Form 485BPOS VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE

April 4, 2022 9:08 AM EDT

  

  

AMENDMENT NO. 3 

TO  

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

This Amendment No. 3 (the “Amendment”) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds (the “Trust”) amends the Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 19, 2008, as amended (the “Agreement”). 

  

By resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) on December 17, 2021, the Board approved this Amendment. Under Article VIII, Section 4 of the Agreement, this Amendment may be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust. 

  

Whereas, the Trust desires to amend the Agreement to reflect the addition of the following new series: Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund.  

  

Now, therefore, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 

  

1.

Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment. 

2.

All references in the Agreement to the “Declaration of Trust” shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. 

3.

Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby confirmed and remains in full force and effect. 

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, a duly authorized officer of the Trust, has executed this Amendment as of February __, 2022. 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

  

/S/ Laura Merianos _____________ 

(Original signature on Declaration of Trust) 

      Laura Merianos, Assistant Secretary 

EXHIBIT 1 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

SCHEDULE A 

SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST 

  

  

SERIESCLASSES  

  

Vanguard Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional 

Vanguard Managed Allocation FundInvestor 

Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Investor 

Impact Stock Fund 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

AMENDMENT NO. 2 

TO  

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

This Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds (the “Trust”) amends, effective April 16, 2020, the Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 19, 2008 (the “Agreement”). 

  

By resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) on February 20 & 21, 2020, the Board approved this Amendment. Under Article VIII, Section 4 of the Agreement, this Amendment may be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust. 

  

Whereas, the Trust desires to amend the Agreement to reflect the name change of Vanguard Managed Payout Fund to Vanguard Managed Allocation Fund, a series of the Trust;  

  

Now, therefore, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 

  

4.

Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment. 

5.

All references in the Agreement to the “Declaration of Trust” shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. 

6.

Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby confirmed and remains in full force and effect. 

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, a duly authorized officer of the Trust, has executed this Amendment as of April 16, 2020. 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

  

/S/ Laura Merianos _____________ 

(Original signature on Declaration of Trust) 

      Laura Merianos, Assistant Secretary 

EXHIBIT 1 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

SCHEDULE A 

SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST 

  

  

SERIESCLASSES  

  

Vanguard Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Signal, Institutional 

Vanguard Managed Allocation FundInvestor 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 

TO  

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

This Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds (the “Trust”) amends, effective January 17, 2014, the Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 19, 2008 (the “Agreement”). 

  

By resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) on September 26 & 27, 2013, the Board approved this Amendment. Under Article VIII, Section 4 of the Agreement, this Amendment may be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Trust. 

  

Whereas, the Trust desires to amend the Agreement to reflect the merger of Vanguard Managed Payout Distribution Focus Fund and the Vanguard Managed Payout Growth Focus Fund with and into Vanguard Managed Payout Growth and Distribution Fund followed by the name change of Vanguard Managed Payout Growth and Distribution Fund to Vanguard Managed Payout Fund.  

  

Now, therefore, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 

  

7.

Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit 1 to this Amendment. 

8.

All references in the Agreement to the “Declaration of Trust” shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. 

9.

Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, the Agreement is hereby confirmed and remains in full force and effect. 

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, a duly authorized officer of the Trust, has executed this Amendment as of March 13, 2014. 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

  

/S/ Natalie Bej _____________ 

(Original signature on Declaration of Trust) 

Natalie Bej, Assistant Secretary 

EXHIBIT 1 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS 

  

SCHEDULE A 

SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST 

  

  

SERIESCLASSES  

  

Vanguard Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Signal, Institutional 

Vanguard Managed Payout FundInvestor 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST 

  

OF 

  

VANGUARD FORGE FUNDS 

  

  

WHEREAS, this AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of Vanguard Valley Forge Funds (the “Trust”) is made and entered into as of the date set forth below by the Trustees named hereunder for the purpose of continuing the Trust as a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; 

  

WHEREAS, the Trust was formed upon the filing of a certificate of trust in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 28, 1998 pursuant to a declaration of trust dated January 23, 1998 (the “Original Declaration of Trust”); 

  

WHEREAS, the Original Declaration of Trust was amended on July 19, 2002 and further amended on September 27, 2007 (as so amended, the “Amended Declaration of Trust”); and 

WHEREAS, the Trustees consider it appropriate to amend and restate the Amended Declaration of Trust in accordance with the terms of the Amended Declaration of Trust and the Delaware Act. 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Amended Declaration of Trust is hereby amended and restated as follows and the Trustees do hereby declare that the Trustees will hold IN TRUST all cash, securities and other assets that the Trust now possesses or may hereafter acquire from time to time in any manner and manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions. 

  

ARTICLE I. 

  

Name and Definitions 

  

Section 1.Name.  The name of the Trust is “VANGUARD VALLEY FORGE FUNDS” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine. If the Trustees determine to change the name of the Trust, they may adopt such other name for the Trust as they deem proper.  Any name change shall become effective upon approval by the Trustees of such change and the filing of a certificate of amendment under the Delaware Act.  Any such action shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust. 

  

Section 2.Definitions.  Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided: 

  

(a)

“Amended Declaration of Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust; 

(b)

“By‑Laws” shall mean the By‑Laws of the Trust as amended from time to time; 

(c)

“Commission” shall have the respective meanings given it in Section 2(a)(7) and Section (2)(a)(29) of the 1940 Act; 

(d)

“Declaration of Trust” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended or restated from time to time; 

  

(e)

“Delaware Act” refers to Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. § 3801 et. seq. (as amended and in effect from time to time); 

  

(f)“Interested Person” shall have the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act; 

(g)“Investment Adviser” or “Adviser” means a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 6(a) hereof; 

  

(h)“1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time.  References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to include such Rules and Regulations as are applicable to such sections as determined by the Trustees or their designees; 

(i)

“Original Declaration of Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust;  

(j)“Principal Underwriter” shall have the respective meanings given it in Section 2(a)(7) and Section (2)(a)(29) of the 1940 Act; 

  

(k) “Prior Declaration of Trust” refers to the original Declaration of Trust and the Amended Declaration of Trust, each as from time to time in effect prior to the date hereof; 

  

(l) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, foundations, plans, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof, whether domestic or foreign; 

  

(m)“Series” refers to each Series of Shares referenced in, or established under or in accordance with, the provisions of Article III. 

  

(n)“Shareholder” means a record owner of outstanding Shares; 

  

(o)“Shares” means the shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares; 

  

(p)“Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust; 

  

(q)“Trustees” or “Board of Trustees” refers to the persons who have signed this Declaration of Trust and all other persons who were or may from time to time be duly elected or appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof or of the Prior Declaration of Trust, so long as they continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder; and 

  

(r)“Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust. 

  

ARTICLE II. 

  

Purpose of Trust 

  

The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series investing primarily in securities. 

  

ARTICLE III. 

  

Shares 

  

Section 1.Division of Beneficial Interest.  The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into an unlimited number of Shares, with a par value of $ .001 per Share unless the Trustees shall designate another par value in connection with the issuance of Shares or with respect to outstanding Shares as provided in Section 5 of this Article III.  The Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate Series and the division of Series into separate classes of Shares.  The different Series shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees.  If no Series shall be established or if only one Series shall be established, the Shares shall have the rights and preferences provided for herein and in Article III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein. 

  

Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and holders of the Shares of any Series shall be

entitled to receive dividends, when, if and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 1 hereof.  No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or distributions of the Trust or otherwise.  All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a Series (or class) from the assets held with respect to such Series according to the number of Shares of such Series (or class) held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution.  Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series.  The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of a Series into a greater or lesser number of Shares of such Series without thereby materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of such Shares in the assets held with respect to that Series or materially affecting the rights of Shares of any other Series. 

  

All references to Shares in this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to be Shares of the Trust and of any or all Series or classes thereof, as the context may require.  All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust and each class thereof, except as the context otherwise requires. 

  

All Shares issued hereunder, including Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable.  

  

Section 2.Ownership of Shares.  The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series (and class).  No certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time.  The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of Shares of each Series (and class) and similar matters.  The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Series (and class) and as to the number of Shares of each Series (and class) held from time to time by each Shareholder. 

  

Section 3.Investments in the Trust.  Investments may be accepted by the Trust from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Trustees from time to time may authorize.  Each investment shall be credited to the Shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Series (or class) as the purchaser shall select, at the net asset value per Share next determined for such Series (or class) after receipt of the investment; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, impose a sales charge or reimbursement fee upon investments in the Trust. 

  

Section 4.Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability.  Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws of the Trust.  Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof.  The death, incapacity,

dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any such Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but shall entitle such representative only to the rights of such Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust.  Ownership of Shares shall not entitle a Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners or joint venturers.  Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee nor agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time agree to pay. 

  

Section 5.Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for Shareholder action, so as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust, provided that before adopting any such amendment without Shareholder approval the Board of Trustees shall determine that it is consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders and that Shareholder approval is not required by the 1940 Act or other applicable federal law.  If Shares have been issued, Shareholder approval shall be required to adopt any amendments to this Declaration of Trust which would adversely affect to a material degree the rights and preferences of the Shares of any Series (or class) or to increase or decrease the par value of the Shares of any Series (or class). 

  

Section 6.Establishment and Designation of Shares.  The Series and classes of Shares existing as of the date of this Declaration of Trust are those Series and classes that have been established under the Prior Declaration of Trust and not heretofore terminated which are indicated on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof (“Schedule A”).  The establishment of any additional Series (or class) of Shares shall be effective upon the adoption by the Trustees of a resolution that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series (or class), whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of, another document that sets forth the designation of, or otherwise identifies, such Series (or class) including any registration statement of the Trust or such Series (or class), any amendment and/or restatement of this Declaration of Trust and/or Schedule A or as otherwise provided in such resolution.  Upon the establishment of any additional Series (or class) of Shares or the termination of any existing Series (or class) of Shares, Schedule A shall be amended to reflect the addition or termination of such Series (or class) and any officer of the Trust is hereby authorized to make such amendment; provided that amendment of Schedule A shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment or termination of any Series (or class) in accordance with this Declaration of Trust.  The relative rights and preferences of the Shares of the Trust and each Series and each class thereof shall be as set forth herein and as set forth in any registration

statement relating thereto, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series or class. 

  

Shares of each Series (or class) established pursuant to this Section 6, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series (or class) or in any registration statement relating thereto, shall have the following relative rights and preferences: 

  

(a)Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series.  All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a Series, including dividends and distributions paid by, and reinvested in, such Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust.  Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as ”assets held with respect to” that Series.  In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments that are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to the Trust or any particular Series (collectively ”General Assets”), the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among the Trust and/or any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect to that Series.  Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error.   

  

(b)Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series.  The assets of the Trust held with respect to each Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust with respect to such Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to such Series, and any general liabilities of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as being held in respect of a Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among the Trust and/or any one or more Series in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable.  The liabilities, expenses, costs, charges, and reserves so charged to a Series are herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” that Series.  Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes in absence of manifest error.  All liabilities held with respect to a particular Series shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such Series only and not against the assets of the Trust generally or against the assets held with respect to any other Series and, except as otherwise provided in this Declaration of Trust, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such Series.  As and to the extent provided in Section 3804(a) of the Delaware Act, separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Series and the assets held with respect to each Series

shall be held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from the assets held with respect to all other Series and the General Assets of the Trust not allocated to such Series.  Notice of this limitation on inter-Series liabilities shall be set forth in the certificate of trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment). 

 

(c)Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases.  No dividend or distribution including any distribution paid in connection with termination of the Trust or of any Series (or class) with respect to, or any redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Series (or class) shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor shall any Shareholder of any Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series.  The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders in absence of manifest error. 

  

(d)Voting.  All Shares entitled to vote on a matter shall vote without differentiation between the separate Series on a one‑vote‑per‑each dollar (and a fractional vote for each fractional dollar) of the net asset value of each Share (including fractional shares) basis; provided however, if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of one or more but not all Series (or one or more but not all of a class of a Series), then only the Shareholders of such affected Series (or class) shall be entitled to vote on the matter. 

  

(e)Equality.  All the Shares of each Series shall represent an equal proportionate undivided interest in the assets held with respect to such Series (subject to the liabilities of such Series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to classes of Shares within such Series), and each Share of a Series shall be equal to each other Share of such Series. 

  

(f)Fractions.  Any fractional Share of a Series shall have proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole share of such Series, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions and redemption of Shares. 

  

(g)Exchange Privilege.  The Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the Shareholders of any Series shall have the right to exchange such Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees. 

  

(h)Combination of Series.  The Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required by applicable federal law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series. 

  

(i)Elimination of Series.  At any time that there are no Shares outstanding of a Series (or class), the Trustees may abolish such Series (or class). 

  

ARTICLE IV. 

  

The Board of Trustees 

  

Section 1.Number, Election and Tenure.  The number of Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed, or by resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the Board of Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall at all times be at least one (1).  Subject to the requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the then Trustees at a duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees and remove Trustees with or without cause.  Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is removed.  Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees.  Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time.  Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages or other payment on account of such removal.  Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of two‑thirds of the total combined net asset value of all Shares of the Trust issued and outstanding.  A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing or removing one or more Trustees may be called (i) by the Trustees upon their own vote, or (ii) upon the demand of Shareholders owning 10% or more of the Shares entitled to vote. 

  

Section 2.Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee.  The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.  Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in Article IV, Section 1, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. 

  

Section 3.Powers.  Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Board of Trustees, and such Board of Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility including the power to engage in transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust.  Trustees, in all instances, shall act as principals and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders.  The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts, documents and instruments that they may consider desirable, necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Trust.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may:  adopt, amend and repeal By‑Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Trust; elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more

committees consisting of one or more Trustees who may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine; employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank, retain a transfer agent or a shareholder servicing agent, or both; provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable federal law; set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders of each Series from the assets of such Series; establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any Series of Shares, each such Series to operate as a separate and distinct investment medium and with separately defined investment objectives and policies and distinct investment purpose; and in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer or shareholder servicing agent, Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter.  Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive.  In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. 

  

Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust shall have power and authority: 

  

(a)To invest and reinvest cash and cash items, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of all types of securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and forward currency contracts of every nature and kind, including all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, preferred stocks, negotiable or non‑negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other securities of any kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality or organization, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in "when issued" contracts for any such securities, futures contracts and options thereon, and forward currency contracts, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every kind and description, including the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments; 

  

(b)To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series; 

  

(c)To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper; 

  

(d)To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities; 

  

(e)To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in each case to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act; 

  

(f)To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust; 

  

(g)To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depository or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper; 

  

(h)To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, settle or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or a Series, or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes; 

  

(i)To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations; 

  

(j)To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust or Series exclusively for Trust (or such Series) purposes; 

  

(k)To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof; 

  

(l)To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary, desirable or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders,

Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Adviser, principal underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against liability;  

  

(m)To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit‑sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust; and 

  

(n)Subject to the 1940 Act, to engage in any other lawful act or activity in which a statutory trust organized under the Delaware Act may engage. 

  

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Series.  The Trust shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom in regard to investment by fiduciaries.  The Trust shall not be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder. 

  

Section 4.Payment of Expenses by the Trust.  Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(b), the Trustees are authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or Series, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust or Series, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, transfer agent, Shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur. 

  

Section 5.Ownership of Assets of the Trust.  Title to all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine.  Upon the resignation, incompetency, bankruptcy, removal, or death of a Trustee he or she shall automatically cease to have any such title in any of the Trust Property, and the title of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees.  Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.  The Trustees may determine that the Trust or the Trustees, acting

for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold beneficial ownership of any income earned on the securities owned by the Trust, whether domestic or foreign. 

  

Section 6.Service Contracts.   

  

(a)The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and/or administrative services for the Trust or for any Series with any Person; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine, including authority for the Investment Adviser to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s investments, and such other responsibilities as may specifically be delegated to such Person. 

  

(b)The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any Persons, appointing such Persons exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more of the Series or other securities to be issued by the Trust.  Every such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine. 

  

(c)The Trustees are also empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons, appointing such Person(s) to serve as custodian(s), transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of its Series.  Every such contract shall comply with such terms as may be required by the Trustees. 

  

(d)The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of the Series, as the Trustees determine to be in the best interests of the Trust and the applicable Series. 

  

(e)The fact that: 

  

(i)

any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any Person with which an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made, or that 

  

(ii)

any Person with which an advisory, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made also has an advisory, management or administration contract, or principal underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other service contract, or has other business or interests with any other Person, 

  

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. 

  

ARTICLE V. 

  

Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings 

  

Subject to the provisions of Article III, Sections 5 and 6(d), the Shareholders shall have right to vote only (i) for the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1, and (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including Section 16(a) thereof, and (iii) on such other matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. Provisions relating to meetings, quorum, required vote, record date and other matters relating to Shareholder voting rights are as provided in the By-Laws. 

  

ARTICLE VI. 

  

   Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions 

  

Section 1.Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions.  Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By‑Laws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and time for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series (or class) and the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any Series (or class), as they may deem necessary or desirable. 

  

Section 2.Redemptions and Repurchases.  The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust that the Trust redeem such Shares or in accordance with such procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, in accordance with the By‑Laws and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.  Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request for redemption is received in proper form.  The obligation set forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the Rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Series or to determine fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such Series or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees. 

  

The redemption price may in any case or cases be paid in cash or wholly or partly

in kind in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Series of which the Shares are being redeemed.  Subject to the foregoing, the selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price shall be determined by or under authority of the Trustees.  In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind. 

  

Section 3.Redemptions at the Option of the Trust.  The Trust shall have the right, at its option, upon 30 days notice to the affected Shareholder at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as described in Section 1 of this Article VI:  (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Series having an aggregate net asset value of less than a minimum value determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares of a Series equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage of the outstanding Shares of such Series determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (iii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage, determined from time to time by the Trustees, of the outstanding Shares of the Trust. 

  

Section 4.Transfer of Shares.  The Trust shall transfer shares held of record by any Person to any other Person upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust of a written request therefore in such form and pursuant to such procedures as may be approved by the Trustees. 

  

ARTICLE VII. 

  

Compensation and Limitation of Liability 

  

Section 1.Compensation of Trustees.  Any Trustee, whether or not he is a salaried officer or employee of the Trust, may be compensated for his services as Trustee or as a member of a committee of Trustees, or as chairman of a committee by fixed periodic payments or by fees for attendance at meetings, by both or otherwise, and in addition may be reimbursed for transportation and other expenses, all in such manner and amounts as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.  Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee to provide advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services to the Trust and to be specially compensated for such services by the Trust. 

  

Section 2.Limitation of Liability and Indemnification.  A Trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder to the extent provided in this Article VII, for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, of such Trustee or of any other Trustee. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong‑doing of any officer, agent, employee, Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and, subject to the provisions of the By-Laws, the Trust out of its assets may

indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee’s or officer’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust. 

  

Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon. 

  

Section 3.Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety.  The exercise by the Trustees of their powers hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested in or dealing with the Trust.  A Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.  The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such advice.  The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required. 

  

Section 4.Insurance.  The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article. 

  

ARTICLE VIII. 

  

Miscellaneous 

  

Section 1.Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees.  No Person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order. 

  

Section 2.Termination of the Trust or Any Series.  Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue without limitation of time.  The Trust may be dissolved at any time by  the Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice to the Shareholders.  Any Series of Shares may be dissolved at any time by the Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice to the Shareholders of

such Series.  Any action to dissolve the Trust shall be deemed to also be an action to dissolve each Series and each class thereof. 

  

In accordance with Section 3808 of the Delaware Act, upon dissolution of the Trust or any Series, as the case may be, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities held, severally, with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held, severally, with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, and any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each Series or the applicable Series, as the case may be, to the Shareholders of that Series, as a Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of that Series held by the several Shareholders on the date of termination. 

  

Section 3. Reorganization and Master/Feeder

  

(a)Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, (i) cause the Trust to convert or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations, corporations or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger, reorganization or consolidation) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, to the extent permitted by law, and that, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such conversion, merger, reorganization or consolidation, may succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that, in any case, is formed, organized or existing under the laws of the United States or of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States, (ii) cause the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law, (iii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of a state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States (iv) sell or convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any Series or Class to another Series or Class of the Trust or to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or a series of any of the foregoing to the extent permitted by law) (including a trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance), organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, commonwealth, possession or colony of the United States so long as such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity is an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and, in the case of any trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity created by the Trustees to accomplish such sale and conveyance, may succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act, for adequate consideration as determined by the Trustees which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent of the Trust or any affected Series or Class, and which may include Shares of such other Series or Class of the Trust or shares of beneficial interest, stock or

other ownership interest of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation or other business entity (or series thereof) or (v) at any time sell or convert into money all or any part of the assets of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof. Any agreement of merger, reorganization, consolidation or conversion or exchange or certificate of merger, certificate of conversion or other applicable certificate may be signed by a majority of the Trustees and facsimile signatures conveyed by electronic or telecommunication means shall be valid. 

  

(b)Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Declaration of Trust, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved by the Trustees in accordance with this Section 3 may effect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting entity in the merger or consolidation. 

  

(c)Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, invest all or a portion of the Trust Property of any Series, or dispose of all or a portion of the Trust Property of any Series, and invest the proceeds of such disposition in interests issued by one or more other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.  Any such other investment company may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction) (or subtrust thereof) which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.  Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act, cause a Series that is organized in the master/feeder fund structure to withdraw or redeem its Trust Property from the master fund and cause such Series to invest its Trust Property directly in securities and other financial instruments or in another master fund. 

  

Section 4.Amendments.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5 of Article III relating to the requirement of Shareholder approval for certain amendments to this Declaration of Trust or requirements for certain determinations by the Board of Trustees for certain amendments hereto without Shareholder approval and any requirements under the 1940 Act requiring Shareholder approval of an amendment to this Declaration of Trust, the Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote or approval, amend this Declaration of Trust by making an amendment to this Declaration of Trust (including Schedule A), an agreement supplemental hereto, or an amended and restated trust instrument.  Unless otherwise provided by the Trustees, any such amendment will be effective (i) upon the adoption by a majority of the Trustees then holding office of a resolution specifying the amendment, supplemental agreement or amendment and restatement or (ii) upon the execution in writing of an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees then holding office specifying the amendment, supplemental agreement or amended and restated trust instrument.  A certification signed by an officer of the Trust setting forth an amendment to this Declaration of Trust and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Trustees as aforesaid, or a copy of the instrument referenced above executed by the Trustees as aforesaid, shall be conclusive evidence of such amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust.  The certificate of trust of the Trust may be restated and/or amended by any Trustee as necessary or desirable to reflect any change in

the information set forth therein, and any such restatement and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein. 

  

Section 5.Filing of Copies, References, Headings.  The original or a copy of this Declaration of Trust shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder.  Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this Declaration of Trust. In this Declaration of Trust, references to this Declaration of Trust, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration of Trust.  Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Declaration of Trust.  Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable.  This Declaration of Trust may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, (i) any document, consent, instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws that is to be executed by one or more Trustees may be executed by means of original, facsimile or electronic signature and (ii) any document, consent, instrument or notice referenced in or contemplated by this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws that is to be delivered by one or more Trustees may be delivered by facsimile or electronic means (including e-mail), unless, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), otherwise expressly provided herein or in the By-Laws or determined by the Trustees.  The terms “include,” “includes” and “including” and any comparable terms shall be deemed to mean “including, without limitation.” 

  

Section 6.Applicable Law.  This Agreement and Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Act.  The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust. 

  

Section 7.Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.   

  

(a)The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable federal laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. 

  

(b)If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or

unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction. 

  

  

Section 8.Statutory Trust Only.  It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and thereby to create only the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of such Act between the Trustees and each Shareholder.  It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, joint venture, or any form of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act.  Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association. 

  

Section 9.Use of the Name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.”.  The name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.” and any variants thereof and all rights to the use of the name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.” or any variants thereof shall be the sole and exclusive property of The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“VGI”).  VGI has permitted the use by the Trust of the identifying word “Vanguard” and the use of the name “Vanguard” as part of the name of the Trust and the name of any Series of Shares.  Upon the Trust’s withdrawal from the Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement among the Trust, the other investment companies within the Vanguard Group of Investment Companies and VGI, and upon the written request of VGI, the Trust and any Series of Shares thereof shall cease to use or in any way to refer to itself as related to “The Vanguard Group, Inc.” or any variant thereof. 

  

Section 10.Derivative Actions 

.  In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met: 

  

(b)

The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed.  For purposes of this Section 10(a), a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as that term is defined in the Delaware Act). 

(c)

Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 10, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the Delaware Act who collectively hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, or who collectively hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Series or class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and 

(d)

Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 10, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim.  The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. 

  

  

SCHEDULE A 

  

VANGUARD FORGE FUNDS 

SERIES AND CLASSES OF THE TRUST 

  

  

SERIESCLASSES  

  

Vanguard Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Signal, Institutional 

Vanguard Managed Payout Distribution Focus FundInvestor 

Vanguard Managed Payout Growth and Distribution FundInvestor 

Vanguard Managed Payout Growth Focus FundInvestor 

  

  


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

  

Page 

  

ARTICLE I.  Name and Definitions   1 

Section 1.Name   1 

Section 2.Definitions   1 

(a)Amended Declaration of Trust   2 

(b)By-Laws   2 

(c)Commission   2 

(d)Declaration of Trust   2 

(e)Delaware Act   2 

(f)Interested Person   2 

(g)Investment Adviser or Adviser   2 

(h)1940 Act   2 

(i)Original Declaration of Trust   2 

(j)Principal Underwriter   2 

(k)Prior Declaration of Trust   2 

(l)Person   2 

(m)Series   2 

(n)Shareholder   2 

(o)Shares   3 

(p)Trust   3 

(q)Trustees or Board of Trustees   3 

(r)Trust Property   3 

  

ARTICLE II.  Purpose of Trust   3 

  

ARTICLE III.  Shares   3 

Section 1.Division of Beneficial Interest   3 

Section 2.Ownership of Shares   4 

Section 3.Investments in the Trust   4 

Section 4.Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal  

  Liability   4 

Section 5.Power of Board of Trustees to Change 

  Provisions Relating to Shares   5 

Section 6.Establishment and Designation of Shares   5 

(a)Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series   6 

(b)Liabilities Held with Respect to a 

  Particular Series   6 

(c)Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and 

  Repurchases   7 

(d)Voting   7 

(e)Equality   7 

(f)Fractions   7 

(g)Exchange Privilege   7 

(h)Combination of Series   7 

(i)Elimination of Series   7 

  

ARTICLE IV.  The Board of Trustees   8 

Section 1.Number, Election and Tenure   8 

Section 2.Effect of Death, Resignation, etc.  

  of a Trustee   8 

Section 3.Powers   8 

Section 4.Payment of Expenses by the Trust  11 

Section 5.Ownership of Assets of the Trust  11 

Section 6.Service Contracts  12 

  

ARTICLE V.  Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings  13 

  

ARTICLE VI.  Net Asset Value, Distributions, and Redemptions  13 

Section 1.Determination of Net Asset Value, Net  

  Income, and Distributions  13 

Section 2.Redemptions and Repurchases  13 

Section 3.Redemptions at the Option of the Trust  14 

Section 4.Transfer of Shares  14 

  

ARTICLE VII.  Compensation and Limitation of Liability  14 

Section 1.Compensation of Trustees  14 

Section 2.Limitation of Liability and Indemnification  14 

Section 3.Trustee’s Good Faith Action, Expert 

  Advice, No Bond or Surety  15 

Section 4.Insurance  15 

  

ARTICLE VIII.  Miscellaneous  15 

Section 1.Liability of Third Persons Dealing 

  with Trustees  15 

Section 2.Termination of the Trust or Any Series  15 

Section 3.Reorganization and Master/Feeder  16 

Section 4.Amendments  17 

Section 5.Filing of Copies, References, Headings  18 

Section 6.Applicable Law  18 

Section 7.Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations  18 

Section 8.Statutory Trust Only  19 

Section 9.Use of the Name “The Vanguard Group, Inc.”  19 

Section 10.Derivatives Actions  19 

  

  

  


  

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT 

  

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 4th day of April, 2022, between Vanguard Valley Forge Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited, a corporation organized under the laws of Scotland, United Kingdom (the “Advisor”).  

W I T N E S S E T H  

WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end, diversified management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and  

  

 WHEREAS, the Trust offers a series of shares known as Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund (the “Fund”); and 

  

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Advisor to render investment advisory services to the Fund, and the Advisor is willing to render such services. 

  

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings set forth in this “Agreement,” the Trust and the Advisor hereby agree as follows: 

  

1.Appointment of Advisor. The Trust hereby employs the Advisor as investment advisor, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, for the portion of the assets of the Fund that the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”) determines in its sole discretion to assign to the Advisor from time to time (referred to in this Agreement as the “Baillie Gifford Portfolio”), as communicated to the Advisor on behalf of the Board of Trustees by The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”). The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, make additions to, and withdrawals from, the assets of the Fund assigned to the Advisor. The Advisor accepts such employment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided. 

  

2.Duties of Advisor. The Trust employs the Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Baillie Gifford Portfolio; to continuously review, supervise, and administer an investment program for the Baillie Gifford Portfolio; to determine in its discretion the securities to be purchased or sold and the portion of such assets to be held uninvested; to prepare or have prepared, maintain for the period required, and provide to the Fund all records concerning the activities of the Advisor that the Advisor is required to prepare and maintain for the Fund under Applicable Law (as defined in Section 7. below) and to render regular reports to the Trust’s officers and the Board of Trustees concerning the discharge of the foregoing responsibilities. The Advisor will discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to the supervision and oversight of the Trust’s officers and the Board of Trustees, and in compliance with the objective, policies, and limitations set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, any additional operating policies or procedures that the Fund communicates to the Advisor in writing, and Applicable Law and regulations. The Advisor agrees to provide, at its own expense, the office space, furnishings and equipment, and personnel required by it to perform the services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein.  

  

3. Active Impact Reporting. 

  

(a)

At least annually, the Advisor will prepare or have prepared a “positive change active impact report” (the “Advisor’s Active Impact Report”) assessing positive change metrics and milestones of the holdings in the Fund and the overall alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals or other sustainability standards or goals of the Fund as agreed upon by the Advisor and Vanguard (when required and to the extent contemplated by this agreement, acting on behalf of the Board of Trustees) and to furnish the Advisor’s Active Impact Report to the Trust.  The purpose of the Advisor’s Active Impact Report is to demonstrate the Advisor’s efforts on behalf of its clients investing in the Advisor’s Positive Change strategy (the “Strategy”) to meet that component of the Strategy’s investment objective which relates to investing in businesses that deliver positive change by contributing towards a more sustainable and inclusive world. The Advisor confirms that, at the Advisor’s expense, a reputable third party firm (the “Auditor”) will be instructed to review and provide limited scope assurance on the Advisor’s Active Impact Report and a confirmation from the Auditor (the “Auditor Confirmation”) will be included in the Advisor’s Active Impact Report. 

  

(b)

The Trust acknowledges that: as at the date of this Agreement no standard global or industry approach to impact reporting exists; as of the date of this Agreement there is no generally recognized benchmark against which the Advisor’s efforts in this area can be compared; and the Advisor makes no warranty or representation that the investment objective of the Fund will be successfully achieved. The Trust further acknowledges that underlying issuer data contained in the Advisor’s Active Impact Report is sourced from publicly available information published by the issuers in question, or provided by them to the Advisor on request, and that accordingly, absent manifest material error apparent on the face of such information published or supplied by the relevant issuers, the Advisor will not, and is not expected to, take any steps to verify the accuracy of such data and, subject to Section 3(c) below, accepts no responsibilities to any VG Indemnity (as defined below) for errors or omissions in or from that data and any resultant inaccuracies in the commentary thereon in the Advisor’s Active Impact Report. 

  

(c)

The Advisor warrants and undertakes to Vanguard that the Advisor’s Active Impact Report shall: (i) be prepared diligently and using all reasonable skill and care; (ii) represent the genuine opinion of the Advisor at its time of publication; and (iii) to the best of the Advisor’s knowledge and belief, acting reasonably, be accurate in all material respects. 

  

(d)

The Advisor hereby acknowledges and consents to the Trust preparing and attaching one or more cover pages to the Advisor’s Active Impact Report (“Vanguard Cover Pages”) prior to distributing it to existing and prospective shareholders in the Fund (the “Fund’s Active Impact Report”). The Advisor hereby consents to the inclusion of the Advisor’s Active Impact Report in full in the Fund’s Active Impact Report, and grants the Trust the right to use in the Fund’s Active Impact Report, the Advisor’s relevant intellectual property. The Advisor further undertakes to use its reasonable endeavors to obtain consent from the Auditor to the inclusion of the Auditor Confirmation in the Fund’s Active Impact Report.  

  

(e)

The Advisor will not be responsible for ensuring that the Vanguard Cover Pages comply with law and/or regulation applicable to the Trust, or for any information or commentary contained in the Fund’s Active Impact Report which is prepared by Vanguard or the Trust. Further, the Advisor will not be responsible for obtaining approval from any applicable regulator (including, but not limited to FINRA) for the use of the Fund’s Active Impact Report in advertising or promotion of the Fund or for ensuring the inclusion of any language relating to the advertising or promotion of the Fund in the Fund’s Active Impact Report. For the avoidance of doubt, the Advisor’s Active Impact Report included in the Fund’s Active Impact Report shall not be deemed to be prepared by Vanguard or the Trust, and the Vanguard Cover Pages shall not be deemed to be prepared by the Advisor. It is further the responsibility of the Trust to ensure that nothing in the Vanguard Cover Pages conflicts with the information or opinions set out in the Advisor’s Active Impact Report, and the Trust expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor shall have no responsibility nor liability to any party for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses whatsoever arising from the inclusion of any statement in the Vanguard Cover Pages which, when read with the Advisor’s Active Impact Report, causes the Fund’s Active Impact Report to breach applicable law or regulation or to be inaccurate, false or misleading in any way.  Both parties acknowledge and agree that: (i) law and regulation on impact investing and reporting is evolving and gaining in complexity; and (ii) they each undertake to work together in good faith to ensure that the content of each annual issue of the Advisor’s Active Impact Report, as included in the Fund’s Active Impact Report that year, meets such legal and regulatory requirements as are in force in respect of the Fund at the time such report is published. 

  

(f)

The Advisor represents and warrants to discuss and agree with Vanguard on an engagement process for the Advisor’s Active Impact Report, which will include, at a minimum, providing a near final draft of the Advisor’s Active Impact Report to Vanguard during production.  The Advisor further represents and warrants to provide Vanguard with a reasonable timeframe in which to review the draft(s) prior to the Advisor finalizing the Advisor’s Active Impact Report and to reasonably consider the Vanguard’s comments.  

  

(g)

The Advisor further agrees to provide to the Trust any other investment reporting or commentary it produces for clients investing in the Strategy, including, but not limited to, any reports on shareholder engagement or impact assessment methodology.  

  

4.Securities Transactions. The Advisor is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute purchases and sales of securities for the Baillie Gifford Portfolio and is directed to seek to obtain best execution for such transactions, consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In selecting brokers or dealers to execute trades for the Baillie Gifford Portfolio, the Advisor will comply with all applicable statutes, rules, interpretations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, other Applicable Law, and the written policies and procedures established by the Board of Trustees and communicated to the Advisor in writing.  

5.Compensation of Advisor. For services to be provided by the Advisor pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund will pay to the Advisor, and the Advisor agrees to accept as full compensation therefor, an investment advisory fee consisting of a base fee at the rates specified in Schedule A to this Agreement, payable quarterly in arrears. 

  

6. Reports. The Fund and the Advisor agree to furnish to each other current prospectuses, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request, including, but not limited to, information about changes in investment officers of the Advisor who are responsible for managing the Baillie Gifford Portfolio.  The Advisor also agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 3 herein in relation to the Advisor’s Active Impact Report and the Fund’s Active Impact Report.  

  

7.Compliance.  The Advisor agrees to comply with all Applicable Law and all policies, procedures or reporting requirements that the Board of Trustees reasonably adopts and communicates to the Advisor in writing, including, without limitation, any such policies, procedures, or reporting requirements relating to soft dollar or other brokerage arrangements.  As used in this Agreement, “Applicable Law” means (i) the “federal securities laws” as defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, as may be amended from time to time, and (ii) any and all other laws, rules, and regulations, whether foreign or domestic, in each case applicable at any time and from time to time to the investment management operations of the Advisor in relation to the Baillie Gifford Portfolio or to the production of the Fund’s Active Impact Report. 

  

8.Status of Advisor. The services of the Advisor to the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Advisor will be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Fund are not impaired thereby. The Advisor will be deemed to be an independent contractor and will, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund or the Trust. 

  

9.Limitations on Consultations.  The Advisor is prohibited from consulting with other advisors of the Fund, except Vanguard, concerning transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. 

  

10.Duration; Termination; Notices; Amendment.

This Agreement will become effective on the date hereof and will continue in effect for a period of two years thereafter, and shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods thereafter, only so long as each such continuance specifically is approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of those Trustees who are not parties to such Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; such meeting shall be in person as required under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act unless the Board of Trustees otherwise complies with the terms of an order or other guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission granting an exemption from the in-person meeting requirement (“In-Person Exemptive Order”). In addition, the question of continuance of the Agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event, such continuance will be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. 

  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, (i) this Agreement may at any time be terminated without payment of any penalty either by vote of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on thirty days’ written notice to the Advisor, (ii) this Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, and (iii) this Agreement may be terminated by the Advisor on ninety days’ written notice to the Fund.  Any notice under this Agreement will be given in writing and is deemed to have been provided upon receipt of the same at their respective addresses set forth below. All written notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement will be delivered by personal service, by postage mail return receipt requested or by e-mail or a similar means of same delivery which provides evidence of receipt (with a confirming copy by mail as set forth herein) but not by facsimile. 

  

If to the Fund, at: 

  

Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund  

400 Devon Park Drive 

Wayne, PA 19087 

Attention:  Daniel Reyes 

Telephone: 610-503-5855 

Email:  [email protected] 

  

If to the Advisor, at: 

  

Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited 

Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row 

Edinburgh EH1 3AN 

Attention: John Carnegie/Nick Thomas 

Telephone: 011 44 131 275 2781/011 44 131 275 2828 

Email: [email protected] 

  

This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent, but the consent of the Trust must be approved (i) by a majority of those members of the Board of Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person (or as otherwise permitted under the terms of an In-Person Exemptive Order) at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment, and (ii) to the extent required by the 1940 Act, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. 

As used in this Section 10, the terms “assignment,” “interested persons,” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” will have the respective meanings set forth in Section 2(a)(4), Section 2(a)(19) and Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act. 

  

11.Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby. 

  

12.Confidentiality.

The Advisor shall keep confidential any and all information obtained in connection with the services rendered hereunder and relating directly or indirectly to the Fund, the Trust, or Vanguard and shall not disclose any such information to any person other than the Trust, the Board of Trustees, Vanguard, and any director, officer, or employee of the Trust or Vanguard, except (i) with the prior written consent of the Trust, (ii) as required by law, regulation, court order or the rules or regulations of any self-regulatory organization, governmental body, or official having jurisdiction over the Advisor, or (iii) for information that is publicly available other than due to disclosure by the Advisor or its affiliates or becomes known to the Advisor from a source other than the Trust, the Board of Trustees, or Vanguard. 

  

13.Proxy Policy. The Advisor shall have full power and authority to exercise or direct the exercise of all voting rights attaching to securities held in the Baillie Gifford Portfolio from time to time, including (without limitation) voting proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of such securities: (i) in accordance with the Advisor’s proxy voting policies and procedures; and (ii) in a manner that complies with Applicable Law and regulations and any additional operating policies or procedures that the Trust communicates to the Advisor in writing.  

  

14.Liability and Indemnification. No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to protect the Advisor against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and (e) above, the Advisor shall indemnify the Trust for any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses, fines or penalties imposed by any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, or regulator, and amounts payable in settlement of, and damages awarded to or amounts otherwise payable to a third party as a result of, claims brought by third parties against any VG Indemnity (defined below)) suffered or incurred by the Trust, the Fund, Vanguard or any Vanguard Affiliate (as defined below) involved in the marketing and distribution of the Fund’s Active Impact Report (the “VG Indemnities”) to the extent arising as a result of (i) the Advisor’s breach of its warranties and representations set forth in Section 3(c) above or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Advisor’s Active Impact Report or the omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading that arises from the Advisor’s negligence or willful misconduct. 

  

For the purposes of this Section 14, “Vanguard Affiliate” means any majority-owned subsidiary of Vanguard, including but not limited to Vanguard Marketing Corporation.   

  

The terms of this Section 14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

  

15.Miscellaneous.  The services provided under this Agreement are provided on the basis that the Trust qualifies as a per se professional client. Under the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, although the Advisor is obliged to inform the Trust that it can request a different categorization, namely opting for “retail client” status, the Advisor is not permitted to accept retail clients. 

  

In accordance with relevant requirements of The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (as re-cast and as transposed in the United Kingdom) and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (as retained in the United Kingdom and amended by, inter alia, the Markets in Financial Instruments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018) (together, “MiFID II”) and based on information provided by the Trust, the Advisor shall be responsible for assessing the suitability of investments and the Baillie Gifford Portfolio in line with its regulatory obligations. The reason for this assessment is to enable the Advisor to act in the Trust’s best interest. Where the Adviser is instructed by the Trust to follow a particular investment strategy for the Baillie Gifford Portfolio, the Advisor will manage the Baillie Gifford Portfolio in accordance with the Trust’s instructions and the terms of the mandate agreed with the Trust. The Trust accordingly acknowledges that it is important that any information about the Trust provided to the Advisor is up-to-date, accurate, and complete. As the Trust is a professional client, the Advisor is entitled to assume that the Trust has the necessary level of experience and knowledge in order to understand the risks involved in the transaction in the management of the Trust. The Trust acknowledges that it should not deal in investments unless it understands the nature and extent of its exposure to risk. 

  

The Trust confirms that it has received from the Advisor: 

  

(h)

a copy of Part II of the Advisor’s Form ADV and that it consents to receipt of the same electronically to such email addresses as it may notify from time to time; 

(i)

a copy of the Advisor’s notice entitled “Nature of Investments and Risk Disclosures Notice,” which includes a general description of the nature and risks of investments which may be held in the Baillie Gifford Portfolio; 

(j)

a copy of the Advisor’s Conflicts of Interest Disclosure, which sets out its policy in relation to identifying conflicts of interest that are potentially detrimental to its clients, and specifying the procedures put in place to help prevent and manage such conflicts, as well as some examples of the types of conflicts that are managed by the Advisor; and 

(k)

a copy of the Advisor’s Order Execution and Trade Handling Policy dated 2021. The Trust confirms that it has read, understood, and agrees to the Order Execution and Trade Handling Policy and in particular that, for instruments admitted to trading on a regulated market or multilateral trading facility or organized trading facility (“MTF” and “OTF” respectively), it consents to the Advisor arranging for the execution of an order in such instruments outside a regulated market or MTF or OTF. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Trust and any professional tax adviser of the Trust or the Fund remain responsible for the management of the Trust’s affairs for tax purposes. The Advisor acknowledges and confirms that the Trust is subject to regulatory and other requirements that may, consistent with Sections 2 and 7 of the Agreement, restrict what securities the Advisor can hold in the Baillie Gifford Portfolio and may require the Advisor, at the discretion of the Trust, to dispose of certain securities previously purchased for the Baillie Gifford Portfolio. The Trust acknowledges and confirms that the Advisor is otherwise under no obligation to take into account tax issues when managing assets attributable to the Baillie Gifford Portfolio and the Advisor may otherwise use its complete discretion when deciding on when to buy and sell securities and is under no obligation to report to the Trust on the tax consequences of buying or selling assets in the Baillie Gifford Portfolio. 

  

16. Governing Law.  All questions concerning the validity, meaning, and effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws (without giving effect to the conflict-of-law principles thereof) of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in that state. 

  

17. Electronic Signatures. The parties agree that this Agreement and any documents related hereto may be electronically signed.  The parties agree that any electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement and any related documents are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility. 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Investment Advisory Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth herein. 

  

Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited 

Vanguard Valley Forge Funds 

  

   / s / Kathrin Hamilton 

_______________________________ 

Signature 

  

  

Kathrin Hamilton 

______________________________ 

Print Name 

  

    / s / Mortiner J. Buckley 

_______________________________  

Signature 

  

  

Mortimer J. Buckley 

______________________________ 

Print Name 

  


AMENDED AND RESTATED CUSTODY AGREEMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED CUSTODY AGREEMENT, dated as of August 29, 2017 between each open-end management investment company listed on Schedule II hereto as amended from time to time (each such investment company, a "Fund"), each a statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), on behalf of certain of their series (each a "Series") having their principal office and place of business at P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19482, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a bank organized under the laws of the State of New York and authorized to do a banking business having its principal office and place of business at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286 ("Custodian").

WITNESSETH:

that for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth each Fund and Custodian, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words shall have the meanings set forth below:

1."Authorized Person" shall be any person, whether or not an officer or employee of a Fund, duly authorized to execute any Certificate or to give any Instructions or Oral Instruction with respect to one or more Accounts, such persons to be designated in a Certificate as may be received by Custodian from time to time.

2."Autofax" shall mean an unsigned hard copy facsimile generated by a Fund's computer system and transmitted to Custodian.

3."BNY Affiliate" shall mean any office, branch or subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

4."Book-Entry System" shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system for receiving and delivering securities, its successors and nominees.

5."Business Day" shall mean any day on which Custodian, Book-Entry System and relevant Depositories are open for business:

6."Certificate" shall mean any notice, instruction, or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, which is actually received by Custodian by letter or facsimile transmission and signed on behalf of a Fund by an Authorized Person of the Fund or a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

7."Composite Currency Unit" shall mean the Euro or any other composite currency unit consisting of the aggregate of specified amounts of specified currencies, as such unit may be constituted from time to time.

8."Confidential Information" means, with respect to a party, any and all oral or written information, in whatever kind and in whatever form, of such party and/or of third parties in the possession of such party that is furnished, disclosed or otherwise made available to the other party in connection with

this Agreement and: (i) which a reasonably prudent business person would regard as being treated as secret by such party (that is, it is the subject of efforts by the disclosing party that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy), or (ii) that is designated by such party as confidential, restricted, or proprietary, or with a similar designation; including, without limitation, any past, present or future business and business activities, financial or technical information (including portfolio holdings information and transaction information); products, services, research and development; processes, techniques; designs; financial planning practices; client information (including clients' identities and any client related data or information); and marketing plans. With respect to a Fund or its affiliates, Confidential Information shall also include the Personal Information of any shareholders, customers, partners, employees, trustees, and officers of the Fund or its affiliates. The term "Personal Information" shall mean (i) an individual's name (first initial and last name or first name and last name) plus (a) social security number, (b) driver's license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number,

(f)passport identification number, or (g) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person's account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual's account. Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) is publicly available when disclosed by a party or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) was in the possession of the receiving party prior to its disclosure by the disclosing party and was not the subject of a pre-existing confidentiality obligation, (iii) is lawfully disclosed to the receiving party on a non-confidential basis by a third party who is not under a duty of confidentiality to the disclosing party, or (iv) is required to be disclosed by or to any regulatory authority, any external or internal accountant, auditor or counsels of the parties hereto, or by judicial or administration process or otherwise by applicable law.

9."Depository" shall include (a) the Book-Entry System, (b) the Depository Trust Company,

(c)any other clearing agency or securities depository registered with the SEC identified to a Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

10."Foreign Depository" shall mean (a) Euroclear, (b) Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, (c) each Eligible Securities Depository as defined in Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act, identified to a Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

11."Instructions" shall mean communications transmitted by electronic or telecommunications media, including S.W.I.F.T., computer-to-computer interface, dedicated transmission lines, telex, Autofax or such other methods that may be agreed to by the Funds and Custodian from time to time.

12."Oral Instructions" shall mean verbal instructions received by Custodian from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

13."Securities" shall include, without limitation, any common stock and other equity securities, bonds, debentures and other debt securities, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any instruments representing rights to receive, purchase, or subscribe for the same, or representing any other rights or interests therein (whether represented by a certificate or held in a Depository or Foreign Depository or by a Subcustodian).

14."Series" shall mean the various portfolios, if any, of a Fund listed on Schedule II hereto, and if none are listed references to Series shall be references to the Fund.

15."Subcustodian" shall mean a bank (including any branch thereof) or other financial institution (other than a Foreign Depository) located within or outside the U.S. that is eligible to serve as a custodian pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder (with respect to foreign Subcustodians, the

2

reference to eligibility to serve pursuant to the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder shall apply if Custodian acts as foreign custody manager for the applicable Series as contemplated in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act ("Rule 17f-5")), which is utilized by Custodian in connection with the purchase, sale or custody of Securities hereunder and identified to a Fund from time to time, and their respective successors and nominees.

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS;

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS

1.This Agreement amends and restates the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement dated as of June 19, 2001 between each open-end management investment company listed on Schedule II thereto (as amended from time to time) and The Bank of New York (the "Prior Agreement"), and the terms of this Agreement replace the terms of the Prior Agreement effective as of the date of this Agreement. For clarity, matters relating to the time period prior to the date of this Agreement are governed by the terms of the Prior Agreement. For further clarity, the continuation of amendments to and other agreements that reference the Prior Agreement is not intended to be affected by the fact of the amendment and restatement of the Prior Agreement by this Agreement, and reference in such amendments and agreements to the Prior Agreement shall be considered to be a reference to this Agreement effective as of the date of this Agreement (provided that matters relating to the time period prior to the date of this Agreement are governed by the terms of the Prior Agreement).

2.(a) Each Fund hereby appoints Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash at any time delivered to Custodian during the term of this Agreement, and authorizes Custodian to hold Securities in registered form in its name or the name of its nominees. Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to establish and maintain one or more securities accounts and cash accounts for each Series in which Custodian will hold Securities and cash as provided herein. Custodian shall maintain books and records segregating the assets of each Series from the assets of any other Series. Such accounts (each, an "Account"; collectively, the "Accounts") shall be in the name of the Fund on behalf of the relevant Series. Except as precluded by Section 8-501(d) of the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC"), Custodian shall hold all Securities and other financial assets, other than cash, of a Series that are delivered to it in a "securities account" with Custodian for and in the name of such Series and shall treat all such assets other than cash as "financial assets" as those terms are used in the UCC.

(b)Custodian may from time to time establish on its books and records such sub- accounts within each Account as a Fund and Custodian may reasonably agree upon (each a "Special Account"), and Custodian shall reflect therein such assets as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.

(c)Custodian may from time to time establish pursuant to a written agreement with and for the benefit of a broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or other third party identified in a Certificate or Instructions such accounts on such terms and conditions as a Fund and Custodian shall reasonably agree, and Custodian shall transfer to such account such Securities and money as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions. Custodian shall upon receipt of a Certificate or Instructions on behalf of each applicable Series, establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such Series, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash, securities, or other assets of the Series and collateral provided to the Series by its counterparties, including securities maintained in an account by Custodian (1) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund on behalf of a Series, Custodian and a broker dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or

3

organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Series, (2) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund, on behalf of a Series, Custodian and any futures commission merchant (registered under the Commodity Exchange Act) relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract market, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Series, (3) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by a Series or commodity futures contract options thereon purchased or sold by a Series, (4) for the purposes of compliance by a Series with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the SEC, or no-action letter of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered management investment companies, and (5) for any other purpose in accordance with a Certificate or Instructions and as agreed by the parties.

3.Each Fund hereby represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon each delivery of a Certificate or each giving of Oral Instructions or Instructions by such Fund, that:

(a)It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder;

(b)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, approved by a resolution of its board of trustees, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting generally the enforceability of creditors' rights or by equitable principles generally applied, and there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it, and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;

(c)It is conducting its business in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and requirements, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted;

(d)It will not use the services provided by Custodian hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Fund;

(e)Its board of trustees or its foreign custody manager, as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act, has determined that use of each Subcustodian (including any Replacement Custodian) and each Depository which Custodian or any Subcustodian is authorized to utilize in accordance with Section 1(a) of Article III hereof, satisfies the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and Rules 17f-4 or 17f-5 thereunder, as the case may be;

(f)Upon receiving from Custodian an initial analysis of and information concerning changes in the custody risks associated with maintaining assets at a Foreign Depository, the Fund or its investment adviser has determined that the custody arrangements of each Foreign Depository provide reasonable safeguards against the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Foreign Depository within the meaning of Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act;

(g)It is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with various methods of transmitting Instructions and Oral Instructions and delivering Certificates to Custodian, understands that there may be more secure methods of transmitting or delivering the same than the methods selected by the

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Fund, agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be utilized provide a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances, acknowledges and agrees that Instructions need not be reviewed by Custodian if such Instructions require authentication codes and have such codes, acknowledges and agrees the same may conclusively be presumed by Custodian to have been given by person(s) duly authorized, and may be acted upon as given;

(h)It shall manage its borrowings, including, without limitation, any advance or overdraft (including any day-light overdraft) in the Accounts, so that the aggregate of its total borrowings for each Series does not exceed the amount such Series is permitted to borrow under the 1940 Act;

(i)Its transmission or giving of, and Custodian acting upon and in reliance on, Certificates, Instructions, or Oral Instructions pursuant to this Agreement shall at all times comply with the 1940 Act;

(j)It shall impose and maintain restrictions on the destinations to which cash may be disbursed by Instructions to ensure that each disbursement is for a proper purpose; and

(k)It has the right to make the pledge and grant the security interest and security entitlement to Custodian contained in Section 1 of Article V hereof, free of any right or prior claim of any other person or entity (except as otherwise provided by law), such pledge and such grants shall have a first priority subject to no setoffs, counterclaims, or other liens or grants prior to or on a parity therewith (except as otherwise provided by law).

4.The Fund hereby covenants that it shall from time to time complete and execute and deliver to Custodian upon Custodian's request a Form FR U-l (or successor form) whenever the Fund borrows from Custodian any money to be used for the purchase or carrying of margin stock as defined in Federal Reserve Regulation U.

5.Custodian hereby represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon each receipt of a Certificate or each receipt of Oral Instructions or Instructions by Custodian, that:

(a)It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

(b)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Custodian, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Custodian, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting generally the enforceability of creditors' rights or by equitable principles generally applied, and there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it, and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;

(c)It is conducting its business in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and requirements, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; and

(d)It will not provide services hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to Custodian.

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ARTICLE III

CUSTODY AND RELATED SERVICES

1.(a) Subject to the terms hereof, each Fund hereby authorizes Custodian to hold any Securities and cash received by it from time to time for such Fund's account. Custodian shall be entitled to utilize Depositories, Subcustodians, and, subject to subsection (e) of this Section 1, Foreign Depositories, to the extent possible in connection with its performance hereunder. Securities and cash held in a Depository or Foreign Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such entity. Securities and cash held through Subcustodians shall be held subject to the terms and conditions of Custodian's or a BNY Affiliate's agreements with such Subcustodians. Subcustodians may be authorized to hold Securities in Foreign Depositories in which such Subcustodians participate. Unless otherwise required by local law or practice or a particular Subcustodian agreement, Securities deposited with a Subcustodian, a Depository or a Foreign Depository will be held in a commingled account, in the name of Custodian, holding only Securities held by Custodian as custodian for its customers. Custodian shall identify on its books and records the Securities and cash belonging to each Fund and their Series, whether held directly or indirectly through Depositories, Foreign Depositories, or Subcustodians. Custodian shall, directly or indirectly through Subcustodians, Depositories, or Foreign Depositories, endeavor, to the extent feasible, to hold Securities in the country or other jurisdiction in which the principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such Securities are to be presented for cancellation and/or payment and/or registration, or where such Securities are acquired. Custodian at any time may cease utilizing any Subcustodian and/or may replace a Subcustodian with a different Subcustodian (the "Replacement Subcustodian"). In the event Custodian selects a Replacement Subcustodian, Custodian shall not utilize such Replacement Subcustodian until after the Fund's board or foreign custody manager has determined that utilization of such Replacement Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder.

(b)Custodian may employ one or more Subcustodians located in the United States for a Fund, but only in accordance with applicable law and upon receipt of written approval from the Fund. The approval of a particular Subcustodian by the Fund shall not limit Custodian's liability with respect to the use of the Subcustodian under this Agreement.

(c)With respect to Losses (as defined below) incurred by a Fund as a result of any action or omission of a Subcustodian relating to the Subcustodian's provision of sub-custody services in a market listed in Schedule III hereto, Custodian will be liable for such Losses to the same extent as if such action or omission was performed by Custodian itself, unless a higher standard of care is required by law, rule, or regulation, in which case the higher standard of care will apply. Custodian shall take full responsibility for, and shall indemnify the Fund from and against, any Losses incurred by a Fund as a result of any action or omission of a Subcustodian relating to the Subcustodian's provision of sub-custody services in a market listed in Schedule III hereto to the same extent as if such action or omission was performed by Custodian itself, or the insolvency of any Subcustodian that is a BNY Affiliate, and Custodian shall promptly reimburse the Fund in the amount of any such Losses. Where Custodian no longer maintains any client assets with a Subcustodian in a market listed in Schedule III or where Custodian intends to remove all client assets from all Subcustodians in a market listed in Schedule III, Custodian may remove that market from the list in Schedule III upon prior notice to the applicable Fund. In all other circumstances, Custodian may not remove a market listed in Schedule III without prior agreement of the applicable Fund.

(d)Assuming that Custodian acts as foreign custody manager for the applicable Series as contemplated in Rule 17f-5, unless Custodian has received a Certificate or Instructions to the contrary, Custodian shall hold such Series' Foreign Assets (as defined in Rule 17f-5) indirectly through a Subcustodian only if Custodian determines that (1) the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Subcustodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without

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limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1); and (2) the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with such Subcustodian selected by Custodian will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f- 5(c)(2), including but not limited to: (i) the Securities are not subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of such Subcustodian or its creditors or operators, including a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or similar authority, except for a claim of payment for the safe custody or administration of Securities on behalf of the Fund by such Subcustodian, and (ii) beneficial ownership of the Securities is freely transferable without the payment of cash or value other than for safe custody or administration.

(e)With respect to each Foreign Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence (i) to provide the Fund with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Foreign Depository, and (ii) to monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis and promptly notify the Fund or the Fund's investment adviser of any material change in such risks. Each Fund acknowledges and agrees that such analysis and monitoring shall be made on the basis of, and limited by, information gathered from Subcustodians or through publicly available information otherwise obtained by Custodian, and shall include information concerning, but no evaluation of, Country Risks. As used herein the term "Country Risks" shall mean with respect to any Foreign Depository: (a) the financial infrastructure of the country in which it is organized, (b) such country's prevailing custody and settlement practices, (c) nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions, (d) such country's regulation of the banking or securities industry, (e) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and (f) market conditions which affect the orderly execution of securities transactions or affect the value of securities.

2.Promptly after the close of business on each Business Day or the next Business Day in the case of a Subcustodian or Foreign Depositary, or in accordance with practices in the related local market, Custodian shall furnish each Fund with confirmations and a summary, on a per Series basis, of all transfers to or from the Accounts, either hereunder or with any Subcustodian appointed in accordance with this Agreement during said day. Where Securities are transferred to an Account for a Series, Custodian shall also by book-entry or otherwise identify as belonging to such Series a quantity of Securities in a fungible bulk of Securities registered in the name of Custodian (or its nominee) or shown on Custodian's account on the books of the Book-Entry System or a Depository. At least monthly and from time to time, Custodian shall furnish each Fund with a detailed statement, on a per Series basis, of the Securities and cash held by Custodian for such Fund.

3.With respect to all Securities held hereunder, Custodian shall, unless otherwise instructed

to the contrary:

(a)Collect and receive all income and other payments and in this regard Custodian shall promptly notify a Fund in writing by facsimile transmission, electronic communication, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian may agree in writing, if any amount payable with respect to portfolio Securities or other assets of a Series is not received by Custodian when due. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, a Fund and Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of Custodian relating to such measures;

(b)Give notice to each Fund and present payment and collect the amount payable upon such Securities that are called, but only if either (i) Custodian receives a written notice of such call, or (ii) notice of such call appears in or is received from a nationally recognized bond or corporate action service to which Custodian subscribes;

(c)Unless otherwise instructed by a Fund, Custodian shall retain in the appropriate account any stock dividends, subscription rights and other non-cash distributions on the Securities, or the

7

proceeds from the sale of any distributions. Custodian shall notify a Fund upon the receipt of any non-cash item.

(d)Present for payment and collect the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature, promptly deposit or withdraw such proceeds as designated therein and advise each Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;

(e)Surrender Securities in temporary form for definitive Securities;

(f)Forward to each Fund copies of all information or documents that it may actually receive from an issuer of Securities which, in the opinion of Custodian, are intended for the beneficial owner of Securities;

(g)Execute, as custodian, any certificates of ownership, affidavits, declarations or other certificates under any tax laws now or hereafter in effect in connection with the collection of bond and note coupons;

(h)Hold directly or through a Depository, a Foreign Depository, or a Subcustodian all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to any Securities credited to an Account hereunder; and

(i)Endorse for collection checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments.

4.(a) Custodian shall notify each Fund of rights or discretionary actions with respect to Securities held hereunder, and of the date or dates by when such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken (each a "Notice" and collectively "Notices"), provided that Custodian has actually received, from the issuer or the relevant Depository (with respect to Securities issued in the United States) or from the relevant Subcustodian, Foreign Depository, or a nationally or internationally recognized bond or corporate action service to which Custodian subscribes (each a "Notice Provider" and collectively "Notice Providers"), timely notice of such rights or discretionary corporate action or of the date or dates such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken. Absent actual receipt of Notices, Custodian shall have no liability for failing to so notify a Fund except as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph or as otherwise specifically agreed by Custodian in writing in an amendment to or other document separate from this Agreement. Custodian shall use reasonable care in forwarding such Notice to the relevant Fund. Custodian shall use reasonable care in the selection of a Notice Provider other than a Foreign Depository. To the extent an officer of the Custodian, with working knowledge of the Accounts, has actual knowledge that a Notice Provider has failed to provide Notices to the Custodian, the Custodian shall use reasonable care to obtain a mailing of such Notice from such Notice Provider or except in the case of a Foreign Depository use an alternative Notice Provider.

(b)Whenever Securities (including, but not limited to, warrants, options, tenders, options to tender or non-mandatory puts or calls) confer discretionary rights on a Fund or provide for discretionary action or alternative courses of action by a Fund, the Fund shall be responsible for making any decisions relating thereto and for directing Custodian to act. In order for Custodian to act, it must receive the Fund's Certificate or Instructions at Custodian's offices, addressed as Custodian may from time to time request, at such date or time as Custodian may specify to the Fund. Absent Custodian's timely receipt of such Certificate or Instructions Custodian shall not be liable for failure to take any action relating to or to exercise any rights conferred by such Securities.

5.Custodian shall perform the custody services provided for under this Agreement in a manner that meets or exceeds any service levels that may be agreed upon by the parties in writing from

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time to time. If Custodian fails to satisfy any service level that has been designated as "critical," Custodian will be required to pay the Fund agreed upon credit amounts, if any.

6.All voting rights with respect to Securities, however registered, shall be exercised by the Fund or its designee. For Securities issued in the United States, Custodian's only duty shall be to mail to the Funds any documents (including proxy statements, annual reports and signed proxies) actually received by Custodian relating to the exercise of such voting rights. With respect to Securities issued outside of the United States, Custodian's only duty shall be to provide the Funds with access to a provider of global proxy services at a Fund's request. The Fund using the services shall be responsible for all associated costs.

7.Custodian shall promptly advise a Fund upon Custodian's actual receipt of notification of the partial redemption, partial payment or other action affecting less than all Securities of the relevant class. If Custodian, any Subcustodian, any Depository, or any Foreign Depository holds any Securities in which the Fund has an interest as part of a fungible mass, Custodian, such Subcustodian, Depository, or Foreign Depository may select the Securities to participate in such partial redemption, partial payment or other action in any non-discriminatory manner that it customarily uses to make such selection.

8.Custodian shall not under any circumstances accept bearer interest coupons which have been stripped from United States federal, state or local government or agency securities unless explicitly agreed to by Custodian in writing.

9.Each Fund shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto ("Taxes"), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of such Fund or any transaction related thereto. Each Fund shall indemnify Custodian and each Subcustodian for the amount of any Tax that Custodian, any such Subcustodian or any other withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of the Fund (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). Custodian shall, or shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or other withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security. In the event that Custodian or any Subcustodian is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on behalf of a Fund, Custodian is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash, or to remit such cash to the appropriate Subcustodian or other withholding agent, for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of the additional amount of cash (in the appropriate currency) required, and the Fund shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by Custodian as specified herein. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that Fund is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of the Fund under any applicable law, Custodian shall, or shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that Custodian shall have received from the Fund all documentary evidence of residence or other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, Custodian and the applicable Subcustodian shall have no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of information provided by a Fund on any forms or documentation provided by the Fund to Custodian hereunder. Each Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and each Subcustodian in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of

9

information provided by a Fund on any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of such Fund, its successors and assigns notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

10.(a) Upon receipt of a proper Certificate or proper Instructions in a format agreeable to the applicable Fund and Custodian, Custodian shall facilitate the processing and settlement of foreign exchange transactions for such Fund. For the purpose of settling Securities and foreign exchange transactions, each Fund shall provide Custodian with sufficient immediately available funds for all transactions by such time and date as conditions in the relevant market dictate. As used herein, "sufficient immediately available funds" shall mean either (i) sufficient cash denominated in U.S. dollars to purchase the necessary foreign currency, or (ii) sufficient applicable foreign currency to settle the transaction. Custodian shall provide each Fund with immediately available funds each day which result from the actual settlement of all sale transactions, based upon advices received by Custodian from Subcustodians, Depositories, and Foreign Depositories. Such funds shall be in U.S. dollars or such other currency as a Fund may specify to Custodian.

(b)Any foreign exchange transaction effected by Custodian in connection with this Agreement may be entered with Custodian or a BNY Affiliate acting as principal or otherwise through customary banking channels. Each Fund may issue a standing Certificate or Instructions with respect to foreign exchange transactions, but Custodian may establish rules or limitations concerning any foreign exchange facility made available to the Funds. Each Fund shall bear all risks of investing in Securities or holding cash denominated in a foreign currency.

(c)To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing or other information services in connection with this Agreement, Custodian is authorized to utilize any vendor (including brokers and dealers of Securities) reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information. Each Fund understands that certain pricing information with respect to complex financial instruments (e.g., derivatives) may be based on calculated amounts rather than actual market transactions and may not reflect actual market values, and that the variance between such calculated amounts and actual market values may or may not be material. Where vendors do not provide pricing information for particular Securities or other property, an Authorized Person may advise Custodian in a Certificate regarding the fair market value of, or provide other information with respect to, such Securities or property as determined by it in good faith. Subject to the immediately following sentence, Custodian is entitled to rely without investigation on the accuracy and completeness of pricing and other information provided to Custodian by a Fund or third party. Nevertheless, Custodian shall be liable for the performance of any vendor selected by Custodian that is a BNY Affiliate to the same extent as Custodian would have been liable if it performed such services itself.

11.Custodian shall promptly send to a Fund (a) any reports it receives from a Depository on such Depository's system of internal accounting control, and (b) such reports on its own system of internal accounting control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.

12.Subject to Article III, Section 4(a), Custodian shall transmit promptly to a Fund for each Series all written information received by Custodian from issuers of the Securities and other financial assets being held for the Series, including among other things, maturities of domestic securities and notices of exercise of call and put options. Also subject to Article III, Section 4(a), Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund all written information received by Custodian from issuers of the securities and other financial assets whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party or its agent making the tender or exchange offer. Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund for each Series all written information received by Custodian regarding any class action or other collective litigation relating to Securities or other financial assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the relevant class action period

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during the term of this Agreement by Custodian for the account of a Fund for a Series, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms.

13.Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program, in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations (including any similar international laws) applicable to Custodian, that contains reasonable and appropriate security measures designed to safeguard the Confidential Information of a Fund that Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes, transmits or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. In this regard, Custodian will establish and maintain policies, procedures, and technical, physical, and administrative safeguards, designed to: (i) ensure the security and confidentiality of all Confidential Information of a Fund that Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder; (ii) protect against any reasonably foreseeable threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such Confidential Information; (iii) protect against unauthorized access to or use of such Confidential Information; (iv) maintain reasonable procedures to detect and respond to any internal or external security breaches; and (v) ensure appropriate disposal of such Confidential Information.

Custodian will monitor and review its information security program and revise it, as necessary and in its sole discretion, to address as it deems necessary any reasonably foreseeable and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Custodian shall periodically test and audit its information security program.

Custodian shall respond to the Funds' reasonable requests for information concerning Custodian's information security program and once each calendar year, upon request, Custodian will permit authorized representatives of the Funds to review, at Custodian's site, its applicable policies and procedures to the extent it is able to do so without divulging sensitive, proprietary, or Custodian Confidential Information. Upon reasonable request, Custodian shall discuss with the Funds the information security program of Custodian. Custodian also agrees, when requested but not more frequently than once per year, to complete any reasonable security questionnaire regarding Custodian's information security program provided by the Funds and return it in a commercially reasonable period of time. The parties may also agree upon other matters relating to access management and information security which the parties consider to be appropriate from time to time.

Custodian shall: (i) promptly notify a Fund of any unauthorized access to Confidential Information of the Fund in the possession or control of Custodian ("Breach of Security"); (ii) promptly furnish to the relevant Fund full details of such Breach of Security to the extent it is available and not privileged information or part of an investigation; (iii) provide reasonable cooperation to a Fund in any litigation and investigation of third parties deemed necessary by the Fund to protect its proprietary and other rights; (iv) take all reasonable and appropriate action to end the Breach of Security and to mitigate any continuing or future harm to a Fund resulting from the Breach of Security, and (v) use reasonable precautions to prevent a recurrence of a Breach of Security. This provision will survive termination or expiration of this Agreement for so long as Custodian or any Subcustodian continues to possess or have access to Confidential Information of a Fund. Information and materials provided by Custodian in accordance with this Section are hereby designated by Custodian as confidential.

14.Custodian has and shall maintain business continuation and disaster recovery plans with respect to its global custody business, which, in the event of a significant business disruption affecting Custodian (which could include a Force Majeure Event as defined below), will be designed to ensure the continued processing capability and availability of the services provided by Custodian under this Agreement without undue delay or disruption. Custodian shall update and test the operability of such plans at least annually. On an annual basis, Custodian shall, upon reasonable request, meet with the Funds to review any business continuation and disaster recovery plans of Custodian relevant to the services provided by Custodian under this Agreement. Custodian represents that its business continuation and disaster

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recovery plans are appropriate for its business as a provider of custodian services to investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. Information and materials provided by Custodian in accordance with this Section are hereby designated by Custodian as confidential.

15.Each Fund represents that it maintains compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the Fund from violating any applicable laws, rules, regulations, executive orders or requirements administered by any governmental authority of the United States (including the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control) concerning economic sanctions. Unless otherwise prohibited, a Fund will promptly provide to Custodian such information as Custodian reasonably requests in connection with the matters referenced in this Section 15, including information regarding its Accounts, the assets held or to be held in the Accounts, the source thereof, and the identity of any individual or entity having or claiming an interest therein. Custodian may decline to act or provide services in respect of any Account, and take such other actions as it, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or advisable, in connection with the matters referenced in this Section 15. If Custodian declines to act or provide services as provided in the preceding sentence, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law or official request, Custodian will inform the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable.

16.Each Fund hereby acknowledges that Custodian is subject to federal laws, including the Customer Identification Program ("CIP") requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, pursuant to which Custodian must obtain, verify and record information that allows Custodian to identify the Fund. Accordingly, prior to opening an Account hereunder, Custodian will ask the Fund to provide certain information including, but not limited to, the Fund's name, physical address, tax identification number and other information that will help Custodian to identify and verify the Fund's identity, such as organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or other pertinent identifying information. Each Fund agrees that Custodian cannot open an Account hereunder unless and until Custodian verifies the Fund's identity in accordance with Custodian's CIP.

ARTICLE IV

PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES;

CREDITS TO ACCOUNT

1.Promptly after each purchase or sale of Securities by a Fund, the Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions, or if agreed between the Fund and Custodian Oral Instructions, specifying all information Custodian may reasonably request to settle such purchase or sale. Custodian shall account for all purchases and sales of Securities on the actual settlement date unless otherwise agreed by Custodian.

2.Each Fund understands that when Custodian is instructed to deliver Securities against payment, delivery of such Securities and receipt of payment therefor may not be completed simultaneously. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, settlements, payments and deliveries of Securities may be effected by Custodian or any Subcustodian in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivery to a purchaser or dealer therefor (or agent) against receipt with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Securities. Each Fund assumes full responsibility for all risks, including, without limitation, credit risks, involved in connection with such deliveries of Securities, except the foregoing shall not excuse Custodian's acting in accordance with such practices and procedures in a manner that constitutes negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

3.Custodian may, as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate agreement with a Fund, credit the Account with the proceeds from the sale, redemption or other disposition of Securities or interest, dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment

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therefor. All such credits shall be conditional until Custodian's actual receipt of final payment and may be reversed by Custodian to the extent that final payment is not received. Custodian shall notify the appropriate Fund at least 48 hours prior to any such reversal, but such reversal shall be made as of the date Custodian determines it has not received final payment. Payment with respect to a transaction will not be "final" until Custodian shall have received immediately available funds which under applicable local law, rule and/or practice are irreversible and not subject to any security interest, levy or other encumbrance, and which are specifically applicable to such transaction.

ARTICLE V

OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS

1.If Custodian should in its sole discretion advance funds on behalf of any Series which results in an overdraft (including, without limitation, any day-light overdraft) because the cash held by Custodian in an Account for such Series shall be insufficient to pay the total amount payable upon a purchase of Securities specifically allocated to such Series, as set forth in a Certificate, Instructions or Oral Instructions, or if an overdraft arises in the separate Account of a Series for some other reason, including, without limitation, because of a reversal of a conditional credit or the purchase of any currency, or if the Fund is for any other reason indebted to Custodian with respect to a Series (except a borrowing for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities as collateral pursuant to a separate agreement and subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article), Custodian shall promptly notify the appropriate Fund of any such advance and the time at which such advance or overdraft must be paid. Such overdraft or indebtedness shall be deemed to be a loan made by Custodian to the Fund for such Series payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date incurred at a rate per annum agreed by such Fund and Custodian from time to time, or, in the absence of an agreement, at the rate ordinarily charged by Custodian to its institutional customers, as such rate may be adjusted from time to time. In addition, the Fund hereby agrees that Custodian shall to the maximum extent permitted by law have a continuing lien, security interest, and security entitlement in and to such Securities of such Series as shall have a fair market value equal to the aggregate amount of all overdrafts of, or advances to, such Series, together with accrued interest, such lien, security interest and security entitlement to be effective only so long as such advance, overdraft, or accrued interest thereon remains outstanding. The Fund authorizes Custodian to charge any such overdraft or indebtedness together with interest due thereon against any balance of account standing to such Series' credit on Custodian's books; provided, however, that Custodian shall provide the Fund with two (2) business days' advance notice before effecting any such charge, during which time the Fund shall be entitled to determine the priority order in which Securities, cash, and other assets are to be used to set off the outstanding balance. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section do not apply to any amounts owed to Custodian pursuant to any other Section of this Agreement, including, in particular, any amounts owed to Custodian pursuant to Section 6 of Article VIII of this Agreement.

2.If a Fund borrows money from any bank (including Custodian if the borrowing is pursuant to a separate agreement) for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities held by Custodian hereunder as collateral for such borrowings, the Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such borrowing: (a) the Series to which such borrowing relates; (b) the name of the bank, (c) the amount of the borrowing, (d) the time and date, if known, on which the loan is to be entered into, (e) the total amount payable to the Fund on the borrowing date, (f) the Securities to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities, and (g) a statement specifying whether such loan is for investment purposes or for temporary or emergency purposes and that such loan is in conformance with the 1940 Act and the Fund's prospectus. Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date specified in a Certificate the specified collateral against payment by the lending bank of the total amount of the loan payable, provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the Certificate. Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all

13

rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory note or loan agreement. Custodian shall deliver such Securities as additional collateral as may be specified in a Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described in this Section. The Fund shall cause all Securities released from collateral status to be returned directly to Custodian, and Custodian shall receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event that the Fund fails to specify in a Certificate the Series, the name of the issuer, the title and number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities to be delivered as collateral by Custodian, Custodian shall not be under any obligation to deliver any Securities. In this event, Custodian shall notify the Fund that the Securities were not delivered, and the information that the Fund failed to specify in the Certificate.

ARTICLE VI

SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

1.Whenever a Fund shall sell any shares issued by the Fund ("Shares") it shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions, or if agreed between the Fund and Custodian Oral Instructions, specifying the amount of cash and/or Securities to be received by Custodian for the sale of such Shares and specifically allocated to an Account for such Series.

2.Upon receipt of such cash from a Fund's transfer agent, Custodian shall credit such cash to an Account in the name of the Series for which such cash was received.

3.Except as provided hereinafter, whenever a Fund desires Custodian to make payment out of the cash held by Custodian hereunder in connection with a redemption of any Shares, it shall furnish to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions, or if agreed between the Fund and Custodian Oral Instructions, specifying the total amount to be paid for such Shares. Custodian shall make payment of such total amount to the transfer agent specified in such Certificate, Instructions or Oral Instructions out of the cash held in an Account of the appropriate Series.

4.Notwithstanding the above provisions regarding the redemption of any Shares, whenever any Shares are redeemed pursuant to any check redemption privilege which may from time to time be offered by a Fund, Custodian, unless otherwise instructed by a Certificate or Instructions (or if agreed between the Fund and Custodian Oral Instructions) shall, upon presentment of such check, charge the amount thereof against the cash held in the Account of the Series of the Shares being redeemed, provided, that if the Fund or its agent timely advises Custodian that such check is not to be honored, Custodian shall return such check unpaid.

ARTICLE VII

PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS

1.Whenever a Fund shall determine to pay a dividend or distribution on Shares it shall furnish to Custodian Instructions, Oral Instructions (if agreed between the Fund and Custodian) or a Certificate setting forth with respect to the Series specified therein the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the total amount payable, and the payment date.

2.Upon the payment date specified in such Instructions, Oral Instructions or Certificate, Custodian shall pay out of the cash held for the Account of such Series the total amount payable to the dividend agent of the Fund with respect to the Series specified therein.

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ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING CUSTODIAN

1.(a) Custodian shall exercise such good faith, reasonable care, diligence and prudence as a professional custodian would exercise under the facts and circumstances and to act without negligence, fraud, bad faith, or willful misconduct in carrying out the duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, unless a higher standard of care is required by law, rule, or regulation, in which case such higher standard of care will apply. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, Custodian shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys' and accountants' fees (collectively, "Losses"), incurred by or asserted against a Fund, except those Losses arising out of Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Custodian shall have no liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any Depositories, or, except to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of Custodian's failure to fulfill its duties hereunder, of any Foreign Depositories. With respect to any Losses incurred by the Fund as a result of the acts or any failures to act by any Subcustodian, Depository, or Foreign Depository, Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover such Losses from such Subcustodian, Depository, or Foreign Depository; and with regard to a Depository or Foreign Depository or with regard to a Loss relating to the Subcustodian's provision of sub-custody services in a market other than one listed in Schedule III hereto, Custodian's sole responsibility and liability to the Fund shall be limited to amounts so received from such Subcustodian, Depository or Foreign Depository (exclusive of costs and expenses incurred by Custodian), except to the extent that (A) Custodian's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct is the direct cause of such Subcustodian, Depository or Foreign Depository's act or omission (it being agreed that Custodian's decision to use any such Subcustodian, Depository or Foreign Depository shall not constitute negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct), or (B) a transaction or other matter between Custodian and such Subcustodian, Depository or Foreign Depository in which Custodian acts with negligence, fraud, bad faith, or willful misconduct and which is unrelated to the Fund was the cause of the loss or damage, in each of which events, Custodian shall be liable for such Losses. At a Fund's election and to the extent practicable under the circumstances and allowable under the applicable agreement and/or the law pursuant to which such agreement is construed, a Fund shall be subrogated on behalf of its Series to the rights of Custodian with respect to any claims against a Depository or Foreign Depository or against a Subcustodian with respect to the provision of sub-custody services in a market other than one listed in Schedule III hereto as a consequence of any Losses if and to the extent that such Series has not been made whole for any Losses within a reasonable period of time by such Subcustodian, Depository or Foreign Depository. Upon the occurrence of any event that causes or may cause any Losses to a Fund, Custodian shall (i) promptly notify the Fund of the occurrence of such event and (ii) take all reasonable steps under the circumstances to mitigate the effects of such event and to avoid continuing harm to the Fund.

(b)Provided Custodian's actions or omissions are without gross negligence, fraudulent conduct, bad faith, or willful misconduct, Custodian shall not be liable to a Fund or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement. In addition, neither Custodian nor any Subcustodian shall be liable: (i) for acting in accordance with any Certificate or Oral Instructions actually received by Custodian and reasonably believed by Custodian to be given by an Authorized Person; (ii) for acting in accordance with Instructions requiring authentication codes if such Instructions have authentication codes without reviewing the same; (iii) for conclusively presuming that all disbursements of cash directed by the Fund, whether by a Certificate, an Oral Instruction, or an Instruction, are in accordance with Section 3(i) of Article II hereof; (iv) for holding property in any particular country, including, but not limited to, Losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; regulation of the banking or securities industry; exchange or currency controls or restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; availability of cash or Securities or market conditions which prevent the transfer of property or execution of Securities transactions or affect the value of property; (v) for the insolvency of any Subcustodian (other than a BNY Affiliate), any Depository, or, except to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of Custodian's failure to fulfill its duties

15

hereunder, any Foreign Depository; or (vi) for any Losses arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, including, without limitation, implementation or adoption of any rules or procedures of a Foreign Depository, which may affect, limit, prevent or impose costs or burdens on, the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any currency or Composite Currency Unit in any country or on the transfer of any Securities, and in no event shall Custodian be obligated to substitute another currency for a currency (including a currency that is a component of a Composite Currency Unit) whose transferability, convertibility or availability has been affected, limited, or prevented by such law, regulation or event, and to the extent that any such law, regulation or event imposes a cost or charge upon Custodian in relation to the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any cash currency or Composite Currency Unit, such cost or charge shall be for the Account of the Fund, and Custodian may treat any Account denominated in an affected currency as a group of separate accounts denominated in the relevant component currencies. Provided that Custodian shall maintain an information security program as set forth in Article III, Section 13, and business continuation and disaster recovery procedures as set forth in Article III, Section 14, Custodian shall not be liable for any Losses due to forces beyond the control of Custodian, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear or natural catastrophes, or acts of God, or interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services ("Force Majeure Event"). Custodian shall endeavor to promptly notify the Funds when it becomes aware of any situation outlined above, but shall not be liable for a failure to do so. The Funds shall not be responsible for temporary delays in the performance of their duties and obligations hereunder and correspondingly shall not be liable for any Losses attributable to such delay in consequence of an event as described above affecting the Funds' principal place of business operations or administration.

(c)Custodian may enter into subcontracts, agreements and understandings with any BNY Affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to perform its services hereunder. No such subcontract, agreement or understanding shall discharge Custodian from its obligations hereunder. With respect to Losses incurred by a Fund as a result of an action or omission of a BNY Affiliate, Custodian will be liable for such Losses to the same extent that Custodian would be liable under the Agreement if the applicable action or omission was that of Custodian.

(d)The Funds agree to indemnify Custodian and hold Custodian harmless from and against any and all Losses sustained or incurred by or asserted against Custodian by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of Custodian's performance hereunder, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by Custodian in a successful defense of claims by the Fund; provided however, that the Funds shall not indemnify Custodian for those Losses arising out of Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of each Fund, their successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

(e)Without limiting any provisions of Article III, Section 1, Custodian agrees to indemnify each Fund against and hold each Fund harmless from and against any and all direct damages sustained or incurred because of or in connection with this Agreement; provided however, that Custodian shall only indemnify the Funds for those direct damages arising out of the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Custodian, or any affiliate of Custodian or any BNY Affiliate. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of Custodian, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

2.Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Custodian shall be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for (except to the extent that either (a) or (b) involves Custodian's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct):

16

(a)Any Losses incurred by a Fund or any other person as a result of the receipt or acceptance of fraudulent, forged or invalid Securities, or Securities which are otherwise not freely transferable or deliverable without encumbrance in any relevant market;

(b)The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased, sold, or written by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchase, sale or writing thereof, or the propriety of the amount paid or received therefor;

(c)The legality of the sale or redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be received or paid therefor;

(d)The legality of the declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution by a

Fund;

(e)The legality of any borrowing by a Fund;

(f)The legality of any loan of portfolio Securities, nor shall Custodian be under any duty or obligation to see to it that any cash or collateral delivered to it by a broker, dealer or financial institution or held by it at any time as a result of such loan of portfolio Securities is adequate collateral for the Fund against any loss it might sustain as a result of such loan, which duty or obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund. In addition, Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to see that any broker, dealer or financial institution to which portfolio Securities of the Fund are lent makes payment to it of any dividends or interest which are payable to or for the account of the Fund during the period of such loan or at the termination of such loan, provided, however that Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in the event that such dividends or interest are not paid and received when due;

(g)The sufficiency or value of any amounts of cash and/or Securities held in any Special Account in connection with transactions by a Fund; whether any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member makes payment to the Fund of any variation margin payment or similar payment which the Fund may be entitled to receive from such broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member, or whether any payment received by Custodian from any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member is the amount the Fund is entitled to receive, or to notify the Fund of Custodian's receipt or non-receipt of any such payment except that Custodian shall as promptly as practical under the circumstances notify a Fund of any difference between the amount the Fund has specified in a Certificate or Instructions as the amount to be received and the amount Custodian actually receives or does not receive; or

(h)Whether any Securities at any time delivered to, or held by it or by any Subcustodian, for the account of a Fund and specifically allocated to a Series are such as properly may be held by the Fund or such Series under the provisions of its then current prospectus and statement of additional information, or to ascertain whether any transactions by a Fund, whether or not involving Custodian, are such transactions as may properly be engaged in by the Fund.

3.Custodian may, with respect to questions of law specifically regarding an Account, obtain the advice of counsel at its own expense (without limiting Article VIII, Section 1(d)) and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice provided that Custodian has selected and retained such counsel using reasonable care and any action taken pursuant to the advice must be consistent with Custodian's responsibilities under this Agreement.

4.Custodian shall be under no obligation to take action to collect any amount payable on Securities in default, or if payment is refused after due demand and presentment, unless and until (i) it shall

17

be directed to take such action by a Certificate or Instructions and (ii) it shall be assured to its satisfaction of reimbursement of its reasonable costs and expenses in connection with any such action except that Custodian shall as promptly as practical under the circumstances notify the affected Fund in writing of such default or refusal to pay.

5.Custodian shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire into, make recommendations, supervise, or determine the suitability of any transactions affecting any Account.

6.Each Fund shall pay to Custodian the fees and charges as may be specifically agreed upon from time to time and such other fees and charges at agreed rates for such services as may be applicable.

7.In addition to, and not as a limitation of, Custodian's rights under Section 1 of Article V, Custodian has the right to debit a cash account in advance for any amount payable by a Fund in connection with any and all obligations of the Fund to Custodian, provided Custodian has given the Fund at least two

(2)business days' prior notice of such debit during which time the Fund shall be entitled to determine the priority order in which any cash accounts are to be debited.

8.Each Fund agrees to forward to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions confirming Oral Instructions by the close of business of the same day that such Oral Instructions are given to Custodian. Each Fund agrees that the fact that such confirming Certificate or Instructions are not received or that a contrary Certificate or contrary Instructions are received by Custodian shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of transactions authorized by such Oral Instructions and effected by Custodian. Under either of the two foregoing circumstances, Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund. If a Fund elects to transmit Instructions through an on-line communications system offered by Custodian, the Fund's use thereof shall be subject to the terms and conditions contained in a separate written agreement.

9.The books and records pertaining to a Fund which are in possession of Custodian shall be the property of such Fund. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. The Fund, or its authorized representatives (including the Fund's independent public accountants), shall have access to such books and records during Custodian's normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of a Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by Custodian to the Fund or its authorized representative (including the Fund's independent public accountants). Upon the reasonable request of a Fund, Custodian shall provide in hard copy or on computer disc any records included in any such delivery which are maintained by Custodian on a computer disc, or are similarly maintained.

10.Upon reasonable request of a Fund, Custodian shall provide the Fund with a copy of Custodian's Service Organizational Control (SOC) 1 reports (or any successor reports) prepared in accordance with the requirements of AT-C Section 320, Reporting on an Examination of Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to User Entities' Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (or successor governing standard). In addition, from time to time as reasonably requested, Custodian will furnish the Fund a "gap" or "bridge" letter that will address any material changes that might have occurred in Custodian's controls covered in the SOC Report from the end of the SOC Report period through a specified requested date. Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Fund with such reports as the Fund may reasonably request or otherwise reasonably require to fulfill its duties under Rule 38a-l of the 1940 Act or similar legal and regulatory requirements. Upon reasonable request of the Fund, Custodian shall also provide to the Fund sub-certifications in connection with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 certification requirements. Information and materials provided by Custodian in accordance with this Section are hereby designated by Custodian as confidential.

18

11.In addition, Custodian shall cooperate with and promptly supply necessary information reasonably requested to any entity or entities appointed by a Fund to keep its books of account and/or compute its net asset value. Custodian shall take all such reasonable actions as a Fund may from time to time request to enable a Fund to obtain, from year to year, favorable opinions from a Fund's independent accountants with respect to Custodian's activities hereunder in connection with (i) the preparation of any registration statement of a Fund and any other reports required by a governmental agency or regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Fund, and (ii) the fulfillment by a Fund of any other requirements of a governmental agency or regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Fund.

12.It is understood that Custodian is authorized to supply any information regarding the Accounts which is required by any law, regulation or rule now or hereafter in effect. Custodian shall provide each Fund with any report obtained by Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of a Depository, and with such reports on its own system of internal accounting control as a Fund may reasonably request from time to time.

13.Neither Custodian nor any Fund shall have any duties or responsibilities whatsoever except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

1.Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which shall not take effect sooner than sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery or mailing if termination is being sought by a Fund on behalf of a Series and not sooner than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of such delivery or mailing if termination is being sought by the Custodian. A Fund may immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a bankruptcy trustee or a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Termination of the Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund or Series shall in no way affect the rights and duties under the Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Series. In the event such notice is given by either party, the Fund shall designate a successor custodian or custodians on or before the termination date. In the absence of such designation by the Fund, Custodian may designate a successor custodian which shall be a bank or trust company having not less than $25,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, and which shall be satisfactory to the Funds. Upon the date set forth in such notice, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the affected Fund(s), and Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian on that date deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities and cash then owned by the Fund(s) and held by it as Custodian, after deducting all fees, expenses and other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled, provided that the Fund shall be entitled to determine the reasonable priority order in which the cash or other assets of any Series are to be deducted by the Custodian to obtain reimbursement.

2.If a successor custodian is not designated by the Fund or Custodian in accordance with the preceding section, the Fund shall upon the date specified in the notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund) and cash then owned by the Fund be deemed to be its own custodian and Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement, other than the duty with respect to Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund to hold such Securities hereunder in accordance with this Agreement.

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3.In the event of any termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, Custodian shall, for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days after termination of the Agreement, (i) continue to provide all or part of the services under this Agreement if requested by the Fund, which services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement during the transition period unless otherwise agreed to by the parties; (ii) provide to the Fund or any successor custodian all assistance reasonably requested to enable the Fund or the successor custodian to commence providing services similar to those under this Agreement; and (iii) subject to the same limitations in place during the term of this Agreement, provide the Fund with access to all records in the possession of Custodian relating to the Fund which belong to the Fund and which are required to be maintained pursuant to the 1940 Act.

4.In connection with any termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever, the parties shall promptly develop a transition plan setting forth a reasonable timetable for the transition and describing the parties' respective responsibilities for transitioning the services back to the Fund or any successor custodian in an orderly and uninterrupted fashion.

5.If Custodian is prevented from carrying out its obligations under this Agreement as a result of any Force Majeure Event for a period of thirty (30) days, a Fund may terminate this Agreement by giving Custodian not less than thirty (30) days' notice, without prejudice to any of the rights of any party accrued prior to the date of termination.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

1.Each Fund agrees to furnish to Custodian a new Certificate of Authorized Persons in the event of any change in the then present Authorized Persons. Until such new Certificate is received, Custodian shall be fully protected in acting upon Certificates, Instructions or Oral Instructions of such present Authorized Persons.

2.Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Custodian and received by it at its offices at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10286, or at such other place as Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.

3.Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Fund and received by it at its offices at Attn.; Chief Financial Officer, The Vanguard Group, Inc., 400 Devon Park Drive, A29, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087, or at such other place as the Fund may from time to time designate in writing.

4.Each and every right granted to a party hereunder or under any other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, or allowed it by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by either party of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

5.In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any exclusive jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties, except that any amendment to the Schedule I hereto need be signed only by the Fund and any amendment to Schedule III hereto may be made as provided in Article III, Section 1(c). This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties

20

hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the written consent of the other.

6.This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. The Fund and Custodian hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. Each Fund hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each Fund and Custodian each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

7.This Agreement is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of each Fund as Trustees and not individually and the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of such Funds; further, the assets of a particular Series of such Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with liabilities attributable to any other Series of such Fund and that all persons extending credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against a particular Series of such Fund shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or claim.

8.Each party hereto agrees that it shall treat confidentially the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all Confidential Information of any other party. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all Confidential Information of a party hereto shall not be used by any other party hereto except solely for the purpose of rendering or obtaining services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of such providing party. Custodian may disclose a Fund's Confidential Information to Custodian's affiliates, legal counsel, consultants, accountants, agents, or service providers (i) who have a business need to know such Confidential Information solely for purposes of carrying out services with respect to the Funds in connection with this Agreement, and (ii) who are subject to fiduciary, professional, or contractual obligations of confidentiality substantially similar to, and no less restrictive than, the obligations set forth herein, and as otherwise required by law or legal process (each such recipient being a "Custodian Agent"). Custodian shall remain ultimately responsible for any impermissible or unlawful use, disclosure, or distribution of a Fund's Confidential Information by Custodian Agents.

9.This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Funds and Custodian have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

EACH OF THE OPEN-END

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT

COMPANIES LISTED ON SCHEDULE II

HERETO

By:

/s/ Thomas J. Higgins

Name: Thomas J. Higgins

Title: Chief Financial Officer

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

By:

/s/ Kenneth C. Roehner

Name: Kenneth C. Roehner

Title: Managing Director

SCHEDULE II

Vanguard Admiral Funds

Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund

Vanguard Chester Funds

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

Vanguard CMT Funds

Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund

Vanguard Fenway Funds

Vanguard PRIMECAP Core Fund

Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Horizon Funds

Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund

Vanguard Strategic Equity Fund

Vanguard Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund

Vanguard Malvern Funds

Vanguard Core Bond Fund

Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Vanguard Money Market Reserves

Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund

Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds Vanguard Explorer Value Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Vanguard Russell 3000 Index Fund

Vanguard Trustees' Equity Fund

Vanguard Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

Schedule II-1

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds

Capital Growth Portfolio

Growth Portfolio

Money Market Portfolio

Short-Term Investment-Grade Portfolio

Vanguard Whitehall Funds

Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund

Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund Vanguard Selected Value Fund

Schedule II-2

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Argentina

 

Ireland

 

Slovenia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia

 

Israel

 

South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Austria

 

Italy

 

South Korea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bahrain

 

Japan

 

Spain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangladesh

 

Jordan

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belgium

 

Kazakhstan

 

Swaziland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bermuda

 

Kenya

 

Sweden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botswana

 

Kuwait

 

Switzerland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil

 

Latvia

 

Taiwan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulgaria

 

Lebanon

 

Thailand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada

 

Lithuania

 

Tunisia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman Islands

 

Luxembourg

 

Turkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel Islands

 

Malaysia

 

Uganda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chile

 

Malta

 

Ukraine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China Shanghai

 

Mauritius

 

United Arab Emirates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China Shenzhen

 

Mexico

 

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombia

 

Morocco

 

United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Rica

 

Namibia

 

Uruguay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Croatia

 

Netherlands

 

Venezuela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyprus

 

New Zealand

 

Vietnam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Czech Republic

 

Nigeria

 

Zambia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denmark

 

Norway

 

Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt

 

Oman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estonia

 

Pakistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Euromarket

 

Peru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finland

 

Philippines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

France

 

Poland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany

 

Portugal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ghana

 

Qatar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greece

 

Romania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hong Kong

 

Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hungary

 

Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iceland

 

Serbia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India

 

Singapore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indonesia

 

Slovak Republic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule III-1

SCHEDULE II – AMENDMENT #2

The following is an amended and restated Schedule II ("Amendment") to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2017 (the "Agreement"), by and between The Bank of New York Mellon ("Custodian") and each open-end management investment company listed on this Schedule II (each, a "Fund"). This Amendment serves to update Schedule

II.Custodian and the Funds agree that all of the terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference with respect to the Funds listed below.

Schedule II is amended as follows:

Vanguard Admiral Funds

Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund

Vanguard Chester Funds

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

Vanguard CMT Funds

Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund

Vanguard Fenway Funds

Vanguard Equity Income Fund

Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Horizon Funds

Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund

Vanguard Index Funds

Vanguard Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Value Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Index Funds

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund

Vanguard International Equity Index Funds

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund

Schedule II-2

Vanguard Money Market Reserves

Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund

Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds

Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index Fund Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Specialized Funds

Vanguard Dividend Growth

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds

High Yield Bond Portfolio

Money Market Portfolio

Short-Term Investment-Grade Portfolio

Total Bond Market Index Portfolio

Vanguard Wellington Funds

Vanguard U.S. Multifactor Fund

Vanguard U.S. Liquidity Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF

Vanguard U.S. Momentum Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Value Factor ETF

Vanguard Whitehall Funds

Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund

Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Vanguard World Fund

Vanguard International Growth Fund

(Rest of page left intentionally blank)

Schedule II-3

AGREED TO as of _______, 2018 BY:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

Each of the Open-End Management Investment

 

 

Companies Listed on Schedule II Hereto

By:

/s/ Robert Hladky

By: /s/ Thomas J. Higgins

Name: Robert Hladky

Name: Thomas J. Higgins

Title:

Vice President

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Schedule II-4

SCHEDUL E II -AMENDME NT #3

The following is an amended and restated Schedule II ("Amendment") to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2017 (the "Agreement"), by and between The Bank of New York Mellon ("Custodian") and each open-end management investment company listed on this Schedule II (each, a "Fund"). This Amendment serves to update Schedule

II.Custodian and the Funds agree that all of the terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference with respect to the Funds listed below.

Schedule II is amended as follows:

Vanguard Admiral Funds

Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund

Vanguard Chester Funds

Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund

Vanguard CMT Funds

Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund

Vanguard Fenway Funds

Vanguard Equity Income Fund

Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Federal Fund

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund

Vanguard Horizon Funds

Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund

Vanguard Index Funds

Vanguard Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Value Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Index Funds

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund

Vanguard International Equity Index Funds

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund

Vanguard Money Market Reserves

Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds

Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund

Vanguard Specialized Funds

Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund

Vanguard Valley Forge Funds

Vanguard Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact Stock Fund

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds

High Yield Bond Portfolio

Money Market Portfolio

Short-Term Investment-Grade Portfolio

Total Bond Market Index Portfolio

Vanguard Wellington Fund

Vanguard U.S. Multifactor Fund

Vanguard U.S. Liquidity Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF

Vanguard U.S. Momentum Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF

Vanguard U.S. Value Factor ETF

Vanguard Whitehall Funds

Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund

Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Vanguard World Fund

Vanguard International Growth Fund

AGREED TO AS OF March 15, 2022

(Rest of page left intentionally blank)

The Bank of New York Mellon

Each of the Open-End Management Investment

 

Companies Listed on Schedule II Hereto

By: /s/ Michelle Ross__________

By: /s/ Christine Buchanan_____________

Name: Michelle Ross________

Name: Christine Buchanan_____________

Title: Director______________

Title: Principal VGI, Funds CFO________


 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our report dated February 25, 2022, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Baillie Gifford Positive Change Equities Fund, a series of Baillie Gifford Funds, for the year ended December 31, 2021, and to the references to our firm under the headings "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Statement of Additional Information.

COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

April 1, 2022

C O H E N & C O M P A N Y , L T D .

800.229.1099 | 866.818.4535 fa x | cohencpa.com

Registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board


VANGUARD FUNDS

MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

I.INTRODUCTION

This Multiple Class Plan (the "Plan") describes seven separate classes of shares that may be offered by investment company members of The Vanguard Group of Mutual Funds (collectively the "Funds," individually a "Fund"). The Plan has been adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to allow each Fund to offer multiple classes of shares in a manner permitted by Rule 18f-3, subject to the requirements imposed by the Rule. Each Fund may offer any one or more of the specified classes.

The Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("VGI"). In addition, the Plan has been adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund ("Fund Board"), including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of each Fund. The classes of shares offered by each Fund are designated in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

II.SHARE CLASSES

A Fund may offer any one or more of the following share classes:

Investor Shares

Admiral Shares

Institutional Shares

Institutional Plus Shares

Institutional Select Shares

ETF Shares

Transition Shares

III.DISTRIBUTION, AVAILABILITY AND ELIGIBILITY

Distribution arrangements for all classes are described below. Distribution arrangements vary by VGI business line depending on the eligibility of the client segments to whom they market. Each Fund retains sole discretion in determining share class availability, and VGI retains discretion in determining whether Fund shares shall be offered either directly or through certain financial intermediaries, or on certain financial intermediary platforms. Eligibility requirements for purchasing shares of each class will differ, as follows:

A.Investor Shares

Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds generally will be available to investors who are not permitted to purchase other classes of shares, subject to the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Investor Shares of actively-managed Funds will normally be lower than the amount required for any other class of shares of such Funds. Investor Shares of actively-

1

managed Funds are typically distributed by all VGI business lines. Investor Shares of index Funds generally will be available to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI.

B.Admiral Shares

Admiral Shares generally will be available to retail, institutional, and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. These eligibility requirements may include, but are not limited to the following factors: (i) the total amount invested in the Fund; or (ii) any other factors deemed appropriate by a Fund's Board. Admiral Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.

C.Institutional Shares

Institutional Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount per account for Institutional Shares will be substantially higher than the amounts required for Investor Shares or Admiral Shares. Institutional Shares are typically distributed by Vanguard's financial advisory services and institutional business lines.

D.Institutional Plus Shares

Institutional Plus Shares generally will be available to institutional and other investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Plus Shares will be substantially higher than the amount required for Institutional Shares. Institutional Plus Shares are typically distributed by VGI's financial advisory services and institutional business lines.

E.Institutional Select Shares

Institutional Select Shares generally will be available to institutional investors who meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. It is expected that the minimum investment amount for Institutional Select Shares will be the highest among all Fund share classes. Institutional Select Shares are typically distributed by VGI's institutional business line.

F.ETF Shares

A Fund will sell ETF Shares to investors that are (or who purchase through) Authorized Participants and who generally pay for their ETF shares by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund. An Authorized Participant is an institution, usually a broker-dealer, that is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and that has executed a Participant Agreement with the Fund's distributor. Additional eligibility requirements may be specified in

2

Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Investors who are not Authorized Participants may buy and sell ETF shares through various exchanges and market centers. ETF Shares are typically distributed by all VGI business lines.

G.Transition Shares

Transition Shares generally will be available solely to Funds that operate as Funds-of-Funds and meet the eligibility requirements specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Transition Shares are only internally distributed.

IV. SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

Shareholders in all share classes will receive a range of shareholder services provided by VGI. These services may include transaction processing and shareholder recordkeeping, as well as the mailing of updated prospectuses, shareholder reports, tax statements, confirmation statements, quarterly portfolio summaries, and other items. Each share class will bear its proportionate share of VGI's cost of providing such services in accordance with Section VI of the Plan.

V.CONVERSION FEATURES

A. Self-Directed Conversions

1.Conversion into Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, and Institutional Select Shares. Shareholders may conduct self-directed conversions from one share class into another share class of the same Fund for which they are eligible. Self-directed conversions may be initiated by the shareholder; however, depending upon the particular share class and the complexity of the shareholder's accounts, such conversions may require the assistance of a VGI representative. Shareholders may convert from one share class into another share class provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the then applicable eligibility requirements for the share class into which they are converting. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's receipt of the shareholder's request in good order.

2.Conversion into ETF Shares. Except as otherwise provided, a shareholder may convert Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, or Institutional Shares into ETF Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that: (i) the share class out of which the shareholder is converting and the ETF Shares declare and distribute dividends on the same schedule; (ii) the shares to be converted are not held through an employee benefit plan; and (iii) following the conversion, the shareholder will hold ETF Shares through a brokerage account. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's receipt of the shareholder's request in good order. VGI or the Fund may charge an administrative fee to process conversion transactions.

3

B.Automatic Conversions

1.Automatic conversion into Admiral Shares. VGI may automatically convert Investor Shares into Admiral Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that following the conversion the shareholder meets the eligibility requirements for Admiral Shares. Any such conversion will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes next calculated after VGI's conversion without the imposition of any charge. Such automatic conversions may occur on a periodic, or one-time basis. Automatic conversions may not apply to certain financial types of accounts (e.g., accounts held through certain intermediaries, or other accounts as may be excluded by VGI management).

2.Automatic conversion into Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares. VGI may conduct automatic conversions of any share class into either Institutional Shares, Institutional Plus Shares, or Institutional Select Shares in accordance with then-current eligibility requirements.

C.Involuntary Conversions and Cash Outs

1.Cash Outs. If a shareholder in any class of shares no longer meets the eligibility requirements for such shares, the Fund may, if permitted under applicable law, cash out the shareholder's remaining account balance. Any such cash out will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will be subject to the Fund's normal redemption fees, if any.

2.Conversion of Admiral Shares, Institutional Shares, and Institutional Plus Shares. If a shareholder no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the share class currently held, the Fund may convert the shareholder's holdings into the share class for which such shareholder is eligible. Any such conversion will be preceded by written notice to the shareholder and will occur at the respective net asset values of the share classes without the imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge.

3.Conversions of Transition Shares. When a Fund that issues Transition Shares has completed the relevant portfolio transition, the Fund will convert the Transition Shares to another share class of the same Fund as appropriate, based on the eligibility requirements of such class as specified in Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

VI. EXPENSE ALLOCATION AMONG CLASSES

A.Background

VGI is a jointly-owned subsidiary of the Funds. VGI provides the Funds, on an at-cost basis, virtually all of their corporate management, administrative, and distribution services. VGI also may provide investment advisory services on an at-cost basis to the Funds. VGI was established and operates pursuant to a Funds'

4

Service Agreement between itself and the Funds (the "Agreement"), and pursuant to certain exemptive orders granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("Exemptive Orders"). VGI's direct and indirect expenses of providing corporate management, administrative, and distribution services to the Funds are allocated among such Funds in accordance with methods specified in the Agreement or such other methods as may be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI ("VGI Board") as permitted under the Agreement and by the Fund Board.1

B.Class Specific Expenses

1.Expenses for Account-Based Services. Expenses associated with

VGI's provision of account-based services to the Funds will be allocated among the share classes of each Fund on the basis of the amount incurred by each such class as follows:

(a)Account maintenance expenses. Expenses associated with the maintenance of investor accounts will be proportionately allocated among each Fund's share classes based upon a monthly determination of the costs to service each class of shares. Factors considered in this determination are (i) the percentage of total shareholder accounts represented by each class and (ii) the relative percentage of total net assets of each class.

(b)Expenses of special servicing arrangements. Expenses relating to any special servicing arrangements for a specific class will be proportionally allocated among each eligible Fund's share classes primarily based on their percentage of total shareholder accounts receiving the special servicing arrangements.

(c)Literature production and mailing expenses. Expenses associated with shareholder reports, proxy materials and other literature will be allocated among each Fund's share classes based upon the number of such items produced and mailed for each class.

2.Other Class Specific Expenses. Expenses for the primary benefit of a particular share class will be allocated to that share class. Such expenses would include any legal fees attributable to a particular class.

C.Fund-Wide Expenses

1.Marketing and Distribution Expenses. Each share class will bear marketing and distribution expenses proportionate to the marketing and distribution expenses of the business lines that distribute that share class.

1In accordance with the methods set out in the Agreement and VGI Board and Fund Board approved methods, the expenses that would otherwise have been allocated to each Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds are reallocated to the approved share class of the underlying Funds in the Fund-of-Funds' portfolio on a pro rata basis based on the Fund-of-Fund's relative net assets invested in the underlying Fund's share class.

5

Retail and institutional businesses expenses will be allocated based on the percentage of client accounts in each share class serviced by the respective business. Financial advisory service expenses will be apportioned based on the percentage of assets in each share class.

Expenses associated with each share class will be allocated only among the Funds that have such share class according to the "Vanguard Modified Formula," with each share class or each Fund treated as if it were a separate Fund. The Vanguard Modified Formula is set forth in the Agreement and in certain of the SEC Exemptive Orders. This allocation has been deemed an appropriate allocation methodology by each Fund Board under paragraph (c)(1)(v) of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.

2.Asset Management Expenses. Expenses associated with management of a Fund's assets (including all advisory, tax preparation, and custody fees) will be allocated among the Fund's share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

3.Other Fund Expenses. Any other Fund expenses not described above will be allocated among the share classes on the basis of their relative net assets.

VII. ALLOCATION OF INCOME, GAINS, AND LOSSES

Income, gains, and losses will be allocated among each Fund's share classes on the basis of their relative net assets. As a result of differences in allocated expenses, it is expected that the net income of, and dividends payable to, each class of shares will vary. Dividends and distributions paid to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, on the same day and at the same time.

VIII. VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS

Each share class will have: (i) exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its service or distribution arrangements; and (ii) separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of the other class; and (iii) in all other respects the same rights, obligations, and privileges as each other, except as described in the Plan.

IX. AMENDMENTS

All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, any material amendment to the Plan must be approved by the Board of Directors of VGI.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Approved by Board: December 17, 2021

6

SCHEDULE A to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

Note: Transition Shares, when offered by a Fund, are available for a limited period of time and are then converted into another share class. For this reason, Transition Shares are not shown on Schedule A.

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

 

Vanguard Admiral Funds

 

 

Treasury Money Market Fund

Investor

• S&P 500 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P 500 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Small-Cap 600 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

Vanguard Bond Index Funds

 

 

• Short-Term Bond Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

• Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund

Institutional Plus, ETF

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, ETF

• Long-Term Bond Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, Institutional Plus,

 

 

ETF

• Total Bond Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

• Total Bond Market II Index Fund

Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

Investor, Institutional

Inflation-Protected Securities Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

Ultra-Short Bond ETF

ETF

Vanguard California Tax-Free Funds

 

 

• Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Charlotte Funds

 

 

• Total International Bond Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Select, ETF

• Global Credit Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Total International Bond II Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

1

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Chester Funds

 

PRIMECAP Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Target Retirement Income Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2015 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2020 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2025 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2030 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2035 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2040 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2045 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2050 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2055 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2060 Fund

Investor

• Target Retirement 2065 Fund

Investor

Vanguard Explorer Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Fenway Funds

 

Equity Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

PRIMECAP Core Fund

Investor

Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Funds

 

Ultra-Short-Term Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Real Estate II Index Fund

Institutional Plus

Short-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

Short-Term Federal Fund

Investor, Admiral

Short-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

Intermediate-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

Intermediate-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral

GNMA Fund

Investor, Admiral

Long-Term Treasury Fund

Investor, Admiral

Long-Term Investment-Grade Fund

Investor, Admiral

High-Yield Corporate Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Horizon Funds

 

Capital Opportunity Fund

Investor, Admiral

Global Equity Fund

Investor

Strategic Equity Fund

Investor

• Strategic Small-Cap Equity Fund

Investor

• International Core Stock Fund

Investor, Admiral

2

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

 

Vanguard Index Funds

 

 

500 Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional Select, ETF

• Extended Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

Institutional Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

Large-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, ETF

Mid-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

• Mid-Cap Value Index Fund

Institutional Plus, ETF

Investor, Admiral, ETF

• Small-Cap Growth Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

Small-Cap Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

• Small-Cap Value Index Fund

Institutional Plus, ETF

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Total Stock Market Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

Plus, Institutional Select, ETF

Value Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

Vanguard Institutional Index Funds

 

 

Institutional Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus

• Institutional Total Stock Market Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus

Vanguard International Equity Index Funds

 

 

• Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

ETF

• European Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Europe ETF

ETF

• FTSE All-World ex US Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, Institutional

 

 

Plus, ETF

• Pacific Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

 

FTSE Pacific ETF

ETF

• Total World Stock Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• FTSE All World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

3

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Malvern Funds

Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities

 

Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Institutional Short-Term Bond Fund

Institutional Plus

• Institutional Intermediate-Term Bond Fund

Institutional Plus

Core Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

Core-Plus Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Multi-Sector Income Bond Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Funds

 

Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor

Vanguard Money Market Funds

 

• Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund

Admiral

• Federal Money Market Fund

Investor

Vanguard Montgomery Funds

 

Market Neutral Fund

Investor, Institutional

Vanguard Municipal Bond Funds

 

• Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Vanguard New Jersey Tax-Free Funds

 

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard New York Tax-Free Funds

 

• Municipal Money Market Fund

Investor

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Funds

 

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor

Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Funds

 

Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund

Investor, Admiral

4

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Quantitative Funds

 

• Growth and Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Scottsdale Funds

 

Short-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

Intermediate-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Long-Term Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

• Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund

Institutional, Admiral, ETF

Explorer Value Fund

Investor

• Russell 1000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Russell 3000 Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Total Corporate Bond ETF

ETF

• Total World Bond ETF

ETF

Vanguard Specialized Funds

 

Energy Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Global Capital Cycles Fund

Investor

Health Care Fund

Investor, Admiral

Dividend Growth Fund

Investor

• Real Estate Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Dividend Appreciation Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Global ESG Select Stock Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard STAR Funds

 

• LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund

Investor

LifeStrategy Growth Fund

Investor

LifeStrategy Income Fund

Investor

• LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund

Investor

STAR Fund

Investor

• Total International Stock Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus, Institutional Select,

 

 

ETF

Vanguard Tax-Managed Funds

 

Tax-Managed Balanced Fund

Admiral

• Tax-Managed Capital Appreciation Fund

Admiral, Institutional

• Developed Markets Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional,

 

 

Institutional Plus

 

FTSE Developed Markets ETF

ETF

Tax-Managed Small-Cap Fund

Admiral, Institutional

5

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Trustees' Equity Fund

 

International Value Fund

Investor

Diversified Equity Fund

Investor

• Emerging Markets Select Stock Fund

Investor

Alternative Strategies Fund

Investor

Commodity Strategy Fund

Admiral

Vanguard Valley Forge Funds

 

Balanced Index Fund

Investor, Admiral, Institutional

Managed Allocation Fund

Investor

• Baillie Gifford Global Positive Impact

Investor

 

Stock Fund

 

Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds

 

Balanced Portfolio

Investor

Conservative Allocation Portfolio

Investor

Diversified Value Portfolio

Investor

Equity Income Portfolio

Investor

Equity Index Portfolio

Investor

Growth Portfolio

Investor

• Global Bond Index Portfolio

Investor

• Total Bond Market Index Portfolio

Investor

• High Yield Bond Portfolio

Investor

International Portfolio

Investor

Mid-Cap Index Portfolio

Investor

Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Investor

Money Market Portfolio

Investor

• Real Estate Index Portfolio

Investor

• Short-Term Investment Grade Portfolio

Investor

• Small Company Growth Portfolio

Investor

Capital Growth Portfolio

Investor

• Total International Stock Market Index Portfolio

Investor

• Total Stock Market Index Portfolio

Investor

Vanguard Wellesley Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard Wellington Fund

 

• U.S. Liquidity Factor ETF

ETF

• U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF

ETF

• U.S. Momentum Factor ETF

ETF

U.S. Multifactor ETF

ETF

U.S. Multifactor Fund

Admiral

• U.S. Quality Factor ETF

ETF

• U.S. Value Factor ETF

ETF

Wellington Fund

Investor, Admiral

6

Vanguard Fund

Share Classes Authorized

Vanguard Whitehall Funds

 

Selected Value Fund

Investor

Mid-Cap Growth Fund

Investor

International Explorer Fund

Investor

• High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Emerging Markets Government

 

Bond Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional, ETF

• Vanguard Global Minimum Volatility Fund

Investor, Admiral

• International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• International High Dividend Yield Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Vanguard Windsor Funds

 

Windsor Fund

Investor, Admiral

Windsor II Fund

Investor, Admiral

Vanguard World Fund

 

• Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund

Institutional, Institutional Plus, ETF

• FTSE Social Index Fund

Admiral, Institutional

• Global Wellesley Income Fund

Investor, Admiral

Global Wellington Fund

Investor, Admiral

International Growth Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Mega Cap Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Mega Cap Growth Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

• Mega Cap Value Index Fund

Institutional, ETF

U.S. Growth Fund

Investor, Admiral

• Consumer Discretionary Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Consumer Staples Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Energy Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Financials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Health Care Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Industrials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Information Technology Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Materials Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• Communication Services Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

Utilities Index Fund

Admiral, ETF

• ESG U.S. Stock ETF

ETF

• ESG International Stock ETF

ETF

• ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF

ETF

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Updated: April 4, 2022

7

SCHEDULE B

to

VANGUARD FUNDS MULTIPLE CLASS

PLAN

VGI has policies and procedures designed to ensure consistency and compliance with the offering of multiple classes of shares within this Multiple Class Plan's eligibility requirements.2 These policies are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis in conjunction with VGI's Compliance Department.

Investor Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Investor Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000. Personal Advisor Services clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries, and institutional clients may hold Investor Shares without restriction in Funds that do not offer Admiral Shares. Investor Shares of index Funds generally are available only to Funds that operate as a Fund- of-Funds and certain retirement plan clients receiving recordkeeping services from VGI. A Vanguard Fund may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Investor Shares. Each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.

Financial intermediaries that serve as mutual fund supermarkets may only invest in Investor Shares of Funds in which Investor Shares are available and may not invest in other share classes of such Funds.3 Mutual fund supermarket means a program or platform offered by a financial intermediary through which such intermediary's retail clients may purchase and sell mutual funds offered by a variety of independent fund families on a self-directed basis without advice or recommendation from a financial advisor or broker. This definition may be changed or amended at any time and without prior notice as may be determined in the discretion of VGI management. Nothing in the definition of mutual fund supermarket should be construed to prohibit Vanguard Brokerage Services from offering the Funds' other share classes to its eligible clients.

Admiral Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Admiral Shares generally are intended for clients who meet the required minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000 for retail clients in index Funds and $50,000 for retail clients in actively-managed Funds. Personal Advisor Services clients, clients investing through financial intermediaries and institutional clients may hold Admiral Shares of both index and actively-managed Funds without restriction. Funds may, from time to time, establish higher or lower minimum amounts for Admiral Shares, and each Fund and VGI reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Admiral Share class eligibility also is subject to the following rule:

Certain Retirement Plans – Admiral Shares of actively-managed Funds generally are not available for SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.4

Mutual Fund Supermarkets – Admiral Shares are not available to mutual fund supermarkets, except where a Fund does not have Investor Shares.

2The eligibility of a Fund that operates as a Fund-of-Funds to invest in a particular share class of an underlying Fund is determined by VGI and the Fund Board.

3Admiral Shares of the Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund are available to financial intermediaries that serve as mutual fund supermarkets.

4Admiral Share classes of all Funds are available to 403(b) plan participants in Vanguard's Retail 403(b) business, which is serviced by The Newport Group. Admiral Shares of the Vanguard Cash Reserves Federal Money Market Fund are available to SIMPLE IRAs and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Institutional Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of

$5,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors.

Institutional Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. Single family offices serviced by the Retail Investor Group with $200 million or more in assets in the Funds through the Retail Investor Group may hold Institutional Shares by aggregating assets across all family members who are part of a single family office.

Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries5 may offer Institutional Shares, provided:

(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and

(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Shares for the Fund.

A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:

(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);

(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such a client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $5 million (or such higher minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker6 for each account; and (2) the total

5For purposes of this Schedule B, this is not intended to include robo advisors.

6For purposes of this Schedule B, a common-decision maker includes, but is not limited to, a corporate entity that controls multiple pools of assets invested in a Fund. For example, a corporate entity that acts as a plan sponsor for a retirement plan may have one or more investment committees or boards of trustees overseeing both the retirement plan account as well as other accounts invested in the Fund. In this case, the corporate entity would be considered a common-decision maker for each account where there is a common membership across each investment committee or governing body making investment decisions for each account. Common-decision makers do not include financial intermediaries.

balance in each account in the Fund.

Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column ("Corresponding Funds") for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for

Institutional Shares of the Corresponding Funds.

Trust/Fund

Corresponding Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Bond

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total

Vanguard Total International Stock

International Stock Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Extended Market

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund

Index Trust

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Investment by Vanguard Target Retirement Collective Trust. A Vanguard Target Retirement Trust that is a collective trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in underlying Funds (a "TRT") may hold Institutional Shares of an underlying Fund whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.

Accumulation Period Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

Institutional Plus Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Plus Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $100,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Plus Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

Retail clients. Retail clients may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating up to 3 accounts held by the same client (same tax I.D. number) in a single Fund. For purposes of this rule, VGI management is authorized to permit aggregation of a greater number of accounts in the case of clients whose aggregate assets within the Funds are expected to generate substantial economies in the servicing of their accounts. Single family offices serviced by the Retail Investor Group with $200 million or more in assets in the Funds through the Retail Investor Group may hold Institutional Plus Shares by aggregating assets across all family members who are part of a single family office.

Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Plus Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $100 million (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) that the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and

(2) the total balance in each account held in the Fund.

Institutional clients with assets in certain Vanguard collective investment trusts and Funds. Institutional clients with assets in the following collective investment trusts and Funds may aggregate such assets with assets invested in the corresponding Funds listed below in the right column ("Corresponding Funds") for purposes of meeting the investment minimum for Institutional

Plus Shares of the Corresponding Funds.

Trust/Fund

Corresponding Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Vanguard Institutional Total Stock

Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total Bond

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index

Market Index Trust

Fund

Vanguard Institutional Total

Vanguard Total International Stock

International Stock Market Index Trust

Market Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Vanguard Institutional Extended Market

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund

Index Trust

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard Institutional Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Employee Benefit Index

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

Fund

 

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 1000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index

Trust

Fund

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Index

Trust

Fund

Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Plus Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Home office model portfolios offered on wealth management platforms administered by financial intermediaries may offer Institutional Plus Shares, provided:

(1)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, has total assets of at least $25 billion invested in Vanguard; and

(2)the financial intermediary in aggregate at the firm level, excluding custody assets, meets the investment minimum of Institutional Plus Shares for the Fund.

A home office model portfolio must meet the following criteria:

(1)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are set and selected by the financial intermediary (i.e., the firm itself);

(2)the allocations and Funds used in the model portfolios on the platform are not subject to change by individual financial advisors; and

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Plus Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

Asset Allocation Models - Clients with defined asset allocation models whose assets meet eligibility requirements may qualify for Institutional Plus Shares if such models comply with policies and procedures that have been approved by VGI management.

Institutional Select Shares - Eligibility Requirements

Institutional Select Shares generally require a minimum initial investment and ongoing account balance of $3,000,000,000. However, each Fund and VGI also reserve the right to establish higher or lower minimum amounts for certain investors or a group of investors. Institutional Select Share class eligibility also is subject to the following special rules:

Institutional clients. An institutional client may hold Institutional Select Shares if the total amount aggregated among all accounts held by such client (including accounts held through financial intermediaries) and invested in the Fund is at least $3 billion (or such higher or lower minimum required by the individual Fund). Such an institutional client must disclose to VGI on behalf of its accounts the following: (1) the client acts as a common-decision maker for each account; and (2) the total balance in each account in the Fund.

Financial intermediary clients. Financial intermediaries generally may hold Institutional Select Shares for the benefit of their underlying clients provided that:

(1)each underlying investor individually meets the investment minimum amount described above;

and

(2)the financial intermediary agrees to monitor ongoing compliance of the underlying investor accounts with the investment minimum amount; or

(3)an arrangement is established between VGI and the financial intermediary to allow VGI to monitor compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Accumulation Period - Accounts funded through regular contributions (e.g., employer sponsored participant contribution plans), whose assets are expected to quickly achieve eligibility levels, may qualify for Institutional Select Shares upon account creation, rather than undergoing the conversion process shortly after account set-up, if VGI management determines that the account will become eligible for Institutional Select Shares within a limited period of time (generally 90 days). The accumulation period eligibility is subject to the discretion of VGI management.

Investment by VGI collective investment trusts with a similar mandate. A VGI collective investment trust exempt from regulation under the Investment Company Act and that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in an underlying Fund with an index-based mandate may hold Institutional Select Shares of an underlying Fund with a similar index-based mandate whether or not its investment meets the minimum investment threshold specified above.

ETF Shares – Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for ETF Shares will be set forth in the Fund's registration statement. To be eligible to purchase ETF Shares directly from a Fund, an investor must be (or must purchase through) an Authorized Participant, as defined in Paragraph III.F of the Multiple Class Plan. Investors purchasing ETF Shares from a Fund must purchase a minimum number of shares, known as a Creation Unit. The number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit may vary from Fund to Fund. The value of a Fund's Creation Unit will vary with the net asset value of the

Fund's ETF Shares, but is expected to be several million dollars. An eligible investor generally must purchase a Creation Unit by depositing a prescribed basket consisting predominantly of securities with the Fund.

Transition Shares – Eligibility Requirements

Transition Shares will be offered only to Funds that operate as a Fund-of-Funds and only by an underlying Fund (i) that is receiving assets in kind from one or more Funds and (ii) that will "transition" those in-kind assets by selling some or all of them and using the proceeds to purchase different assets. There is no minimum investment amount for Transition Shares.

Original Board Approval: July 21, 2000

Last Approved by Board: March 19, 2021


CODE OF ETHICS

BAILLIE GIFFORD COMPLIANCE MANUAL

CODE OF ETHICS

2022

INDEX OF UPDATES..............................................................................................................................................................

3

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................

6

1.1

APPLICATION....................................................................................................................................................................

6

1.2

SCOPE ...............................................................................................................................................................................

6

1.3

PURPOSE ...........................................................................................................................................................................

6

1.4

STAFF OBLIGATIONS........................................................................................................................................................

6

1.5

VIOLATIONS......................................................................................................................................................................

7

1.6

INTERPRETATION AND WAIVER.......................................................................................................................................

7

1.7

MONITORING....................................................................................................................................................................

7

1.8

MATERIAL CHANGES .......................................................................................................................................................

7

2. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES .....................................................................................................................................................

8

2.1

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................................

8

2.2

GUIDING ETHICAL PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................................................................

8

2.3

RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES.........................................................................................................................................

10

3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ............................................................................................................................................

10

3.1

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................................

10

3.2

IDENTIFICATION AND TYPES OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST ............................................................................................

10

3.3

DUTY TO DISCLOSE ........................................................................................................................................................

11

3.4

OUTSIDE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND PERSONAL ASSOCIATIONS ..................................................................................

11

4. PERSONAL ACCOUNT DEALING POLICY..................................................................................................................

16

4.1

HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................................

16

4.2

GENERAL RULE ON PA DEALING...................................................................................................................................

16

4.3

APPLICATION OF PERSONAL ACCOUNT DEALING POLICY...........................................................................................

17

4.4

PROHIBITED AND EXEMPT SECURITIES AND TRANSACTIONS ......................................................................................

18

4.5

PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING PERMISSION .................................................................................................................

19

4.6

PRACTICAL PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.................................................................

20

4.7

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................................................

21

4.8

SUMMARY TABLE OF SECURITY TYPES AND PRE-CLEARANCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ............................

21

5. INDUCEMENTS POLICY.................................................................................................................................................

23

5.1

GUIDELINES....................................................................................................................................................................

23

5.2

RESTRICTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF PACKAGE PRODUCTS, I.E. OEICS.............................................

27

5.3

PACKAGED PRODUCTS GUIDANCE ON REASONABLE INDIRECT BENEFITS..................................................................

28

5.4

FINRA SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED PERSONS OF BGFS ..................................................................

29

5.5

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR BGA(HK)....................................................................................................................

29

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION .........................................................................................................

29

6.1

RECEIPT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CODE......................................................................................................

30

6.2

ANNUAL REPORT TO BAILLIE GIFFORD BOARDS .........................................................................................................

30

2

CODE OF ETHICS

2022

Index of Updates

Date

Reason for change

Material

Regulatory

 

 

Change

Requirement

October 2017

Changes made to reflect MiFID II requirements. New requirements on Inducements relating to MiFID, equivalent third

Yes

Yes

 

country or optional exemption business under FCA COBS 2.3A for firms which make personal recommendations to a retail

 

 

 

client in the UK and, in particular, rules on inducements relating to the provision of investment services and ancillary services

 

 

 

that the FCA will adopt under new FCA COBS 2.3A 5R. Chapter 5 updated with minor housekeeping changes throughout.

 

 

May 2018

4.5.1. Separate broker notification letter for BGFS representatives no longer required.

No

No

 

4.5.1. New paragraph added about broker confirmations.

 

 

 

4.8. Minor updates to description of unlisted investments in the summary table.

 

 

 

Minor housekeeping changes throughout the policy to change all references to holdings reports to Code of Ethics Declarations.

 

 

August 2018

Minor updates to summary table in section 4.8 to include references to cryptocurrencies and structured deposits.

No

No

September 2018

Removal of references to Baillie Gifford Life Limited. This entity is no longer carrying out insurance business and has applied

No

No

 

for the cancellation of all its regulatory permissions.

 

 

October 2018

New Guidance for partners and staff considering external appointments section added to the Conflicts of Interest chapter of the

No

No

 

Code of Ethics Policy, plus a link to the guidance note. Not a material change as this is the publication of guidance and not a

 

 

 

Code of Ethics Policy change. Summary table in section 4.8 updated to consolidate the two rows relating to exchange traded

 

 

 

funds into one row.

 

 

November 2018

Housekeeping update to the PA dealing policy following changes to the workplace pension arrangements.

No

No

January 2019

Additional client requirement added to the list of clients with specific requirements link in section 5.1.15.

No

No

 

Change of job title for Lindsay Gold from Head of Compliance to Compliance Director (Page 5).

No

No

 

Reference to CFTC added in Section 6.0.

No

Yes

 

Changes to ensure BGE is covered by the policy.

No

No

March 2019

Updates to summary table in section 4.8 to reflect the 3 security types added. Certificate of Deposit, Fixed Term Deposit and

No

No

 

Fixed Term Bond.

 

 

April 2019

Changed Lindsay Gold's title from Head of Compliance to Compliance Director and changed Monitoring, Ethics Conduct and

No

No

 

Assurance team name to Monitoring and Ethics team.

 

 

July 2019

Update political contributions sections to confirm that pre-clearance can be obtained from US based Compliance Counsel and

No

No

 

the Code of Ethics team, rather than the Compliance Director.

 

 

September 2019

Updates made to reference the new FCA Conduct Rules introduced under SMCR and make enhancements to the Outside

Yes

Yes

 

Business Interests section.

 

 

September 2019

OBI section of the policy updates to include a new table of examples and a new streamlined process which consolidates the

Yes

No

 

pre-existing Code of Ethics policy and the HR OBI and Employment Policy which has since been decommissioned.

 

 

September 2019

Whistleblowing Policy removed (now standalone), BGA(HK) semi-annual declaration process referenced and various

No

No

 

housekeeping amendments.

 

 

March 2020

Additional conflict disclosure requirements for investment decision makers to reflect an increased industry focus in this area.

Yes

No.

December 2020

Housekeeping changes to change 'unlisted investments' to 'private companies' and clarifying personal associations

No

No

 

3

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2021

 

Alastair Maclean replaces Lindsay Gold, as Director, Group Compliance and Legal.

No

Yes

May 2021

 

Addition of section 3.4.3 Disclosure Procedures for External Board/Committee Appointments.

No

No

 

 

Minor housekeeping updates to clarify the policy which included: adding ETFs to the section in 4.3; FX and cryptocurrency in

 

 

 

 

4.4.2.1; Automatic sales for fees in 4.4.2.2; updating various links throughout the policy; updating the Group Compliance and

 

 

 

 

Legal Director title throughout.

 

 

August 2021

 

Housekeeping changes: No change to process, tidying up policy wording and making it clearer.

No

No

January 2022

 

References to: 1) Compliance Monitoring and Ethics Team updated to Compliance Code of Ethics Team; and 2) Head of

No

No

 

 

Compliance Monitoring and Ethics updated to Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2022

 

Post-Brexit updates made for UK/EU MiFID references throughout the policy. Name change for the Policies Training &

No

No

 

 

Reporting team to Compliance Admin and Comms.

 

 

4

CODE OF ETHICS

2022

Letter from the Joint Senior Partner and Compliance and Legal Director

Dear Colleagues,

The Code of Ethics Policy is a very important area for us because our clients have put a great deal of trust in Baillie Gifford to manage their assets in their long-term interests. For us to respect that trust there are two things that we must focus on:

Firstly, making sure that we put clients' interests at the heart of everything that we do; and

Secondly, making sure that we identify and manage any conflicts of interest between our interests and those of the client.

The compliance culture and ethics of a firm are vitally important to clients and regulators alike. Our clients refer to the Code of Ethics Policy as the "window on the culture of the firm". They are interested in adherence with the policy and often ask for information on code violations as an indicator of the overall culture of the firm.

Regulators have also put 'culture' and 'conduct' at the centre of their agenda. Culture is regarded as the DNA of the business; shaping behaviours and ethics. At Baillie Gifford we have built our reputation by our conduct as individuals, acting with integrity and in the interests of our clients.

The Code of Ethics Policy sets out the processes, procedures and principles in this area and we ask you to give it your full attention. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Compliance Code of Ethics team or email  [email protected].

Thank you.

Andrew Telfer

Alastair Maclean

Joint Senior Partner of Baillie Gifford & Co

Director, Group Compliance and Legal

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1. Introduction

1.1 Application

The Code of Ethics applies to

All employees of Baillie Gifford entities

Partners

Fixed term, temporary and agency staff

Interns and summer students

Secondees

Individuals providing services via Personal Service Companies

Contractors (with systems access)

Each of these individuals and in some specified cases, persons who are connected to the individual, are required to comply with the Code of Ethics which forms part of the 'Personal Responsibilities' section of the Group Compliance Manual (located via the Landing Page on the Loop) and their employment contract. These individuals are known as 'access persons' for the purposes of US securities laws.

1.2 Scope

The Code covers all firms within the Baillie Gifford Group and has been adopted by the relevant Boards of Baillie Gifford regulated entities within the Group and the Group's Compliance Committee. It is designed to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements applicable to the Baillie Gifford Group and in particular UK FCA, CBI and US SEC requirements.

The Code of Ethics covers:

the FCA Conduct Rules which apply to the vast majority of staff11

guiding ethical principles which apply to all staff

managing conflicts of interest which may occur between Baillie Gifford and the personal interests of members of staff

personal dealings in shares

receiving and giving of gifts, hospitality and other forms of inducement.

1.3Purpose

At Baillie Gifford we have a fiduciary duty to our clients when acting as their investment manager or adviser. This requires us at all times to act in the best interests of our clients and to treat them fairly. We must avoid situations where we place our own interests ahead of the interests of clients. The Code of Ethics is designed to assist us in ensuring we meet these fiduciary standards when acting for clients.

1.4 Staff Obligations

As a member of staff, you are obliged to comply with your regulatory obligations under the various regulatory systems to which the Group is subject, including applicable federal securities laws. You are required to:

Read and adhere to the Code of Ethics. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] (secure mailbox); and

1The Conduct Rules do not apply to 'ancillary staff' not performing a financial services role. This would cover our mailroom staff, security guards, cleaning and catering staff.

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Complete and submit a Code of Ethics Declaration and submit a Certificate of Compliance on first becoming a member of staff and annually thereafter.

You will be provided with details of any changes to the Code at the time these are made. Training will be provided on the terms of the Code as part of your staff induction and annually thereafter, or more frequently in the event of a material change.

1.5 Violations

Failure on the part of members of staff or their Connected Persons (where applicable) to follow these procedures will be taken seriously and regarded as a disciplinary matter under the rules and procedures set out in the Staff Handbook. If it is determined that gross misconduct has taken place, the member of staff may be subject to instant dismissal without payment in lieu of notice.

In addition, any conduct by a member of staff that violates the Code of Ethics, including the Ethical Principles, will be considered from an FCA Conduct Rule Breach perspective (see section 2.1 below for details of the FCA Conduct Rules). If it is deemed that a Code of Ethics violation is significant in nature (e.g. evidence of intent; client materially affected; trend of repeated violations etc.), it may be escalated within Baillie Gifford to be assessed further by senior members of the HR, Compliance and Business Risk departments. Depending on the severity of the case, a formal Conduct Rule Breach may subsequently be reported to the FCA in accordance with regulatory reporting timelines. Any member of staff who becomes aware of a violation of the Code of Ethics must promptly report that violation to the Group Compliance and Legal Director , who may, at his discretion, refer the violation to the Legal and Compliance Partner as well as the relevant Board and Compliance Committee for resolution in terms of section 1.6 below.

1.6 Interpretation and Waiver

With respect to matters of interpretation or dispute arising under the Code of Ethics, the Group Compliance and Legal Director may refer to the Compliance Committee of Baillie Gifford who may, exercising their reasonable judgment, make determinations as to the meaning and effect of the Code of Ethics. The Group Compliance and Legal Director may, in consultation with the Compliance Committee, grant written waivers of the provisions of the Code in appropriate instances. However, waivers will be granted only in rare instances and some provisions of the Code that are mandated by law or regulation cannot be waived. The Group Compliance and Legal Director is responsible for maintaining appropriate records of and preparing any reports required with respect to, any waivers of provisions of the Code.

1.7 Monitoring

Adherence by staff to the terms of the Code will be monitored by the Compliance Department. The issue, receipt and content of Code of Ethics Declarations and Certificates will be co-ordinated and monitored by that Department. Regular monitoring of personal account dealing, gifts and entertainment records and other forms of inducements will also be undertaken to ensure there are no actions which are contrary to our regulatory obligations and that we always act in the best interests of clients. The results of this monitoring will be reported to the relevant Boards and Compliance Committee.

1.8 Material Changes

Material changes to the Code of Ethics must be ratified by the relevant Boards of the SEC regulated firms and investment companies within the Group and the Group's Compliance Committee.

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2. Ethical Principles

2.1 Introduction

Baillie Gifford's reputation and success is based upon its professional conduct and maintenance of high ethical standards. It is expected and indeed demanded from our clients that we adhere to robust ethical standards in all aspects of our activities.

This section of the Code of Ethics sets out guiding principles which apply to all staff relating to ethical conduct. It also provides some guidance on addressing and resolving ethical issues.

In addition, many individuals within the Group will be subject to ethical principles and codes of conduct which are adopted by various professional organisations to which they are members. Baillie Gifford's Code of Ethics is designed to be complementary to, and consistent, with these other standards.

The FCA's Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR) introduces a set of Conduct Rules which reflect the core standards expected of staff who work within the Financial Services industry. These can be found in the FCA's Code of Conduct sourcebook (COCON) and are composed of nine rules, five of which are applicable to all staff (other than 'ancillary staff' referred to earlier) and four additional rules applicable only to Senior Managers. The five Conduct Rules which are applicable to all staff are as follows:

1.You must act with integrity;

2.You must act with due care, skill and diligence;

3.You must be open and cooperative with the FCA, PRA and other regulators;

4.You must pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly; and

5.You must observe proper standards of market conduct.

These conduct rules compliment Baillie Gifford's own guiding ethical principles and are embedded within these. The four additional rules applicable only to Senior Managers are covered separately in the SMCR Policy.

The Code of Ethics cannot cover every ethical situation that might arise at Baillie Gifford. After having read and understood the content of the Code of Ethics Policy, all members of staff will be responsible for complying not only with its letter, but also with its spirit and principles. These are set out in the Guiding Ethical Principles below.

2.2 Guiding Ethical Principles

Each member of staff must follow these guiding principles:

2.2.1.Fairness

To act fairly at all times when dealing with clients and counterparties of Baillie Gifford. Fairness requires impartiality, objectivity, and honesty.

For example, when communicating with clients you should make every reasonable effort to provide full, fair and accurate information and should avoid withholding any relevant information.

A non-exhaustive list of other examples of conduct that might breach the fairness principle is as follows:

Misleading a client about the risks of an investment;

Misleading a client about the likely performance of a product by providing inappropriate projections of future returns; or

Failing to acknowledge, or seek to resolve, mistakes in dealing with clients.

2.2.2.Honesty and integrity

To act honestly and with integrity in fulfilling the responsibilities of your role and seek to avoid any acts or omissions or business practices which damage Baillie Gifford's reputation or which are deceitful, oppressive, or improper.

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For example, Baillie Gifford should only employ fair methods to win or retain business for the firm. Staff should avoid offering unduly lavish or overly frequent gifts and hospitality and should avoid 'pay to play' practices, i.e. making political contributions to those in a position to influence the selection of Baillie Gifford. Baillie Gifford is committed to carrying on business fairly, honestly and openly and has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery.

A non-exhaustive list of other examples of conduct that might breach the honesty and integrity principle is as follows:

Falsifying documents;

Providing false or inaccurate information to a client, regulator, auditor, Baillie Gifford itself or a third party;

Mismarking the value of investments;

Misleading others in Baillie Gifford about the nature of risks being accepted; or

Failing to disclose personal dealing activity; receipt or provision of gifts and entertainment; political contributions or other outside business interests as required by the Code of Ethics.

2.2.3.Adherence to law and regulation

To observe applicable law, regulations and professional conduct standards when carrying out your activities and to interpret and apply them to the best of your knowledge and ability according to these guiding ethical principles. To be open and cooperative with Baillie Gifford's regulators.

For example, you must familiarise yourself with, and adhere to at all times, the requirements contained in the: Anti- Financial Crime Policy; the Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing & Sanctions Policy; the Anti- Bribery & Corruption Policy; the Code of Ethics Policy; the Market Abuse and Insider Dealing Policy; Data Protection Policy; and Information Security & Electronic Communications Policy. These policies set out your personal compliance responsibilities and are available to all staff in the 'Personal Responsibilities' section of the Group Compliance Manual.

A non-exhaustive list of conduct that might breach the open and cooperative with regulators principle is as follows:

Providing false or inaccurate information to regulators;

Failing to supply a regulator with appropriate documents or information when requested or required to do so and within the time limits attaching to that request or requirement; or

Failing to attend an interview or answer questions put by a regulator.

2.2.4.Market conduct

When executing transactions or engaging in any form of market dealings, to observe the standards of market integrity, good practice and conduct required by, or expected of, participants in that market. To comply with relevant market codes and exchange rules.

2.2.5.Loyalty to clients

To place the interests of our clients ahead of your own interests and to manage fairly and effectively, and to the best of your ability, any relevant conflict of interest. To the extent feasible, conflicts of interest should be avoided or at least appropriately managed and disclosed in accordance with Baillie Gifford's conflicts procedures.

Baillie Gifford's investment recommendations and other proprietary information are for the exclusive use of our clients. We should not use this proprietary information for personal benefit. If in doubt, refer to the Compliance Department for guidance.

2.2.6.Maintaining confidentiality

To respect the confidentiality of information on current, former and prospective clients which is obtained through your work and refrain from using or disclosing this for unethical purposes or illegal advantage.

For example, you must be extremely careful when sharing confidential client data with an outside party and should only do so if it is absolutely necessary. Authorisation may be required from your Head of Department for this. If in doubt, you should refer to the Information Security and Electronic Communications Policy (located in the Staff Handbook on the Loop) which includes the three levels of data security classification and rules on how to handle this data.

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2.2.7.Transparency

If you are in any doubt that you may have a conflict of interest, or if you think that there could be a perception of one, you should disclose the details to your Head of Department, to the Compliance Department or to the relevant chairperson of the board, committee or group concerned, as appropriate.

For example, consider the situation where you have a personal shareholding in a company and you are contributing to an investment discussion on whether to buy or sell this company for clients. It is essential to disclose this potential conflict to the chairperson and other members of that decision-making group. Please see section 3.3 for further details on additional disclosure requirements for investment decision makers (investors and CD staff on Portfolio Construction Groups).

2.3 Resolving Ethical Issues

In business life we will be confronted from time to time with ethical issues to determine. In dealing with these an important consideration is any impact the decision may have on clients. Also, has the process of coming to the decision been fair, with full consideration of the facts, issues and alternatives? Has it involved all stakeholders with an interest? Have you identified any competing interests or conflicts of interest? These questions would be relevant where considering whether to accept a gift or entertainment, and also considering the implications of an incident.

3. Conflicts of Interest

3.1 Introduction

Inherent throughout the Code of Ethics is the principle that all members of staff have a responsibility to place the interests of the Group's clients ahead of their own and resolve conflicts in favour of the Group's clients. In order to achieve this, all activities undertaken by members of staff must be conducted in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of an individual's position of trust and responsibility. Furthermore, all action taken by staff must be undertaken in a manner which does not interfere with the interests of Baillie Gifford's clients or take unfair advantage of Baillie Gifford's relationship with its clients.

3.2 Identification and Types of Conflict of Interest

3.2.1.What is a conflict of interest?

A conflict of interest arises when personal matters or obligations interfere with business activities and influence the decisions made by members of staff, which have or could have a detrimental effect on the firm's clients. When considering conflicts of interest, it is important to consider how the situation would be viewed by an independent party.

3.2.2.Identification of conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interests which require to be identified by members of staff are those which arise between:

the Group, its connected persons and a client of the Group; or

one client of the Group and another client of the Group.

3.2.3.Types of conflicts of interest

When identifying whether a conflict of interest arises in the course of business and whether the existence of this conflict may adversely affect the interests of a client, staff should consider whether the individual, firm or certain persons connected with the firm:

are likely to make a financial gain or avoid a financial loss at the expense of a client;

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has an interest in the outcome of the service provided to the client or of a transaction carried out on behalf of the client;

has a financial or other incentive to favour the interest of another client or group of clients over the interests of the client;

carries on the same business as the client; or

receives or will receive from a person (other than the client) an inducement in relation to the service provided, in the form of monies, goods or services, other than the standard commission or fee.

The Group Compliance Manual (located via the Landing Page on the Loop) contains Baillie Gifford's conflicts policy and matrix. This matrix details potential and actual conflicts of interest which have been recognised by the firm. Please refer to this document for further information regarding the types of conflict which have been identified.

If you are in doubt about whether a conflict has arisen please consult the Group Compliance and Legal Director.

3.3 Duty to Disclose

All members of staff have in the first instance an obligation to manage or avoid all conflicts of interest. If it is not possible to manage or avoid a conflict of interest, then the potential or actual conflict which may impair your objectivity when undertaking your daily activities must be disclosed. All disclosures should be made to your Head of Department and the Group Compliance and Legal Director.

Baillie Gifford does not prohibit investors from investing in the same stocks as our clients. Nevertheless, there is an inherent conflict of interest risk that needs to be carefully managed should investors choose to do this.

Additional disclosure requirements for investment decision makers.

Investment decision makers should make the following protective disclosures where appropriate:

Investment decision makers should declare any pre-existing personal shareholdings in a company if they are contributing to an investment discussion on whether to trade in that company for clients. This potential conflict must be disclosed to the chairperson of the relevant decision-making group, whom failing another member of that decision-making group. On occasion, it may be prudent for an investment decision maker to step out of an investment discussion if it is felt that a conflict, or perception of a conflict, cannot be managed effectively. Such a course of action should be determined on a case by case basis.

Investment decision makers must also declare any personal trading activity in a company held by clients if they have been, or will be, involved in an investment discussion concerning that company. This disclosure requirement is regardless of whether the company is being traded for clients at the time. Again, this potential conflict must be disclosed to the chairperson of the relevant decision-making group, whom failing another investment decision maker in that decision-making group.

For both scenarios above, Investors have the option of retaining their own contemporaneous record of any disclosures made or notifying the Compliance Department who will record the protective disclosure in the Code of Ethics System. Notifications to Compliance should be emailed to [email protected] (secure mailbox). An audit trail record would be beneficial in the event of any retrospective enquiry.

3.4 Outside Business Interests and Personal Associations

A personal conflict of interest can arise in relation to certain outside business interests or personal associations. Members of staff must ensure that they do not engage in any activities that would detract, divert from or conflict with, the proper performance of their Baillie Gifford employment or would conflict with the interests of the firm or our

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clients. Members of staff must also ensure that any personal association does not affect, or reasonably appear to affect, our conduct or actions in Baillie Gifford and therefore conflict with our duties to clients or the firm.

To ensure that we comply with the requirements of global regulation, we require members of staff and Partners to inform Compliance at [email protected] of any external interests at any time during employment.

3.4.1 Types of Outside Business Interests

The following table is a non-exhaustive list of potential outside business interests. If you have any other interests or activities that you think may need to be disclosed, please contact the Compliance Code of Ethics team for guidance at [email protected] (secure mailbox).

Outside Business Interest

Paid work out with Baillie Gifford.

Business related external directorships, non- executive directorships or other external board/committee appointments (e.g. nominations committee or board observer positions ).

Business related would include:

Listed companies;

Private companies in which Baillie Gifford invests or is likely to invest;

Trade bodies or professional bodies;

Clients;

Suppliers etc.

Non-business related external directorships or non-executive directorships.

Non-business related would include:

Private family run businesses;

One-person limited companies;

Charitable organisations or not for Profit organisations (where not a client).

Disclosure Requirements

In general, all regular paid work outwith Baillie Gifford should be disclosed to Compliance (email to [email protected]). In addition, such work should also be agreed with your line manager and/or head of department as appropriate.

Discretion can be used for any ad hoc paid work that is de minimis in nature and has no obvious connection to Baillie Gifford business. Such paid work is unlikely to require disclosure.

All such positions must be disclosed to Compliance (email to [email protected]).

Additional disclosure and approval requirements are outlined in section 3.4.3.

All such appointments must be disclosed to Compliance (email to [email protected]).

No additional approval is required.

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External investment or finance related roles at educational, charitable, religious or social organisations.

Investment or finance related roles would include:

investment adviser;

trustee;

treasurer etc.

Politically exposed appointments

All investment adviser related roles should be disclosed to Compliance (email to [email protected]).

In addition, such roles should also be agreed with your line manager and/or Head of Department as appropriate.

A politically exposed person, or 'PEP', is an individual who is or has, at any time in the preceding year, been entrusted with prominent public functions, or is an immediate family member, or a known close associate of such a person), whether paid or unpaid.

All such appointments must be disclosed to Compliance (email to [email protected]).

In addition, such roles should also be disclosed to your line manager and/or Head of Department as appropriate.

3.4.2 Outside Business Interests disclosure procedures

The Compliance Code of Ethics team are the central hub for all outside business interest disclosures. This team will disseminate relevant information as appropriate to the Human Resources Department, Group Governance Services Department and the Compliance Admin, Reporting and Comms and Anti-Financial Crime teams.

Outside business interest disclosures should be emailed to the Compliance Code of Ethics team

([email protected]) at the earliest opportunity. Where possible, this should be prior to the commencement of any role or appointment. Disclosures should contain the following information:

Date the outside business interest commenced or ceased;

Name of the external company/organisation and brief description of what they do;

Brief description of your role/involvement;

Details of any remuneration if applicable;

Details of any connection to Baillie Gifford (e.g. client or prospective client, investee company, broker, supplier etc.).

If applicable, the Compliance Code of Ethics team will obtain approval from the Group Compliance and Legal Director on your behalf and will either confirm that this has been received or will request further information if required.

Please note that Partners or Chief Executive Officers of Baillie Gifford subsidiary companies who require to seek approval from the joint Senior Partners for external appointments, must seek this approval themselves.

In addition to the above:

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-Requirements for FCA Regulated Roles

The Firm is required to ensure that individuals in FCA regulated roles are fit and proper to perform the activities for which they are regulated and that they do not engage in any activities which could conflict with the performance of their role. In addition to the above requirements, individuals in regulated roles must inform Compliance when:

othey become aware that a company, partnership or unincorporated association of which the individual has been controller, director, senior manager, partner or company secretary (either during the time they held the position or within one year of such involvement) has:

obeen put into liquidation, wound up, ceased trading, had a receiver or administrator appointed or entered into a voluntary arrangement with its creditors

obeen adjudged by a court liable for any fraud, misfeasance, wrongful trading or misconduct

obeen investigated or been involved in an investigation by an inspector appointed under companies or any other legislation, or required to produce documents to the Secretary of State, or any other authority, under

any such legislation

obeen convicted of any criminal offence, censured, disciplined or publicly criticised, by any inquiry, by the Takeover Panel or any governmental or statutory authority, or any other regulatory body

-Specific Requirements for BGFS

Registered Persons of BGFS are required to obtain prior written approval from the Chief Compliance Officer of BGFS for any Contractor, Director, Office or Partner appointments or any work for which they expect to receive compensation outside of their Baillie Gifford employment. Please note that this supersedes the requirement to obtain approval from the Group Compliance and Legal Director.

-Specific Requirements for BGA(HK)

Licensed Persons of BGA(HK) are required to obtain prior written approval from the Compliance Officer of BGA(HK) for any Director appointments or any work for which they will receive compensation outside of their Baillie Gifford employment. The Compliance Code of Ethics team will co-ordinate this. In addition to the above, there are also SFC Notification requirements relating to any directorships, partnerships or proprietorships taken on by a licenced representative. The BGA(HK) Compliance Officer will advise on the relevant steps to take with regards to this notification.

3.4.3 Disclosure and Approval Requirements Procedures for Business-related External Positions

From time to time, Investors or other relevant Baillie Gifford staff may be invited to take up a business-related external position (see section 3.4.1 for details). Such roles may be linked to public or private company in which our clients have a shareholding interest and are often offered to the largest shareholders. This type of opportunity is in alignment with our long term investment approach and our stewardship policy for greater engagement with our investee companies on corporate governance, long term incentives and performance matters.

Whilst there are benefits to accepting such positions, there are also potential conflicts of interest that need to be carefully managed. Each business-related external position needs to be considered on a case by case basis to ensure participation in such a role would not conflict with the duties owed to Baillie Gifford's clients. The disclosure and approval requirements for such positions are as follows:

All business-related external positions must be approved by the Director of Group Compliance and Legal for approval. Where deemed appropriate, the Director of Group Compliance and Legal will discuss the case with the Chair of the Equity Leadership Group and the Management Committee will be informed for noting. The factors taken into consideration when assessing each opportunity will include:

Scope, time commitment and any remuneration

The likelihood of receiving Material Non-Public Information ("MNPI")

Any potential conflicts of interest

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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") requirements if applicable (legal advice may be required).

In addition, prior approval must also be sought from the individual's Head of Department. For Partners and Chief Executive Officers of Baillie Gifford subsidiary companies should seek prior approval from the joint Senior Partners.

3.4.4Personal Associations

We also must take steps to ensure that any personal interest or personal association does not affect, or reasonably appear to affect, our conduct or actions in Baillie Gifford and therefore conflict with our duties to clients or the firm. Any Significant Relationship with another person working in a relevant business connected to Baillie Gifford may need to be disclosed by email to the Compliance Department ([email protected]).

Relevant businesses would include:

Investment managers

Brokers

Clients of Baillie Gifford

Consultants/advisers to clients of Baillie Gifford or investors in Baillie Gifford funds

Companies in which Baillie Gifford invests on behalf of our clients

Other organisations with which Baillie Gifford has a contractual relationship.

A relationship with another person would be deemed significant if an independent third party might reasonably consider that it could affect your actions or those of a personal associate (whether or not it does so affect your conduct). If you have a relationship with an associated person that could potentially give rise to a conflict of interest, or the perception of one, then this should be disclosed to the Compliance Department. The Compliance Department will determine if the relationship needs to be recorded and whether any action needs to be taken to manage the conflict.

Please note that personal associations can go further than our definition of connected person under PA Dealing, i.e. this disclosure requirement is not limited to immediate family members living in your household. Some examples of potential personal associations that may need to be disclosed/recorded are as follows:

A personal friend works at a supplier and is directly involved in the Baillie Gifford account and/or you are directly involved in the appointment of that supplier.

A close friend works at an audit firm and is directly involved in an external review of your department.

An extended family member works at a company that Baillie Gifford invests in for clients, in a role where they are likely to have access to sensitive business information.

Please note that none of the personal association examples above would fall under our definition of connected persons for PA Dealing purposes, however potentially would be disclosable under this section of the Code of Ethics. However, please also note that not every instance of the above would necessarily have to be recorded. Each scenario would be considered on a case-by-case basis to establish what, if any, conflict risk there is.

These disclosures are designed to ensure that our work is carried out on behalf of clients in an environment that is free from any suggestion of improper influence. If you are in any doubt as to whether a business interest or personal association or relationship needs to be disclosed, please contact a member of the Compliance Department for guidance.

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3.4.5 Record Keeping and Annual Certification

A record of all Outside Business Interests and Personal Associations disclosed to Compliance will be maintained in the Code of Ethics System. These will form part of your personal Annual Code of Ethics Declaration. Updates can be made to these disclosures when completing your annual declaration, or alternately at any point throughout the year by

emailing the details to Compliance ([email protected]).

4. Personal Account Dealing Policy

4.1 High Level Overview

Baillie Gifford's first priority is in ensuring that in all circumstances, the firm's clients' interests are placed first and each client obtains the best execution of trades which we can arrange on their behalf. In order to ensure that this priority is consistently met, all staff have a responsibility to ensure that in no circumstances will clients be disadvantaged by employee PA Dealing.

The basic premise of Baillie Gifford's PA Dealing Policy is that PA Dealing is permitted subject to a number of restrictions. Baillie Gifford therefore gives general permission to all members of staff and to their Connected Persons (defined later) to carry out investment transactions in designated investments in accordance with the following procedures. All staff must ensure that undertaking PA Dealing activities does not distract them from their day-to-day responsibilities.

4.2 General Rule on PA dealing

A member of staff or their Connected Persons are prohibited from

1.Entering into a PA deal where

a)that person is prohibited from entering into it under the law and regulations governing market abuse and insider dealing as set out in the Baillie Gifford Market Abuse Policy. The Policy requires that no member of staff make personal use of material non-public information or engage in a securities transaction available only by reason of his or her position within Baillie Gifford. If a member of staff is aware that an investment opportunity is being actively considered by Baillie Gifford, they must first ensure that this is made available to Baillie Gifford before taking personal advantage of the opportunity. It is the personal responsibility of the member of staff to ensure that they are familiar with the provisions of that Policy.

b)it involves the misuse or improper disclosure of confidential or proprietary information relating to clients or transactions for clients; or

c)it conflicts or is likely to conflict with an obligation under Europe's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) / the UK's MiFID Org Regulation, the UK version of Europe's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) or other regulatory obligations which Baillie Gifford owes to its clients.

2.Advising, recommending or procuring any other person to enter into a transaction which would be precluded under 1 above.

3.Disclosing any information or opinion to any other person where it is reasonably likely that the result of that disclosure will lead to an activity precluded under 1 or 2 above.

a)Entering into a PA deal or purchasing a contract of insurance, the purpose of which is to hedge away the risk of any downward adjustment in deferred remuneration which that member of staff may be entitled to receive under the firm's remuneration policy.

A person will be considered to have undertaken such personal hedging if: a) The staff member enters into a contract with a third party; and

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b)The contract requires the third party to make payments directly or indirectly to the staff member that are linked to or commensurate with the amounts by which the staff member's variable remuneration has been reduced.

Failure on the part of members of staff or their Connected Persons to follow these procedures will be regarded as a disciplinary matter under the rules and procedures set out in the Code. If it is determined that gross misconduct has taken place, the member of staff may be subject to instant dismissal without payment in lieu of notice (If you are in any doubt as to whether an intended transaction for yourself or for a Connected Person is subject to the rules of the Policy you should check with the Compliance Department beforehand).

The remainder of this policy details the following information:

4.3Application of Personal Account Dealing Policy

4.4Prohibited and Exempt Securities and Transactions

4.5Practical Procedures for Obtaining Permission

4.6Practical Procedures to be followed in Special Circumstances

4.7Reporting Requirements

4.8Summary table of Security Types and Pre-Clearance and Reporting Requirements

4.3Application of Personal Account Dealing Policy

The PA dealing rules apply to the following:

All those listed in section 1.1 of this Policy

And 'Connected Persons' which include:

Immediate family (immediate family includes spouses, co-habitees, children under the age of 18 and immediate family members sharing the same household. It would also include parents/in-laws or other persons where decision making as to their investments is taken by them under advice from the member of staff);

Organisations for whom members of staff have an active investment advisory input (this could include charities, churches, clubs etc);

Trusts where as trustee the member of staff exercises investment influence (i.e. as sole trustee or a trustee exercising a considerable influence. In this case the trust must be made aware of the connection with Baillie Gifford & Co and must be requested to report transactions in securities of companies under our management to the member of staff serving as a trustee. He should then report the transaction to the Group Compliance and Legal Director); and

Syndicates where friends/family group together for the purpose of purchasing shares

Throughout this Policy, the above categories are referred to as Connected Persons.

The Policy applies to the following types of instruments ("covered securities"):

equities

bonds;

ETFs

derivatives;

BG OEICS;

Investment Trusts and other close end vehicles;

private companies; and

spread betting on financial instruments.

It also applies to any investment in any of the above instruments through a wrapper product such as an ISA, SIPP, share plan, Variable Insurance Product or the Baillie Gifford workplace pension available through Aegon's ARC platform.

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The table in section 4.8 sets out various security types and transactions and whether they are covered by the Personal Account Dealing Policy, Preclearance and Reporting Requirements.

If a member of staff is in any doubt as to whether an instrument is included or not in the Policy they should contact the Compliance Code of Ethics Team or email [email protected] .

4.4 Prohibited and Exempt Securities and Transactions

4.4.1. Prohibited securities and transactions

No member of staff is permitted to purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any security in which he or she acquires any direct or indirect personal holding and which, to his or her knowledge, is currently being purchased or sold by Baillie Gifford or which, to his or her knowledge, Baillie Gifford is actively considering recommending for purchase or sale. These prohibitions shall continue until the time that Baillie Gifford decides not to recommend such purchase or sale, or if this recommendation is made, until the time that Baillie Gifford completes, or decides not to enter into, the recommended purchase or sale. These prohibitions also apply to any purchase and sale by any member of staff of any convertible security, option, warrant or other derivative security, or any private placement of any issuer whose underlying securities are being actively considered for recommendation to, or are currently being purchased or sold by, Baillie Gifford. Any profits realised on trades made by members of staff within the proscribed period may require to be disgorged, particularly where the member of staff had, or was in a position to have had, knowledge of the fact that securities were being purchased or sold on behalf of Baillie Gifford's clients.

4.4.2. Exempt securities and transactions

4.4.2.1 Securities exempt from pre-clearance requirements

The pre-clearance and reporting obligations shall not apply to the following exempt securities:

a)purchases or sales of securities that are direct obligations of the government of the United States or United Kingdom, bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high-quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements);

b)shares of money market mutual funds;

c)shares of registered open-end management investment companies other than the Baillie Gifford sponsored OEICS and mutual funds;

d)shares of US unit investment trusts (i.e. variable insurance contracts that are funded by insurance company separate accounts organised as unit investment trusts) that are invested exclusively in one or more registered investment companies. Please note that UK Investment Trusts are not exempt securities and that pre-clearance requirements apply.

e)FX or cryptocurrency transactions

The pre-clearance requirements shall not apply to the following transactions (although revised holdings will need to be disclosed in your Annual Code of Ethics Declaration):-

4.4.2.2 Transactions exempt from pre-clearance requirements

a)purchases effected upon the exercise of rights (e.g. automatic reinvestment of dividends) provided by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired;

b)personal transactions effected under a discretionary portfolio management service where there is no prior communication in connection with the transaction between the portfolio manager and the relevant member of staff or other person for whose account the transaction is executed;

c)personal transactions in any default fund available in Baillie Gifford's workplace pension available through Aegon's ARC platform;

d)ongoing monthly transactions in an automatic investment plan, where permission was obtained for the initial investment and there has been no change to the standing instruction thereafter;

e)sales automatically placed by the broker to cover ongoing management fees.

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4.4.3. Prohibition on short-term profits

No member of staff may engage in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities within 60 calendar days. All profits realised on such short-term trades will normally require to be disgorged. Subject to pre-clearance a securities transaction which occurs within the 60-day period as a result of a change in personal circumstances which takes place or becomes known during the period may not be considered a violation of this section or subject to the disgorgement rule upon review and approval of the Group Compliance and Legal Director.

4.4.4. Investor PA trades ("Blackout Period")

Investment Personnel are not permitted to PA trade in the seven calendar day period after a fund/strategy that they are involved in has traded in the same security.

In addition, Investment Personnel are not permitted to PA trade in the seven calendar day period before a fund/strategy that they are involved in trades in the same security, where they were aware, at the point of requesting permission to trade and at the point of placing their PA dealing instruction, that a client order in that security was pending.

All profits realised on trades by Portfolio Managers within the proscribed period will normally require to be disgorged.

4.5 Procedures for Obtaining Permission

Prior to undertaking a PA Deal, members of staff are required to:

obtain permission to use their desired broker (it is only necessary to follow this procedure on the first occasion of using a particular stockbroker); and

to obtain internal pre-clearance from the Code of Ethics System (every time a PA deal is undertaken).

It is important that members of staff take all reasonable steps to ensure that these procedures are followed by whoever is dealing. The onus is on the member of staff to obtain permission and ensure that contract notes are sent to the Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities where the dealing is for a Connected Person.

4.5.1. Procedures for obtaining broker permission

Before a member of staff or a Connected Person begins to effect a transaction with a particular firm of stockbroker's permission must be obtained to use that broker. It should be noted that this also applies to on-line dealing. The reason for this permission is to inform the Broker that the member of staff works for Baillie Gifford and to ensure that brokers supply to the Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities, no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter in which the trading activity occurred, duplicate copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions. Such confirmations may also contain a statement declaring that the reporting or recording of any such transaction shall not be construed as an admission that the member of staff making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security.

Each confirmation received from the broker shall be treated confidentially and will be maintained on file by the Compliance Department. The reports are, however, available for inspection by authorised members of the staff of regulatory authorities supervising Baillie Gifford's investment business.

Note: No broker confirmation letters are required for transactions undertaken in an automatic investment plan, including the Baillie Gifford workplace pension available through Aegon's ARC platform. Furthermore, no Non– Executive Director of a Baillie Gifford company shall be required to report or provide broker confirmation unless the Director knew or should have known that during the 15 calendar days before and after such Director's transaction in any security, Baillie Gifford purchased or sold the same security, or Baillie Gifford considered purchasing or selling the same security.

In addition, broker confirmation letters may not be required if your broker operates a transaction data feed to Baillie Gifford's Code of Ethics System (although your broker may require a separate declaration for this).

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Please contact [email protected] for further details.

Every member of staff must (for their own dealing and that of a Connected Person):

Notify the firm of stockbrokers that they work at Baillie Gifford & Co;

Not accept or request any credit or special dealing facilities in connection with his dealings (The only exception to this rule is that the Management Committee may give special dispensation for members of staff to agree on rates. Where this permission is given the details must be supplied to the Compliance Director);

Notify the Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities that they or their Connected Person proposes to deal with the particular firm of stockbrokers and obtain his permission to do so;

Prepare the relevant Broker Authorisation letter (either member of staff letter or Connected Person). Take two copies of the letter, both copies must be signed by the Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities with one being sent to the stockbroker and the other copy sent to the Head of Group Compliance Staff Regulatory Responsibilities ; and

Ensure that a copy of the contract note is sent by the stockbroker to the Compliance Director or an electronic confirmation if provided through an on-line dealing service.

The 'quick guide' document sets out the procedures for obtaining broker consent via a data feed through the Code of Ethics System.

Click on the appropriate link below to obtain a copy of the Baillie Gifford Broker Notification Letter, required for brokers without a data feed:

 Letter 1 (Broker authorisation for member of staff) 

 Letter 2 (Broker authorisation for Connected Persons) 

4.5.2. Procedures for obtaining internal permission

In addition to broker permission being obtained, members of staff are also required to obtain electronic internal pre- clearance from the Code of Ethics System. Pre-clearance of a PA deal will remain valid until close of business on the next business day from the time permission is obtained. If the proposed transaction is not completed during the period in which the pre-clearance is granted, the member of staff must seek additional pre-clearance prior to completing the transaction. In the case of postal deals (e.g. deals that require an application form or instruction form to be completed, i.e. dealing is not direct through a broker); your dealing instruction should be sent within this pre-clearance period, although the trade itself does not have to be executed.

The 'quick guide' video sets out the procedures for submitting Trade Requests through the Code of Ethics System.

PA Dealing information will be reviewed and monitored by the Compliance Department. Should the monitoring conducted by the Compliance Department detect a potential violation of this Code or any apparent trading irregularity, that Department shall take whatever steps deemed appropriate under the circumstances to investigate said potential violation or trading irregularity. If the Compliance Department reasonably believes a violation or trading irregularity to exist, said violation or trading irregularity shall be reported to the Legal and Compliance Partner.

4.6 Practical procedures to be followed in special circumstances

Remote Access to the Code of Ethics System: Remote access is available on all Baillie Gifford devices. If a member of staff is away from the office (e.g. on business or on holiday), trade requests can be submitted through all BG devices.

Maternity/Parental Leave: If you are out of the office on maternity leave, or a period of flexible parental leave exceeding four weeks, there is no requirement for you to obtain PA dealing permission for any trades conducted by you (or a Connected Person) during this leave. If applicable, shareholdings in the Code of Ethics System can be amended upon your return to the office.

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Limit Orders: The use of buy or sell limit orders is not prohibited under this policy, however, these must be carefully managed by members of staff as pre-clearance is only valid until close of business on the next business day from the time permission is obtained. If, upon expiry of the permission period, the limit price has not been met, the member of staff must obtain fresh permission via the Code of Ethics System or ensure the limit instruction is cancelled.

Stop Loss Orders: As for limit orders, stop loss orders (i.e. instruction to automatically sell securities if the share price reaches a pre-determined minimum price) are not prohibited under this policy, however, these must be carefully managed by members of staff as pre-clearance is only valid until close of business on the next business day from the time permission is obtained. If you wish to maintain a stop loss instruction beyond the permission period, fresh permission must be obtained via the Code of Ethics System.

4.7 Reporting Requirements

4.7.1. Initial reporting requirements

All new members of staff are required to disclose all personal securities holdings in which they have any direct or indirect holdings to the Compliance Department, within 10 days of commencing employment. The information provided must be current and no more than 45 days prior to the date the person joined the firm. Initial Code of Ethics Declarations must be submitted to Compliance who will record any holdings in the Code of Ethics System.

4.7.2. Annual reporting requirements

Each member of staff is also required to file an annual report disclosing all personal securities holdings by 1 February of each year. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report was submitted. Annual Code of Ethics Declarations must be submitted electronically via the Code of Ethics System. The 'quick guide' video sets out the procedures for submitting an Annual Declaration via the Code of Ethics System .

Note: Declarations must include shares owned through an automatic investment plan. Each declaration may also contain a statement declaring that the reporting or recording of any such transaction shall not be construed as an admission that the member of staff making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security. Non–Executive Directors of Baillie Gifford companies are not required to provide initial or annual Code of Ethics Declarations.

4.7.3. Specific Requirements for BGA(HK)

Semi-Annual Holdings Disclosure – This requirement applies to all BGA(HK) employees, licenced persons, Managers-in-Charge, Directors, other than non-executive directors and it is in addition to the annual declaration. Each member of staff is required to file a report disclosing all personal securities holdings semi-annually in January and July each year. The information must be current and no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted. Holdings reports must include shares owned through an automatic investment plan. This semi-annual exercise is coordinated and managed by the Compliance Department.

4.8 Summary table of Security Types and Pre-Clearance and Reporting Requirements

This list is not all inclusive and may be updated from time to time. Please contact the Compliance Code of Ethics team for guidance as needed or email [email protected] .

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Covered by

 

 

 

 

 

Include in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Code of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security Type

 

 

 

 

Pre-clearance

 

 

Code of

 

 

 

 

Ethics Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required?

 

 

Ethics

 

 

 

 

 

 

("Covered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Declaration?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security")?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities (publicly traded)

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Derivatives (futures and options)

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Corporate Bonds

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Government securities

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

BG managed Investment Trusts

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Non-BG managed Investment Trusts

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

BG managed OEICs

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Non-BG managed OEICs, Unit Trusts, mutual funds or other open-end vehicles

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Private companies:

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

• New issues, IPOs, private placements;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Crowd funding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venture Capital Trusts ("VCTs"), Enterprise Investment Scheme ("EIS"), business angel

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

investments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spread betting on a covered security

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Spread betting on financial markets or non-financial instruments

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

ETFs ("Exchange traded fund")

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Cash ISAs

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Cryptocurrencies

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Structured Deposits in instruments covered by the Policy, e.g. shares, corporate bonds etc.

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Structured Deposits in instruments not covered by the Policy, e.g. indices, exchange rates

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate of Deposit

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Fixed Term Deposit

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Fixed Term Bond

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Peer-to-peer lending

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Default fund(s) investments held within Baillie Gifford's workplace pension (ARC)

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

Covered securities held within Baillie Gifford's workplace pension (ARC)

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Investments within the Baillie Gifford Select SIPP

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Covered securities held within an ISA, SIPP, share plan or Variable Insurance Product.

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Covered securities held within a discretionary portfolio management service

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

Covered securities acquired as a result of a corporate action*:

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

• Bonus (or Scrip) issues;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rights issues;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Takeovers;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reorganisations;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*where the member of staff has no influence over the timing and/or it is a set price (note:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

any subsequent sale of these securities would require pre-clearance).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of nil-paid rights or the part sale of nil-paid rights to fund a partial take up of new

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free shares acquired as a result of de-mutualisation (note: any subsequent sale of these

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

securities would require pre-clearance).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Incentive Share Schemes (Connected Persons):

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

• Putting money aside for the future purchase of shares;

 

 

 

 

• Buying shares at a set date and price;

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

• Any subsequent sale of these shares

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Monthly direct debit investments (in covered securities):

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Initial monthly investment;

 

 

 

 

• Ongoing monthly investments (if no change to initial instruction);

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes

 

• Change to initial instruction (increase, decrease, cancel, switch).

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes

 

Transfer of covered security:

 

Yes

 

No

 

Yes*

 

• from one person to another;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• from one product to another;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where there is no change to the underlying holding (excluding shares sold to cover fees).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* you will need to inform Compliance of the new account where the shares will be held.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5. Inducements Policy

An area where a conflict of interest may arise is in the context of the giving or receipt of a gift or hospitality which may be viewed as a form of inducement.

Baillie Gifford must take reasonable steps to ensure that it and any person acting on its behalf does not pay or accept any fee or commission or provide or receive any non-monetary benefit if it is likely to conflict to a material extent with any duty that Baillie Gifford owes to its customers or any duty which the recipient firm owes to its customers.

This Inducements Policy sets out the principles and procedures which all members of staff within Baillie Gifford must adhere to with regard to the giving or receipt of a gift or hospitality or anything else which may be viewed as an inducement, such as donations or political contributions.

The overriding principle is that all members of staff should not accept gifts, favours, entertainment, hospitality or other inducements of material value that could be seen as likely to influence their decision-making or make them feel beholden to a person or other firm.

Similarly, Baillie Gifford and its members of staff should not offer gifts, favours, entertainment, hospitality or other inducements of value that could be viewed as overly generous or aimed at influencing decision-making or making the recipient feel beholden to Baillie Gifford or that member of staff.

Note: These general principles apply in addition to the more specific guidelines set out below. However, the guidelines do not attempt to cover every situation and must be interpreted in the light of the particular circumstances of each case. If you are in any doubt about any particular situation, you should consult with your Head of Department or the Compliance Department.

The remainder of this policy details the following information:

5.1Guidelines for Gifts & Entertainment, Donations and Political Contributions.

5.2Restrictions in Connection with the Sale of Packaged Products, i.e. OEICs.

5.3Packaged Products Guidance on Reasonable Indirect Benefits

5.4FINRA Specific Requirements for Registered Persons of BGFS

5.5Specific Requirements for BGA(HK)

5.1Guidelines

5.1.1. Application to all staff

The general principles and guidelines apply to all staff within Baillie Gifford irrespective of whether they are in direct contact with clients or potential clients or not.

5.1.2. Application to all third parties

Whilst the FCA and CBI requirements relate to managing or minimising conflicts which affect the services provided to our clients and to firms who in turn are advising clients, our principles also apply to other third parties who supply goods or services, whether these are supplied to clients or on the clients' behalf or are supplied to Baillie Gifford itself. This ensures that the standards set are consistently applied by all staff and for all relationships.

5.1.3. No Solicitation

Baillie Gifford expressly prohibits staff from soliciting for themselves or for members of their family or for the firm itself, gifts, hospitality, entertainment or anything of value from a client, potential client, supplier or any other entity with which Baillie Gifford does business (other than fees and expenses properly due and payable).

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5.1.4. No Cash Gifts

No member of staff may give or accept any financial instruments, including cash gifts to or from a client, potential client, or any entity that does business with or on behalf of Baillie Gifford. This applies equally to the giving or receiving of promotional competition prizes.

5.1.5. Donations

As a general rule, no cash donations should be made in connection with our clients or prospective clients. Donations of non-cash prizes are acceptable, providing they meet the criteria in the Inducements policy. Cash donations are more likely to be viewed as giving rise to a conflict and our general policy is that these should be avoided. Any cash donations which are proposed, as an exception to the general rule, should be pre-cleared with the Group Compliance and Legal Director. For example, it may be permissible to make a cash donation to a charity on the death of a long standing contact as a client, although the amount of the donation should be carefully considered.

Please note that this does not affect charitable donations, approved via our Sponsorship Committee, which are not connected with our clients or prospects.

5.1.6. Political Contributions Policy

Political contributions by financial services firms and their personnel have come under increased regulatory scrutiny in the US. Regulators have expressed concern that some in the financial services industry are inappropriately influencing the awarding of business for state and local government entities by making political contributions to officials holding or running for office. These 'pay-to-play' activities are now restricted by numerous federal, state, and local laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has enacted a pay-to-play rule for investment advisors. This rule restricts the political contributions and political fundraising activities that may be engaged in by investment advisors and their personnel. The consequences for violations of the SEC rule and other state and local laws are significant. In the event of a violation, Baillie Gifford could be prohibited or restricted from doing business with certain government entities.

Given the scale of our activities in the US, the following procedures apply to all staff within Baillie Gifford, irrespective of whether they are in direct contact with clients or potential clients or not, and to their 'connected persons' (see section 4.3 of the Code of Ethics for a definition of connected persons). There will also be additional reporting obligations for US based staff. The requirements are as follows:

1.All members of staff are required to obtain preclearance from the Compliance Department before either they or a connected person:

make any political contributions, either directly or indirectly, to US federal, state or local officials; or

participate in any political fund-raising activity in the US.

Preclearance requests should be submitted by email to Baillie Gifford's US based Compliance Counsel and the Code of Ethics Team.

2.All members of staff must confirm on an annual basis, that they have disclosed to the Compliance Department any political contributions made to US federal, state or local officials and any political fund-raising activity in the US. This disclosure will form part of the Annual Code of Ethics Declaration that staff submit via the Code of Ethics System.

3.In addition to requirement (2) above, US based staff must confirm on a quarterly basis that they have disclosed to the Compliance Department any political contributions made to US federal, state or local officials and any political fund-raising activity in the US. The disclosure should be submitted via the Code of Ethics System upon request from the Compliance Department.

4.Upon joining the firm, all new members of staff must disclose to the Compliance Department any political contributions made to US federal, state or local officials and any political fund-raising activity in the US within the previous two years. This disclosure will form part of the existing Personal Compliance Responsibilities Certificate that all new staff are required to submit upon joining the firm.

Whilst strictly speaking the above requirements apply to US political contributions only, members of staff should also give due consideration to all other political contributions (UK or otherwise) from a general conflict of interest and

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transparency perspective. Staff should disclose to the Compliance Department, any political contributions that may give rise to an actual conflict of interest, a potential conflict of interest or the perception of one.

5.1.7. De Minimis Gifts

Gifts given or received which are of a de minimis nature due to their characteristics or likely cost are unlikely to give grounds for suggestions of undue influence and are therefore exempt. Typical examples of de minimis gifts would include umbrellas, diaries and pens with advertising logos for the donor company.

The Compliance Department should be consulted in any questionable situation.

5.1.8. Gifts which are not De Minimis

All gifts given or received which are not de minimis must be recorded in the Code of Ethics System. It is generally acceptable for members of staff to retain gifts received that are below £50 in value (or equivalent in another currency), provided this is not with undue frequency. In the case of gifts received above £50 in value (or equivalent in another currency), the member of staff concerned should consult with their Head of Department as to the appropriate course of action. In the majority of cases gifts above £50 (or equivalent in another currency) which are received should be:

surrendered to the Events Team for use for charitable purposes or distribution as part of the firm's annual Christmas raffle;

returned to the third party concerned; or

distributed amongst the Department in the case of perishable gifts, e.g. hampers.

Where the member of staff wishes to retain a gift above £50 (or equivalent in another currency), then he or she should pay for the estimated cost of the gift above this limit and this amount should be given to the Finance Department for use for charitable purposes.

Similarly, gifts above £50 in value (or equivalent in another currency) should generally not be given by a member of staff.

5.1.9. Promotional Competition/Prizes

In offering any promotional competition or prizes, the member of staff responsible should:

consider the likely impact or influence the prize would have on the recipient; and

consult with a Partner or the relevant Board on the likely impact of the competition on the brand of Baillie Gifford.

In all cases the prize offered should be of reasonable value, i.e. it should not be excessive or inappropriate.

Any competition prizes won by a member of staff at a business-related event, e.g. a conference or seminar, should be recorded for transparency in the Code of Ethics System.

5.1.10. Business Lunches/ Dinners

The establishment and maintenance of strong relationships with our clients, suppliers, intermediaries and consultants is integral to our ability to provide effective investment management services. Routine business lunches or dinners are good mechanisms for building and maintaining relationships and are unlikely to give grounds for suggestion of undue influence unless they become overly frequent or are unduly lavish.

Routine business lunches and dinners given do not require to be reported. These should be recorded in Baillie Gifford's expenses system. The Business Expense Claims procedure will provide an adequate control over the magnitude of costs incurred by Baillie Gifford when giving such lunches and dinners.

Many of Baillie Gifford's clients (particularly those covered by ERISA) are subject to specific reporting requirements regarding their acceptance of business lunches and dinners. In order for Baillie Gifford to ensure that it is able to provide clients with their required information, the following additional information should be recorded on the Business Expense Claim Form, with respect to any clients for whom we have hosted a business lunch or dinner:

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The name of the client being entertained;

The names of the individuals being entertained;

The total cost of the lunch or dinner.

Generally, routine business lunches and dinners received do not need to be reported. The exception to this is business lunches and dinners received from UK or European financial institution or intermediary that provides advice or portfolio management services to retail clients (UK/EU MiFID firms). Such lunches and dinners do need to be recorded in the Code of Ethics System.

5.1.11. Entertainment/Hospitality Given

All members of staff must exercise discretion in offering hospitality. Members of staff should not provide extravagant or excessive entertainment to a client, prospective client, or any person or entity that does or seeks to do business with or on behalf of Baillie Gifford or our clients. Similarly, a member of staff should not provide entertainment to such parties with undue frequency.

With the exception of occasions where the client is a UK/EU MiFID firm (see below), members of staff may provide entertainment or hospitality, such as a dinner (unconnected with business), sporting, charitable or cultural event of reasonable value provided that the person or Baillie Gifford is present at the event. If the person or Baillie Gifford is not present, then the entertainment becomes a gift and the procedures in section 5.1.8 apply, i.e. gifts above £50 (or equivalent in another currency) should generally not be given by a member of staff.

In considering the hospitality or entertainment event, you should note that attending expensive or exclusive sporting or cultural events can draw criticism. Invitations should not be offered if they could be construed as being unusual or risk creating a sense of obligation to the host or bias in their favour.

In situations of any doubt, consult with your Head of Department.

All entertainment or hospitality must be recorded in the Code of Ethics System.

In many cases the value of an event will not be clear. Here, you should give your best estimate of the value at the time the decision is taken, considering the street value of the event in the eyes of a third party.

An acceptable minor non-monetary benefit is one which is capable of enhancing the quality of service provided to the client and consists of hospitality of a reasonable de minimis value such as food and drink during a business meeting, conference, seminar or training event. Baillie Gifford have set a de minimis limit of £100 (or equivalent in another currency) per head to allow a reasonable level of hospitality at business events. "Standalone" hospitality that is not directly linked to a business event, e.g. sporting events, is no longer permitted. These restrictions apply to hospitality provided to UK/EU MiFID firms only and not to hospitality provided to UK or Overseas segregated clients or suppliers).

5.1.12. Entertainment/Hospitality Received

All members of staff must exercise discretion in accepting hospitality. Members of staff should not accept extravagant or excessive entertainment from a client, prospective client, a business in which Baillie Gifford invests, or any person or entity that does or seeks to do business with or on behalf of Baillie Gifford or our clients. Similarly, a member of staff should not accept entertainment from such parties with undue frequency.

Members of staff may accept entertainment or hospitality, such as a dinner (unconnected with business), sporting, charitable or cultural event of reasonable value provided that the person or firm providing the entertainment is present at the event. If the person or firm is not present, then the entertainment becomes a gift and the procedures in section

5.1.8apply, i.e. gifts above £50 (or equivalent in another currency) should generally not be accepted by a member of

staff.

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2022

It is the policy of the firm not to accept standalone hospitality from broker firms. For this purpose, standalone hospitality would include invitations to and attendance at sporting or cultural events and any associated travel, accommodation, drinks and meals. This policy would not affect routine business lunches or dinners, or reasonable hospitality attached to conferences or other educational events or social events which are distributed widely and of a de minimis nature (i.e. under £100 (or equivalent in another currency) per head). This covers by way of example a broker drinks evening at which the broader asset management community is invited.

In considering the hospitality or entertainment event, you should note that attending expensive or exclusive sporting or cultural events can draw criticism. Invitations should not be accepted if they could be construed as being unusual or risk creating a sense of obligation to the host or bias in their favour.

In situations of any doubt, consult with your Head of Department.

All entertainment or hospitality must be recorded in the Code of Ethics System.

In many cases the value of an event will not be clear. Here, you should give your best estimate of the value at the time the decision is taken, considering the street value of the event in the eyes of a third party.

Do not hesitate to ask the host for further information about the event (e.g. cost) in order to reach a decision.

5.1.13. Travel/Accommodation Costs

In the case of a member of staff receiving hospitality or entertainment, travel and accommodation costs should be paid for by that member of staff or a request made to the organiser of the event that the individual member of staff be invoiced for these costs. Where the third party has arranged a discounted hotel rate or other reduction in the cost of the accommodation or travel, it is reasonable for the member of staff to accept this reduced rate. Likewise, where the host provides communal transport which is not excessive or unduly lavish, for example the use of a mini bus.

In the case of Baillie Gifford offering hospitality, travel expenses will ordinarily be paid for by the recipient of the entertainment or hospitality. However, there may be occasions where reasonable accommodation costs can be provided by Baillie Gifford subject to this meeting the general principles of this Policy.

5.1.14. Disclosure

A key aspect of Baillie Gifford's Inducements Policy is disclosure. Under our procedures, all gifts (other than de minimis) and hospitality which are given or received are recorded in the Code of Ethics System. Disclosures should be made to your normal gifts and entertainment representatives for Trading, Investors and Clients Department, and Compliance for all other departments.

Likewise, all members of staff should consider if an inducement which has been offered or received should be disclosed to a client, or potential client. This will depend upon the circumstances of each case. As an example, where a fee is paid to a third-party consultant in order to place details of Baillie Gifford on a consultant database, we should disclose this payment to any potential client of the consultant who considers us for an investment mandate.

5.1.15. Client Specific Code of Ethics Requirements

A small number of Baillie Gifford's clients have specific code of ethics requirements which go beyond Baillie Gifford's Inducements Policy. Members of staff, and Client Contacts in particular, should consider these additional requirements when giving gifts and/or entertainment to these clients.

For record keeping purposes, Compliance maintain a list of clients with specific Code of Ethics requirements.

5.2 Restrictions in Connection with the Sale of Package Products, i.e. OEICs

If a firm is required to disclose commission (or commission equivalent) (under COBS 6.4) to a client in relation to the sale of a packaged product, a member of staff should not enter into any of the following arrangements:

27

CODE OF ETHICS

2022

volume overrides where commission (or commission equivalent) paid in respect of several transactions is more than a simple multiple of the commission (or commission equivalent) payable in respect of one transaction of the same kind; and

an agreement to indemnify the payment of commission (or commission equivalent) on terms that would or might confer an additional financial benefit on the recipient in the event of the commission (or commission equivalent) becoming repayable.

5.3Packaged Products Guidance on Reasonable Indirect Benefits

The general principles at the beginning of this section are particularly important in relation to packaged products. Staff must not pay or accept any fee or commission or provide or receive any non-monetary benefit if it is likely to conflict to a material extent with any duty the firm owes to its customers or any duty which the recipient firm (which includes independent intermediaries) owes to its customers.

In relation to the sale of packaged products, we are only able to provide minor non-monetary benefits if they are designed to enhance the quality of service to the client. The list below indicates the kind of benefits that are capable of enhancing the quality of the service provided to a client and, depending on the circumstances, are capable of being given or received without conflicting with client's best interests. However, these need to be considered on a case by case basis.

Benefits are unlikely to give rise to conflicts if they are:

reasonable and proportionate,

of a limited scale and nature,

do not need to be relied upon by the intermediary,

could reasonably not be expected to result in the channelling of business from the intermediary to Baillie Gifford, and

do not result in the intermediary recovering more than its reasonable costs.

The list below summarises the kind of reasonable non-monetary benefits which the provider firm can give or receive. This list is summary only and any member of staff should contact the Compliance Department for further guidance before deciding whether to give or accept the benefit (* = only if available to independent intermediaries generally):

1.Gifts, hospitality and promotional competition prizes of a reasonable value. Gifts and corporate hospitality given to intermediaries must not exceed an aggregate limit of £1,000 (or equivalent in another currency) per intermediary firm, per calendar year. This limit applies to gifts and corporate hospitality only and excludes conferences, seminars and training events. For large intermediary firms, the £1,000 (or equivalent in another currency) limit can be applied at regional office level. In addition, events must be designed for business purposes that result in advisers being able to provide a better service to their customers.

2.A product provider can assist another firm to promote its packaged products so that the quality of its service to clients is enhanced.

Points (3) to (6) in relation to joint marketing exercises:

3.Generic product literature (letter heading, leaflets, forms and envelopes) as long as the literature enhances the quality of the service to the client and is not primarily of promotional benefit to the product provider, and the distribution cost is borne by the intermediary.

4.Freepost envelopes*

5.Product specific literature (for example, key features, minimum information) subject to specific conditions.

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2022

6.Draft articles, news items and financial promotions for publication in the intermediary's magazine as long as any cost borne by the provider firm is not more than market rate and excludes any distribution costs.

7.Take part or pay towards the cost of seminars and conferences organised by another firm as long as it is:

For a genuine business purpose

Reasonable and proportionate.

Any costs paid should be associated with the level of Baillie Gifford's participation and by reference to the time that Baillie Gifford staff have played an active role. Baillie Gifford should not be paying all an advisory firm's costs incurred in running a seminar or conference.

8.Freephone link *

9.Technical services

Quotations and projections relating to its packaged products and advice on completion of forms or other documents

Access to data processing facilities or to data related to the firm's business

Access to 3rd party electronic dealing or quotation systems

Software giving information about the firm's packaged products. Any payments to an intermediary that go beyond that which is required to operate software supplied by Baillie Gifford would not be permitted. Likewise, any payments to develop an intermediary's general IT systems would not be permitted.

10.Generic technical information in writing, not necessarily related to the firm's business* or if it is of a specialist nature is made available to a particular class of intermediary.

11.Training facilities (lectures, venues, written material, software) *

If Baillie Gifford is giving an advisory firm training on the features and benefits of its products or services, the training should be made reasonably available to all advisory firms that could recommend Baillie Gifford's products, even if only on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note, that whilst this section applies to packaged products, the arrangements in (12) above can also be applied to our institutional business, although consideration must be given to overseas clients with specific code of ethics requirements on inducements.

5.4 FINRA Specific Requirements for Registered Persons of BGFS

Registered persons of BGFS are not permitted to give or receive any gifts of value in excess of $100 per individual per year to another FINRA member's registers persons.

Small gifts of less than $100 per year per recipient are aggregated toward the annual gift limit. For further information on BGFS's Gifts and Entertainment policy, please see the BGFS Written Supervisory Procedures.

5.5 Specific Requirements for BGA(HK)

Employees and Licensed Representatives of BGA(HK) are bound by the HKD equivalent (on a day to day basis) of all GBP values quoted within this policy.

As such, employees and Licensed Representatives are not permitted to give or receive any gift of value in excess of the HKD equivalent of £50.

6. Acknowledgement and Certification

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6.1 Receipt and Acknowledgement of the Code

All members of staff are required to receive a copy of the Code of Ethics and any amendments to the Code of Ethics. All members of staff are required to complete an annual certification, confirming that they have read the Code of Ethics and acknowledging that they are subject to its requirements. Further, all members of staff confirm through the annual certification that they have complied with the Code and that they have disclosed or reported all information required to be disclosed or reported according to the requirements of the Code.

All certifications of receipt of the Code shall be filed with the Compliance Department by submitting a Certificate of Compliance.

6.2 Annual Report to Baillie Gifford Boards

The Group Compliance and Legal Director will prepare and submit to the appropriate Baillie Gifford Boards an annual report which:

certifies that the firm or investment company as appropriate has adopted procedures designed to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code;

identifies any violations of the current procedures for personal securities investing and management's recommended response; and

makes any recommended changes in the procedures, as appropriate, based on operating experience under the Code, evolving industry practices or amendments to applicable laws or regulations.

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Baillie Gifford & Co Head Office

Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row, Edinburgh EH1 3AN

Telephone +44 (0)131 275 2000 www.bailliegifford.com

31


Code of

Ethical

Conduct

Letter from Tim

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Vanguard's Code of Ethical Conduct (the Code).

The Code reflects Vanguard's long- standing commitment to ethics and integrity, which is anchored in our mutual structure that places clients at the center of everything we do. Our clients' trust is our greatest asset, and that trust can be preserved only if each one of us does our part.

Vanguard's guidance on ethical decision- making can be summed up in one phrase: Do the right thing. The Code provides details on what it means to consistently do what is right and is organized around five guiding principles:

1.Act with integrity

2.Avoid conflicts of interest

3.Protect information

4.Comply with the law

5.Speak up

The Code addresses each of these principles in more detail and includes links to the applicable policy

documents. Our expectations are high and uncompromising. Our clients deserve no less. All crew members and contingent workers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Code and underlying policies—no exceptions. If you have questions or need additional information, seek advice from your manager or the Compliance Department. And if you are aware of any actions that violate the Code or any underlying policy, we expect you

to speak up.

Ultimately, we rely on your sense of personal integrity to protect our shareholders, uphold our reputation, and continuously earn our clients' trust. Never underestimate the importance of your own ethical conduct in our mission to take a stand for all investors, treat them fairly, and give them the best chance for investment success.

Sincerely,

Tim Buckley

Chief Executive Officer

2

Understanding our Code of Ethical Conduct

Vanguard was founded with a singular focus on clients and serving their best interests. This focus has been the foundation of our strong ethical culture and our core purpose—"To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success."

We fulfill that purpose and bring to life Vanguard's commitment to integrity and stewardship by adhering to the highest standards of ethical behavior and being steadfast in our principles.

To help you understand Vanguard's expectations for your conduct and guide you to consistently do what is right and best for our clients and our business, we've created this Code of Ethical Conduct (the Code*).

The Code, which applies to all crew and contingent workers at Vanguard, reflects our shared dedication to preserving Vanguard's time-honored culture of ethics and integrity. It emphasizes these five guiding principles:

*This Code and several underlying policy revisions take effect March 1, 2022. The Code of Ethics Policy that had been in effect is deemed retired as of February 28, 2022.

1.Act with integrity

2.Avoid conflicts of interest

3.Protect information

4.Comply with the law

5.Speak up

Each section of the Code addresses one of these principles in more detail and includes summaries of, and links to, the applicable underlying policies. The goal is to introduce you to the principles and expectations generally, provide guidance and resources if you have questions, and point you to the underlying policies with which you must comply.

To help you understand these principles,

each section also highlights "Ethics in Action"— examples of how the principles apply in hypothetical situations. And to help you evaluate specific issues you might face and decide whether an action you're considering meets our ethics

or compliance standards, the Code includes an ethical decision-making guide. The list of Additional Resources at the back of the Code provides even more information about how you can obtain guidance on specific issues.

t

Compliance tip: Most of the policies referenced in the Code are global and apply to all crew and all contingent workers assigned to perform services at Vanguard. However, in some instances there are policies specific to certain regions (called out in "Sidebars for regional policies") and some policies apply only to certain crew members, as specified herein. Please review this Code carefully and read the policies that apply to you.

3

Understanding our Code of Ethical Conduct

We take these principles seriously and have high expectations for ourselves and one another in meeting them. Doing the right thing also means that we should not, and will not, condone any conduct—by anyone—that is contrary to these principles. We have zero tolerance for unethical behavior. If you see conduct by others that fails to meet these high standards—whether in your department or elsewhere—you help Vanguard and our clients by speaking up about it.

Although the Code describes and contains summaries of underlying policies, it does not replace the policies themselves, and you must comply with the policies that apply to you. If you have

any questions, seek advice from your manager or the Compliance Department in your region. The Compliance Department may amend or revise the Code, or underlying policies, from time to time and will publicize such amendments or revisions when they are made.

Thank you for doing everything you can to meet and even exceed our—and our clients'—ethical expectations and standards.

t

t

Ethics in action: In addition to the principles and policies referenced in this Code, Vanguard has enacted other policies covering fair treatment, hiring and employment, finance, information security, professional conduct, and other matters. Make sure you familiarize yourself with those important policies as well.

Compliance tip: Keep in mind that each year, all crew and contingent workers are required to complete the Annual Certification, sent by the Compliance Department via My Compliance Office (MCO), and certify that they have read and understand this Code.

4

Ethical decision- making guide

Whether you're a crew member or a contingent worker, you're expected to behave ethically and put clients' interests first. You must know and follow Vanguard's internal rules and policies, as well as the applicable laws, rules, and regulations enacted by the country or region in which you work. In other words, you are expected to always do the right thing.

It sounds simple. And it's usually very clear what doing the right thing entails. But sometimes it isn't. How do you make the best choice when facing difficult or unclear circumstances? How do you navigate an ethical dilemma?

In those situations, you should pause and reflect, and then work through the following "ethical decision-making guide." This guide will help you consider important questions before deciding whether or how to proceed with an action. It is not a substitute for the Code or any underlying policies, and it may not tell you exactly what to do in every situation, but it can be used as a tool to help guide you when you face an ethical dilemma or a complex situation where the answer might not be clear.

If you're still in doubt as you work through the decision-making guide, err on the side of caution— ask questions, elevate the issue, and enlist the help of others to ensure we reach the right answer every time for Vanguard and our clients.

Ethical decision-making guide

Not sure? Consult your manager, or reference the Additional Resources page.

?

?

?

?

?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would you feel

 

 

 

 

 

Does the

 

Is the activity

 

Would the

 

good about the

 

 

In any ethical

Is the

 

activity

 

consistent with

 

activity

 

activity/decision

 

 

dilemma, ask

activity

Yes

comply with

Yes

Vanguard's values

Yes

reflect well

Yes

if you had to explain

Yes

yourself:

legal?

Vanguard's

and aligned to the

on Vanguard's

it to your manager,

 

 

 

Code and

 

best interests of

 

brand and

 

Senior Sta•, or

 

 

 

 

 

policies?

 

Vanguard's clients?

 

reputation?

 

Vanguard's Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

of Directors?

 

The activity appears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

appropriate to move

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

forward with the

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

No

 

applicable next steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop—This action may result in serious legal, compliance, or other consequences for you, Vanguard, or our clients. Consider if any aspects of the activity need to be reported to the Compliance Department.

t

Ethics in action

 

There may be a time when you want to do something

 

for a client or fellow crew member that you believe

 

is the "right" thing, but doing so would be contrary

 

to compliance rules or business procedures. Those

 

rules and procedures are there for a reason and as a

 

guide to all of us—and, generally speaking, doing the

 

compliant thing is doing the right thing.

5

1. Act with integrity

Working at Vanguard carries with it a responsibility to be constantly aware of the importance of our own personal ethical conduct. Each of us must make decisions and take action based on Vanguard's culture, mission, and shared values. Our clients, business partners, regulators, and colleagues

are relying on us to conduct our business and ourselves with the utmost integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness. Vanguard's clients are trusting us to put their interests first, not our own.

Putting these values into practice means having and adhering to expected standards of conduct, as reflected in this Code and underlying policies. Some of Vanguard's expectations are stated in broad terms and include straightforward concepts such as: Always put clients' interests first, be candid and clear with clients and provide them with accurate information, and lead by example.

Other expectations are more specific, because Vanguard has a particular viewpoint on that topic, because we perceive an elevated risk of misconduct or mistake, or because we are subject to a particular rule or regulation with which we must comply. Therefore, acting with integrity includes properly trading securities in your personal accounts, applying good judgment in your use of social media, and following applicable protocols when interacting with regulators and policymakers.

Leading with integrity—a message for leaders: Leaders at all levels set the tone for our ethical culture and have an even greater responsibility to act with integrity. As a leader, you are expected to be a role model who regularly communicates the importance of ethical standards, holds yourself and others accountable to those standards,

and creates an environment in which ethics and integrity are valued and respected. Help everyone around you learn how to do the right thing by showing them what the right thing in a particular situation is. Proactively foster ethics on your team and in your division by raising ethics awareness through training, providing a safe environment to raise concerns, and celebrating behaviors that exemplify our ethical standards and core values. Consistently doing so reinforces our culture of integrity and provides tangible examples of what it means to do the right thing.

Fundamentally, by adhering to the highest standards of conduct and personal integrity, which encompass all these principles and policies, we will consistently earn and maintain the trust and loyalty of our clients.

t

t

Ethics in action: We owe it to all of our clients to work hard on their behalf, consistently seek to improve Vanguard's products and services, maximize our efficiency, and minimize errors. Part of doing right by clients therefore entails being well-versed in the policies and procedures applicable to your role and completing any required training. Make sure you devote appropriate time to these important tasks.

Compliance tip: Leaders, did you know that you can assign trainings to your crew to build acumen and enhance understanding and compliance? Trainings related to the Code are available in Degreed to support your team's needs.

6

1. Act with integrity

Standards of conduct: Vanguard has high expectations for how you conduct yourself. Our core values guide us, and you are expected to keep these values in mind when performing your job responsibilities, making decisions, and interacting with others. Never underestimate the importance of your own conduct in fulfilling our mission and purpose to treat

all investors fairly and give them the best chance to succeed. Read the Standards of Conduct Policy to understand how Vanguard translates its expectations into general rules of behavior and conduct.

Sidebar for regional policies: Crew and contingent workers in these regions should consult the following policies on this topic:

Europe – European Conduct Risk Policy

Mexico – Code of Conduct for Investment Advisors

Personal investment activities by Non-Access Persons: Working in the financial services industry means your personal financial and investment activities must comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies and must not result in any legal, business, or ethical conflicts with Vanguard or our clients, or otherwise be improper. You have a duty to conduct your personal investment activities in a manner consistent with those principles and in line with Vanguard's reputation. We also trust you to devote your time at work to serving the interests of our clients and our company, not your personal interests. We help protect the investing public by restricting and monitoring certain investment activities, and you may be required to disclose investment accounts and trading activity to Compliance. For those of you who are in a role that has not been designated as an Access Person role, you are encouraged to read the Personal Investment Activity Policy for Non-Access Persons carefully and contact your manager or the Compliance Department with any questions.

t

Ethics in action: Karl is a crew member in IT working on a new system to help Vanguard fund traders track securities they might recommend for the funds they support. During the project, Karl learns that a Vanguard fund portfolio manager intends to purchase a large position in a security for that fund. Knowing that, can Karl now purchase shares of that security in his personal account?

No, Karl is not permitted to take personal advantage of his knowledge of recent, impending, or planned securities activities of the Vanguard funds or their investment advisors. Doing so would constitute "front running," which is improper and unethical.

7

1. Act with integrity

The Access Person Code of Conduct: Some crew and contingent workers at Vanguard are designated as Advisor Access Persons, Fund Access Persons, or Investment Access Persons because they or their department are authorized to know about present or future transactions by Vanguard funds, or have the authority to influence those transactions, or otherwise have access to sensitive market or client activity. To guard against the potential conflicts of interest that could arise, and to comply with certain securities laws and regulations, those Access Persons are subject to additional standards of conduct, stricter personal investment rules, and greater oversight, among other things, as set forth in the Access Person Code of Conduct.

t Compliance tip: The Compliance

Department uses technology applications, including My Compliance Office (MCO) (and, for some processes applicable to U.S. crew, the Licensing And Registration System [LARS]),

to facilitate compliance with and oversight of the policies covered in the Code. Resources on using MCO are available by visiting My Compliance and Ethics Resource Center on CrewNet.

Note for China crew: Because you may not have access to MCO or LARS, different systems and procedures are in place for you. Please consult with your manager or the China Compliance team to learn more.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Mexico should consult the Guidelines, Policies and Procedures Applicable to Securities Transactions Carried out by Directors, Officers and Employees on this topic.

t Compliance tip: To learn if you are in an

Access Person role and are therefore subject to these enhanced rules, visit the Access Person Code of Conduct, available on CrewNet.

t Compliance tip: Some investment activities by Access Persons and their household or family members require pre-clearance, meaning approval

in advance, from the Compliance Department. Be sure you and they know the rules prior to trading in personal accounts.

8

1. Act with integrity

Insider information: Maintaining the integrity of investment markets and activity is important to Vanguard and our clients. During your work with Vanguard, you may receive or have access to important information that is not yet publicly available about Vanguard or about publicly traded companies with which Vanguard has business dealings or interactions. Because of your access to this information, often referred to as "inside information," you may be in a position to profit or avoid a loss financially by buying or selling the stock of one or more of these publicly traded companies. Or you may be in a position to benefit financially or otherwise by passing this inside information to some other person, often called "tipping." However, the use of this inside information in connection with any investment decision or recommendation—or to tip others who might make an investment decision based on this information—is unethical and illegal and could result in civil and/or criminal penalties. Doing so is strictly prohibited.

Sidebar for regional policies: Crew and contingent workers in these regions should consult the following policies on this topic:

Australia – Australia Insider Trading Policy

Mexico – Guidelines, Policies and Procedures Applicable to Securities Transactions Carried out by Directors, Officers and Employees

Use of social media: Social media can be a powerful tool in promoting Vanguard's investment philosophy, connecting and engaging with Vanguard clients, and providing timely and relevant information on topics of interest. But personal use of social media can present business and legal risks. For instance, because Vanguard operates in a highly regulated industry, you should be aware that certain types of communications in your personal social media accounts could create legal and regulatory risk, for Vanguard and for you, even if you do not hold a securities license. Therefore, in your use of social media, Vanguard and our clients alike expect you to exercise sound judgment and common sense, understand and comply with Vanguard's policies, and protect Vanguard's reputation.

Sidebar for regional policies: Crew and contingent workers in these regions should consult the following policies on this topic:

Asia – Asia Social Media Policy

Australia – Australia Social Media Policy

Canada – Canada Social Media Policy

Europe – Social Media Policy

Mexico – Mexico Social Media Policy

United States – Social Media Policy

9

1. Act with integrity

Interactions with regulators: Various regulators seek to protect the investing public by providing oversight of the products, services, and operations of investment firms like Vanguard. When those regulators conduct examinations of or request information from Vanguard, you should ensure the Compliance Department is aware of it so that appropriate procedures and protocols can be followed regarding these interactions. These procedures and protocols include having Vanguard-designated individuals communicate with the regulators. These are key relationships and interactions for our company and by extension our clients, and it's important that we all follow the detailed procedures and protocols governing these interactions.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Australia should consult the Australia Regulators and Authorities Communications Policy on this topic.

Interactions with policymakers: Policymakers may from time to time approach Vanguard, or Vanguard may from time to time contact policymakers, regarding our position, experience, or perspective on policy matters. To uphold and maintain Vanguard's reputation and provide consistent and accurate messaging, there are strict protocols for who may interact with policymakers and how those interactions may be conducted. If you plan to engage proactively with a policymaker on Vanguard's behalf, you must notify and receive approval from your regional Government Relations team, or from your regional Compliance team in regions where there is no separate government relations team, before the interaction.

Or, if you have an unplanned interaction with a policymaker (e.g., a discussion at an industry conference), you must promptly notify and debrief your regional Government Relations or Compliance team after the interaction has occurred. For crew in the U.S., these interactions are sometimes associated with lobbying activity, so be sure to consult the Lobbying Activity Policy

as well.

t

Compliance tip: Nothing in this Code prohibits or restricts any person in any way from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, or otherwise prevents anyone from participating, assisting, or testifying in any proceeding or investigation by any such agency or entity or from making other disclosures that are protected under law or regulation.

t

Compliance tip: The term "policymaker" has a broad definition and generally includes any member, official, or employee of any government or any department or agency thereof. If you aren't sure whether the person you are interacting with is a policymaker under the Global Policy on Interactions with Policymakers, err on the side of caution and contact the Government Relations team in your region.

10

2. Avoid conflicts of interest

You are expected to make sure your actions align with Vanguard's mission of treating all investors fairly. Acting ethically entails putting clients' interests first, which means you cannot put your personal interests, values, or beliefs ahead of theirs inside or outside the workplace. In other words, your actions, decisions, and interests cannot compete or conflict with the interests of Vanguard or our clients.

A conflict can arise any time something interferes with—or appears to interfere with—your independence, objectivity, or judgment in doing what is best for Vanguard and our clients. The existence of an actual or potential conflict of interest is not in and of itself problematic, but when one does arise it is imperative to identify it, evaluate it, and take any necessary steps to mitigate or avoid it. If we fail to do so, conflicts can erode the trust that our clients have in us and that we have in one another.

With a business as complex as Vanguard's, it is virtually impossible to avoid every single potential conflict of interest. Perhaps you want to engage in a business activity outside of Vanguard, or you're wondering whether you can accept a gift from a client or donate to a charity, or you or an immediate family member would like to contribute to a political campaign (if permitted in the region where you live). Each of these situations may seem simple on the surface but could create conflicts.

Vanguard has enacted policies to address each of these specific types of conflicts, in addition to our general Conflicts of Interest Policy. Please familiarize yourself with these policies. If you still have questions, the Compliance team can provide guidance to help you mitigate an existing or potential conflict.

t Compliance tip: A current or potential vendor's offer of an extravagant gift or VIP access to a concert or sporting event could lead to favoring that vendor over others, which would be a conflict of interest and could cause others to question our impartiality in business decisions. And that is why we must work hard to identify and respond not only to actual conflicts but also to even the appearance of a conflict.

Sidebar for regional policies: Crew and contingent workers in these regions should consult the following policies on this topic:

Australia – Australia Conflicts of Interest Policy

Germany - Conflicts of Interest Policy VGEG

Ireland – Conflicts of Interest Policy

U.K. and Switzerland – Conflicts of Interest Policy

t

Ethics in action: Gerald is a credit analyst

 

in IMG responsible for assessing and

 

making investment recommendations on

 

many companies. He was recently injured

 

while using a product made by one of

 

those companies and has just decided

 

to file a lawsuit against it. Is there the

 

potential for a conflict of interest? Does

 

he need to disclose it?

 

Yes and yes. Perceived and actual

 

conflicts of interest now exist between

 

Gerald's personal interests in litigating

 

against the company and his work

 

assessing that company for Vanguard,

 

so he must disclose them and work with

 

Compliance to establish information

 

walls and prevent problems as set forth

 

in the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

11

2. Avoid conflicts of interest

Gifts and entertainment: Vanguard recognizes that there are limited instances where it is appropriate and customary to give gifts or business entertainment to, or receive gifts or business entertainment from, a third party. But doing so can also pose risks and create conflicts, especially if the value of the item is significant. The giving or receipt of anything of value should never create or appear to create a conflict of interest, interfere with the impartial fulfillment of your job responsibilities, or place Vanguard in a compromising position. In other words, it must not affect your business judgment or give the appearance that your judgment may be affected. To ensure you are complying with Vanguard's expectations, review the approval guidelines and reporting requirements in the Gift and Entertainment Policy.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Europe should consult the Business Entertainment Policy on this topic.

t

t

Ethics in action: A software vendor sent a modest fruit basket to Maria's team to celebrate the successful launch of their product in Vanguard's IT environment. Maria is aware that accepting gifts can give the appearance of a conflict, but would keeping the fruit basket be problematic?

In this case, Maria and her team may keep the fruit basket (or a similar perishable item), with the expectation that it will be shared among the team. Maria should also report the gift in MCO in accordance with the Gift and Entertainment Policy.

Compliance tip: Adhering to the Gift and

Entertainment Policy entails knowing what can and cannot be offered or accepted and reporting that activity (if required) as well. Be sure you know the rules and act accordingly.

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2. Avoid conflicts of interest

Outside business activities: Crew members often want to engage in employment, work, volunteering, or similar opportunities beyond their employment or work with Vanguard. That's understandable, and it is often encouraged. However, your work with Vanguard must come first, ahead of those other opportunities, and they must not adversely affect Vanguard or our clients or otherwise present a conflict of interest. Consult the Outside Business Activity Policy to see whether the activity you'd like to pursue is permitted and how to obtain the required pre-approval.

t Ethics in action: You would like to join the board of directors of a local nonprofit charitable organization. Can you?

You will generally be permitted to join nonprofit boards, assuming you obtain approval in advance from the Compliance Department in accordance with the Outside Business Activity Policy. In addition, you may be required by Compliance to follow some procedures and guardrails, such as recusing yourself from any situation that could give rise to a conflict of interest.

t

Ethics in action: You would like to help your child's school conduct a fundraiser and you would like to use your Vanguard title and business connections to do so. Can you?

While you may be permitted to help with the fundraising effort, assuming you obtain approval in accordance with the Outside Business Activity Policy, you may not use Vanguard's name, property, facilities, confidential information, relationships, or other assets for your personal benefit or for your outside work or other endeavors.

t

t

Compliance tip: Crew participation in outside business activities requires pre-approval from the Compliance Department, so be sure to submit

a request through LARS (for U.S. crew) or MCO (for all other crew) in advance. Contingent workers, while not subject to the Outside Business Activity Policy specifically, must disclose any conflicts created by their outside activities in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Compliance tip: Crew and contingent workers who are permitted to hold a securities license should also consult policies specifically applicable to them, addressed in Section 4, Comply with the Law, to see if additional outside activity requirements apply.

13

2. Avoid conflicts of interest

• Personal political contributions and related activities: Vanguard

• Charitable contributions: Although charitable activities are

provides services to government entities and government

generally encouraged, the manner in which those activities

entities invest in various Vanguard funds. These legitimate

are handled may create conflicts of interest for Vanguard

business relationships implicate certain rules and regulations

and our clients. The Charitable Contribution Policy defines

that, in turn, may restrict the political contributions and political

specific requirements and restrictions related to charitable

fundraising activities that Vanguard and its personnel may

contributions made by Vanguard, as well as activities by crew

engage in. To ensure compliance with the applicable regulations

and contingent workers related to charities and charitable

and avoid potential conflicts, Vanguard has enacted the Political

giving. The policy seeks to ensure that we serve as responsible

Contribution and Fundraising Activity Policy, which requires

stewards of Vanguard's assets while also protecting Vanguard

crew employed in the U.S. to obtain advance approval from

and the charitable interests of our clients and personnel.

Compliance before they or a member of their household make

 

any political contribution.

 

t

Compliance tip: For U.S. crew, the Political

 

Contribution and Fundraising Activity Policy

 

also applies to the activities of members of

 

your household, so be sure to track and report

 

their activities as required.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Australia should consult the Australia Political Contribution Policy on this topic.

t

Ethics in action: As you are speaking with a prominent client and servicing his account, he asks both Vanguard and you personally to make a monetary donation to his preferred charity and hints that refusal to do so could cause him to switch investment providers. You feel uncomfortable about the request but worry that saying no may disrupt the client relationship. What should you do?

You should explain to the client that Vanguard has a policy prohibiting charitable donations under these circumstances, given the conflicts of interest that could arise, and therefore decline the client's request. You should also notify your manager.

14

3. Protect information

In the regular course of our business, crew members and contingent workers at Vanguard have access to or use, and routinely generate or create, enormous amounts of information. Some of that information is public and not subject to limits on its use or disclosure. But many types of information are confidential and cannot be shared, or constitute valuable intellectual property created by Vanguard for a specific purpose or competitive advantage. Or perhaps the information was created by third parties and the use of such information is subject to legal, regulatory, or contractual terms and restrictions. Without a doubt, we must make ourselves aware of the types of information we're using or accessing, understand any applicable terms or restrictions, and ensure that our use complies with those terms or restrictions.

Why? One reason is because we're stewards of our clients' assets. Not just their financial assets, but their personal information as well. Clients trust us to secure and maintain the confidentiality of all these assets. We risk losing their trust—and their business—if we don't protect it.

In addition, there are laws and regulations that apply to our use and handling of information, such as data that can be used to identify a specific individual (i.e., personally identifiable information) and other sensitive or highly confidential information, as well as to how we store business records and how long we must retain them. There are also rules and regulations against deleting, altering, or modifying our business records.

Further, depending on your position at Vanguard, you may create or have access to many other types of information, including creative works, inventions, or intellectual property such as photos or proprietary software we create as part of our work. These valuable business assets belong to Vanguard and often provide us, and our clients, with a competitive edge because they are not widely known or publicly available. Each of us has a duty to protect this information.

We must also observe the rights of third parties. For instance, no one should disclose any confidential information belonging to a prior employer or other outside source unless it's already been made public or has been disclosed to Vanguard properly and through no action of yours. Similarly, respecting others' intellectual property rights means we do not use third-party images, music, or other materials without first obtaining any necessary permissions.

Keep in mind that a failure to protect the information entrusted to us can have far-reaching consequences for our clients and for Vanguard.

Acting with integrity and serving our clients' interests includes the responsibility to protect information under these broad categories:

Duty of confidentiality: Clients, suppliers, and companies with which we do business trust us to be good stewards of their information, whether that information relates to financial, personal, or business matters. We must therefore protect the confidentiality of that information as best we can. How do you know what information is confidential information? A best practice is to assume that

all information you have about Vanguard and its business (including information concerning past, present, and prospective clients; business partners; suppliers; directors; and crew) is confidential, unless the contrary is clear. Read the Confidential Information Policy to learn more.

t Ethics in action: Adam is negotiating a services contract with a new software supplier for Vanguard. He feels the supplier's pricing is unreasonably high and inconsistent with this market, which he mentions to the supplier's representative. The representative then asks Adam to "prove it" by sharing the pricing terms Vanguard has secured from other vendors. Can Adam share that information?

No. The pricing and other commercial terms Vanguard has reached with third parties is confidential to Vanguard and those third parties and may not be shared.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Europe should consult the Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure of Information, and Post-Termination Restrictions Policy on this topic.

15

3. Protect information

Intellectual property: Vanguard believes that innovation, coupled with our strong brand, is key for our continuous growth and for maximizing the value we deliver to clients. Our innovations and brand are protected by various intellectual property rights—copyright, trade secret, patent, and trademark rights. Because these intellectual property rights are valuable business assets, you are expected to safeguard them in accordance with the law and Vanguard policy. You are also expected to respect the intellectual property rights of third parties—if you don't, you risk exposing Vanguard to an infringement claim. Vanguard's Intellectual Property Policy assists you in identifying and protecting Vanguard's intellectual property, thereby securing necessary rights to our innovations and other intellectual property, maintaining the integrity and quality of Vanguard's brand, and minimizing the risk of inadvertently infringing others' intellectual property.

Maintenance of business records: At Vanguard, data and records are valued as corporate assets. Therefore, and as may be required by law or regulation, we all have an obligation to retain records that are of business and historical value, protect and manage records efficiently, and ensure proper disposition in accordance with Vanguard policies and retention requirements. This Enterprise Records Governance Policy establishes the enterprise requirements Vanguard has adopted to ensure the proper management of records.

Sidebar for regional policies: Crew and contingent workers in Australia should consult the Australia Document and Data Retention Policy on this topic.

t

t

Ethics in action: Chris made a mistake while processing a client's transaction. After going through their department's adjustment process, correcting the client's accounts, and communicating that to the client, they would like to go back and delete all data and references regarding their original mistake. Is that permitted?

No. The original mistake is part of Vanguard's records and may not be altered or deleted. Chris is correcting the mistake and ensuring the client is well-served by following all the steps of their department's adjustment process.

Ethics in action: A regulator sent Vanguard a request to provide a copy of a set of business records. Omar is working with the Compliance Department to respond to the request. He knows the requested business records exist, but he's having trouble finding them. Is it acceptable if he creates a new set of documents and provides those to Compliance instead?

No, we cannot mislead our regulators. Omar should continue to work with his manager and Compliance to find and produce the original set of records.

16

4. Comply with the law

Financial services is a complex and highly regulated business for good reason. We're stewards of

our clients' financial security and, by extension, their hopes and dreams for the future—a child's education, a new home, or a comfortable retirement. We help institutions to fulfill their missions and businesses to meet their obligations and fund ongoing operations.

It's an awesome responsibility and we take it seriously. So do government and industry regulators.

As a result, Vanguard and its business lines are subject to various laws, rules, and regulations, including securities, banking, tax, data privacy, and other international, federal, state, and local laws.

You are expected to review, know, and comply with the laws, rules, and regulations that apply to your role and the area or department in which you work. To help you understand them, Vanguard offers formal and informal procedures, training, and other resources. You are expected to familiarize yourself with them and to complete any training required for your role. Ultimately, it is your responsibility

to comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as applicable Vanguard policies and procedures.

Additional requirements if you hold a license from a regulatory authority

Many jurisdictions require individuals who perform certain activities in the financial services industry

to be licensed, make individual disclosures, and satisfy training and other requirements. You are responsible for making sure that you—and any crew or contingent workers you supervise—are properly registered, licensed, and qualified to perform these activities.

Further, before you offer products to, visit, or otherwise solicit business from a client outside your home jurisdiction, make sure that both you and Vanguard have the necessary licenses or registrations to conduct business in the client's location. You must also understand the laws, regulations, and policies that apply to your activities in that location, including those that apply to the Vanguard entity through which you are transacting business.

For more in-depth guidance about legal and regulatory obligations that may apply to you, consult with your manager and carefully review the procedures applicable to your role. Also familiarize yourself with these policies:

Guarding against fraud: Central to Vanguard's commitment to conducting business in an honest and ethical manner are relentlessly guarding against and combating fraud of all types, including fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, corruption in the form of bribery

and gratuities, and improper or unauthorized expenditures. Vanguard will not tolerate any fraud, impropriety, or dishonesty and will vigorously

investigate all instances where it is suspected. We rely on you to protect Vanguard and our clients by reporting internal or external misconduct and unethical behavior even if it doesn't directly affect you. We also rely on you to recognize red flags that signal fraud and report any suspected fraud immediately, as set forth in the Global Internal and Occupational Fraud Policy.

t Ethics in action: Sue-Yenn overheard one of her colleagues, who had just gotten off the phone with his domestic partner, discussing his plan to bring home a variety of office supplies from one of Vanguard's supply closets, sell the supplies online, and keep the money. What should Sue-Yenn do?

Sue-Yenn should contact the Global Fraud Prevention Team directly. We take seriously, and have a duty to thoroughly investigate, any indication that a crew member is misappropriating any Vanguard supplies or other assets.

17

4.Comply with the law

Bribery and corruption: Vanguard is committed to conducting business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and prohibits all forms of bribery and corruption. Improper behavior and misconduct, such as commercial and government corruption, violate public trust and affect Vanguard's reputation. Further, countries in which Vanguard does business have enacted antibribery and anticorruption laws and regulations and, under these regulations, it is a crime to give or offer bribes in order to improperly influence business decisions. While the laws may differ by country, for us it's simple: Bribery—of anyone, at any organization, at any level—is always wrong. Whenever you interact with a government official, political party or party official, or candidate for public office, be sure to comply with applicable laws and regulations as well as the terms of Vanguard's Global Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy.

t

t

Compliance tip: In some countries, different types of government officials may be subject to differing or more stringent gift and entertainment rules. Consult with your local Compliance team if you are considering offering anything of

value to a government official, including meals, transportation, or accommodations.

Ethics in action: Anya has been trying for several weeks to schedule a meeting with a government official to discuss the government agency's business with Vanguard. She receives an email from the official's assistant stating that the official is available to meet for lunch at a local restaurant during the following week. Anya wants to make sure that it's okay and to find out about any restrictions before sending her reply.

If your work at Vanguard brings you in contact with a government official, be careful to comply with Vanguard's relationship management protocols, the Global Anti-Bribery and Anti- Corruption Policy, the Gift and Entertainment Policy, and local laws. Even innocent or well- intended gestures, like offering to pay for a government official's meal, may be prohibited or have other implications. Contact your local Compliance representative if you have any questions.

18

4.Comply with the law

Global sanctions: Governments in various countries, in an effort to achieve policy and national security aims or restrict criminal activity, at times impose financial and/or trading restrictions on certain companies, securities,

or individuals, or even on other governments. Those restrictions can affect money movement or securities transactions in the primary or secondary markets. It is incumbent upon all of us to comply with those restrictions—often called "sanctions"—in managing Vanguard funds and serving clients and avoid any conduct that could be interpreted as circumventing such restrictions. Consult the Global Sanctions Policy to learn more.

Sidebar for a regional policy: Crew and contingent workers in Canada should consult the Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions Policy on this topic.

Competition and business practices: Vanguard believes in and supports the notion of fair competition in the marketplace and the protection of investors against predatory business practices. Indeed, the notion is closely aligned with Vanguard's mission of treating all investors fairly. Some countries have enacted laws designed to preserve fair and vigorous competition in the marketplace. You are expected to comply with those laws as applicable, avoid anticompetitive behavior, and exercise particular caution when engaging with a competitor or counterparty, whether directly or indirectly (e.g., through an industry or trade group). The Antitrust and Competition Policy explains these expectations in more detail.

Expectations for personnel who hold a license from a regulatory authority: As explained earlier, Vanguard upholds licensing requirements for certain business lines and jurisdictions. If you are required to maintain a license, additional obligations may apply to you. Consult with your manager; it is your responsibility to meet and maintain your licensing obligations and ensure that all licenses are in good standing.

t

Ethics in action: Njeri was asked to join an industry trade committee and represent Vanguard's interests. She is wondering what she can and cannot discuss while interacting with other committee members, most of whom are with firms that compete with Vanguard.

Crew often interact with competitors and other firms in our industry,

and that in and of itself is not inappropriate. When you interact, avoid disclosing Vanguard's confidential information and avoid discussing topics that are competitively sensitive, such as pricing for products or services, trading behavior, and business, market, or sales strategies. Consult the Antitrust and Competition Policy to learn more.

19

5. Speak up

Because open and honest communication is vital to fulfill our core purpose, we've established several ways for you to raise concerns in good faith about any issue, including business practices or ethical matters, even if you aren't sure whether the issue is problematic.

We encourage you to help protect our clients, crew, and Vanguard by reporting concerns about ethics, financial or business integrity, information security and privacy, workplace practices, or alleged violations of policy, regulation, or law. We also encourage you to speak up about innocent yet significant errors or mistakes that you aren't comfortable elevating in some other manner.

We take violations of this Code of Ethical Conduct, Vanguard policies, or applicable law seriously. We also owe it to our clients to identify and address our mistakes promptly. When you speak up about conduct that fails to meet our high standards— whether it is your conduct or someone else's, in your department or elsewhere—you help Vanguard and our clients. Indeed, you are complying with Vanguard's expectations when you speak up in this way.

As always, you can voice concerns to your manager or to Crew Relations. If you wish to remain anonymous, Vanguard has arranged a way for crew in each region to anonymously report concerns in good faith without fear of retaliation.

t

t

Compliance tip: See something? Say something. Speaking up is one of the most effective ways to identify, prevent, and deter wrongdoing and protect our clients.

Ethics in action: One of Akash's fellow crew members shared information with him about the account size and holdings of a well-known person who is a Vanguard client. Akash is concerned that sharing the information was an invasion of the client's privacy. How can he report his concerns without creating a potentially awkward situation with his colleague?

If you come across behavior that you in good faith feel is improper or unethical, you can discuss it with your manager. If you for any reason are uncomfortable discussing it with your manager, you are encouraged to report it via the Anonymous Reporting channel for your region—indeed, doing so means you are complying with Vanguard's expectations. Vanguard takes all such reports seriously and investigates them thoroughly.

20

Closing thoughts

At Vanguard, acting with integrity is of the utmost importance. When you face an ethical dilemma at work, it may be tempting to do the easy thing. But if we lower our standards—even one time, or even if we think no one will find out—we risk tarnishing the reputation of our whole company.

As CEO Tim Buckley said, our expectations are high and uncompromising. Vanguard expects you to maintain your personal integrity at all times and in all places. Even an action that is proper and ethical but that appears unethical can have negative consequences. Ultimately, our reputation depends on our resolve to always do the right thing.

A variety of help and resources is available. If you have a question about this Code of Ethical Conduct or the underlying policies, you may contact any of the resources listed in the Additional resources section. Similarly, if you aren't sure what to do in a particular

situation, the Ethical decision-making guide can help you think it through. You can also speak with your manager or the Code of Ethical Conduct team in Compliance for guidance. Elevating the issue and enlisting the assistance of others can help ensure that we reach the right answer for Vanguard and our clients.

Remember: It is your responsibility to report any concerns you have and any violations or suspected violations of this Code or our policies that you know about. We've established internal and anonymous external channels for this purpose.

Finally, rest assured that Vanguard does not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises an issue or concern in good faith. If you seek advice, raise a concern, or report suspected acts of misconduct, you are complying with our Code and helping to maintain Vanguard's ethical culture and client-first mission.

21

Additional resources

The following resources are available to you in case you have questions about the expectations or content in this Code or any of the underlying policies.

Where to find online training about the Code or underlying policies:

The Compliance Department offers online training to help you understand the Code, the policies referenced in the Code, and the expectations Vanguard has for you.

How to use our internal compliance applications:

Resources regarding MCO are intended to help you understand and navigate the MCO–My Compliance Office application and handle tasks such as disclosing personal securities transactions and holdings reports, reporting gifts and entertainment, submitting outside business activity requests, submitting conflict of interest notifications, and other similar tasks.

Questions about specific policies or regional matters:

If you have a question about a specific policy under this Code or how it applies to you or your region, please visit the policy

itself, which will include contact information. For your convenience, our Corporate policies are published and accessible to you on CrewNet.

General questions about this Code:

Direct all general questions about this Code to your region's Compliance Department.

22

To learn more about Vanguard, visit vanguard.com.

P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

© 2022 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.




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