NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIABLE TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AND SECURITY AGREEMENT THE SMART PORTFOLIOS Smart Allocation Growth Portfolio Smart Allocation Growth and Income Portfolio Smart Allocation Income Portfolio
NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIABLE TRUST
OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION
AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THE SMART PORTFOLIOS
Smart Allocation Growth Portfolio
Smart Allocation Growth and Income Portfolio
Smart Allocation Income Portfolio
THIS OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of the 15th day of November, 2007, by and between NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIABLE TRUST, a Delaware business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of its three series, collectively the Smart Portfolios (the “Funds”), and, Smart Portfolios LLC, (the “Advisor”), the Funds’ Advisor.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Advisor renders advice and services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and provisions of an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor dated as of the 15th day of November, 2007 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is responsible for, and has assumed the obligation for, payment of certain expenses pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement that have not been assumed by the Advisor; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to limit the Fund’s Operating Expenses (as that term is defined in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Trust (on behalf of the Fund) desires to allow the Advisor to implement those limits; and
WHEREAS, as a condition to the continuation of its contractual relationship with the Advisor, the Trust has required that Advisor grant to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to a designated account established with Gemini Fund Services, LLC or its successor and assigns (the “Securities Intermediary”);
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:
1. Limit on Operating Expenses. The Advisor hereby agrees to limit the Fund’s current Operating Expenses to an annual rate, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average annual net assets, to the amounts listed in Appendix A (the “Annual Limit”). In the event that the current Operating Expenses of the Fund, as accrued each month, exceed its Annual Limit, the Advisor will pay to the Fund, on a monthly basis, the excess expense within the first ten days of the month following the month in which such Operating Expenses were incurred (each payment, a “Fund Reimbursement Payment”).
2. Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Operating Expenses” with respect to the Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund and including the Advisor’s investment advisory or management fee detailed in the Investment Advisory Agreement, any Rule 12b-l fees and other expenses described in the Investment Advisory Agreement, but does not include any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expense on securities sold short, acquired fund (Underlying Fund) fees and expenses, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation.
3. Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses. The Advisor retains its right to receive reimbursement of any excess expense payments paid by it pursuant to this Agreement under the same terms and conditions as it is permitted to receive reimbursement of reductions of its investment management fee under the Investment Advisory Agreement.
4. Security Interest. The Advisor, for value received, hereby pledges, assigns, sets over and grants to the Trust a continuing security interest in and to the following: [Account Name], Account No. [Account Number] established with the Securities Intermediary (the “Collateral Account”), including any replacement account established with any successor, together with all dividends, interest, stock-splits, distributions, profits and all cash and non-cash proceeds thereof and any and all other rights as may now or hereafter derive or accrue therefrom (collectively, the “Collateral”) to secure the payment of any required Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses (as defined in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement). For so long as this Agreement is in effect, any redemptions of Collateral shall require the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”).
5. Collateral Event. In the event that either (a) the Advisor does not make the Fund Reimbursement Payment due in connection with a particular calendar month by the tenth day of the following calendar month or (b) the Board enacts a resolution calling for the liquidation of the Fund (either (a) or (b), a “Collateral Event”), then, in either event, the Board shall have absolute discretion to redeem any shares or other Collateral held in the Collateral Account and utilize the proceeds from such redemptions or such other Collateral to make any required Fund Reimbursement Payment, or to cover any costs or expenses which the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, estimates will be required in connection with the liquidation of the Fund (the “Liquidation Expenses”). Pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, upon authorization from the Board, no further instructions shall be required from the Advisor for the Securities Intermediary to transfer any Collateral from the Collateral Account to the Fund. The Advisor acknowledges that in the event the Collateral available in the Collateral Account is insufficient to cover the full cost of any Fund Reimbursement Payment or Liquidation Expenses, the Fund shall retain the right to receive from the Advisor any costs in excess of the value of the Collateral.
6. Control Agreement; Appointment of Attorney-in-Fact. The Advisor agrees to execute and deliver to the Board, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board, a Control Agreement by, between and among the Trust, the Advisor and the Securities Intermediary pursuant to and consistent with Section 8-106(c) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code. Without limiting the foregoing, the Advisor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Trust, through any officer thereof, with full power of substitution, as Advisor's true and lawful Attorney-in-Fact, with full irrevocable power and authority in place and stead of the Advisor and in the name of the Advisor or in the Trust's own name, from time to time, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate actions and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which the Board deems necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Agreement, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trust shall have the right and power following any Collateral Event to receive, endorse and collect all checks and other orders for the payment of money made payable to the Advisor representing any interest payment, dividend, or other distribution payable in respect of/to the Collateral, or any part thereof, and to give full discharge for the same. Upon such Collateral Event, the Board, in its discretion, may direct the Advisor or Advisor's agent to transfer the Collateral in certificated or uncertificated form into the name and account of the Trust or its designee.
7. Covenants. So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, the Advisor represents and covenants as follows:
(a)
No later than _____ 31, 2008, the Advisor shall invest at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the Collateral Account. No later than _________1, 2008, the Advisor shall invest whatever additional funds are required such that the total investment of the Advisor in the Collateral Account equals or exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(b)
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Advisor agrees not to challenge any action taken by the Board or the Trust in executing the terms of this Agreement.
8. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date specified herein and shall remain in effect until at least April 30, 2009, unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Advisor. This Agreement may not be terminated by the Advisor without the consent of the Board. This Agreement will automatically terminate, with respect to the Fund listed in Appendix A if the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund is terminated and the Fund continues to operate under the management of a new investment adviser, with such termination effective upon the effective date of the Investment Advisory Agreement’s termination for the Fund.
10. Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party.
11. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first above written.
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on behalf of |
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Smart Allocation Growth Portfolio Smart Allocation Growth and Income Portfolio Smart Allocation Income Portfolio | Smart Portfolios LLC |
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx |
Title: President | Title: President |
Appendix A
Fund | Operating Expense Limit |
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Smart Allocation Growth Portfolio Smart Allocation Growth and Income Portfolio Smart Allocation Income Portfolio | 1.50% (Investor Class) 1.25% (Institutional Class) |
