BlackRock Funds II (the "Registrant"): BlackRock Multi-Asset
Income Portfolio (the "Fund")
77Q1(e):
Copies of new or amended Registrant investment advisory contracts
Attached please fund as an exhibit to Sub-Item 77Q1(e)
of Form N-SAR, a copy of the new Sub-Investment
Advisory Agreement between BlackRock Advisors, LLC
("Adviser") and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited ("Sub-
Adviser") with respect to the Fund.
Exhibit 77Q1(e).1
SUB-INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated September 24, 2012, between BlackRock
Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Adviser"), and BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, a corporation
organized under the laws of Singapore (the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Adviser has agreed to furnish investment
advisory services to the portfolios listed in Appendix A (each
a "Portfolio"), each a series of BlackRock Funds II, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), an open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser wishes to retain the Sub-Adviser to
provide it with certain sub-advisory services as described
below in connection with Adviser's advisory activities on
behalf of the Portfolio;
WHEREAS, the advisory agreement between the Adviser and
the Trust, dated May 31, 2007 and Addendum No. 1 thereto,
dated January 30, 2008 (such agreement or the most recent
successor agreement between such parties relating to advisory
services to the Trust is referred to herein as the "Advisory
Agreement") contemplates that the Adviser may sub-contract
investment advisory services with respect to the Portfolio to
a sub-adviser; and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such
services upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises
and covenants herein contained and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it
is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. The Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-
Adviser to act as sub-adviser with respect to the Portfolio
and the Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services herein set forth for the compensation
herein provided.
2. Services of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to the
succeeding provisions of this section, the oversight and
supervision of the Adviser and the direction and control of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser will perform
certain of the day-to-day operations of the Portfolio, which
may include one or more of the following services, at the
request of the Adviser: (a) acting as investment adviser for
and managing the investment and reinvestment of those assets
of the Portfolio as the Adviser may from time to time request
and in connection therewith have complete discretion in
purchasing and selling such securities and other assets for
the Portfolio and in voting, exercising consents and
exercising all other rights appertaining to such securities
and other assets on behalf of the Portfolio; (b) arranging,
subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 hereof, for the
purchase and sale of securities and other assets of the
Portfolio; (c) providing investment research and credit
analysis concerning the Portfolio's investments, (d) assisting
the Adviser in determining what portion of the Portfolio's
assets will be invested in cash, cash equivalents and money
market instruments, (e) placing orders for all purchases and
sales of such investments made for the Portfolio, and (f)
maintaining the books and records as are required to support
Portfolio investment operations. At the request of the
Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will also, subject to the oversight
and supervision of the Adviser and the direction and control
of the Trust's Board of Trustees, provide to the Adviser or
the Portfolio any of the facilities and equipment and perform
any of the services described in Section 4 of the Advisory
Agreement. In addition, the Sub-Adviser will keep the
Portfolio and the Adviser informed of developments materially
affecting the Portfolio and shall, on its own initiative,
furnish to the Portfolio from time to time whatever
information the Sub-Adviser believes appropriate for this
purpose. The Sub-Adviser will periodically communicate to the
Adviser, at such times as the Adviser may direct, information
concerning the purchase and sale of securities for the
Portfolio, including: (a) the name of the issuer, (b) the
amount of the purchase or sale, (c) the name of the broker or
dealer, if any, through which the purchase or sale is
effected, (d) the CUSIP number of the instrument, if any, and
(e) such other information as the Adviser may reasonably
require for purposes of fulfilling its obligations to the
Portfolio under the Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will
provide the services rendered by it under this Agreement in
accordance with the Portfolio's investment objectives,
policies and restrictions (as currently in effect and as they
may be amended or supplemented from time to time) as stated in
the Portfolio's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and the resolutions of the Trust's Board of
Trustees.
3. Covenants.
(a) In the performance of its duties under this
Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall at all times conform to, and
act in accordance with, any requirements imposed by: (i) the
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and all applicable
Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"); (ii) any other applicable provision of
law; (iii) the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-
Laws of the Trust, as such documents are amended from time to
time; (iv) the investment objectives and policies of the
Portfolio as set forth in the Portfolio's Registration
Statement on Form N-1A and/or the resolutions of the Board of
Trustees; and (v) any policies and determinations of the Board
of Trustees of the Trust; and
(b) In addition, the Sub-Adviser will:
(i) place orders either directly with the
issuer or with any broker or dealer. Subject to the
other provisions of this paragraph, in placing orders
with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Adviser will attempt to
obtain the best price and the most favorable execution of
its orders. In placing orders, the Sub-Adviser will
consider the experience and skill of the firm's
securities traders as well as the firm's financial
responsibility and administrative efficiency. Consistent
with this obligation, the Sub-Adviser may select brokers
on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing
services they provide to the Portfolio and other clients
of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. Information and
research received from such brokers will be in addition
to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be
performed by the Sub-Adviser hereunder. A commission
paid to such brokers may be higher than that which
another qualified broker would have charged for effecting
the same transaction, provided that the Sub-Adviser
determines in good faith that such commission is
reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the
overall responsibility of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser
to the Portfolio and their other clients and that the
total commissions paid by the Portfolio will be
reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Portfolio
over the long-term. Subject to the foregoing and the
provisions of the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and other applicable provisions of
law, the Sub-Adviser may select brokers and dealers with
which it or the Portfolio is affiliated;
(ii) maintain books and records with respect to
the Portfolio's securities transactions and will render
to the Adviser and the Trust's Board of Trustees such
periodic and special reports as they may request;
(iii) maintain a policy and practice of
conducting its investment advisory services hereunder
independently of the commercial banking operations of its
affiliates. When the Sub-Adviser makes investment
recommendations for the Portfolio, its investment
advisory personnel will not inquire or take into
consideration whether the issuer of securities proposed
for purchase or sale for the Portfolio's account are
customers of the commercial department of its affiliates;
and
(iv) treat confidentially and as proprietary
information of the Portfolio all records and other
information relative to the Portfolio, and the
Portfolio's prior, current 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 Portfolio, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where the Sub-Adviser 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 Portfolio.
4. Services Not Exclusive. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent the Sub-Adviser or any officer, employee or
other affiliate thereof from acting as investment adviser for
any other person, firm or corporation, or from engaging in any
other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or
restrict the Sub-Adviser or any of its officers, employees or
agents from buying, selling or trading any securities for its
or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom
it or they may be acting; provided, however, that the Sub-
Adviser will undertake no activities which, in its judgment,
will adversely affect the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement.
5. Books and Records. In compliance with the
requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser
hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the
Portfolio are the property of the Trust and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Trust any such records upon the
Trust's request. The Sub-Adviser 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 (to the extent such books and records are not
maintained by the Adviser).
6. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the
Sub-Adviser will bear all costs and expenses of its employees
and any overhead incurred by the Sub-Adviser in connection
with its duties hereunder; provided that the Board of Trustees
of the Trust may approve reimbursement to the Sub-Adviser of
the pro-rata portion of the salaries, bonuses, health
insurance, retirement benefits and all similar employment
costs for the time spent on Portfolio operations (including,
without limitation, compliance matters) (other than the
provision of investment advice and administrative services
required to be provided hereunder) of all personnel employed
by the Sub-Adviser who devote substantial time to Portfolio
operations or the operations of other investment companies
advised or sub-advised by the Sub-Adviser.
7. Compensation.
(a) The Adviser agrees to pay to the Sub-Adviser and
the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation for all
services rendered by the Sub-Adviser as such, a monthly fee in
arrears at an annual rate equal to the amount set forth in
Schedule A hereto. For any period less than a month during
which this Agreement is in effect, the fee shall be prorated
according to the proportion which such period bears to a full
month of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, as the case may be.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the net assets
of the Portfolio shall be calculated pursuant to the
procedures adopted by resolutions of the Trustees of the Trust
for calculating the value of the Portfolio's assets or
delegating such calculations to third parties.
8. Limitation on Liability.
(a) The Sub-Adviser will not be liable for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Adviser or by the Portfolio in connection with the performance
of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of
fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for
services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of
its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties
under this Agreement. As used in this Section 8(a), the term
"Sub-Adviser" shall include any affiliates of the Sub-Adviser
performing services for the Portfolio contemplated hereby and
partners, directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Adviser
and such affiliates.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge
and agree that, as provided in Article Seven of the
Declaration of Trust, this Agreement is executed by the
Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, not individually but as
such Trustees and/or officers of the Portfolio, and the
obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the Trustees
or Shareholders individually but bind only the estate of the
Portfolio.
9. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall
become effective with respect to a Portfolio as of the date
set forth opposite such Portfolio on Appendix A and, unless
sooner terminated with respect to the Portfolio as provided
herein, shall continue in effect for a period of two years.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
in effect with respect to the Portfolio for successive periods
of 12 months, provided such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by both (a) the vote of a majority
of the Trust's Board of Trustees or a vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio at the time
outstanding and entitled to vote and (b) by the vote of a
majority of the Trustees, who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in
the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be
terminated by a Portfolio or the Adviser at any time, without
the payment of any penalty, upon giving the Sub-Adviser 60
days' notice (which notice may be waived by the Sub-Adviser),
provided that such termination by the Portfolio or the Adviser
shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust in office at the time or by the vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the Portfolio entitled to vote, or by the Sub-Adviser on 60
days' written notice (which notice may be waived by the
Portfolio and the Adviser), and will terminate automatically
upon any termination of the Advisory Agreement between the
Trust and the Adviser. This Agreement will also immediately
terminate in the event of its assignment. (As used in this
Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "interested person" and "assignment" shall have
the same meanings of such terms in the 1940 Act.)
10. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be
in writing to the other party at such address as the other
party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such
notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of
the date actually received or on the fourth day after the
postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
11. Amendment of this Agreement. This Agreement may be
amended by the parties only if such amendment is specifically
approved by the vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,
including a majority of those Trustees 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 and, where required by the 1940 Act, by a vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolio.
12. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are
included for convenience of reference only and in no way
define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect. 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. This Agreement shall be
binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York for contracts to be performed entirely therein without
reference to choice of law principles thereof and in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To
the extent that the applicable laws of the State of New York,
or any of the provisions, conflict with the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall
constitute an original counterpart, and all of which,
together, shall constitute one Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this instrument to be executed by their duly authorized
officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
BLACKROCK ADVISORS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
BLACKROCK (SINGAPORE) LIMITED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Managing Director
AGREED AND ACCEPTED
as of the date first set forth above
BLACKROCK FUNDS II
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Appendix A
Name of Series Effective Date
BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Portfolio September 24, 2012
BlackRock Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio September 24, 2012
Schedule A
Sub-Investment Advisory Fee
Pursuant to Section 7, for that portion of the Portfolio for
which the Sub-Adviser acts as sub-adviser, Adviser shall pay a
fee to Sub-Adviser equal to forty-six percent (46%) of the
advisory fee received by the Adviser from the Portfolio with
respect to such portion, net of: (i) expense waivers and
reimbursements, (ii) expenses relating to distribution and
sales support activities borne by the Adviser, and (iii)
administrative, networking, recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency
and shareholder services expenses borne by the Adviser.
