EX-99.(H)(16) 5 d123968dex99h16.htm FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT Fund of Funds Investment Agreement

FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

This Fund of Funds Investment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 19, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made between AMG Funds I, on behalf of its series listed on Schedule A, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquiring Fund”), and SPDR Series Trust, SPDR Index Shares Funds and SSGA Active Trust (each, a “Trust”), each on behalf of their series listed on Schedule B, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquired Fund” and together with the Acquiring Funds, the “Funds”).

WHEREAS, each Fund 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 Fund, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Fund, in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act subject to compliance with the conditions of the Rule; and

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

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

 

1.

Terms of Investment

(a) In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund agree as follows:

(i) Redemptions. The Acquiring Fund acknowledges and agrees that it is not an Authorized Participant, as defined in Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act, and has no ability to directly redeem shares from the Acquired Fund.

(ii) Scale of investment. Upon a reasonable request by the 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. The Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that any information provided pursuant to the foregoing is not a commitment to purchase and constitutes an estimate that may differ materially from the amount, timing and manner in which a purchase order is submitted, if any.


(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 the Acquired Fund, the Acquired Fund shall provide the Acquiring Fund with information on the fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund with reference to the Rule. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund.

(c) The agreements contained in paragraphs 1(a)(ii) and 1(b) apply only with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund that exceeds the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act.

 

2.

Covenants of the Acquired Fund

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

(b) The Acquired Fund agrees that any information regarding planned purchases or sales of shares of the Acquired Fund provided pursuant to Section 1 will be treated confidentially, used solely for the purposes of this Agreement, and will not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of the Acquiring Fund, except for directors/trustees, officers, employees, accountants, legal counsel, investment advisers and other advisers of the Acquired Fund and its affiliates on a need-to-know basis and solely for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

3.

Covenants of the Acquiring Fund.

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

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


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

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

 

4.

Notices

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

 

If to the Acquiring Fund:

  

If to the Acquired Fund:

AMG Funds I    State Street Global Advisors
c/o AMG Funds LLC    One Iron Street
680 Washington Boulevard, Suite 500    Boston, MA 02210
Stamford, CT 06901    Attn: Global Funds Management
Attn: Legal and Compliance Department    Email: NewFoFRule@SSGA.com
Email: amgfcco@amg.com   
   With a copy to:
With a copy to:    State Street Global Advisors
[Name]    One Iron Street
Attn: Legal Dept.    Boston, MA 02210
[Address]    Attn: Legal Department
[City, State, Zip]    Email: NewFoFRule@SSGA.com
Email:   


5.

Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment

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

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

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

(d) Other than as provided in Section 7(b), this Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party.

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

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

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

 

6.

Indemnification

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


provision of this Agreement by the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents or results from any willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder. This Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

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

 

7.

Additional Funds; Removal of Funds

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

(b) In the event that a Trust wishes to no longer make the Acquired Fund available under this Agreement, the Trust shall so notify the Acquiring Fund in writing by providing the Acquiring Fund an amended Schedule B that does not include the Acquired Fund. Upon the Acquiring Fund’s receipt of such amended Schedule B, the amended Schedule B shall be made a part of this Agreement and supersede the prior Schedule B. Except as modified by amended Schedule B, all other terms and conditions of this Agreement shall remain in full force.

 

8.

Severability

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

 

9.

Governing Law

(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(b) In the case of the Acquired Fund, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of the applicable 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 the Acquired Fund shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the Acquired Fund.

(c) In the case of the Acquiring Fund, a copy of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of AMG Funds I 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 the Acquiring Fund shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the Acquiring Fund.


10.

Consequential Damages

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

 

11.

Entire Agreement

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

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


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

SPDR SERIES TRUST

SPDR INDEX SHARES FUNDS

SSGA ACTIVE TRUST

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

 

By:   /s/ Ann M. Carpenter
Name:   Ann M. Carpenter
Title:   Vice President / Deputy Treasurer

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


AMG Funds I

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

 

By:   /s/ Thomas Disbrow
Name:   Thomas Disbrow
Title:   Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and Principal Financial Officer


SCHEDULE A

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

Acquiring Funds

AMG FQ Global Risk-Balanced Fund


SCHEDULE B (as of 10-1-21)      

List of Acquired Funds to Which the Agreement Applies

 

Fund Name

  

Ticker

  

Trust

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF    RWX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Dow Jones Global Real Estate ETF    RWO    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF    FEZ    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF    CWI    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF    SPGM    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI ACWI Low Carbon Target ETF    LOWC    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF    EFAX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF    QEFA    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF    EEMX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF    QEMM    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR MSCI World StrategicFactors ETF    QWLD    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Emerging Asia Pacific ETF    GMF    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P North American Natural Resources ETF    NANR    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P China ETF    GXC    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF    SPDW    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF    GWX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF    SPEM    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF    EDIV    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF    EWX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF    WDIV    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF    GII    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF    GNR    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR S&P International Dividend ETF    DWX    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF    SPEU    SPDR Index Shares Funds
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-10 Year TIPS ETF    TIPX    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF    BIL    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF    BWZ    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF    SPTS    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF    SPTI    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF    BILS    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF    EBND    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF    EMHC    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bond ETF    IBND    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Treasury Bond ETF    BWX    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF    JNK    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF    SPIB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF    SPLB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF    SPTL    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF    SHM    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond ETF    TFI    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Nuveen Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond ETF    HYMB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Short Term Corporate Bond ETF    SPSB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF    SPAB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF    CWB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF    FLRN    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio TIPS ETF    SPIP    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF    SPMB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF    SPBO    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF    SJNK    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Bloomberg SASB Corporate Bond ESG Select ETF    RBND    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF    RWR    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF    XITK    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR FTSE International Government Inflation-Protected Bond ETF    WIP    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Global Dow ETF    DGT    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF    SPHY    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR ICE Preferred Securities ETF    PSK    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF    QUS    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR NYSE Technology ETF    XNTK    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Russell 1000 Low Volatility Focus ETF    ONEV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Russell 1000 Momentum Focus ETF    ONEO    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF    ONEY    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF    VLU    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF    MMTM    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETF    EFIV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF    SPYX    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF    SPYG    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF    SPYD    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF    SPLG    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF    SPYV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF    XAR    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Bank ETF    KBE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF    XBI    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF    KCE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF    SPTM    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Health Care Equipment ETF    XHE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF    XHS    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Dividend ETF    SDY    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF    XHB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Insurance ETF    KIE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Internet ETF    XWEB    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho Clean Power ETF    CNRG    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF    ROKT    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho Future Security ETF    FITE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho Intelligent Structures ETF    SIMS    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho New Economies Composite ETF    KOMP    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF    HAIL    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF    XME    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF    MDYG    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF    MDYV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF    SPMD    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF    XES    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF    XOP    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF    XPH    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF    KRE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Retail ETF    XRT    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF    XSD    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF    SLY    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF    SLYG    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF    SPSM    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF    SLYV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF    XSW    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Telecom ETF    XTL    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR S&P Transportation ETF    XTN    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR SSGA Gender Diversity Index ETF    SHE    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR SSGA US Large Cap Low Volatility Index ETF    LGLV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF    SMLV    SPDR Series Trust
SPDR Nuveen Municipal Bond ETF    MBND    SSGA Active Trust
SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF    TOTL    SSGA Active Trust
SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF    ULST    SSGA Active Trust
SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF    EMTL    SSGA Active Trust
SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF    SRLN    SSGA Active Trust