Common use of Quality and Extent of Services Clause in Contracts

Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreements, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreements. The Board noted that, under the Agreements, DIMA and NTI provide portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board also considered the risks to XXXX in sponsoring or managing the Fund, including financial, operational and reputational risks, the potential economic impact to XXXX from such risks and XXXX’s approach to addressing such risks. Throughout the course of the year, the Board also received information regarding XXXX’s oversight of fund sub-advisors, including NTI. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed- upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar”), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review” (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from XXXX regarding such funds and, where appropriate, XXXX’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that,

Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreements, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreements. The Board noted that, under the Agreements, DIMA and NTI provide portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board also considered the risks to XXXX DIMA in sponsoring or managing the Fund, including financial, operational and reputational risks, the potential economic impact to XXXX from such risks and XXXX’s approach to addressing such risks. Throughout the course of the year, the Board also received information regarding XXXX’s oversight of fund sub-advisors, including NTI. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed- upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar”), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review” (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from XXXX DIMA regarding such funds and, where appropriate, XXXX’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that,

Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreements, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreements. The Board noted that, under the Agreements, DIMA and NTI RREEF provide portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board also considered the risks to XXXX in sponsoring or managing the Fund, including financial, operational and reputational risks, the potential economic impact to XXXX from such risks and XXXX’s approach to addressing such risks. Throughout the course of the year, the Board also received information regarding XXXX’s oversight of fund sub-advisors, including NTIRREEF. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed- agreed-upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar”), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review” (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from XXXX regarding such funds and, where appropriate, XXXX’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that,Board

Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreements, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreements. The Board noted that, under the Agreements, DIMA and NTI RREEF provide portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board also considered the risks to XXXX DIMA in sponsoring or managing the Fund, including financial, operational and reputational risks, the potential economic impact to XXXX from such risks and XXXX’s approach to addressing such risks. Throughout the course of the year, the Board also received information regarding XXXX’s oversight of fund sub-advisors, including NTIRREEF. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed- agreed-upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar”), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review” (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from XXXX DIMA regarding such funds and, where appropriate, XXXX’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that,22 Deutsche DWS Variable Series II — DWS Alternative Asset Allocation VIP