VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND INC
485APOS, EX-99.BD, 2000-12-29
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                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT,  made  as of this  1st day of  August,  2000,  between  VANGUARD
EXPLORER FUND, a Delaware business trust (the "Fund"), and WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership (the "Adviser").

     WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company
registered under the 1940 Act, as amended; and

     WHEREAS,  the Fund desires to retain Adviser to render investment  advisory
services  to certain  assets of the Fund which the Board of Trustees of the Fund
determines  to assign to  Adviser  (referred  to in this  Agreement  as the "WMC
Portfolio"), and Adviser is willing to render such services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement


                               W I T N E S S E T H

that in consideration of the premises and mutual promises hereinafter set forth,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  APPOINTMENT OF ADVISER.  The Fund hereby employs  Adviser as investment
adviser, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, for the assets of the WMC
Portfolio.  The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, make additions to, and
withdrawals  from, the assets of the Fund assigned to Adviser.  Adviser  accepts
such  employment  and agrees to render the  services  herein set forth,  for the
compensation herein provided.

     2. DUTIES OF ADVISER. The Fund employs Adviser to manage the investment and
reinvestment  of the  assets  of the  WMC  Portfolio,  to  continuously  review,
supervise and  administer an investment  program for such assets of the Fund, to
determine  in its  discretion  the  securities  to be  purchased or sold and the
portion  of such  assets to be held  uninvested,  to  provide  the Fund with all
records  concerning  the  activities  of Adviser  that the Fund is  required  to
maintain,  and to render  regular  reports to the Fund's  officers  and Board of
Trustees  concerning  the discharge of the foregoing  responsibilities.  Adviser
will  discharge  the  foregoing  responsibilities  subject to the control of the
officers  and the Board of  Trustees  of the Fund,  and in  compliance  with the
objectives,  policies and  limitations set forth in the Fund's  prospectus,  any
additional  operating  policies or procedures that the Fund  communicates to the
Adviser in writing,  and  applicable  laws and  regulations.  Adviser  agrees to
provide, at its own expense, the office space, furnishings and equipment and the
personnel  required  by it to  perform  the  services  on the  terms and for the
compensation provided herein.

     3. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS.  Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or
dealers  that  will  execute  purchases  and  sales  of  securities  for the WMC
Portfolio,  and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain the best available
price and most favorable execution for such

<PAGE>

transactions, except as otherwise permitted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund
pursuant to written policies and procedures provided to the Adviser. The Adviser
may  also  be  authorized  to  effect  individual  securities   transactions  at
commission rates in excess of the minimum  commission  rates  available,  if the
Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the  brokerage  or research  services  provided by such
broker or dealer,  viewed in terms of either that particular  transaction or the
Adviser's overall  responsibilities with respect to the Fund and the other Funds
in the same Fund Group. Adviser will promptly communicate to the Fund's officers
and Board of Trustees such  information  relating to portfolio  transactions  as
they may reasonably request.

     4.  COMPENSATION OF ADVISER.  For the services to be rendered by Adviser as
provided in this  Agreement,  the Fund will pay to Adviser at the end of each of
the Fund's fiscal quarters, a Basic Fee calculated by applying a quarterly rate,
based on the following  annual  percentage  rates, to the average  month-end net
assets of the WMC Portfolio for the quarter:

                 .250% on the first $500 million of net assets;
                 .200% on the next $250 million of net assets;
                 .150% on the next $250 million of net assets;
                 .100% on net assets in excess of $1 billion.

     The Basic Fee,  as  provided  above,  will be  increased  or  decreased  by
applying a Performance Fee Adjustment (the "Adjustment") based on the investment
performance of the WMC Portfolio  relative to the investment  performance of the
Russell 2000 Growth Index (the "Index").  The investment  performance of the WMC
Portfolio will be based on the cumulative return over a trailing 36-month period
ending with the applicable  quarter,  relative to the cumulative total return of
the Index for the same time period. The Adjustment applies as follows:

CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE OF THE           PERFORMANCE FEE ADJUSTMENT AS A
    WMC PORTFOLIO VS. BENCHMARK                      PERCENTAGE OF BASIC FEE*
    ---------------------------                     ------------------------
    Trails by -12% or more                              -0.50 x Basic Fee
    Trails by more than -6% up to -12%                  -0.25 x Basic Fee
    Trails/Exceeds by -6% through 6%                    -0.00 x Basic Fee
    Exceeds by more than 6% but less than 12%           +0.25 x Basic Fee
    Exceeds by 12% or more                               +0.50 x Basic Fee

    ---------------------------
     * For purposes of determining the fee adjustment calculation, the basic fee
is calculated by applying the quarterly  rate against the net assets of the Fund
averaged over the same time period for which the performance is measured.

     4.1. OTHER SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Index will
not be fully  operable  as the sole  performance  index  used to  determine  the
Adviser's  Adjustment  until the quarter ending July 31, 2003.  Until that date,
the Adviser's Adjustment will be determined

                                       2

<PAGE>


by linking the investment performance of the Index and that of the Small Company
Growth Fund Stock Index (the "Prior Index") as follows.

     (a)  QUARTER  ENDING  OCTOBER 31, 2000.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the eleven  quarters  ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index
          for the quarter ending October 31, 2000.

     (b)  QUARTER  ENDING  JANUARY 31, 2001.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the ten quarters  ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for
          the two quarters ending January 31, 2001.

     (c)  QUARTER  ENDING  APRIL 30,  2001.  The  Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the nine quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for
          the three quarters ending April 30, 2001.

     (d)  QUARTER  ENDING  JULY  31,  2001.  The  Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for eight  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the Index for
          the four quarters ending July 31, 2001.

     (e)  QUARTER  ENDING  OCTOBER 31, 2001.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the seven  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the Index
          for the five quarters ending October 31, 2001.

     (f)  QUARTER  ENDING  JANUARY 31, 2002.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the six quarters  ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for
          the six quarters ending January 31, 2002.

     (g)  QUARTER  ENDING  APRIL 30,  2002.  The  Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the five quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for
          the seven quarters ending April 30, 2002.

     (h)  QUARTER  ENDING  JULY  31,  2002.  The  Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for four quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for the
          eight quarters ending July 31, 2002.

     (i)  QUARTER  ENDING  OCTOBER 31, 2002.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the

                                       3

<PAGE>

          three  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the Index for the
          nine quarters ending October 31, 2002.

     (j)  QUARTER  ENDING  JANUARY 31, 2003.  The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the two quarters  ending July 31, 2000, with that of the Index for
          the ten quarters ending January 31, 2003.

     (k)  QUARTER  ENDING  APRIL 30,  2003.  The  Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
          determined by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior Index
          for the one quarter  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the Index for
          the eleven quarters ending April 30, 2003.

     (l)  QUARTER ENDING JULY 31, 2003. The Index is fully operable.

     4.2. OTHER SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO ADVISER'S COMPENSATION.  The following
special rules will also apply to the Adviser's compensation:

     (a)  PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE. The investment performance of the WMC Portfolio
          for any period,  expressed as a percentage of the "WMC  Portfolio unit
          value" per share at the  beginning of the period,  will be the sum of:
          (i) the change in the WMC Portfolio's net asset value per share during
          the period;  (ii) the unit value of the Fund's cash distributions from
          WMC Portfolio's  net investment  income and realized net capital gains
          (whether  short or long term)  having an  ex-dividend  date  occurring
          within the period; (iii) the unit value of capital gains taxes paid or
          accrued  during  such  period by the Fund for  undistributed  realized
          long-term  capital  gains  realized  by the WMC  Portfolio.  For  this
          purpose, the unit value of distributions per share of realized capital
          gains,  of  dividends  per share  paid from  investment  income and of
          capital  gains  taxes  per  share  paid or  payable  on  undistributed
          realized long-term capital gains shall be treated as reinvested in the
          WMC  Portfolio at the unit value in effect at the close of business on
          the record date for the payment of such  distributions  and  dividends
          and the date on which  provision is made for such taxes,  after giving
          effect to such distributions, dividends and taxes.

     (b)  "WMC  PORTFOLIO  UNIT VALUE." The "WMC  Portfolio  unit value" will be
          determined  by dividing the total net assets of the WMC Portfolio by a
          given  number  of  units.  Initially,  the  number of units in the WMC
          Portfolio  will  equal the  total  shares  outstanding  of the Fund on
          August 1, 2000. Subsequently, as assets are added to or withdrawn from
          the WMC  Portfolio,  the number of units of the WMC Portfolio  will be
          adjusted  based on the unit value of the WMC Portfolio on the day such
          changes are executed.  Any cash buffer  maintained by the Fund outside
          of the WMC Portfolio shall neither be included in the total net assets
          of the  WMC  Portfolio  nor  included  in the  computation  of the WMC
          Portfolio Unit Value.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     (c)  INDEX PERFORMANCE.  The investment record of the Index for any period,
          expressed  as a  percentage  of the  Index  at the  beginning  of such
          period,  will be the sum of:  (i) the change in the level of the Index
          during the  period;  (ii) the value,  computed  consistently  with the
          Index,  of cash  distributions  having an  ex-dividend  date occurring
          within the period made by  companies  whose  securities  comprise  the
          Index.  For this purpose,  cash  distributions on the securities which
          comprise the Index will be treated as reinvested in the Index at least
          as  frequently  as the  end of each  calendar  quarter  following  the
          payment of the dividend.  The calculation  will be gross of applicable
          costs and expenses.

     (d)  EFFECT OF TERMINATION.  In the event of termination of this Agreement,
          the fees provided in this  Agreement  will be computed on the basis of
          the period ending on the last business day on which this  Agreement is
          in  effect,  subject to a pro rata  adjustment  based on the number of
          days  elapsed in the current  fiscal  quarter as a  percentage  of the
          total number of days in such quarter.

     5.  REPORTS.  The Fund and Adviser  agree to furnish to each other  current
prospectuses,  proxy  statements,  reports to shareholders,  certified copies of
their  financial  statements,  and such other  information  with regard to their
affairs as each may reasonably request.

     6.  COMPLIANCE.  Adviser agrees to comply with all policies,  procedures or
reporting  requirements that the Board of Trustees of the Fund reasonably adopts
and communicates to Adviser in writing, including any such policies,  procedures
or  reporting  requirements  relating  to  soft  dollar  or  directed  brokerage
arrangements.

     7.  STATUS OF  ADVISER.  The  services of Adviser to the Fund are not to be
deemed exclusive,  and Adviser will be free to render similar services to others
so long as its  services to the Fund are not impaired  thereby.  Adviser will be
deemed to be an independent  contractor  and will,  unless  otherwise  expressly
provided or  authorized,  have no authority to act for or represent  the Fund in
any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

     8.  LIABILITY OF ADVISER.  No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to
protect Adviser  against any liability to the Fund or its  shareholders to which
it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross  negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless  disregard of
its obligations under this Agreement.

     9. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement will become effective on August
1, 2000, and will continue in effect thereafter only so long as such continuance
is approved at least  annually by votes of the Fund's  Board of Trustees who are
not parties to such Agreement or interested  persons of any such party,  cast in
person at a meeting  called  for the  purpose  of  voting on such  approval.  In
addition,  the question of  continuance of the Agreement may be presented to the
shareholders of the Fund; in such event,  such continuance will be effected only
if approved by the  affirmative  vote of a majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities of the Fund.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     Provided,  however,  that (i) this  Agreement may at any time be terminated
without  payment of any  penalty  either by vote of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund or by vote of a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Fund,
on sixty days' written notice to Adviser, (ii) this Agreement will automatically
terminate  in the event of its  assignment,  and  (iii)  this  Agreement  may be
terminated  by Adviser on ninety days'  written  notice to the Fund.  Any notice
under this  Agreement  will be given in writing,  addressed  and  delivered,  or
mailed postpaid, to the other party at any office of such party.

     As used in this Section 9, the terms "assignment,"  "interested persons," a
"vote  of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities"  will  have  the
respective  meanings set forth in Section 2(a)(4),  Section 2(a)(19) and Section
2(a)(42) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

     10.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made
invalid by a court decision,  statute, rule or otherwise,  the remainder of this
Agreement will not be affected thereby.

     11. PROXY POLICY. With regard to the solicitation of shareholder votes, the
Fund will vote the shares of all securities held by the Fund.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
executed this 1ST day of August, 2000.

ATTEST:                                  VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

By  Melissa Nassar                       By      John J. Brennan
   --------------------                  ------------------------------------
                                          Chairman, CEO and President


ATTEST:                                  WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT company, LLP


By  Michael H. Koonces                   By     Jonathon M. Payson
    -------------------                  ------------------------------------
                                          Senior Vice President


                                       6
<PAGE>


                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT,  made  as of this  1st day of  August,  2000,  between  VANGUARD
EXPLORER FUND, a Delaware business trust (the "Fund"),  and GRANAHAN  INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT, INC., a Massachusetts Corporation (the "Adviser").

     WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company
registered under the 1940 Act, as amended; and

     WHEREAS,  the Fund desires to retain Adviser to render investment  advisory
services  to certain  assets of the Fund which the Board of Trustees of the Fund
determines to assign to Adviser  (referred to in this Agreement as the "Granahan
Portfolio"), and Adviser is willing to render such services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement


                               W I T N E S S E T H

          that in consideration of the premises and mutual promises  hereinafter
          set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  APPOINTMENT OF ADVISER.  The Fund hereby employs  Adviser as investment
adviser,  on the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  for the assets of the
Granahan Portfolio. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, make additions
to, and  withdrawals  from, the assets of the Fund assigned to Adviser.  Adviser
accepts such employment and agrees to render the services herein set forth,  for
the compensation herein provided.

     2. DUTIES OF ADVISER. The Fund employs Adviser to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of the Granahan  Portfolio,  to continuously  review,
supervise and  administer an investment  program for such assets of the Fund, to
determine  in its  discretion  the  securities  to be  purchased or sold and the
portion  of such  assets to be held  uninvested,  to  provide  the Fund with all
records  concerning  the  activities  of Adviser  that the Fund is  required  to
maintain,  and to render  regular  reports to the Fund's  officers  and Board of
Trustees  concerning  the discharge of the foregoing  responsibilities.  Adviser
will  discharge  the  foregoing  responsibilities  subject to the control of the
officers  and the Board of  Trustees  of the Fund,  and in  compliance  with the
objectives,  policies and  limitations set forth in the Fund's  prospectus,  any
additional  operating  policies or procedures that the Fund  communicates to the
Adviser in writing,  and  applicable  laws and  regulations.  Adviser  agrees to
provide, at its own expense, the office space, furnishings and equipment and the
personnel  required  by it to  perform  the  services  on the  terms and for the
compensation provided herein.

     3. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS.  Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or
dealers that will execute  purchases  and sales of  securities  for the Granahan
Portfolio,  and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain the best available
price and most favorable execution for such
<PAGE>

transactions, except as otherwise permitted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund
pursuant to written policies and procedures provided to the Adviser. The Adviser
may  also  be  authorized  to  effect  individual  securities   transactions  at
commission rates in excess of the minimum  commission  rates  available,  if the
Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the  brokerage  or research  services  provided by such
broker or dealer,  viewed in terms of either that particular  transaction or the
Adviser's overall  responsibilities with respect to the Fund and the other Funds
in the same Fund Group. Adviser will promptly communicate to the Fund's officers
and Board of Trustees such  information  relating to portfolio  transactions  as
they may reasonably request.

     4.  COMPENSATION OF ADVISER.  For the services to be rendered by Adviser as
provided in this  Agreement,  the Fund will pay to Adviser at the end of each of
the Fund's fiscal quarters, a Basic Fee calculated by applying a quarterly rate,
based on the following  annual  percentage  rates, to the average  month-end net
assets of the Granahan Portfolio for the quarter:

                 .300% on the first $500 million of net assets;
                 .200% on the next $250 million of net assets;
                 .150% on the next $250 million of net assets;
                  .100% on net assets in excess of $1 billion.

     The Basic Fee,  as  provided  above,  will be  increased  or  decreased  by
applying a Performance Fee Adjustment (the "Adjustment") based on the investment
performance of the Granahan Portfolio relative to the investment  performance of
the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the "Index").  The investment  performance of the
Granahan  Portfolio  will be  based on the  cumulative  return  over a  trailing
36-month period ending with the applicable  quarter,  relative to the cumulative
total return of the Index for the same time period.  The  Adjustment  applies as
follows:

CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE OF THE           PERFORMANCE FEE ADJUSTMENT AS A
  GRANAHAN PORTFOLIO VS. BENCHMARK                  PERCENTAGE OF BASIC FEE*
  --------------------------------                  ------------------------

  Trails by -12% or more                            Decrease by .01875%
  Trails by more than -6% up to -12%                Decrease by .009375%
  Trails/Exceeds by -6% through 6%                  No adjustment
  Exceeds by more than 6% but less than 12%         Increase by .009375%
  Exceeds by 12% or more                            Increase by .01875%

  ---------------------------
     * For purposes of determining the fee adjustment calculation, the basic fee
is calculated by applying the quarterly  rate against the net assets of the Fund
averaged over the same time period for which the performance is measured.

     4.1. OTHER SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Index will
not be fully  operable  as the sole  performance  index  used to  determine  the
Adviser's  Adjustment  until the quarter ending July 31, 2003.  Until that date,
the Adviser's Adjustment will be determined

                                       2
<PAGE>

by linking the investment performance of the Index and that of the Small Company
Growth Fund Stock Index (the "Prior Index") as follows.

          (a)  QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2000. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the eleven  quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of
               the Index for the one quarter ending October 31, 2000.

          (b)  QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 31, 2001. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the ten quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the two quarters ending January 31, 2001.

          (c)  QUARTER ENDING APRIL 30, 2001. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the nine  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the three quarters ending April 30, 2001.

          (d)  QUARTER  ENDING JULY 31, 2001. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for eight quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the four quarters ending July 31, 2001.

          (e)  QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2001. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the seven quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the five quarters ending October 31, 2001.

          (f)  QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 31, 2002. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the six quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the six quarters ending January 31, 2002.

          (g)  QUARTER ENDING APRIL 30, 2002. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the five  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the seven quarters ending April 30, 2002.

          (h)  QUARTER  ENDING JULY 31, 2002. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for four  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the eight quarters ending July 31, 2002.

          (i)  QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2002. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the

                                       3
<PAGE>

               threequarters  ending July 31,  2000,  with that of the Index for
               the nine quarters ending October 31, 2002.

          (j)  QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 31, 2003. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the two quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the ten quarters ending January 31, 2003.

          (k)  QUARTER ENDING APRIL 30, 2003. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the one quarter ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the eleven quarters ending April 30, 2003.

          (l)  QUARTER ENDING JULY 31, 2003. The Index will be fully operable.

     4.2. Other Special Rules Relating to Adviser's Compensation.  The following
special rules will also apply to the Adviser's compensation:

          (a)  PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE. The investment performance of the Granahan
               Portfolio  for  any  period,  expressed  as a  percentage  of the
               "Granahan Portfolio unit value" per share at the beginning of the
               period,  will be the  sum of:  (i)  the  change  in the  Granahan
               Portfolio's net asset value per share during the period; (ii) the
               unit  value  of  the  Fund's  cash  distributions  from  Granahan
               Portfolio's net investment  income and realized net capital gains
               (whether short or long term) having an ex-dividend date occurring
               within the  period;  (iii) the unit value of capital  gains taxes
               paid or accrued during such period by the Fund for  undistributed
               realized   long-term  capital  gains  realized  by  the  Granahan
               Portfolio.  For this purpose, the unit value of distributions per
               share of realized capital gains, of dividends per share paid from
               investment  income and of capital  gains  taxes per share paid or
               payable on undistributed  realized  long-term capital gains shall
               be treated as  reinvested  in the Granahan  Portfolio at the unit
               value in effect at the close of  business  on the record date for
               the payment of such  distributions  and dividends and the date on
               which  provision is made for such taxes,  after giving  effect to
               such distributions, dividends and taxes.

          (b)  "GRANAHAN  PORTFOLIO  UNIT VALUE." The "Granahan  Portfolio  unit
               value" will be determined by dividing the total net assets of the
               Granahan  Portfolio  by a given number of units.  Initially,  the
               number of units in the  Granahan  Portfolio  will equal the total
               shares  outstanding of the Fund on August 1, 2000.  Subsequently,
               as assets are added to or withdrawn from the Granahan  Portfolio,
               the number of units of the  Granahan  Portfolio  will be adjusted
               based on the unit value of the Granahan Portfolio on the day such
               changes  are  executed.  Any cash buffer  maintained  by the Fund
               outside of the Granahan  Portfolio  shall  neither be included in
               the total net assets of the  Granahan  Portfolio  nor included in
               the computation of the Granahan Portfolio Unit Value.

                                       4
<PAGE>

          (c)  INDEX  PERFORMANCE.  The  investment  record of the Index for any
               period,  expressed as a percentage  of the Index at the beginning
               of such  period,  will be the sum of: (i) the change in the level
               of  the  Index  during  the  period;  (ii)  the  value,  computed
               consistently  with the  Index,  of cash  distributions  having an
               ex-dividend  date  occurring  within the period made by companies
               whose  securities  comprise  the Index.  For this  purpose,  cash
               distributions  on the securities which comprise the Index will be
               treated as  reinvested in the Index at least as frequently as the
               end  of  each  calendar  quarter  following  the  payment  of the
               dividend.  The calculation  will be gross of applicable costs and
               expenses.

          (d)  EFFECT  OF  TERMINATION.  In the  event  of  termination  of this
               Agreement,  the fees provided in this  Agreement will be computed
               on the basis of the  period  ending on the last  business  day on
               which  this  Agreement  is  in  effect,  subject  to a  pro  rata
               adjustment  based on the number of days  elapsed  in the  current
               fiscal  quarter as a  percentage  of the total  number of days in
               such quarter.

     5.  REPORTS.  The Fund and Adviser  agree to furnish to each other  current
prospectuses,  proxy  statements,  reports to shareholders,  certified copies of
their  financial  statements,  and such other  information  with regard to their
affairs as each may reasonably request.

     6.  COMPLIANCE.  Adviser agrees to comply with all policies,  procedures or
reporting  requirements that the Board of Trustees of the Fund reasonably adopts
and communicates to Adviser in writing, including any such policies,  procedures
or  reporting  requirements  relating  to  soft  dollar  or  directed  brokerage
arrangements.

     7.  STATUS OF  ADVISER.  The  services of Adviser to the Fund are not to be
deemed exclusive,  and Adviser will be free to render similar services to others
so long as its  services to the Fund are not impaired  thereby.  Adviser will be
deemed to be an independent  contractor  and will,  unless  otherwise  expressly
provided or  authorized,  have no authority to act for or represent  the Fund in
any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

     8.  LIABILITY OF ADVISER.  No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to
protect Adviser  against any liability to the Fund or its  shareholders to which
it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross  negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless  disregard of
its obligations under this Agreement.

         9. Duration and  Termination.  This Agreement will become  effective on
August 1, 2000,  and will  continue  in effect  thereafter  only so long as such
continuance  is  approved  at least  annually  by votes of the  Fund's  Board of
Trustees who are not parties to such Agreement or interested persons of any such
party,  cast in person at a meeting  called  for the  purpose  of voting on such
approval.  In addition,  the question of  continuance  of the  Agreement  may be
presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event,  such continuance will
be  effected  only if  approved  by the  affirmative  vote of a majority  of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     Provided,  however,  that (i) this  Agreement may at any time be terminated
without  payment of any  penalty  either by vote of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund or by vote of a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Fund,
on sixty days' written notice to Adviser, (ii) this Agreement will automatically
terminate  in the event of its  assignment,  and  (iii)  this  Agreement  may be
terminated  by Adviser on ninety days'  written  notice to the Fund.  Any notice
under this  Agreement  will be given in writing,  addressed  and  delivered,  or
mailed postpaid, to the other party at any office of such party.

     As used in this Section 9, the terms "assignment,"  "interested persons," a
"vote  of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities"  will  have  the
respective  meanings set forth in Section 2(a)(4),  Section 2(a)(19) and Section
2(a)(42) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

     10.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made
invalid by a court decision,  statute, rule or otherwise,  the remainder of this
Agreement will not be affected thereby.

     11. PROXY POLICY. With regard to the solicitation of shareholder votes, the
Fund will vote the shares of all securities held by the Fund.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
executed this 24th day of July, 2000.

ATTEST:                             VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

By   Melissa Nassar                 By    John J. Brennan
   -----------------                     --------------------------
                                         Chairman, CEO and President


ATTEST:                             GRANAHAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.


By   Brian S. Granahan              By      John J. Granahan
    ------------------                   --------------------------
                                         John J. Granahan


                                       6
<PAGE>


                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT,  made  as of this  1st day of  August,  2000,  between  VANGUARD
EXPLORER FUND, a Delaware business trust (the "Fund"),  and CHARTWELL INVESTMENT
PARTNERS (the "Adviser").

     WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company
registered under the 1940 Act, as amended; and

     WHEREAS,  the Fund desires to retain Adviser to render investment  advisory
services  to certain  assets of the Fund which the Board of Trustees of the Fund
determines to assign to Adviser (referred to in this Agreement as the "Chartwell
Portfolio"), and Adviser is willing to render such services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement


                               W I T N E S S E T H

that in consideration of the premises and mutual promises hereinafter set forth,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  APPOINTMENT OF ADVISER.  The Fund hereby employs  Adviser as investment
adviser,  on the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  for the assets of the
Chartwell  Portfolio.  The  Board of  Trustees  may,  from  time to  time,  make
additions to, and withdrawals  from, the assets of the Fund assigned to Adviser.
Adviser  accepts such  employment  and agrees to render the services  herein set
forth, for the compensation herein provided.

     2. DUTIES OF ADVISER. The Fund employs Adviser to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of the Chartwell  Portfolio,  to continuously review,
supervise and  administer an investment  program for such assets of the Fund, to
determine  in its  discretion  the  securities  to be  purchased or sold and the
portion  of such  assets to be held  uninvested,  to  provide  the Fund with all
records  concerning  the  activities  of Adviser  that the Fund is  required  to
maintain,  and to render  regular  reports to the Fund's  officers  and Board of
Trustees  concerning  the discharge of the foregoing  responsibilities.  Adviser
will  discharge  the  foregoing  responsibilities  subject to the control of the
officers  and the Board of  Trustees  of the Fund,  and in  compliance  with the
objectives,  policies and  limitations set forth in the Fund's  prospectus,  any
additional  operating  policies or procedures that the Fund  communicates to the
Adviser in writing,  and  applicable  laws and  regulations.  Adviser  agrees to
provide, at its own expense, the office space, furnishings and equipment and the
personnel  required  by it to  perform  the  services  on the  terms and for the
compensation provided herein.

     3. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS.  Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or
dealers that will execute  purchases and sales of  securities  for the Chartwell
Portfolio,  and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain the best available
price and most favorable execution for such
<PAGE>


transactions, except as otherwise permitted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund
pursuant to written policies and procedures provided to the Adviser. The Adviser
may  also  be  authorized  to  effect  individual  securities   transactions  at
commission rates in excess of the minimum  commission  rates  available,  if the
Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in
relation to the value of the  brokerage  or research  services  provided by such
broker or dealer,  viewed in terms of either that particular  transaction or the
Adviser's overall  responsibilities with respect to the Fund and the other Funds
in the same Fund Group. Adviser will promptly communicate to the Fund's officers
and Board of Trustees such  information  relating to portfolio  transactions  as
they may reasonably request.

     4.  COMPENSATION OF ADVISER.  For the services to be rendered by Adviser as
provided in this  Agreement,  the Fund will pay to Adviser at the end of each of
the Fund's fiscal quarters, a Basic Fee calculated by applying a quarterly rate,
based on the following  annual  percentage  rates, to the average  month-end net
assets of the Chartwell Portfolio for the quarter:

                  .40% on the first $250 million of net assets;
                  .30% on the next $250 million of net assets;
                  .20% on net assets in excess of $500 million.

         The Basic Fee, as provided  above,  will be  increased  or decreased by
applying a Performance Fee Adjustment (the "Adjustment") based on the investment
performance of the Chartwell Portfolio relative to the investment performance of
the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the "Index").  The investment  performance of the
Chartwell  Portfolio  will be based on the  cumulative  return  over a  trailing
36-month period ending with the applicable  quarter,  relative to the cumulative
total return of the Index for the same time period.  The  Adjustment  applies as
follows:

     CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE OF THE      PERFORMANCE FEE ADJUSTMENT AS A
       CHARTWELL PORTFOLIO VS. BENCHMARK             PERCENTAGE OF BASIC FEE*
       ---------------------------------             ------------------------

         Trails by -12% or more                             -0.20 x Basic Fee
         Trails by more than -6% up to -12%                 -0.10 x Basic Fee
         Trails/Exceeds by -6% through 6%                   -0.00 x Basic Fee
         Exceeds by more than 6% but less than 12%          +0.10 x Basic Fee
         Exceeds by 12% or more                             +0.20 x Basic Fee

         ---------------------------
     * For purposes of determining the fee adjustment calculation, the basic fee
is calculated by applying the quarterly  rate against the net assets of the Fund
averaged over the same time period for which the performance is measured.

     4.1. OTHER SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO ADVISER'S COMPENSATION. The Index will
not be fully  operable  as the sole  performance  index  used to  determine  the
Adviser's  Adjustment  until the quarter ending July 31, 2003.  Until that date,
the  Adviser's   Adjustment   will  be  determined

                                       2
<PAGE>


by linking the investment performance of the Index and that of the Small Company
Growth Fund Stock Index (the "Prior Index") as follows.


          (a)  QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2000. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the eleven  quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of
               the Index for the quarter ending October 31, 2000.

          (b)  QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 31, 2001. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the ten quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the two quarters ending January 31, 2001.

          (c)  QUARTER ENDING APRIL 30, 2001. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the nine  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the three quarters ending April 30, 2001.

          (d)  QUARTER  ENDING JULY 31, 2001. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for eight quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the four quarters ending July 31, 2001.

          (e)  QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2001. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the seven quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the five quarters ending October 31, 2001.

          (f)  Quarter Ending January 31, 2002. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the six quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the six quarters ending January 31, 2002.

          (g)  Quarter Ending April 30, 2002. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the five  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of
               the Index for the seven quarters ending April 30, 2002.

          (h)  Quarter  Ending July 31, 2002. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for four  quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the eight quarters ending July 31, 2002.

          (i)  Quarter Ending October 31, 2002. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the

                                       3

<PAGE>


               three quarters  ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the Index for
               the nine quarters ending October 31, 2002.

          (j)  QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 31, 2003. The Adviser's Adjustment will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the two quarters ending July 31, 2000, with that of the
               Index for the ten quarters ending January 31, 2003.

          (k)  QUARTER ENDING APRIL 30, 2003. The Adviser's  Adjustment  will be
               determined  by linking the  investment  performance  of the Prior
               Index for the one quarter ending July 31, 2000,  with that of the
               Index for the eleven quarters ending April 30, 2003.

          (l)  QUARTER ENDING JULY 31, 2003. The Index is fully operable.

     4.2. OTHER SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO ADVISER'S COMPENSATION.  The following
special rules will also apply to the Adviser's compensation:

          (a)  PORTFOLIO   PERFORMANCE.   The  investment   performance  of  the
               Chartwell Portfolio for any period,  expressed as a percentage of
               the  "Chartwell  Portfolio unit value" per share at the beginning
               of the  period,  will  be the  sum  of:  (i)  the  change  in the
               Chartwell  Portfolio's  net  asset  value per  share  during  the
               period; (ii) the unit value of the Fund's cash distributions from
               Chartwell  Portfolio's  net  investment  income and  realized net
               capital gains  (whether short or long term) having an ex-dividend
               date occurring within the period; (iii) the unit value of capital
               gains  taxes paid or accrued  during  such period by the Fund for
               undistributed  realized  long-term  capital gains realized by the
               Chartwell  Portfolio.   For  this  purpose,  the  unit  value  of
               distributions  per share of realized  capital gains, of dividends
               per share paid from investment  income and of capital gains taxes
               per share  paid or payable on  undistributed  realized  long-term
               capital  gains shall be treated as  reinvested  in the  Chartwell
               Portfolio at the unit value in effect at the close of business on
               the  record  date  for  the  payment  of such  distributions  and
               dividends and the date on which provision is made for such taxes,
               after giving effect to such distributions, dividends and taxes.

          (b)  "CHARTWELL  PORTFOLIO UNIT VALUE." The "Chartwell  Portfolio unit
               value" will be determined by dividing the total net assets of the
               Chartwell  Portfolio by a given number of units.  Initially,  the
               number of units in the Chartwell  Portfolio  will equal the total
               shares  outstanding of the Fund on August 1, 2000.  Subsequently,
               as assets are added to or withdrawn from the Chartwell Portfolio,
               the number of units of the Chartwell  Portfolio  will be adjusted
               based on the unit  value of the  Chartwell  Portfolio  on the day
               such changes are executed. Any cash buffer maintained by the Fund
               outside of the Chartwell  Portfolio  shall neither be included in
               the total net assets of the  Chartwell

                                       4
<PAGE>

               Portfolio  nor  included  in the  computation  of  the  Chartwell
               Portfolio Unit Value.

          (c)  INDEX  PERFORMANCE.  The  investment  record of the Index for any
               period,  expressed as a percentage  of the Index at the beginning
               of such  period,  will be the sum of: (i) the change in the level
               of  the  Index  during  the  period;  (ii)  the  value,  computed
               consistently  with the  Index,  of cash  distributions  having an
               ex-dividend  date  occurring  within the period made by companies
               whose  securities  comprise  the Index.  For this  purpose,  cash
               distributions  on the securities which comprise the Index will be
               treated as  reinvested in the Index at least as frequently as the
               end  of  each  calendar  quarter  following  the  payment  of the
               dividend.  The calculation  will be gross of applicable costs and
               expenses.

          (d)  EFFECT  OF  TERMINATION.  In the  event  of  termination  of this
               Agreement,  the fees provided in this  Agreement will be computed
               on the basis of the  period  ending on the last  business  day on
               which  this  Agreement  is  in  effect,  subject  to a  pro  rata
               adjustment  based on the number of days  elapsed  in the  current
               fiscal  quarter as a  percentage  of the total  number of days in
               such quarter.

     5.  REPORTS.  The Fund and Adviser  agree to furnish to each other  current
prospectuses,  proxy  statements,  reports to shareholders,  certified copies of
their  financial  statements,  and such other  information  with regard to their
affairs as each may reasonably request.

     6.  COMPLIANCE.  Adviser agrees to comply with all policies,  procedures or
reporting  requirements that the Board of Trustees of the Fund reasonably adopts
and communicates to Adviser in writing, including any such policies,  procedures
or  reporting  requirements  relating  to  soft  dollar  or  directed  brokerage
arrangements.

     7.  STATUS OF  ADVISER.  The  services of Adviser to the Fund are not to be
deemed exclusive,  and Adviser will be free to render similar services to others
so long as its  services to the Fund are not impaired  thereby.  Adviser will be
deemed to be an independent  contractor  and will,  unless  otherwise  expressly
provided or  authorized,  have no authority to act for or represent  the Fund in
any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.

     8.  LIABILITY OF ADVISER.  No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to
protect Adviser  against any liability to the Fund or its  shareholders to which
it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross  negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless  disregard of
its obligations under this Agreement.

     9. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement will become effective on August
1, 2000, and will continue in effect thereafter only so long as such continuance
is approved at least  annually by votes of the Fund's  Board of Trustees who are
not parties to such Agreement or interested  persons of any such party,  cast in
person at a meeting  called  for the  purpose  of  voting on such  approval.  In
addition, the question of continuance of the Agreement may be presented to

                                       5

<PAGE>

the  shareholders of the Fund; in such event,  such continuance will be effected
only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.

     Provided,  however,  that (i) this  Agreement may at any time be terminated
without  payment of any  penalty  either by vote of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund or by vote of a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Fund,
on sixty days' written notice to Adviser, (ii) this Agreement will automatically
terminate  in the event of its  assignment,  and  (iii)  this  Agreement  may be
terminated  by Adviser on ninety days'  written  notice to the Fund.  Any notice
under this  Agreement  will be given in writing,  addressed  and  delivered,  or
mailed postpaid, to the other party at any office of such party.

     As used in this Section 9, the terms "assignment,"  "interested persons," a
"vote  of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities"  will  have  the
respective  meanings set forth in Section 2(a)(4),  Section 2(a)(19) and Section
2(a)(42) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

     10.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made
invalid by a court decision,  statute, rule or otherwise,  the remainder of this
Agreement will not be affected thereby.

     11. PROXY POLICY. With regard to the solicitation of shareholder votes, the
Fund will vote the shares of all securities held by the Fund.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
executed this 1st day of August, 2000.

ATTEST:                             VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND

By       Melissa Nassar             By       John J. Brennan
   -----------------------------          -----------------------------
                                             Chairman, CEO and President


ATTEST:                             CHARTWELL INVESTMENT PARTNERS

By       LuAnn Molina               By       Edward N. Antoian
   -----------------------------           -----------------------------



                                       6



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