BRIDGE BUILDER MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION STATEMENT
The Information Statement is available at www.bridgebuildermutualfunds.com
December 20, 2018
As a shareholder of the Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Bridge Builder Trust (the “Trust”), you are receiving this notice regarding the internet availability of an information statement (the “Information Statement”) relating to the hiring of BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock”) as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund. This notice presents only an overview of the more complete Information Statement. We encourage you to review all of the important information contained in the Information Statement. The Information Statement is for informational purposes only and, as a shareholder of the Fund, you need not take any action.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION STATEMENT
As discussed in greater detail in the Information Statement, at its in-person meeting held on August 21 – August 22, 2018, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) approved an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC (“Olive Street”), the investment adviser to the Fund, and BlackRock, pursuant to which BlackRock serves as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund. The appointment of BlackRock became effective on October 1, 2018, when BlackRock began managing a portion of the assets of the Fund.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued an exemptive order that permits Olive Street to enter into and materially amend sub-advisory agreements between Olive Street and unaffiliated investment sub-advisers to the Fund with the approval of the Board. Although approval by the Fund’s shareholders is not required, a condition of this order requires Olive Street to furnish Fund shareholders with information about the sub-advisers and the sub-advisory agreements.
Accordingly, the purpose of the Information Statement is to furnish Fund shareholders with detailed information about BlackRock and the new sub-advisory agreement.
The Information Statement will be available on the Fund’s website until at least March 31, 2019. To view and print the Information Statement, click on the link of the Information Statement in order to open the document. A paper or email copy of the Information Statement is available, free of charge, by contacting the Fund by telephone at 1-855-823-3611, by e-mail at bridgebuildertrust@edwardjones.com, or by mail at: Bridge Builder Trust c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 until March 31, 2019. If you do not request a paper or email copy of the Information Statement by this date, you will not otherwise receive a paper or email copy. The Fund’s most recent annual and semi-annual reports are available upon request, without charge, by contacting your financial advisor, or making a request in writing to the Fund at Bridge Builder Trust c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, via e-mail at bridgebuilder@edwardjones.com, or by calling 1-855-823-3611.
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BRIDGE BUILDER MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
INFORMATION STATEMENT
December 20, 2018
This information statement (the “Information Statement”) is being made available to the shareholders of the Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Bridge Builder Trust (the “Trust”). This Information Statement relates to the approval by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) of an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC (“Olive Street” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to the Fund, and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (“BlackRock” or the “Sub-adviser”), pursuant to which BlackRock serves as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund (the “New Sub-advisory Agreement”).
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued an exemptive order that permits Olive Street to enter into and materially amend sub-advisory agreements between Olive Street and unaffiliated investment sub-advisers to the Fund with the approval of the Board. Although approval by the Fund’s shareholders is not required, pursuant to a condition of this order, Olive Street is required to furnish Fund shareholders with information about BlackRock and the New Sub-advisory Agreement.
THIS IS NOT A PROXY STATEMENT. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
INTRODUCTION
Pursuant to the terms of an exemptive order granted to Olive Street and the Trust by the SEC on August 6, 2013 (the “Exemptive Order”), Olive Street employs a so-called “manager-of-managers” arrangement in managing the Fund. Section 15(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) generally requires that a fund’s shareholders approve all agreements pursuant to which persons serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the fund. The Exemptive Order exempts Olive Street and the Trust from the shareholder voting requirements of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act and allows Olive Street, subject to Board approval and certain other conditions, to enter into and materially amend sub-advisory agreements on behalf of the Fund without a shareholder vote.
As described in more detail below, at its in-person Board meeting held on August 21–22, 2018 (the “Meeting”), the Board approved the appointment of BlackRock as an investment sub-adviser to the Fund and the New Sub-advisory Agreement. The appointment of BlackRock became effective on October 1, 2018, when BlackRock began managing a portion of the assets of the Fund (the “Allocated Portion”) pursuant to its intermediate-term municipal strategy. Before the appointment of BlackRock, the Fund had three sub-advisers who each managed one or more portions, or sleeves, of the assets of the Fund (the “sub-advisers”). One of the sub-advisers, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”), managed two separate sleeves of the Fund – one sleeve pursuant to a short-term municipal strategy and the other sleeve pursuant to a high yield municipal strategy. With the appointment of BlackRock as an additional sub-adviser, the Board terminated T. Rowe Price’s short-term municipal sleeve and Olive Street reallocated a portion of the Fund’s assets previously allocated to T. Rowe Price to BlackRock. After the appointment of BlackRock, T. Rowe Price continues to manage a sleeve of the Fund pursuant to its high yield municipal strategy and the Fund’s other two sub-advisers, FIAM LLC (“FIAM”) and Wells Capital Management, Inc. (“WellsCap”), each continue to manage their sleeves of the Fund. The portions of the Fund’s assets allocated to FIAM and WellsCap were not reduced, but Olive Street may reallocate the Fund’s assets among the sub-advisers in its discretion at any time.
Olive Street recommended that the Board appoint BlackRock as a sub-adviser because Olive Street believes that BlackRock’s intermediate-term municipal strategy will assist the Fund in achieving its investment objective, and BlackRock’s investment style will complement the investment strategies of the Fund’s existing sub-advisers. Additionally, Olive Street believes the appointment of BlackRock will allow the Fund overall to better complement and diversify investments in Edward Jones Advisory Solutions® (“Advisory Solutions”), an investment advisory program or asset-based fee program sponsored by Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”), an affiliate of the Adviser.
The appointment of BlackRock as a sub-adviser to the Fund is not expected to result in an increase to the Fund’s expenses because Olive Street has contractually agreed to waive its management fee to the extent management fees to be paid to Olive Street exceed the management fees the Fund is required to pay the sub-advisers. If Olive Street determines to hire new sub-advisers or reallocate the Fund’s assets in the future, the Fund’s expenses may increase.
THE BOARD’S CONSIDERATIONS IN APPROVING THE NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Pursuant to Section 15 of the 1940 Act, a fund’s advisory and sub-advisory agreements must be approved: (i) by a vote of a majority of the shareholders of the fund; and (ii) by a vote of a majority of the members of the board who are not parties to the agreements or “interested persons” of any party, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
At the in-person Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered and approved the New Sub-advisory Agreement for an initial two-year term.
In advance of the in-person Meeting and a telephonic meeting held on August 16, 2018 (together with the in-person Meeting, the “Meetings), the Adviser and the Sub-adviser furnished information to the Board necessary for the Board to evaluate the terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreement. At the August 16, 2018 meeting, the Board had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. This information included materials describing, among other matters: (i) the nature, extent and quality of the services proposed to be provided by the Sub-adviser; (ii) the Sub-adviser’s investment management personnel; (iii) the Sub-adviser’s operations; (iv) the Sub-adviser’s investment philosophy and investment process; (v) the sub-advisory fees proposed to be payable to the Sub-adviser; (vi) the Sub-adviser’s policies and compliance procedures, including those related to personal securities transactions; and (vii) the investment performance of accounts managed by the Sub-adviser with strategies similar to the portion of the Fund proposed to be managed by the Sub-adviser.
At the in-person Meeting, representatives of the Adviser and the Sub-adviser made presentations and responded to questions regarding the Sub-adviser’s services, fees and other aspects of the New Sub-advisory Agreement. The Independent Trustees received advice from Fund counsel and from their independent legal counsel, including advice regarding the legal standards applicable to the consideration of advisory and sub-advisory arrangements. The Independent Trustees also met in executive session outside the presence of the interested Trustees, Fund management and representatives of the Adviser and the Sub-adviser to discuss the New Sub-advisory Agreement and the services to be provided by the Sub-adviser.
In considering the approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, as discussed in further detail below:
| 1. | The nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by the Sub-adviser under the New Sub-advisory Agreement. The Board reviewed the portfolio management services and investment process proposed by the Sub-adviser, including how the Sub-adviser’s investment philosophy and process complement those of the other sub-advisers that manage the Fund. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the Sub-adviser’s portfolio management personnel. The Adviser discussed with the Board its history with BlackRock and its experience in the role of sub-adviser to certain other series of the Trust. The Board reviewed the resources of the Sub-adviser, and the terms of the proposed New Sub-advisory Agreement. The Board also considered other services to be provided to the Fund by the Sub-adviser under the Adviser’s supervision, such as monitoring adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions, monitoring compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities laws and regulations, monitoring valuation and liquidity and selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions. |
Based on the factors above, as well as those discussed below, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the Sub-adviser is capable of providing services of the type and nature contemplated by the terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreement.
| 2. | Fees and Other Expenses. The Board reviewed the sub-advisory fees proposed to be payable by the Adviser to the Sub-adviser. The Board considered the potential impact of BlackRock’s fee to the Fund’s overall expenses, given the Adviser’s contractual agreement to waive its advisory fees to the extent advisory fees to be paid to the Adviser exceed the sub-advisory fees the Adviser is required to pay the Fund’s sub-advisers. Based on the factors above, as well as those discussed below, the Board concluded, within the context of its full deliberations, that the sub-advisory fees were reasonable in light of the nature and quality of the services expected to be rendered by the Sub-adviser. |
| 3. | The Sub-adviser’s Investment Performance Record. Because the Sub-adviser is new to the Fund, the Board was not able to evaluate an investment performance record for the portion of the Fund to be managed by the Sub-adviser. The Board did consider the Sub-adviser’s performance history with respect to similarly-managed investment accounts. While there was no historical Sub-adviser performance information with respect to the Fund for review, the Board noted that it would have an opportunity to review such information in connection with future annual reviews of the New Sub-advisory Agreement. |
| 4. | Profitability and Economies of Scale. The Board did not consider profitability of the Sub-adviser to be a material factor, given that the Sub-adviser is not affiliated with the Adviser and, therefore, the fees were negotiated at arm’s length. |
| 5. | Indirect Benefits. The Board noted that Fund shares are currently available exclusively to investors participating in Advisory Solutions. Accordingly, the Board considered that Edward Jones receives asset-based fees from all investors in connection with their investments in the Fund. |
The Board also considered potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits to BlackRock, as a result of its relationship with the Fund. Ancillary benefits for BlackRock might entail research credits received from brokers resulting from Fund portfolio transactions. The Board considered that ancillary benefits could result from a greater allocation of assets under BlackRock’s management, potentially allowing the Sub-adviser to leverage its increased trade volume to negotiate more favorable execution rates for all its clients. Ancillary benefits could also include benefits potentially derived from an increase in BlackRock’s business as a result of its relationship with the Fund (such as the ability to market to shareholders other financial products and services offered by BlackRock, or to operate other products and services that follow investment strategies similar to those of the Fund).
CONCLUSION
While formal Board action was not taken with respect to the conclusions discussed above, those conclusions formed, in part, the basis for the Board’s approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreement at the Meeting. The Board concluded, in the exercise of its reasonable judgment, that the terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreement, including the compensation to be paid thereunder, are reasonable in relation to the services expected to be provided by the Sub-adviser to the Fund and that the appointment of the Sub-adviser and the approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreement would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Based on the Board’s deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above and other factors and information it believed relevant, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, unanimously approved (a) the appointment of the Sub-adviser as a sub-adviser to the Fund, and (b) the New Sub-advisory Agreement.
In evaluating the background and conclusions discussed above, shareholders should consider:
| · | In reaching its determination regarding the approval of the New Sub-advisory Agreement, the Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, considered the factors, conclusions and information it believed relevant in the exercise of its reasonable judgment, including, but not limited to, the factors, conclusions and information discussed above; and |
| · | In their deliberations, the Board members did not identify any particular factor (or conclusion with respect thereto) or single piece of information that was all important, controlling or determinative of its decision, and each Board member may have attributed different weights to the various factors (and conclusions with respect thereto) and information. |
DESCRIPTION OF THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Set forth below is a summary of all material terms of the New Sub-advisory Agreement. Prior to the time the Board approved BlackRock to serve as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, BlackRock was approved to serve as sub-adviser to certain other series of the Trust pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Trust, the Adviser and BlackRock with respect to such series (the “Existing Sub-advisory Agreement”). In order to effectuate the approval of BlackRock as investment sub-adviser to the Fund, the Board approved an amended Schedule A to the Existing Sub-advisory Agreement, as amended, reflecting that BlackRock will also manage a portion of the assets of the Fund. The New Sub-advisory Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is comprised of the Existing Sub-advisory Agreement and all subsequent amendments thereto (including the most recently amended Schedule A).
Although the summary below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the New Sub-advisory Agreement included as Exhibit A hereto, shareholders should still read the summary below carefully.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
Subject to the supervision of the Board and the Adviser, the Sub-adviser shall manage the investments of the Allocated Portion in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time and provided to the Sub-adviser in advance, and in compliance with the requirements applicable to registered investment companies under applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules of the National Futures Association, and Section 851(b)(2) and (3) of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, solely with respect to the Allocated Portion and, based on tax policies and accounting information provided by the Adviser or the Fund's administrator, custodian, or other services providers (provided that Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-adviser is not the tax agent for the Fund). From time to time, the Adviser or the Fund may provide the Sub-adviser with written copies of other investment policies, guidelines and restrictions applicable to the Sub-adviser's management of the Allocated Portion, which shall become effective at such time as agreed upon by both parties. Subject to each of the foregoing sentences above, the Sub-adviser shall have full discretionary authority to manage the investment of the assets of the Allocated Portion, including the authority to purchase, sell, cover open positions, and generally to deal in securities, financial and commodity futures contracts, options, short-term investment vehicles, listed and over-the-counter derivatives, and other property and assets comprising or relating to the Allocated Portion.
In addition, among other things, the Sub-adviser will, at its own expense:
| · | advise the Adviser and the Fund in connection with investment policy decisions to be made by it regarding the Fund and, upon request, furnish the Adviser and the Fund with research, economic and statistical data in connection with the Fund’s investments and investment policies; |
| · | submit such reports and information as the Adviser or the Fund may reasonably request to assist the Fund’s custodian in its determination of the market value of securities held in the Fund, provided that the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-adviser is not the valuation agent for the Fund; |
| · | obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, financial, and other information affecting the economy generally and certain investment assets as such information relates to securities or other financial instruments that are purchased for or considered for purchase by the Fund; |
| · | employ professional portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services to the Fund; |
| · | place orders for purchases and sales of portfolio investments for the Allocated Portion; |
| · | give instructions to the Fund’s custodian concerning the delivery of securities and transfer of cash for the Allocated Portion; |
| · | as soon as practicable following the end of each calendar month, provide the Adviser and the Fund with written statements showing all transactions effected for the Allocated Portion during the month by the Sub-adviser, a summary listing all investments attributable to transactions of the Sub-adviser that are held in the Allocated Portion as of the last day of the month, and such other information as the Adviser or the Fund may reasonably request in connection with any accounting or marketing services that the Adviser provides for the Fund. The Adviser and the Fund acknowledge that the Sub-adviser and the Fund’s custodian may use different pricing vendors, which may result in valuation discrepancies; |
| · | to the extent reasonably requested by the Trust or the Adviser, use its best efforts to assist the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in respect of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act including, without limitation, providing the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust or the Adviser with (a) current copies or summaries of the compliance policies and procedures of the Sub-adviser related to the services it provides to the Fund in effect from time to time (including prompt notice of any material changes thereto), (b) reports of any violations to the Sub-adviser's compliance policies and procedures that occurred in connection with the provision of investment management services to the Fund and reports of any other material violations of the Sub-adviser's compliance policies and procedures, (c) a copy of the Sub-adviser's annual compliance report as required by Rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (d) summaries of any correspondence between the Sub-adviser and a regulatory agency in connection with regulatory examinations or proceedings and the Sub-adviser will make copies of final exam correspondence, solely as such correspondence relates to the services provided under the New Sub-advisory Agreement, available to the Adviser or the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer to review and/or discuss onsite with the Sub-adviser subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege, and confidentiality restrictions, and (e) upon request, a certificate of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Sub-adviser to the effect that the policies and procedures of the Sub-adviser are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1); |
| · | comply with all procedures and policies adopted by the Board in compliance with applicable law: Rules 10f-3, 12d3-1, 17a-7, 17e-1 and 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (together, “Fund Procedures”) provided in writing in advance to the Sub-adviser by the Adviser or the Fund and notify the Adviser as soon as reasonably practicable upon (a) detection of any breach of such Fund Procedures or (b) determination that a Fund Procedure conflicts with a procedure adopted by the Sub-adviser; |
| · | maintain a written code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, a copy of which will be provided to the Adviser and the Fund, including any amendments thereto, and institute and enforce procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics; |
| · | promptly complete and return to the Adviser or the Trust any compliance questionnaires or other inquiries submitted to the Sub-adviser in writing; |
| · | furnish to the Trustees such information as may reasonably be requested in order for the Board to evaluate the New Sub-advisory Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto for the purposes of approving such Agreement, the renewal thereof or any amendment thereto; |
| · | as reasonably requested by the Fund, provide the Fund with information based on the Sub-adviser's fair valuation policies and procedures regarding assets in the Allocated Portion to assist the Fund in determining the appropriate valuation of such assets and the appropriate pricing sources for such assets and whether pricing information provided by the Fund’s pricing agents is reasonable, provided that the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-adviser is not the valuation agent for the Fund; |
| · | file with the SEC any report on Form 13F or Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto, required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with respect to its duties as are set forth herein; |
| · | except as permitted by the Fund Procedures, treat confidentially, and not disclose without the consent of the Fund, all information in respect of the portfolio investments of the Fund, including, without limitation, the identification and market value or other pricing information of any and all portfolio securities or other financial instruments held by the Fund, and any and all trades of portfolio securities or other transactions effected for the Fund (including past, pending and proposed trades); and |
| · | upon request, review the Fund’s Summary Prospectus, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, periodic reports to shareholders, reports and schedules filed with the SEC (including any amendment, supplement or sticker to any of the foregoing) and advertising and sales material relating to the Fund (collectively, the “Disclosure Documents”) in order to ensure that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-adviser, the manner in which the Sub-adviser manages the Fund and information relating directly or indirectly to the Sub-adviser (the “Sub-adviser Disclosure”), such Disclosure Documents contain no untrue statements of material fact and do not omit any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. |
INDEMNIFICATION
The Sub-adviser is obligated to indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser and the Fund from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses): (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Disclosure Document or the omission from a Disclosure Document of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case solely with respect to the Sub-adviser Disclosure if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Adviser by the Sub-adviser; and (ii) resulting from the Sub-adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in connection with the performance of the Sub-adviser's obligations under the New Sub-advisory Agreement, or from the Sub-adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the New Sub-advisory Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-adviser's obligation is reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under the New Sub-advisory Agreement.
The Adviser is obligated to indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney's fees and other related expenses) resulting from the Adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in connection with the performance of the Adviser's obligations under the New Sub-advisory Agreement, or from the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the New Sub-advisory Agreement; provided, however, that the Adviser's obligation is reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Sub-adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-adviser's own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under the New Sub-advisory Agreement.
MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS
Under the New Sub-advisory Agreement, the Sub-adviser is required to maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the securities and other assets advised by such Sub-adviser as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by Olive Street or the Fund’s other service providers) relating to its responsibilities under the New Sub-advisory Agreement, and is obligated to preserve such records for the periods and in the manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
REPORTING OBLIGATION
The Sub-adviser has an obligation to provide prompt notice to the Adviser and the Fund about developments relating to its duties as Sub-adviser of which the Sub-adviser has, or reasonably should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Fund, including but not limited to material changes in the employment status of key investment management personnel involved in the management of the Fund, material changes in the investment process used to manage the Fund, any changes in senior management, operations, financial condition or ownership of the Sub-adviser’s firm that would materially impact the Sub-adviser's services to the Fund, and the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. The Sub-adviser also has an obligation to promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust (subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege and confidentiality restrictions, solely as it relates to the services provided hereunder with respect to the Fund) in the event that the Sub-adviser: (1) becomes subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-adviser from serving as an investment adviser pursuant to the New Sub-advisory Agreement; or (2) is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority (including, without limitation, any self-regulatory organization) that would have a material impact on the Sub-adviser's ability to render the services under the New Sub-advisory Agreement. Subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege and confidentiality restrictions, the Sub-adviser shall promptly forward, upon receipt, to the Adviser any correspondence (or portion of such correspondence) from the SEC or other regulatory authority that specifically relates to the Trust or the Fund.
DURATION AND TERMINATION
The New Sub-advisory Agreement was approved by the Board at the Meeting for an initial term of two years and is scheduled to continue in effect for subsequent periods only so long as continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that the New Sub-advisory Agreement may be terminated (a) by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Board or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (b) by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the Sub-adviser, or (c) by the Sub-adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 90 days’ written notice to the Adviser. The New Sub-advisory Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment (as defined under the 1940 Act), or in the event of a termination of the Adviser’s investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund.
GOVERNING LAW
The New Sub-advisory Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware.
INFORMATION ABOUT OLIVE STREET
Olive Street, located at 12555 Manchester Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63131, currently serves as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Olive Street dated July 10, 2013, and amended with respect to the Fund as of February 19, 2015 and June 9, 2017. As of September 30, 2018, Olive Street had approximately $66.5 billion in assets under management. As investment adviser, Olive Street manages the Fund pursuant to a manager-of-managers structure, whereby Olive Street has overall responsibility for the general management and day-to-day operations of the Fund, but has retained one or more investment sub-advisers to make the investment decisions for allocated portions of the Fund’s assets. For these services, the Fund pays Olive Street an annual fee of 0.36% of its average daily net assets.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the Fund paid Olive Street advisory fees in the amount of $10,907,495. Olive Street waived $6,153,744 of such advisory fees.
INFORMATION ABOUT BLACKROCK
BlackRock, located at 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. BlackRock is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. As of September 30, 2018, BlackRock had approximately $6.4 trillion in assets under management.
Listed below are the names, titles and principal business addresses of each principal executive officer and general partner of BlackRock. The address of each principal executive officer is 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
NAME | TITLE |
Trident Merger, LLC | Sole Member |
Laurence Douglas Fink | Chief Executive Officer |
Robert Steven Kapito | President |
Gary Stephen Shedlin | Chief Financial Officer |
Robert Lawrence Goldstein | Chief Operating Officer |
Charles Choon Sik Park | Chief Compliance Officer |
Christopher Joseph Meade | General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer |
BlackRock currently does not advise any other mutual fund with similar investment objectives to those of the Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services LLC (“USBFS”), located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the Fund’s administrator and accountant. Quasar Distributors, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (“Quasar”), serves as the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter. Quasar receives no compensation for distributing Fund shares. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, the Fund paid administration fees in the amount of $295,562.
PAYMENT OF EXPENSES
The Fund will pay the expenses of the preparation, printing and mailing of this Information Statement.
COMMISSIONS PAID TO AFFILIATED BROKERS
During the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 the Fund did not pay any commissions to any affiliated brokers.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
As of October 31, 2018, the following persons owned of record, or were known by the Trust to own beneficially, more than 5% of the shares of the Fund. On that date, the trustees and officers of the Fund, together as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.
NAME AND ADDRESS | NUMBER OF SHARES | PERCENT |
Edward D. Jones & Co. FBO Customers 12555 Manchester Road St. Louis, MO 63131-3729 | 407,909,604.6220 | 100% |
The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished to the Fund by the trustees of the Trust, and/or on the records of the Trust’s transfer agent.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
For a free copy of the Fund’s annual report dated June 30, 2018 or semi-annual report dated December 31, 2017, shareholders of the Fund may visit www.bridgebuildermutualfunds.com, call 1‑855-823-3611 or write to the Fund at Bridge Builder Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, or via e-mail at bridgebuilder@edwardjones.com.
SHAREHOLDERS SHARING THE SAME ADDRESS
If two or more Fund shareholders share the same address, only one copy of this Information Statement is being delivered to that address, unless the Trust has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders at that shared address. Upon written or oral request, the Trust will deliver promptly a separate copy of this Information Statement to a shareholder at a shared address. Please call 1‑855-823-3611 or forward a written request to Bridge Builder Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701 if you would like to: (1) receive a separate copy of this Information Statement; (2) receive your annual reports, semi-annual reports or information statements separately in the future; or (3) request delivery of a single copy of annual reports, semi-annual reports or information statements if you are currently receiving multiple copies at a shared address.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. As such, the Trust is not required to, and does not, hold annual meetings. Nonetheless, the Board may call a special meeting of shareholders for action by shareholder vote as may be required by the 1940 Act or as required or permitted by the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust. Shareholders of the Fund who wish to present a proposal for action at a future meeting should submit a written proposal to the Trust for inclusion in a future proxy statement. Submission of a proposal does not necessarily mean that such proposal will be included in the Fund’s proxy statement since inclusion in the proxy statement is subject to compliance with certain federal regulations. Shareholders retain the right to request that a meeting of the shareholders be held for the purpose of considering matters requiring shareholder approval.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Exhibit |
(A) | Investment Sub-advisory Agreement among Bridge Builder Trust, Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, relating to the Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund. |
EXHIBIT A
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made as of the 18th day of February, 2015, by and among BlackRock Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 1 University Square Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (the “Sub-Adviser”), and Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC, a Missouri limited liability corporation located at 12555 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63131(the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are each registered as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"); and
WHEREAS, Bridge Builder Trust, a Delaware statutory trust located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (the “Trust”), is an open-end investment company with one or more series of shares and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has retained the Adviser to perform investment advisory services for the Bridge Builder Large Cap Growth Fund, the Bridge Builder Large Cap Value Fund, the Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund, the Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, and the Bridge Builder International Equity Fund, each a series of the Trust (each a “Fund” and collectively referred to as the "Funds"), under the terms of an investment advisory agreement, dated February 18, 2015, between the Adviser and the Trust on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”) (a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to this agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers, subject to the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), including a majority of trustees of the Board who are not “interested persons” of the Adviser (the “Independent Trustees”), in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, to render portfolio management services to the Funds pursuant to investment sub-advisory agreements among the Funds, the Adviser and each such sub-adviser; and
WHEREAS, the Trust’s Board has duly consented to and approved the appointment of the Sub-Adviser to provide investment advisory services (the "Services") to a portion of the assets of each Fund allocated to the Sub-Adviser (the “Allocated Portion”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, acting pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide the Services to the Allocated Portion in the manner and on the terms set out in this Agreement, and the Sub-Adviser desires to provide such Services;
NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH: The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUB-ADVISER. |
(a) | Acceptance. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser hereby accepts the appointment, on the terms herein set forth and for the compensation herein provided, to act as an investment adviser to the Fund with respect to the Allocated Portions. |
(b) | Independent Contractor. The Sub-Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust or Adviser to the Sub-Adviser, have no authority to act for or be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund in any way, or in any way be deemed an agent for the Trust or for the Fund. |
(c) | The Sub-Adviser’s Representations. The Sub-Adviser represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; (ii) it has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; (iii) neither it nor any affiliated person of it, as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act (“affiliated person”), is subject to any disqualification that would make it unable to serve as an investment adviser to a registered investment company under Section 9 of the 1940 Act; (iv) it is duly registered as an adviser under the Advisers Act; and (v) except as otherwise specified herein or as otherwise agreed in a separate writing between Adviser and Sub-Adviser, it will not delegate any obligation assumed pursuant to this Agreement to any third party without first obtaining the written consent of the Fund and the Adviser. |
The Sub-Adviser further represents, warrants, and agrees that it shall:
(i) | Use its best judgment and efforts in rendering the advice and services to the Trust and the Fund as contemplated by this Agreement; |
(ii) | Maintain all licenses and registrations necessary to perform its duties hereunder in good order; |
(iii) | Conduct its operations at all times in conformance with the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, and any other applicable state and/or self-regulatory organization regulations; and |
(iv) | Maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide written notice to the Trust of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage, solely to the extent any such changes materially impact the Fund. Furthermore, the Sub-Adviser shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with a certificate evidencing its insurance coverage. |
(d) | The Adviser’s Representations. The Adviser represents, warrants and agrees that it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Adviser further represents, warrants and agrees that it has the authority under the Advisory Agreement to appoint the Sub-Adviser and it is duly registered as an adviser under the Advisers Act. |
(e) | Plenary authority of the Board of Trustees. The Sub-Adviser and Adviser both acknowledge that the Fund is a mutual fund that operates as a series of the Trust under the authority of the Board of Trustees. |
2. | DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. |
(a) The Adviser has furnished to the Sub-Adviser prior to the date hereof copies of each of the following documents:
(i) the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) the By-laws of the Trust in effect on the date hereof;
(iii) | the resolutions of the Board approving the engagement of the Sub-Adviser as a sub-adviser for the Allocated Portion and approving the form of this agreement; |
(iv) | the Advisory Agreement; |
(v) | the Code of Ethics of the Trust and of the Adviser as currently in effect; and |
(vi) | current copies of the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. |
| The Adviser shall furnish the Sub-Adviser from time to time with copies of all material amendments of or material supplements to the foregoing, if any. |
(b) | The Sub-Adviser has furnished or will furnish the Adviser with copies of each of the following documents: |
(i) the Sub-Adviser's most recent registration statement on Form ADV;
(ii) the Sub-Adviser’s most recent balance sheet or equivalent financial information;
| (iii) | separate lists of persons whom the Sub-Adviser wishes to have authorized to give written and/or oral instructions to the custodian (the "Custodian") and accounting agent of the Fund's assets; |
(iv) the Code of Ethics (defined below) of the Sub-Adviser as currently in effect;
(v) the Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policies as currently in effect; and
| (vi) | complete and accurate copies of any compliance manuals, trading, commission and other reports, certificates of insurance, and such other management or operational documents as the Adviser may reasonably request in writing (on behalf of itself or the Board) in assessing the Sub-Adviser. |
The Sub-Adviser shall furnish the Adviser when requested from time to time with copies of all material amendments of or material supplements to the foregoing, if any. Additionally, the Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser such other documents relating to its services under this Agreement as the Adviser may reasonably request on a periodic basis. Such amendments or supplements shall be provided within 30 days of the time such materials became available to the Sub-Adviser.
3. | PROVISION OF INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES. |
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall manage the investments of the Allocated Portions in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions as provided in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time and provided to the Sub-Adviser in advance, and in compliance with the requirements applicable to registered investment companies under applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) and the rules of the National Futures Association (the “NFA Rules”), and Section 851(b)(2) and (3) of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), solely with respect to the Allocated Portion and, based on tax policies and accounting information provided by the Adviser or the Fund's administrator, custodian, or other services providers (provided that Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is not the tax agent for the Fund). From time to time, the Adviser or the Fund may provide the Sub-Adviser with written copies of other investment policies, guidelines and restrictions applicable to the Sub-Adviser's management of the Allocated Portion, which shall become effective at such time as agreed upon by both parties. Subject to each of the foregoing sentences above, the Sub-Adviser shall have full discretionary authority to manage the investment of the assets of the Allocated Portion, including the authority to purchase, sell, cover open positions, and generally to deal in securities, financial and commodity futures contracts, options, short-term investment vehicles, listed and over-the-counter derivatives, and other property and assets comprising or relating the Allocated Portion.
In addition, the Sub-Adviser will, at its own expense:
(a) | advise the Adviser and the Fund in connection with investment policy decisions to be made by it regarding the Fund and, upon request, furnish the Adviser and the Fund with research, economic and statistical data in connection with the Fund’s investments and investment policies; |
(b) | submit such reports and information as the Adviser or the Fund may reasonably request to assist the Custodian in its determination of the market value of securities held in the Fund, provided that the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is not the valuation agent for the Fund; |
(c) | obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, financial, and other information affecting the economy generally and certain investment assets as such information relates to securities or other financial instruments that are purchased for or considered for purchase by the Fund; |
(d) | employ professional portfolio managers and securities analysts who provide research services to the Fund; |
(e) | place orders for purchases and sales of portfolio investments for the Allocated Portion; |
(f) | give instructions to the Custodian concerning the delivery of securities and transfer of cash for the Allocated Portion; |
(g) | as soon as practicable after the close of business each day but no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time the following business day, provide the Custodian with information required by the Custodian regarding each transaction effected for the Allocated Portion by the Sub-Adviser ; |
(h) | as soon as practicable following the end of each calendar month, provide the Adviser and the Fund with written statements showing all transactions effected for the Allocated Portion during the month by the Sub-Adviser, a summary listing all investments attributable to transactions of the Sub-Adviser that are held in the Allocated Portion as of the last day of the month, and such other information as the Adviser or the Fund may reasonably request in connection with any accounting or marketing services that the Adviser provides for the Fund. The Adviser and the Fund acknowledge that Sub-Adviser and Custodian may use different pricing vendors, which may result in valuation discrepancies; |
(i) | to the extent reasonably requested by the Trust or the Adviser, use its best efforts to assist the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust in respect of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act including, without limitation, providing the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust or the Adviser with (a) current copies or summaries of the compliance policies and procedures of the Sub-Adviser related to the services it provides to the Fund in effect from time to time (including prompt notice of any material changes thereto), (b) reports of any violations to the Sub-Adviser's compliance policies and procedures that occurred in connection with the provision of investment management services to the Fund and reports of any other material violations of the Sub-Adviser's compliance policies and procedures, (c) a copy of the Sub-Adviser's annual compliance report as required by Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act, (d) summaries of any correspondence between the Sub-Adviser and a regulatory agency in connection with regulatory examinations or proceedings and the Sub-Adviser will make copies of final exam correspondence, solely as such correspondence relates to the services provided under this Agreement, available to the Adviser or the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer to review and/or discuss onsite with the Sub-Adviser subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege, and confidentiality restrictions, and (e) upon request, a certificate of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Sub-Adviser to the effect that the policies and procedures of the Sub-Adviser are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1); |
(j) | comply with the following procedures and policies adopted by the Board in compliance with applicable law: Rules 10f-3, 12d3-1, 17a-7, 17e-1 and 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (together, “Fund Procedures”) provided in writing in advance to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser or the Fund and notify the Adviser as soon as reasonably practicable upon (a) detection of any breach of such Fund Procedures or (b) determination that thr Fund Procedure conflicts with a procedure adopted by the Sub-Adviser; |
(k) | maintain a written code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, a copy of which will be provided to the Adviser and the Fund, including any amendments thereto, and institute and enforce procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics; |
(l) | promptly complete and return to the Adviser or the Trust any compliance questionnaires or other inquiries submitted to the Sub-Adviser in writing; |
(m) | furnish to the Trustees such information as may reasonably be requested in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto for the purposes of approving this Agreement, the renewal thereof or any amendment hereto; and |
(n) | as reasonably requested by the Fund, provide the Fund with information based on the Sub-Adviser's fair valuation policies and procedures regarding assets in the Allocated Portion to reasonably assist the Fund in determining the appropriate valuation of such assets and the appropriate pricing sources for such assets and whether pricing information provided by the Fund’s pricing agents is reasonable, provided that the Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser is not the valuation agent for the Fund- ; |
(o) | file with the SEC any report on Form 13F or Schedule 13G and any amendments thereto, required by the Exchange Act (as defined below), with respect to its duties as are set forth herein; |
(p) | except as permitted by the Fund Procedures, shall treat confidentially, and shall not disclose without the consent of the Fund, all information in respect of the portfolio investments of the Fund, including, without limitation, the identification and market value or other pricing information of any and all portfolio securities or other financial instruments held by the Fund, and any and all trades of portfolio securities or other transactions effected for the Fund (including past, pending and proposed trades) and; |
(q) | upon request, will review the Fund’s summary prospectus, prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic reports to shareholders, reports and schedules filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (including any amendment, supplement or sticker to any of the foregoing) and advertising and sales material relating to the Fund (collectively, the “Disclosure Documents”) in order to ensure that, with respect to the disclosure about the Sub-Adviser, the manner in which the Sub-Adviser manages the Fund and information relating directly to the Sub-Adviser (the “Sub-Adviser Disclosure”), such Disclosure Documents contain no untrue statements of material fact and do not omit any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. |
In providing services under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall (i) maintain all licenses and registrations necessary to perform its duties hereunder in good order; (ii) conduct its operations at all times in conformance with the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, the Code, the CEA, the NFA Rules and any other applicable state and/or self-regulatory organization regulations; and (iii) maintain errors and omissions insurance in an amount at least equal to that disclosed to the Board in connection with their approval of this Agreement.
The Fund or its agent will provide timely information to the Sub-Adviser regarding such matters as inflows to and outflows from the Fund and the cash requirements of, and cash available for investment in, the Fund. The Fund or its agent will timely provide the Sub-Adviser with copies of monthly accounting statements for the Fund, and such other information as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order for the Sub-Adviser to perform its responsibilities hereunder.
The Adviser will be responsible for all class actions and lawsuits involving the Fund or securities held, or formerly held, in the Fund. Sub-Adviser is not required to take any action or to render investment-related advice with respect to lawsuits involving the Fund, including those involving securities presently or formerly held in the Fund, or the issuers thereof, including actions involving bankruptcy. In the case of notices of class action suits received by Sub-Adviser involving issuers presently or formerly held in the Fund, Sub-Adviser shall promptly forward such notices to Adviser and, with the consent of the Adviser, may provide information about the Fund to third parties for purposes of participating in any settlements relating to such class actions.
(a) The Adviser hereby delegates to the Sub-Adviser the Adviser’s discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect to the securities and investments of the Allocated Portion of the Fund, provided however, that the Fund may request that the Sub-Adviser vote proxies for the Allocated Portion in accordance with the Fund’s proxy voting policies. Absent specific instructions to the contrary provided to it by the Adviser or the Fund, and subject to its receipt of all necessary voting materials, the Sub-Adviser shall vote all proxies with respect to investments of the Fund in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policy as most recently provided to the Adviser and the Trust.
(b) The Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policies shall comply with any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC.
(c) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain and preserve a record, in an easily-accessible place for a period of not less than three (3) years (or longer, if required by law), of the Sub-Adviser’s voting procedures, of the Sub-Adviser’s actual votes, and such other information required for the Fund to comply with any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC. The Sub-Adviser shall supply updates of this record to the Adviser or any authorized representative of the Adviser, or to the Fund on a quarterly basis (or more frequently, upon the request of the Adviser). The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Adviser and the Fund with information regarding the policies and procedures that the Sub-Adviser uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to the Allocated Portion.
5. | ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES. |
Each party to this Agreement shall bear the costs and expenses of performing its obligations hereunder. In this regard, the Adviser specifically agrees that the Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for the following expenses:
(a) | fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, registration and transfer of its shares; |
(b) | brokerage and commission expenses incurred by the Fund; |
(c) | all expenses of transfer, receipt, safekeeping, servicing and accounting for the cash, securities and other property of the Trust for the benefit of the Fund including all fees and expenses of its Custodian, shareholder services agent and accounting services agent; |
(d) | interest charges (including commitment fees) on Fund borrowings, dividend expense and acquired fund fees and expenses; |
(e) | costs and expenses of pricing and calculating its daily net asset value (including, without limitation, any equipment or services obtained for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing the Fund’s assets) and of maintaining its books of account required under the 1940 Act, except for the expenses incurred by the Sub-Adviser in connection with its services under Paragraph 13 hereunder, which are expenses of the Sub-Adviser; |
(g) | except as stated below, expenditures in connection with meetings of the Fund’s shareholders and the Board; |
(h) | salaries and expenses of officers of the Trust, including without limitation the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, and fees and expenses of members of the Board or members of any advisory board or committee; |
(i) | insurance premiums on property or personnel of the Fund which inure to its benefit, including liability and fidelity bond insurance; |
(j) | legal, auditing and accounting fees of the Fund and, subject to the paragraph below, printing fees, and trade association dues or educational program expenses of the Trust or the Board of Trustees; and |
(k) | fees and expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining registration of the Fund’s shares for sale under applicable securities laws; all expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping, dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of the Fund, if any. |
The Sub-Adviser specifically agrees that with respect to the operation of the Funds, the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for (i) providing the office space, furnishings, equipment and personnel reasonably necessary to provide its sub-advisory services to the Funds hereunder, and (ii) the costs of any special Board meetings or shareholder meetings convened for the primary benefit of the Sub-Adviser. Nothing in this Agreement shall alter the allocation of expenses and costs agreed upon between the Fund and the Adviser in the Advisory Agreement or any other agreement to which they are parties. The Sub-Adviser agrees to pay to the Fund the cost of generating a prospectus supplement, which includes preparation, filing, printing, and distribution (including mailing) of the supplement, if the Sub-Adviser makes any changes that require prompt disclosure in the prospectus or any required regulatory documents by supplement, including changes to its structure or ownership, to investment personnel, to investment style or management, or otherwise ("Changes"), and at the time of the notification to the Fund by the Sub-Adviser of such Changes the Fund is not generating a supplement for other purposes or the Fund does not wish to add such Changes to a pending supplement; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser shall have no liability or responsibility for such costs in excess of $25,000. However, such Changes will not be unreasonably withheld from a pending supplement. In the event of two or more subadvisers each require a supplement simultaneously, the expense of each supplement will be shared pro rata with such other subadviser(s) based upon the number of pages required by each subadviser.
(a) The Adviser shall pay to the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept, as full compensation for all services furnished or provided to the Funds pursuant to this Agreement a fee (for the payment of which each Fund shall have no obligation or liability), based on the Current Net Assets of the Allocated Portion, as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be accrued daily and payable monthly, as soon as practicable after the last day of each calendar month. In the case of termination of this Agreement with respect to each Fund during any calendar month, the fee with respect to the Allocated Portion accrued to, but excluding, the date of termination shall be paid promptly following such termination. For purposes of computing the amount of sub-advisory fee accrued for any day, “Current Net Assets” shall mean the Allocated Portion’s net assets, managed by the Sub-Adviser, as of the most recent preceding day for which the Fund’s net assets were computed. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the fact that the Agreement has not been terminated, no fee will be accrued under this Agreement with respect to any day that the value of the Current Net Assets of the Allocated Portion equals zero.
(b) The Sub-Adviser voluntarily may reduce in writing any portion of the fees due to it pursuant to this Agreement. Any such reduction shall be applicable only to such specific reduction and shall not constitute an agreement to reduce any future compensation due to the Sub-Adviser hereunder.
7. | PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS. |
In connection with the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute purchase and sale transactions for the Allocated Portion's portfolio (the "Portfolio") and to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the best available price and most favorable execution with respect to all such purchases and sales of portfolio securities for said Portfolio. The Sub-Adviser may take into consideration, among other things, the best net price available; the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer; the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and the value of the expected contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis. The price to the Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the portfolio execution services offered. The Sub-Adviser shall maintain records to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this Paragraph solely as it relates to the Allocated Portion. Such records shall be made available to the Fund or Adviser upon request; provided that any such records containing confidential information to Sub-Adviser and its other clients may be redacted in Sub-Adviser’s discretion.
In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer -- viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trust's principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Fund’s assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Trust's principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of either the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the SEC and the 1940 Act.
The Adviser and the Fund authorize and empower the Sub-Adviser to direct the Custodian to open and maintain accounts for trading in securities and other investments (all such accounts hereinafter called “brokerage accounts”) for and in the name of the Fund. In addition, in connection with establishing such brokerage accounts, the Adviser and the Fund authorize and empower the Sub-Adviser to execute for the Fund as its agent and attorney-in-fact reasonable and customary customer agreements and other documentation in connection therewith, such as ISDA agreements and futures and options account agreements, with brokers, dealers, and/or futures commission merchants as the Sub-Adviser shall select as provided above. Subject to applicable law, including the custody requirements under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser may, using such of the securities and other investments of the Fund as the Sub-Adviser deems necessary or desirable, direct the Custodian to deposit for the Fund original and maintenance brokerage and margin deposits and otherwise direct payments of cash, cash equivalents and securities and other property into such brokerage accounts and to such brokers or to a collateral account established with the Fund’s custodian as the Sub-Adviser deems desirable or appropriate and as is required by applicable law. The Sub-Adviser shall cause all securities and other property purchased or sold for the Fund to be settled at the place of business of the Custodian or as the Custodian shall direct. All securities and other property of the Fund shall remain in the direct or indirect custody of the Custodian, except as otherwise permitted by applicable law. The Sub-Adviser shall notify the Custodian as soon as practicable of the necessary information to enable the Custodian to effect such purchases and sales.
The Sub-Adviser further shall have the authority to instruct the Custodian (i) to pay cash for securities and other property delivered to the Custodian for the Fund, (ii) to deliver securities and other property against payment for the Fund, and (iii) to transfer assets and funds to such brokerage accounts as the Sub-Adviser may designate, all consistent with the powers, authorities and limitations set forth herein. The Sub-Adviser shall not have authority to cause the Custodian to deliver securities and other property, or pay cash to the Sub-Adviser except as expressly provided herein.
8. | LIABILITY; STANDARD OF CARE AND INDEMNIFICATION. |
The Sub-Adviser shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the discharge of its duties under this Agreement; shall (as provided in Paragraph 3 above) comply with the investment policies, guidelines and restrictions of the Fund as applicable to the Allocated Portion; and shall act at all times in the best interests of the Fund; and shall discharge its duties with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of a similar enterprise. The Sub-Adviser shall be liable to the Adviser for any direct and actual economic loss (including brokerage charges) incurred by the Fund as a result of any investment made by the Sub-Adviser in violation of the first paragraph of Paragraph 3 hereof.
Except as set forth above, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates shall not be subject to liability to the Adviser or the Fund for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Allocated Portion, including, without limitation for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law, for any act or omission by the Sub-Adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, federal securities laws and certain state laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who have acted in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Adviser or Fund may have under any federal securities law or state law.
The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney's fees and other related expenses) (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Disclosure Document or the omission from a Disclosure Document of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case solely with respect to the Sub-Adviser Disclosure if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Adviser by the Sub-Adviser; and (ii) resulting from the Sub-Adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser's obligations under this Agreement, or from the Sub-Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser's obligation under this Paragraph 8 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Adviser or Fund, the Adviser or Fund shall not be subject to liability to the Sub-Adviser for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Fund, including, without limitation for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law, for any act or omission by the Adviser or the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, federal securities laws and certain state laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who have acted in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Sub-Adviser may have under any federal securities law or state law.
The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorney's fees and other related expenses) resulting from the Adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in connection with the performance of the Adviser's obligations under this Agreement, or from the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Adviser's obligation under this Paragraph 8 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Sub-Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-Adviser's own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to protect any Trustee or officer of the Fund, or officer of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, from liability in violation of Sections 17(h) and (i) of the 1940 Act.
The Sub-Adviser shall not be obligated to perform any service not described in this Agreement, and shall not be deemed by virtue of this Agreement to have made any representation or warranty that any level of investment performance or level of investment results will be achieved.
9. | TERM AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT; NO ASSIGNMENT |
(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon approval by the Trust's Board of Trustees and its execution by the parties hereto. Pursuant to the exemptive relief obtained in the SEC Order dated on or about August 6, 2013, Investment Company Act Release No. 30592, approval of the Agreement by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund is not required, and the Sub-Adviser acknowledges that it shall be without the protection (if any) accorded by shareholder approval of an investment adviser's receipt of compensation under Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act.
(b) This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund (a) by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (b) by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the Sub-Adviser, or (c) by the Sub-Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 90 days' written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment, or in the event of a termination of the Advisory Agreement. As used in this Paragraph 9, the terms "assignment" and "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.
(c) In the event of a termination, the Sub-Adviser shall cooperate in the orderly transfer of the Fund’s affairs and, at the request of the Board of Trustees or the Adviser, transfer any and all books and records of the Fund maintained by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The Sub-Adviser shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the Adviser of any proposed transaction or other event that will result in an “assignment” of this Agreement within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
10. | SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE |
The services of the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser and the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive and it shall be free to render similar services to others, subject to its fiduciary obligations under the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act. It is specifically understood that directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser and of its subsidiaries and affiliates may continue to engage in providing portfolio management services and advice to other investment advisory clients. The Adviser agrees that Sub-Adviser may give advice and take action in the performance of its duties with respect to any of its other clients which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Sub-Adviser, its principals, affiliates, agents or employees to purchase or sell for the Fund any security which it or they may purchase or sell for its or their own account or for the account of any other client.
11. | AGGREGATION OF ORDERS |
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the combination of orders for the sale or purchase of portfolio securities of the Fund with those for other accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, if orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable by the Sub-Adviser among the accounts and at a price approximately averaged and if such combination of orders and the allocation thereof is consistent with applicable law. The Sub-Adviser agrees that (i) it will not aggregate transactions unless aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution; (ii) over time, no account will be favored or disfavored over any other account; each account participating in an aggregated order will participate at the average share price for all transactions in that security on a given business day, with transaction costs shared pro-rata based on each account’s participation in the transaction; and (iii) allocations will be made in accordance with the Sub-Adviser’s compliance policies and procedures and applicable law. The Sub-Adviser also agrees to provide such documentation and/or information to the Fund or Adviser as is reasonably necessary to allow the Fund or Adviser to determine whether orders for the Fund have been aggregated and allocated equitably.
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, and this Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by all parties and only in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust copies of any of such records upon the Fund’s or the Adviser’s request, provided, however, that Sub-Adviser may retain copies of any records to the extent required for it to comply with applicable laws. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records relating to its activities hereunder required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to preserve the records relating to its activities hereunder required by Rule 204-2 under Adviser for the period specified in said Rule. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sub-Adviser has no responsibility for the maintenance of the records of the Fund, except for those related to the Allocated Portion.
14. | NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY. |
Each party to this Agreement shall keep confidential all Confidential Information concerning the other party and will not use or disclose such information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, unless the non-disclosing party has authorized such disclosure or if such disclosure is compelled by subpoena or is expressly required or requested by applicable federal or state regulatory authorities. The receiving party may disclose or disseminate the disclosing party's Confidential Information to its employees and agents that have a legitimate need to know such Confidential Information in order to assist the receiving party in performing its obligations under this Agreement. The receiving party shall advise all such foregoing persons of the receiving party's obligations of confidentiality and non-use under this Agreement, and the receiving party shall be responsible for ensuring compliance by such persons with such obligations.
Each party shall take commercially reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to the other party’s Confidential Information. In addition, each party shall promptly notify the other party in writing upon learning of any unauthorized disclosure or use of the other party’s Confidential Information by such party or its agents.
The term “Confidential Information," as used herein, means any of a party’s proprietary or confidential information including, without limitation, any non-public personal information (as defined in Regulation S-P) of such party, its affiliates, their respective clients or suppliers, or other persons with whom they do business, that may be obtained by the other party from any source or that may be developed as a result of this Agreement and non-public financial information that is disclosed, directly or indirectly, to the other party by or on behalf of the disclosing party, whether in writing, orally or by other means and whether or not such information is marked as confidential. Confidential Information shall not include information a party to this Agreement can clearly establish was (a) known to the party prior to this Agreement; (b) rightfully acquired by the party from third parties whom the party reasonably believes are not under an obligation of confidentiality to the other party to this Agreement; (c) placed in public domain without fault of the party or its affiliates; or (d) independently developed by the party without reference or reliance upon the nonpublic information.
Each party acknowledges and agrees that due to the unique nature of Confidential Information there can be no adequate remedy at law for any breach of its obligations under this Paragraph 14, that any such breach or threatened breach may allow a party or third parties to unfairly compete with the other party resulting in irreparable harm to such party, and therefore, that upon any such breach or any threat thereof, each party will be entitled to appropriate temporary (until the matter may be resolved) equitable and injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving actual loss.
The provisions of this Paragraph 14 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
15. | CERTIFICATIONS; DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the implementing regulations promulgated thereunder, the Trust and the Fund are required to make certain certifications and have adopted disclosure controls and procedures. To the extent reasonably requested by the Trust, the Sub-Adviser agrees to use its best efforts to assist the Trust and the Funds in complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Sub-Adviser agrees to inform the Trust of any material development related to the Funds that the Sub-Adviser reasonably believes is relevant to the Fund’s certification obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
To the extent not otherwise identified in this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees to supply such other information and documentation to the Adviser and to permit such compliance inspections by the Adviser or the Fund as shall be reasonably necessary to permit the Adviser and the Fund's service providers to satisfy their obligations and respond to the reasonable requests of the Trust.
17. | COOPERATION WITH REGULATORY AUTHORITIES OR OTHER ACTIONS |
The parties to this Agreement each agree to cooperate in a reasonable manner with each other in the event that any of them should become involved in a legal, administrative, judicial or regulatory action, claim, or suit as a result of performing its obligations under this Agreement.
The Sub-Adviser agrees that it will provide prompt notice to the Adviser and Funds about developments relating to its duties as Sub-Adviser of which the Sub-Adviser has, or reasonably should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Fund, including but not limited to material changes in the employment status of key investment management personnel involved in the management of the Fund, material changes in the investment process used to manage the Fund, any changes in senior management, operations, financial condition or ownership of the Sub-Adviser’s firm that would materially impact the Sub-Adviser's services to the Fund, and the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise. The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust (subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege and confidentiality restrictions, solely as it relates to the services provided hereunder with respect to the Fund) in the event that the Sub-Adviser: (1) becomes subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority (including, without limitation, any self-regulatory organization) that would have a material impact on the Sub-Adviser's ability to render the services under this Agreement. Subject to applicable law, attorney-client privilege and confidentiality restrictions, the Sub-Adviser shall promptly forward, upon receipt, to the Adviser any correspondence (or portion of such correspondence) from the SEC or other regulatory authority that specifically relates to the Trust or the Fund.
Notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be deemed to be effectively delivered when actually received, and may be delivered by US mail (first class, postage prepaid), by facsimile transmission, by hand or by commercial overnight delivery service, addressed as follows:
ADVISER: | General Counsel Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. 12555 Manchester Road St. Louis, MO 63131 and Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC 1245 J.J. Kelley Memorial Drive St. Louis, MO 63131 Attn: Alan Herzog |
SUB-ADVISER: | BlackRock Investment Management, LLC 1 University Square Drive Princeton, New Jersey 08540 Attn: Paul Sacks |
TRUST/FUND: | Bridge Builder Trust On behalf of Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund 615 East Michigan Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Attn: Secretary |
This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act).
21. | SEVERABILITY AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement's subject matter.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
23. | CONSULTATION WITH OTHER SUB-ADVISERS |
In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Funds or a sub-adviser to a portfolio that is under common control with the Funds concerning transactions for the Funds, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice to any assets of the Funds other than the assets managed by the Sub-Adviser.
24. | CHANGE IN THE SUB-ADVISER’S OWNERSHIP |
The Sub-Adviser agrees that it shall notify the Trust of any anticipated or otherwise reasonably foreseeable change in the ownership of the Sub-Adviser within a reasonable time prior to such change being effected.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures on this Agreement may be communicated by electronic transmission (which shall include facsimile or email) and shall be binding upon the parties so transmitting their signatures.
Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or Advisers Act, as amended, reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation or order of the SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
To the extent permitted by law, the Sub-Adviser may from time to time employ or associate itself with such person or persons, including affiliates, as it believes to be particularly fitted to assist it in the execution or performance of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the use of such persons does not relieve the Sub-Adviser from any obligation or duty under this Agreement, and provided no such person serves or acts as an investment adviser separate from the Sub-Adviser so as to require a new written contract pursuant to the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall remain liable for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, and for the acts and omissions of its employees or associates.
It is understood that the name “BlackRock” and any derivative thereof or any logo associated with that name is the valuable property of the Sub-Adviser and that the Fund and the Adviser have the right to use such name (or derivative or logo), in the Fund’s prospectus, SAI and registration statement or other filings, forms or reports required under applicable state or federal securities, insurance, or other law, for so long as the Sub-Adviser is a Sub-Adviser to the Fund, provided, however, that the Fund may continue to use the name of the Sub-Adviser in its registration statement and other documents to the extent deemed necessary by the Fund to comply with disclosure obligations under applicable law and regulation. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser shall use the Sub-Adviser’s name or logo in promotional or sales related materials prepared by or on behalf of the Adviser or the Fund without prior review and approval by the Sub-Adviser, which approval may not be unreasonably withheld. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the Adviser shall forthwith cease to use such names (and logo), except as provided for herein.
This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles of Delaware or any other jurisdiction; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day first set forth above.
OLIVE STREET INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC (Adviser) By: /s/ William Fiala Name: William Fiala Title: Vice President |
|
BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC (Sub-Adviser) By: /s/ S. Paul Sacks Name: S. Paul Sacks Title: Managing Director |
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Amendment No. 1 to the INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT dated as of February 19, 2015, by and between the Sub-adviser and the Adviser (the "Agreement") hereby amends the Agreement as follows, effective May 18, 2016.
The following is added as the second sentence in the last paragraph of Section 5 of the Agreement.
Additionally, the Sub-Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for reasonable expenses incurred by the Adviser in responding to a legal, administrative, judicial or regulatory action, claim, or suit involving the Sub-adviser to which the Adviser is not a party.
Except as modified herein, all terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first set forth above.
OLIVE STREET INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
(the Adviser)
By: /s/ William Fiala
Name: William Fiala
Title: Vice President
BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
(the Sub-Adviser)
By: /s/ Robert Eaton
Name: Robert Eaton
Title: Managing Director
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Amendment to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2015, by and between Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) is entered into as of the 9th day of June, 2017 by and among the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Bridge Builder Trust, a Delaware statutory trust located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, on behalf of the series of the Trust indicated on Schedule A to this Amendment (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). All capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Sub-Advisory Agreement (as defined below).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of July 10, 2013, as amended (the “Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which the Adviser renders investment advisory services to each Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has retained the Sub-Adviser to render portfolio management services to each Fund pursuant to the terms of the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, dated as of February 19, 2015 (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), and the Adviser has agreed to pay the compensation due to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, desire to have the Fund replace the Adviser as the entity responsible for compensating the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, desire to amend the Sub-Advisory Agreement to add the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, as a named party to the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the sole purpose of paying the compensation due to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, Section 6.(a) of the Sub-Advisory Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions with respect to the compensation payable to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser for the services rendered to each Fund;
WHEREAS, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, desire to amend Section 6.(a) of the Sub-Advisory Agreement to provide that the Fund shall pay the Sub-Adviser all compensation due under the Sub-Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Advisory Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
| A. | The Sub-Advisory Agreement is hereby amended to add the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, as a named party to the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the sole purpose of paying the compensation due to the Sub-Adviser under Section 6.(a) of the Sub-Advisory Agreement and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, hereby agrees that each Fund will perform its obligations set forth in Section 6.(a) of the Sub-Advisory Agreement. |
| B. | Section 6.(a) of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following: |
(a) Each Fund shall pay to the Sub-adviser, and the Sub-adviser agrees to accept, as full compensation for all services furnished or provided to such Fund pursuant to this Agreement a fee, based on the Current Net Assets of the Allocated Portion, as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be accrued daily and payable monthly, as soon as practicable after the last day of each calendar month. In the case of termination of this Agreement with respect to the Fund during any calendar month, the fee with respect to the Allocated Portion accrued to, but excluding, the date of termination shall be paid promptly following such termination. For purposes of computing the amount of sub-advisory fee accrued for any day, “Current Net Assets” shall mean the Allocated Portion’s net assets, managed by the Sub-adviser, as of the most recent preceding day for which the Fund’s net assets were computed. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the fact that the Agreement has not been terminated, no fee will be accrued under this Agreement with respect to any day that the value of the Current Net Assets of the Allocated Portion equals zero.
2. | Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
3. | Amendments. Except as specifically amended hereby, the Sub-Advisory Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. This Amendment shall not itself be amended except as part of any future amendment to the Sub-Advisory Agreement effected in accordance with the terms thereof. |
4. | Severability and Entire Agreement. If any provision of this Amendment shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Amendment shall not be affected thereby. This Amendment embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Amendment’s subject matter. The Trust is entering into this Amendment with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser on behalf of the respective Funds severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered Section hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each Fund as if contained in separate agreements among the Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser for each such Fund. |
5. | Captions. The captions in this Amendment are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. |
6. | Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year written above.
BRIDGE BUILDER TRUST on behalf of the series listed on Schedule A hereto | | OLIVE STREET INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC |
| | |
By: /s/Ryan Robson | | By: /s/Ryan Robson |
Name: Ryan Robson | | Name: Ryan Robson |
Title: President | | Title: President |
BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC | | |
| | |
By: /s/Robert Eaton | | |
Name: Robert Eaton | | |
Title: Managing Director | | |
Signature Page to the
Amendment to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement
Schedule A
Series of Bridge Builder Trust |
Bridge Builder Large Cap Growth Fund Bridge Builder Large Cap Value Fund Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Value Fund Bridge Builder International Equity Fund |
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 3 to the Investment Sub-advisory Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2015, and amended as of May 18, 2016 and June 9, 2017 (the "Sub-advisory Agreement"), by and among Olive Street Investment Advisers, LLC (the "Adviser"), BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (the "Sub-adviser"), and the Bridge Builder Trust (the "Trust") is entered into as of the 1st day of October 2018, by and among the Adviser, the Sub-adviser, and the Trust, on behalf of the series of the Trust indicated on Schedule A to this Amendment (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"). All capitalized terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Sub-advisory Agreement.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of July 10, 2013, as amended (the "Advisory Agreement"), pursuant to which the Adviser renders investment advisory services to each Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has retained the Sub-adviser to render portfolio management services to each Fund pursuant to the terms of the Sub-advisory Agreement, and the Adviser has agreed to pay the compensation due to the Sub-adviser under the Sub-advisory Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Adviser, the Sub-adviser and the Trust, on behalf of the Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund, desire to amend the Sub-advisory Agreement to provide that the Adviser has retained the Sub-adviser to render portfolio management services to the Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12 of the Sub-advisory Agreement, the Sub-advisory Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the Adviser and the Sub-adviser.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. | Fees. Schedule A to the Sub-advisory Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the new Schedule A attached hereto. |
2. | Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
3. | Amendments. Except as specifically amended hereby, the Sub-advisory Agreement shall continue in Full force and effect in accordance with its terms. This Amendment shall not itself be amended except as part of any future amendment to the Sub-advisory Agreement effected in accordance with the terms thereof. |
4. | Severability and Entire Agreement. If any provision of this Amendment shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Amendment shall not be affected thereby. This Amendment embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Amendment's subject matter. The Trust is entering into this Amendment with the Adviser and Sub-adviser on behalf of the respective Funds severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered Section hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each Fund as if contained in separate agreements among the Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-adviser for each such Fund. |
5. | Captions. The captions in this Amendment are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. |
6. | Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 3 to the Sub-advisory Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first set forth above.
OLIVE STREET INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
(the Adviser)
By: /s/ Ryan T. Robson
Name: Ryan T. Robson
Title: President
BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
(the Sub-adviser)
By: /s/ John Scott Reeder
Name: John Scott Reeder
Title: Managing Director
BRIDGE BUILDER TRUST
(the Trust)
By: /s/ Ryan T. Robson
Name: Ryan T. Robson
Title: President
SCHEDULE A
Series of Bridge Builder Trust | Annual Sub-advisory Fee Rate |
Bridge Builder Municipal Bond Fund | |
Bridge Builder Large Cap Growth Fund | |
Bridge Builder Large Cap Value Fund | |
Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund | |
Bridge Builder Small/Mid Cap Value Fund | |
Bridge Builder International Equity Fund | |