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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
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ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
655 Broad Street
6th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
INFORMATION STATEMENT
March 1, 2023
To the Shareholders:
At a meeting held on September 19-20, 2022, the Board of Trustees (the Board) of the Advanced Series Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the New Subadvisory Agreements, and who are not interested persons of those parties, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, approved new subadvisory agreements (each, a New Subadvisory Agreement, and collectively, the New Subadvisory Agreements) for the AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio). Effective December 5, 2022 Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (DIFA), J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (J.P. Morgan), and TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (TimesSquare, and together with DIFA and J.P. Morgan, the New Subadvisers) were added as new subadvisers to serve alongside Massachusetts Financial Services Company (MFS), as the subadvisers to the Portfolio.
PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS, and together with PGIM Investments, the Manager), as investment managers to the Portfolio, have entered into the New Subadvisory Agreements with each of the New Subadvisers. Prior to December 5, 2022, MFS and Victory Capital Management Inc. served as subadvisers to the Portfolio. The New Subadvisory Agreements became effective December 5, 2022. The New Subadvisory Agreements will not affect the subadvisory agreement with MFS. The investment management agreement relating to the Portfolio has not been, and will not be changed as a result of the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Manager will continue to manage the Portfolio.
This information statement describes the circumstances surrounding the Board's approval of the New Subadvisory Agreements and provides you with an overview of their terms. This information statement does not require any action by you. It is provided to inform you about the change in the Portfolio's subadvisory arrangements.
By order of the Board,
THIS IS NOT A PROXY STATEMENT.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
ASTMCGPIS
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE INFORMATION STATEMENT The Information Statement is available at: www.PrudentialAnnuities.com/investor/invprospectus
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
655 Broad Street
6th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
INFORMATION STATEMENT
March 1, 2023
This information statement is being furnished in lieu of a proxy statement to beneficial shareholders of the AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio), a series of the Advanced Series Trust (AST or the Trust), pursuant to the terms of exemptive orders (the Manager-of-Managers Orders) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The Manager-of-Managers Orders permit the Portfolio's investment managers to hire subadvisers that are not affiliated with the investment managers, and to make changes to certain existing subadvisory agreements with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, without obtaining shareholder approval.
AST is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). AST is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Portfolio is a series of the Trust.
The Trustees of AST are collectively referred to herein as the "Board" or "Trustees." The principal executive offices of AST are located at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102. PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS, and together with PGIM Investments, the Manager) serve as investment managers to the Portfolio.
This information statement relates to the approval by the Board of new subadvisory agreements for the Portfolio (the New Subadvisory Agreements). At a meeting held on September 19-20, 2022, the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the New Subadvisory Agreements, and who are not interested persons of those parties, as defined in the 1940 Act (the Independent Trustees), approved the New Subadvisory Agreements. Effective December 5, 2022, Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (DIFA), J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (J.P. Morgan), and TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (TimesSquare, and together with DIFA and J.P. Morgan, the New Subadvisers) were added as New Subadvisers to serve alongside Massachusetts Financial Services Company (MFS) as the subadvisers to the Portfolio.
Prior to December 5, 2022, MFS and Victory Capital Management Inc. (Victory) served as the subadvisers to the Portfolio. The New Subadvisory Agreements relate to the appointment of the New Subadvisers to serve alongside MFS as subadvisers to the Portfolio and will not affect the subadvisory agreements with MFS (the Current Subadvisory Agreement, and collectively with the New Subadvisory Agreements, the Subadvisory Agreements).
The investment objective of the Portfolio has not changed. The investment management agreement between the Manager and the Trust (the Management Agreement) relating to the Portfolio has not been, and will not be, changed as a result of the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Management Agreement and the subadvisory agreement between the Manager and Massachusetts Financial Services Company was last approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, at the June 2022 Board meeting.
The Manager or its affiliates will pay for the costs associated with preparing and distributing this information statement to the shareholders of the Portfolio. A Notice of Internet Availability for this information statement will be mailed on or about
March 1, 2023 to shareholders investing in the Portfolio as of December 5, 2022.
THIS IS NOT A PROXY STATEMENT.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENTS
Approval of Subadvisory Agreements
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees (the Board) of Advanced Series Trust (AST) held on September 19-20, 2022 (the Board Meeting), the Board considered new subadvisory agreements (collectively, the New Subadvisory Agreements) with respect to the AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio): (i) between PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc.
(together, the Manager) and Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (DIFA); (ii) between the Manager and J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. (J.P. Morgan); and (iii) between the Manager and TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (TimesSquare, and together with DIFA and J.P. Morgan, the New Subadvisers). The Board noted that the purpose of the New Subadvisory Agreements were to replace the prior subadvisory agreement for the Portfolio (the Prior Subadvisory Agreement) between the Manager and Victory Capital Management Inc. (Victory). The Board also noted that Massachusetts Financial Services Company (MFS) would remain as a subadviser alongside the New Subadvisers.
In advance of the Board Meeting, the Board requested and received materials relating to each of the New Subadvisory Agreements and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration.
As such meeting, the Board, including all of the trustees who are not parties to the New Subadvisory Agreements or interested persons of any such party, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) (the Independent Trustees), approved the New Subadvisory Agreements after concluding that such approvals were in the best interests of the Portfolio and its beneficial shareholders.
Before approving the New Subadvisory Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, with advice from independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including: the nature, quality and extent of services to be provided to the Portfolio by each of the New Subadvisers; comparable performance information; the fees to be paid by the Manager to each of the New Subadvisers; profitability; the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Portfolio and its shareholders; and other benefits to the New Subadvisers. The Board also considered information provided by the Manager and J.P. Morgan with respect to other funds managed by J.P. Morgan, which information had been provided throughout the year at regular Board meetings. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided by the Manager and each of the New Subadvisers at, or in advance of, the Board Meeting. The Board had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its considerations. In its deliberations, the Board did not identify any single factor that, alone, was responsible for the Board's decision to approve each of the New Subadvisory Agreements.
The Board determined that the overall arrangements between the Manager and each of the New Subadvisers were appropriate in light of the services to be performed and the fee arrangements under each of the New Subadvisory Agreements, and such other matters as the Board considered relevant in the exercise of its business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board's approval of each of the New Subadvisory Agreements are discussed separately below.
Nature, Quality, and Extent of Services
The Board received and considered information regarding the nature and extent of services provided to the Portfolio by Victory under the Prior Subadvisory Agreement, those that are provided by MFS under the current subadvisory agreement for the Portfolio (the Current Subadvisory Agreement) between the Manager and MFS, and those that would be provided by each of the New Subadvisers under the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Board noted that the nature and extent of services provided to the Portfolio under the Current and Prior Subadvisory Agreements, and those that would be provided to the Portfolio under the New Subadvisory Agreements, were similar in that the Subadvisers are required to provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Portfolio, and to comply with all Portfolio policies, and all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
With respect to quality of services, the Board considered, among other things, the background and experience of the portfolio managers who would be responsible for day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. The Board was also provided information pertaining to the organizational structure, senior management and investment operations of each of the New Subadvisers, among other relevant information. The Board noted that it had also received favorable compliance reports regarding each of the New Subadvisers from AST's Chief Compliance Officer. The Board also noted that J.P. Morgan provides subadvisory services to other AST portfolios.
The Board concluded that, based on the nature and extent of the services to be provided to the Portfolio by the New Subadvisers, the background information that it had reviewed regarding each of the New Subadvisers, and its prior experience with J.P. Morgan with regard to other AST portfolios, it was reasonable to expect that the Board would be satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of investment subadvisory services to be provided to the Portfolio by each of the New Subadvisers. The Board further concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of the investment services expected to be provided to the Portfolio under the New Subadvisory Agreements.
Investment Performance
The Board received and considered information regarding the investment performance of the Portfolio. The Board also received and considered composite performance information of a hypothetical portfolio intended to reflect how the Portfolio may have performed with the New Subadvisers managing the Portfolio's assets, taking into account the proposed allocation to each of the New Subadvisers, as well as a comparison of such performance information against the Portfolio's benchmark index and peer universe. The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the performance information it received with respect to each of the New Subadvisers.
The Board noted that it would consider performance information as part of future annual reviews of the New Subadvisory Agreements.
Subadvisory Fee Rates
The Board considered the proposed subadvisory fee rates payable by the Manager to each of the New Subadvisers under the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Board concluded that the proposed subadvisory fee rates for the Portfolio were reasonable.
Profitability
Because the engagement of the New Subadvisers with respect to the Portfolio is new, the Board noted that there was no historical profitability information with respect to the proposed subadvisory arrangements for the Portfolio. The Board noted that, since none of the New Subadvisers are affiliated with the Manager, the revenues derived by the New Subadvisers under the New Subadvisory Agreements would not be included in any future profitability calculations of the Manager, and concluded that the level of profitability of a subadviser not affiliated with the Manager, including each of the New Subadvisers, may not be as significant as the Manager's profitability, given the arm's-length nature of the process by which the subadvisory fee rates were negotiated by the Manager and the unaffiliated subadvisers, as well as the fact that the Manager compensates the subadvisers out of its management fee.
The Board noted that it would consider profitability information as part of future annual reviews of the New Subadvisory Agreements.
Economies of Scale
The Board considered the potential economies of scale as the Portfolio grows in size. The Board considered that the subadvisory fee schedules for the Portfolio under each New Subadvisory Agreement contains breakpoints that reduce the subadvisory fee rates paid by the Manager to each New Subadviser on assets above specified levels in each sleeve. The subadvisory fees are paid by the Manager, not the Portfolio, and as such, the subadvisory fee schedules do not directly impact the Portfolio's expense ratios. The Board noted that it would consider economies of scale in connection with future annual reviews of the New Subadvisory Agreements.
Other Benefits to the New Subadvisers
The Board considered potential "fall-out" or ancillary benefits anticipated to be received by each of the New Subadvisers, and their respective affiliates, in connection with the Portfolio. The Board concluded that any potential benefits to be derived by each of the New Subadvisers, and their respective affiliates, were consistent with those generally derived by advisers to other mutual funds and to other AST portfolios.
The Board also concluded that any potential benefits to be derived by each of the New Subadvisers were similar to the benefits derived by the Manager and other subadvisers in connection with their management of other AST portfolios, which are reviewed on an annual basis. The Board also concluded that any potential benefits to be derived by the New Subadvisers included potential access to additional research resources, larger assets under management and reputational benefits, which were consistent with those generally derived by advisers and subadvisers to mutual funds. The Board noted that it would review ancillary benefits in connection with future annual reviews of the New Subadvisory Agreements.
***
After full consideration of these factors, the Board approved each of the New Subadvisory Agreements for an initial two-year period upon concluding that such approvals were in the best interests of the Portfolio and its beneficial shareholders.
The New Subadvisory Agreements are attached as Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C, respectively.
Information about the New Subadvisers
Delaware Investments Fund Advisers (DIFA). DIFA is a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (a Delaware statutory trust), which is a subsidiary of Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. (MMHI). MMHI is a subsidiary, and subject to the ultimate control, of Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie). Macquarie is a Sydney, Australia-headquartered global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. "Macquarie Asset Management" is the marketing name for MMHI and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2022, DIFA and its affiliates within Macquarie Asset Management were managing in the aggregate approximately $195.2 billion in assets in various institutional or separately managed, investment company, and insurance accounts.
Additional information about DIFA is attached as Exhibit D.
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (J.P. Morgan). J.P. Morgan is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan Chase Co., a publicly held bank holding company and global financial services firm. J.P. Morgan manages assets for governments, corporations, endowments, foundations and individuals worldwide. As of December 31, 2022, J.P. Morgan and its affiliated companies had approximately $2.36 million in assets under management worldwide. J.P. Morgan's address is 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179.
Additional information about J.P. Morgan is attached as Exhibit E.
TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (TimesSquare). TimesSquare, based in New York, New York, is a registered investment advisor that specializes in small- and mid-cap growth equities. TimesSquare's institutional partner, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG), a publicly traded global asset management company, indirectly holds a majority equity interest in TimesSquare, with the remaining portion owned by TimesSquare's principals. As of December 31, 2022, TimesSquare's assets under management was $8.8 billion.
Additional information about TimesSquare is attached as Exhibit F.
Terms of the New Subadvisory Agreements
The material terms of each of the New Subadvisory Agreements are substantially similar to the material terms of the Current Subadvisory Agreement except for the parties and for the revised subadvisory fee schedules. The Subadvisers are compensated by the Manager (and not the Portfolio) based on the amount of assets in the portion of the Portfolio they manage. The subadvisory fee rates under the Prior Subadvisory Agreement, the subadvisory fee rates under the Current Subadvisory Agreement, the subadvisory fee rates under the New Subadvisory Agreements, and the subadvisory fees paid to Victory and the Subadvisors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, are set forth below:
| Subadviser | Prior Subadvisory Fee Rate | New/Current Subadvisory | | Subadvisory Fees |
| | | | | Fee Rates | | Paid for the |
| | | | | | | | Fiscal Year Ended |
| | | | | | | | December 31, 2022 |
| Victory Capital | | 0.28% of average daily net assets to | | N/A | | | $930,756 | |
| Management Inc. | | $300 million; | | | | | | |
| (Victory) | | 0.25% of average daily net assets | | | | | | |
| | | over $300 million to $600 million; | | | | | | |
| | | 0.23% of average daily net assets | | | | | | |
| | | over $600 million | | | | | | |
| Massachusetts | 0.30% of average daily net assets to | 0.30% of average daily net assets to | $1,622,505 | |
| Financial Services | $1 billion; | $1 billion; | | | |
| Company* | 0.275% of average daily net assets | 0.275% of average daily net assets | | | |
| | | over $1 billion. | over $1 billion. | | | |
| Delaware | | N/A | | 0.30% of average daily net assets to | | | $54,734 | |
| Investments Fund | | | | $300 million; | | | | |
| Advisers | | | | 0.27% of average daily net assets | | | | |
| | | | | over $300 million. | | | | |
| J.P. Morgan | N/A | 0.40% of average daily net assets to | $69,317 | |
| Investment | | | $100 million; | | | |
| Management, Inc. | | | 0.35% of average daily net assets | | | |
| | | | | over $100 million. | | | |
| TimesSquare | | N/A | | 0.50% of average daily net assets to | | | $57,020 | |
| Capital | | | | $50 million; | | | | |
| Management, LLC | | | | 0.40% of average daily net assets | | | |
| | | | | on next $50 million; | | | |
| | | | | 0.30% of average daily net assets | | | |
| | | | | on next $100 million; | | | |
| | | | | 0.20% of average daily net assets | | | |
| | | | | over $200 million. | | | |
*MFS: MFS has agreed to a voluntary subadvisory fee waiver arrangement that applies across each of the following portfolios or sleeves of portfolios managed by MFS:
-AST Advanced Strategies Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Academic Strategies Asset Allocation Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Capital Growth Asset Allocation Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Large-Cap Core Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Large-Cap Growth Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio
-AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Mid-Cap Value Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
-PSF Global Portfolio (sleeve managed by MFS)
MFS has agreed to voluntarily reduce the monthly subadvisory fees paid by ASTIS and/or PGIM Investments to MFS for each portfolio listed above (or the sleeve thereof subadvised by MFS) by the following percentages and with respect to thesubadvisory fees otherwise payable on the incremental assets of the combined average daily net assets of the portfolios (orthe sleeve thereof subadvised by MFS) that fall into the tiers listed below during any calendar month. To the extent the feewaiver is triggered for any particular calendar month, the resulting incremental discount will be applied pro rata across each of the portfolios (or the portion thereof subadvised by MFS). In the event that the combined average daily net assets of the above listed portfolios are $5 billion or less during any particular calendar month, then this voluntary fee reduction will not be applicable for the respective month. MFS reserves the right to withdraw this waiver by delivery of a written notice to the Manager, which withdrawal shall become effective 30 days after such delivery.
Combined Average Daily Net Assets | Percentage Fee Waiver |
First $5 billion | No Fee Reduction |
Over $5 million and up to $7.5 billion | 5% Fee Reduction |
Over $7.5 million and up to $10 billion | 7.5% Fee Reduction |
Over $10 million and up to $20 billion | 10% Fee Reduction |
Over $20 billion and to $30 billion | 15% Fee Reduction |
Over $30 billion | 20% Fee Reduction |
Each New Subadvisory Agreement provides, as did the Prior Subadvisory Agreement, that subject to the supervision of the Manager and the Board, each of the Subadvisers is responsible for managing the investment operations of a portion of the assets of the Portfolio and for making investment decisions and placing orders to purchase and sell securities for such portion of the Portfolio, all in accordance with the investment objective and policies of the Portfolio, as reflected in its current prospectus and statement of additional information, and as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. In accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Subadvisers will maintain all books and records required to be maintained by an investment adviser and will render to the Board such periodic and special reports, as the Board may reasonably request.
Each New Subadvisory Agreement will remain in full force and effect for a period of two years from the date of its execution and will continue thereafter, as long as its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Portfolio, or by the Board, including the approval by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; provided, however, that
(i)each New Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty, either by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio, (ii) each New Subadvisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the investment management agreement between the Manager and the Trust (the Management Agreement) relating to the Portfolio, and (iii) each New Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated at any time by each New Subadviser, respectively, or by the Manager on not more than 60 days', nor less than 30 days', written notice to the other party to the New Subadvisory Agreement.
Each New Subadvisory Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder, the New Subadviser will not be liable for any act or omission in connection with its activities as a subadviser to the Portfolio.
MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY ARRANGEMENTS
The Manager
The Trust is managed by PGIM Investments, 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102 and ASTIS, One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484.
As of December 31, 2022, PGIM Investments served as investment manager to all of the Prudential US and offshore open-end investment companies, and as administrator to closed-end investment companies, with aggregate assets of approximately $283.5 billion. PGIM Investments is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIFM Holdco, LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGIM Holding Company LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential). PGIM Investments has been in the business of providing advisory services since 1996.
As of December 31, 2022, ASTIS served as investment manager to certain Prudential US and offshore open-end investment companies with aggregate assets of approximately $116.2 billion. ASTIS is a subsidiary of Prudential Annuities Holding
Company, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Prudential Annuities, Inc., a subsidiary of Prudential. ASTIS has been in the business of providing advisory services since 1992.
Terms of the Management Agreement
Services Provided by the Manager. Pursuant to the Management Agreement with the Trust, the Manager, subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board and in conformity with the stated policies of the Portfolio, manages both the investment operations and composition of the Portfolio, including the purchase, retention, disposition and loan of securities and other assets. In connection therewith, the Manager is obligated to keep certain books and records of the Portfolio. The Manager is authorized to enter into subadvisory agreements for investment advisory services in connection with the management of the Portfolio. The Manager continues to have the ultimate responsibility for all investment advisory services performed pursuant to any such subadvisory agreements.
The Manager is specifically responsible for overseeing and managing the Portfolio and the Subadvisers. In this capacity, the Manager reviews the performance of the Portfolio and the Subadvisers, and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to the retention of investment subadvisers, the renewal of contracts, and the reorganization and merger of portfolios, and other legal and compliance matters. The Manager takes on the entrepreneurial and other risks associated with the launch of each new portfolio and its ongoing operations. The Manager utilizes the Strategic Investment Research Group (SIRG), a unit of PGIM Investments, to assist the Manager in regularly evaluating and supervising the Portfolio and the Subadvisers, including with respect to investment performance. SIRG is a centralized research department of PGIM Investments that is comprised of a group of highly experienced analysts. SIRG utilizes proprietary processes to analyze large quantities of industry data, both on a qualitative and quantitative level, in order to effectively oversee the Portfolio and the Subadvisers. The Manager utilizes this data in directly supervising the Portfolio and the Subadvisers. SIRG provides reports to the Board and presents to the Board at special and regularly scheduled Board meetings. The Manager bears the cost of the oversight program maintained by SIRG.
In addition, the Manager generally provides or supervises all of the administrative functions necessary for the organization, operation and management of the Trust and its portfolios. The Manager administers the Trust's corporate affairs and, in connection therewith, furnishes the Trust with office facilities, together with those ordinary clerical and bookkeeping services, which are not being furnished by the Trust's custodian or transfer agent. The Manager is also responsible for the staffing and management of dedicated groups of legal, marketing, compliance and related personnel necessary for the operation of the Trust. The legal, marketing, compliance and related personnel are also responsible for the management and oversight of the various service providers to the Trust, including, but not limited to, the custodian, transfer agent, and accounting agent. The management services of the Manager to the Trust are not exclusive under the terms of the Management Agreement, and the Manager is free to, and does, render management services to others.
The primary administrative services furnished by the Manager are more specifically detailed below:
•furnishing of office facilities;
•paying salaries of all officers and other employees of the Manager who are responsible for managing the Trust and the Portfolio;
•monitoring financial and shareholder accounting services provided by the Trust's custodian and transfer agent;
•providing assistance to the service providers of the Trust and the Portfolio, including, but not limited to, the custodian, transfer agent, and accounting agent;
•monitoring, together with the Subadvisers, the Portfolio's compliance with its investment policies, restrictions, and with federal and state laws and regulations, including federal and state securities laws, the Internal Revenue Code and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations;
•preparing and filing all required federal, state and local tax returns for the Trust and the Portfolio;
•preparing and filing with the SEC on Form N-CSR the Trust's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, including supervising financial printers who provide related support services;
•preparing and filing with the SEC required monthly reports of portfolio holdings on Form N-PORT;
•preparing and filing the Trust's registration statement with the SEC on Form N-1A, as well as preparing and filing with the SEC supplements and other documents, as applicable;
•preparing compliance, operations and other reports required to be received by the Trust's Board and/or its committees in support of the Board's oversight of the Trust; and
•organizing regular and any special meetings of the Board of the Trust, including preparing Board materials and agendas, preparing minutes, and related functions.
Expenses Borne by the Manager. In connection with its management of the corporate affairs of the Trust, the Manager bears certain expenses, including, but not limited to:
•the salaries and expenses of all of its and the Trust's personnel, except the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Manager or the Subadvisers;
•all expenses incurred by the Manager or the Trust in connection with managing the ordinary course of a Trust's business, other than those assumed by the Trust, as described below;
•the fees, costs and expenses payable to the New Subadvisers, respectively, pursuant to the New Subadvisory Agreements; and
•with respect to the compliance services provided by the Manager, the cost of the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust's Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, and all personnel who provide compliance services for the Trust, and all of the other costs associated with the Trust's compliance program, which includes the management and operation of the compliance program responsible for compliance oversight of the Portfolio and the Subadvisers.
Expenses Borne by the Trust. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Trust is responsible for the payment of Trust expenses not paid by the Manager, including:
•the fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the management of the investment and reinvestment of the Trust's assets payable to the Manager;
•the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Manager or the Subadvisers;
•the fees and certain expenses of the custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent, including the cost of providing records to the Manager in connection with its obligation of maintaining required records of the Trust and of pricing the Trust's shares;
•the charges and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent auditors;
•brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Trust in connection with its securities (and futures, if applicable) transactions;
•all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Trust to governmental agencies;
•the fees of any trade associations of which the Trust may be a member;
•the cost of share certificates representing and/or non-negotiable share deposit receipts evidencing shares of the Trust;
•the cost of fidelity, directors and officers, and errors and omissions insurance;
•the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Trust and of its shares with the SEC and paying notice filing fees under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Trust's registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes;
•allocable communications expenses with respect to investor services, and all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports and notices to shareholders; and
•litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Trust's business and distribution and service (12b-1) fees.
Terms of the Management Agreement. The Management Agreement provides that the Manager will not be liable for any error of judgment by the Manager or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Management Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services (in which case, any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the 1940 Act) or loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties. The Management Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically, if assigned (as defined in the 1940 Act), and that it may be terminated without penalty by either the Manager or the Trust by a vote of the Board or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) upon not more than 60 days', nor less than 30 days', written notice. The Management Agreement will continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date of execution, only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
The table below sets forth the applicable contractual management fee rates and the management fees received by the Manager during the most recently completed fiscal year.
Portfolio | Investment Management Fee Rate* | Aggregate Investment |
| | Management Fees Paid for |
| | the Fiscal Year Ended |
| | December 31, 2022 |
AST Mid-Cap Growth | 0.8325% of average daily net assets to $300 million; | $7,891,353 |
Portfolio | 0.8225% on next $200 million of average daily net assets; | |
| 0.8125% on next $250 million of average daily net assets; | |
| 0.8025% on next $2.5 billion of average daily net assets; | |
| 0.7925% on next $2.75 billion of average daily net assets; | |
| 0.7625% on next $4 billion of average daily net assets; | |
| 0.7425% over $10 billion of average daily net assets | |
*The Manager has contractually agreed to waive 0.0047% of its management fee through June 30, 2023. In addition, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Portfolio so that the Portfolio's management fee plus other expenses (exclusive, in all cases of, interest, brokerage, taxes (such as income and foreign withholding taxes, stamp duty and deferred tax expenses), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and certain other Portfolio expenses such as dividend and interest expense and broker charges on short sales) do
not exceed 1.05% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets through June 30, 2023. Expenses waived/reimbursed by the Manager may be recouped by the Manager within the same fiscal year during which such waiver/reimbursement is made if such recoupment can be realized without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment for that fiscal year. These arrangements may not be terminated or modified without the prior
approval of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
Directors and Officers of PGIM Investments and ASTIS
Set forth below is the name, title and principal occupation of the principal executive officer of PGIM Investments. There are no directors of PGIM Investments. The address of the principal executive officer of PGIM Investments is 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102. None of the officers or directors of PGIM Investments are also officers or directors of the Subadvisers.
Name | Position with PGIM Investments | Principal Occupations |
Stuart S. Parker | President, Chief Executive Officer, | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief |
| Chief Operating Officer, Officer-in- | Operating Officer and Officer in Charge of |
| Charge | PGIM Investments LLC (formerly known as |
| | Prudential Investments LLC) (since January |
| | 2012); formerly Executive Vice President of |
| | Jennison Associates LLC and Head of Retail |
| | Distribution of PGIM Investments LLC (June |
| | 2005-December 2011); Investment Company |
| | Institute - Board of Governors (since May 2012). |
Set forth below are the names, titles and principal occupations of the principal executive officer and the directors of ASTIS. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each individual is One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484. None of the officers or directors of ASTIS are also officers or directors of the Subadvisers.
Name | Position with ASTIS | Principal Occupations |
Scott E. Benjamin* | Director and Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President (since May 2009) of |
| | PGIM Investments LLC; Executive Vice |
| | President (June 2009-June 2012) and Vice |
| | President (since June 2012) of Prudential |
| | Investment Management Services LLC; |
| | Executive Vice President (since September 2009) |
| | of AST Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice |
| | President of Product Development and |
| | Marketing, PGIM Investments (since February |
| | 2006); Executive Vice President (since June |
| | 2019) of Prudential Trust Company; formerly |
| | Vice President of Product Development and |
| | Product Management, PGIM Investments LLC |
| | (2003-2006). |
Timothy S. Cronin | Director, President, Chief Executive | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief |
| Officer, Chief Operating Officer, | Operating Officer, Officer-In-Charge (since |
| Officer-in-Charge | March 2006), Director (since June 2005) of AST |
| | Investment Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President |
| | of PGIM Investments LLC (since May 2009); |
| | Vice President (since July 2006) of Pruco Life |
| | Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance |
| | Company of New Jersey; Senior Vice president |
| | (since May 2006) of Prudential Annuities Life |
| | Assurance Corporation; Vice President of |
| | Prudential Annuities, Inc. (since May 2003). |
Dylan J. Tyson | Director and Executive Vice President | Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (since December 2019) of Pruco Life Insurance |
| | Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of |
| | New Jersey, Prudential Annuities Holding |
| | Company, Inc., Prudential Annuities Information |
| | Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential |
| | Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, |
| | Prudential Annuities, Inc. and Prudential Life |
| | Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc.; Senior Vice |
President, Annuities (since December 2019) of
Prudential Financial, Inc. and The Prudential
Insurance Company of America.
* Mr. Benjamin's principal address is 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102.
Set forth below is a list of the officers of the Trust who are also officers or directors of PGIM Investments and/or ASTIS.*
| Name | Position with Trust | Position with PGIM Investments | Position with ASTIS |
| Timothy S. Cronin | President | Senior Vice President | Director, President, Chief |
| | | | | | | Executive Officer, Chief |
| | | | | | | Operating Officer, Officer- |
| | | | | | | in-Charge |
| | | | | | | | |
| Ken Allen | Vice President | Vice President | Vice President |
| Claudia DiGiacomo | Chief Legal Officer and | Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice | N/A |
| | | Assistant Secretary | President and Secretary | | |
| Andrew R. French | | Secretary | | Assistant Secretary and Vice | | N/A | |
| | | | | President | | | |
| Melissa Gonzalez | Assistant Secretary | Assistant Secretary and Vice | N/A |
| | | | | President | | |
| Patrick McGuinness | | Assistant Secretary | | Assistant Secretary and Vice | | N/A | |
| | | | | President | | | |
| Isabelle Sajous | Chief Compliance Officer | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice | Chief Compliance Officer |
| | | | | President | | |
| Christian J. Kelly | | Treasurer & Principal | | Assistant Treasurer and Vice | | Vice President | |
| | | Financial and Accounting | | President | | | |
| | | Officer | | | | |
*Includes Mr. Cronin, who also serves as an interested trustee of the Trust.
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as custodian for the Trust's portfolio securities and cash, and, in that capacity, maintains certain financial accounting books and records pursuant to an agreement with the Trust. Subcustodians provide custodial services for any foreign assets held outside the United States.
Transfer Agent and Shareholder Servicing Agent
Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC (PMFS), 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent of the Portfolio. PMFS is an affiliate of PGIM Investments. PMFS provides customary transfer agency services to the Portfolio, including the handling of shareholder communications, the processing of shareholder transactions, the maintenance of shareholder account records, the payment of dividends and distributions and related functions. For these services, PMFS receives compensation from the Trust and is reimbursed for its transfer agent expenses, which include an annual fee per shareholder account, a monthly inactive account fee per shareholder account and its out-of-pocket expenses; including, but not limited to, postage, stationery, printing, allocable communication expenses and other costs.
BNY Mellon Asset Servicing (US) Inc. (BNYAS) serves as sub-transfer agent to the Trust. PMFS has contracted with BNYAS, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, to provide certain administrative functions to PMFS, the Portfolio's transfer agent. PMFS will compensate BNYAS for such services.
Distribution
Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (PAD) serves as the distributor for the shares of the Portfolio. Each class of shares is offered and redeemed at its net asset value without any sales load. PAD is an affiliate of PGIM Investments. PAD is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Under the distribution agreement, the Portfolio is currently subject to an annual distribution or "12b-1" fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio. For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio incurred the following amount of fees for services provided by PAD:
| Portfolio | Amount Paid |
|
| AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | $2,410,079 |
Brokerage
For the most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio paid the following in brokerage commissions to affiliated and non- affiliated broker-dealers:
Portfolio | Amount Paid |
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | $525,544 |
Shareholder Communication Costs
The Manager or its affiliates will pay for the costs associated with preparing and distributing this information statement. The Portfolio pays a fee under a Rule 12b-1 plan covering a variety of services, including paying the printing and mailing costs of information statements.
Shareholder Proposals
The Trust, as a Massachusetts business trust, is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders, and the Trustees do not intend to hold such meetings unless shareholder action is required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Trust's Declaration of Trust. A shareholder proposal intended to be presented at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust must be received by the Trust at a reasonable time before the Trustees' solicitation relating thereto is made in order to be included in the Trust's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting and presented at the meeting. The mere submission of a proposal by a shareholder does not guarantee that the proposal will be included in the proxy statement because certain rules under the federal securities laws must be complied with before inclusion of the proposal is required.
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
The Trust's annual reports, semi-annual reports and information statements are sent to shareholders. Only one copy of a report or information statement, as applicable, may be delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless the Trust receives contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. A copy of the Trust's most recent annual report, semi-annual report or information statement may be obtained without charge by writing the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102 or by calling (800) 778-2255 (toll free).
Shareholder Information
Information on share ownership of the Portfolio is set forth in Exhibit G to this information statement.
Andrew R. French
Secretary
Dated: March 1, 2023
EXHIBIT A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 22nd day of November 2022 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (DIFA or the Subadviser).
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments and ASTIS act as Co-Managers of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Co-Managers shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.(a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:
(i)The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Co-Managers shall direct, and Subadviser shall have discretion to determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by its portion of the Trust, and what portion of those assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii)In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall: act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, and the Prospectus of the Trust, as provided to it by the Co-Managers (the Trust Documents), and with the written instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust; reasonably co-operate with the Co-Managers' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance; and will conform to, and comply with, the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Co-Managers shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii)The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing best execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Co-Managers (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Co-Managers (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument
to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv)The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v)The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co-Managers.
(vi)The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the Subadviser and Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co- Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(vii)The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b)The Subadviser shall keep the books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a)(iv) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder reasonably needed by the Co-Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains pursuant to paragraph 1(a)(iv) hereof are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a)(iv) hereof.
(c)The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Co-Managers promptly, to the extent permitted under applicable law, upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser's commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or
(iii)the institution of an action or proceeding that could reasonably lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or a material investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d)In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e)The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably designed to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains compliance procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f)The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the portion of the Trust's portfolio managed by Subadviser pursuant to Subadviser's Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers.
(g)Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers in their applicable duties to value investments of the Trust, as may be required from time to time, by making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
(h)The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Trust's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. Such certification, documentation or other information shall be limited solely to information provided by the Subadviser in accordance with the services it otherwise provides under this Agreement. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Co-Managers if the Subadviser becomes aware of any such Subadviser information in the Prospectus that is materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(i)As applicable to its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall comply with the Trust Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(j)To the extent permitted by applicable law and relevant agreements, the Subadviser shall keep the Trust's Co-Managers reasonably informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subadviser shall in no event be required to provide any information, report or summary thereof that may reasonably be considered to be in conflict with any applicable US federal, US state or non-US privacy law.
2.The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3.For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers.
4. (a) The Subadviser acknowledges that, in the course of its engagement by the Co-Managers, the Subadviser may receive or have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Co-Managers or third parties with whom the Co-Managers conducts business. Such information is collectively referred to as "Confidential Information." Confidential Information includes the Co-Managers' business and other proprietary information, written or oral.
(b)The Subadviser certifies that (i) its treatment of Confidential Information is in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to privacy and data security, and (ii) it has implemented and currently maintains an effective written information security program ("Information Security Program") including administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures that seeks to (a) ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (b) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (c) protect against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the Co-Managers, or to any person who may be identified by Confidential Information. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Subadviser shall promptly notify the Co-Managers if the Subadviser is aware of a material breach of this Section. At the Manager's request, the Subadviser agrees to certify in writing to the Manager, its compliance with the terms of this Section.
(c)The Subadviser shall review and, as appropriate, revise its Information Security Program at least annually or whenever there is a material change in the Subadviser's business practices that may reasonably affect the security, confidentiality or integrity of Confidential Information. During the course of providing the services, the Subadviser may not materially alter or modify its Information Security Program in such a way that could reasonably weaken or compromise the security, confidentiality, or integrity of Confidential Information.
(d)The Subadviser shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to the minimum number of the Subadviser's Employees who require such access in order to provide the services to the Co-Managers.
(e)The Subadviser shall conduct periodic risk assessments to identify and assess reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluate and improve, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls. Such assessments will also consider the Subadviser's compliance with its Information Security Program and the laws applicable to the Subadviser.
(f)The Subadviser shall conduct regular penetration and vulnerability testing of its information technology infrastructure and networks. If any testing detects any material anomalies, intrusions, or vulnerabilities in any information technology systems processing, storing or transmitting any of the Fund's and/or Co-Managers' Confidential Information, the Subadviser shall promptly report those findings to the Co-Managers.
(g)The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers, promptly and without unreasonable delay, after learning of any unauthorized access or disclosure, unauthorized, unlawful or accidental loss, misuse, destruction, acquisition of, or damage to Confidential Information may have occurred or is under investigation (a "Security Incident"). Thereafter, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Subadviser shall: (i) promptly furnish to the Co-Managers full details of the Security Incident; (ii) reasonably assist and cooperate with the Co- Managers and the Co-Managers' designated representatives in the Co-Managers' investigation of the Subadviser, Employees or third parties related to the Security Incident; (iii) reasonably cooperate with the Co-Managers in any litigation or other formal action against third parties deemed necessary by the Co-Managers to protect the Co-Managers' rights; and (iv) take reasonable and appropriate action to attempt to prevent a recurrence of a Security Incident.
(h)Upon the Co-Managers' reasonable request at any time during the term of the Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly provide the Co-Managers with information related to the Subadviser's information security safeguards and practices that may impact the Confidential Information.
5.The Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide investment advisory services to the portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers without the express written consent of the Co-Managers. To the extent that the Subadviser receives approval from the Co-Managers to engage a third-party service provider, the Subadviser assumes all responsibility for any action or inaction of the service provider as it related to the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. In addition, the Subadviser shall fully indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Co-Managers and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against all claims, demands, actions, suits, damages, liabilities, losses, settlements, judgments, costs, and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney's fees and costs) which arise out of or relate to the provision of services provided by any such service provider.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Trust and Co-Managers consent to Subadviser's affiliates within the Macquarie Asset Management business division of Macquarie Group providing services to Trust's account and sharing information regarding Trust's account; provided, however, that no additional charges, fees or other compensation will be paid for such services. To the extent that such delegation occurs, references to Subadviser herein shall be deemed to include reference to its affiliates.
6.The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Co- Managers' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
7.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Co-Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This
Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser per Subadviser's portfolio holdings request for the transition.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Co-Managers at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments) and One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut, 06484, Attention: Secretary (for ASTIS); (2) to the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 610 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Attention: Head of Relationship Management, MAM Americas, with a copy to General Counsel at same address.
8.Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
9.During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes as soon as reasonably practicable (if Subadviser is reviewing the applicable materials prior to distribution) or as soon as reasonably practical. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
10.Each of the parties individually acknowledges that it is duly empowered and authorized to execute this Agreement, and any challenge to the validity or binding effect of this Agreement on the grounds that a signatory hereto lacked the authority to execute this instrument shall be null and void and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall be considered to constitute the same instrument. This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained as necessary in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
11.This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
12.Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
DELAWARE INVESTMENTS FUND ADVISERS,
a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust
By: /s/ David Brenner
Name: David Brenner
Title: Senior Vice President
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by Delaware Investments Fund Advisers (DIFA), PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. will pay DIFA a subadvisory fee on the net assets managed by DIFA that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name | Subadvisory Fee for the Portfolio* |
| |
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | 0.30% of average daily net assets to $300 million; |
| 0.27% of average daily net assets over $300 million |
| |
The subadvisory fee is calculated using daily average net assets from effective date through termination date. The subadvisory fee is accrued monthly and paid on the closest business day to the 25th of the following month.
*In the event DIFA invests Portfolio assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, DIFA will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to DIFA with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: November 22, 2022
EXHIBIT B
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 21st day of November, 2022 among PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., a Delaware corporation, (J.P. Morgan or the Subadviser), and effective as of a date mutually agreed upon by the Co-Managers and Subadviser;
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments and AST act as Co-Managers of the Trust;
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually, a Portfolio or the Trust and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Co- Managers shall from time to time direct and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.(a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers (the "Allocated Portion"), including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:
(i)The Subadviser shall provide a continuous investment program with respect to the Allocated Portion of the Trust's investments as the Co-Managers shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii)In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Co-Managers (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that are not inconsistent with the Trust Documents), cooperate with the Co-Managers' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal laws and regulations. In addition, the Subadviser shall manage the Allocated Portion in conformity with applicable state laws and regulations and such state insurance laws as Manager informs Subadviser are applicable to the Trust ("State Insurance Laws"). In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, assist the Co-Managers in the preparation and filing of such reports as the Trust is, or may in the future be, required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Co-Managers shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii)The Subadviser's authority hereunder shall include the power to buy, sell, and hold such securities, futures contracts and other instruments to open accounts and execute trading agreements and any other reasonable and customary documents and representation letters on behalf of the Allocated Portion as the Subadviser deems appropriate. The Subadviser may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), as it determines in its discretion subject to the requirements of this subsection (iii). In executing transactions for the Trust and selecting Brokers, the Subadviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Trust the best overall terms available. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser shall consider all the factors that it deems relevant including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the Broker, the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis.
On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instruments to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients. The Co-Managers recognize that, in some cases, this procedure may limit the size of the position that may be acquired or sold for the Trust.
(iv)The Subadviser is authorized to purchase, sell, hold and generally deal in and with derivatives as set forth in the Prospectus of the Trust. The Co-Managers hereby authorize Subadviser to open accounts and execute documents, representations, warranties, indemnities and representation letters in the name of, binding against and on behalf of the Trust, including without limitation, futures and options account agreements, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., master agreements and any related clearing agreements or control agreements related to derivatives transactions for all purposes necessary or desirable in Subadviser's view to effectuate Subadviser's activities under this Agreement. To the extent the Portfolio qualifies as a "qualified eligible person" within the meaning of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") Regulation Rule 4.7, the Co-Managers on behalf of the Portfolio consent to the Portfolio's treatment by the Subadviser as a qualified eligible person.
(v)The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Allocated Portion's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(vi)The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Allocated Portion, and shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co- Managers.
(vii)The Subadviser and the Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co-Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of- managers" style, the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(viii)The Co-Managers acknowledge that investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Manager agrees that Subadviser may give advice and take action 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 Trust. It is Subadviser's policy, to the extent practicable, to allocate investment opportunities among clients over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis. Manager recognizes that Subadviser, in effecting transactions for its various accounts, may not always be able to take or liquidate investment positions in the same security at the same time and at the same price. It is understood that Subadviser shall not have any obligations to purchase or sell, or to recommend for purchase or sale, for the Trust any security which Subadviser or its affiliates, their directors, officers, principals or employees may purchase or sell for its or their own accounts or for the account of any other client, if in the opinion of Subadviser such transaction or investment appears unsuitable, impractical or undesirable for the Trust, except as required by law. Nothing in this Agreement will in any way limit or restrict Subadviser or any of its respective officers, directors, principals, affiliates or employees from buying, selling or trading in any securities for its or their own accounts or other accounts. Manager acknowledges and agrees that Subadviser and its affiliates may make different investment decisions with respect to each of its clients or for its own account, and that such fact shall not be relied upon by Manager or any of Manager's agents or representatives as evidence of a breach of Subadviser 's duties hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of the Subadviser, the Co-Managers, the Trust, or any of their respective directors, officers, affiliates or employees to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature.
(ix)The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets. However, nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the Subadviser from consulting with any of the other subadvisers concerning compliance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit
the Manager and the Subadviser from consulting with each other concerning transactions for the Allocated Portion in securities or other assets.
(x)Conflicts of interest may arise in the course of providing the Subadviser's services and information on the Subadviser's conflicts of interest policy may be found in the Subadviser's FCA Disclosure Document and its current Form ADV provided to the Co-Managers.
(b)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Co-Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(c)The Subadviser is a commodity trading advisor duly registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) and is a member in good standing of the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser shall maintain such registration and membership in good standing during the term of this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser agrees to notify the Co-Managers promptly upon (i) a statutory disqualification of the Subadviser under Sections 8a(2) or 8a(3) of the CEA, (ii) a suspension, revocation or limitation of the Subadviser's commodity trading advisor registration or NFA membership, or (iii) to the extent permitted by law, regulation, regulatory requirement or the Subadviser's policy, the institution of an action or proceeding that could lead to a statutory disqualification under the CEA or an investigation by any governmental agency or self-regulatory organization of which the Subadviser is subject or has been advised it is a target.
(d)In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures designed to comply with the 1940 Act, the CEA, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal regulations and state law and/or requirements, State Insurance Laws and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(e)The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures designed to comply with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal laws and regulations, state law and/or requirements and State Insurance Laws. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(f)The Subadviser shall furnish to the Co-Managers copies of (i) all records prepared in connection with the performance of this Agreement and (ii) any reports prepared for external distribution in accordance with the compliance procedures maintained pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Co-Managers may reasonably request.
(g)The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Allocated Portion in accordance with the Subadviser's proxy voting policy in effect from time to time and the Subadviser will comply with such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers.
(h)The Subadviser agrees to provide reasonable assistance to the Co-Managers or the Trust's Custodian in determining the value of any of the Trust's portfolio investments. Such reasonable assistance shall include (but is not limited to): (i) upon the request of the Co-Managers or the Trust's Custodian, assisting in obtaining bids and offers or quotes from broker/dealers or market- makers with respect to portfolio investments; and (ii) notifying the Co-Managers in the event the Subadviser has reason to believe that the price it has received for a portfolio investment held by the Allocated Portion does not appear to reflect corporate actions, news, significant events or such investment otherwise requires review to determine if fair valuation may be necessary under the Trust's valuation procedures. Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser shall make its employees and officers reasonably available for consultation with the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers to assist them in their valuation of the investments of the Trust as the valuation committee or the Co-Managers may request from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
(i)The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Allocated Portion portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be
filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall inform the Trust and the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(j)The Subadviser shall comply with the applicable portions of the Trust's Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co- Managers. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(k)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's Manager informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Managers to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
2.The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the Allocated Portion, cash requirements and cash available for investment in the Allocated Portion, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3.For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the Allocated Portion as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Co-Managers to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Co-Managers' receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Trust and the Co-Managers. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers.
4.Confidentiality. (a) Each party agrees that it will treat confidentially all information provided by any other party (the "Discloser") regarding the Discloser's businesses and operations, including without limitation the investment activities or holdings of the Allocated Portion ("Confidential Information"). All Confidential Information provided by the Discloser shall be used only by the other party hereto (the "Recipient") solely for the purposes of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement, and shall not be disclosed to any third party, without the prior consent of the Discloser, except for a limited number of employees, attorneys, accountants and other advisers of the Recipient and its affiliates under common control with Recipient on a need-to- know basis and solely for the purposes of rendering services under this Agreement.
(b)Confidential Information shall not include any information that: (i) is public when provided or thereafter becomes public through no wrongful act of the Recipient; (ii) is demonstrably known to the Recipient prior to execution of this Agreement; (iii) is independently developed by the Recipient through no wrongful act of the Recipient in the ordinary course of business outside of this Agreement; (iv) is generally employed by the trade at the time that the Recipient learns of such information or knowledge; or (v) has been rightfully and lawfully obtained by the Recipient from any third party.
(c)In the event that the Recipient is requested or required (by deposition, interrogatories, requests for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoenas, civil investigative demand or similar process, or by a governmental or regulatory agency or authority), in connection with any proceeding, to disclose any of the Discloser's Confidential Information, the Recipient will, to the extent permitted by law, regulation or regulatory authority, give the Discloser prompt written notice of such request or requirement to allow the Discloser an opportunity to obtain a protective order or otherwise obtain assurances that confidential
treatment will be accorded to such Confidential Information. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, disclosure shall be made of only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed. All Confidential Information disclosed as required by law shall nonetheless continue to be deemed Confidential Information. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, no such notification shall be required in respect of any disclosure to regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Recipient or any of its affiliates.
(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, to the extent that any market counterparty with whom Subadviser deals requires information relating to the Portfolio or the Trust (including, but not limited to, the identity and market value of the Portfolio, or the Allocated Portion), Subadviser shall be permitted to disclose such information to the extent necessary to effect transactions on behalf of the Trust.
5.The Parties' Information Security Programs. Each party represents and warrants the following:
(a)It and its parent company have implemented and currently maintain an effective information security program (the "Information Security Program") which includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures necessary to protect (i) the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (ii) against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (iii) against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information.
(b)Its Information Security Program complies with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the privacy and data security of Confidential Information.
(c)It shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to its employees who require such access in order to provide the services under this Agreement.
(d)It or its parent company conducts risk assessments as it determines to be reasonably necessary to identify and assess risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluates, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls.
(e)In the event that it confirms unauthorized access, disclosure, or material damage to Confidential Information (each a "Security Incident"), it shall notify the other party as soon as reasonably practicable.
(f)It shall provide the other party with information related to its Information Security Program.
(g)Upon Co-Managers' request, Subadviser will include a member(s) of its staff that is familiar with its Information Security Program in the periodic due diligence meetings with Co-Managers' staff to provide a presentation and answer questions on its Information Security Program.
6.(a) The Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide discretionary investment management services to the Allocated Portion without the express written consent of the Co-Managers. The Subadviser may employ an affiliate or a third party to perform administrative duties such as accounting, reporting, proxy voting and other ancillary services without the prior consent of the Co-Managers. In either case, the Subadviser will act in good faith in the selection, use and monitoring of affiliates and other third parties, and any delegation or appointment hereunder shall not relieve the Subadviser of any of its obligations under this Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it remains liable to the Co-Managers for an affiliate's or third party's compliance with this Agreement, applicable regulations and requirements to the same extent as if the Subadviser itself had acted or failed to act instead of the affiliate or third party.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, the Subadviser: (i) may provide information about the Co-Managers and the Trust to any affiliate or any unaffiliated third party for purposes of this Section 6; and (ii) shall ensure that any affiliate or unaffiliated third party to which services have been delegated hereunder is subject to confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations that are substantially similar to the confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations to which the Subadviser is subject under this Agreement.
7.The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, and their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a direct result of the Co-Managers' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, its affiliated persons, and their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a direct result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of
applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. Neither the Co-Managers nor the Subadviser shall be liable for any special, consequential, incidental or punitive damages.
8.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Co- Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a Portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated Portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the close of business on the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers will commence the transition process for the delegated Portfolio or portion thereof of the Portfolio listed on Schedule A at the close of business on a date mutually agreed upon by the Co-Managers and the Subadviser and the Subadviser will become a subadviser of the Portfolio at that time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, if the Co-Managers engage a transition manager to execute purchases and sales in the delegated Portfolio or delegated portion thereof, the Subadviser will not be liable for losses caused by the default, fraud, act or omission, negligence or willful misconduct of such transition manager.
Any notice herein required is to be in writing and is deemed to have been given to the Subadviser, Co-Manager or the Trust upon receipt of the same at their respective addresses set forth below. All written notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement will be delivered by personal service, by postage mail – return receipt requested or sent by electronic transmission (via email) or a similar means of same day delivery which provides evidence of receipt (or with a confirming copy by mail as set forth herein).
All notices provided to the Co-Managers will be sent to:
655 Broad Street, 6th Floor Newark, NJ 07102
Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments)
Email: ashley.martin@prudential.com; kyle.bausch@prudential.com; Jennifer.yamin@prudential.com; and christopher.accumanno@prudential.com
and
One Corporate Drive
Shelton, Connecticut 06484
Attention: Secretary (for ASTIS)
All notices provided to the Trust will be sent to:
655 Broad Street, 6th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Attention: Secretary
All notices provided to the Subadviser will be sent to:
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attn:
Email:
9.During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material
if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
10.No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but 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.
11.This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
12.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. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
13.The Co-Managers and the Trust each acknowledges that the Subadviser operates so as to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. The Co-Managers and the Trust each hereby acknowledges that it or its service provider agent has policies and procedures in place designed to comply with Anti - Money Laundering ("AML") requirements in the United States, including the Bank Secrecy Act as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations in those jurisdictions where the Co-Managers or the Trust operate, relating to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing ("AML Program"). The Co-Managers and the Trust each also acknowledges that it or its service provider agent has policies and procedures in place designed to comply with the prohibitions and restrictions mandated by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and all other sanctions laws and regulations applicable in the jurisdictions in which it operates. To the knowledge of the Co-Managers and the Trust, any solicitations and other activities by it or, as applicable, its service providers in connection with the Trust have been and will be conducted in accordance with such applicable AML and sanctions laws and regulations.
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
J.P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
By: /s/ Madalina Bal
Name: Madalina Bal
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (J.P. Morgan), PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. will pay J.P. Morgan a subadvisory fee on the average daily net assets managed by J.P. Morgan that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name | Subadvisory Fee for the Portfolio* |
| |
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | 0.40% of average daily net assets to $100 million; and |
| 0.35% of average daily net assets over $100 million |
| |
*In the event J.P. Morgan invests Trust assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, J.P. Morgan will waive its subadvisory fee for the Trust in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to J.P. Morgan with respect to the Trust assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: November 21, 2022
EXHIBIT C
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this 24th day of October, 2022 between PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments), a New York limited liability company and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS), a Maryland corporation (together, the Co-Managers), and TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (TimesSquare or the Subadviser),
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers have entered into a Management Agreement (the Management Agreement) dated May 1, 2003, with Advanced Series Trust (formerly American Skandia Trust), a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust) and a diversified, open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), pursuant to which PGIM Investments and ASTIS act as Co-Managers of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Co-Managers, acting pursuant to the Management Agreement, desire to retain the Subadviser to provide investment advisory services to the Trust and one or more of its series as specified in Schedule A hereto (individually and collectively, with the Trust, referred to herein as the Trust) and to manage such portion of the Trust as the Co-Managers shall from time to time direct, and the Subadviser is willing to render such investment advisory services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.(a) Subject to the supervision of the Co-Managers and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser shall manage such portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers, including the purchase, retention and disposition thereof, in accordance with the Trust's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as stated in its then current prospectus and statement of additional information (such prospectus and statement of additional information as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein called the "Prospectus"), and subject to the following understandings:
(i)The Subadviser shall provide supervision of such portion of the Trust's investments as the Co-Managers shall direct, and shall determine from time to time what investments and securities will be purchased, retained, sold or loaned by the Trust, and what portion of the assets will be invested or held uninvested as cash.
(ii)In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser shall act in conformity with the copies of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-laws of the Trust, the Prospectus of the Trust, and the Trust's valuation procedures as provided to it by the Co-Managers (the Trust Documents) and with the instructions and directions of the Co-Managers and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, co-operate with the Co-Managers' (or their designees') personnel responsible for monitoring the Trust's compliance and will conform to, and comply with, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the CEA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection therewith, the Subadviser shall, among other things, prepare and file such reports as are, or may in the future be, required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). The Co-Managers shall provide Subadviser timely with copies of any updated Trust Documents.
(iii)The Subadviser shall determine the securities, futures contracts and other instruments to be purchased or sold by such portion of the Trust's portfolio, as applicable, and may place orders with or through such persons, brokers, dealers or futures commission merchants, including any person or entity affiliated with the Subadviser (collectively, Brokers), to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage as set forth in the Trust's Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees may direct in writing from time to time. In providing the Trust with investment supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will give primary consideration to securing the most favorable price and efficient execution. Within the framework of this policy, the Subadviser may consider the financial responsibility, research and investment information and other services provided by Brokers who may effect or be a party to any such transaction or other transactions to which the Subadviser's other clients may be a party. The Co-Managers (or Subadviser) to the Trust each shall have discretion to effect investment transactions for the Trust through Brokers (including, to the extent legally permissible, Brokers affiliated with the Subadviser) qualified to obtain best execution of such transactions who provide brokerage and/or research services, as such services are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and to cause the Trust to pay any such Brokers an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another Broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the brokerage or research services provided by such Broker, viewed in light of either that particular investment transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Co-Managers (or the Subadviser) with respect to the Trust and other accounts as to which they or it may exercise investment discretion (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(35) of the 1934 Act), are reasonable in relation to the amount of commission. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security, futures contract or other instrument to be in the best interest of the Trust as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the
Subadviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities, futures contracts or other instruments to be sold or purchased. In such event, allocation of the securities, futures contracts or other instruments so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Trust and to such other clients.
(iv)The Subadviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to the Trust's portfolio transactions effected by it as required by Rule 31a-l under the 1940 Act, and shall render to the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Trustees may reasonably request. The Subadviser shall make reasonably available its employees and officers for consultation with any of the Trustees or officers or employees of the Trust with respect to any matter discussed herein, including, without limitation, the valuation of the Trust's securities.
(v)The Subadviser or an affiliate shall provide the Trust's custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the portion of the Trust's assets it manages, and shall provide the Co-Managers with such information upon request of the Co-Managers.
(vi)The investment management services provided by the Subadviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to render similar services to others. Conversely, the Subadviser and Co-Managers understand and agree that if the Co- Managers manage the Trust in a "manager-of-managers" style, the Co-Managers will, among other things, (i) continually evaluate the performance of the Subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis and consultations with the Subadviser, (ii) periodically make recommendations to the Trust's Board as to whether the contract with one or more subadvisers should be renewed, modified, or terminated, and (iii) periodically report to the Trust's Board regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Subadviser recognizes that its services may be terminated or modified pursuant to this process.
(vii)The Subadviser acknowledges that the Co-Managers and the Trust intend to rely on Rule 17a-l0, Rule l0f-3, Rule 12d3-1 and Rule 17e-l under the 1940 Act, and the Subadviser hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other subadviser to the Trust with respect to transactions in securities for the Trust's portfolio or any other transactions of Trust assets.
(b)The Subadviser shall authorize and permit any of its directors, officers and employees who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. Services to be furnished by the Subadviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of such directors, officers or employees.
(c)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's books and records required to be maintained by the Subadviser pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof and shall timely furnish to the Co-Managers all information relating to the Subadviser's services hereunder needed by the Co- Managers to keep the other books and records of the Trust required by Rule 31a-I under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation. The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and the Subadviser will tender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust's request, provided, however, that the Subadviser may retain a copy of such records. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 of the Commission under the 1940 Act or any successor regulation any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to paragraph 1(a) hereof.
(d)The Subadviser is not registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC) or the National Futures Association (the NFA). The Subadviser agrees to notify the Co-Managers promptly if the Subadviser registers with the CFTC or becomes a member of the NFA.
(e)In connection with its duties under this Agreement, the Subadviser agrees to maintain adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and other applicable state and federal regulations, and applicable rules of any self-regulatory organization.
(f)The Subadviser shall maintain a written code of ethics (the Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, a copy of which shall be provided to the Co-Managers and the Trust, and shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent any Access Person (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser shall follow such Code of Ethics in performing its services under this Agreement. Further, the Subadviser represents that it maintains adequate compliance procedures to ensure its compliance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In particular, the Subadviser represents that it has policies and procedures regarding the detection and prevention of the misuse of material, non public information by the Subadviser and its employees as required by the applicable federal securities laws.
(g)The Subadviser shall furnish to the Co-Managers copies of all records prepared in connection with (i) the performance of this Agreement and (ii) the maintenance of compliance procedures pursuant to paragraph 1(d) hereof as the Co-Managers may reasonably request.
(h)The Subadviser shall be responsible for the voting of all shareholder proxies with respect to the investments and securities held in the Trust's portfolio, subject to such reasonable reporting and other requirements as shall be established by the Co-Managers.
(i)The Subadviser acknowledges that it is responsible for evaluating whether market quotations are readily available for the Trust's portfolio investments and whether those market quotations are reliable for purposes of valuing the Trust's portfolio investments and determining the Trust's net asset value per share and promptly notifying the Co-Managers upon the occurrence of any significant event with respect to any of the Trust's portfolio investments in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and any related written guidance from the Commission and the Commission staff. Upon reasonable request from the Co-Managers, the Subadviser (through a qualified person) will assist the valuation committee of the Trust or the Co-Managers in valuing investments of the Trust as may be required from time to time, including making available information of which the Subadviser has knowledge related to the investments being valued.
(j)The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Trust's portfolio required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or prospectus supplement to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers with any reasonable certification, documentation or other information reasonably requested or required by the Co-Managers for purposes of the certifications of shareholder reports by the Trust's principal financial officer and principal executive officer pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 or other law or regulation. The Subadviser shall promptly inform the Trust and the Co-Managers if the Subadviser becomes aware of any information in the Prospectus that is (or will become) materially inaccurate or incomplete.
(k)The Subadviser shall comply with the Trust's Documents provided to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers as soon as reasonably practicable upon detection of any material breach of such Trust Documents.
(l)The Subadviser shall keep the Trust's Co-Managers informed of developments relating to its duties as Subadviser of which the Subadviser has, or should have, knowledge that would materially affect the Trust. In this regard, the Subadviser shall provide the Trust, the Co-Managers, and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement and the Co-Managers may from time to time reasonably request. Additionally, prior to each Board meeting, the Subadviser shall provide the Co-Managers and the Board with reports regarding the Subadviser's management of the Trust's portfolio during the most recently completed quarter, in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Co-Managers. The Subadviser shall certify quarterly to the Co-Managers that it and its "Advisory Persons" (as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act) have complied materially with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act during the previous quarter or, if not, explain what the Subadviser has done to seek to ensure such compliance in the future. Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 and Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Subadviser's Code of Ethics and compliance program, respectively, to the Co-Managers. Upon written request of the Co-Managers with respect to material violations of the Code of Ethics directly affecting the Trust, the Subadviser shall permit representatives of the Trust or the Co-Manager to examine reports (or summaries of the reports) required to be made by Rule 17j-l(d)(1) relating to enforcement of the Code of Ethics.
2.The Co-Managers shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Trust pursuant to the Management Agreement and, as more particularly discussed above, shall oversee and review the Subadviser's performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Co-Managers shall provide (or cause the Trust's custodian to provide) timely information to the Subadviser regarding such matters as the composition of assets in the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser, cash requirements and cash available for investment in such portion of the Trust, and all other information as may be reasonably necessary for the Subadviser to perform its duties hereunder (including any excerpts of minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that affect the duties of the Subadviser).
3.For the services provided pursuant to this Agreement, the Co-Managers shall pay the Subadviser as full compensation therefor, a fee equal to the percentage of the Trust's average daily net assets of the portion of the Trust managed by the Subadviser as described in the attached Schedule A. Liability for payment of compensation by the Co-Managers to the Subadviser under this Agreement is contingent upon the Co-Managers' receipt of payment from the Trust for management services described under the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Co-Managers. Expense caps or fee waivers for the Trust that may be agreed to by the Co-Managers, but not agreed to by the Subadviser, shall not cause a reduction in the amount of the payment to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers.
4. (a) The Subadviser acknowledges that, in the course of its engagement by the Co-Managers, the Subadviser may receive or have access to confidential and proprietary information of the Co-Managers or third parties with whom the Co-Managers conducts business. Such information is collectively referred to as "Confidential Information." Confidential Information includes the Co-Managers' business and other proprietary information, written or oral.
(i)The Subadviser certifies that (i) its treatment of Confidential Information is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to privacy and data security, and (ii) it has implemented and currently maintains an effective written information security program ("Information Security Program") including administrative, technical, and physical safeguards and other security measures necessary to (a) ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; (b) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information; and (c) protect against unauthorized access to, destruction, modification, disclosure or use of Confidential Information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the Co-Managers, or to any person who may be identified by Confidential Information. The Subadviser shall immediately notify the Co-Managers if the Subadviser is in material breach of this Section. At the Manager's request, the Subadviser agrees to certify in writing to the Manager, its compliance with the terms of this Section.
(j)The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers or its agents of its designated primary security manager. The security manager will be responsible for managing and coordinating the performance of the Subadviser's obligations set forth in its Information Security Program and this Agreement.
(k)The Subadviser shall review and, as appropriate, revise its Information Security Program at least annually or whenever there is a material change in the Subadviser's business practices that may reasonably affect the security, confidentiality or integrity of Confidential Information. During the course of providing the services, the Subadviser may not alter or modify its Information Security Program in such a way that will weaken or compromise the security, confidentiality, or integrity of Confidential Information.
(l)The Subadviser shall maintain appropriate access controls, including, but not limited to, limiting access to Confidential Information to the minimum number of the Subadviser's Employees who require such access in order to provide the services to the Co-Managers.
(m)The Subadviser shall conduct periodic risk assessments to identify and assess reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of Confidential Information; and evaluate and improve, where necessary, the effectiveness of its information security controls. Such assessments will also consider the Subadviser's compliance with its Information Security Program and the laws applicable to the Subadviser.
(n)The Subadviser shall conduct regular penetration and vulnerability testing of its information technology infrastructure and networks. If any testing detects any anomalies, intrusions, or vulnerabilities in any information technology systems processing, storing or transmitting any of the Fund's and/or Co-Managers' Confidential Information, the Subadviser shall promptly report those findings to the Co-Managers.
(o)The Subadviser shall notify the Co-Managers, promptly and without unreasonable delay, but in no event more than 48 hours of learning of any unauthorized access or disclosure, unauthorized, unlawful or accidental loss, misuse, destruction, acquisition of, or damage to Confidential Information may have occurred or is under investigation (a "Security Incident"). Thereafter, the Subadviser shall: (i) promptly furnish to the Co-Managers full details of the Security Incident; (ii) assist and cooperate with the Co-Managers and the Co-Managers' designated representatives in the Co-Managers' investigation of the Subadviser, Employees or third parties related to the Security Incident. The Subadviser will provide the Co-Managers with physical access to the facilities and operations affected, facilitate the Co-Managers' interviews with Employees and others involved in the matter, and make available to the Co-Managers all relevant records, logs, files, and data; (iii) cooperate with the Co-Managers in any litigation or other formal action against third parties deemed necessary by the Co-Managers to protect the Co-Managers' rights; and (iv) take appropriate action to prevent a recurrence of any Security Incident.
(p)Upon the Co-Managers' reasonable request at any time during the term of the Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly provide the Co-Managers with information related to the Subadviser's information security safeguards and practices.
(q)For the purpose of auditing the Subadviser's compliance with this Section, the Subadviser shall provide to the Co-Managers, on reasonable notice: (a) access to the Subadviser's information processing premises and records; (b) reasonable assistance and cooperation of the Subadviser's relevant staff; and (c) reasonable facilities at the Subadviser's premises.
5.The Subadviser will not engage any third party to provide services to the portion of the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers without the express written consent of the Co-Managers. To the extent that the Subadviser receives approval from the Co-Managers to engage a third-party service provider, the Subadviser assumes all responsibility for any action or inaction of the service provider as it related to the Trust's portfolio as delegated to the Subadviser by the Co-Managers. In addition, the Subadviser shall fully indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the Co-Managers and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against all claims, demands, actions, suits, damages, liabilities, losses, settlements, judgments, costs, and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney's fees and costs) which arise out of or relate to the provision of services provided by any such service provider.
6.The Subadviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Co-Managers in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Subadviser's part in the performance of its duties or from its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to waive any rights the Co-Managers or the Trust may have against the Subadviser under federal or state securities laws. The Co-Managers shall indemnify the Subadviser, its affiliated persons, its officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Co- Managers' willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws. The Subadviser shall indemnify the Co-Managers, their affiliated persons, their officers, directors and employees, for any liability and expenses, including attorneys' fees, which may be sustained as a result of the Subadviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act and federal and state securities laws.
7.This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years from the date hereof only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, or by the Co-Managers or the Subadviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement. The Subadviser agrees that it will promptly notify the Trust and the Co-Managers of the occurrence of any event that would result in the assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, a change of control (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Subadviser.
To the extent that the Co-Managers delegate to the Subadviser management of all or a portion of a portfolio of the Trust previously managed by a different subadviser or the Co-Managers, the Subadviser agrees that its duties and obligations under this Agreement with respect to that delegated portfolio or portion thereof shall commence as of the date the Co-Managers begin the transition process to allocate management responsibility to the Subadviser.
Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, (1) to the Co-Managers at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary (for PGIM Investments) and One Corporate Drive, Shelton, Connecticut, 06484, Attention: Secretary (for ASTIS); (2) to the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102, Attention: Secretary; or (3) to the Subadviser at 7 Times Square, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Joy Ragland.
8.Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any of the Subadviser's directors, officers or employees who may also be a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any business, whether of a similar or a dissimilar nature, nor limit or restrict the Subadviser's right to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.
9.During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers agree to furnish the Subadviser at its principal office all prospectuses, proxy statements, and reports to shareholders which refer to the Subadviser in any way, prior to use thereof and not to use material if the Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days (or such other time as may be mutually agreed) after receipt thereof. During the term of this Agreement, the Co-Managers also agree to furnish the Subadviser, upon request, representative samples of marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public, which make reference to the Subadviser. The Co-Managers further agree to prospectively make reasonable changes to such materials upon the Subadviser's written request, and to implement those changes in the next regularly scheduled production of those materials or as soon as reasonably practical. All such prospectuses, proxy statements, replies to shareholders, marketing and sales literature or other material prepared for distribution to shareholders of the Trust or the public which make reference to the Subadviser may be furnished to the Subadviser hereunder by electronic mail, first-class or overnight mail, facsimile transmission equipment or hand delivery.
10. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
11.This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
12.Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act, shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is related by rules, regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PGIM INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: Senior Vice President
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Timothy S. Cronin
Name: Timothy S. Cronin
Title: President
TIMESSQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/ David Cielusniak
Name: David Cielusniak
Title: Chief Operating Officer
SCHEDULE A
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
As compensation for services provided by TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (Times Square), PGIM Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. will pay Times Square a subadvisory fee on the net assets managed by Times Square that is equal, on an annualized basis, to the following:
Portfolio Name | Subadvisory Fee for the Portfolio* |
| |
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | 0.50% of average daily net assets to $50 million; |
| 0.40% of average daily net assets on next $50 million; |
| 0.30% of average daily net assets on next $100 million; |
| 0.20% of average daily net assets over $200 million. |
| |
*In the event Times Square invests Portfolio assets in other pooled investment vehicles it manages or subadvises, Times Square will waive its subadvisory fee for the Portfolio in an amount equal to the acquired fund fee paid to Times Square with respect to the Portfolio assets invested in such acquired fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subadvisory fee waivers will not exceed 100% of the subadvisory fee.
Dated as of: October 24, 2022
EXHIBIT D
MANAGEMENT OF DELAWARE INVESTMENTS FUND ADVISERS (DIFA)
DIFA is a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (a Delaware statutory trust), which is a subsidiary of Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. (MMHI). MMHI is a subsidiary, and subject to the ultimate control, of Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie). Macquarie is a Sydney, Australia-headquartered global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services. "Macquarie Asset Management" is the marketing name for MMHI and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2022, DIFA and its affiliates within Macquarie Asset Management were managing in the aggregate approximately $195.2 billion in assets in various institutional or separately managed, investment company, and insurance accounts.
The table below lists the names, addresses, and positions of DIFAs' principal executive officer and each of its directors.
Name & Address* | Position |
Shawn K. Lytle | Director/President/Global Head of Public Investments |
David F. Connor | Director/Senior Vice President/General Counsel/Secretary |
David Brenner | Executive Vice President/Global Head of Digital Data and Platforms/Chief Strategy |
| Officer/Executive Director |
J. David Hillmeyer | Executive Vice President/Head of Global and Multi-Asset Credit/Executive Director |
John Leonard | Executive Vice President/Global Head of Equities/Executive Director |
Brett Lewthwaite | Executive Vice President/Chief Investment Officer/Global Head of Macquarie Fixed |
| Income/Executive Director |
Francis X. Morris | Executive Vice President/Chief Investment Officer, Core Equity/Executive Director |
Neil Siegel | Executive Vice President/Global Head of Marketing and Product/Executive Director |
Stephen Hoban | Vice President/Treasurer/Associate Director |
Brian L. Murray, Jr. | Senior Vice President/Global Chief Compliance Officer/Division Director |
*The principal mailing address of the principal executive officer and each director is 100 Independence, 610 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
COMPARABLE FUNDS FOR WHICH DIFA
SERVES AS ADVISER OR SUBADVISER
The following table lists certain information regarding comparable mutual funds to which DIFA provide investment advisory and subadvisory services, other than the Portfolio:
Fund | Net Assets in Millions | Annual Rate of Advisory/Subadvisory |
| (as of December 31, 2022) | Fee Paid to DIFA |
Delaware Ivy Mid Cap Growth Fund | $5.2b | 0.85% on net assets up to $1 billion |
| | 0.83% from $1 billion to $2 billion |
| | 0.80% from $2 billion to $3 billion |
| | 0.76% from $3 billion to $5 billion |
| | 0.73% from $5 billion to $10 billion |
| | 0.70% from $10 billion to $15 billion |
| | 0.67% on net assets over $15 billion |
| | |
Sub-Advised Mutual Fund 1 | $800m | 40bps |
| | |
Sub-Advised Mutual Fund 2 | $130m | 30bps |
Disclosure: MAM Public Investments advises its own mutual funds (performs all functions). The varying fees reflect several types of accounts, subadvised and advised mutual funds and the level of services performed. There are several factors contributing to the differences in fees. Some of these factors include whether or not MAM PI is handling the administration of the funds, including striking of the NAV, board reporting and regulatory filing. Additional differences arise when there are capacity constraints on mandates and if a client has other accounts with MAM PI.
EXHIBIT E
MANAGEMENT OF J.P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. (J.P. MORGAN)
J.P. Morgan J.P. Morgan is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of J.P. Morgan Chase Co., a publicly held bank holding company and global financial services firm. J.P. Morgan manages assets for governments, corporations, endowments, foundations and individuals worldwide. As of December 31, 2022, J.P. Morgan and its affiliated companies had approximately $2.36 trillion in assets under management worldwide. J.P. Morgan's address is 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179.
The table below lists the names, addresses, and positions of J.P. Morgan's' principal executive officer and each of its directors.
Name & Address* | Position |
| |
George C. Gatch | Director, Chairman, Managing Director |
| |
Paul A. Quinsee | Director, Global Head of Equities, Managing Director |
| |
Andrew R. Powell | Director, AM CAO, Head of Global Client Service, Managing Director, Senior Business Manager |
| |
John T. Donohue | Director, President, CEO, Managing Director |
| |
Joy C. Dowd, 575 Washington | Director, Managing Director |
Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310 | |
Robert C. Michele | Director, CIO and Head Of Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities, and Managing Director |
| |
Anton C. Pil | Director, Global Head of Alternatives, Managing Director |
| |
Craig M. Sullivan, 383 Madison | Director, Treasurer, CFO, Managing Director |
Avenue, New York, NY 10179 | |
Jedediah Laskowitz | Head of Asset Management Solutions, Managing Director |
| |
John L. Oliva | Chief Compliance Officer, Managing Director |
| |
Andrea L. Lisher | Head of Americas, Client |
| |
Peter Bonanno, 4 New York Plaza, | General Counsel, Asset Management, Managing Director |
New York, NY 10004 | |
Katherine Manghillis, 1111 Polaris | Secretary, Executive Director |
Parkway. Columbus, OH 43240 | |
*Unless otherwise noted, the principal mailing address of the principal executive officer and each director is 277 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10172.
COMPARABLE FUNDS FOR WHICH J.P. MORGAN
SERVES AS ADVISER OR SUBADVISER
The following table lists certain information regarding comparable mutual funds to which J.P. Morgan provide investment advisory and subadvisory services, other than the Portfolio:
Fund | Net Assets in Millions | Annual Rate of Advisory/Subadvisory |
| (as of December 31, 2022) | Fee Paid to J.P. Morgan |
Client A | $2,667 | 40bps on first $100mm |
| | 35bps on balance |
| | |
Client B | $569 | 40bps on first $500mm |
| | 36bps on balance |
Client C | $309 | 40bps on first $100mm |
| | 35bps on balance |
| | |
EXHIBIT F
MANAGEMENT OF TIMESAQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC. (TIMESSQUARE)
TimesSquare is based in New York, New York, is a registered investment advisor that specializes in small- and mid-cap growth equities. TimesSquare's institutional partner, Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG), a publicly traded global asset management company, indirectly holds a majority equity interest in TimesSquare, with the remaining portion owned by TimesSquare's principals. As of December 31, 2022, TimesSquare's assets under management was $8.8 billion.
The table below lists the names, addresses, and positions of TimesSquare's principal executive officer and each of its directors.
Name & Address* | Position |
Grant R. Babyak | CEO |
Mark J. Aaron | President |
David M. Cielusniak | CCO and COO |
Joshua A. Bischoff | Director |
Jeffrey D. Braemer | Director |
David Ferreiro | Director |
| |
* The principal mailing address of the principal executive officer and each director is 7 Times Square, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10036.
COMPARABLE FUNDS FOR WHICH TIMESSQUARE
SERVES AS ADVISER OR SUBADVISER
The following table lists certain information regarding comparable mutual funds to which TimesSquare provide investment advisory and subadvisory services, other than the Portfolio:
Fund | Net Assets in Millions | Annual Rate of Advisory/Subadvisory |
| (as of December 31, 2022) | Fee Paid to TimesSquare |
AMG TimesSquare Mid Cap Growth | $1,137.6 | 0.79% |
| | |
EXHIBIT G
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
As of February 13, 2023, the Trustees and officers of AST, as a group, owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.
As of February 13, 2023, the owners, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any share class of the Portfolio were as follows:
Portfolio Name | | Shareholder Name | | Registration | Shares/Percentage |
| | | | | |
AST Mid-Cap Growth | Pruco Life Insurance Company | 213 Washington Street | 33,791,674.472/49.61% |
Portfolio | PLAZ Annuity | Newark, NJ 07102-0000 | |
| Attn: Separate Accounts 7th Floor | | | |
| | Fortitude Life Insurance & Annuity | | Ten Exchange Place, | 23,239,107.227/34.12% |
| | | | Suite 2210 | |
| | | | Jersey City, NJ 07302 | |
| | Pruco Life Insurance Company | | 213 Washington Street | 6,324,103.962/9.29% |
| | PLAZ Annuity | | Newark, NJ 07102-0000 | |
| | Attn: Separate Accounts 7th Floor | | |
| | | | |
| | Pruco Life Insurance Company | | 213 Washington Street | 3,767,461.844/5.53% |
| | PLAZ Annuity | | Newark, NJ 07102-0000 | |
| | Attn: Separate Accounts 7th Floor | | | |
| | | | | |
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
655 Broad Street
6th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
IMPORTANT NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY
OF INFORMATION STATEMENT (THE NOTICE)
The Information Statement referenced in this Notice is available at:
www.PrudentialAnnuities.com/investor/invprospectus
This Notice is to inform you that an information statement (the Information Statement) regarding new subadvisory agreements for the AST Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio (the Portfolio), a series of the Advanced Series Trust (the Trust), is now available at the website referenced above. Please note that this Notice is only intended to provide an overview of the matter covered in the Information Statement. We encourage you to access the Portfolio's website to review a complete copy of the Information Statement, which contains important information about the Portfolio's new subadvisers and new subadvisory agreements.
As discussed in the Information Statement, at a meeting held on September 19-20, 2022, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the new subadvisory agreements, and who are not interested persons of those parties, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, approved new subadvisory agreements for the Portfolio (each, a New Subadvisory Agreement, and collectively, the New Subadvisory Agreements) with Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, a series of Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (DIFA), J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (J.P. Morgan), and TimesSquare Capital Management, LLC (TimesSquare, and together with DIFA and J.P. Morgan, the New Subadvisers).
PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) and AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS, and together with PGIM Investments, the Manager), as investment managers to the Portfolio, have entered into the New Subadvisory Agreements with each of the New Subadvisers. Prior to December 5, 2022, Victory Capital Management Inc. (Victory) and Massachusetts Financial Services Company (MFS) served as subadvisers to the Portfolio. The New Subadvisory Agreements became effective on December 5, 2022. The New Subadvisory Agreements will not affect the subadvisory agreement with MFS. The investment management agreement relating to the Portfolio has not been, and will not be changed as a result of the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Manager will continue to manage the Portfolio.
The Manager has received exemptive orders from the Securities and Exchange Commission that allow it, subject to certain conditions, to hire certain subadvisers and to make changes to existing subadvisory agreements without obtaining shareholder approval. As required by the exemptive order pertaining to subadvisers that are unaffiliated with the Trust and the Manager, the Portfolio is required to provide information to shareholders about a new subadviser within 90 days of the hiring of the new subadviser. The Information Statement provides such notice of the changes and presents information regarding the New Subadvisers and the New Subadvisory Agreements.
This Notice is being mailed on or about March 1, 2023, to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 5, 2022. A copy of the Information Statement will remain on the Portfolio's website until May 30, 2023
You can obtain a paper copy of the complete Information Statement, without charge, by writing the Trust at 655 Broad Street, 6th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102, or by calling (800) 778-2255 (toll free). You can request a complete copy of the Information Statement until May 30, 2023. To ensure prompt delivery, you should make your request no later than May 15, 2023. Please note that you will not receive a paper copy unless you request it.
Shareholders Sharing the Same Address. As permitted by law, only one copy of this Notice may be delivered to shareholders residing at the same address, unless such shareholders have notified the Trust of their desire to receive multiple copies of the shareholder reports and other materials that the Trust sends. If you would like to receive an additional copy, please contact the Trust by writing to the Trust's address, or by calling the telephone number shown above. The Trust will then promptly deliver, upon request, a separate copy of this Notice to any shareholder residing at an address to which only one copy was mailed. Shareholders wishing to receive separate copies of the Trust's shareholder reports and other materials in the future, and shareholders sharing an address that wish to receive a single copy if they are receiving multiple copies, should also send a request as indicated.
THIS NOTICE AND THE INFORMATION STATEMENT ARE FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. YOU ARE
NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE ANY ACTION.