EX-99.H3 11 metft4386521-ex99h3.htm FORM OF RULE 12D1-4 FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

EX-99.h.3

 

RULE 12d1-4

FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of _____________, among [name of Acquiring Trust], a [statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware], on behalf of its separate series listed on Schedule A hereto (each, an “Acquiring Fund”), severally and not jointly, and the [name of Acquired Trust], a [statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware], on behalf of its series listed on Schedule B hereto, severally and not jointly (each, an “Acquired Fund” and together with the Acquiring Fund[s], 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, Section 12(d)(1)(B) of the 1940 Act 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 each Acquiring Fund, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as each Acquired Fund, and also permits registered investment companies, such as each Acquired Fund, to sell its shares to other registered investment companies, such as each Acquiring Fund, in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to compliance with the conditions of the Rule;

 

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; and

 

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

 

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. Each 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, and if applicable, Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act, the Acquired Fund may honor any redemption request partially or wholly in-kind, including any redemption request from any Authorized Participant acting as an intermediary to execute the Acquiring Fund’s transactions, in the sole discretion of the Acquired Fund (such discretion of the Acquired Fund shall include, but not be limited to, the selection of portfolio securities to distribute in-kind).

 

(ii) Timing/advance notice of redemptions. Each Acquiring Fund will use reasonable efforts to spread large redemption requests (greater than 3% of the Acquired Fund’s total outstanding shares) over multiple days or to provide advance notification of redemption requests to each Acquired Fund whenever practicable and consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s best interests. Each Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that any notification provided pursuant to the foregoing is not a commitment to redeem and constitutes an

 

 

estimate that may differ materially from the amount, timing and manner in which a redemption request is submitted, if any.

 

(iii) Scale of investment. Upon a reasonable request by an Acquired Fund, the 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 and Covenants of each Acquired Fund.

 

In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Acquired Fund represents that it is a registered investment company under the 1940 Act and 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.

 

3.Representations and Covenants of each Acquiring Fund.

 

(a) In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, the Acquiring Fund represents that it is a registered investment company under the 1940 Act and 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) 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.

 

4.Notices.

 

All notices, including all information that either party is required to provide under the terms of this Agreement and/or 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:
   

[ ]

[  ]
   

With a copy to:

With a copy to:

 

5.Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment

 

(a) This Agreement shall be effective for the duration of each 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 Acquired Funds made in reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, the Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated pursuant to Section 6(b).

 

(b) This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing by either party upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party. Upon termination of this Agreement, each Acquiring Fund may not purchase additional shares of an Acquired Fund beyond the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limits in reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time.

 

(c) This Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.

 

(d) This Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party. In the event a party wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A (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 shall be amended accordingly.

 

(e) This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to such State’s choice of law principles.

 

 

(f) This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which is deemed an original but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail or by means of DocuSign® or other electronic signature, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart. Each DocuSign® or other electronic, faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature and the parties hereby waive any objection to the contrary.

 

(g) If any of provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal, in conflict with any law, or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof will be considered severable and will not be affected thereby, and every remaining provision hereof will remain in full force and effect and will remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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

 

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

 

(j) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings, and negotiations.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Name of Trust], [on behalf of each Acquired Fund listed on Schedule B, Severally and Not Jointly]

 

________________________

[Name of Authorized Signer]

[Title]

 

[Name of Trust], [on Behalf of Their Series Listed on Schedule A, Severally and Not Jointly]

 

________________________

[Name of Authorized Signer]

[Title]

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

Acquiring Funds

 

Registrant

 

 

Series:

 

 

Registrant

 

 

Series:

 

 

SCHEDULE B

Acquired Funds