AMENDED AND RESTATED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h)(3)(e)
AMENDED AND RESTATED EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT, effective as of May 1, 2005, as previously amended, and hereby amended and restated as of May 1, 2021, by and between Transamerica Asset Management, Inc. (the “Investment Manager”), and Transamerica Series Trust (the “Company”), on behalf of each series of the Company set forth in Schedule A (each a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”).
WHEREAS, the Company is a Delaware statutory trust, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management company of the series type, and each Fund is a series of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investment Manager have entered into investment advisory agreements on behalf of the Funds (“Management Agreements”), pursuant to which the Investment Manager provides investment management services to each Fund for compensation based on the value of the average daily net assets of each such Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investment Manager have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to maintain the expenses of each Fund at a level below the level to which each such Fund may normally be subject; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investment Manager wish to structure this Expense Limitation Agreement in a manner consistent with the requirements of Revenue Procedure 96-47, 1996-2 CB 338, and Revenue Procedure 99-40, I.R.B. 1999-46, 565 so as to avoid any possibility that any Fund is deemed to have paid a preferential dividend, and in a manner consistent with the SEC’s interpretation of analogous requirements in Rule 18f-3(a) under the 1940 Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Expense Limitation. |
1.1. Applicable Expense Limit. The Investment Manager agrees to reduce the investment management fees payable to it pursuant to the Management Agreements and make payments to the Funds to the extent necessary to limit the ordinary operating expenses incurred by the applicable Class(es) of each Fund in any fiscal year, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, dividend and interest expenses related to short sales, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses such as litigation, and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business (“Fund Operating Expenses”) to the Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section 1.2 below. With respect to Transamerica Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 70/30 Allocation VP, “Fund Operating Expenses” shall mean the ordinary operating expenses incurred by each Class of each Fund in any fiscal year, excluding dividend and interest expenses related to short sales, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business. For each applicable Class of each Fund, any amount of Fund Operating Expenses above the Operating Expense Limit (such excess amount, the “Excess Amount”) shall be the liability of the Investment Manager. 1
1.2. Operating Expense Limit. The “Operating Expense Limit” in any fiscal year with respect to each applicable Class of each Fund shall be the amount specified in Schedule A based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of such Class.
1.3. Duration of Operating Expense Limit. The Operating Expense Limit with respect to each applicable Class of each Fund shall remain in effect until the date specified for that Class on Schedule A. The Investment Manager may extend, but may not during the term of this Agreement shorten, the duration of the Operating Expense Limit for any Class of a Fund by delivering a revised Schedule A to the Company reflecting such extension. Such an extension must continue at the same (or lower) Operating Expense Limit amount specified on Schedule A.
1.4. Method of Computation. This Expense Limitation Agreement shall in all cases be interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements of Revenue Procedure 96-47, 1996-2 CB 338, and Revenue Procedure 99-40, I.R.B. 1999-46, 565 so as to avoid any possibility that any Fund is deemed to have paid a preferential dividend. In the event of any conflict between any term of this Expense Limitation Agreement and the previous sentence, the previous sentence shall control.
Management fees and other expenses related to the management of the Company’s assets. Each Class of each Fund shall be allocated and shall pay an investment management fee and other fees and expenses related to the management of the Fund’s assets (including custodial fees and tax return preparation fees) on the basis of the net asset value of that Class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund. The benefit of a waiver or reimbursement of any management fee and any other fees and expenses related to the management of the Fund’s assets (including custodial fees and tax return preparation fees) shall be allocated to all shares by net asset value, regardless of Class.
1 | Prior to May 1, 2017, Rule 12b-1 fees were excluded from the expense limits. |
Other fees and expenses. Each Class of each Fund may be allocated and may pay a different share of other fees and expenses, not including advisory or custodial fees or other fees and expenses related to the management of the Fund’s assets, if these expenses are actually incurred in a different amount by that Class, or if the Class receives services of a different kind or to a different degree than other Classes.
Subject to the foregoing, to determine the Investment Manager’s liability with respect to the Excess Amount, each day the Fund Operating Expenses for each applicable Class of each Fund generally will be annualized as of that day. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of an applicable Class of a Fund as of that day exceed the Operating Expense Limit of such Class, the management fees payable to the Investment Manager that are accrued that day generally will be waived in an amount sufficient to reduce the Excess Amount so that the annualized Fund Operating Expenses as of that day equal the Operating Expense Limit. If such waiver of management fees is not sufficient to equal the Operating Expense Limit, the applicable Class of the Fund will accrue a receivable from the Investment Manager in an amount sufficient so that the annualized Fund Operating Expenses equal to the Operating Expense Limit.
In case a Class of a Fund needs to accrue such receivables from the Investment Manager during any month, the Fund will inform the Investment Manager about the Excess Amount owed to the applicable Class for that month and the Investment Manager will remit to the Fund promptly after the end of the month an amount that, together with already waived management fees, is sufficient to pay that month’s Excess Amount with respect to such Class.
1.5. Periodic Adjustments. As necessary, daily, monthly and annual adjustments, accruals or payments will be made by the appropriate party to ensure that the amount of the management fees waived and payments remitted to a Class of a Fund by the Investment Manager equal the Excess Amount for such Class for any Fund fiscal year during the duration of this Agreement.
2. | Reimbursement of Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements. |
If on any day or month, the estimated annualized Fund Operating Expenses of a Class of a Fund listed in Schedule B as of that day or month are less than the Operating Expense Limit as of that day or month, the Investment Manager shall be entitled to reimbursement by such Class of the investment management fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Investment Manager to such Class pursuant to Section I hereof during any of the previous thirty-six (36) months beginning with the effective date of this Agreement (the “Reimbursement Amount”), to the extent that the annualized Fund Operating Expenses plus the amount so reimbursed equals, as of such day or month, the Operating Expense Limit for such Class provided in Schedule A, provided that such amount paid to the Investment Manager will in no event exceed the total Reimbursement Amount and will not include any amounts previously reimbursed. The Reimbursement Amount may not include any additional charge or fees, such as interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount. Amounts so reimbursed shall be allocated to the oldest Reimbursement Amount during the previous thirty-six (36) months until fully reimbursed, and thereafter, to the next oldest Reimbursement Amount, and so forth. Periodic adjustments to the Reimbursement Amount and related reimbursement may be made with respect to a Fund, as necessary to ensure that the amount of Fund Operating Expenses during any Fund fiscal year never exceed the Operating Expense Limit for an applicable Class of the Fund during that fiscal year.
3. | Term and Termination of Agreement. |
Unless the Investment Manager has extended the duration of the Operating Expense Limit with respect to a Class of a Fund pursuant to Section 1.3 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall automatically renew effective May 1 of every year for one-year terms until such time as the Investment Manager provides written notice of non-renewal past the then-current term. In addition, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to a Fund and its applicable Classes upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement of that Fund.
4. | Miscellaneous. |
4.1. Multiple Class Plan. In case a Fund has multiple classes of shares, any amount of fees or expenses waived, paid or reimbursed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be allocated among the Classes of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Fund’s multiple class plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.
4.2. Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
4.3. Interpretation. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Company or the Funds to take any action contrary to the Company’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Company’s Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Company or the Funds.
4.4. Definitions. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment management fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Management Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Management Agreement or the 1940 Act.
5. | Voluntary Expense Limitation and Reimbursement. |
5.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Investment Manager (or its affiliates) may voluntarily waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of one or more classes of Transamerica Money Market (the “Money Market Fund”) to such level(s) as the Company’s officers may reasonably determine. Any such waiver or expense reimbursement may be discontinued by the Investment Manager at any time. The Investment Manager shall be entitled to recapture any amounts so waived or reimbursed upon the Money Market Fund attaining such yield as the Company’s officers reasonably determine.
5.2. The Investment Manager shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Money Market Fund of the fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed by the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates to the Money Market Fund pursuant to the above paragraph during any of the previous thirty-six (36) months beginning on July 1, 2009. Any such reimbursement shall not result in the Money Market Fund’s effective daily yield to be negative.
This Agreement supersedes all prior written agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior agreements are deemed terminated upon the effectiveness of this Agreement.
The parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
TRANSAMERICA ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Assistant General Counsel II and Assistant Secretary | ||
TRANSAMERICA SERIES TRUST | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Vice President and Treasurer |
SCHEDULE A
OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS
This Schedule relates to the following Portfolios of the Company as of May 1, 2021
FUND NAME |
MAXIMUM OPERATING EXPENSE LIMIT EFFECTIVE THROUGH |
EXPENSE LIMIT INITIAL CLASS1 |
EXPENSE LIMIT SERVICE CLASS |
|||||||||
Transamerica 60/40 Allocation VP |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 0.63 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica Aegon High Yield Bond VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.70 | % | 0.95 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Aegon Sustainable Equity Income VP (formerly, Transamerica Barrow Hanley Dividend Focused VP) |
May 1, 2022 | 0.79 | % | 1.04 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Aegon U.S. Government Securities VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.63 | % | 0.88 | % | |||||||
Transamerica American Funds Managed Risk VP |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 0.85 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica BlackRock Global Real Estate Securities VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.90 | % | 1.15 | % | |||||||
Transamerica BlackRock Government Money Market VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.38 | % | 0.63 | % | |||||||
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 40 VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.31 | % | 0.56 | % | |||||||
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 50 VP |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 0.56 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 75 VP |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 0.56 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 100 VP |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 0.56 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica BlackRock Tactical Allocation VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 70/30 Allocation VP2 |
May 1, 2022 | N/A | 1.15 | % | ||||||||
Transamerica International Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.89 | % | 1.14 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Janus Balanced VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.81 | % | 1.06 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Janus Mid-Cap Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.88 | % | 1.13 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Conservative VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Moderate Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Moderate VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Core Bond VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.58 | % | 0.83 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Enhanced Index VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.71 | % | 0.96 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan International Moderate Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % |
Transamerica JPMorgan Mid Cap Value VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.93 | % | 1.18 | % | |||||||
Transamerica JPMorgan Tactical Allocation VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.82 | % | 1.07 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxx Xxxxx Dynamic Allocation – Balanced VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.72 | % | 0.97 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxx Xxxxx Dynamic Allocation – Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.74 | % | 0.99 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Madison Diversified Income VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.84 | % | 1.09 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Managed Risk – Balanced ETF VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.37 | % | 0.62 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Managed Risk – Conservative ETF VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.37 | % | 0.62 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Managed Risk – Growth ETF VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.37 | % | 0.62 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Market Participation Strategy VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.82 | % | 1.07 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Capital Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.76 | % | 1.01 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Global Allocation VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.81 | % | 1.06 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Global Allocation Managed Risk-Balanced VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.22 | % | 0.47 | % | |||||||
Transamerica MSCI EAFE Index VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.18 | % | 0.43 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Multi-Managed Balanced VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.75 | % | 1.00 | % | |||||||
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Balanced VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.91 | % | 1.16 | % | |||||||
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Conservative VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.92 | % | 1.17 | % | |||||||
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.94 | % | 1.19 | % | |||||||
Transamerica PIMCO Total Return VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.72 | % | 0.97 | % | |||||||
Transamerica PineBridge Inflation Opportunities VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.70 | % | 0.95 | % | |||||||
Transamerica ProFund UltraBear VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.98 | % | 1.23 | % | |||||||
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Conservative VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.61 | % | 0.86 | % | |||||||
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Moderate Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.67 | % | 0.92 | % | |||||||
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Moderate VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.68 | % | 0.93 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Rothschild & Co Large Cap Value VP (formerly, Transamerica Xxxxx Large Cap Value) |
May 1, 2022 | 0.95 | % | 1.20 | % | |||||||
Transamerica Small/Mid Cap Value VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.89 | % | 1.14 | % | |||||||
Transamerica S&P 500 Index VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.14 | % | 0.39 | % | |||||||
Transamerica X. Xxxx Price Small Cap VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.93 | % | 1.18 | % | |||||||
Transamerica TS&W International Equity VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.92 | % | 1.17 | % | |||||||
Transamerica WMC US Growth VP |
May 1, 2022 | 0.74 | % | 0.99 | % |
1. | The portfolios have not been charged and have not paid any 12b-1 fees with respect to Initial Class shares, and will not be charged or pay any 12b-1 fees on Initial Class shares through May 1, 2022. TAM intends for this arrangement to be extended through May 1, 2023. |
2. | TAM has agreed through May 1, 2022 to waive fees and/or reimburse portfolio expenses to the extent that the total annual fund operating expenses exceed 1.15% for Service Class of Transamerica Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 70/30 Allocation VP. Acquired fund fees are included within the fund’s expense cap. |
SCHEDULE B
PORTFOLIOS SUBJECT TO EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
FUND NAME
Transamerica 60/40 Allocation VP
Transamerica Aegon High Yield Bond VP
Transamerica Aegon Sustainable Equity Income VP (formerly, Transamerica Barrow Hanley Dividend Focused VP)
Transamerica Aegon U.S. Government Securities VP
Transamerica American Funds Managed Risk VP
Transamerica BlackRock Global Real Estate Securities VP
Transamerica BlackRock Government Money Market VP
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 40 VP
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 50 VP
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 75 VP
Transamerica BlackRock iShares Edge 100 VP
Transamerica BlackRock Tactical Allocation VP
Transamerica Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 70/30 Allocation VP
Transamerica International Growth VP
Transamerica Janus Balanced VP
Transamerica Janus Mid-Cap Growth VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Conservative VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Growth VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Moderate Growth VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Asset Allocation – Moderate VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Core Bond VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Enhanced Index VP
Transamerica JPMorgan International Moderate Growth VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Mid Cap Value VP
Transamerica JPMorgan Tactical Allocation VP
Transamerica Xxxx Xxxxx Dynamic Allocation – Balanced VP
Transamerica Xxxx Xxxxx Dynamic Allocation – Growth VP
Transamerica Madison Diversified Income VP
Transamerica Managed Risk – Balanced ETF VP
Transamerica Managed Risk – Conservative ETF VP
Transamerica Managed Risk – Growth ETF VP
Transamerica Market Participation Strategy VP
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Capital Growth VP
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Global Allocation VP
Transamerica Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Global Allocation Managed Risk-Balanced VP
Transamerica MSCI EAFE Index VP
Transamerica Multi-Managed Balanced VP
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Balanced VP
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Conservative VP
Transamerica PIMCO Tactical – Growth VP
Transamerica PIMCO Total Return VP
Transamerica PineBridge Inflation Opportunities VP
Transamerica ProFund UltraBear VP
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Conservative VP
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Moderate Growth VP
Transamerica QS Investors Active Asset Allocation – Moderate VP
Transamerica Rothschild & Co Large Cap Value VP (formerly, Transamerica Xxxxx Large Cap Value VP)
Transamerica Small/Mid Cap Value VP
Transamerica S&P 500 Index VP
Transamerica X. Xxxx Price Small Cap VP
Transamerica TS&W International Equity VP
Transamerica WMC US Growth VP