INTERIM MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This INTERIM MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (Agreement) is made as of this 1st day of April, 2025, by and between Pioneer Series Trust II (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust, and Victory Capital Management Inc., a New York corporation (the Manager).
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as a management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act);
WHEREAS, the Manager is engaged primarily in rendering investment advisory and management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2024, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (Victory Holdings), Amundi Asset Management S.A.S. (Seller) and, solely for certain purposes, Amundi S.A. (Amundi Parent, and together with Seller, the Amundi Parties) entered into that certain Contribution Agreement pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Seller will contribute to Victory Holdings all of the shares of its subsidiary, Amundi Holdings US, Inc. (Amundi Holdings), which owns Amundi Asset Management US, Inc., the investment manager to the series of the Trust designated in Appendix A annexed hereto (the Funds) (the Transaction);
WHEREAS, in order to provide continuous and uninterrupted investment advisory services to each of the Funds following the completion of the Transaction, the Manager sought and obtained approval of this Agreement by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board) and by a majority of the Trustees who have no interest in this Agreement and are not interested persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement, to be effective on completion of the Transaction (the Effective Date), and to continue in effect for a period not to exceed 150 days in accordance with Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act;
WHEREAS, Rule 15a-4 adopted under the 1940 Act provides a temporary exemption from the shareholder approval requirements of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act upon Board approval of an interim agreement containing specified conditions and this Agreement is being entered into in reliance upon Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Manager is willing to furnish such services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:
1. The Trust hereby appoints the Manager to act as investment adviser of each Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Manager accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. (a) Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Manager shall regularly provide each Fund with investment research, advice, management and supervision and shall furnish a continuous investment program for the Funds portfolio of securities and other investments consistent with the Funds investment objectives, policies and restrictions, as stated in the Funds current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The Manager shall determine from time to time what securities and other investments (including, without limitation, repurchase agreements, swap agreements, options, futures and other instruments) will be purchased, retained, sold or exchanged by each Fund and what
portion of the assets of the Funds portfolio will be held in the various securities and other investments in which the Fund invests, and what portion will be held uninvested in cash, and shall implement those decisions (including the execution of investment documentation), all subject to the provisions of the Trusts Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (collectively, the Governing Documents) and the 1940 Act, as well as the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund referred to above, and any other specific policies adopted by the Board and disclosed to the Manager. The Manager is authorized as the agent of the Trust to give instructions to the custodian of each Fund as to deliveries of securities and other investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. Subject to applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and direction from the Board, the investment program to be provided hereunder may entail the investment of all or substantially all of the assets of any Fund in one or more investment companies. The Manager will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for each Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or others selected by it. Except as described herein, the Manager shall seek overall the best execution available in the selection of brokers or dealers and the placing of orders for each Fund. In assessing the best execution available for any transaction, the Manager may consider factors it deems relevant, including the size and type of the transaction, the nature and character of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold, the execution capabilities and financial condition of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission or dealer spread, if any (whether for a specific transaction or on a continuing basis). In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, subject to applicable law, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Manager is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or in terms of all of the accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Manager shall also provide advice and recommendations with respect to other aspects of the business and affairs of each Fund, shall exercise voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to the Funds portfolio securities subject to such direction as the Board may provide, and shall perform such other functions of investment management and supervision as may be directed by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager shall not be deemed to have assumed any duties with respect to, and shall not be responsible for, the distribution of the shares of any Fund, nor shall the Manager be deemed to have assumed or have any responsibility with respect to functions specifically assumed by any administrator, transfer agent, fund accounting agent, custodian, shareholder servicing agent or other agent, in each case employed by the Trust or a Fund to perform such functions. The Manager may execute on behalf of each Fund certain agreements, instruments and documents in connection with the services performed by it under this Agreement. These may include, without limitation, brokerage agreements, clearing agreements, account documentation, futures and options agreements, swap agreements, other investment related agreements, and any other agreements, documents or instruments the Manager believes are appropriate or desirable in performing its duties under this Agreement.
(b) Each Fund hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Manager which is a member of a national securities exchange to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Fund which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and each Fund hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv).
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3. [Intentionally omitted.]
4. The Trust shall at all times keep the Manager fully informed with regard to the securities and other investments owned by each Fund, its funds available, or to become available, for investment, and generally as to the condition of its affairs. The Trust shall furnish the Manager with such other documents and information with regard to its affairs as the Manager may from time to time reasonably request. The Manager shall supply the Board and officers of the Trust with such information and reports reasonably required by them and reasonably available to the Manager.
5. (a) Unless maintained by another party on the Funds behalf, the Manager shall maintain the books and records with respect to each Funds securities and other transactions and keep the Funds books of account in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Manager hereby agrees that any records that it maintains for each Fund are the property of the Fund, and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Funds request. The Manager further agrees to arrange for the preservation of the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
(b) The Manager shall furnish, at its expense, all necessary services, facilities, equipment and personnel for performing the Managers services under this Agreement. Other than as herein specifically indicated, the Manager shall not be responsible for the Trusts or any Funds ordinary and extraordinary expenses, and the Trust or a Fund shall pay the Trusts or the Funds ordinary and extraordinary expenses. The Manager may agree to provide to the Funds services other than the services that are provided under this Agreement, on such terms as the Manager and the Trust may agree from time to time, and nothing herein shall preclude payment by the Trust or a Fund of compensation to the Manager for any such services rendered pursuant to a written agreement or agreements approved by the Board.
6. From time to time, the Manager shall authorize and permit certain of its directors, officers and employees, who may be elected as Board members or officers of the Trust, to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. The Manager will pay directly or reimburse the Trust for the compensation (if any) of the Trustees who are affiliated persons of the Manager and all officers of the Trust as such, except as the Board may decide.
7. As compensation for the services performed and the facilities furnished and expenses assumed by the Manager, each Fund shall pay the Manager a fee, computed daily at an annual rate set forth opposite the Funds name on Appendix A annexed hereto, based on the Funds average daily net assets or otherwise as set forth on Appendix A. If this Agreement is terminated with respect to any Fund as of any date not the last day of a month, the fee shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect with respect to the Fund subject to a pro rata adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current month as a percentage of the total number of days in the month. The fee earned under this Agreement shall be held in an interest-bearing escrow account with the Funds custodian or some other bank mutually agreeable to the Trust and the Manager. The terms of such escrow account shall state that if a majority of the holders of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund: (i) approve a new management agreement for the Fund with the Manager within 150 days from the Effective Date, the amount in escrow (plus interest earned on that amount while in escrow) will be paid to the Manager; and (ii) do not approve a new management agreement for the Fund with the Manager prior to the Termination Date, the Manager shall be paid, out of the escrow account, the lesser of (a) any costs incurred by the Manager in performing this Agreement with respect to the Fund (plus interest earned on that amount while in escrow), or (b) the total amount paid by the Fund in the escrow account (plus interest earned). Any amounts payable to the Manager hereunder shall be paid as promptly as practicable following the Termination Date. If a Termination Date occurs prior to approval of a new management agreement for a Fund with the Manager, the amount paid to the Manager by the Fund will be determined as provided in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence.
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8. The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder, in good faith, and shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of securities or other transactions for any Fund, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall protect the Manager against any liability to a Fund to which the Manager would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. As used in this paragraph 8, the term Manager shall include any affiliates of the Manager performing services for the Trust or any Fund pursuant to this Agreement and the partners, shareholders, directors, officers and employees of the Manager and such affiliates.
9. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer, or employee of the Manager who may also be a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust or any Fund, to engage in any other business or to devote his time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature, nor to limit or restrict the right of the Manager to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind, including investment advisory and management services, to any other fund, firm, individual or association. If the purchase or sale of securities or other investments consistent with the investment policies of any Fund or one or more other accounts of the Manager is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities or other investments will be allocated among the accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Manager. Such transactions may be combined, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and consistent with the Managers policies and procedures as presented to the Board from time to time.
10. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Funds net assets equal the value of the Funds securities plus any other assets minus its accrued operating expenses and other liabilities, and the terms assignment, interested person, and majority of the outstanding voting securities shall have the meanings given to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act, and references to the 1940 Act shall include any rule, regulation or applicable exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) thereunder and interpretive guidance with respect to the 1940 Act by the Commission or its staff.
11. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement will become effective with respect to each Fund on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect until the 150th day from the Effective Date (the date on which this Agreement terminates with respect to a Fund shall be referred to as the Termination Date).
12. This Agreement may be terminated as to a Fund: (i) at any time, without the payment of any penalty by the vote of the Board or a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities, on not more than 10 calendar days written notice to the Manager; or (iii) by the Manager, at any time, upon 60 calendar days written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will terminate as to a Fund automatically upon the effectiveness of a new management agreement that replaces this Agreement with respect to the Fund (the Successor Agreement).
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13. The Manager agrees that for services rendered to each Fund, or for any claim by it in connection with services rendered to the Fund, it shall look only to assets of the Fund for satisfaction and that it shall have no claim against the assets of any other portfolios of the Trust. The undersigned officer of the Trust has executed this Agreement not individually, but as an officer under the Trusts Declaration of Trust and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually.
14. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no material amendment of the Agreement with respect to any Fund shall be effective until approved, if so required by the 1940 Act, by vote of the holders of a majority of that Funds outstanding voting securities.
15. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. Should any part of this Agreement 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.
16. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
17. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized.
PIONEER SERIES TRUST II | ||
By: | /s/ Thomas Dusenberry | |
Name: | Thomas Dusenberry | |
Title: | President | |
VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Michael Policarpo | |
Name: | Michael Policarpo | |
Title: | President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer |
Signature Page to Interim Management Agreement
Appendix A
Fund |
Fee | |
Pioneer AMT-Free Municipal Fund | 0.50% of the Funds average daily net assets up to $250 million 0.45% of the next $500 million of the Funds average daily net assets 0.40% the next $1.25 billion of the Funds average daily net assets 0.35% of the Funds average daily net assets over $2 billion |
A-1