SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT FRANKLIN TEMPLETON ETF TRUST on behalf of
FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX ETF TRUST
on behalf of
FRANKLIN LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ETF
THIS SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 25, 2017 by and between FRANKLIN ADVISERS, INC., a California corporation (“FAV”), and FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX INVESTMENTS (ME) LIMITED, a limited company incorporated under the laws of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx (“FTIME”), with its registered address at Gate Building, East Wing, 2nd Floor, XX Xxx 000000, Xxxxx International Financial Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with respect to Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF (the “Fund”), a series of Franklin Xxxxxxxxx ETF Trust (the “Trust”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, FAV and FTIME are each registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and engaged in the business of supplying investment management services as an independent contractor; and
Whereas, FTIME is authorized and regulated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) and is engaged in the business of supplying investment advice, and investment management services, as an independent contractor; and
Whereas, FTIME is ultimately a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources Inc. with registered office at United States Corporation Company, 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX, 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx; and
WHEREAS, FAV, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement between FAV and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), has been retained to render investment advisory services to the Fund, an investment management company registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, FAV desires to retain FTIME to render investment advisory, research and related services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and FTIME is interested in furnishing said services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:
1. FAV hereby retains FTIME, and FTIME hereby accepts such engagement, to furnish certain investment advisory services with respect to certain assets of the Fund, as more fully set forth herein.
(a) Subject to the overall policies, direction and review of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and to the instructions and supervision of FAV, FTIME will provide (i) recommendations to FAV, on a non-discretionary basis, with respect to the composition of the portion of the Fund’s portfolio invested in the countries and regions identified in Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (the “Subadvised Portion”), and (ii) investment research and advice with respect to securities and investments in such countries and regions identified in Schedule A. FAV will have full responsibility for all investment advisory services provided to the Fund, and FAV, in its sole discretion, will determine what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and will place all purchase and sale orders with respect to the Fund. As such, FTIME does not owe a duty of best execution in connection with this Agreement.
(b) In performing these services, FTIME shall adhere to the Fund’s investment goal(s), policies and restrictions as contained in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and in the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws, and to the investment guidelines most recently established by FAV (all as may be amended from time to time) and shall comply with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder in all material respects and with the applicable provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(c) FAV, with assistance from and on behalf of FTIME, shall provide the Board in advance of the quarterly Board meetings, and shall present at such quarterly Board meetings, a report of the activities hereunder with respect to the Subadvised Portion, in such form and detail as requested by the Board. FTIME shall make an investment officer available to attend such meetings of the Board as the Board may reasonably request.
(d) In carrying out its duties hereunder, FTIME shall comply with all reasonable instructions of the Fund, the Board or FAV in connection therewith.
2. (a) FTIME shall, unless otherwise expressly provided and authorized, have no authority to act for or represent FAV or the Fund in any way, or in any way be deemed an agent for FAV or the Fund.
(b) It is understood that the services provided by FTIME are not to be deemed exclusive. FAV acknowledges that FTIME may have investment responsibilities for, or render investment advice to, or perform other investment advisory services for, individuals or entities, including other investment companies registered pursuant to the 1940 Act (“Clients”), which may invest in the same type of securities as the Fund. FAV agrees that FTIME may give advice or exercise investment responsibility and take such other action with respect to such Clients which may differ from advice given or the timing or nature of action taken with respect to the Fund.
3. FTIME agrees to use its best efforts in performing the services to be provided by it pursuant to this Agreement.
4. FTIME will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund all records and other information relative to the Fund and prior, present or potential shareholders, and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where FTIME may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Fund.
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5. (a) As compensation for the investment subadvisory services to be rendered by FTIME hereunder, FAV shall pay such fee as specified in Schedule B hereto. The subadvisory fee under this Agreement shall be accrued daily and paid monthly in arrears.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated prior to the end of any month, the monthly fee shall be prorated for the portion of any month in which this Agreement is in effect which is not a complete month according to the proportion which the number of calendar days in the month during which the Agreement is in effect bears to the total number of calendar days in the month, and shall be payable within 10 days after the date of termination.
6. (a) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties hereunder on the part of FTIME, neither FTIME nor any of its directors, officers, employees or affiliates shall be subject to liability to FAV, the Trust or the Fund or to any shareholder of the Fund for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any other act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Fund.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph 6(a), to the extent that FAV is found by a court of competent jurisdiction, or the SEC or any other regulatory agency, to be liable to the Fund or any shareholder (a “liability”) for any acts undertaken by FTIME pursuant to authority delegated as described in Paragraph 1(a), FTIME shall indemnify FAV and each of its affiliates, officers, directors and employees (each a “Franklin Indemnified Party”) harmless from, against, for and in respect of all losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred by a Franklin Indemnified Party with respect to such liability, together with all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by any such Franklin Indemnified Party, in connection with such liability.
(c) No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to protect any director or officer of FAV or FTIME from liability in violation of Sections 17(h) or (i), respectively, of the 0000 Xxx.
7. During the term of this Agreement, FTIME will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under this Agreement other than the cost of securities (including brokerage commissions, if any) purchased for the Fund. The Fund and FAV will be responsible for all of their respective expenses and liabilities.
8. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above, and shall continue in effect for two years. It is renewable annually thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by a vote of the Board or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
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9. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to FAV and FTIME, and by FAV or FTIME upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party.
10. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of any assignment thereof, as defined in the 1940 Act, and upon any termination of the Investment Management Agreement between FAV and the Fund.
11. This Agreement may not be amended without the written consent of FAV and FTIME.
12. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, FTIME hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund are the property of the Fund and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund, or to any third party at the Fund’s direction, any of such records upon the Fund’s request. FTIME further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
13. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
14. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and given by personal delivery, pre-paid registered mail or nationally-recognized overnight delivery service, or by facsimile transmission and shall be effective upon receipt. Notices and communications shall be given:
(i) to FAV:
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(ii) to FTIME:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
XX Xxx 000000
Xxxxx International Financial Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Facsimile:
15. The terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, “interested persons” and “assignment” shall have the meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act.
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16. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California of the United States of America.
17. FTIME acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations of the Trust’s liability as set forth in its Agreement and Declaration of Trust. FTIME agrees that the Trust’s obligations hereunder shall be limited to the assets of the Fund; that no other series of the Trust shall be liable with respect to this Agreement or in connection with the matters contemplated herein; and that FTIME shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from any shareholders of the Fund or any other series of the Trust nor from any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers.
FRANKLIN ADVISERS, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxxx X’Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X’Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
FRANKLIN XXXXXXXXX INVESTMENTS (ME) LIMITED
By: /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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Schedule A
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Region |
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Middle East-North Africa region, including: Egypt Jordan Lebanon Saudi Arabia Qatar Oman United Arab Emirates Bahrain Kuwait Morocco Turkey |
Schedule B
As compensation for the investment subadvisory services to be rendered by FTIME hereunder, FAV shall pay an annual fee in U.S. dollars to FTIME equal to $35,714 for each region, as identified in Schedule A.
