March 17, 2020 To the Trustees of John Hancock Funds Boston, MA 02116 Re: Rule 12b-1 Fee Waiver Letter Agreement

Exhibit (m).18

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Distributors LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000

 

March 17, 2020

To the Trustees of

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds

000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Boston, MA 02116

Re:      Rule 12b-1 Fee Waiver Letter Agreement

With reference to each of the Distribution Plans entered into by and between Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Distributors LLC (formerly, Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds, LLC and hereinafter, the “Distributor”) and each of the trusts listed in Appendix A to this letter (each, a “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”), on behalf of each of their respective series listed in Appendix A (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), we hereby notify you as follows:

1. The Distributor agrees to contractually waive and limit its Rule 12b-1 distribution fees and/or service fees to the extent necessary to achieve the aggregate Rule 12b-1 distribution and service fees of each Fund as set forth in Appendix B hereto. The expense waiver agreements expire on the dates specified, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the Fund and the Distributor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time.

2. We understand and intend that the Trusts will rely on this undertaking in overseeing the preparation and filing of Post-effective Amendments to the Registration Statements on Form N-1A for the Trusts and the Funds with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accruing each Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating its net and gross asset value per share, and for other purposes permitted under Form N-1A and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and we expressly permit the Trusts so to rely.

			Sincerely,
			XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTORS LLC
			By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
				Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
				Chief Financial Officer

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Management Distributors LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000

 

Agreed and Accepted
on behalf of each applicable Trust listed in Appendix A

By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Chief Financial Officer

A copy of the document establishing each Trust is filed with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement is executed by the officer in his capacity as such and not as an individual and is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trusts individually but only upon the assets of the Funds.

APPENDIX A

TRUSTS and Funds

XXXX XXXXXXX XXXX TRUST

Xxxx Xxxxxxx ESG Core Bond Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Government Income Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx High Yield Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Investment Grade Bond Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Duration Bond Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE INCOME FUND

Xxxx Xxxxxxx California Tax-Free Income Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX CAPITAL SERIES

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Classic Value Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx U.S. Global Leaders Growth Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX CURRENT INTEREST

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Money Market Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT TRUST

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Alternative Risk Premia Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Balanced Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Disciplined Value International Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Diversified Real Assets Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Diversified Macro Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx ESG All Cap Core Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx ESG International Equity Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx ESG Large Cap Core Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Fundamental Large Cap Core Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Global Thematic Opportunities Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Infrastructure Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx International Dynamic Growth Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Seaport Long/Short Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Small Cap Core Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX INVESTMENT TRUST II

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Financial Industries Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Regional Bank Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST

Xxxx Xxxxxxx High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Tax-Free Bond Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX SOVEREIGN BOND FUND

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Fund

XXXX XXXXXXX STRATEGIC SERIES

Xxxx Xxxxxxx Income Fund

 A-1

APPENDIX B

Fund	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class R4	Expiration Date of Waiver/Limit
Balanced Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	2/28/2021
Classic Value Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	2/28/2021
Disciplined Value International Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	2/28/2021
Emerging Markets Equity Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	2/28/2021
Fundamental Large Cap Core Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	2/28/2021
Bond Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	9/30/2020
California Tax-Free Income Fund	N/A	0.90%	0.90%	N/A	9/30/2020
High Yield Municipal Bond Fund	0.15%	0.90%	0.90%	N/A	9/30/2020
Income Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	9/30/2020
Investment Grade Bond Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.15%	9/30/2020
Tax-Free Bond Fund	0.15%	0.90%	0.90%	N/A	9/30/2020
Money Market Fund	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	N/A	7/31/20211

¹ At the March 16-17, 2020 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trusts, the Distributor notified the Board of, and the Board approved, the extension of the waiver of all 12b-1 fees fees for Class A, Class B and Class C shares of Money Market Fund, with an expiration date of July 31, 2021, effective upon the current expiration date of July 31, 2020.

 B-1