FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit (h)(xxvi)

This Fund of Funds Investment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 19, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made between The Arbitrage Funds (referred to as the “Trust”), on behalf of its series listed on Schedule A, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquiring Fund”), and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and SPDR Dow Xxxxx Industrial Average ETF Trust, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquired Fund” and together with the Acquiring Funds, the “Funds”).

WHEREAS, each Acquired Fund is a unit investment trust that is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”);

WHEREAS, each Acquiring Fund is registered with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act;

WHEREAS, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act limits the extent to which a registered investment company may invest in shares of other registered investment companies and Section 12(d)(1)(B) limits the extent to which a registered investment company, its principal underwriter or registered brokers or dealers may knowingly sell shares of such registered investment company to other investment companies;

WHEREAS, Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”) permits registered investment companies, such as the Acquiring Fund, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Fund, in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act subject to compliance with the conditions of the Rule; and

WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund may, from time to time, invest in shares of one or more Acquired Funds in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1)(A) in reliance on the Rule;

NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rule, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Fund may invest in the Acquired Fund in reliance on the Rule.

1. Terms of Investment

(a) In order to assist the Acquiring Fund’s investment adviser with evaluating the complexity of the structure and fees and expenses associated with an investment in the Acquired Fund, the Acquired Fund shall provide the Acquiring Fund with information on the fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund with reference to the Rule. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund.

(b) The agreement contained in paragraph 1(a) applies only with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund that exceeds the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act.

Covenants of the Acquired Fund

In connection with any investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquired Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to the Acquired Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquiring Fund if the Acquired Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.

Covenants of the Acquiring Fund.

(a) In connection with any investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquiring Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to Acquiring Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquired Fund if the Acquiring Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to its investment in the Acquired Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.

(b) Any of the provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund that it operates, and will continue to operate, in compliance with the 1940 Act, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder. The Acquiring Fund agrees that the Acquired Fund is entitled to rely on the representations contained in this Agreement and that the Acquired Fund has no independent duty to monitor the Acquiring Fund’s or its investment adviser’s or, if applicable, its subadviser’s compliance with this Agreement, the 1940 Act, or the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder.

(c) The Acquiring Fund shall provide the Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of the Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent the Acquiring Fund, the investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund or, if applicable, the subadviser to the Acquiring Fund has an “affiliated person” (as defined under the 1940 Act) that is: (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a broker-dealer or bank that borrows as part of a securities lending program, or (iii) a futures commission merchant or a swap dealer, the Acquiring Fund will: (a) not make an investment in the Acquired Fund that causes the Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of the Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities without prior approval from the Acquired Fund, and (b) notify the Acquired Fund if any investment by the Acquiring Fund that complied with (a) at the time of purchase no longer complies.

Notices

All notices, including all information that either party is required to provide under the terms of this Agreement and the Rule, shall be in writing and shall be delivered by registered or overnight mail, facsimile, or electronic mail to the address for each party specified below.

If to the Acquiring Fund:	If to the Acquired Fund:

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx	State Street Global Advisors
c/o Water Island Capital, LLC	Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00^xx Xxxxx	Xxxxxx, XX 00000
New York, NY 10010	Attn: Global Funds Management
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx	Email: XxxXxXXxxx@XXXX.xxx
With a copy to:	With a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx	State Street Global Advisors
c/o Water Island Capital, LLC	Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00^xx Xxxxx	Xxxxxx, XX 00000
New York, NY 10010	Attn: Legal Department
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx	Email: XxxXxXXxxx@XXXX.xxx

Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment

(a) This Agreement shall be effective for the duration of the Acquired Fund’s and the Acquiring Fund’s reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time. While the terms of the Agreement shall only be applicable to investments in Funds made in reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, the Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated.

(b) This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing: (i) by either party upon sixty (60) days’ notice to the other party; or (ii) in the event of a material breach of this Agreement, upon written notice to the breaching party, which may be given in the sole discretion of the non-breaching party. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund may not purchase additional shares of the Acquired Fund beyond the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limits in reliance on the Rule.

(c) This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. Any purported assignment of rights in violation of this Section is void.

(d) This Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party.

(e) In any action involving the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement, the Acquired Fund agrees to look solely to the individual Acquiring Fund that is involved in the matter in controversy and not to any of the other Acquiring Funds.

(f) In any action involving the Acquired Fund under this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund agrees to look solely to the individual Acquired Fund that is involved in the matter in controversy and not to any of the other Acquired Funds.

(g) The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund may file a copy of this Agreement with the SEC or any other regulatory body if required by applicable law.

Indemnification

(a) Each Fund (an “Indemnifying Fund”), severally and not jointly, agrees to hold harmless, indemnify and defend each other Fund (an “Indemnitee Fund”), including any principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents (“Agents”) of the Indemnitee Fund, against and from any and all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Indemnitee Fund, including any of its Agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation of any provision of this Agreement by the Indemnifying Fund or its Agents or result from any willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Indemnifying Fund or its Agents in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section shall include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending the applicable Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Fund shall not be responsible for any Claim against the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents to the extent such Claim results from a violation of any provision of this Agreement by the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents or results from any willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder. This Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

(b) Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provision shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund.

Additional Funds

In the event that the Trust wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A (each such series a “New Fund”), the Trust shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and, upon written agreement, each New Fund shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.

Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain in full force and effect, if the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for both parties remain valid, legal and enforceable.

Governing Law

(a)

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

10.

Consequential Damages

Under no circumstances will any party to this Agreement be liable to any person, including without limitation any other party to this Agreement, for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damages resulting from any act or failure to act in accordance with the provision of this Agreement, even if such party had been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.

11.

Entire Agreement

(a) This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document.

(b) The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund that relates to the investment by any Acquiring Fund in any Acquired Fund in reliance on a participation agreement, exemptive order or other arrangement among the parties intended to permit investments beyond the statutory limits of Section 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the 1940 Act (the “Prior Section 12 Agreements”). The parties hereby waive any notice provisions, conditions to termination, or matters otherwise required to terminate such Prior Section 12 Agreements.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF TRUST

SPDR DOW XXXXX INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ETF

TRUST (severally and not jointly)

By:	STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS TRUST COMPANY, not in its general corporate capacity but solely as Trustee of each Acquired Fund

By:	/s/ Xxxxx X Xxxxxxx
Name:	Xxxxx X Xxxxxxx
Title:	Senior Managing Director

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Acquiring Fund signature page follows]

THE ARBITRAGE FUNDS

(each on behalf of their series listed on Schedule A, severally and not jointly)

By:	/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:	Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:	Treasurer

SCHEDULE A

List of Acquiring Fund(s) to Which the Agreement Applies

Acquiring Funds

The Arbitrage Funds

●

Arbitrage Fund

●

Water Island Event-Driven Fund

●

Water Island Credit Opportunities Fund

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

Document Metadata