EX-99.D ADVSR CONTR 28 f10438d28.htm D60 - SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT-AST ACADEMIC STRATEGIES ASSET ALLOCATION-WELLINGTON d60 - Subadvisory Agreement-AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation-Wellington

Execution Ready 

  

ADVANCED SERIES TRUST 

  

AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio
 

SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT 

  

Agreement made as of this 14 day of May, 2021 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (formerly American Skandia Investment Services, Inc.) (ASTIS), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and Wellington Management Company LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership (Wellington Management or the Subadviser), 

  

WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments and ASTIS act as Co-Managers of the Trust; and
 

WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Co-Managers shall from time to time direct (the “Account”), and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows: 

1. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage the Account as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:  


(i) The Subadviser shall provide supervision of the Account as the Co-Managers shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash and shall have full power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the purchase, sale, exchange, conversion or other transactions in any and all stocks, bonds, other securities cash or currencies, and other Account assets. The Subadviser, upon written consent by the Co-Managers, may engage any of its affiliates to assist it with providing its services under this Agreement (including affiliates outside of the United States), provided that the Subadviser will remain responsible for the performance of its obligations under the Agreement and  shall be   responsible to the Co-Managers for the acts and omissions of any affiliate  to the same extent   as it is for its own acts and omissions . 

  

(ii) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Co-Managers (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate with the Co-Managers' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and, as applicable, will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required of Subadviser by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Co-Managers shall provide the Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents. The Subadviser shall have a reasonable period to comply with instructions and/or bring the Account into compliance with any changes to the Trust Documents. The Co-Managers covenant that any instructions or modifications to Trust Documents shall be consistent with the provisions of law, regulatory policies and organizational documents applicable to the Trust.  

  

(iii) The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by the Account , as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time.  The Subadviser’s broker selection shall be conducted in accordance with its Policies and Procedures on Order Execution, as may be amended from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Subadviser shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Subadviser with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable over time and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients. 

  

(iv) The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities. 

  

(v) The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian (“Custodian”) on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Account, and shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co-Managers. All transactions will be consummated by payment to, or delivery by the Custodian, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Account according to local market settlement conventions. The Subadviser shall not act as custodian for the Account.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Subadviser shall not hold, directly or indirectly, funds or securities contained in the Account or have any authority to obtain possession of them.   

  

(vi) The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the Subadviser and Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co-Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.  

  

(vii) The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Account or any other transactions of Trust assets.
 

(b) The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers or employees. 

  

(c) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Co-Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof. 

  

(d) The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. The Co-Managers acknowledge that Subadviser, while registered, may rely on exemptions from registration as to some accounts it advises including the Account, upon written notice to Co-Managers. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Co-Managers promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser’s commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) the institution of an action or proceeding that could reasonably lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target that is material to Subadviser’s ability to perform investment management services pursuant to this Agreement. 

  

(e) In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures reasonably designed to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization. 

  

(f) The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably designed to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures reasonably designed to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws. 

  

(g)The Subadviser will notify the Co-Managers of any additions to or withdrawals of corporate partners of the Subadviser within a reasonable time after such additions or withdrawals. 

  

(i) The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Account , subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers and shall vote such proxies in accordance with Subadviser’s Global Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, as may be amended from time to time.  The Co-Managers authorize the Subadviser to instruct the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser copies of all proxies and shareholder communications relating to proxy votes involving securities held in the Account (other than materials relating to legal proceedings.) The Co-Managers and the Trust agree that Subadviser will not be responsible or liable for failing to vote any proxies where it has not received the proxies or related shareholder communications in a timely manner. 

  

(j) The Subadviser will not compile or file claims or take any related actions on behalf of the Trust in any class action, bankruptcy or other legal proceeding related to securities currently or previously held in the Account. Subadviser shall provide reasonable assistance as the Trust or Co-Managers may reasonably request in any matter relating to legal proceedings relating to  the investments and securities held in the Account that Subadviser supervises.  Such assistance, will include, but will not be limited to, providing necessary data in the possession of Subadviser relating to the Account, assisting with interrogatories, and if necessary, providing testimony.   

  

(k) The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying the Co-Managers upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued. The Co-Managers acknowledge that the Subadviser is not the official pricing agent with respect to the Trust’s portfolio investments.  

  

(l)

The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Account required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Co-Managers if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete. 

  

(m) The Subadviser shall comply with the provisions of the Trust’s Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers that are applicable to the Subadviser. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.  

  

(n) The Subadviser shall keep the Trust’s Co-Managers informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics. 

  

2. The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the Account managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Account, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser). 

  

3. For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Co-Managers to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Co-Managers' receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Co-Managers. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. 

  

4. (a) The Subadviser acknowledges that, in the course of its engagement by the Co-Managers, the Subadviser may receive or have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Co-Managers or third parties with whom the Co-Managers conducts business.  Such information is collectively referred to as “Confidential Information.”  Confidential Information includes the Co-Managers’ business and other proprietary information, written or oral. 

  

(b) The Subadviser certifies that (i) its treatment of Confidential Information is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to privacy and data security, and (ii) it has implemented and currently maintains an effective written information security program (“Information Security Program”) including administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures intended to (a) ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (b) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (c) protect against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information that could result in substantial harm to the Co-Managers, or to any person who may be identified by Confidential Information.  The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as practicable if the Subadviser is in material breach of this Section.  At the Co-Manager’s request, the Subadviser agrees to certify in writing to the Manager, its compliance with the terms of this Section. For the avoidance of doubt, Subadviser may disclose Confidential Information where disclosure is required or permitted by law or requested by any governmental or regulatory authority that may have jurisdiction over either party,  provided that 

 the  Subadviser gives the Co-Managers prompt written notice of such requirement prior to such disclosure  , to the extent feasible and permitted by law,   and assistance in obtaining an order protecting the information from public disclosure   as necessary  .   

The Co-Managers and Trust agree not to make use of the investment decisions or recommendations of the Subadviser, other than with respect to the Account, without the prior written consent of the Subadviser. In addition, the Co-Manager and the Trust shall use its best efforts to ensure that any of its agents or affiliates who may gain access to the investment decisions or recommendations of the Subadviser shall be made aware of its proprietary nature and shall likewise treat it as confidential. 

  

(c) The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers or its agents of its designated primary security manager.  The security manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the performance of the Subadviser’s obligations set forth in its Information Security Program and this Agreement. 

  

(d)

The Subadviser shall review and, as appropriate, revise its Information Security Program at least annually or whenever there is a material change in the Subadviser’s business practices that may reasonably affect the security, confidentiality or integrity of Confidential Information.  During the course of providing the services, the Subadviser may not alter or modify its Information Security Program in such a way that could reasonably be foreseen to weaken or compromise the security, confidentiality, or integrity of Confidential Information. 

  

(e)

The Subadviser shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to the minimum number of the Subadviser’s roles which require such access in order to provide the services to the Co-Managers

  

(f)

The Subadviser shall conduct periodic risk assessments to identify and assess reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluate and improve, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls.  Such assessments will also consider the Subadviser’s compliance with its Information Security Program and the laws applicable to the Subadviser. 

  

(g)

The Subadviser shall conduct regular penetration and vulnerability testing of its information technology infrastructure and networks.   

  

(h)

Except with respect to applicable legal prohibitions and compliance with requests from law enforcement, Subadviser confirms that upon any potential or actual known security breach Subadviser will: 

  

4.

promptly investigate such breach or potential breach, 

4.

promptly notify the Co-Managers of such breach or potential breach if the investigation reveals a likelihood that Co-Manager's Confidential Information was materially affected, such notification targeted to occur within 48 hours (two business days), but no later than 72 hours (three business days) after such breach has been identified determination, and,  

4.

implement necessary corrective actions.   Such corrective actions shall include:  

  

i.

performing an analysis to determine the cause of the security breach;  

ii.

providing the Co-Managers with a report detailing the cause of the security breach and the material involved;  

iii.

promptly remedying or mitigating the security breach to a commercially reasonable extent; and 

iv.

reasonable cooperation with the Co-Managers and its designees and with any civil or criminal authority in any investigation or action related to the unauthorized, unlawful or accidental access, use, processing, disclosure, transfer destruction, loss or alteration.   

  

(i)

Upon the Co-Managers’ reasonable request at any time during the term of the Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly provide the Co-Managers with information related to the Subadviser’s information security safeguards and practices.  

  

5. Other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide services to the Account as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers without the express written consent of the Co-Managers, other than as necessary to perform administrative or ancillary services for the Account, including security and cash reconciliation, portfolio pricing and corporate action processing.  The Subadviser will act in good faith and with reasonable skill and care in the selection, use and monitoring of such agents. To the extent that the Subadviser receives approval from the Co-Managers to engage a third-party service provider, Subadviser  shall be  responsible to the Co-Managers for the acts and omissions of the third-party service provider to the same extent as it is for its own acts and omissions to the same extent that Subadviser would be responsible for its own actions or inactions.  Furthermore, the Subadviser may utilize unaffiliated third-party data service providers in effecting compliance with the prospectus and/or instructions from the Co-Managers, and the

Subadviser shall not be held responsible for any losses resulting from non-compliance with the prospectus or  Co-Manager instructions where the Subadviser has reasonably relied on information provided by third-party data service providers.  

  

6. The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Co-Managers' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. 

  

7. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Co-Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser. 

  

To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement, as applicable, with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser. 

  

Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Co-Managers at 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments) and One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut, 06484, Attention: Secretary (for ASTIS); (2) to the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210, Attention: Legal and Compliance. 

  

The Co-Managers consent to electronic delivery of any reports or other information that may be requested by the Co-Managers or the Trust or is required to be delivered by the Subadviser under this Agreement, or pursuant to applicable law, rule or regulation, including delivery of Part 2 of Subadviser’s Form ADV and any updates thereto, and the Co-Managers represent that they have the means to, and will access, such disclosures in electronic format and the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with hard copies of any such disclosures upon request.  The Co-Managers may revoke this consent upon written notice to Subadviser. 

  

8. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association. 

  

9. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof.  During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All such

prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery. 

  

10. Except as otherwise specified in the Trust Documents, the Subadviser will provide investment management services for the Account without regard to any tax consequences that may result from any action taken or omitted by Subadviser on behalf of the Account. Neither the Subadviser nor any of its affiliates provide tax advice in connection with investment of the assets in the Account, and the Co-Managers are responsible for determining and paying any taxes owed with respect to the activities of the Account.
 

11. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act. 

  

12. The Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.  

  

13. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. If any court of competent jurisdiction at any time holds that any provision in this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement which will remain in full force and effect.  The parties shall use their reasonable efforts to agree on a new provision which will, as far as possible, achieve the same purpose as the provision that is held invalid or unenforceable. 

  

14. No party to this Agreement will be liable for any failure or delay in performing any of its obligations under or pursuant to the Agreement, and any such failure or delay in performing its obligations will not constitute a breach of the Agreement, if such failure or delay is due to any cause whatsoever outside its reasonable control.  Any such non-performing party will be entitled to a reasonable extension of the time for performing such obligations.  Events outside a party's reasonable control include any event or circumstance that the party is unable to avoid using reasonable skill and care. 

  

15. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. 

  

16. The parties agree that this Agreement and any documents related hereto may be electronically signed.  The parties agree that any electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement and any related documents are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility. 

  

 

PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.  

  

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.

 

PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC 

  

  

By: /s/ Timothy Cronin 

Name: Timothy Cronin 

Title: Senior Vice President 

  

  

AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC. 

  

  

By:  /s/ Timothy Cronin 

Name:  Timothy Cronin 

Title:  President 

  

  

  

WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLP 

  

  

By: /s/ Steven Muson 

Name: Steven Muson 

Title: Senior Managing Director 

  

  

SCHEDULE A 

ADVANCED SERIES TRUST 

  

  

As compensation for services provided by Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management), PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. (formerly American Skandia Investment Services, Inc.) will pay Wellington Management a subadvisory fee on the net assets managed by Wellington Management that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following: 

  

Portfolio Name  

  

Subadvisory Fee for the Portfolio* 

  

  

AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio 

  

  

0.19% of average daily net assets  

* In the event Wellington Management invests Portfolio assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, Wellington Management will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to Wellington Management with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such acquired fund.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee. 

  

  

Dated as of:  May 14, 2021