JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

Exhibit (d)(38)

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

AGREEMENT made this 31st day of July, 2020, between ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Trust Advisers LLC (formerly, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Management Services, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (formerly, Western Asset Management Company), a California 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”) and the terms of this Agreement, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Portfolio(s) 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 writing by the Trust and Adviser.

2. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST

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:

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;

iv.

regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the implementation of these investment programs; and

provide assistance in determining the fair value of certain securities when market quotations are not readily available for purposes of calculating net asset value for the Trust’s Custodian in accordance with the procedures and methods established by the Trustees of the Trust.

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).

The Adviser has furnished or will furnish the Subadviser with copies of the Portfolios, Registration Statements, Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, Declaration of Trust and By-laws as currently in effect and agrees during the continuance of this Agreement to furnish promptly the Subadviser with copies of any amendments or supplements thereto at the time the amendments or supplements become effective. Until the Adviser delivers any such amendment or supplement to the Subadviser, the Subadviser may rely on the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information and any supplements thereto previously furnished to the Subadviser.

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.

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 (the “Investment Company Act”) and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Investment Advisers Act”) and the rules thereunder.

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.

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, officers or employees.

5. SUPPLEMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Subadviser may enter into arrangements with other persons affiliated with the Subadviser to better enable it to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement for the provision of certain personnel and facilities to the Subadviser, provided that the Subadviser shall be responsible for any acts or omissions of such other persons and shall notify the Adviser in writing before entering into such arrangements.

6. 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 Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.

7. 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.

8. 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 each of the Portfolios, 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 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’ written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the Adviser or Subadviser on sixty days’ 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.

9. PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY SUBADVISER

The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events:

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 actual control or management of the Subadviser or the portfolio manager of any Portfolio.

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 last known business address of the Trust or 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The Declaration of Trust establishing the Trust dated January 22, 2016 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 “ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Insurance Trust” 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.

17. CONSULTATION WITH SUBADVISERS TO OTHER TRUST PORTFOLIOS

As required by Rule 17a-10 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Subadviser is prohibited from consulting with the entities listed below concerning transactions for a Portfolio in securities or other assets:

other subadvisers to a Portfolio;

other subadvisers to a Trust portfolio;

other subadvisers to a portfolio under common control with the Portfolio.

18.

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.

All information furnished by one party to the other party (including their respective agents, employees and representatives) hereunder shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to third parties, except if it is otherwise in the public domain or, with notice to the other party, as ay be necessary to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, subpoenas or court orders. Further, the Adviser and Trust agree that information supplied by the Subadviser, including approved lists, internal procedures, compliance procedures and any board materials, is valuable to the Subadviser, and the Adviser and Trust agree not to disclose any of the information contained in such materials except: (i) as required by applicable law or regulation; (ii) as required by state or federal regulatory authorities; (iii) to the Board, counsel to the Board, counsel to the Trust, the independent accountants and any other agent of the Portfolios; or (iv) as otherwise agreed to by the parties in writing.

19. 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 of the commencement of a regulatory examination of the Subadviser and documentation describing the results of any such examination and of any periodic testing 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. Subadviser also agrees to provide such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Trust, CCO, or his authorized representative, upon request relating to the Subadviser’s compliance program.

20. USE OF NAMES

The parties agree that the name of the Adviser and Subadviser, the names of the affiliates of the Adviser and the Subadviser and any derivative, logo, trademark, service ▇▇▇▇ or trade name are the valuable property of the Adviser and Subadviser and their affiliates, respectively. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Adviser and the Subadviser shall forthwith cease to use such name(s), derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names of the other party. It is understood that the Subadviser shall have not responsibility to ensure the adequacy of the form or content of such materials for purposes of the Investment Company Act or other applicable laws or regulations. If the Adviser or Subadviser makes an unauthorized use of the other party’s names, derivatives, logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names, it is acknowledged that such other party shall suffer irreparable hardship for which monetary damages are inadequate and therefore such other party will be entitled to injunctive relief.

21. AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS

Subadviser may execute all documents and agreements with brokers and dealers, including brokerage agreement, clearing agreements, account documentation, swap arrangements, other investment related agreements, and any other agreements, documents, or instruments the Subadviser believes are appropriate or desirable in performing its duties under this Agreement, for the purposes of managing the Portfolios provided that the Subadviser does not contravene the Prospectus, investment guidelines, or other applicable Trust portfolios’ requirements or limitations.

22. EXECUTION

This Agreement and any amendments hereto and any notices or other communications hereunder that are required to be in writing may be in electronic form (including without limitation by facsimile and, in the case of notices and other communications, email) and may be executed by means of electronic signatures.

(THE REMAINDER OF THIS SPACE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

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.

	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE TRUST ADVISERS LLC

	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Global Head of Manager Oversight

WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC

By:	/s/ Marzo ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name:	Marzo ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title:	Director Global Client Service/Marketing

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”):

[ ]

*The term Aggregate Net Assets for a given day includes the net assets of a Portfolio of the Trust. It also includes the net assets of one or more other portfolios of the Trust or other trusts 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 for a given day, the net assets of the Portfolio and each other portfolio of the Trust are determined by the Custodian 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 or trust are determined as of the close of business on the previous business day of that fund.

Trust Portfolio(s)		Other Portfolio(s)
High Yield Trust	--	High Yield Fund, a series of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds II

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 (i) the sum of the amounts determined by applying the annual percentage rates in the table to the applicable portions of Aggregate Net Assets divided by (ii) Aggregate Net Assets (the “Applicable Annual Fee Rate”). The Subadviser Fee for the 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.

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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JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT

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