AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS INTERIM INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.(d)(2)(B)
INTERIM INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated this 29th day of December, 2023 by and among American Beacon Funds, a Massachusetts Business Trust (the “Trust”), American Beacon Advisors, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Manager”), and Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), consisting of several portfolios of shares, each having its own investment policies; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has retained the Manager to provide the Trust with business and asset management services, subject to the control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, the Trust’s agreement with the Manager permits the Manager to delegate to other parties certain of its asset management responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 15a-4 of the 1940 Act, the Manager desires to retain the Adviser to render interim investment management services to the Trust with respect to certain of its investment portfolios and such other investment portfolios as the Trust and the Adviser may agree upon and so specify in the Schedule(s) attached hereto (collectively, the “Portfolios”) and as described in the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A as amended from time to time, and the Adviser is willing to render such services;
WHEREAS, the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds, has approved the Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. (a) Duties of Adviser. The Manager employs the Adviser to manage the investment and reinvestment of such portion, if any, of the Portfolios’ assets as is designated by the Manager from time to time, and, with respect to such assets, to continuously review, supervise, and administer the investment program of the Portfolios, to determine in the Adviser’s discretion the securities to be purchased or sold, to provide the Manager and the Trust with records concerning the Adviser’s activities which the Trust is required to maintain, and to render regular reports to the Manager and to the Trust’s officers and Trustees concerning the Adviser’s discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to the Manager’s oversight and the control of the officers and the Trustees of the Trust and in compliance with such policies as the Trustees may from time to time establish, and in compliance with the objectives, policies, and limitations for each such Portfolio set forth in the Trust’s current registration statement as amended from time to time, and applicable laws and regulations. The Adviser accepts such employment and agrees to render the services for the compensation specified
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herein and to provide at its own expense the office space, furnishings and equipment and the personnel required by it to perform the services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein. (With respect to any of the Portfolio assets allocated for management by the Adviser, the Manager will make the investment decisions with respect to that portion of assets which the Adviser deems should be invested in short-term money market instruments. The Manager agrees to provide this service.) The Manager will instruct the Trust’s Custodian(s) to hold and/or transfer the Portfolios’ assets in accordance with Proper Instructions received from the Adviser. (For this purpose, the term “Proper Instructions” shall have the meaning(s) specified in the applicable agreement(s) between the Trust and its custodian(s).)
The Adviser is authorized on behalf of the Portfolios, and consistent with the investment discretion delegated to, and in connection with the services performed by, the Adviser herein, to: (i) enter into agreements and execute any documents, including without limitation, futures and options transactions, brokerage agreements, clearing agreements, account documentation, futures and option agreements, swap agreements, and other investment related agreements required to meet the obligations of the Trust with respect to any investments made for the Portfolios. Such documentation includes but may not be limited to any market and/or industry standard documentation and the standard representations contained therein. Adviser is authorized on behalf of Manager to make all elections required in such agreements, instruments and documentation and make and to receive all related notices from brokers or other counterparties. Manager also authorizes Adviser as agent and attorney-in-fact to make transactions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts on margin, for the Portfolio, and authorizes each broker with whom Adviser makes such transactions to follow its’ instructions with respect to such transactions. Manager understands and agrees that Adviser will determine that such transactions are permitted before instructing a broker to enter into such transactions and that any broker receiving an order for any such transaction will have no independent obligation to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the Trust’s registration statement of the Portfolio’s investment guidelines; and (ii) acknowledge the receipt of brokers’ risk disclosure statements, electronic trading disclosure statements and similar disclosures, provided, however, that (a) the Adviser shall be responsible for ensuring that any such representations are accurate and consistent with the relevant Portfolio’s investment policies and other governing documents; (b) the Adviser shall be responsible for providing all notifications and delivering all documents required to be provided or delivered by a Portfolio under such documentation; and (c) the Adviser shall immediately notify the Manager of any event of default, potential event of default or termination event affecting a Portfolio under such documentation. The Adviser further shall have the authority to instruct the custodian to: (i) pay cash for securities and other property delivered for the Portfolios, (ii) deliver or accept delivery of, upon receipt of payment or payment upon receipt of, securities, commodities or other property underlying any futures or options contracts, and other property purchased or sold for the Portfolios; (iii) deposit of margin or collateral which shall include the transfer of money, securities or other property to the extent necessary to meet the obligations of a Portfolio with respect to any of its investments made pursuant to the Trust’s registration statement, provided, however, that unless otherwise approved by the Manager, any such deposit margin or collateral shall be effected by transfer or segregation within an account maintained for the Portfolios by its custodian subject to a control agreement, acceptable in form and substance to the Manager, pursuant to which such custodian agrees and accepts entitlement orders or instructions from the secured party with respect to such margin or collateral. The Adviser shall not have the authority to cause the Manager or the
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Trust to deliver securities or other property, or pay cash to the Adviser other than payment of the management fee provided for in this Agreement. The Adviser will not be responsible for the cost of securities or brokerage commissions or any other Trust expenses except as specified in this Agreement.
The Adviser may delegate portfolio management and administrative duties to its affiliates and share such information as necessary to accomplish these purposes. In all cases, the Adviser shall remain liable as if such services were provided directly. The Advisor agrees to notify the Manager of any changes to investment personnel or their employer in advance of those changes. No additional fees shall be imposed for such services except as otherwise agreed.
(b) Valuation. In accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board, which may be amended from time to time, the Adviser will provide assistance to the Manager in determining the fair value of all securities and other investments owned by the Portfolios, and use reasonable efforts to arrange for the provision of valuation information or prices from parties independent of the Adviser with respect to the securities or other investments owned by the Portfolios for which market prices are not readily available. The Adviser will monitor the securities and other investments owned by the Portfolios for potential significant events that could affect their values and notify the Manager when, in its opinion, a significant event has occurred that may not be reflected in the market values of such securities.
(c) Compliance Matters. The Adviser, at its expense, will provide the Manager with such compliance reports and certifications relating to its duties under this Agreement and the federal securities laws as may be agreed upon by such parties from time to time. The Adviser also shall: (i) cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Manager, the Trust’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent and pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Portfolios, the Trust and the Manager; (ii) keep all such persons fully informed as to such matters as they may reasonably deem necessary to the performance of their obligations to the Portfolios, the Trust and the Manager; (iii) provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons; and (iv) maintain any appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Adviser shall comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements relating to derivatives transactions entered into by the Adviser for or on behalf of the Trust or any of its Portfolios, including without limitation, compliance with all recordkeeping and reporting requirements pursuant to Parts 43, 45 and 46 of the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and comparable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the “Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules”).
2. Portfolio Transactions. The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers (including, to the extent permitted by law and applicable Trust guidelines, the Adviser or any of its affiliates) that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Portfolios and is directed to use its best efforts to obtain the best net results with respect to brokers’ commissions and discounts as described in the Trust’s current registration statement as amended from time to time. In selecting brokers or dealers, the Adviser may give consideration to factors other than price, including, but not limited to, research services and market information. Any such services or information which the Adviser receives in connection with activities for the Trust may also be used for the benefit of other clients and customers of the Adviser or any of its affiliates. The
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Adviser will promptly communicate to the Manager and to the officers and the Trustees of the Trust such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request. The Adviser shall not, without the prior approval of the Manager, effect any transactions which would cause the portion of the Portfolio’s assets designated to the Adviser to be out of compliance with any restrictions or policies of the Portfolio established by the Manager or set forth in the Portfolio’s registration statement. The Adviser shall not consult with any other investment sub-adviser of the Portfolio concerning transactions for the Portfolio in securities or other assets.
3. Voting Rights. Unless otherwise directed by the Manager, the Adviser shall receive and automatically exercise the voting rights with respect to any and all proxies regarding the assets in the Portfolios in the best interest of Portfolio shareholders and in accordance with the Adviser’s then current proxy voting policy and procedures, a copy of which has been provided to the Manager. The Adviser shall report to the Manager in a timely manner a record of all proxies voted, in such form and format that complies with acceptable federal statutes and regulations (e.g., requirements of Form N-PX), including a record of all proxies not voted and/or voted inconsistently with Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines. The Adviser shall certify at least annually, or more often as may reasonably be requested by the Manager, as to the compliance of its proxy voting policies and procedures with applicable federal statutes and regulations.
4. Compensation of the Adviser. For the services to be rendered by the Adviser as provided in Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay to the Adviser compensation at the rate specified in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement. Such compensation shall be paid to the Adviser in arrears, and the Trust shall calculate the fee by applying the annual percentage rate(s) as specified in the attached Schedule A to the average daily assets of the specified portfolios during the relevant payment period. Solely for the purpose of calculating the applicable annual percentage rates specified in the attached Schedule(s), there shall be included such other assets as are specified in said Schedule(s). The Trust is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Adviser.
The Adviser agrees that the fee charged hereunder will be no more than that charged for any other client of similar type. Furthermore, the Adviser agrees to notify the Manager on a timely basis of any fee schedule it enters into with any other client of similar type which is lower than the fee paid hereunder.
5. Other Services. At the request of the Trust or the Manager, the Adviser in its discretion may make available to the Trust office facilities, equipment, personnel, and other services. Such office facilities, equipment, personnel and services shall be provided for or rendered by the Adviser and billed to the Trust or the Manager at a price to be agreed upon by the Adviser and the Trust or the Manager.
6. Reports. The Manager (on behalf of the Trust) and the Adviser agree to furnish to each other, if applicable, current prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified statements of financial condition, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request.
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7. Status of Adviser. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Trust are not impaired thereby. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Manager or the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent to the Manager or the Trust.
8. Certain Records. Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 promulgated under the 1940 Act or the Derivatives Recordkeeping and Reporting Rules that are prepared or maintained by the Adviser on behalf of the Manager or the Trust are the property of the Manager or the Trust and will be surrendered promptly to the Manager or Trust on request.
9. Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
10. Permissible Interests. To the extent permitted by law, Trustees, agents, and shareholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or shareholders, or otherwise; directors, partners, officers, agents, and shareholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as Trustees, shareholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor thereof) is or may be interested in the Trust as a shareholder or otherwise; provided that all such interests shall be fully disclosed between the parties on an ongoing basis and in the Trust’s registration statement as required by law.
11. Duration and Termination. This Agreement, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect as to each Portfolio through the earlier of (1) 150 days from the date hereof, which shall immediately follow the termination of the previous permanent Investment Advisory Agreement and change of control of the Manager, or (2) the date that a permanent replacement Management Agreement is approved by the shareholders. This Agreement may be terminated as to any Portfolio at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Manager, by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio on not more than calendar days’ written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser at any time without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the other party at the primary office of such party, unless such party has previously designated another address.
As used in this Section 11, the terms “assignment,” “interested persons,” and a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act.
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12. Severability. 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.
13. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, subject to approval by the Board and the Portfolios’ shareholders to the extent required by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretations thereunder.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Texas.
15. Trust and Shareholder Liability. The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Declaration of Trust and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one or more Portfolio, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets of that Portfolio. The Adviser further agrees that they shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any individual shareholder of the Portfolio, nor from the Trustees or any individual Trustee of the Trust.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Trust individually.
16. Notices. Any notices required to be given hereunder may be delivered by hand, email, facsimile, deposited with a nationally recognized overnight carrier, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, in each case, to the address of the other party listed below (or such other address as may be furnished by a party in accordance with this paragraph). All such notices or communications shall be deemed to have been given and received (a) in the case of personal delivery, email or facsimile, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of delivery by a nationally recognized overnight carrier, the earlier of (i) the date of receipt or (ii) the third business day following dispatch and (c) in the case of mailing, on the seventh business day following such mailing. All such notices shall be delivered to:
| A. | If to the Manager: |
American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇.
Suite 1200
Irving, TX 75039
Attention: Chief Investment Officer
with a copy to General Counsel at the same address
or to ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇.
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
| B. | If to the Adviser: |
Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attn: Legal & Compliance Department
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PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQURIED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE, CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first written above.
| Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC | American Beacon Advisors, Inc. | |||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: | Chief Administrative Officer | Senior Vice President | ||
| American Beacon Funds | ||||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| President | ||||
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Schedule A
To the
Interim Investment Advisory Agreement
Among
American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
and
Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC
American Beacon Funds (the “Trust”) shall pay compensation to Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) pursuant to Section 4 of the Interim Investment Advisory Agreement among the Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and the Adviser for rendering investment management services with respect to the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund in accordance with the following annual percentage rates:
[ ]% of assets
Compensation shall be paid by the Trust to the Adviser monthly in arrears.
If the management of the accounts commences or terminates at any time other than the beginning or end of a calendar quarter, the fee shall be prorated based on the portion of such calendar quarter during which the Agreement was in force.
Dated: as of December 29, 2023
| Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC | American Beacon Advisors, Inc. | |||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: | Chief Administrative Officer | Senior Vice President | ||
| American Beacon Funds | ||||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| President | ||||
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