FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
FUND OF FUNDS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
This Fund of Funds Investment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 19, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made between Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust, on behalf of their series listed on Schedule A, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquiring Fund”), and The Select Sector SPDR Trust, on behalf of each of its series listed on Schedule B, severally and not jointly (each, the “Acquired Fund” and together with the Acquiring Funds, the “Funds”).
WHEREAS, each Fund is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act limits the extent to which a registered investment company may invest in shares of other registered investment companies and Section 12(d)(1)(B) limits the extent to which a registered investment company, its principal underwriter or registered brokers or dealers may knowingly sell shares of such registered investment company to other investment companies;
WHEREAS, Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”) permits registered investment companies, such as the Acquiring Fund, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Fund, in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act subject to compliance with the conditions of the Rule; and
WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund may, from time to time, invest in shares of one or more Acquired Funds in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1)(A) in reliance on the Rule;
NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rule, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Fund may invest in the Acquired Fund in reliance on the Rule.
| 1. | Terms of Investment |
(a) In order to help reasonably address the risk of undue influence on the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund, and to assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund agree as follows:
(i) Redemptions. The Acquiring Fund acknowledges and agrees that it is not an Authorized Participant, as defined in Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act, and has no ability to directly redeem shares from the Acquired Fund.
(ii) Scale of investment. Upon a reasonable request by the Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund will provide summary information regarding the anticipated timeline of its investment in the Acquired Fund and the scale of its contemplated investments in the Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that any information provided pursuant to the foregoing is not a commitment to purchase and constitutes an
estimate that may differ materially from the amount, timing and manner in which a purchase order is submitted, if any.
(b) In order to assist the Acquiring Fund’s investment adviser with evaluating the complexity of the structure and fees and expenses associated with an investment in the Acquired Fund, the Acquired Fund shall provide the Acquiring Fund with information on the fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund with reference to the Rule. Such fee and expense information shall be limited to that which is made publicly available by the Acquired Fund.
(c) The agreements contained in paragraphs 1(a)(ii) and 1(b) apply only with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund that exceeds the limits in Section 12(d)(1)(A)(i) of the 1940 Act.
| 2. | Covenants of the Acquired Fund |
(a) In connection with any investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquired Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to the Acquired Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquiring Fund if the Acquired Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(b) The Acquired Fund agrees that any information regarding planned purchases or sales of shares of the Acquired Fund provided pursuant to Section 1 will be treated confidentially, used solely for the purposes of this Agreement, and will not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of the Acquiring Fund, except for directors/trustees, officers, employees, accountants, legal counsel, investment advisers and other advisers of the Acquired Fund and its affiliates on a need-to-know basis and solely for the purposes of this Agreement.
| 3. | Covenants of the Acquiring Fund. |
(a) In connection with any investment by the Acquiring Fund in the Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Acquiring Fund agrees to: (i) comply with all conditions of the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, applicable to Acquiring Fund; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquired Fund if the Acquiring Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to its investment in the Acquired Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(b) Any of the provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund that it operates, and will continue to operate, in compliance with the 1940 Act, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder. The Acquiring Fund agrees that the Acquired Fund is entitled to rely on the representations contained in this Agreement and that the Acquired Fund has no independent duty to monitor the Acquiring Fund’s or its investment adviser’s or, if applicable, its subadviser’s compliance with this Agreement, the 1940 Act, or the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) The Acquiring Fund shall provide the Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of the Acquiring Fund’s investments in the Acquired Fund upon the Acquired Fund’s reasonable request.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent the Acquiring Fund, the investment adviser to the Acquiring Fund or, if applicable, the subadviser to the Acquiring Fund has an “affiliated person” (as defined under the 0000 Xxx) that is: (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a broker-dealer or bank that borrows as part of a securities lending program, or (iii) a futures commission merchant or a swap dealer, the Acquiring Fund will: (a) not make an investment in the Acquired Fund that causes the Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of the Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities without prior approval from the Acquired Fund, and (b) notify the Acquired Fund if any investment by the Acquiring Fund that complied with (a) at the time of purchase no longer complies.
| 4. | Notices |
All notices, including all information that either party is required to provide under the terms of this Agreement and the Rule, shall be in writing and shall be delivered by registered or overnight mail, facsimile, or electronic mail to the address for each party specified below.
| If to the Acquiring Fund: | If to the Acquired Fund: |
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Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX, 00000 Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx LLP Attn: Legal Dept. 00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: 000-000-0000 Email: xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
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State Street Global Advisors Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Global Funds Management Email: XxxXxXXxxx@XXXX.xxx
With a copy to: State Street Global Advisors Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Legal Department Email: XxxXxXXxxx@XXXX.xxx |
| 5. | Term and Termination; Assignment; Amendment |
(a) This Agreement shall be effective for the duration of the Acquired Fund’s and the Acquiring Fund’s reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time. While the terms of the Agreement shall only be applicable to investments in Funds made
in reliance on the Rule, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its Staff from time to time, the Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated.
(b) This Agreement shall continue until terminated in writing: (i) by either party upon sixty (60) days’ notice to the other party; or (ii) in the event of a material breach of this Agreement, upon written notice to the breaching party, which may be given in the sole discretion of the non-breaching party. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund may not purchase additional shares of the Acquired Fund beyond the Section 12(d)(1)(A) limits in reliance on the Rule.
(c) This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other. Any purported assignment of rights in violation of this Section is void.
(d) This Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party.
(e) In any action involving the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement, the Acquired Fund agrees to look solely to the individual Acquiring Fund that is involved in the matter in controversy and not to any of the other Acquiring Funds.
(f) In any action involving the Acquired Fund under this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund agrees to look solely to the individual Acquired Fund that is involved in the matter in controversy and not to any of the other Acquired Funds.
(g) The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund may file a copy of this Agreement with the SEC or any other regulatory body if required by applicable law.
| 6. | Indemnification |
(a) Each Fund (an “Indemnifying Fund”), severally and not jointly, agrees to hold harmless, indemnify and defend each other Fund (an “Indemnitee Fund”), including any principals, directors or trustees, officers, employees and agents (“Agents”) of the Indemnitee Fund, against and from any and all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by or claims or actions (“Claims”) asserted against the Indemnitee Fund, including any of its Agents, to the extent such Claims result from a violation of any provision of this Agreement by the Indemnifying Fund or its Agents or result from any willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Indemnifying Fund or its Agents in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section shall include any reasonable counsel fees and expenses incurred in connection with investigating and/or defending the applicable Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Fund shall not be responsible for any Claim against the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents to the extent such Claim results from a violation of any provision of this Agreement by the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents or results from any willful misfeasance, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Indemnitee Fund or its Agents in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder. This Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
(b) Any liability pursuant to the forgoing provision shall be several and not joint. In any action involving the parties under this Agreement, the parties agree to look solely to the individual Acquiring Fund(s) or Acquired Fund(s) that is/are involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund.
| 7. | Additional Funds |
In the event that any party wishes to include one or more series in addition to those originally set forth on Schedule A or Schedule B (each such series a “New Fund”), such party shall so notify the other party in writing, and, upon written agreement, each New Fund shall hereunder become an Acquiring Fund or an Acquired Fund, as the case may be, and Schedule A or Schedule B, as appropriate, shall be amended accordingly.
| 8. | Severability |
If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain in full force and effect, if the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for both parties remain valid, legal and enforceable.
| 9. | Governing Law |
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(b) In the case of the Acquired Fund, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of The Select Sector SPDR Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent or shareholder of the Acquired Fund shall have any personal liability under this Agreement, and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the Acquired Fund.
| 10. | Consequential Damages |
Under no circumstances will any party to this Agreement be liable to any person, including without limitation any other party to this Agreement, for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damages resulting from any act or failure to act in accordance with the provision of this Agreement, even if such party had been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.
| 11. | Entire Agreement |
(a) This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the parties. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document.
(b) The execution of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute the termination as of the Effective Date of any and all prior agreements between the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund that relates to the investment by any Acquiring Fund in any Acquired Fund in reliance on a participation agreement, exemptive order or other arrangement among the parties intended to
permit investments beyond the statutory limits of Section 12(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the 1940 Act (the “Prior Section 12 Agreements”). The parties hereby waive any notice provisions, conditions to termination, or matters otherwise required to terminate such Prior Section 12 Agreements.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
(on behalf each of its series listed on Schedule B, severally and not jointly)
By: /s/ Xxx X. Carpenter_______
Name: Xxx X. Carpenter_________
Title: Deputy Treasurer__________
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Acquiring Fund signature page follows]
Northern Lights Fund Trust and Northern Lights Variable Trust
(each on behalf of their series listed on Schedule A, severally and not jointly)
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
SCHEDULE A
List of Acquiring Fund(s) to Which the Agreement Applies
| CURRENT AND PENDING NORTHERN LIGHTS FUNDS |
| Northern Lights Fund Trust – 74 Funds (68 operational) |
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· 13D Activist Fund (“13D”) · Altegris Funds: o Altegris Futures Evolution Fund (“Altegris Futures Evolution”) o Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund (“Altegris Opportunistic”) · Astor Funds: o Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund (“Astor Dynamic”) o Astor Macro Alternative Fund (“Astor Macro”) o Astor Sector Allocation Fund (“Astor Sector”) · Athena Behavioral Tactical Fund (“Athena”) · Beech Hill Total Return Fund (“Beech Hill”) · Xxxxxx Focus Fund (“Xxxxxx”) · BTS Funds: o BTS Managed Income Fund (“BTS Managed”) o BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund (“BTS Tactical”) · Changing Parameters Fund (“Changing Parameters”) · CMG Funds: o CMG Xxxxxxx Core Fund (“CMG Xxxxxxx”) o CMG Tactical All Asset Strategy Fund (“CMG All Asset”) o CMG Tactical Bond Fund (“CMG Bond”) · Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Funds: o Donoghue Xxxxxxxx Dividend Fund (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Dividend”) o Donoghue Xxxxxxxx Risk Managed Income Fund (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Risk Managed”) o Donoghue Xxxxxxxx Tactical Allocation (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Tactical”) o Donoghue Xxxxxxxx Tactical Income Fund (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Income”) o Donoghue Xxxxxxxx Momentum Fund (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Momentum”) · Grant Park Multi-Alternative Strategies Fund (“Grant Park”) · Ladenburg Funds: o Ladenburg Aggressive Growth Fund (“Ladenburg Aggressive”) o Ladenburg Growth Fund (“Ladenburg Growth”) o Ladenburg Growth & Income Fund (“Ladenburg Growth & Income”) o Ladenburg Income Fund (“Ladenburg Income”) o Ladenburg Income & Growth Fund (“Ladenburg Income & Growth”) · Navigator Funds: |
· PSI Strategic Growth Fund (“PSI Strategic”) · PFG Funds: o PFG Active Core Bond Strategy Fund (“PFG Active Core”) o PFG American Funds® Conservative Income Strategy Fund (“PFG American Conservative”) o PFG American Funds® Growth Strategy Fund (“PFG American Growth”) o PFG BNY Mellon Diversifier Strategy Fund (PFG BNY Mellon”) o PFG BR Equity ESG Strategy Fund, (“PFG BR Equity”) o PFG Fidelity Institutional AM® Equity Index Strategy Fund (“PGR Fidelity Index”) o PFG Fidelity Institutional AM® Equity Sector Strategy Fund (“PFG Fidelity Sector”) o PFG XX Xxxxxx Tactical Aggressive Strategy Fund (“XX Xxxxxx Aggressive”) o PFG XX Xxxxxx Tactical Moderate Strategy Fund (XX Xxxxxx Moderate”) o PFG Xxxxxx Tactical Strategy Fund (“PFG Xxxxxx”) o PFG MFS® Aggressive Growth Strategy Fund (“PFG MFS”) o PFG Tactical Income Strategy Fund (PFG Tactical”) o PFG Fidelity Institutional AM® Bond ESG Strategy o PFG Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx® Balanced Strategy o PFG Invesco® Thematic Equity ESG Strategy · Sierra Funds: o Sierra Tactical Core Income Fund (“Sierra Tactical Core”) o Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund (“Sierra Tactical”) o Sierra Tactical Municipal Fund (“Sierra Municipal”) o Sierra Tactical Bond Fund (“Sierra Bond”) o Sierra Tactical Risk Spectrum 30 Fund (“Sierra Tactical 30”)* o Sierra Tactical Risk Spectrum50 Fund (“Sierra Tactical 50”) o Sierra Tactical Risk Spectrum 70 Fund (“Sierra Tactical 70”)* · Toews Funds: o Toews Agility Shares Dynamic Tactical Income ETF (“Agility Dynamic”) |
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o Navigator Equity Hedged Fund (“Navigator Equity”) o Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund (Navigator Tactical”) o Navigator Ultra Short Bond Fund (“Navigator Ultra”) o Navigator Investment Grade Bond Fund (“Navigator Investment”) o Navigator Tactical U.S. Allocation Fund (Navigator Allocation”) · Princeton Funds: o Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund (“Deer Park Total”) o Eagle MLP Strategy Fund (“Eagle”) o Princeton Premium Fund (“Princeton Premium”) o Princeton Long/Short Treasury Fund (“Princeton L/S”) o Princeton Alternative Premium Fund* · Probabilities Funds: o Probabilities Fund (“Probabilities”) o Probabilities Sector Rotation Fund (“Probabilities Sector”) *
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o Toews Agility Shares Managed Risk Equity ETF (“Agility Managed”) o Agility Shares Put Write Enhance Equity ETF (“Agility Put Write”) * o Agility Shares Tactical Core Fixed Income ETF (“Agility Tactical”) * o Toews Tactical Defensive Alpha Fund (‘Toews Defensive”) o Toews Tactical Income Fund (“Toews Income”) o Toews Hedged U.S. Fund (“Toews Hedged U.S.”) o Toews Hedged Oceana Fund (“Toews Oceana”) o Toews Hedged U.S. Opportunity Fund (“Toews Opportunity”) o Toews Unconstrained Income Fund (“Toews Unconstrained”) · TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund (“TransWestern”) · Zeo Funds: o Zeo Short Duration Income Fund (“Zeo Short”) o Zeo Sustainable Credit Fund (“Zeo Sustainable”) |
| Northern Lights Variable Trust – 20 Portfolios (15 operational) | |
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· 7Twelve Balanced Portfolio (“7Twelve”) · Astor Funds: o Astor Long/Short ETF Portfolio* (“Astor VIT”) o Astor Macro Alternative Portfolio* (Astor Macro VIT”) · BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund (“BTS Tactical VIT”) · Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Portfolios:
· Probabilities VIT Fund (“Probabilities VIT”)
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· TOPS® Portfolios: o TOPS® Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Aggressive”) o TOPS® Balanced ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Balanced”) o TOPS® Conservative ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Conservative”) o TOPS® Global Target Range TM Fund (“TOPS Global”) o TOPS® Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Growth”)
o TOPS®F Hedged Equity Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Hedged Growth”) * o TOPS® Hedged Equity Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio * (“TOPs Hedged Moderate”) o TOPS® Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Risk Balanced”) o TOPS® Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Risk Growth”) o TOPS® Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Risk ETF”) o TOPS® Managed Risk Flex ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Risk Flex”) o TOPS® Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio (“TOPS Moderate”) |
* Fund not operational as of November 30, 2021
SCHEDULE B
List of Acquired Funds to Which the Agreement Applies
Acquired Funds
| Fund Name | Ticker | Trust Name |
| The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLC | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLY | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLP | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLE | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLF | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLV | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLI | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLB | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLRE | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLK | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
| The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | XLU | The Select Sector SPDR Trust |
