AMENDMENT NO.1 TO BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4 FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h.19)
AMENDMENT NO.1 TO
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4 FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT No. 1 (“Amendment”) is made as of June 12, 2023 to the Blackrock Rule 12d1-4 Fund of Funds Investment Agreement dated June 12, 2023 (“Agreement”), by and among each of iShares Trust, iShares, Inc., iShares U.S. ETF Trust, BlackRock ETF Trust and BlackRock ETF Trust II, each on behalf of each portfolio series of each such registrant listed on Schedule B to the Agreement (collectively, the “Acquired Funds”) and Collaborative Investment Series Trust, on behalf of each portfolio series thereof listed on Schedule A to the Agreement (collectively, the “Acquiring Funds”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, the parties agree to amend the Agreement to reflect the authorized signatory of Collaborative Investment Series Trust; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter contained and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. | Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC serves as investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund listed on Schedule A to the Agreement. |
2. | The Agreement was signed by Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, the Chief Operations Officer of Goose Hollow Capital Management LLC. |
3. | Xx. Xxxxxxxx is not an authorized signatory of Collaborative Investment Series Trust. |
4. | The undersigned signatory to this Amendment is an authorized signature of Collaborative Investment Series Trust and hereby executes this Amendment with the intent to bind the Acquiring Funds to the Agreement as of the date of first stated above. |
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signatures follow on next page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT SERIES | ||
TRUST |
||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | President and Chairman | |
Date: | 7/6/2023 | |
BLACKROCK ETF TRUST | ||
BLACKROCK ETF TRUST II | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President | |
Date: | Jul 10, 2023 | |
ISHARES TRUST | ||
ISHARES, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
Date: | Jul 13, 2023 |
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BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of 6/12/23 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
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5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: | If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C | iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Group 00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | COO |
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Acquired Fund signature page follows]
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust |
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BlackRock ETF Trust II |
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
By: |
![]() | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: Collaborative Investment Series Trust; CIK# 0001719812
Series: S000073730 Goose Hollow Tactical Allocation ETF
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx c/o Goose Hollow Capital Management 00 X. Xxxxxx Xx. |
Tenafly, NJ 0767 |
Email: xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of August 10, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
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ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: |
If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C |
iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Xxxxx00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Senior Vice President |
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust | ||
BlackRock ETF Trust II | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust | ||
iShares, Inc. | ||
iShares U.S. ETF Trust | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Each severally and not jointly
Registrant: Columbia Funds Series Trust |
Series: Columbia Overseas Value Fund |
Columbia Small Cap Index Fund |
Registrant: Columbia Funds Series Trust I |
Series: Columbia Balanced Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2020 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2025 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2030 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2035 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2040 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2045 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2050 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2055 Fund |
Columbia Adaptive Retirement 2060 Fund |
Columbia Pyrford International Stock Fund |
Multi-Manager Alternative Strategies Fund |
Multi-Manager Directional Alternative Strategies Fund |
Multi-Manager Growth Strategies Fund |
Multi-Manager International Equity Strategies Fund |
Multi-Manager Small Cap Equity Strategies Fund |
Multi-Manager Total Return Bond Strategies Fund |
Registrant: Columbia Funds Series Trust II |
Series: Columbia Strategic Municipal Income Fund |
Columbia High Yield Bond Fund |
Columbia Global Opportunities Fund |
Columbia Overseas Core Fund |
Columbia Global Value Fund |
Multi-Manager Value Strategies Fund |
Registrant: Columbia Funds Variable Series Trust II |
Series: Columbia Variable Portfolio – Overseas Core Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Moderate Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Balanced Fund |
Registrant: Columbia Funds Variable Insurance Trust |
Series: Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Conservative Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Volatility Conservative Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Flexible Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Flexible Moderate Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – U.S. Flexible Conservative Growth Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk Fund |
Columbia Variable Portfolio – Managed Risk U.S. Fund |
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Xxx Xxxxxxx
c/o Columbia Threadneedle Investments
000 Xxxxxxxx Xx.
Boston, MA 02210
Email: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
c/o Columbia Threadneedle Investments
000 Xxxxxxxx Xx.
Boston, MA 02210
Email: xxxx.x.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of September 13, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
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ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: |
If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C |
iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Xxxxx00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust | ||
BlackRock ETF Trust II | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: The Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc.
Series: Hartford AARP Balanced Retirement Fund
Hartford Multi-Asset Income Fund
Registrant: The Hartford Mutual Funds II, Inc.
Series: Hartford Schroders Diversified Growth Fund
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Hartford Schroders Diversified Growth Fund c/o
Hartford Funds Management Company
000 Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000
Fax:
Email: XxxxxxXxxxxxx.XxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Hartford Funds
Attn: Legal Dept.
000 Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000
Fax:
Email: XxxxxxXxxxxxx.XxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit (h.19)
AMENDMENT NO. 1
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) is made as of the 14th day of July 2022, by and among each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B thereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule thereto), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, the Registrants entered into that certain Fund of Funds Investment Agreement dated as of January 19, 2022, as may be amended from time to time (the “Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Section 9(d) of the Agreement provides that the Agreement may be amended by a writing that is signed by each affected party;
WHEREAS, the Registrants each desire to amend the Agreement to add BlackRock Funds V as a “Registrant” under the Agreement (“New Registrant”), on behalf of itself and BlackRock High Yield Bond Portfolio (“New Acquired Fund”), pursuant to the terms and conditions contained therein; and
WHEREAS, New Registrant, on behalf of itself and the New Acquired Fund, desires to become a party to the Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions contained therein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and premises contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Amendment hereby agree to the following:
I. JOINDER AND AMENDMENT
(a) Joinder. The parties hereto agree that, effective upon execution of this Amendment, the New Registrant, on behalf of itself and the New Acquired Fund, shall become a party to the Agreement and shall thereafter be a “Registrant” and its series an “Acquired Fund” (as such terms are defined and used in the Agreement), and shall be bound by all covenants, agreements, terms and conditions applicable to it as set forth therein and herein.
(b) Amended Schedule B. The current Schedule B to the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the new Schedule B attached hereto is substituted in lieu thereof and shall hereafter constitute Schedule B to the Agreement.
II. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) No Further Amendment. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions, and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment is limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed to be an amendment to any other term or condition of the Agreement.
(b) Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties contained in the Agreement are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof.
(c) Effect of Amendment. This Amendment shall form a part of the Agreement for all purposes and each party thereto and hereto shall be bound hereby. From and after the execution of this Amendment by the parties hereto, any reference to the Agreement shall be deemed a reference to the Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment shall be deemed to be in full force and effect from and after the execution of this Amendment by the parties hereto.
(d) Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws governing the Agreement.
(e) Separability Clause. If any provision of this Amendment is determined to be invalid, illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof and the provisions of the Agreement will be considered severable and will not be affected thereby, and every remaining provision hereof and provision of the Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
(f) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, including electronically scanned copies thereof sent by electronic mail, each of which is deemed an original but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS RESPECTIVE SERIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE A, Severally and Not Jointly | ||
| ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS APPLICABLE SERIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE B, Severally and Not Jointly | ||
BlackRock ETF | ||
Trust BlackRock | ||
ETF Trust II | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President | |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS APPLICABLE SERIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE B, Severally and Not Jointly | ||
iShares Trust iShares, Inc. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
NEW REGISTRANT: | ||
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS APPLICABLE SERIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE B, Severally and Not Jointly | ||
BlackRock Funds V | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
JPMorgan Trust I
JPMorgan Access Balanced Fund
JPMorgan Access Growth Fund
JPMorgan California Tax Free Bond Fund
JPMorgan Corporate Bond Fund
JPMorgan Diversified Fund
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Debt Fund
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Equity Fund
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Strategic Debt Fund
JPMorgan Equity Focus Fund
JPMorgan Europe Dynamic Fund
JPMorgan Floating Rate Income Fund
JPMorgan Global Allocation Fund
JPMorgan International Global Bond Opportunities Fund
JPMorgan Hedged Equity Fund
JPMorgan Hedged Equity 2 Fund
JPMorgan Hedged Equity 3 Fund
JPMorgan High Yield Municipal Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Tax High Yield Municipal Fund)
JPMorgan Income Fund
JPMorgan Income Builder Fund
JPMorgan Inflation Managed Bond Fund
JPMorgan Intermediate Tax Free Bond Fund
JPMorgan International Equity Fund
JPMorgan International Focus Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan International Unconstrained Equity Fund)
JPMorgan International Value Fund
JPMorgan U.S. Applied Data Science Value Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Intrepid Value Fund)
JPMorgan Managed Income Fund
JPMorgan Mid Cap Equity Fund
JPMorgan New York Tax Free Bond Fund
JPMorgan Opportunistic Equity Long/Short Fund
JPMorgan Research Market Neutral Fund
JPMorgan Short Duration Core Plus Fund
JPMorgan Small Cap Blend Fund
JPMorgan Small Cap Equity Fund
JPMorgan U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Intrepid Advantage Fund)
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Income Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2020 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2025 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2030 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2035 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2040 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2045 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2050 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2055 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2060 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend Income Fund
JPMorgan Trust I (continued)
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2020 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2025 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2030 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2035 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2040 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2045 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2050 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2055 Fund
JPMorgan SmartRetirement Blend 2060 Fund
JPMorgan Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
JPMorgan Tax Aware Equity Fund
JPMorgan Tax Aware Real Return Fund
JPMorgan Total Return Fund
JPMorgan U.S. Equity Fund
JPMorgan U.S. GARP Equity Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Intrepid Growth Fund)
JPMorgan U.S. Large Cap Core Plus Fund
JPMorgan U.S. Research Enhanced Equity Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Disciplined Equity Fund)
JPMorgan U.S. Small Company Fund
JPMorgan U.S. Value Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Growth and Income Fund)
JPMorgan Unconstrained Debt Fund
JPMorgan Value Advantage Fund
JPMorgan Trust II
JPMorgan Core Bond Fund
JPMorgan Core Plus Bond Fund
JPMorgan Equity Income Fund
JPMorgan Equity Index Fund
JPMorgan Government Bond Fund
JPMorgan High Yield Fund
JPMorgan International Research Enhanced Equity Fund
JPMorgan Investor Balanced Fund
JPMorgan Investor Conservative Growth Fund
JPMorgan Investor Growth Fund
JPMorgan Investor Growth & Income Fund
JPMorgan Large Cap Growth Fund
JPMorgan Large Cap Value Fund
JPMorgan Limited Duration Bond Fund
JPMorgan Market Expansion Enhanced Index Fund
JPMorgan Mid Cap Growth Fund
JPMorgan Mortgage-Backed Securities Fund
JPMorgan Short Duration Bond Fund
JPMorgan Short-Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
JPMorgan Small Cap Growth Fund
JPMorgan Small Cap Value Fund
JPMorgan XXXX Cap Equity Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Intrepid Mid Cap Fund)
JPMorgan Sustainable Municipal Income Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan Municipal Fund)
JPMorgan Tax Free Bond Fund
X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
JPMorgan Mid Cap Value Fund
JPMorgan Institutional Trust
JPMorgan Core Bond Trust
JPMorgan Intermediate Bond Trust
JPMorgan Insurance Trust
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Core Bond Portfolio
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Global Allocation Portfolio
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Income Builder Portfolio
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Mid Cap Value Portfolio
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Small Cap Core Portfolio
JPMorgan Insurance Trust U.S. Equity Portfolio
X.X. Xxxxxx Mutual Fund Investment Trust
JPMorgan Growth Advantage Fund
Undiscovered Managers Funds
JPMorgan Realty Income Fund
Undiscovered Managers Behavioral Value Fund
X.X. Xxxxxx Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
JPMorgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Equity ETF
JPMorgan ActiveBuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF (formerly
known as JPMorgan Emerging Markets Equity Core ETF)
JPMorgan Inflation Managed Bond ETF
JPMorgan Trust IV
JPMorgan Core Focus SMA Fund
JPMorgan International Hedged Equity Fund
JPMorgan Macro Opportunities Fund
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income Fund
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Research Enhanced Equity Fund
JPMorgan SmartSpending 2015 Fund (formerly known as JPMorgan SmartSpending 2050 Fund)
JPMorgan SmartSpending 2020 Fund
JPMorgan Ultra-Short Municipal Fund
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
All Series
Open-End Mutual Funds:
BlackRock Funds V
BlackRock High Yield Bond Portfolio
12d1-4 List. This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of June 28, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Fund s may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund ’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
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ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: |
If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C |
iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Xxxxx00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
![]() | |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | President |
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Acquired Fund signature page follows]
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust
BlackRock ETF Trust II
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
Series: Main Sector Rotation ETF
Main Thematic Innovation ETF
Main International ETF
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
c/o Main Management, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
San Francisco, California 94108
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxx, President
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Cincinnati, OH 45246 [City, State, Zip]
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12dl-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 2, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 12dl-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”) permits registered investment companies, such as the Acquiring Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12dl -4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(l)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12dl-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d 1 -4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12dl-4 Xxxxxx an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
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ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d 1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: | If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C | iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Group 12d 00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 3 0 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
![]() | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title. | Coo-Managing Director |
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRockETF Trust
BlackRockETF Trust II
By: |
![]() | |
Name: |
Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: |
Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
By: |
![]() | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: Nomura Private Capital LLC (RIA / SEC#: 801-127179)
• | Fund: Nomura Alternative Income Fund (NAIFX) |
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12dl-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Nomura Alternative Income Fund
c/o Nomura Private Capital LLC
Worldwide Plaza
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
New York, NY 10019
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of 3/21/2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
3
subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
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5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: | If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C | iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Xxxxx00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
6
doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
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8
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust
BlackRock ETF Trust II
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
9
Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: TCW Funds, Inc.
Series: TCW Conservative Allocation Fund
Registrant: Metropolitan West Funds
Series: MetWest AlphaTrak 500 Fund
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
c/o TCW Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Email: Xxxxxxx.xxxx@xxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Attn: Legal Dept.
TCW Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Email: xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@tcw..com
Exhibit (h.19)
BLACKROCK RULE 12d1-4
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of July 17, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between each registered open-end investment company (each, a “Registrant”), on behalf of each portfolio series of each such Registrant listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto, or if the relevant Registrant has no portfolio series, then the relevant Registrant (as applicable, each an “Acquiring Fund” or “Acquired Fund” pursuant to the applicable schedule), each severally and not jointly.
WHEREAS, each Registrant 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, 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 Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, 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, an 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 Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and certain additional terms of investment as provided below.
1. | Terms of Investment. |
(a) | In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on an Acquired Fund by an Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, each Acquiring Fund and each Acquired Fund agree as follows: |
(i) | In-kind redemptions. The Acquiring Fund 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 honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (which discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind), even where such Acquired Fund does not ordinarily satisfy redemption requests in-kind (particularly in the case of Acquired Funds that are not exchange-traded funds). |
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(ii) | Timing/advance notice of redemptions. |
1. | With respect to Enumerated Funds (as defined on Schedule B), the Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to provide the required advanced notification specified in the 12d1-4 List (as defined below). Such notice shall be provided to the Acquired Fund(s) whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. This provision shall only apply in connection with any investment made by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in the instance where the Acquired Fund is an exchange-traded fund, the requirements of this paragraph (1) shall not apply to transactions in which an Acquiring Fund did not know or have reason to know that such transaction would result in a redemption transaction with the Acquired Fund (such as where an Acquiring Fund sells shares in the secondary market). |
2. | The 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 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 the 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. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund. |
2. | Representations of the Acquired Funds. |
In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (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.
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3. | Representations of the Acquiring Funds. |
(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), 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 Funds; (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) | An Acquiring Fund shall promptly notify an Acquired Fund: |
i. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
ii. | of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; |
iii. | where an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, hold more than 25% of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and |
iv. | if at any time an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities of an Acquired Fund in excess of an amount noted in (i), (ii), or (iii) above. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that 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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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. |
(d) | The requirements set forth in Sections 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), and 3(c) shall not apply where the Acquiring Fund’s full portfolio is sub-advised by any affiliate of BlackRock, Inc. |
(e) | An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request. |
(f) | Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in the Ineligible Funds (as defined in Schedule B) and that the Enumerated Funds are |
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subject to certain additional conditions described on the list of Ineligible Funds and Enumerated Funds (the “12d1-4 List”). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 List is available as described in Schedule B, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund’s obligation to review the 12d1-4 List on an ongoing basis for any changes which may occur from time to time. |
4. | Indemnification. |
(a) | Each Acquiring Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify each Acquired Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Acquired Fund, including any of their principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquiring Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquiring Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquired Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquired Fund to such Acquiring Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(b) | Each Acquired Fund agrees to hold harmless and indemnify an Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, against and from any and all losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by or Claims asserted against the Acquiring Fund, including any of its principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation or alleged violation by such Acquired Fund of any provision of this Agreement, such indemnification to include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending such Claims; provided that no Acquired Fund shall be liable for indemnifying any Acquiring Fund for any Claims resulting from violations that occur directly as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Acquiring Fund to such Acquired Fund pursuant to terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
(c) | Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provisions shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual series of the Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series. |
5. | Use of Name. |
(a) | To the extent an Acquiring Fund refers to one or more Acquired Funds in any prospectus, statement of additional information or otherwise (but not in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund when the Acquired Fund is listed as a holding), each Acquiring Fund agrees to: |
i. | Refer to such Acquired Fund by its legal name, for example, the “iShares® [Index Provider (when required)] [Exposure] ETF” (e.g., iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF or iShares Core S&P 500 ETF or iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) upon first reference to such Acquired Fund, and by its legal name or its ticker symbol for subsequent references; and |
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ii. | Include the following notice within reasonable proximity to the first reference to such Acquired Fund, as applicable: |
iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the iShares® Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
BlackRock is a registered trademark of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries (“BlackRock”). Neither BlackRock nor the BlackRock Funds make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in [Name of Acquiring Fund].
(b) | No Acquiring Fund shall use the name or any tradename, trademark, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Acquired Fund, BlackRock or any of their affiliates in its shareholder communications, advertising, sales literature and similar communications (other than a prospectus, statement of additional information, fact sheet or similar disclosure document, or shareholder report) unless it first receives prior written approval (including approval through written electronic communications) of the Acquired Fund or BlackRock. Additionally, no Acquiring Fund shall use any logo of the Acquired Fund or of BlackRock without entering into a separate trademark license agreement with BlackRock. |
6. | 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. Either party may notify the other in writing of any changes to these notice provisions. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required hereunder to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 List.
If to the Acquiring Funds: |
If to the Acquired Funds: | |
As set forth on Schedule C |
iShares ETFs: | |
Email: Xxxxx00x00@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
BlackRock Mutual Funds and Active ETFs: | ||
Email: | ||
XxxxxXxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxXxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
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7. | Additional Acquiring Funds. |
In the event that an Acquiring Fund wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A, the Acquiring Fund shall so notify the Acquired Fund in writing, and if the Acquired Fund agrees in writing, such series shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund, and Schedule A shall be amended accordingly.
8. | Governing Law; Counterparts. |
(a) | This Agreement will be governed by Delaware law without regard to choice of law principles. |
(b) | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic copy of a signature received in Portable Document Format (PDF) or a copy of a signature received via a fax machine shall be deemed to be of the same force and effect as an original signature on an original executed document. |
9. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment. |
(a) | 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 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 Section 9(b). |
(b) | This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days’ notice to the other 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 may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. |
(d) | Other than as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above, this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. |
(e) | In the case of any Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust (each, a “Massachusetts Trust”), a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Massachusetts Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of a Massachusetts Trust shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each Massachusetts Trust. For the avoidance of |
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doubt, no director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of any other Registrant shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable series of each such Registrant. |
10. | Termination of Prior Agreements. The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between an Acquiring Fund and an 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 achieve compliance with Section 12(d)(1) 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. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
EACH ACQUIRING FUND REGISTRANT LISTED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO, ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Legal Officer |
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THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
BlackRock ETF Trust
BlackRock ETF Trust II
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | |
Title: | Vice President |
THE FOLLOWING ACQUIRED FUND REGISTRANTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE B HERETO, EACH ON BEHALF OF ITS APPLICABLE SERIES
iShares Trust
iShares, Inc.
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
By: |
| |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary |
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Schedule A: Acquiring Funds
Registrant: WisdomTree Digital Trust
Series:
WisdomTree Xxxxxx Global Equity Digital Fund
WisdomTree Xxxxxx Longevity Digital Fund
WisdomTree Xxxxxx High Income Digital Fund
WisdomTree Xxxxxx Moderate Digital Fund
WisdomTree Short-Duration Income Digital Fund
Schedule B: Acquired Funds
Exchange-Traded Funds:
BlackRock ETF Trust
All Series
BlackRock ETF Trust II
All Series
iShares Trust
All Series
iShares, Inc.
All Series
iShares U.S. ETF Trust
All Series
This Schedule B is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds (the “Ineligible Funds”) and is supplemented to include Acquired Funds that are subject to certain additional terms of investment as set forth in the Agreement (the “Enumerated Funds”), along with related requirements (the “12d1-4 List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into the Agreement, which is maintained at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xx/xxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxx-00x0-0-xxxx.xxx, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
Schedule C: Notice for Acquiring Funds
WisdomTree Digital Trust
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10119
Attn: Legal Department
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx