FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h)(15)
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 19, 2022, by and among Brighthouse Funds Trust I, an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Trust”), on behalf of itself and each of its constituent Portfolios, severally and not jointly, listed on Attachment A under the heading “Acquiring Funds,” as such Attachment A shall be amended from time to time (each such Portfolio, an “Acquiring Fund”, and together, the “Acquiring Funds”); American Funds Insurance Series, an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “Series”), on behalf of itself and each of its respective series, severally and not jointly, listed on Attachment B under the heading “Series Funds”, as such Attachment B shall be amended from time to time (each, a “Series Fund”); each trust identified on Attachment B under the heading “Retail Funds”, on behalf of itself and its respective series listed on Attachment B, severally and not jointly, as such Attachment B shall be amended from time to time (each, a “Retail Fund”, and together with each Series Fund, the “Acquired Funds”, and each of them, an “Acquired Fund”); and Capital Research and Management Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Adviser”); the Trust, the Acquiring Funds, the Series, the Acquired Funds and the Adviser being known as the “Parties”, and each of them, a “Party”)
WHEREAS, the Series is divided into various Series Funds;
WHEREAS, the Trust is divided into various Acquiring Funds;
WHEREAS, each Acquired Fund and each Acquiring Fund is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (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, 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, and Section 12(d)(1)(C) limits the extent to which an investment company may invest in the shares of a registered closed-end investment company;
WHEREAS, Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”) permits one or more Acquiring Funds to invest in one or more Acquired Funds in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act subject to compliance with the conditions of the Rule; and
WHEREAS, one or more Acquiring Fund may, from time to time, desire to invest in one or more Acquired Funds in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act in compliance with the conditions of the Rule.
NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rule, the Parties desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which one or more Acquiring Funds may invest in one or more Acquired Funds in compliance with the conditions of the Rule.
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| 1. | (a) In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist each Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, the Parties agree as follows: |
(i) Redemptions. The Trust and each Acquiring Fund hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if and to the extent consistent with the Acquired Fund’s registration statement, as amended from time to time, the Acquired Fund may, in its sole discretion, honor any redemption request, as determined by the Adviser, partially or wholly in-kind.
(ii) Timing and advance notice of redemptions. Each Acquiring Fund will (x) use reasonable efforts to provide advance notification of at least ten (10) business days prior to placing any redemption request for shares of an Acquired Fund) the value of which exceeds 3% of the total net assets of the Acquired Fund, and (y) work in good faith with the Acquired Fund(s) to determine the most efficient and effective way to satisfy the redemption request in the best interests of both the Acquired Fund(s) and each Acquiring Fund. Each Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that any notification provided pursuant to the foregoing is not a commitment to redeem and constitutes an estimate that may differ materially from the amount, timing and manner in which a redemption request is submitted, if any.
(iii) Scale of investment. Upon a reasonable request by an Acquired Fund, the applicable Acquiring Fund will provide summary information regarding the anticipated timeline of its investment in the Acquired Fund and the scale of its contemplated investments in the Acquired Fund.
(b) In order to assist each Acquiring Fund’s investment adviser with evaluating the complexity of the structure and fees and expenses associated with an investment in an Acquired Fund, each Acquired Fund shall provide each Acquiring Fund with information on the fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund with reference to the Rule.
2. (a) In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Series and each 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 any Acquired Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; (iii) promptly notify the Acquiring Fund if such 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; and (iv) report monthly to the Acquiring Fund about the percentage its investment represents of the total net assets of the Acquired Fund.
(b) The Series and each Acquired Fund hereby represent and warrant to the Trust that: (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and under the 1940 Act (collectively, the “SEC Filings”) with respect to the Series and each Acquired Fund has been filed with the SEC in the form previously delivered to the Trust, and copies of any and all amendments thereto will be forwarded to the Trust at the time that they are filed with the SEC; (ii) the Series and each Acquired Fund is, and shall be at all times while this
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Agreement is in force, lawfully organized, validly existing, and properly qualified in accordance with the laws of the state of its organization; (iii) the shares of any Acquired Fund sold pursuant to this Agreement are registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the Series and each Acquired Fund will remain registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act for as long as such shares of the Acquired Funds are sold; (iv) the Series and each Acquired Fund will amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares and the Series’ and each Acquired Fund’s registration statement and any further amendments thereto will, when they become effective, and all definitive prospectuses and statements of additional information and any further supplements thereto (the “Prospectus”) shall, conform in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Series or the Acquired Funds by the Trust expressly for use therein; and (v) the Series and the Acquired Funds will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) The Series and each Acquired Fund hereby represent and warrant to the Trust that an Acquired Fund in which an Acquiring Fund invests will only acquire securities of any other investment company or entity that would meet the definition of “investment company” in the 1940 Act in compliance with the conditions of the Rule.
3. (a) In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Trust and each 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 an Acquiring Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquired Fund if such Acquiring Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to its investment in such Acquired Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(b) The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Series and each Acquired Fund that (i) the shares of each Acquiring Fund are or will be registered under the 1933 Act and that the shares will be issued, sold and distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal securities laws; (ii) the Trust is, and shall be at all times while this Agreement is in force, lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of Delaware; (iii) the Trust is and shall remain at all times while this Agreement is in force, registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act; (iv) the SEC Filings (including the registration statement) of the Trust conform or, when they become effective, will conform, in all material respects, to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply
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to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Trust by the Series or an Acquired Fund expressly for use therein; and (v) the Trust will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) The Trust and the Acquiring Funds may invest in one or more Acquired Funds in any combination or weighting provided that they will adhere to the formal criteria for use of the Acquired Funds set forth in Attachment C attached hereto, which criteria will be consistent with the Rule’s requirements.
(d) The Trust hereby agrees that for as long as this Agreement is in effect, and any Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in Rule 12d1-4(d)) hold, in the aggregate, more than 25% of the outstanding shares of an Acquired Fund, all proxies received by the Trust for matters requiring approval by shareholders of such Acquired Fund shall be echo voted in the same proportion as the votes cast for those shares held by all other shareholders of the Acquired Fund, except to the extent permitted by Rule 12d1-4(b)(1)(ii)(B).
(e) The Trust and each Acquiring Fund hereby represent, warrant and covenant that it has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent either it or its control affiliates (as such term is defined by Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the 0000 Xxx) from attempting the influence the operations of any Acquired Fund.
(f) The investment adviser to each Acquiring Fund hereby represents, warrants and covenants that it will not attempt to unduly influence any Acquired Fund.
4. (a) The Series and each Acquired Fund will furnish to the Trust such information with respect to the Series or Acquired Fund in such form and signed by such of its officers as the Trust may reasonably request, and will warrant that the statements therein contained when so signed will be true and correct. The Series or the applicable Acquired Fund will advise the Trust immediately of: (i) the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement of the Series or an Acquired Fund or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose; (ii) the institution of any proceeding, investigation or hearing involving the offer or sale of the Contracts or the Series or Acquired Fund of which it becomes aware; or (iii) the happening of any material event, if known, which makes untrue any statement made in the registration statement of the Series or an Acquired Fund or which requires the making of a change therein in order to make any statement made therein not misleading.
(b) The Series agrees to make Class 1 shares of each Series Fund and each Retail Fund agrees to make Class R-6 shares available for investment by the Acquiring Funds.
5. The Series and each Acquired Fund will compute the closing net asset value, and any distribution information (including the applicable ex-date, record date, payable date, distribution rate per share, income accrual and capital gains information) for each Acquired Fund as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business (a “Business Day”) or at such other
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time as the net asset value of an Acquired Fund is calculated, as disclosed in the relevant Acquired Funds’ current prospectuses. The Series or the applicable Acquired Fund will use their best efforts to communicate to the Trust such information by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on each Business Day. Such information shall be accurate and true in all respects and updated continuously.
6. The Series and each Acquired Fund reserves the right to temporarily suspend sales if the Board of Trustees of the Series or applicable Acquired Fund (the “Acquired Fund Board”), acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, deems it appropriate and in the best interests of shareholders or in response to the order of an appropriate regulatory authority. Further, the Acquired Fund Board may refuse to sell shares of any Acquired Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Acquired Fund if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund Board, acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state law, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Acquired Fund, and as consistent with its antimarket-timing and late-trading policies and procedures.
7. Transfer of the Acquired Funds’ shares will be by book entry only. No stock certificates will be issued to the Acquiring Funds. Shares ordered from a particular Acquired Fund will be recorded by the Series or the applicable Acquired Fund as instructed by the Trust in an appropriate title for the corresponding Acquiring Fund.
8. The Series and each Retail Fund shall furnish notice of the dividend rate to the Trust of any dividend or distribution payable on any shares of the Acquired Funds prior to the close of business on the ex-dividend date. The Trust hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on shares of an Acquired Fund recorded in the title for the corresponding Acquiring Fund in additional shares of that Acquired Fund. The Series or the applicable Acquired Fund shall promptly notify the Trust of the number of shares so issued. The Trust reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
9. The Series and each Acquired Fund hereby consent to the Trust’s use of the names of the Series and the Acquired Funds listed on Attachment B attached hereto, in connection with marketing the Acquiring Funds.. The Series and each Acquired Fund hereby consent to the use of any trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo used by the Trust, subject to the Series’ and the applicable Acquired Fund’s approval of such use and in accordance with reasonable requirements of the Series or the Acquired Fund. Such consent will terminate with the termination of this Agreement. The Trust hereby agrees and acknowledges that all use of any designation comprised in whole or in part of the name, trademark, trade name, service xxxx and logo under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Series and/or the Acquired Funds.
10. Indemnification.
(a) The Trust and each Acquiring Fund, as applicable, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Series, each Acquired Fund, and each of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees and
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agents and each person who controls them within the meaning of the 1933 Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (“Losses”), to which they may be subject, insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon (i) the Trust’s negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the Trust’s violation of any applicable law in connection with the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, and (iii) any material breach by the Trust of any provision of this Agreement, including any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Agreement. The Trust shall also reimburse the Series, the Acquired Funds and their respective affiliates for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending against such Losses. This indemnity provision is in addition to any other liability which the Trust may otherwise have to the Series, the Acquired Funds or their respective affiliates.
(b) The Series and each Retail Fund, as applicable, shall each indemnify and hold harmless, the Trust, each Acquiring Fund, and each of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person who controls them within the meaning of the 1933 Act from and against any and all Losses to which they may be subject, insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon (i) the Series’ or the applicable Retail Fund’s negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the Series’ or the applicable Retail Fund’s violation of any applicable law in connection with the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, and (iii) any material breach by the Series or a Retail Fund of any provision of this Agreement, including any representation, warranty or covenant made in the Agreement by any of them. The Series and each Retail Fund, as applicable, shall also reimburse the Trust and each Acquiring Fund and their respective affiliates for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending against such Losses. This indemnity provision is in addition to any other liability which the Series or a Retail Fund may otherwise have to the Trust and each Acquiring Fund and their respective affiliates.
(c) Promptly after receipt by a party entitled to indemnification under this Section 19 (an “Indemnified Party”) of notice of the commencement of an investigation, action, claim or proceeding, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 19, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the indemnifying party of its intention to assume the defense of an action and the appointment of satisfactory counsel, Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any additional counsel obtained by it, and the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 19 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The indemnifying party shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, settle or compromise the liability of the Indemnified Party; provided, however, that in the event that the Indemnified Party fails to provide its written consent, the indemnifying party shall thereafter be liable to provide indemnification only to the extent of the amount for which the action could otherwise have been settled or compromised.
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11. The Parties understand that there is no intention to create a joint venture in the subject matter of this Agreement. Accordingly, the right to terminate this Agreement and to engage in any activity not inconsistent with this Agreement is absolute. This Agreement shall be effective for the duration of the Acquired Funds’ and the Acquiring Funds’ 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 Acquired 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 pursuant to this Section 20. This Agreement will terminate with respect to one, some or all of the Acquiring Funds and Acquired Funds:
(a) by mutual agreement at any time;
(b) any Party at any time upon sixty (60) days’ written notice;
(c) at the option of the Trust, upon ten calendar days’ prior written notice, if shares of the Series are not reasonably available or with respect to an Acquired Fund if shares of that Acquired Fund are not reasonably available;
(d) at the option of the Trust, immediately upon written notice, if the Series fails to meet the requirements for diversification under Section 817 (or any successor or similar provision) or to qualify as a registered investment company under the Code or if the Trust reasonably and in good faith believes an Acquired Fund may fail to meet such requirements or qualify; or
(e) in the event the Series’ or an Acquired Funds’ shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of the Series’ shares as an underlying investment for the Acquiring Funds; in such event prompt notice shall be given by the Trust or the Series or the Acquired Fund to each of the other parties.
The effective date for termination pursuant to any notice given under this section shall be calculated beginning with the date of receipt of such notice.
Upon termination of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund(s) may not purchase additional shares of the Acquired Fund(s) beyond the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limits in reliance on the Rule.
12. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and must be delivered by registered or overnight mail or electronic mail to the address for each Party specified below, which address may be changed from time to time by written notice to the other Party:
If to the Trust or the Acquiring Fund(s):
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
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Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Attn: Funds Compliance and Mutual Fund Legal
Email #1: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Email #2: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
If to the Series or the Acquired Fund(s):
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
c/o Capital Research and Management Company
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
c/o American Funds Distributors, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
and:
American Funds Service Company
Attention: Contract Administration
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx_xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
13. If this Agreement terminates, any provision of this Agreement necessary to the orderly windup of business under it will remain in effect as to that business, after termination.
14. The obligations of the Trust, the Series and the Acquired Funds under this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, employees or shareholders of the Trust, the Series and each Acquired Fund individually, but bind only the Trust and the Series’ and the Acquired Funds’ assets. When seeking satisfaction for any liability of the Trust, the Series or an Acquired Fund in respect of this Agreement, each of the Parties agree not to seek recourse against said trustees, officers, employees or shareholders, or any of them, or any of their personal assets for such satisfaction. The Parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the obligations of each Acquiring Fund hereunder are several, not joint, and the assets and liabilities of each Acquiring Fund are separate and distinct. The Parties hereto agree that all obligations and liabilities of an Acquiring Fund arising out of this Agreement are binding solely upon and
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may be satisfied solely from the assets or property of such applicable Acquiring Fund and shall not be binding on or satisfied from any other series of the Trust or the trustees, directors, officers, members or shareholders of the Acquiring Fund or of any other series of the Trust. The Parties acknowledge that the obligations of each Acquired Fund hereunder are several, not joint, and the assets and liabilities of each Acquired Fund are separate and distinct. The Parties agree that all obligations and liabilities of an Acquired Fund arising out of this Agreement are binding solely upon and may be satisfied solely from the assets or property of such applicable Acquired Fund and shall not be binding on or satisfied from any other series of the Series or Acquired Fund, as applicable, or the trustees, directors, officers, members or shareholders of the Acquired Fund or of any other series of the Series or Acquired Fund, as applicable. Notwithstanding the applicability of California law to this Agreement pursuant to Section 25, this provision with regard to the obligations and liabilities of the Trust, the Series and the Acquired Funds and their respective trustees, officers, employees or shareholders shall control.
15. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without reference to its conflicts of law provisions.
16. This Agreement and the Parties’ rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement are not transferable or assignable by any of them without the express, prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Any attempt by a Party to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of its rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement without such consent is void; provided, however, that a merger of, reinsurance arrangement by, or change of control of a Party shall not be deemed to be an assignment for purposes of this Agreement.
17. Each Party agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all information (including personal financial information of the customers of either Party) received from the other Party pursuant to this Agreement. Each Party agrees not to use any such information for any purpose, or disclose any such information to any person, except as permitted or required by applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
18. Each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other parties and all appropriate governmental authorities and shall permit authorities reasonable access to its books and records upon proper notice in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Party shall maintain and preserve all records in its possession as required by law to be maintained and preserved in connection with the provision of the services contemplated hereunder. Upon the request of a Party, the other Party shall provide copies of all records as may be necessary to (a) monitor and review the performance of either party’s activities, (b) assist either Party in resolving disputes, reconciling records or responding to auditor’s inquiries, (c) comply with any request of a governmental body or self-regulatory organization, (d) verify compliance by a Party with the terms of this Agreement, (e) make required regulatory reports, or (f) perform general customer service. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith in providing records to one another under this provision.
19. The following sections shall survive any termination of this Agreement: 5, 6, 10, 12-19.
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20. Each Party represents that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or board action, as applicable, by such Party and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of such Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, and will not result in its violating any applicable law or breaching or otherwise impairing any of its contractual obligations.
21. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
22. This Agreement and any amendment to it may be executed in one or more counterparts. All of those counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile or by emailing a copy in .pdf form shall be treated as an original and shall bind all Parties just as would the exchange of originally signed copies.
23. In the event of a dispute between the Parties with respect to this Agreement, and in the event the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute between them within 60 days from the date of the aggrieved Party’s notice of its intent to press the dispute, then before any party shall undertake to litigate the dispute it shall be submitted to non-binding arbitration conducted expeditiously. One arbitrator is to be named by each Party to the disagreement and a fifth arbitrator to be selected by the four arbitrators named by the Parties. The expenses of such arbitration shall be paid by the non-prevailing Party. The arbitrators’ findings may only recommend compensatory damages. Should any Party not be satisfied with the arbitrators’ decision the Parties may seek any other legal recourse.
24. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination of the FPA as of the date first above written.
25. The Parties, on their own behalf and on behalf of their applicable affiliates, hereby mutually agree to terminate the Fund Participation Agreement dated as of October 29, 2019, to which the Parties and such affiliates are party (the “FPA”) and to replace the FPA with this Agreement.
26. The Trust, on behalf of each Acquiring Fund, hereby agrees that any non-public information provided to it or its agents by an Acquired Fund or its agents pursuant to the Agreement (the “Confidential Information”) is confidential and may only be used by the Acquiring Fund for purposes of complying with the Rule and is provided by such Acquired Fund or its agents on an “as is” basis in good faith believing it to be accurate but making no warranties, express or implied, regarding its accuracy, completeness, or performance. The Trust agrees that it (a) will hold any and all Confidential Information it obtains in strictest confidence and shall use at least the same degree of care, but no less than reasonable care, to avoid disclosure or use of the Confidential Information as it employs with respect to its own confidential information of a like importance; (b) may disclose or provide access to its employees who have a need to know and may make copies of Confidential Information only to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with the Rule; (c) currently has, and in the future will maintain in effect and enforce, rules and policies to protect against access to or use or disclosure
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of confidential information other than in accordance with this Agreement, including without limitation written instruction to and agreements with employees and agents who are bound by an obligation of confidentiality no less stringent than set forth in this Agreement to ensure that such employees and agents protect the confidentiality of Confidential Information; (d) will instruct its employees and agents not to disclose Confidential Information to third parties, including without limitation customers, sub-contractors or consultants; and (e) will notify the Series immediately of any unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information, and will cooperate with them in taking action to ensure that the Confidential Information is not used by such receiving party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| BRIGHTHOUSE FUNDS TRUST I, | ||||
| on behalf of itself and each of the Acquiring Funds listed on Attachment A attached hereto | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|||
| Printed Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
| Title: President | ||||
| AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES, | ||||
| on behalf of itself and each of the Series Funds listed on Attachment B attached hereto | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|||
| Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Printed Title: Principal Executive Officer | ||||
| CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY, | ||||
| on behalf of itself | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|||
| Printed Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Title: Senior Vice President & Senior Counsel | ||||
| CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY, | ||||
| on behalf of each of the Retail Funds listed on Attachment B attached hereto | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
|||
| Printed Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||
| Title: Senior Vice President & Senior Counsel | ||||
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ATTACHMENT A
List of Acquiring Funds
American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio
American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio
American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio
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ATTACHMENT B
List of Series Funds*
American High-Income Trust
Capital World Bond Fund
Capital World Growth and Income Fund
Global Growth Fund
Global Small Capitalization Fund
Growth-Income Fund
Growth Fund
International Fund
International Growth and Income Fund
New World Fund
The Bond Fund of America
Ultra-Short Bond Fund
U.S. Government Securities Fund
Washington Mutual Investors Funds
*The underlying trust for each of the Series Funds is American Funds Insurance Series.
List of Retail Funds**
AMCAP Fund
American Balanced Fund
American Funds Corporate Bond Fund
American Funds Developing World Growth and Income Fund
American Funds Emerging Markets Bond Fund
American Funds Global Balanced Fund
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund
American Funds Mortgage Fund
American Funds Strategic Bond Fund
American High-Income Trust
American Mutual Fund
Capital Income Builder
Capital World Bond Fund
Capital World Growth and Income Fund
EuroPacific Growth Fund
Fundamental Investors
Intermediate Bond Fund of America
International Growth and Income Fund
New Perspective Fund
New World Fund
Short-Term Bond Fund of America
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SMALLCAP World Fund
The Bond Fund of America
The Growth Fund of America
The Income Fund of America
The Investment Company of America
The New Economy Fund
U.S. Government Securities Fund
Washington Mutual Investors Fund
**Each Retail Fund listed herein is its own trust.
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Attachment C
Effective January 19, 2022
The Parties have agreed upon formal criteria for use of the Retail Funds and the Series Funds in the fund-of funds offerings as follows:
| 1. | The Trust and each Acquiring Fund may invest in the Retail Funds and the Series Funds in any combination or weighting provided that the assets of each Acquiring Fund are (i) exclusively comprised of 100% Retail Funds and Series Funds and (ii) comprised of at least 40% Series Funds, unless solely with respect to subsection (ii), such minimum amount of assets would result in noncompliance with the conditions of the Rule or a modification is requested by the Trust or an Acquiring Fund, in which case each Acquiring Fund will work in good faith with the Acquired Fund(s) to determine the most efficient and effective way to invest in the Retail Funds and the Series Funds in compliance with the conditions of the Rule and in a mutually agreeable manner. |
| 2. | The investment limitations set forth above shall apply during the term of this Agreement. The Trust and the Acquiring Funds will monitor the investment limitations set forth in this Attachment C on a quarterly basis. |
| 3. | Any exception to the investment limitations set forth in this Attachment C shall be agreed to in writing amongst the Trust, the Series and the Acquired Funds, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld. |
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