JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS II SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (d)(15)
XXXX XXXXXXX FUNDS II
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of January, 2014, between Xxxx Xxxxxxx Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Adviser"), and Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Subadviser"). In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER |
The Subadviser undertakes to act as investment subadviser to, and, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds II (the "Trust") and the terms of this Agreement, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Portfolios specified in Appendix A to this Agreement as it shall be amended by the Adviser and the Subadviser from time to time (the "Portfolios"). The Subadviser will be an independent contractor and will have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or Adviser in any way except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust, the Adviser and the Subadviser. The Trust, the Adviser and the Subadviser shall not be considered as partners or participants in a joint venture.
2. | SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST |
a. | Subject always to the direction and control of the Trustees of the Trust, the Subadviser will manage the investments and determine the composition of the assets of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios' registration statement, as amended. In fulfilling its obligations to manage the investments and reinvestments of the assets of the Portfolios, the Subadviser will: |
i. | obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial and other information affecting the economy generally and individual companies or industries the securities of which are included in the Portfolios or are under consideration for inclusion in the Portfolios; |
ii. | formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related investment policies for each such Portfolio as described in the Trust's registration statement, as amended; |
iii. | take whatever steps are necessary to implement these investment programs by the purchase and sale of securities including the placing of orders for such purchases and sales and communicating such information to the Trust’s Custodian, as designated by Adviser, with respect thereto; |
iv. | regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the implementation of these investment programs; and |
v. | provide assistance to the Trust’s Custodian regarding the fair value of securities held by the Portfolios for which market quotations are not readily available or securities for which such market quotations are not reliable in the opinion of the Subadviser. |
b. | The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii) administrative facilities, including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolios (excluding determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services). |
c. | The Subadviser will select brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants and other counterparties to effect all transactions for the Portfolios, including without limitation, with respect to transactions in securities, derivatives, foreign currency exchange, commodities and/or any other investments. The Subadviser will place all orders with brokers, dealers, counterparties or issuers, and will negotiate brokerage commissions, spreads and other financial and non-financial terms, as applicable. The Subadviser will always seek the best possible price and execution in the circumstances in all transactions. Subject to the foregoing, the Subadviser is directed at all times to seek to execute transactions for the Portfolios in accordance with its trading policies, as disclosed by the Subadviser to the Portfolio from time to time, but in all cases subject to policies and practices established by the Portfolio and described in the Trust’s registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subadviser may pay a broker-dealer that provides research and brokerage services a higher spread or commission for a particular transaction than otherwise might have been charged by another broker-dealer to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and by the Trust’s registration statement, if the Subadviser determines that the higher spread or commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services that such broker-dealer provides, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the Subadviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to accounts managed by the Subadviser. The Subadviser may use for the benefit of the Subadviser’s other clients, or make available to companies affiliated with the Subadviser or to its directors for the benefit of its clients, any such brokerage and research services that the Subadviser obtains from brokers or dealers. |
d. | On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as other clients of the Subadviser, the Subadviser to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio and to its other clients. |
e. | Adviser hereby agrees and consents that the Subadviser and its affiliates are authorized to execute agency cross transactions for the Portfolio provided such transactions comply with applicable laws or regulations. The Subadviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect to the Portfolios as are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act") and Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers Act") and the rules thereunder. |
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f. | The Subadviser shall vote proxies relating to the Portfolio’s investment securities in accordance with the Trust’s proxy voting policies and procedures, which provide that the Subadviser shall vote all proxies relating to securities held by the Portfolio and, subject to the Trust’s policies and procedures, shall use proxy voting policies and procedures adopted by the Subadviser in conformance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act. The Subadviser shall review its proxy voting activities on a periodic basis with the Trustees. |
3. | COMPENSATION OF SUBADVISER |
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser with respect to each Portfolio the compensation specified in Appendix A to this Agreement for services rendered by the Subadviser until the date of termination of this Agreement.
4. | LIABILITY OF SUBADVISER |
Neither the Subadviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall be liable to the Adviser or the Trust for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates except for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of, or from the reckless disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its directors. In addition, neither the Subadviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall be liable to the Adviser or the Trust for any failure to comply with the investment guidelines of the Portfolio and the Trust with respect to the initial portfolio of securities delivered by the Adviser to the Subadviser.
5. | CONFLICTS OF INTEREST |
It is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Subadviser as trustees, officers, partners or otherwise; that employees, agents and partners of the Subadviser are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, shareholders or otherwise; that the Subadviser may be interested in the Trust; and that the existence of any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of any transactions hereunder except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust and the partnership agreement of the Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.
6. | REGULATION |
The Subadviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
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7. | DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT |
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Portfolio on the later of (i) its execution and (ii) the date of the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, at which meeting this Agreement is approved as described below. The Agreement will continue in effect for a period more than two years from the date of its execution only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually either by the Trustees of the Trust or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of Capital Appreciation Fund, a series of the Trust, provided that in either event such continuance shall also be approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required shareholder approval of the Agreement or of any continuance of the Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the series (as defined in Rule 18f-2(h) under the Investment Company Act) of shares of that Portfolio votes to approve the Agreement or its continuance, notwithstanding that the Agreement or its continuance may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the Agreement or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
If any required shareholder approval of this Agreement or any continuance of the Agreement is not obtained, the Subadviser will continue to act as investment subadviser with respect to such Portfolio pending the required approval of the Agreement or its continuance or of a new contract with the Subadviser or a different adviser or subadviser or other definitive action; provided, that the compensation received by the Subadviser in respect of such Portfolio during such period is in compliance with Rule 15a-4 or Rule 18f-2(c)(2), as applicable, under the Investment Company Act.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or with respect to any Portfolio by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio, on sixty days' prior written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the Adviser or Subadviser on sixty days' prior written notice to the Trust and the other party. This Agreement will automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act) or in the event the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust terminates for any reason.
In the event this Agreement is terminated or is not approved in the manner described above, the Sections numbered 2(f) for a period of six years, 3, 4, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and Appendix A of this Agreement as well as any applicable provision of this Section 7 shall remain in effect.
8. | PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY SUBADVISER |
The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events:
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a. | the Subadviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
b. | the Subadviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and |
c. | any change in the partners or in actual control or management of the Subadviser or the portfolio manager of any Portfolio. |
9. | SERVICES TO OTHER CLIENTS |
The Adviser understands, and has advised the Trust’s Board of Trustees, that the Subadviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an investment adviser to fiduciary and other managed accounts and as investment adviser or subadviser to other investment companies. Further, the Adviser understands, and has advised the Trust’s Board of Trustees that the Subadviser and its affiliates may give advice and take action for its accounts, including investment companies, which differs from advice given on the timing or nature of action taken for the Portfolio. The Subadviser is not obligated to initiate transactions for a Portfolio in any security which the Subadviser, its partners, affiliates or employees may purchase or sell for their own accounts or other clients.
10. | AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Any required shareholder approval shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio vote to approve the amendment, notwithstanding that the amendment may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the amendment or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
11. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties.
12. | HEADINGS |
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
13. | NOTICES |
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered or mailed to the business address listed below of the applicable party in person or by registered mail or a private mail or delivery service providing the sender with notice of receipt. Notice shall be deemed given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this paragraph.
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A. | if to the Subadviser, to: |
Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile transmission number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Executive Vice President
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile transmission number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
B. | if to the Adviser, to: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Advisers, LLC
Law Department
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile transmission number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Adviser Counsel
C. | if to the Trust, to: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Advisers, LLC
Law Department
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile transmission number: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Trust Counsel
14. | DISCLOSURE STATEMENT |
Adviser acknowledges receipt of Subadviser’s Disclosure Statement, as required by Rule 204-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, more than 48 hours prior to the date of execution of this Agreement.
15 | SEVERABILITY |
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as if such portion had never been contained herein.
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16 | GOVERNING LAW |
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions in this Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control.
17 | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name "Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds II" refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property, for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim, in connection with the affairs of the Trust or any portfolio thereof, but only the assets belonging to the Trust, or to the particular Portfolio with respect to which such obligation or claim arose, shall be liable.
18 | CONSULTATION WITH SUBADVISERS TO OTHER TRUST PORTFOLIOS |
The Subadviser is prohibited from consulting with the entities listed below concerning transactions for a Portfolio in securities or other assets:
1. | other subadvisers to a Portfolio |
2. | other subadvisers to a Trust portfolio |
3. | other subadvisers to a portfolio under common control with the Portfolio |
19 | CONFIDENTIALITY OF TRUST PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
The Subadviser agrees to treat Trust portfolio holdings as confidential information in accordance with the Trust’s “Policy Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings,” as such policy may be amended from time to time, and to prohibit its employees from trading on any such confidential information, provided that such restriction shall not apply to any disclosure by the Subadviser to its affiliates or to any disclosure required by regulatory authorities, applicable law or the rules of any securities exchange which may be applicable or by legal process (including a subpoena) or if such disclosure is to the Subadviser’s counsel, auditors, agents or consultants who agree to keep such information confidential.
Each party further agrees to treat as confidential any records or information (together "Information") obtained from the other pursuant to this Agreement and not to disclose any part of the Information to a third party or use the Information other than for purposes of carrying out the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions shall not apply to any disclosure of Information by either party to its affiliates or to any disclosure required by regulatory authorities, applicable law or the rules of any securities exchange which may be applicable or by legal process (including a subpoena) or if such disclosure is to either party’s counsel, auditors, agents or consultants who agree to keep such information confidential. Each party shall inform all of its agents of the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement.
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20. | COMPLIANCE |
Upon execution of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser with the Subadviser’s written policies and procedures (“Compliance Policies”) as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act. Throughout the term of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall promptly submit to the Adviser: (i) any material changes to the Compliance Policies, (ii) notification upon request of a regulatory examination of the Subadviser relating to its investment management services and a summary of material findings with respect to the Portfolio of any such examination and of the formal review of the Compliance Policies, and (iii) notification of any material compliance matter that relates to the services provided by the Subadviser to the Trust including but not limited to any material violation of the Compliance Policies or of the Subadviser’s code of ethics and/or related code. Throughout the term of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser with any certifications, information and access to personnel and resources (including those resources that will permit testing of the Compliance Policies by the Adviser) that the Adviser may reasonably request to enable the Trust to comply with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act.
21. | Use of Names |
(a) It is understood that the name “Xxxxxxxx Associates LLC” and “Xxxxxxxx Associates” and “Xxxxxxxx” or any logo associated with those names is the valuable property of the Subadviser and that the Trust and the Adviser have the right to use such name (or derivative or logo), in the Trust’s prospectus, SAI and Registration Statement or other filings, forms or reports required under applicable state or federal securities, insurance, or other law, for so long as the Subadviser is a Subadviser to the Trust and/or one of the Portfolios, provided, however, that the Trust may continue to use the name of the Subadviser in its Registrations Statement and other documents to the extent deemed necessary by the Trust to comply with disclosure obligations under applicable law and regulation. Neither the Trust nor the Adviser shall use the Subadviser’s name or logo in promotional or sales related materials prepared by or on behalf of the Adviser or the Trust, without prior review and approval by the Subadviser, which may not be unreasonably withheld. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Trust and the Adviser shall forthwith cease to use such names (and logo), except as provided for herein.
(b) It is understood that the name “Xxxx Xxxxxxx” and “Xxxx Xxxxxxx Advisers, LLC” and “Xxxx Xxxxxxx Funds II” and any derivative thereof or logo associated with those names are the valuable property of the Adviser and its affiliates, and that the Subadviser shall not use such names (or derivatives or logos) without the prior written approval of the Adviser and only so long as the Adviser is an investment adviser to the Trust and/or the Portfolios. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall forthwith cease to use such name (or derivative or logo). The Subadviser may not use any of those names on a representative client list of the Subadviser without prior written approval of the Adviser.
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22. | COOPERATION |
Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with each other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to the SEC and state insurance authorities) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the Trust.
(THE REMAINDER OF THIS SPACE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by their duly authorized officers as of the date first mentioned above.
XXXX XXXXXXX ADVISERS, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President and | ||
Chief Investment Officer | |||
XXXXXXXX ASSOCIATES LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||
Title: | Executive Vice President and | ||
Chief Operating Officer |
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APPENDIX A
The Subadviser shall serve as investment subadviser for each Portfolio of the Trust listed below. The Adviser will pay the Subadviser, as full compensation for all services provided under this Agreement with respect to each Portfolio, the fee computed separately for such Portfolio at an annual rate as follows (the "Subadviser Fee"):
Portfolio | First $300 million of Aggregate Net Assets* |
Between $300 million and $500 million of Aggregate Net Assets* |
Between $500 million and $1 billion of Aggregate Net Assets* |
Excess Over $1 billion of Aggregate Net Assets* |
Capital Appreciation Fund |
[ ]% |
[ ]% |
[ ]% |
[ ]% |
*The term Aggregate Net Assets includes the net assets of a Portfolio of the Trust managed by the Subadviser. It also includes with respect to each Portfolio the net assets of one or more other portfolios as indicated below, but in each case only for the period during which the Subadviser for the Portfolio also serves as the subadviser for the other portfolio(s). For purposes of determining Aggregate Net Assets and calculating the Subadviser Fee, the net assets of the Portfolio and each other portfolio of the Trust are determined as of the close of business on the previous business day of the Trust, and the net assets of each portfolio of each other fund are determined as of the close of business on the previous business day of that fund, in each case based on market values as reported by the Trust’s custodian.
Trust Portfolio(s) |
Other Portfolio(s) | |
Capital Appreciation Fund |
— |
Capital Appreciation Trust, a series of Xxxx Xxxxxxx Variable Insurance Trust |
The Subadviser Fee for a Portfolio shall be based on the applicable annual fee rate for the Portfolio which for each day shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of the amounts determined by applying the annual percentage rates in the table to the applicable portions (as determined by percentage rate breakpoints) of Aggregate Net Assets divided by (ii) Aggregate Net Assets (the “Applicable Annual Fee Rate”). The Subadviser Fee for each Portfolio shall be accrued for each calendar day, and the sum of the daily fee accruals shall be paid monthly to the Subadviser within 30 calendar days of the end of each month. The daily fee accruals will be computed by multiplying the fraction of one over the number of calendar days in the year by the Applicable Annual Fee Rate, and multiplying this product by the net assets of the Portfolio. The Adviser shall provide Subadviser with such information as Subadviser may reasonably request supporting the calculation of the fees paid to it hereunder. Fees shall be paid either by wire transfer or check, as directed by Subadviser.
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If, with respect to any Portfolio, this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, or if the manner of determining the Applicable Annual Fee Rate changes, before the end of any month, the fee (if any) for the period from the effective date to the end of such month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination or from the beginning of such month to the date such change, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination or change occurs.
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