Funds’ assets unless a replacement for the Key Portfolio Manager has been mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto; or (iii) the Underlying Adviser or any officer, director or Key Portfolio Manager of the Underlying Adviser being accused in any regulatory, self-regulatory or judicial proceeding as having violated the federal securities laws or engaged in criminal conduct. This Agreement may also be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, by the Underlying Adviser immediately by written notice to the Lead Adviser or the Manager upon: (i) a material breach by the Manager or the Lead Adviser of this Agreement which is not promptly cured (to the extent that such breach is curable); (ii) the Manager or the Lead Adviser or any officer or director of the Manager or the Lead Adviser having been found ineligible to serve in their respective capacity under Section 9 of the Investment Company Act; or (iii) the Manager or the Lead Adviser being accused in any regulatory, self-regulatory or judicial proceeding as having materially violated the federal securities laws or engaged in criminal conduct with respect to the federal securities laws.

 

18.          Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, statute, rule or otherwise, such provision will be modified, rewritten or interpreted to include as much of its nature and scope as will render it enforceable. If it cannot be so modified, rewritten or interpreted to be valid and enforceable in any respect, it will not be given effect, and the remainder of the Agreement will be enforced as if such provision had never been included.

 

19.          Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent, subject to approval by the Board and the Fund’s shareholders to the extent required by the Investment Company Act, subject to such exemptions or exemptive order as may be granted by the SEC under said Act.

 

20.          Most Favored Nation.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser represents and warrants that, as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Underlying Adviser nor any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser provides or is obligated to provide any investment management, investment advisory, or investment sub-advisory services for any fund registered under the Investment Company Act, managed account or other client of any type whatsoever with a daily liquidity mandate and an investment strategy similar to the Funds with a fee schedule in basis points less than that set forth in Schedule B to this Agreement.

 

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B.At any time after the date of this Agreement, should the Underlying Adviser or any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser provide or obligate itself to provide any investment management, investment advisory, or investment sub-advisory services for any fund registered under the Investment Company Act, managed account or other client of any type whatsoever with a daily liquidity mandate (where the assets under management by the Underlying Adviser or its affiliate are the same or smaller size than the Allocated Portion) and with an investment strategy similar to the Funds with a fee schedule in basis points less than that set forth in Schedule B to this Agreement, (i) the Underlying Adviser shall promptly notify the Lead Adviser in writing thereof and (ii) the fee schedule set forth in Schedule B to this Agreement shall, effective as of the date of such provision or obligation, be automatically decreased to equal such other fee schedule unless the Lead Adviser otherwise notifies the Underlying Adviser in writing that the Lead Adviser elects not to so decrease the fee schedule set forth in Schedule B to this Agreement.

 

21.Due Diligence

 

A.In connection with the Board’s subadvisory agreement review process pursuant to Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act, the Underlying Adviser will use its reasonable best efforts to respond to annual due diligence questionnaires provided to the Underlying Adviser by or on behalf of the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trustees of the Funds within two (2) weeks to four (4) weeks from the Underlying Adviser’s receipt of any such questionnaire.

 

B.The Underlying Adviser agrees to make available to the Lead Adviser, from time to time at its reasonable request, at times mutually agreed upon, certain senior members of the Underlying Adviser’s investment and back-office teams for purposes of discussing the Underlying Adviser’s business and operations and the performance of the Allocated Portion.

 

C.The Underlying Adviser agrees to allow the Trust’s chief compliance officer and/or the Lead Adviser and its representatives, from time to time at its reasonable request and during normal business hours, to inspect records pertaining to the Underlying Adviser’s internal control and compliance procedures.

 

22.          Each of the Manager and the Lead Adviser shall treat confidentially and as proprietary all records and other non-public information relating to the Underlying Adviser, and not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Underlying Adviser, (ii) when so requested by the Underlying Adviser, (iii) as required by law or regulation, or (iv) as required or requested by regulatory authorities or judicial process.

 

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23.Miscellaneous.

 

A.Third-Party Beneficiary. The Trust is an intended third-party beneficiary under this Agreement and is entitled to enforce this Agreement as if it were a party thereto.

 

B.Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Texas without giving effect to any conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

C.Use of Name. The Underlying Adviser authorizes the Manager and the Lead Adviser’s use of the Underlying Adviser’s service marks and/or trademarks in connection with the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to, the Fund’s Prospectus and fact sheets. In addition, the Manager and the Lead Adviser each acknowledges and agrees that it has no rights in or to the Underlying Adviser’s name beyond the limited use rights granted herein.

 

D.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures.

 

E.No Implied Waiver. Any party’s failure to insist in any one or more instances upon strict performance by the other party of the terms of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or subsequent failure to perform or delay in performance of any term hereof.

 

F.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached thereto, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

G.Headings. Headings used in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and shall not be used to construe meaning or intent.

 

H.Notices. Any notices required to be given hereunder may be delivered by hand, facsimile, deposited with a nationally recognized overnight carrier, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, in each case, to the address of the other party listed below (or such other address as may be furnished by a party in accordance with this paragraph). All such notices or communications shall be deemed to have been given and received (a) in the case of personal delivery, email or facsimile, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of delivery by a nationally recognized overnight carrier, the earlier of (i) the date of receipt or (ii) the third business day following dispatch and (c) in the case of mailing, on the seventh business day following such mailing. All such notices shall be delivered to:

 

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If to the Manager:

 

American Beacon Advisors, Inc.

220 East Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1200

Irving, TX 75039

Attention: Chief Investment Officer

Facsimile: 817-391-6131

 

with a copy to General Counsel at the same address.

 

If to the Lead Adviser:

 

Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.

900 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1100

Chicago, IL 60611

Attention: General Counsel with a copy to Client Services at the same address.

Email: legal@gcmlp.com; client.services@gcmlp.com

 

If to the Underlying Adviser:

 

Tremblant Capital LP

767 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10153

Attention: Jim Eckert, President with a copy to General Counsel at the same address.

Email: jeckert@tremblantcapital.com; legal@tremblantcapital.com

 

24.         Trust and Shareholder Liability. The Underlying Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Declaration of Trust and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one or more Fund, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets of that Fund. The Underlying Adviser further agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any individual shareholder of the Fund, nor from the Board or any individual Trustee of the Trust.

 

A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Trust individually.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first written above.

 

Tremblant Capital LP   American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
         
By:          By:  
         
Name:          Jeffrey K. Ringdahl
         
Title:       Chief Operating Officer
         
Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.      
         
By:         
         
Name:        
         
Title:        

 

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SCHEDULE A

RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE UNDERLYING ADVISER

 

1.           (Rule 31a-1(b)(5) and (6)) A record of each brokerage order, and all other series purchases and sales, given by the Underlying Adviser on behalf of the Trust for, or in connection with, the purchase or sale of securities, whether executed or unexecuted. Such records shall include:

A.The name of the broker;
B.The terms and conditions of the order and of any modifications or cancellations thereof;
C.The time of entry or cancellation;
D.The price at which executed;
E.The time of receipt of a report of execution; and
F.The name of the person who placed the order on behalf of the Trust.

 

2.           (Rule 31a-1(b)(9)) A record for each fiscal quarter, completed within thirty (30) days after the end of the quarter, showing specifically the basis upon which the allocation of orders for the purchase and sale of series securities to named brokers or dealers was effected, and the division of brokerage commissions or other compensation on such purchase and sale orders. Such record:

 

A.Shall include the consideration given to:

 

(i)The sale of shares of the Trust by brokers or dealers.
(ii)The supplying of services or benefits by brokers or dealers to:
(a)The Trust,
(b)The Manager,
(c)The Underlying Adviser, and
(d)Any person affiliated with the foregoing.
(iii)Any other consideration other than the technical qualifications of the brokers and dealers as such.
B.Shall show the nature of the services or benefits made available.
C.Shall describe in detail the application of any general or specific formula or other determinant used in arriving at such allocation of purchase and sale orders and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation.

D.          Shall show the name of the person responsible for making the determination of such allocation and such division of brokerage commissions or other compensation.

 

3.          (Rule 31a-1(b)(10)) Any memorandum, recommendation or instruction supporting or authorizing the person or persons, committees or groups authorized by the Underlying Adviser to purchase or sell portfolio securities on behalf of the Trust.  Where a committee or group makes an authorization, a record shall be kept of the names of its members who participate in the authorization.

 

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4.           (Rule 31a-1(f)) Such accounts, books and other documents as are required to be maintained by registered investment advisers by rule adopted under Section 204 of the Advisers Act to the extent such records are necessary or appropriate to record the Underlying Adviser’s transactions for the Trust.

 

5.           Such other records as are necessary under Board- approved policies and procedures of the Trust applying to tasks carried out by the Underlying Adviser, including without limitation those related to valuation determinations.

 

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Schedule B

Compensation

 

Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. (the “Lead Adviser”) shall pay out of the fees it receives from the Manager to the Underlying Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., the Lead Adviser, and the Underlying Adviser for rendering investment management services with respect to the Fund the following fee for all Fund assets under Underlying Adviser’s management.

 

I.Funds

American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund

 

II.Fee Rate

[    ]%

 

If the management of the accounts commences or terminates at any time other than the beginning or end of a calendar month, the fee shall be prorated based on the portion of such calendar month during which the Agreement was in force.

 

Dated as of ________________, 2015

 

Tremblant Capital LP   American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
         
By:          By:  
         
Name:        Jeffrey K. Ringdahl
         
Title:        Chief Operating Officer
         
Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.      
         
By:        
         
Name:        
         
Title:        

 

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