FUND OF FUNDS ETF INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
RULE 12d1-4
This Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2022 (the "Effective Date") between GPS Funds I, GPS Funds II and Savos Investments Trust, each on behalf of itself and each of its existing and future series that invest in an Acquired Fund in reliance on the Rule as such terms are defined below, severally and not jointly (each, an “Acquiring Fund”), and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund, and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II, (each a "Trust") on behalf of each applicable series listed on Appendix A, as may be amended from time to time, severally and not jointly (each, an “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”); and
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 (the "Distributor") or any registered brokers or dealers ("Brokers") may knowingly sell shares of such registered investment company to other investment companies; and
WHEREAS, Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”) permits registered investment companies, such as the Acquiring Funds, to invest in shares of other registered investment companies, such as the Acquired Funds, as well as Distributors and Brokers to knowingly sell shares of the Acquired Funds to the Acquiring Funds in excess of the limits of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act subject to compliance with the conditions of, and in reliance on the Rule; and
WHEREAS, an 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; and
WHEREAS, an Acquired Fund, Distributor, or Broker, from time to time, may knowingly sell shares of one or more Acquired Funds to an Acquiring Fund in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1)(B) in reliance on the Rule; and
WHEREAS, to date such investments have been governed by SEC exemptive relief that will be rescinded on the Effective Date.
NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rule, the Acquiring Funds and the Acquired Funds desire to set forth the following terms pursuant to which the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and the Acquired Funds, Distributor, or Broker may sell shares of the Acquired Funds to the Acquiring Funds in reliance on the Rule.
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1.Terms of Investment.
(a)In accordance with the Rule, the Funds agree that the Acquiring Funds may invest in the Acquired Funds in reliance on the Rule and as provided herein.
(b)The Funds note that each Acquired Fund operates as an exchange-traded fund and is designed to accommodate large investments and redemptions, whether from Acquiring Funds or other investors. Creation and redemption orders for shares of the Acquired Funds can only be submitted by Brokers or other participants of a registered clearing agency (collectively, “Authorized Participants”) that have entered into an agreement (“Participation Agreement”) with the Acquired Funds’ distributor to transact in shares of the Acquired Funds. The Acquired Funds also have policies and procedures (the “Basket Policies”) that govern creations and redemptions of the Acquired Funds’ shares. Any creation or redemption order submitted by an Acquiring Fund through an Authorized Participant will be satisfied pursuant to the Basket Policies and the relevant Participation Agreement. The Basket Policies include provisions that govern in-kind creations and redemptions, as well as cash transactions. In any event, the Funds generally expect that the Acquiring Funds will transact in shares in the Acquired Funds on the secondary market rather than through direct creation and redemption transactions with the Acquired Fund. The Funds believe that these material terms regarding an Acquiring Fund’s investment in shares of an Acquired Fund should assist the Acquired Fund’s investment adviser with making the required findings under the Rule. .
(c)Scale of investment. Upon a reasonable request by an 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.
(d)In order to assist the Acquiring Fund’s investment adviser with evaluating the complexity of the structure and the fees and expenses associated with an investment in an Acquired Fund, each Acquired Fund shall provide the respective Acquiring Fund with information on the fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund reasonably requested by such Acquiring Fund with reference to the Rule. In accordance with the foregoing and in recognition of each Acquired Fund's obligations regarding disclosure of material nonpublic information under applicable laws, rules and regulations, including without limitation Regulation FD, each Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund agree that the information on fees and expenses of each Acquired Fund shall be provided through delivery or access to publicly available documents.
2.Representations of the Acquired Funds.
(e)In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) or knowing sale of shares by an Acquired Fund, Distributor, or Broker to an Acquiring Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(B), 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 Acquired Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquiring Fund if such Acquired Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to an investment by the Acquiring Fund, as
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interpreted or modified by the SEC or its staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(a)Each 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.
(b)Each Acquired Fund represents that it does not own as of the date of this Agreement, and it will not purchase or otherwise acquire during the term of this Agreement, the securities of an investment company or private fund as defined in the Rule (a “Private Fund”) where immediately after such purchase or acquisition, the securities of investment companies and Private Funds owned by the Acquired Fund have an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Acquired Fund except as otherwise permitted by the Rule and guidance issued thereunder by the SEC or its Staff.
3.Representations and warranties of the Acquiring Funds.
(a)In connection with any investment by an Acquiring Fund in an Acquired Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(A) or knowing sale of shares by an Acquired Fund, Distributor, or Broker to an Acquiring Fund in excess of the limitations in Section 12(d)(1)(B), 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 Funds; (ii) comply with its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) promptly notify the Acquired Fund if such Acquiring Fund fails to comply with the Rule with respect to its investment in such Acquired Fund, as interpreted or modified by the SEC or its staff from time to time, or this Agreement.
(b)Additionally, an Acquiring Fund shall notify an Acquired Fund of any purchase or acquisition of shares in an Acquired Fund that: (i) causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 3% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; (ii) causes such Acquiring Fund to hold 5% or more of such Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities; and (iii) causes an Acquiring Fund and its Advisory Group (as defined in the Rule), individually or in the aggregate, to hold more than 25% of an Acquired Fund’s total outstanding voting securities. The Acquiring Fund further agrees to notify the Acquired Fund if, at any time, an Acquiring Fund no longer holds voting securities in excess of the amounts noted above.
(c)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Acquiring Fund that has an "affiliated person" (as defined under the 0000 Xxx) that is: (i) a broker-dealer, other than any broker-dealer whose authorization to engage in the securities business is limited solely to acting as a mutual fund underwriter or sponsor, (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, will: (a) not make an investment in an Acquired Fund that causes such Fund to hold 5% or more of such 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.
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(a)An Acquiring Fund shall provide an Acquired Fund with information regarding the amount of such Acquiring Fund's investments in the Acquired Fund, and information regarding affiliates of the Acquiring Fund, upon the Acquired Fund's reasonable request.
(b)Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that it may not rely on this Agreement to invest in any funds listed on the 12d1-4 Excluded Funds List (as defined in Appendix A). Each Acquiring Fund acknowledges that the 12d1-4 Excluded Funds List is available as described in Appendix A, and further acknowledges that it is an Acquiring Fund's obligation to review the 12d1-4 Excluded Funds List on an ongoing basis for any changes which, may occur from time to time.
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 overnight mail, facsimile, or electronic mail to the address for each party specified below.
| If to the Acquiring Fund: Fund Compliance c/o AssetMark, Inc. 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | If to the Acquired Fund: Team Xxxxxx Xxxxx First Trust Portfolios, L.P. 000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | |||||||||||||
With a copy to: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, III Esq. Xxxxxxxx Ronon Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx, LLP. 2005 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx | With a copy to: W. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq. Attn: Legal Dept. First Trust Portfolios L.P. 120 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | |||||||||||||
5.Term and Termination.
(a)This Agreement shall be effective for the duration of the Acquired Funds’ 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 Acquired 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 pursuant to this Section 5.
(b)This Agreement shall continue until terminated, either in its entirety or with respect to one or more specific Acquired Fund(s) or Acquiring Fund(s), in writing by either party upon 60 days’ notice to the other 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
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Rule. For purposes of clarity, upon termination of the Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will not be required to reduce its holdings of the respective Acquired Fund. Termination of this Agreement with respect to a particular Acquired Fund shall not terminate the Agreement as to other Acquired Funds that are parties hereto.
6.Assignment; Amendment; Miscellaneous
(a)This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other.
(b)This Agreement may be amended only by a writing that is signed by each affected party; provided, however, that the 12d1-4 Excluded Funds List, as define in Appendix A to this Agreement may be amended by the Acquired Funds in their sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that no notice is required to update, supplement or otherwise amend the 12d1-4 Excluded Fund List.
(c)In any action involving the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement, each Acquired Fund agrees to look solely to the individual Acquiring Fund that is involved in the matter in controversy and not to any other series of the Trust.
(d)In any action involving the Acquired Funds 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 other Acquired Fund hereunder.
(e)The Acquiring Fund and Acquired Funds may file a copy of this Agreement with the SEC or any other regulatory body if required by applicable law.
(f)Each of the Trusts is a Massachusetts business trust, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of each such Trust is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of the respective Trust or the respective Acquired Fund shall have any personal liability under this Agreement and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Acquired Fund. Similarly, for any Acquiring Fund that is a Massachusetts business trust, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of such Acquiring Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that no trustee, officer, employee, agent, employee or shareholder of the respective Acquiring Fund shall have any personal liability under this Agreement and that this Agreement is binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Acquired Fund.
(g)This Agreement shall be construed on behalf of an Acquired Fund in accordance with the laws of the State of organization of such Acquired Fund.
(h)In no event and under no circumstances will any party to this Agreement be liable to any person, including without limitation any other party to this Agreement or any third-party beneficiary, 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.
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(a)The parties acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, each investment adviser, including any sub-adviser, of any Acquiring Fund and of any Acquired Fund is and shall be an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
GuideMark® Large Cap Core Fund GuideMark® Emerging Markets Fund GuideMark® Small/Mid Cap Core Fund GuideMark® World ex-US Fund GuideMark® Core Fixed Income Fund
GuidePath® Growth Allocation Fund GuidePath® Conservative Allocation Fund GuidePath® Tactical Allocation Fund GuidePath® Absolute Return Allocation Fund GuidePath® Multi-Asset Income Allocation Fund GuidePath® Flexible Income Allocation Fund GuidePath® Managed Futures Strategy Fund GuidePath® Conservative Income Fund GuidePath® Income Fund
GuidePath® Growth and Income Fund
Savos Investments Trust
Savos Dynamic Hedging Fund
BY: GPS FUNDS I, GPS FUNDS II AND SAVOS INVESTMENTS TRUST, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS SERIES OF ACQUIRING FUNDS, SEVERALLY AND NOT JOINTLY
| Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||||||||||||
| Title: Treasurer | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||||||||||||
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII
First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II
| /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||||||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||||||||||
Title: Treasurer and CFO | ||||||||||||||
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Appendix A
Exchange-Traded Funds
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund All Series
First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II All Series
This Appendix A is amended to exclude any Acquired Fund that is at the time included on the list of funds that are not permissible as Acquired Funds, along with related requirements (the “12d1- 4 Excluded Funds List”), all such additional terms and requirements being deemed incorporated by reference into this Agreement, which is maintained at First Trust’s website xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx and is available as the 12d1-4 Excluded Funds List under the News & Literature tab for each First Trust-advised ETF, as such site is amended, supplemented or revised and in effect from time to time.
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