SCHEDULE 14A

 

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrantx

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

x¨Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
¨xDefinitive Proxy Statement
¨Definitive Additional Materials
¨Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12

 

THE MAINSTAY FUNDS

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

xNo fee required.
¨Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

1)Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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3)Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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¨Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
¨Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

¨          Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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4)Date Filed:

 

 

 

 

THE MAINSTAY FUNDS

MAINSTAY MAP FUND

51 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010


NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held On March 31, 2017

 

The Proxy Statement is also available at [______________]proxyonline.com/docs/mainstayMAP.pdf or mainstayinvestments.com.

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS(with any postponements or adjournments, “Special Meeting”) of the MainStay MAP Fund1(“Fund”), a series of The MainStay Funds (“Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust, will be held at the offices of New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, on March 31, 2017 beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.time.

 

At the Special Meeting, and as specified in greater detail in thisthe Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice, shareholders of the Fund will be asked to consider and approve the following proposal (“Proposal”(the “Proposal”):

 

1.To approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments, the Fund’s investment manager, and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”); and
2.Any other business that properly comes before the Special Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

The Proposal corresponds to the ongoing repositioning (“Repositioning”) of the portion of the Fund previously subadvised by Institutional Capital LLC (“ICAP”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments, in connection with the acquisition by Epoch of certain assets of ICAP’s investment management business. In connection with the Repositioning, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”), at the recommendation of New York Life Investments, approved the termination of the prior subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and ICAP with respect to the Fund.Fund, effective January 9, 2017. Additionally, the Board approved the retention of Epoch on an interim basis to serve as subadvisor to the portion of the Fund previously subadvised by ICAP pursuant to the terms of an Interim Subadvisory Agreement,interim subadvisory agreement, dated January 9, 2017, which will terminate by its terms on June 8, 2017. The Repositioning will also involve changes to the Fund’s principal investment strategies, including eliminating the Fund’s allocation to an investment strategy focusing on global equity securities, which will take effect on or about March 13, 2017.2

 

Shareholders will vote on the Proposal at the Special Meeting. It is anticipated that, with shareholder approval, the Proposal would take effect on or about [April 1],April 1, 2017. It is anticipated that Markston International LLC (“Markston”) will remain as a subadvisor to the Fund along with Epoch.

 

The Board has recommended that the Proposal be presented to shareholders of the Fund for their consideration and approval. Although the Trustees have determined that the Proposal is in the Fund’s best interests, the final decision to approve the Proposal is up to you. The Board recommends that you voteFOR the Proposal.

 

 

1As disclosed in the supplement to the Fund’s Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 16, 2016, the Fund’s name will change to MainStay MAP Equity Fund effective February 28, 2017.

 

2For additional details regarding the Repositioning, please see the supplement to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information filed with the SEC on January 9, 2017.

 

 

 

 

In addition, shareholders will be asked to consider and approve such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting.

 

Your attention is directed to the accompanying Proxy Statement for further information regarding the Special Meeting and the Proposal. The accompanying Proxy Statement also provides further information regarding the Repositioning and retention of Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund on an interim basis. You may vote at the Special Meeting if you were a shareholder of the Fund as of the close of business on January 20, 2017. If you attend the Special Meeting, you may vote your shares in person. Even if you do not attend the Special Meeting, you may authorize your proxy by simply: (i) completing, signing, and returning the enclosed proxy card by mail in the postage-paid envelope provided; or (ii) following the instructions on the voting instruction card for authorizing your proxy by submitting your vote via telephone or the Internet. Please refer to the proxy card for more information on how you may vote. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the date the proxy is to be exercised in the manner described in the Proxy Statement.

 

Your vote is very important to us. Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting in person, please cast your vote using one of the voting options listed on your enclosed proxy card. IfYou can vote your shares toll free at 1-888-227-9349 to reach an automated touchtone voting line, or, if you have any questions about the meeting agenda, or about how to vote your shares, please call [866-829-1035]. Representatives are available from [9toll-free 1-800-967-5079 to reach a live operator Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.] Eastern Time.time.

 

 By Order of the Board of Trustees,
  
 

/s/ J. Kevin Gao

 J. Kevin Gao
 Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
  
 February 3,January 27, 2017

IMPORTANT NOTICE

PLEASE VOTE USING THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN. YOU CAN HELP AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATIONS BY PROMPTLY VOTING THE ENCLOSED PROXY.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

PLEASE VOTE USING THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN. YOU CAN HELP AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATIONS BY PROMPTLY VOTING THE ENCLOSED PROXY.

 

 2 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS

 

The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and may help avoid the time and expense involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.

 

1.INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS:Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.

 

2.JOINT ACCOUNTS:Both parties must sign: the names of the parties signing should conform exactly to the names shown in the registration on the proxy card.

 

3.ALL OTHER ACCOUNTS:The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration.

 

For example:

 

REGISTRATION

 

VALID

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS  
(1) ABC Corp. ABC Corp. John Doe, Treasurer
(2) ABC Corp. John Doe
(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe John Doe
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe
PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNTS  
(1) The XYZ Partnership Jane B. Smith, Partner
(2) Smith and Jones, Limited Jane B. Smith, General Partner Partnership
TRUST ACCOUNTS  
(1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d/12/28/78
CUSTODIAL OR ESTATE ACCOUNTS  
(1) John B. Smith, Cust f/b/o John B. Smith, Custodian f/b/o/ John B Smith, Jr. UGMA/UTMA John B. Smith Jr., UGMA/UTMA
(2) Estate of John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor Estate of John B. Smith

 

Please choose one of the following options to vote your shares:

 

VOTE BY TELEPHONE. You may cast your vote by telephone by calling the toll-free number located on your proxy card. Please make sure to have your proxy card available at the time of the call.

VOTE BY TELEPHONE. You may cast your vote by telephone by calling the toll-free number located on your proxy card. Please make sure to have your proxy card available at the time of the call.

VOTE THROUGH THE INTERNET. You may cast your vote by logging onto the website indicated on your proxy card and following the instructions on the website. In order to log in you will need the control number found on your proxy card.

VOTE BY MAIL. You may cast your vote by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

VOTE IN PERSON AT THE SPECIAL MEETING.

 

VOTE THROUGH THE INTERNET. You may cast your vote by logging onto the website indicated on your proxy card and following the instructions on the website. In order to log in you will need the control number found on your proxy card.

VOTE BY MAIL. You may cast your vote by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

VOTE IN PERSON AT THE SPECIAL MEETING.

3

 

 

THE MAINSTAY FUNDS

MAINSTAY MAP FUND

51 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

 

PROXY STATEMENT [                            ],JANUARY 27, 2017

 

SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held On March 31, 2017

 

The Proxy Statement is also available at [insert proxy link]proxyonline.com/docs/mainstayMAP.pdf or mainstayinvestments.com.

 

Introduction

 

This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees (“Board” or “Trustees”) of The MainStay Funds (“Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of MainStay MAP Fund1 (“Fund”), a series of the Trust, for a Special Meeting of shareholders of the Fund (with any postponements or adjournments, “Special Meeting”). The Special Meeting will be held on March 31, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the offices of New York Life Investment Management LLC (“New York Life Investments”), 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. This Proxy Statement, the attached Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and the enclosed proxy card will be first distributed on or about February 3, 2017 to all shareholders of record of the Fund as of the close of business on January 20, 2017 (“Record Date”).

 

At the Special Meeting, and as specified in greater detail in this Proxy Statement, shareholders of the Fund will be asked to consider and approve the following proposal (“Proposal”(the “Proposal”):

 

3.1.To approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments, the Fund’s investment manager, and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. (“Epoch”); and
4.2.Any other business that properly comes before the Special Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

 

The Proposal corresponds to the ongoing repositioning (“Repositioning”) of the portion of the Fund previously subadvised by Institutional Capital LLC (“ICAP”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments, in connection with the acquisition by Epoch of certain assets of ICAP’s investment management business. In connection with the Repositioning, the Board, upon the consideration ofat the recommendation of New York Life Investments, approved the termination of the prior subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and ICAP with respect to the Fund.Fund, effective January 9, 2017. Additionally, the Board approved the retention of Epoch on an interim basis to serve as subadvisor to the portion of the Fund previously subadvised by ICAP pursuant to the terms of an interim subadvisory agreement (“Interim Subadvisory Agreement,Agreement”), dated January 9, 2017 andwhich will terminate by its terms no later thanon June 8, 2017. The Repositioning will also involve changes to the Fund’s principal investment strategies, including eliminating the Fund’s allocation to an investment strategy focusing on global equity securities, which will take effect on or about March 13, 2017.2

 

 

1As disclosed in the supplement to the Fund’s Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 16, 2016, the Fund’s name will change to MainStay MAP Equity Fund effective February 28, 2017.

 

2For additional details regarding the Repositioning, please see the supplement to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information filed with the SEC on January 9, 2017.

 

 1 

 

 

Shareholders will vote on the Proposal at the Special Meeting. It is anticipated that, with shareholder approval, the Proposal would take effect on or about [April 1],April 1, 2017. Markston International LLC (“Markston”) will remain as a subadvisor to the Fund along with Epoch.

 

The Board has recommended that the Proposal be presented to shareholders of the Fund for their consideration and approval. Although the Trustees have determined that the Proposal is in the best interests of the Fund, the final decision to approve the Proposal is up to you. The Board recommends that you voteFOR the Proposal.

 

In connection with their consideration of the Proposal, the Trustees evaluated, among other information and factors deemed by the Trustees to be relevant, the following items regarding the potential benefits to shareholders that may result from approval of the Proposal and the corresponding ability for the Fund to continue to operate in its repositioned form: (i) New York Life Investments’ view that shareholders would benefit from the Fund’s implementation of new principalFund may be able to deliver more consistent risk-adjusted returns relative to its benchmark with a more diversified portfolio and investment strategies and a new investment process with respectapproach as compared to when the portion of the Fund previouslywas subadvised by ICAP; (ii) New York Life Investments’ view that following the Repositioning, the Fund may deliver improved performance and more consistent risk-adjusted returns; (iii) New York Life Investments’ belief thathave potentially lower volatility resulting from the combination of the strategy employed by the portion of the Fund subadvised by Markston and the portion of the Fund subadvised by Epoch; (iii) the Fund may be able to realize improved asset growth; (iv) the Fund is likely benefit from Epoch’s portfolio construction and risk management processes; and (iv)(v) the investment experience of the portfolio management team at Epoch. The Trustees also considered that the portion of the Fund subadvised by Markston would continue to be subadvised by Markston.

 

In addition, shareholders will be asked to consider and approve such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting.

 

Only shareholders who owned shares of any class of the Fund on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Each share of the Fund that you owned as of the Record Date entitles you to one (1) vote with respect to the Proposal and such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting. (A fractional share has a fractional vote.)

 

It is important for you to vote on the Proposal described in this Proxy Statement. We recommend that you read this Proxy Statement in its entirety as the explanations will help you to decide how to vote on the Proposal.

 

 2 

 

 

PROPOSAL

 

APPROVAL OF NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN

NEW YORK LIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC AND

EPOCH INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC.

This Proposal relates to a proposed new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and Epoch (“Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement”) with respect to the Fund. The Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement is necessary for Epoch to continue managing its portion of the Fund on a longer-term basis beyond the term of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement.

 

On January [___],5, 2017, Epoch, ICAP and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC, the parent company of ICAP and New York Life Investments, entered into an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which Epoch acquired certain assets of ICAP’s investment management business.

 

At an in-person meeting held on January 6, 2017, the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”)), of the Trust (“Independent Trustees”), approved the appointment of Epoch on an interim basis to replace ICAP as a subadvisor to the Fund as permitted by Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act on January 9, 2017. ICAP was last approved as a subadvisor to the Fund by the shareholders of the Fund on October 5, 2006 and2006and its continuance was last approved by the Board at its meetings held on December 12-14, 2016. At the January 6, 2017 meeting, the Board also approved the longer-term appointment of Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund and the implementation of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, subject to shareholder approval of the Proposal. In accordance with Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s shareholders are being asked to approve the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement before the termination date of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement so that Epoch can serve as a subadvisor to the Fund on a longer term, uninterrupted basis following the termination of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement.

 

What are Shareholders Being Asked to Approve?

In accordance with Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s shareholders are being asked to approve the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement before the termination date of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement in order for Epoch to serve as a subadvisor to the Fund on a longer-term, uninterrupted basis. If shareholders do not approve the Proposal, New York Life Investments and the Board would consider other options that may be available to the Fund. In any such case, the Fund would inform shareholders with respect to the specific changes in subadvisor or investment strategies that would take place, if any.

 

The Board’s recommendation that shareholders approve the Proposal is based on, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services the Board believes Epoch is capable of providing to the Fund. After considering the factors discussed in this Proxy Statement, the Board concluded it would be in the best interestinterests of the Fund to retain Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund on a longer-term basis after the termination of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement. The factors the Board considered in forming this conclusion are summarized on the following pages.

 

Investment companies are required to obtain shareholder approval for certain types of proposals, such as the approval of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement contemplated in this Proposal. Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act requires that all contracts pursuant to which persons serve as investment advisors to investment companies be approved by shareholders. As interpreted, this requirement also applies to the appointment of subadvisors. New York Life Investments and the Trust have obtained an exemptive order (the “Order”) from the SEC which, in relevant part, would permit New York Life Investments, and subject to certain conditions and the approval of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, to hire unaffiliated subadvisors and to modify any existing or future subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadvisor without shareholder approval.

 

 3 

 

 

Pursuant to the Order, subject to certain conditions, the Fund and New York Life Investments may appoint Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund without shareholder approval. Nonetheless, following discussions with New York Life Investments and Epoch, the Fund has determined in this instance to seek shareholder approval of the Proposal at this time.Proposal. Please be advised that the Fund and New York Life Investments reserve the right to rely on the applicable provisions of the Order to replace subadvisors in the future without shareholder approval.

 

Why is the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement Necessary?

 

Epoch currently serves as the Fund’s subadvisor on an interim basis pursuant to the Interim Subadvisory Agreement dated January 9, 2017. The Board approved the Interim Subadvisory Agreement in connection with the Repositioning of the Fund. The Interim Subadvisory Agreement will remain in effect until the sooner of the expiration of 150 days after the effective date of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement (June [8],8, 2017), or the effective date of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement. As such, at a meeting held on January 6, 2017, the Board also approved the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, subject to shareholder approval.

 

What are the Anticipated Benefits of the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?

 

New York Life Investments believes that the potential benefits to shareholders resulting from the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement include: (i) the Fund may be able to deliver more consistent risk-adjusted returns relative to its benchmark with a more diversified portfolio and investment approach;approach as compared to when the portion of the Fund was subadvised by ICAP; (ii) the Fund may have potentially lower volatility resulting from the combination of the strategy employed by the portion of the Fund subadvised by Markston and the portion of the Fund subadvised by Epoch; (iii) the Fund may be able to realize improved asset growth; and (iii)(iv) the Fund may benefit from Epoch’s portfolio construction and risk management processes.processes; and (v) the investment experience of the portfolio management team at Epoch. The Board believes the Fund willis likely to benefit from the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement.

 

What did the Board Consider in Approving the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?

 

In connection with the planned Repositioning, at a meeting held on January 6, 2017, the Board unanimously approved New York Life Investments’ recommendations to appoint Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund and to approve the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement between New York Life Investments, on behalf of the Fund, and Epoch. The Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement provide that Epoch will manage a portion of the Fund that was previously managed by ICAP, subject to the supervision of New York Life Investments and the oversight of the Board, and pursuant to the Fund’s registration statement, as supplemented. The Board noted that, with the exception of the adjustment of the subadvisory fee schedule and the sharing in management fee waivers and expense limitation reimbursements, the material terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement were substantially identical to those in the subadvisory agreement that had been in place with ICAP with respect to the Fund.

 

New York Life Investments proposed that Epoch be appointed as a subadvisor to the Fund based on, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services Epoch would provide to the Fund. After considering the factors discussed in this Proxy Statement and following negotiations with New York Life Investments, the Board concluded it would be in the best interests of the Fund to appoint Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund in replacement of ICAP.

 

In connection with its consideration of New York Life Investments’ recommendation to appoint Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund, the Trustees undertook reviews of Epoch’s qualifications to serve as a subadvisor to the Fund.

 

4

In reaching its decision to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered information furnished by New York Life Investments and Epoch in connection with the Repositioning, as well as other relevant information furnished to the Board throughout the year. The Board also requested and received responses from Epoch to a series of questions encompassing a variety of topics prepared on behalf of the Board by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees. In addition, the Board considered information provided by New York Life Investments on the fees charged to other investment advisory clients that follow investment strategies similar to those proposed for the Fund and the rationale for any differences in the Fund’s subadvisory fees and the fees charged to those other investment advisory clients.

4

 

In considering the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, the Trustees reviewed and evaluated the information and factors they believed to be relevant and appropriate in light of legal advice furnished to them by independent legal counsel and through the exercise of their own business judgment. The broad factors considered by the Board are discussed in greater detail below, and included, among other things: (i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided to the Fund by Epoch; (ii) the investment performance of the Fund and the historical investment performance of similar funds managed or subadvised by Epoch; (iii) the anticipated costs of the services to be provided, and expected profits to be realized, by Epoch, from its relationships with the Fund; (iv) the extent to which economies of scale may be realized as the Fund grows and the extent to which economies of scale may benefit Fund investors; and (v) the reasonableness of the Fund’s proposed fees, including the subadvisory fees to be paid to Epoch, particularly as compared to similar funds and accounts managed or subadvised by Epoch, and third-party “peer funds” identified by New York Life Investments.

 

While individual Trustees may have weighed certain factors or information differently, the Board’s decisions to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement were based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Board in connection with its consideration of the Repositioning, as well as other relevant information provided to the Trustees throughout the year. The Board took note of New York Life Investments’ belief that Epoch, with its resources and historical investment performance track records, is well qualified to serve as the Fund’s subadvisor. A summary of the factors that figured prominently in the Board’s decision to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement is provided immediately below.

 

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services to be Provided by Epoch

 

In considering the approval of the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ responsibilities as manager of the Fund, noting that New York Life Investments has supervisory responsibility for the Fund’s subadvisor. The Board also examined the nature, extent and quality of the services that Epoch proposes to provide to the Fund. Further, the Board evaluated and/or examined the following with regard to Epoch:

 

·experience in providing investment advisory services;

 

·experience in serving as subadvisory to other similar funds, including other MainStay Funds;

 

·experience of investment advisory, senior management and administrative personnel;

 

·overall legal and compliance environment;

 

·willingness to invest in personnel who may benefit the Portfolio;

 

·portfolio construction and risk management processes;

 

5

·experience of the Portfolio’s proposed portfolio managers, the number of accounts managed by each portfolio manager and Epoch’s methods for compensating portfolio managers; and

 

·overall reputation, financial condition and assets under management.

 

5

Based on these considerations, the Board concluded, that, within the context of its overall determinations regarding the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, that the Fund is likely to benefit from appointing Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund.

 

Investment Performance

 

In connection with the Board’s consideration of the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered its ongoing concerns and discussions with New York Life Investments regarding the Fund’s recent investment performance and remediation efforts undertaken by New York Life Investments, and other alternatives to the Repositioning considered by New York Life Investments. The Board also considered steps taken to seek to improve the Fund's investment performance and the Board's long-standing experience with Epoch as subadvisor to other MainStay Funds and its resulting confidence in Epoch’s investment process. The Board further considered that shareholders may benefit from Epoch’s portfolio construction and risk management processes. The Board further noted that the Repositioning had not yet been implemented so an investment performance track record for the Fund as repositioned was not available.

 

The Board discussed with management and the Fund’s proposed portfolio management team the Fund’s proposed investment process, strategies and risks. The Board considered the historical performance of other investment portfolios with similar investment strategies that are or have been managed by the proposed portfolio managers for the Fund. The Board noted that Epoch currently manages a portfolio with investment strategies similar to those proposed for its portion of the Fund, as repositioned. Based on these considerations, the Board concluded that the Fund was likely to be managed responsibly and capably by Epoch.

 

Also based on these considerations, the Board concluded, within the context of its overall determinations regarding the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, that the selection of Epoch as a subadvisor to the Fund is likely to benefit the Fund’s long-term investment performance.

 

Costs of the Services to be Provided, and Profits to be Realized, by Epoch

 

The Board considered the estimated costs of the services to be provided by Epoch under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement and the anticipated profitability of New York Life Investments, its affiliates and Epoch, due to their relationships with the Fund. Although the Board did not receive specific profitability information from Epoch, the Board considered representations from Epoch and New York Life Investments that the subadvisory fee to be paid by New York Life Investments to Epoch for services provided to the Fund areis the result of arm’s-length negotiations.

 

The Board also considered Epoch’s investments in personnel, systems, equipment and other resources necessary to manage the Fund. The Board acknowledged that Epoch must be in a position to pay and retain experienced professional personnel to provide services to the Fund and that Epoch’s ability to maintain strong financial positions is important in order for Epoch to provide high-quality services to the Fund. The Board requested and received information from New York Life Investments estimating the impact that the engagement of Epoch would have on the overall profitability of the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates.

 

In considering the anticipated costs and profitability of the Fund, the Board also considered certain fall-out benefits that may be realized by Epoch due to its relationship with the Fund. The Board recognized, for example, the benefits to Epoch from legally permitted “soft-dollar” arrangements by which brokers may provide research and other services to Epoch in exchange for commissions paid by the Fund with respect to trades in the Fund’s portfolio securities.

 6 

 

 

The Board took into account the fact that the Fund would undergo changes to its principal investment strategies in connection with the Repositioning, including replacing the two ICAP sleeves with a single sleeve subadvised by Epoch. The Board noted estimates from New York Life Investments and Epoch that a significant amount of the holdings of the sleeves of the Fund subadvised by Epoch would be sold to align the sleeves’ holdings to the strategy that would be pursued by Epoch for the single sleeve. The Board noted that New York Life Investments had agreed to bear 100% of the direct portfolio transition costs associated with the Repositioning and that J. Christian Kirtley, CFA would remain as a portfolio manager to the Fund until the Repositioning was complete. Additionally, the Board considered New York Life Investments’ representation that Epoch will seek to minimize potential indirect costs, such as market impact and costs associated with repositioning the Fund, and also considered steps that New York Life Investments and Epoch would undertake to minimize adverse tax consequences for shareholders in connection with the Repositioning. Additional information about transition costs and expenses relating to this Proposal may be found under the headings “Expenses in Connection with the Repositioning” and “Solicitation Expenses and Other Expenses Related to the Special Meeting” elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.

 

The Board considered that New York Life Investments was subject to a potential conflict of interest in making its recommendation to the Board. In this regard, the Board received information regarding the terms of an asset purchase agreement entered into between and among Epoch, ICAP and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC, the parent company of ICAP and New York Life Investments. Please see the section below entitled “Asset Purchase Agreement among Epoch, ICAP and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC” for more information regarding this arrangement.

 

After evaluating the information presented to the Board, the Board concluded, within the context of its overall determinations regarding the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, that any profits expected to be realized by New York Life Investments and its affiliates due to their relationships with the Fund, were consistent with New York Life Investments and its affiliates’ profitability with respect to other Funds and supported the Board’s decision to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement.

 

Extent to Which Economies of Scale May be Realized as the Fund Grows

 

In addition, the Board considered whether the Fund’s proposed expense structure will permit economies of scale to be shared with Fund investors. The Board also considered a report previously provided by New York Life Investments, prepared at the request of the Board, that addressed economies of scale in the mutual fund business generally, the changing economics of the mutual fund business and the various ways in which the benefits of economies of scale may be shared with the Fund and the other funds or funds within the MainStay Funds Complex. The Board reviewed information from New York Life Investments showing how the Fund’s management fee schedule compared to fee schedules of other funds and accounts managed by New York Life Investments and how it hypothetically would compare with fees paid for similar services by peer funds at varying asset levels. While recognizing the difficulty of determining future economies of scale with precision, the Board acknowledged that economies of scale may be shared with the Fund in a number of ways, including, for example, through the imposition of management fee breakpoints and by initially setting relatively low management fees.

 

Based on this information, the Board concluded, within the context of its overall determinations regarding the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, that the Fund’s expense structure appropriately reflects economies of scale for the benefit of Fund investors. The Board noted, however, that it would continue to evaluate the reasonableness of the Fund’s fee and expense structure as the Fund grows over time.

 7 

 

Reasonableness of Fees

 

The Board evaluated the reasonableness of the fees to be paid under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement. The Board considered the Fund’s contractual management and subadvisory fee schedules. The Board considered information provided by Epoch concerning the fees charged to other investment advisory clients, including institutional separate accounts and other funds with similar investment objectives as the Fund. The Board observed that New York Life Investments and Epoch had agreed to an adjusteda different subadvisory fee schedule to be paid to Epoch, as compared to the subadvisory fee paid to ICAP. The Board considered that depending on the amount of assets managed by the subadvisor, this adjusted subadvisory fee schedule could result in either a reduction in the subadvisory fee, which would result in New York Life Investments retaining a slightly larger portion of the management fee, or an increase in the subadvisory fee, which would result in New York Life Investments retaining a smaller portion of the management fee, but that it would not impact the fees paid by the Fund or its shareholders. The Board noted, however, that Epoch’s fees as subadvisor are paid by New York Life Investments, and not the Fund. Accordingly, the Board principally focused on the reasonableness of the fees paid by the Fund to New York Life Investments and its affiliates in determining to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement.

 

After considering the factors above, the Board concluded that the Fund’s overall fees were within a range that is competitive and, that, within the context of the Board’s overall conclusions regarding the Repositioning, that the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement support the conclusion that these fees are reasonable.

 

Conclusion

 

On the basis of the information provided to it and its evaluation thereof, the Board unanimously voted to approve the Repositioning, the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and, subject to shareholder approval, the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement.

 

What are the Terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?

 

A form of Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement is included as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement. The material terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement with Epoch are substantially identical to the terms of the prior subadvisory agreement with ICAP and the Interim Subadvisory Agreement with respect to the Fund, except as noted in the discussion below.

 

Under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch will serve as a subadvisor to the Fund on an interim basis. Pursuant to the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch would continue to serve as a subadvisor to the Fund on a longer-term basis (i.e., an initial term ending in two years, subject to annual continuation). The terms of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement are the same, in all material respects, as the terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, except with respect to the term of the agreement, termination provisions, and the escrow arrangements and other provisions discussed below. Under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch, on behalf of the Fund, will select the Fund’s investments and place all orders for purchases and sales of securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, subject to the supervision of New York Life Investments and oversight by the Board. In addition, Epoch will perform the following services:

 

·make available to the Trust and New York Life Investments, promptly upon reasonable request, all of the Fund’s investment records and ledgers maintained by Epoch (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the custodian or portfolio accounting agent for the Fund) as are necessary to assist the Fund and New York Life Investments to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, as well as other applicable laws. Epoch will furnish to regulatory agencies having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services that may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Fund are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations;

 

 8 

 

  

·provide reports to the Board, for consideration at meetings of the Board, on the investment program for the Fund and the issuers and securities represented in the Fund’s assets and furnish the Board such periodic and special reports with respect to the Fund as the Board and New York Life Investments may reasonably request;

 

·assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the registration statement, the value of any portfolio securities or other assets of the Fund for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent seek assistance from, or which they identify for review by, Epoch; and

 

·arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Fund, on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, CUSIP, SEDOL or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Fund, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform their administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Fund.

 

Under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch receives from New York Life Investments and not the Fund, an annual fee of:

 

Effective January 9, 2017

 

0.450% on assets up to $250 million; 0.400% on assets from $250 million to $500 million; and 0.350% on assets over $500 million

 

Effective March 13, 2017

 

0.425% on assets up to $500 million; 0.4125% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.400% on assets over $1 billion

 

The subadvisory fee schedule under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement in effect as of January 9, 2017 is identical to the subadvisory fee schedule under the prior subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investments and ICAP. The subadvisory fee schedule under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement in effect as of March 13, 2017 is identical to the subadvisory fee schedule under the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement except with respect to the sharing in management fee waivers and expense limitation reimbursements discussed in the footnote below. The fee rates paid by New York Life Investments to Epoch under the Interim Agreement shall not be greater than the fee rates paid by New York Life Investments to ICAP under the previous subadvisory agreement.

 

If the subadvisory fee schedule in effect as of March 13, 2017 had been in place for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, and assuming the assets allocated to Epoch for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, on a pro forma basis, the subadvisory fees payable to Epoch would have been $[   ],$2,927,760, which is $[   ] [greater/less]$121,630 greater than the actual subadvisory fees paid to ICAP for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016 representing a [ ]% [increase/decrease]4.33% increase in the subadvisory fee.  Such subadvisory fees are paid by New York Life Investments, and not the Fund, and therefore would have resulted in New York Life Investments retaining a [smaller/larger]smaller portion of the management fee.

 

In consideration for the services it previously provided to the Fund, ICAP received an annual fee of: 0.450% on assets up to $250 million; 0.400% on assets from $250 million to $500 million; and 0.350% on assets over $500 million. ICAP received a total of $2,806,130 in subadvisory fees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016.

 

 9 

 

 

The Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement reflects an adjustment to thea different subadvisory fee schedule.schedule than the one previously in place with ICAP. Under the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch will be entitled to receive, from New York Life Investments and not from the Fund, an annual fee of: 0.425% on assets up to $500 million; 0.4125% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.400% on assets over $1 billion.3 Such subadvisory fees are paid by New York Life Investments, and not the Fund, and therefore will result in New York Life Investments retaining either a larger or smaller portion of the management fee.fee, depending on size of the Fund.

 

If shareholders approve the Proposal, it is anticipated that the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement would go into effect on or about [AprilApril 1, 2017],2017, and, unless sooner terminated, would continue for an initial term ending in two years. Thereafter, the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement would continue for successive one-year terms, provided that such continuation is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose. The Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or the assignment or termination of the Fund’s Management Agreement, which is discussed below. The Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement also may be terminated as follows: (A) by New York Life Investments at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the subadvisor and the Trust; (B) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, upon the vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to New York Life Investments and the subadvisor; or (C) by the subadvisor at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to New York Life Investments and the Trust.

 

The Interim Subadvisory Agreement will terminate by its terms no later thanon June 8, 2017 or upon the earlier effectiveness of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement. The Interim Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated at any time without payment of any penalty by the Trust, upon the vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon ten (10) days’ written notice to the subadvisor.

 

Like the Interim Subadvisory Agreement, the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement provides that, except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, the Fund and New York Life Investments agree that Epoch, any affiliated person of Epoch, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, controls Epoch, shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses or losses in connection with any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of Epoch’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of Epoch’s obligations and duties under the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement.

 

Under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement, compensation earned by Epoch will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account. If shareholders of the Fund approve the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement prior to June 8, 2017, the amount held in the escrow account under the Interim SubdvisorySubadvisory Agreement will be paid to Epoch. If shareholders of the Fund do not approve the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, Epoch will be paid the lesser of its costs incurred in performing its services under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement or the total amount in the escrow account, plus interest earned.

 

 

3 Under the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement, New York Life Investments and Epoch will share equally in management fee waivers and expense limitation reimbursements. Epoch will not share in any reimbursements above the current subadvisory fee.

 

 10 

 

Were there any Other Changes Approved by the Board in Connection With the Approval of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?

 

In addition to approving the Interim Subadvisory Agreement and the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement with Epoch at the January 6, 2017 meeting, the Board approved the Repositioning, which includes changes in the Fund’s principal investment strategies, including replacing the two ICAP sleeves with a single sleeve overseen by Epoch, and associated changes to the Fund’s principal risks, which will take effect on or about March 13, 2017. Since its appointment as anthe interim subadvisor effective January 9, 2017, Epoch has been managing its portion of the Fund in accordance with its current principal investment strategies, but pursuant to Epoch’s own investment process and philosophy.

 

For additional information regarding the Repositioning, please refer to the supplements to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, dated January 9, 2017.

 

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT AMONG EPOCH, ICAP AND NEW YORK LIFE

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC

 

Epoch, ICAP and New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC, the parent company of ICAP and New York Life Investments, have entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which Epoch acquired certain assets of ICAP’s investment management business. Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Epoch acquired these assets and assumed certain liabilities of ICAP associated with the acquired assets and paid a purchase price on the closing date of the Asset Purchase Agreement. The Asset Purchase Agreement provides, among other things, for New York Life Investments to recommend to the Board the appointment of Epoch as interim subadvisor to the Fund and as a subadvisor on a longer term basis.

 

As set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement, Epoch and New York Life Investments intend to maintain an ongoing relationship between the parties with regard to the Fund and certain other funds wherein, among other things, New York Life Investments agrees to recommend to the Board that Epoch continue to serve as subadvisor for the Fund for the five years following the closing date of the Asset Purchase Agreement, subject to Board approval and other conditions, insofar as such recommendation is consistent with New York Life Investments’ fiduciary duties.

 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

New York Life Investments, with a principal place of business located at 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, serves as investment manager to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement between New York Life Investments and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund. New York Life Investments has managed the Fund since its inception. New York Life Investments was last approved as the investment manager to the Fund by the initial shareholder of the Fund on [___]June 3, 1999 and its continuance approved by the Board at its meetings held on December 12-14, 2016.

 

The Management Agreement continues in effect from year to year only if such continuance is approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose. The Management Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund at any time on sixty (60) days’ written notice without penalty by the Trustees, by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by New York Life Investments. The Management Agreement also terminates automatically in the event of its assignment (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act).

 

In conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, New York Life Investments administers the Fund’s business affairs. New York Life Investments also provides a comprehensive range of services, including providing offices, conducting clerical, recordkeeping and bookkeeping services and keeping most of the financial and accounting records required for the Fund.

 

 11 

 

 

The Management Agreement provides that New York Life Investments shall not be liable to the Trust for any error of judgment by New York Life Investments or for any loss sustained by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Management Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from New York Life Investments’ willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement.

 

Under the Management Agreement, New York Life Investments may make the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund or delegate any or all of its duties and responsibilities to one or more subadvisors, at its own expense. If it chooses to delegate to a subadvisor, New York Life Investments is responsible for, among other things, monitoring the subadvisor’s investment activities to help ensure compliance with regulatory restrictions. Regardless of whether it employs a subadvisor, New York Life Investments continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program, including monitoring for compliance with regulatory restrictions by those managing the Fund’s assets.

 

From New York Life Investments’ management fee, Epoch will receive its subadvisory fees as detailed in the section above entitled,“What are the Terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?”

 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, New York Life Investments earned fees from the Fund in the amount of $11,335,661 and waived its fees and/or reimbursed expenses in the amount of $0.

 

Exhibit C to this Proxy Statement sets forth the principal executive officers of New York Life Investments.

 

INFORMATION ABOUT EPOCH

 

In connection with the Repositioning, New York Life Investments entered into an Interim Subadvisory Agreement with Epoch to serve as the subadvisor to the Fund. Under New York Life Investments’ supervision, Epoch will be responsible for making the specific decisions about the following: (i) buying, selling and holding securities; (ii) selecting brokers and brokerage firms to trade for them; (iii) maintaining accurate records; and, if possible, (iv) negotiating favorable commissions and fees with the brokers and brokerage firms for the Fund. For these services, Epoch will be paid a monthly fee by New York Life Investments out of its management fee, and not by the Fund, as detailed in the section above entitled,“What are the Terms of the Proposed New Subadvisory Agreement?”

 

Epoch is located at 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Epoch is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. As of December 31, 2016, Epoch managed approximately $42approximately$42 billion in assets.

 

Exhibit B to this Proxy Statement sets forth certain information about other mutual funds subadvised by Epoch that are managed comparable to the portion of the Fund managed by Epoch.

 

Exhibit D to this Proxy Statement sets forth the principal executive officers of Epoch.

 

The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the portion of the Fund subadvised by Epoch.

 

J. Christian Kirtley, CFA

 

Mr. Kirtley joined Epoch in January 2017 as a portfolio manager of the MainStay MAP Fund management team effective January 9, 2017. He was previously an employee of ICAP and had been a part of the portfolio management team for MainStay ICAP International Fund and MainStay MAP Fund since 2015. Prior to ICAP, Mr. Kirtley spent nearly 5 years with Perkins Investment Management, LLC where he served as a Senior Research Analyst and ultimately held the position of Portfolio Manager, co-managing global value and international value products. He was previously a member of ICAP’s investment team from 2003-2010 and held the position of Senior Research Analyst.Fund. Mr. Kirtley earned hisa BS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. KirtleyHill and is also a CFA® charterholder. Mr. Kirtley has 13 years of industry experience. Mr. Kirtley will continue to serve as a portfolio manager for the MainStay MAP Fund until March 13, 2017.

 

 12 

 

 

David Pearl

 

Mr. Pearl has been a portfolio manager of the MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund and MainStay Epoch U.S. Small Cap Fund since 2009, MainStay Epoch Global Choice Fund since 2011 and of the MainStay MAP Fund since January 2017. Mr. Pearl co-founded Epoch in 2004, where he is Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Pearl received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

 

William Priest, CFA

 

Mr. Priest has been a portfolio manager of the MainStay Epoch Global Choice Fund, MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund and MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund since 2009, MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund since 2016 and of the MainStay ICAP Equity Fund, MainStay ICAP Select Equity Fund and MainStay MAP Fund since January 2017. Mr. Priest founded Epoch Investment Partners in 2004, where he is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Priest is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. He is also a CFA®charterholder.

 

Michael Welhoelter, CFA

 

Mr. Welhoelter has been a portfolio manager of the MainStay Epoch Global Choice Fund, MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund, MainStay Epoch International Small Cap Fund, MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund, MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund and the MainStay Epoch U.S. Small Cap Fund since 2009, MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund since 2016 and of the MainStay EpochICAP International Fund, MainStay ICAP Equity Fund, MainStay ICAP Select Equity Fund and MainStay MAP Fund since January 2017. Mr. Welhoelter joined Epoch in 2005 and is a Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Welhoelter holds a BA in Computer and Information Science from Colgate University. He is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the Society of Quantitative Analysts. Mr. Welhoelter is also a CFA® charterholder.

 

BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS ON FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

In effecting purchases and sales of securities for the account of the Fund, Epoch will seek the best execution of the Fund’s orders. In the course of achieving best execution, Epoch may place such orders with brokers and dealers who provide market, statistical and other research information to it. Epoch will be authorized, under certain circumstances, when placing Fund transactions for equity securities, to pay a brokerage commission (to the extent applicable) in excess of that which another broker might charge for executing the same transaction due to Epoch’s receipt of market, statistical and other research information

 

NYLIFE Securities LLC (“NYLIFE Securities”), an affiliate of New York Life Investments, may act as broker for the Fund. NYLIFE Securities is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NYLIFE LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life, the indirect parent of New York Life Investments. NYLIFE Securities is therefore an “Affiliated Broker,” as that term is defined in Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. There were no brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to NYLIFE Securities or any other affiliated broker for the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE REPOSITIONING

 

The Board and New York Life Investments engaged in discussions concerning the direct costs associated with the Repositioning. It is expected that there will be a significant amount of portfolio holdings turnover for the portion of the Fund overseen by Epoch related to the Repositioning.Repositioning, and will be approximately 29% of the assets of the Fund. This turnover would be in addition to the normal holdings turnover that would be experienced by the Fund as a result of its normal investment operations and redemption activity. Direct portfolio transaction costs associated with the Repositioning are currently estimated to be approximately $62,000. New York Life Investments and the Board agreed that New York Life Investments would bear 100% of the direct portfolio transaction costs associated with the Repositioning.

 13 

 

 

In addition to direct portfolio transaction costs (e.g., brokerage commissions and related fees charged to the Fund), there will be potential indirect costs in connection with the Repositioning. For example, the process of buying and selling securities in connection with the Repositioning may impact the financial markets, resulting in market-impact cost to the Fund. The Fund will bear these indirect fund transaction costs. Following discussions with the Board, New York Life Investments represented that Epoch would institute measures designed to seek to minimize the impact of these indirect transaction costs on the Fund. In addition, New York Life Investments committed to provide the Board with a report on all transaction costs (both direct and indirect) incurred in connection with the Repositioning. The Board also considered potential tax consequences of the Repositioning for shareholders and Epoch’s and New York Life Investments’ representation to take steps intended to minimize adverse tax consequences for shareholders.

 

TAX IMPLICATIONS OF THE REPOSITIONING

 

Although the Fund is expected to recognize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in connection with the Repositioning, it is expected that shareholders generally would not recognize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes until the Fund distributes its net realized gaingains, if any, at the end of the year. The Fund may take measures designed to minimize the amount of capital gains that would be recognized by shareholders of the Fund as of the end of the year. [PleasePlease consult the Fund’s prospectus for more information regarding the tax treatment of capital gains distributions. In addition, you should seek the advice of a tax advisor to determine how such distributions will impact your individual tax situation.]

 

BOARD RECOMMENDATION

 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT.

 

 14 

 

 

VOTING INFORMATION

 

This Proxy Statement is being provided in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board to solicit your vote for the Proposal at the Special Meeting, which will be held on March 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time,time, at the offices of New York Life Investments, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010.

 

You may vote in one of four ways:

 

·complete and sign the enclosed proxy card and mail it to us in the enclosed prepaid return envelope (if mailed in the United States);

·vote on the Internet at the website address printed on your proxy ballot;

·call the toll-free number printed on your proxy ballot; or

·vote in-person at the Special Meeting.

 

Please note, to vote via the Internet or telephone, you will need the “control number” that appears on your proxy card. Not all voting options may be available to you. Please see your proxy card for more details.

 

You may revoke a proxy once it is given, as long as it is submitted within the voting period, by submitting a later-dated proxy or a written notice of revocation to the Fund. You may also give written notice of revocation in person at the Special Meeting. All properly executed proxies received in time for the Special Meeting will be voted as specified in the proxy, or, if no specification is made, FOR the Proposal.

 

Only shareholders of the Fund as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. Each share held as of the close of business on the Record Date is entitled to one vote. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of the majority of outstanding shares of the Fund on the Record Date shall constitute a quorum. When a quorum is present, approval of the Proposal will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, which is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at the Special Meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

 

The Special Meeting may be adjourned from time to time by vote of a majority of the shares represented at the Special Meeting in person or by proxy, whether or not a quorum is present, and the Special Meeting may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the original date set for the Special Meeting without further notice. The persons named as proxies will vote those shares that they are entitled to vote in favor of adjournment if adjournment is necessary to obtain a quorum or to obtain a favorable vote on any proposal. Business may be conducted once a quorum is present and may continue until adjournment of the Special Meeting. If the Special Meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned Special Meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date of the adjourned Special Meeting is fixed. At any adjourned Special Meeting, the Trust may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original Special Meeting. Although it is not expected that the Fund will receive abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter), abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as present for purposes of determining a quorum. In addition, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, if a broker has not received instructions from beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the proposal to be voted upon may “affect substantially” a shareholder’s rights or privileges, the broker may not vote the shares as to that proposal even if it has discretionary voting power. As a result, these shares also will be treated as broker non-votes for purposes of proposals that may “affect substantially” a shareholder’s rights or privileges (but will not be treated as broker non-votes for other proposals, including adjournment of the Special Meeting).

 

 15 

 

 

Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as shares voted against the Proposal, which can have the effect of causing shareholders who choose not to participate in the proxy vote to prevail over shareholders who cast votes or provide voting instructions to their brokers or nominees.

 

The individuals named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will vote in accordance with the shareholder’s direction, as indicated thereon, if the proxy card is received and is properly executed. If a shareholder properly executes a proxy and gives no voting instructions with respect to the Proposal, the shares will be voted in favor of the Proposal.

 

The Board knows of no matters other than those described in this Proxy Statement that will be brought before the Special Meeting. If, however, any other matters properly come before the Special Meeting, it is the Board’s intention that proxies will be voted on such matters based on the judgment of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy. The proxies, in their discretion, may vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting.

 

Solicitation Expenses and Other Expenses Related to the Special Meeting. 100% of the direct expenses relating to the Special Meeting, including the preparation, distribution, solicitation, and tabulation of the proxy and costs related to the necessary prospectus supplements, will be borne by New York Life Investments or Epoch, as agreed by such parties. The proxy costs are estimated to be between $249,000 and $295,000. The Fund has retained D.F. King, an AST One company, to provide proxy solicitation services in connection with the Special Meeting. Proxies will be solicited via regular mail and also may be solicited via telephone, e-mail or other personal contact by personnel of New York Life Investments, the Fund, their respective affiliates, or, in New York Life Investments’ discretion, a commercial firm retained for this purpose.

 

The cost of the Special Meeting, including the costs of solicitation of proxies and voting instructions, will be borne by New York Life Investments or Epoch, as agreed by such parties. New York Life Investments or Epoch also will reimburse, upon request, persons holding shares as nominees for their reasonable expenses in sending soliciting material to their principals. The Fund and its shareholders will not pay any of the costs associated with the preparation of this proxy statement or the solicitation of proxies.

 

 16 

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Ownership of Shares

 

As of the Record Date, the Fund had [ ]35,517,824.481 shares outstanding. As of the Record Date, each share class of the Fund had the following number of outstanding shares:

CLASS OF SHARES

NUMBER OF

OUTSTANDING SHARES

Class A7,877,769.616
Investor Class3,877,206.348
Class B1,191,870.645
Class C2,685,234.442
Class I19,695,064.133
Class R171,760.253
Class R294,986.318
Class R323,932.726

The following table contains information about the shareholders that owned of record or beneficially five percent or more of a class of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of [ ],January 20, 2017.[TO BE UPDATED]

 

CLASS OF

SHARES

NAME AND ADDRESS

NUMBER OF

SHARES

OWNED

PERCENTAGE

OF CLASS

Class A

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

ATTN: MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

1,738,802.82322.07%
Class C

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY

HARBOR SIDE FINANCIAL CENTER

PLAZA 2 3RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07311

381,662.52814.21%
Class C

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH INC - FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS

ATTN: FUND ADMINISTRATION

4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484

402,670.54515.00%
Class C

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

ATTN: MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

248,047.1679.24%
Class C

PERSHING LLC

1 PERSHING PLAZA

JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002

225,627.3908.40%
Class C

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1905

145,985.4085.44%
Class C

WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

2801 MARKET STREET

ST LOUIS MO 63103-2523

159,849.5045.95%

 

CLASS OF SHARESNAME AND ADDRESSNUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARESNUMBER OF SHARES OWNEDPERCENTAGE OF CLASS
 
17 

 

[

CLASS OF

SHARES

NAME AND ADDRESS

NUMBER OF

SHARES

OWNED

PERCENTAGE

OF CLASS

Class C

UBS WM USA OMNI ACCOUNT M/F SPEC CDY A/C EBOC UBSFSI

1000 HARBOR BLVD

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761

241,395.0108.99%
Class C

RAYMOND JAMES OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS

ATTN: COURTNEY WALLER

880 CARILLON PKWY

ST PETERSBURG FL 33716-1100

295,796.71911.02%
Class I

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY VP MODERATE ALLOCATION

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

1,783,119.1649.05%
Class I

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY VP MODERATE GROWTH ALLOC

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

3,628,936.43018.43%
Class I

NWE YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY VP GROWTH ALLOCATION

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

1,849,835.2569.39%
Class I

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

1,216,873.4896.18%
Class I

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY MODERATE ALLOCATION FUND

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

1,588,641.7268.07%
Class I

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO

MAINSTAY MODERATE GROWTH ALLOC FD

30 HUDSON ST 23RD FLOOR

JERSEY CITY NJ 07302-4600

1,916,765.7879.73%
Class I

JOHN HANCOCK TRUST COMPANY LLC

690 CANTON ST STE 100

WESTWOOD MA 02090-2324

1,834,269.1309.31%
Class R1

RELIANCE TRUST COMPANY FBO NC ST FIREMAN DC

P.O. BOX 48529

ATLANTA GA 30362-1529

70,366.85898.06%
Class R2

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH INC - FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF ITS CUSTOMERS

ATTN: FUND ADMINISTRATION

4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST 3RD FL

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484

4,834.3695.09%
Class R2

JOHN HANCOCK TRUST COMPANY LLC

690 CANTON ST STE 100

WESTWOOD MA 02090-2324

37,533.55739.51%
Class R2

STENSTROM, MCINTOSH, COLBERT & FRANKLIN C WHIGHAM

WHIGHAM P.A

1001 HEATHROW PARK LN STE 4001

LAKE MARY FL 32746-7624

5,330.3415.61%
Class R2

SMITH & GLAUSER, P.C. 401(K) PLAN

RICHARD K. GLAUSER

2628 E HILLSIDE PINES CIR

SALT LAKE CITY UT 84109-4016

6,040.0546.36%

18

CLASS OF

SHARES

NAME AND ADDRESS

NUMBER OF

SHARES

OWNED

PERCENTAGE

OF CLASS

Class R3

ASCENSUS TRUST COMPANY FBO LAW OFFICES OF ROBERT W. RIPLEY AND

P.O. BOX 10758

FARGO ND 58106-0758

4,479.44218.72%
Class R3

STATE STREET BANK & TRUST FBO ADP/ MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER 401 K PRODUCT

105 ROSEWOOD AVE

WESTWOOD MA 02090

3,577.51014.95%
Class R3

MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST. FBO KENNEDY, WHITE & RIGGS ORTHOPAEDIC

717 17TH STREET SUITE 1300

DENVER CO 80202-3304

7,162.67629.93%
Class R3

FRONTIER TRUST COMPANY FBO SCHNELKER ENGINEERING 401(K) PLAN

PO BOX 10758

FARGO ND 58106-0758

2,297.2519.60%
Class R3

FRONTIER TRUST COMPANY FBO FOUNDERS SERVICE AND MFG CO., INC.

PO BOX 10758

FARGO ND 58106-0758

2,498.84310.44%

As of December 31, 2016,the officers and Trustees as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund.]

 

Annual Meetings and Shareholder Meetings

 

The Fund normally does not hold meetings of shareholders except as required under the 1940 Act and applicable laws. Any shareholder proposal for a shareholder meeting must be presented to the Fund within a reasonable time before proxy materials for the next meeting are sent to shareholders. Because the Fund does not hold regular shareholder meetings, no anticipated date of the next meeting can be provided.

 

Vote of Fund Shares by New York Life Investments

 

The MainStay Funds complex also includes four Asset Allocation Funds and six Retirement Funds (the “Allocation Funds”), which may invest in and own shares of the Fund directly. In that event, the Allocation Funds’ investment manager, New York Life Investments and/or its affiliates, has the discretion to vote all or some of the Fund’s shares on the Proposal in accordance with the recommendations of an independent service provider or vote the shares in the same proportion as the other shareholders of the Fund. The Fund has been advised by New York Life Investments that these shares would be voted pursuant to established policies and procedures designed to address potential conflicts of interest. [However, as of the Record Date, none of the Allocation Funds owned any shares of the Fund and, thus, are not eligible to vote on the Proposal.]

 

Householding

 

Unless you have instructed the Fund not to, only one copy of this proxy solicitation may be mailed to multiple Fund shareholders of record who share a mailing address (a “Household”). If you need additional copies of this proxy solicitation, please contact your participating broker-dealer firm or other financial intermediary or, if you hold Fund shares directly with the Fund, you may write to the Fund at MainStay Investments, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302 or by calling toll-free 800-MAINSTAY (624-6782). If you do not want the mailing of your proxy solicitation materials to be combined with those of other members of your Household in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would rather receive just one copy for your Household, please contact your participating broker-dealer firm or other financial intermediary or, if you hold Fund shares directly with the Fund, you may write to the Fund at MainStay Investments, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302 or by calling toll-free 800-MAINSTAY (624-6782).

 

 1719 

 

 

Shareholder Reports

 

The Fund will furnish without charge, upon request, a printed version of the most recent Annual/Semiannual Reports to shareholders. To obtain information, or for shareholder inquiries, call toll-free 800-MAINSTAY (624-6782), visit our website at mainstayinvestments.com, or write to NYLIFE Distributors LLC, Attn: MainStay Marketing Dept., 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302.

Distributor

 

NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware, serves as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distributor for the Fund's shares pursuant to an Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated August 1, 2014.

 

Administrator

 

Pursuant to the Management Agreement with regard to the Fund, New York Life Investments, subject to the supervision of the Board, and in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund, administers the Fund'sFund’s business affairs.

 

 1820 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

THE MAINSTAY FUNDS

MAINSTAY FUNDS TRUST

MAINSTAY VP FUNDS TRUST

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Restated Subadvisory Agreement is effective as of the 31st day of

March, 2017 (the “Agreement”), between New York Life Investment Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”), and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Subadvisor”).

 

WHEREAS, The MainStay Funds, MainStay Funds Trust, and MainStay VP Funds Trust (each a “Registrant” and collectively, the “Registrants”), each are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end, management investment company; and

 

WHEREAS, each Registrant is authorized to issue separate series, each of which may offer a separate class of shares of beneficial interest, each series having its own investment objective or objectives, policies and limitations; and

 

WHEREAS, each Registrant currently offers shares in multiple series, may offer shares of additional series in the future, and intends to offer shares of additional series in the future; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager entered into a Management Agreement with each Registrant, on behalf of its separate series, as amended (the “Management Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, under the Management Agreement, the Manager has agreed to provide certain investment advisory and related administrative services to the each Registrant; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager and the Subadvisor entered into a Subadvisory Agreement, as amended (“Previous Subadvisory Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Management Agreement permits the Manager to delegate certain of its investment advisory duties under the Management Agreement to one or more subadvisors; and

 

WHEREAS, the Manager wishes to retain the Subadvisor to furnish certain investment advisory services to one or more of the series of each Registrant and manage such portion of each Registrant as the Manager shall from time to time direct, and the Subadvisor is willing to furnish such services; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto now desire to amend and restate the Previous Subadvisory

Agreement; and

19

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement restates, in its entirety, the Previous Subadvisory Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the Agreement is not intended to materially change the services provided under the Previous Subadvisory Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the Manager and the Subadvisor as follows:

A-1

 

1.          Appointment. The Manager hereby appoints Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. to act as Subadvisor to the series of each Registrant designated on Schedule A of this Agreement (each a “Series”) with respect to the assets of such Series, or a portion of the assets designated by the Manager, in the case of the MainStay Income Builder Fund, MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio, and MainStay MAP Equity Fund (collectively, the “Allocated Assets”), subject to such written instructions to the Subadvisor, including a redesignation of Allocated Assets and supervision as the Manager may from time to time furnish for the periods and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Subadvisor accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.

 

In the event that any Registrant designates one or more series other than the Series with respect to which the Manager wishes to retain the Subadvisor to render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the Subadvisor in writing. If the Subadvisor is willing to render such services, it shall notify the Manager in writing, whereupon such series shall become a Series hereunder, and be subject to this Agreement, and Schedule a shall be revised accordingly.

 

2.          Portfolio Management Duties. Subject to the supervision of the Manager and the oversight of each Registrant’s Board of Trustees (“Board”), the Subadvisor will provide a continuous investment program for the Series’ Allocated Assets and determine the composition of the assets of the Series’ Allocated Assets, including determination of the purchase, retention or sale of the securities, cash and other investments contained in the portfolio. The Subadvisor will conduct investment research and conduct a continuous program of evaluation, investment, sales and reinvestment of the Series’ Allocated Assets by determining the securities and other investments that shall be purchased, entered into, sold, closed or exchanged for the Series, when these transactions should be executed, and what portion of the Allocated Assets of the Series should be held in the various securities and other investments in which it may invest, and the Subadvisor is hereby authorized to execute and perform such services on behalf of the Series. The Subadvisor will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with the Series’ investment objective or objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in each Registrant’s Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as amended, copies of which shall be delivered to the Subadvisor by the Manager. The Subadvisor further agrees as follows:

 

(a)          The Subadvisor understands that the Allocated Assets of the Series need to be managed so as to permit the Series to qualify or continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and will coordinate efforts with the Manager to achieve that objective.

 

20

(b)          The Subadvisor will conform with the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations thereunder, all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, any applicable procedures adopted by each Registrant’s Board of which a copy has been delivered to the Subadvisor, and the provisions of the Registration Statement of each Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the 1940 Act, as supplemented or amended, copies of which shall be delivered to the Subadvisor by the Manager.

 

(c)          On occasions when the Subadvisor deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Series as well as of other investment advisory clients of the Subadvisor or any of its affiliates, the Subadvisor may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but shall not be obligated to, aggregate the securities to be so sold or purchased with those of its other clients where such aggregation is not inconsistent with the policies set forth in the Registration Statement. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadvisor in a manner that, over time, is fair and equitable in the judgment of the Subadvisor in the exercise of its fiduciary

A-2

obligations to each Registrant and to such other clients, subject to review by the Manager and the Board. The Manager recognizes that in some cases this procedure may adversely affect the results obtained for the Registrant.

 

(d)          In connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Series, the Subadvisor will arrange for the transmission to the custodian and portfolio accounting agent for the Series, on a daily basis, such confirmation, trade tickets and other documents and information, including, but not limited to, CUSIP, Sedol or other numbers that identify securities to be purchased or sold on behalf of the Series, as may be reasonably necessary to enable the custodian and portfolio accounting agent to perform their administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities with respect to the Series. With respect to portfolio securities to be purchased or sold through the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, the Subadvisor will arrange for the automatic transmission of the confirmation of such trades to the Registrant’s custodian and portfolio accounting agent.

 

(e)          The Subadvisor will assist the custodian and portfolio accounting agent in determining or confirming, consistent with the procedures and policies stated in the Registration Statement for each Registrant, the value of any portfolio securities or other Allocated Assets of the Series for which the custodian and portfolio accounting agent seek assistance from, or which they identify for review by, the Subadvisor.

 

(f)          The Subadvisor will make available to each Registrant and the Manager, promptly upon request, all of the Series’ investment records and ledgers maintained by the Subadvisor (which shall not include the records and ledgers maintained by the relevant custodian or portfolio accounting agent, as are necessary to assist the applicable Registrant and the Manager to comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), as well as other applicable laws. The Subadvisor will furnish to regulatory agencies having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with such services that may be requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Registrant are being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

 

21

(g)          The Subadvisor will provide reports to each Registrant’s Board, for consideration at meetings of the Board, on the investment program for the Series and the issuers and securities represented in the Series’ Allocated Assets, and will furnish each Registrant’s Board with respect to the Series such periodic and special reports as each Registrant and the Manager may reasonably request.

 

(h)          In rendering the services required under this Agreement, the Subadvisor may, from time to time, employ or associate with itself such entity, entities, person or persons as it believes necessary to assist it in carrying out its obligations under this Agreement. The Subadvisor may not, however, retain as subadvisor any company that would be an “investment adviser” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, to the Series unless the contract with such company is approved by a majority of the applicable Registrant’s Board and by a majority of the Trustees of the applicable Registrant who are not parties to any agreement or contract with such company and who are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Registrant, the Manager, the Subadvisor or any such company that is retained as subadvisor, and also is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Series to the extent required by the 1940 Act. The Subadvisor shall be responsible for making reasonable inquiries and for reasonably ensuring that any employee of the Subadvisor, any subadvisor that the Subadvisor has employed or with which it has associated with respect to the Series, or any

A-3

employee thereof has not, to the best of the Subadvisor’s knowledge, in any material connection with the handling of a Registrant’s assets:

 

(i)          been convicted, within the last ten (10) years, of any felony or misdemeanor arising out of conduct involving embezzlement, fraudulent conversion or misappropriation of funds or securities, involving violations of Sections 1341, 1342, or 1343 of Title 18, United States Code, or involving the purchase or sale of any security; or

 

(ii)         been found by any state regulatory authority, within the last ten (10) years, to have violated or to have acknowledged violation of any provision of any state insurance law involving fraud, deceit or knowing misrepresentation; or

 

(iii)        been found by any federal or state regulatory authorities, within the last ten (10) years, to have violated or to have acknowledged violation of any provision of federal or state securities laws involving fraud, deceit or knowing misrepresentation.

 

(i)          The Subadvisor is authorized to retain legal counsel and financial advisors and to negotiate and execute documentation relating to investments in the Allocated Assets or Series, at the expense of the Allocated Assets or Series. Such documentation may relate to investments to be made or sold, currently held or previously held. The authority shall include, without limitation: (i) documentation relating to private placements and bank debt; (ii) waivers, consents, amendments or other modifications relating to investments; and (iii) purchase agreements, sales agreements, commitment letters, pricing letters, registration rights agreements, indemnities and contributions, escrow agreements and other investment related agreements. Manager represents that the Allocated Assets or Series can settle such private placements.

22

 

3.          Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the Manager shall pay the Subadvisor as compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Allocated Assets constituting the respective Series’ average daily net assets as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Manager to the Subadvisor under this Agreement is contingent upon the Manager’s receipt of payment from the applicable Registrant for management services described under the Management Agreement. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Series that may be agreed to by the Manager, but not agreed to in writing by the Subadvisor, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadvisor.

 

4.          Broker-Dealer Selection. The Subadvisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Series’ Allocated Assets, for broker-dealer selection and for negotiation of brokerage commission rates. The Subadvisor’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution for the Series, taking into account the factors specified in the Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information for each Registrant, which include the following: price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dollar spread); the size of the order; the nature of the market for the security; the timing of the transaction; the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved; the quality of the service; the difficulty of execution, and the execution capabilities and operational facilities of the firm involved; and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. Accordingly, the price to the Series in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified, in the judgment of the Subadvisor in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations to each Registrant, by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. Subject to such policies as the Board may determine, and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and interpretations of the SEC thereunder, the Subadvisor shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to

A-4

have breached any duty created by this Agreement or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused the Series to pay a broker-dealer for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Subadvisor or its affiliate determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Subadvisor’s or its affiliate’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Series and to their other clients as to which they exercise investment discretion. To the extent consistent with these standards and each Registrant’s Procedures for Securities Transactions with Affiliated Brokers pursuant to Rule 17e-1, the Subadvisor is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Series to the (i) Subadvisor if it is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC, (ii) its affiliated broker-dealer, or (iii) such brokers and dealers who also provide research, statistical material or other services to the Series, the Subadvisor or an affiliate of the Subadvisor. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Subadvisor shall determine consistent with the above standards and the Subadvisor will report on said allocation regularly to the Board, indicating the broker-dealers to which such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.

23

 

5.          Disclosure about Subadvisor. The Subadvisor has reviewed the post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement for each Registrant filed with the SEC that contains disclosure about the Subadvisor and represents and warrants that, with respect to the disclosure about the Subadvisor or information relating directly or indirectly to the Subadvisor, such Registration Statement contains, as of the date hereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not omit any statement of a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The Subadvisor further represents and warrants that it is a duly registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and has notice filed in all states in which the Subadvisor is required to make such filings.

 

6.          Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Subadvisor will pay all expenses incurred by it and its staff for their activities in connection with its portfolio management duties under this Agreement. The Manager or each Registrant shall be responsible for all the expenses of that Registrant’s operations, including, but not limited to:

 

(a)          the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Manager or of the Registrant;

 

(b)          the fees and expenses of each Series which relate to: (i) the custodial function and recordkeeping connected therewith; (ii) the maintenance of the required accounting records of the Series not being maintained by the Manager; (iii) the pricing of the Series’ shares, including the cost of any pricing service or services that may be retained pursuant to the authorization of that Registrant’s Trustees; and (iv) for both mail and wire orders, the cashiering function in connection with the issuance and redemption of the Series’ shares;

 

(c)          the fees and expenses of the Registrant’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent, that may be the custodian, which relate to the maintenance of each shareholder account;

 

(d)          the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Registrant;

 

(e)          brokers’ commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Registrant in connection with its securities transactions on behalf of the Series;

 

A-5

(f)           all taxes and business fees payable by the Registrant or the Series to federal, state or other governmental agencies;

24

 

(g)          the fees of any trade association of which the Registrant may be a member;

 

(h)          the cost of share certificates representing the Series’ shares;

 

(i)           the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations of the Registrant and of its Series with the SEC, registering the Registrant as a broker or dealer and qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Registrant’s registration statements and prospectuses for filing under federal and state securities laws for such purposes;

 

(j)           allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services and all expenses of shareholders’ and Trustees’ meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders;

 

(k)          litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Registrant’s business; and

 

(l)           any expenses assumed by the Series pursuant to a Plan of Distribution adopted in conformity with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.

 

7.Compliance.

 

(a)          The Subadvisor agrees to assist the Manager and each Registrant in complying with the Registrant’s obligations under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, including but not limited to: (i) periodically providing the Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer with requested information about and independent third-party reports (if available) in connection with the Subadvisor’s compliance program adopted pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act (“Subadvisor’s Compliance Program”); (ii) reporting any material deficiencies in the Subadvisor’s Compliance Program to the Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer within a reasonable time following the Subadvisor becoming aware of such deficiency; and (iii) reporting any material changes to the Subadvisor’s Compliance Program to the Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer within a reasonable time. The Subadvisor understands that the Board is required to approve the Subadvisor’s Compliance Program on at least an annual basis, and acknowledges that this Agreement is conditioned upon the Board’s approval of the Subadvisor’s Compliance Program.

 

(b)          The Subadvisor agrees that it shall immediately notify the Manager and the Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer: (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Subadvisor, placed limitations upon its activities, functions or operations, suspended or revoked its registration as an investment adviser or commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions; or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Subadvisor further agrees to notify the Manager immediately of any material fact known to the Subadvisor about the Subadvisor that is not contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Registrant, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or upon the Subadvisor becoming aware of any statement contained therein about the Subadvisor that becomes untrue in any material respect.

 

 25A-6 

 

 

(c)          The Manager agrees that it shall immediately notify the Subadvisor: (i) in the event that the SEC has censured the Manager or a Registrant, placed limitations upon either of their activities, functions or operations, suspended or revoked the Manager’s registration as an investment adviser or commenced proceedings or an investigation that may result in any of these actions; or (ii) upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Series has ceased to qualify or might not qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

8.Documents. The Manager has delivered to the Subadvisor copies of each of the following documents and will deliver to it all future amendments and supplements, if any:

 

(a)          Declaration of Trust of each Registrant, as amended from time to time, as filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as applicable (such Declarations of Trust, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, are herein called the “Declarations of Trust”);

 

(b)          By-Laws of each Registrant, as amended from time to time (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time, are herein called the “By-Laws”);

 

(c)          Certified Resolutions of each Registrant’s Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Subadvisor and approving the form of this Agreement;

 

(d)          Registration Statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form N-lA, as filed with the SEC relating to the Series and the Series’ shares, and all amendments thereto;

 

(e)          Notification of Registration of each registrant under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A, as filed with the SEC, and all amendments thereto; and

 

(f)          Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Series.

 

9.          Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Subadvisor hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Series are the property of the applicable Registrant and further agrees to surrender promptly to the applicable Registrant any of such records upon the applicable Registrant’s or the Manager’s request; provided, however, that the Subadvisor may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Subadvisor further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act and to preserve the records required by Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act for the period specified in the Rule.

 

26

10.        Cooperation. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with each other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or any Registrant.

 

11.        Representations Respecting Subadvisor. The Manager and each Registrant agree that neither that Registrant, the Manager, nor affiliated persons of that Registrant or the Manager shall, except with the prior permission of the Subadvisor, give any information or make any representations or statements in connection with the sale of shares of the Series concerning the Subadvisor or the Series other than the information or representations contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information for each Registrant’s shares, as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for each Registrant, or in sales

A-7

literature or other promotional material approved in advance by the Subadvisor. The parties agree that, in the event that the Manager or an affiliated person of the Manager sends sales literature or other promotional material to the Subadvisor for its approval and the Subadvisor has not commented within five (5) business days, the Manager and its affiliated persons may use and distribute such sales literature or other promotional material, although, in such event, the Subadvisor shall not be deemed to have approved of the contents of such sales literature or other promotional material.

 

12.        Confidentiality. The Subadvisor will treat as proprietary and confidential any information obtained in connection with its duties hereunder, including all records and information pertaining to the Series and their prior, present or potential shareholders, unless required by law. The Subadvisor will not use such information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder. Such information may not be disclosed except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Series or if such disclosure is expressly required or requested by applicable federal or state regulatory authorities or otherwise required by law.

 

13.        Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, it is understood and agreed that the Manager shall at all times retain the ultimate responsibility for and control of all functions performed pursuant to this Agreement, and reserves the right to direct, approve or disapprove any action hereunder taken on its behalf by the Subadvisor.

 

14.        Liability. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder or other applicable law, each Registrant and the Manager agree that the Subadvisor, any affiliated person of the Subadvisor, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls the Subadvisor, shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses or losses in connection with, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Subadvisor’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Subadvisor’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

27

Nothing in this section shall be deemed a limitation or waiver of any obligation or duty that may not by law be limited or waived.

 

15.        Indemnification.

 

(a)          The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Subadvisor, any affiliated person of the Subadvisor, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act controls (“controlling person”) the Subadvisor (all of such persons being referred to as “Subadvisor Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Subadvisor Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Internal Revenue Code, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager’s responsibilities to each Registrant, which: (i) is based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Manager’s duties or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and duties under this Agreement, or by any of its employees or representatives or any affiliate of or any person acting on behalf of the Manager, or (ii) is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact supplied by, or which is the responsibility of, the Manager and contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus covering shares of a Registrant or Series, or any amendment thereof or any supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Manager and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information

A-8

furnished to the Manager, a Registrant or to any affiliated person of the Manager by a Subadvisor Indemnified Person; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of the Subadvisor Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 14 of this Agreement, the Subadvisor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, any affiliated person of the Manager, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, controls (“controlling person”) the Manager (all of such persons being referred to as “Manager Indemnified Persons”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which a Manager Indemnified Person may become subject under the 1933 Act, 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Internal Revenue Code, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Subadvisor’s responsibilities as Subadvisor of the Series, which: (i) is based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Subadvisor’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Subadvisor’s obligations and duties under this Agreement, or by any of its employees or representatives, or any affiliate of or any person acting on behalf of the Subadvisor; (ii) is based upon a failure by the Subadvisor to comply with Section 2, Paragraph (a) of this Agreement; or (iii) is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus covering the shares of a Registrant or Series, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact known or which should have been known to the Subadvisor and was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager, a Registrant or any affiliated person of the Manager or a Registrant by the Subadvisor or any affiliated person of the Subadvisor; provided, however, that in no case shall the indemnity in favor of a Manager Indemnified Person be deemed to protect such person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

28

(c)          The Manager shall not be liable under Paragraph (a) of this Section 15 with respect to any claim made against a Subadvisor Indemnified Person unless such Subadvisor Indemnified Person shall have notified the Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons, notice or other first legal process or notice giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Subadvisor Indemnified Person (or after such Subadvisor Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any such claim shall not relieve the Manager from any liability that it may have to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 15. In case any such action is brought against the Subadvisor Indemnified Person, the Manager will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person. If the Manager assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Manager to represent both the Manager and the Subadvisor Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interest and, therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Subadvisor Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Subadvisor Indemnified Person, the Manager will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Manager and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Manager and to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person. The Subadvisor

A-9

Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Manager shall not be liable to the Subadvisor Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Subadvisor Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Manager shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Subadvisor Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Subadvisor Indemnified Person.

 

(d)          The Subadvisor shall not be liable under Paragraph (b) of this Section 15 with respect to any claim made against a Manager Indemnified Person unless such Manager Indemnified Person shall have notified the Subadvisor in writing within a reasonable time after the summons, notice or other first legal process or notice giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Manager Indemnified Person (or after such Manager Indemnified Person shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Subadvisor of any such claim shall not relieve the Subadvisor from any liability that it may have to the Manager Indemnified Person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 15. In case any such action is brought against the Manager Indemnified Person, the Subadvisor will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof or, after notice to the Manager Indemnified Person, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Manager Indemnified Person. If the Subadvisor assumes the defense of any such action and the selection of counsel by the Subadvisor to represent both the Subadvisor and the Manager Indemnified Person would result in a conflict of interest and, therefore, would not, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager Indemnified Person, adequately represent the interests of the Manager Indemnified Person, the Subadvisor will, at its own expense, assume the defense with counsel to the Subadvisor and, also at its own expense, with separate counsel to the Manager Indemnified Person, which counsel shall be satisfactory to the Subadvisor and to the Manager Indemnified Person. The Manager

Indemnified Person shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Subadvisor shall not be liable to the Manager Indemnified Person under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Manager Indemnified Person independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Subadvisor shall not have the right to compromise on or settle the litigation without the prior written consent of the Manager Indemnified Person if the compromise or settlement results, or may result, in a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the Manager Indemnified Person.

29

 

16.        Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Subadvisor hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and except as the Subadvisor may otherwise agree in writing, the Subadvisor shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer or employee of the Subadvisor, who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of a Registrant, 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 other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature.

 

17.        Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective on the date first indicated above. Unless terminated as provided herein, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial period of two (2) years from the date first indicated above when following a shareholder approval, and otherwise a period of one (1) year, and continue on an annual basis thereafter with respect to the Series, provided that such continuance is specifically approved each year by: (a) the vote of a majority of the entire Board or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Series; and (b) the vote of a majority of those applicable Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any such

A-10

party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Series shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to the Series notwithstanding: (i) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of any other Series; or (ii) that this Agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Registrant, unless such approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated for each or any Series hereunder: (A) by the Manager at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Subadvisor and the applicable Registrant; (B) at any time without payment of any penalty by the Registrant, upon the vote of a majority of each Registrant’s Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Portfolio, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Manager and the Subadvisor; or (C) by the Subadvisor at any time without penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Manager and the Registrant. In the event of termination for any reason, all records of each Series for which the Agreement is terminated shall promptly be returned to the Manager or the applicable Registrant, free from any claim or retention of rights in such record by the Subadvisor; provided, however, that the Subadvisor may, at its own expense, make and retain a copy of such records. The Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is described in the 1940 Act) or in the event the applicable Management Agreement is assigned or terminates for any other reason. In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections numbered 2(f), 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 19 of this Agreement shall remain in effect, as well as any applicable provision of this Section 17.

 

30

18.        Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no material amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by an affirmative vote of: (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Series; and (ii) the Trustees of each Registrant , including a majority of the Trustees of each Registrant who are not interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, if such approval is required by applicable law.

 

19.        Use of Name.

 

(a)          It is understood that the name MainStay or any derivative thereof or logo associated with that name is the valuable property of the Manager and/or its affiliates, and that the Subadvisor has the right to use such name (or derivative or logo) only with the approval of the Manager and only so long as the Manager is Manager to the Registrants and/or the Series. Upon termination of the Management Agreement and the Manager, the Subadvisor shall forthwith cease to use such name (or derivative or logo).

 

(b)          It is understood that the name Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. or any derivative thereof or logo associated with that name is the valuable property of the Subadvisor and its affiliates and that the Registrants and/or the Series have the right to use such name (or derivative or logo) in offering materials of each Registrant or sales materials with respect to each Registrant with the approval of the Subadvisor and for so long as the Subadvisor is a Subadvisor to the Registrants and/or the Series. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Registrants shall forthwith cease to use such name (or derivative or logo).

 

 31A-11 

 

 

20.        Proxies; Class Actions.

 

(a)          The Manager has provided the Subadvisor a copy of the Manager’s Proxy Voting Policy, setting forth the policy that proxies be voted for the exclusive benefit and in the best interests of the Registrants. Absent contrary instructions received in writing from a Registrant, the Subadvisor will vote all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities held by the Series in accordance with applicable fiduciary obligations. The Subadvisor shall maintain records concerning how it has voted proxies on behalf of each Registrant, and these records shall be available to each Registrant upon request.

 

(b)          Manager acknowledges and agrees that the Subadvisor shall not be responsible for taking any action or rendering advice with respect to any class action claim relating to any assets held in the Allocated Assets or Series. Manager will instruct the applicable service providers not to forward to the Subadvisor any information concerning such actions. The Subadvisor will, however, forward to Manager any information it receives regarding any legal matters involving any asset held in the Allocated Assets or Series.

 

21.        Notice. 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 Manager at NYLIM Center, 30 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, Attention: President; or (2) to the Subadvisor at Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., 399 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Tim Taussig, Chief Operating Officer.

 

22.        Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act or rules or orders of the SEC thereunder. The term “affiliate” or “affiliated person” as used in this Agreement shall mean “affiliated person” as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act;

 

(b)          The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect;

 

(c)          To the extent permitted under Section 17 of this Agreement, this Agreement may only be assigned by any party with the prior written consent of the other parties;

 

32

(d)          If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable;

 

(e)          Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting the Subadvisor as an agent of the Manager, or constituting the Manager as an agent of the Subadvisor.

 

*          *          *

 

 33A-12 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first indicated above. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts.

 

NEW YORK LIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
  
  
By: __________________________Attest: _______________________
Name:Stephen P. FisherName:Thomas Lynch
Title:Senior Managing Director and PresidentTitle:Director and Associate General Counsel
  
  
EPOCH INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC.
  
EPOCH INVESTMENT PARTNERS, INC. 
  
By: __________________________Attest: _______________________
Name:Name:
Title:Title:

 34A-13 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

(Effective as of March 31, 2017)

 

As compensation for services provided by Subadvisor, the Manager will pay the Subadvisor and Subadvisor agrees to accept as full compensation for all services rendered hereunder, at an annual subadvisory fee equal to the following:

 

SERIES Annual Rate
   
MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund1 0.375% on all assets
   
MainStay Epoch Global Choice Fund 

0.475% on assets up to $500 million; and

0.45% on assets in excess of $500 million

   
MainStay Epoch Global Equity Yield Fund 0.35% on all assets
   
MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund1 

0.40% on assets up to $5 billion; and

0.3875% on assets from $5 billion to $7.5 billion; and 0.375% on assets in excess of $7.5 billion

   
MainStay Epoch International Small Cap Fund 0.55% on all assets
   
MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund2 

0.425% on assets up to $500 million;

0.4125% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and

0.40% on assets in excess of $1 billion

   

MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund1

 50% of the effective gross management fee
   

MainStay Epoch U.S. Small Cap Fund2, 3

 

0.425% on assets up to $1 billion; and

0.40% on assets in excess of $1 billion

   

MainStay Income Builder Fund2, 4

(portfolio sleeve)

 50% of the effective gross management fee
   

MainStay MAP Equity Fund1

(portfolio sleeve)

 

0.425% on assets up to $500 million;

0.4125% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and

0.40% on assets in excess of $1 billion

   

MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio1

 50% of the effective gross management fee

 

A-14

 

 

MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Small Cap Portfolio2 

0.400% on assets up to $200 million;

0.375% on assets from $200 million to $500 million;

0.3625% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and

0.35% on assets in excess of $1 billion

   

MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio2, 5

(portfolio sleeve)

 50% of the effective gross management fee

 

The fee based upon the average daily net assets of the respective Series, unless otherwise noted, shall be accrued daily at the rate of 1/(number of days in calendar year) of the annual rate applied to the daily net assets of the Series.

 

Payment will be made to the Subadvisor on a monthly basis.

 

1With respect to the MainStay Epoch Capital Growth Fund, MainStay Epoch International Choice Fund, MainStay Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Fund, MainStay MAP Equity Fund, and MainStay VP Epoch U.S. Equity Yield Portfolio, the Manager and Subadvisor will share equally in management fee waivers and expense limitation reimbursements. The Subadvisor will not share in any reimbursements above the current subadvisory fee.

2Effective three years after June 29, 2009, the Subadvisor will equally share in any modifications to the management fee or management fee breakpoints for the Series that are implemented subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

3With respect to the MainStay Epoch U.S. Small Cap Fund, to the extent that the net management fee ratio for the Fund is less than the subadvisory fee ratio due to total net expense limitation reimbursements, the Subadvisor has agreed to receive an amount equal to the net management fees.

4Based on the percentage of the Subadvisor’s Allocated Assets constituting the Series’ average daily net assets. For reference, the management fee schedule for MainStay Income Builder Fund is 0.64% on assets up to $500 million; 0.60% on assets between $500 million and $1 billion; and 0.575% on assets over $1 billion.

5Based on the percentage of the Subadvisor’s Allocated Assets constituting the Series’ average daily net assets. For reference, the management fee schedule for MainStay VP Income Builder Portfolio is 0.57% on assets up to $1 billion and 0.55% on assets over $1 billion.

 

A-15

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

COMPARABLE MUTUAL FUNDS SUBADVISED BY EPOCH

 

Fund Name

Total Assets as

of

December 31,

2016 ($)

Annual Subadvisory Fee as a % of Average

Daily Net Assets

 

   

MainStay Epoch U.S. All Cap Fund

$771,944,341

0.425% on assets up to $500 million;

0.4125% on assets from $500 million to $1 billion; and 0.400% on assets over $1 billion6

 

 

6 Effective June 29, 2009, Epoch will equally share in any modifications to the management fee or management fee breakpoints.

 

B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF NEW YORK LIFE INVESTMENTS

 

The directors and officers of New York Life Investments and their respective titles are listed below. The address for each officer and director is 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010.

 

Name of Officer/Officer / Director of New

York Life Investment Management LLC

Title

Hung, Yie-HsinChairman of the Board of Managers and Chairman, Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Bedard, David G.Member of the Board of Managers and Senior Managing Director
Blunt, Christopher O.Member of the Board of Managers
Bopp, Kevin M.Chief Compliance Officer
Fisher, Stephen P.Member of the Board of Managers and Senior Managing Director and President
Fleurant, John T.Member of the Board of Managers
Harte, FrankSenior Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
Lehneis, Kirk C.Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer
Seter, Arthur H.Member of the Board of Managers and Senior Managing Director
Shively, George S.Senior Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary
Yoon, JaeSenior Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer

 

C-1

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EPOCH

 

Certain information on each executive officer of Epoch is listed below, including any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each such person has been engaged during the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee. Epoch’s address is 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

 

Name

Position With Epoch

Investment Partners, Inc.

Other Business
   
William PriestChief Executive Officer/Co-Chief Investment OfficerNone
   
Timothy TaussigPresident/Chief Operating OfficerNone
   
Adam BorakChief Financial OfficerNone
   
David PearlExecutive Vice President/Co-Chief Investment OfficerNone
   
David BarnettChief Compliance OfficerNone

 

D-1

MAINSTAY MAP FUND

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN.THE MATTERS WE ARE SUBMITTING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ARE SIGNIFICANT TO THE FUND AND TO YOU AS A FUND SHAREHOLDER. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND CAST YOUR PROXY VOTE TODAY!

PROXY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON March 31, 2017

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the MainStay MAP Fund (the “Fund”), a series of The MainStay Funds (“MainStay”), will be held on March 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, at the offices of New York Life Investment Management LLC, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. The Board of Trustees of MainStay (the “MainStay Board”) has fixed the close of business on January 20, 2017 as the Record Date for determination of shareholders of the Fund entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The undersigned hereby appoints J. Kevin Gao, Thomas C. Humbert, Jr. and Y. Rachel Kuo and each of them, as proxies with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof, all of the shares of the Fund held of record by the undersigned on January 20, 2017 at the special meeting of shareholders of the Fund to be held on March 31, 2017, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This proxy does not revoke any prior powers of attorney except for prior proxies given in connection with the special meeting of shareholders.

IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST IN THE MANNER DIRECTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF, AND WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER(S) ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONEMENT(S) THEREOF. IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE AS REGARDS TO A PROPOSAL INCLUDED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT, SUCH VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST “FOR” SUCH PROPOSAL.

Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the proposals.

PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF AND RETURN THE SIGNED PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON March 31, 2017.The Proxy Statement for the Fund is available at proxyonline.com/docs/mainstayMAP.pdf

 

 

 

MAINSTAY MAP FUND

YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED.
Please sign this proxy card exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on the proxy card. Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the capacity in which they sign, and where more than one name appears, a majority must sign. If a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized officer who should state his or her title.
SIGNATURE (AND TITLE IF APPLICABLE)DATE
SIGNATURE (IF HELD JOINTLY)DATE

TO VOTE, MARK ONE CIRCLE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MAINSTAY UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL:

 

FORAGAINSTABSTAIN
To approve a new subadvisory agreement between New York Life Investment Management LLC and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc.¨¨¨

 

 You can vote on the internet, by telephone or by mail. Please see the reverse side for instructions.

 

To avoid the additional expense of further solicitation, we strongly urge you to review, complete and return your Proxy Ballot as soon as possible. Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares owned.

PLEASE VOTE ALL YOUR BALLOTS IF YOU RECEIVED MORE THAN ONE BALLOT DUE TO MULTIPLE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUND.

REMEMBER TO SIGN AND DATE ABOVE BEFORE MAILING IN YOUR VOTE. THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING