Securities Act Registration No. 333-204808

Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23066

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2015

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ý

ý Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1

¨ Post-Effective Amendment No. __

 

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ý

ý Amendment No. 1

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68154

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (402) 895-1600

The Corporation Trust Company

1209 Orange Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

With copy to:

JoAnn M. Strasser, Thompson Hine LLP

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, Ohio 43215

614-469-3265 (phone)

614-469-3361 (fax)

 

James P. Ash,

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110

Hauppauge, New York 11788

(631) 470-2619 (phone)

(631) 813-2884 (fax)

 

Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

() Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

() On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

() 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

() On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

() 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

() On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

() This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in

 
 

accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 
 

 

Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

 

Class A Shares - ATCSX

Institutional Class Shares - N/A

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

[       ], 2015

 

 

 

 

Advised by:

Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.

15 Enterprise, Suite 450

Aliso Viejo, California 92656

 

 

 

 

www.anchorcapitalfunds.com                                                                                 1-844-594-1226

 

 

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 

 

These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FUND SUMMARY- Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS  
Investment Objective  
Principal Investment Strategies  
Principal Investment Risks  
Temporary Investments  
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure  
Cybersecurity  
MANAGEMENT  
Investment Adviser  
Portfolio Managers  
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED  
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES  
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES  
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES  
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS  
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES  
Distributor  
Distribution Fees  
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries  
Householding  
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
Privacy Notice  
 
 

FUND SUMMARY - Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

 

Investment Objective: The Fund seeks to provide total return from income and capital appreciation with a secondary objective of limiting risk during unfavorable market conditions.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund: This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “How to Purchase Shares” section of this Prospectus.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A Institutional Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 4.75% None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price) 1.00% None

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed

on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions (as a percentage of offering price)

None None

Redemption Fee

(as a % of amount redeemed on shares held less than 60 days)

1.00% 1.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year
as a percentage of the value of your investment)

   
Management Fees 1.60% 1.60%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees (1) 0.25% 0.10%
Other Expenses (3) 0.40% 0.40%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2)(3) 0.64% 0.64%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 2.89% 2.74%

(1) The Fund has limited 12b-1 fees for Institutional Class shares to 0.10% for the current fiscal year.

(2) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

(3) Estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

Example: This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

  1 Year 3 Years
Class A $753 $1,327
Institutional Class $277 $850

 

Portfolio Turnover: The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.

 
 

 

Principal Investment Strategies: The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating assets among various strategies based on the adviser’s research and analysis regarding market trends. The Fund primarily takes long and short positions in securities that provide returns similar to high yield corporate bonds (also known as “junk bonds”) based on long, intermediate, and short term trends. Such securities primarily include:

 

(1) exchange traded funds ("ETFs") and mutual funds (together with ETFs, "Underlying Funds") that primarily invest in or are otherwise exposed to domestic and foreign high-yield (“junk”) debt instruments;

(2) derivative instruments, including total return swaps or credit default swaps designed to replicate some or all of the features of an underlying portfolio of high yield bonds;

(3) other U.S. or foreign fixed-income securities of any rating; and

(4) U.S. or foreign cash equivalents.

 

The Fund defines high yield debt instruments as corporate bonds or other bonds or debt instruments that are generally rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or lower than BBB- by S&P (below investment grade). Up to 100% of the Fund's assets may be invested in instruments generally rated below Caa3 by Moody's or CCC- by S&P or derivatives of such instruments. The Fund may invest in high yield bonds directly or indirectly through derivative instruments.

 

The adviser seeks to achieve the Fund's secondary objective by hedging the Fund's investment portfolio when it believes security prices will decline. The adviser will hedge by:

 

(i) increasing allocations to cash equivalents or U.S. Treasury securities

(ii) purchasing inverse mutual funds or inverse ETFs

(iii) selling short ETFs or securities the adviser believes have demonstrated a high correlation to high yield bonds.

 

The Fund may invest in inverse funds linked to U.S. Treasury securities when the adviser believes this strategy will provide an effective hedge for interest rate risk. Inverse funds typically lose value as the index or security tracked by the fund increases in value; a result that is the opposite from traditional funds. The Fund may invest all or substantially all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents when the adviser determines that market conditions so warrant.

 

Generally, the adviser does not attempt to evaluate individual securities. The adviser uses technical analysis, including monitoring price movements and momentum, of high-yield bond markets in an effort to identify the proper weighting of the Fund's portfolio. The adviser's decision to buy or sell a Fund holding will be made based on adviser developed trend and risk models that evaluate current market conditions and this analysis will guide the adviser's determination of the appropriate exposure level to the high-yield bond market. The adviser buys and sells securities and derivatives to increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to the high-yield bond market. The Fund's adviser may engage in active and frequent trading of the Fund's portfolio securities and derivatives to achieve the Fund's investment objective.

 

The Fund is non-diversified. This means that it may invest a larger portion of its assets in a limited number of companies than a diversified fund.

 

 

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Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.

 

The following describes the risks the Fund bears directly or indirectly through investments in Underlying Funds. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal.

 

Counterparty Risk. A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom the Fund executes transactions) to a transaction with the Fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

Credit Risk. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty of a derivatives contract or repurchase agreement, is unable or unwilling (or is perceived to be unable or unwilling) to make timely payment of principal and/or interest, or to otherwise honor its obligations.

 

Credit Default Swap Risk. Credit default swaps ("CDS") are typically two-party financial contracts that transfer credit exposure between the two parties. Under a typical CDS, one party (the "seller") receives pre-determined periodic payments from the other party (the "buyer"). The seller agrees to make compensating specific payments to the buyer if a negative credit event occurs, such as the bankruptcy or default by the issuer of the underlying debt instrument. The use of CDS involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions, such as potentially heightened counterparty, concentration and exposure risks.

 

Debt Securities Risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and that changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund’s returns. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the Fund’s investments in below investment grade securities may be particularly volatile. During periods of sustained rising interest rates, debt securities risks may be amplified. Rising rates tend to decrease liquidity, increase trading costs, and increase volatility, all of which may make portfolio management more difficult and costly to the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Derivatives Risk. An investment in derivatives, such as swaps, may not correlate completely to the performance of the underlying securities or index and may be volatile, and may result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. The ETFs in which the Fund invests will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track and may result in a loss. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses of the underlying investment company when the Fund invests in shares of another investment company.

 

Foreign Investment Risk. The risk that investing in foreign (non-U.S.) securities either directly or indirectly may result in the Fund experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than the Fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies, due to smaller markets, differing reporting, accounting and auditing standards, nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockages and political changes or diplomatic developments. The costs of investing in many foreign markets are higher than the U.S. and investments may be less liquid. These risks may be heightened for emerging markets securities.

 

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Hedging Risk. Although intended to limit or reduce investment risk, hedging strategies may also limit or reduce the potential for profit. There is no assurance that hedging strategies will be successful.

 

High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities or unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are more likely to default than higher rated securities. High yield securities are regarded as speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and to repay principal. The market value of these securities is more sensitive to corporate developments and economic conditions and can be volatile. Market conditions can diminish liquidity and make accurate valuations difficult to obtain.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Fixed income securities may decline in value because of changes in interest rates. The Fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than the Fund with a shorter average portfolio duration.

 

Inverse ETF Risk. Investments in inverse ETFs will prevent the Fund from participating in market-wide or sector-wide gains and may not prove to be an effective hedge. During periods of increased volatility, inverse ETFs may not perform in the manner they are designed.

 

Limited History of Operations Risk. The Fund is a new mutual fund with a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.

 

Management Risk. The Adviser may be incorrect in its assessment of the intrinsic value of the securities the Fund holds which may result in a decline in the value of Fund shares and failure to achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s portfolio managers use qualitative analyses and/or models. Any imperfections or limitations in such analyses and models could affect the ability of the portfolio managers to implement strategies.

 

Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund's portfolio may focus on a limited number of investments and will be subject to potential for more volatility than a diversified fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s high portfolio turnover will increase its transaction costs and may result in increased realization of net short-term capital gains (which are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them), higher taxable distributions and lower after-tax performance.

 

Securities Market Risk. The value of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting particular companies or the securities markets generally. A general downturn in the securities market may cause multiple asset classes to decline in value simultaneously.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales risk is the risk of loss associated with any appreciation on the price of a security borrowed in connection with a short sale. The Fund may engage in short sales that are not made “against-the-box,” which means that the Fund may sell short securities even when they are not actually owned or otherwise covered at all times during the period the short position is open. Short sales that are not made “against-the-box” theoretically involve unlimited loss potential since the market price of securities sold short may continuously increase.

  

Performance: Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time. In the future, performance information

4
 

will be presented in this section of this Prospectus. Also, shareholder reports containing financial and performance information will be mailed to shareholders semi-annually. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.[ ].com or by calling 1-844-594-1226.

 

Investment Adviser: Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. (the “Adviser”)

 

Portfolio Managers: Garrett Waters and Eric Leake have served the Fund as its portfolio managers since it commenced operations in 2015.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares: The minimum initial investment in the Fund for Class A shares is $2,500 for all account types, and the minimum subsequent investment is $100, and the minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000 for all account types and the minimum subsequent investment is $100. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Redemption requests may be made in writing, by telephone, or through a financial intermediary and will be paid by ACH, check or wire transfer.

 

Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. However, these dividend and capital gain distributions may be taxable upon their eventual withdrawal from tax-deferred plans.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: The Fund seeks to provide total return from income and capital appreciation with a secondary objective of limiting risk during unfavorable market conditions.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES: The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective under normal market conditions by allocating assets among proprietary technically-based trend following strategies. The Fund primarily takes long and short positions with respect to securities that are highly correlated to high yield corporate bonds (also known as “junk bonds”) based on long, intermediate, and short term trends. Such securities primarily will include (1) exchange traded funds ("ETFs") and open-end investment companies (together with ETFs, "Underlying Funds") that primarily invest in or are otherwise exposed to domestic and foreign high-yield debt instruments; (2) derivative instruments, including total return swaps or credit default swaps; (3) other U.S. or foreign fixed-income securities of any rating and (4) U.S. or foreign cash equivalents. The Fund defines high yield debt instruments as corporate bonds or other bonds or debt instruments that are generally rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or lower than BBB- by S&P (below investment grade). Up to 100% of the Fund's assets may be invested in instruments generally rated below Caa3 by Moody's or CCC- by S&P or derivatives of such instruments. The Fund may invest in high yield bonds directly or through derivative instruments designed to replicate some or all of the

5
 

features of an underlying portfolio of high yield bonds, such as credit default swaps or total return swaps.

 

A swap is an agreement in which one party makes payments based on a set rate, either fixed or variable, while the other party makes payments based on the return of an underlying asset, which includes both the income it generates and any capital gains. Credit default swaps ("CDS") are typically two-party financial contracts that transfer credit exposure between the two parties. Under a typical CDS, one party (the "seller") receives pre-determined periodic payments from the other party (the "buyer"). The seller agrees to make compensating specific payments to the buyer if a negative credit event occurs, such as the bankruptcy or default by the issuer of the underlying debt instrument. Total return swaps (“TRS”) are similar. In a Total return swap, the underlying asset, referred to as the reference asset, is often an equity or bond index. This is owned by the party receiving the set rate payment. Total return swaps allow the party receiving the total return to gain exposure and benefit from a reference asset without actually having to own it. For example, the und may seek exposure to the Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Bond Index. It can do so by agreeing to exchange cash flows with an investment bank or other party based on the movement of this index.

 

The adviser seeks to achieve the Fund's secondary objective by hedging the Fund's investment portfolio when it believes security prices will decline. The adviser will hedge by (i) increasing allocations to cash equivalents or U.S. Treasury securities (ii) purchasing inverse mutual funds or inverse ETFs (iii) selling short ETFs or securities the adviser believes have demonstrated a high correlation to high yield bonds. The adviser may invest in inverse funds linked to U.S. Treasury securities when it believes this strategy will provide an effective hedge for interest rate risk. Inverse funds typically lose value as the index or security tracked by the fund increases in value; a result that is the opposite from traditional funds. In particular, the Fund may invest all or substantially all of its assets in cash or cash equivalents when the Adviser determines that market conditions so warrant.

 

Generally, the adviser does not attempt to evaluate individual securities. The adviser uses technical analysis, including monitoring price movements and momentum, of high-yield bond markets in an effort to identify the proper weighting of the Fund's portfolio. The adviser buys and sells securities and derivatives to increase or decrease the Fund's exposure to the high-yield bond market. The adviser's decision to buy or sell a Fund holding will be made based on the adviser’s technically based trend and risk models that evaluate current market conditions and the adviser's determination of the appropriate exposure level to the high-yield bond market. The Fund's adviser may engage in active and frequent trading of the Fund's portfolio securities and derivatives to achieve the Fund's investment objective.

 

The Fund is non-diversified. This means that it may invest a larger portion of its assets in a limited number of companies than a diversified fund.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS

 

The following describes the risks the Fund bears directly or indirectly through investments in Underlying Funds.

 

Counterparty Risk: The Fund may engage in transactions in securities and financial instruments that involve counterparties. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom the Fund executes transactions) to a transaction with the Fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or

6
 

otherwise honor its obligations. To limit the counterparty risk associated with such transactions, the Fund conducts business only with financial institutions judged by the Adviser to present acceptable credit risk.

 

Credit Risk: The price of a bond is affected by the issuer’s or counterparty’s credit quality. Changes in an entity’s financial condition and general economic conditions can affect its ability to honor financial obligations and therefore its credit quality. Lower quality bonds are generally more sensitive to these changes than higher quality bonds. Even within securities considered investment grade, differences exist in credit quality and some investment-grade debt securities may have speculative characteristics. A security’s price may be adversely affected by the market’s perception of the security’s credit quality level even if the issuer or counterparty has suffered no degradation in its ability to honor the obligation.

 

Credit Default Swap Risk: Credit default swaps ("CDS") are typically two-party financial contracts that transfer credit exposure between the two parties. Under a typical CDS, one party (the "seller") receives pre-determined periodic payments from the other party (the "buyer"). The seller agrees to make compensating specific payments to the buyer if a negative credit event occurs, such as the bankruptcy or default by the issuer of the underlying debt instrument. The use of CDS involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions, such as potentially heightened counterparty, concentration and exposure risks.

 

Debt Securities Risk: The issuer of a debt security may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and that changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of debt securities or reduce the Fund’s returns. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the Fund’s investments in below investment grade securities may be particularly volatile. Such securities are regarded by the rating organizations as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. Often below investment grade securities are subject to greater sensitivity to interest rate and economic changes than higher rated debt securities and can be more difficult to value, resulting in differences between the prices realized on their sales and the value at which they are carried on the books of the Fund. During periods of sustained rising interest rates, debt securities risks may be amplified. Rising rates tend to decrease liquidity, increase trading costs, and increase volatility, all of which may make portfolio management more difficult and costly to the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Derivatives Risk: The Fund’s use of various investment techniques may involve derivative instruments, such as swaps, purchase and writing of options, futures and options on futures. There is no guarantee that these techniques will work. The Fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives as a substitute for taking a long or short position in an underlying asset, to increase returns, or as part of a hedging strategy. Some derivatives have the effect of leverage on the Fund, meaning that a small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s performance and its rate of income distributions for a particular period of time. The use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets. Potential losses from certain derivatives are unlimited. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid, subject to counterparty risk and difficult to value. There is also the risk that changes in the value of a derivative held by the Fund may not correlate with the Fund’s other investments, which could impact Fund performance. The Fund may choose not to invest in derivative instruments because of their cost, limited availability or any number of other reasons deemed relevant by the Adviser and the portfolio manager(s) responsible for managing the Fund.

 

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Exchange-Traded Funds Risk: ETFs are investment companies, which may be managed or unmanaged, that generally seek to track the performance of a specific index. The value of ETFs can be expected to increase and decrease in value in proportion to increases and decreases in the indices that they are designed to track. The volatility of different index tracking stocks can be expected to vary in proportion to the volatility of the particular index they track. ETFs are traded similarly to stocks of individual companies. Although an ETF is designed to provide investment performance corresponding to its index, it may not be able to exactly replicate the performance of its index because of its operating expenses and other factors. In addition, ETFs have certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a portfolio of securities, in which the ETF is invested, including the risk that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF. ETFs also involve the risk that an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained. The Fund’s investments in certain commodities-linked ETFs may be limited by tax considerations, including the Fund’s intention to qualify annually as a RIC under the Code.

 

Foreign Investment Risk: Investing in foreign securities, including depositary receipts, or securities of U.S. entities with significant foreign operations, involves additional risks that can affect the Fund’s performance. Foreign markets, particularly emerging markets, may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less regulation than U.S. markets. There may be difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for transactions to clear and settle in foreign countries than in the U.S. Less information may be available about foreign issuers. The costs of buying and selling foreign securities, including tax, brokerage and custody costs, generally are higher than those involving domestic transactions. The specific risks of investing in foreign securities include valuation risk and:

 

Currency Risk: The values of foreign investments may be affected by changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations. If the local currency gains strength against the U.S. dollar, the value of the foreign security increases in U.S. dollar terms. Conversely, if the local currency weakens against the U.S. dollar, the value of the foreign security declines in U.S. dollar terms. U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers, including depositary receipts, also are subject to currency risk based on their related investments. The Fund is permitted to hedge against foreign currency risk, but normally will not do so.

 

Political/Economic Risk: Changes in economic, tax or foreign investment policies, government stability, war or other political or economic actions may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s foreign investments.

 

Regulatory Risk: Foreign companies often are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or to other regulatory practices and requirements common to U.S. companies.

 

There may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most publicly-traded U.S. companies, and foreign issuers are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the United States. In addition, the Fund may be subject to non-U.S. taxes, including potentially on a retroactive basis, on (i) capital gains it realizes or dividends or interest it receives on non-U.S. securities, (ii) transactions in those securities and (iii) the repatriation of proceeds generated from the sale of those securities.

 

8
 

Recently, additional risks have arisen related to the high levels of debt of various European countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain. One or more member states might exit the European Union, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. These problems, and related political and monetary efforts to address these problems, may increase the potential for market declines in one or more member states that can spread to global markets. These increased risks may persist and may result in greater volatility in the securities markets and the potential for impaired liquidity and valuation.

 

Hedging Risk: The Fund’s use of derivatives and other transactions, such as swaps, options and futures, may involve risks not associated with other types of investments that the Fund intends to purchase and it is possible that a portfolio that utilizes hedging strategies may not perform as well as a portfolio that does not make use of such strategies. The Fund’s use of derivatives or other transactions to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to the Adviser’s to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors. No assurance can be given that the Adviser’s judgment in this respect will be correct. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions (including hedging exposure to non-U.S. currency exchange rate risk) at times or under circumstances in which it may be advisable to do so.

 

High Yield Securities Risk: Below investment-grade securities, sometimes called “junk bonds,” are considered speculative. These securities have greater risk of default than higher rated securities. The market value of below investment-grade securities is more sensitive to individual corporate developments and economic changes than higher rated securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not accurate, regarding below investment-grade securities may depress prices and diminish liquidity for such securities. The market for below investment-grade securities may be less active than the market for higher rated securities, which can adversely affect the price at which these securities may be sold. Less active markets may diminish the Fund’s ability to obtain accurate market quotations when valuing the portfolio securities and thereby give rise to valuation risk. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses if a holding defaults and the Fund has to seek recovery of its principal investment. Below investment-grade securities may also present risks based on payment expectations. For example, these securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security resulting in a decreased return for investors.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income security prices generally rise when interest rates decline and decline when interest rates rise. The extent to which a fixed income security’s price changes with changes in interest rates is referred to as interest rate duration, which can be measured mathematically or empirically. A longer-maturity investment generally has longer interest rate duration because the investment’s fixed rate is locked in for a longer period of time. The longer the duration of a fixed income security, the more a change in interest rates affects the fixed income security’s price. Short-term and long-term interest rates may not move the same amount and may not move in the same direction.

 

Inverse ETF Risk: Investing in inverse ETFs may result in increased volatility due to the funds’ possible use of short sales of securities and derivatives such as options and futures.  The use of leverage by an ETF increases risk to the Fund.  The more a fund invests in leveraged instruments, the more the leverage will magnify any gains or losses on those investments. During periods of increased volatility, inverse ETFs may not perform in the manner they are designed.

 

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Limited History of Operations: The Fund is a new mutual fund with a limited history of operations for investors to evaluate.

 

Management Risk: The Fund’s ability to identify and invest in attractive opportunities is dependent upon the Adviser. If one or more key individuals leave, the Adviser may not be able to hire qualified replacements or may require extended time to do so. This situation could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objectives. The Fund’s portfolio managers use quantitative analyses and/or models. Any imperfections or limitations in such analyses and models could affect the ability of the portfolio managers to implement strategies. By necessity, these analyses and models make simplifying assumptions that limit their efficacy. Models that appear to explain prior market data can fail to predict future market events. Further, the data used in models may be inaccurate and/or it may not include the most recent information about a company or a security.

 

Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is non-diversified. This means that it may invest a larger portion of its assets in a limited number of companies than a diversified fund. Because a relatively high percentage of the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of a limited number of companies that could be in the same or related economic sectors, the Fund’s portfolio may be more susceptible to any single economic, technological or regulatory occurrence than the portfolio of a diversified fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk: The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (i.e., 100% or more) will result in increased transaction costs for the Fund in the form of increased dealer spreads and brokerage commissions. Greater transaction costs may reduce Fund performance. High portfolio turnover also may result in increased realization of net short-term capital gains (which are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them), higher taxable distributions and lower the Fund’s after-tax performance.

 

Securities Market Risk is the risk that the value of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting particular companies or the securities markets generally. A general downturn in the securities market may cause multiple asset classes to decline in value simultaneously, although equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities. Despite gains in some markets after steep declines during certain periods of 2008-2009, negative conditions and price declines may return unexpectedly and dramatically. In addition, the Fund could experience a loss when selling securities in order to meet unusually large or frequent redemption requests in times of overall market turmoil or declining prices for the securities sold.

 

Stock market risk is the risk that the value of equity securities may decline. Stock prices change daily, sometimes rapidly, in response to company activity and general economic and market conditions. Certain stocks may decline in value even during periods when the prices of equity securities in general are rising, or may not perform as well as the market in general. Stock prices may also experience greater volatility during periods of challenging market conditions such as the one that the market recently experienced. Additional stock market risk may be introduced when a particular equity security is traded on a foreign market. For more detail on the related risks involved in foreign markets, see Foreign Investment Risk above. 

 

Bond market risk includes the risk that the value and liquidity of debt securities may be reduced under certain circumstances. Bond prices can change daily, sometimes rapidly, in response to issuer activity and general economic and credit market conditions. Bond prices can be volatile and there can be severe limitations in the ability to value or sell certain bonds,

10
 

including those that are of higher credit quality, during periods of reduced credit market liquidity such as the one that the market recently experienced.

 

Short Sales Risk: Short sales by the Fund that are not made “against-the-box” (that is when the Fund has an offsetting long position in the asset that it is selling short) theoretically involve unlimited loss potential since the market price of securities sold short may continuously increase. Short selling allows the Fund to profit from declines in market prices to the extent such decline exceeds the transaction costs and the costs of borrowing the securities. However, since the borrowed securities must be replaced by purchases at market prices in order to close out the short position, any appreciation in the price of the borrowed securities would result in a loss. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. The Fund may mitigate such losses by replacing the securities sold short before the market price has increased significantly. Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and might have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

 

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS: To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements. While the Fund is in a defensive position, the opportunity to achieve its investment objective will be limited. Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund pays its pro-rata portion of such money market funds' advisory fees and operational fees. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

CYBERSECURITY: The computer systems, networks and devices used by the Fund and its service providers to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized by the Fund and its service providers, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.

 

Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches may cause disruptions and impact the Fund’s business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV; impediments to trading; the inability of the Fund, the adviser, and other service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent release of confidential information.

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Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests; counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for the Fund’s shareholders); and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser: Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., located at 15 Enterprise, Suite 450, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, serves as the Fund's investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a California corporation formed in 1995. Its clients are pooled investment vehicles and mutual funds. As of May 31, 2015 it had approximately $160,000,000 in asset under management.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund’s investments, executing transactions and providing related administrative services and facilities under an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser.

 

The management fee set forth in the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement is 1.60% annually, to be paid on a monthly basis. In addition to investment advisory fees, the Fund pay other expenses including costs incurred in connection with the maintenance of securities law registration, printing and mailing prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information to shareholders, certain financial accounting services, taxes or governmental fees, custodial, transfer and shareholder servicing agent costs, expenses of outside counsel and independent accountants, preparation of shareholder reports and expenses of trustee and shareholders meetings.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, until at least December 31, 2016, to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses), or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) will not exceed 2.25% or 2.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Institutional Class shares, respectively; subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits.  Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease the Fund’s expenses and boost its performance. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders.

 

Portfolio Managers: Garrett Waters and Eric Leake have served the Fund as its portfolio managers since it commenced operations in 2015.

Garrett Waters. Garrett Waters is a Partner and Chief Executive Officer with Anchor. Prior to joining Anchor, Mr. Waters started his investment career in the institutional investment management division at J.P. Morgan Investment Management. He then went on to hold positions with Barclays Global

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Investors, Hollencrest Capital Management, and Pacific Financial Advisors. Mr. Waters is a graduate of Villanova University with a degree in business.

Eric Leake. Eric Leake is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Anchor, where he has served as Chief Investment Officer and portfolio manager for Anchor’s separate accounts since 1996. He is an active member of the Market Technicians Association (MTA), American Association of Professional Technical Analysts (AAPTA), and National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM). Mr. Leake attended Azusa Pacific University from 1988 — 1992.

The Portfolio Managers are supported by other members of the Adviser's investment team who provide research, analysis and trading support.

 

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers' compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

The net asset value ("NAV") and offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charges) of each class of shares is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open. NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of the applicable Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for the Fund for a particular day is applicable to all applications for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.

Generally, the Fund's securities are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security's primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers' Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.

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The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of the Fund’s securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of some of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares. In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund's net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

Shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Not all shares classes of the Fund may be available for purchase in all states.

 

Share Classes: This Prospectus describes two classes of shares offered by the Fund: Class A and Institutional Class shares. The Fund offers these two classes of shares so that you can choose the class that best suits your investment needs. Refer to the information below. The main differences between the share classes are sales charges and ongoing fees. Class A are subject to a maximum sales charge of 4.75%. There is no sales charge for Institutional Class shares. Class A and Institutional Class shares pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% respectively, for distribution and shareholder services expenses pursuant to a plan under Rule 12b-1. In choosing which class of shares to purchase, you should consider which will be most beneficial to you, given the amount of your purchase and the length of time you expect to hold the shares. Each class of shares in the Fund represents interest in the same portfolio of investments within the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive sales charges. All share classes may not be available for purchase in all states.

 

Class A Shares: Class A shares are offered at their public offering price, which is NAV plus an initial sales charge as described below, and is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares. The minimum initial investment in the Class A shares is $2,500 for all types of accounts and the minimum subsequent investment is $100. There are no sales

14
 

charges on reinvested distributions. You can qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver through a right of accumulation or a letter of intent if you are a U.S. resident. See the discussions of "Right of Accumulation" and "Letter of Intent" below. The following sales charges apply to your purchases of Class A shares of the Fund:

 

Amount Invested Sales Charge
 as a % of Offering Price (1)
Sales Charge
as a % of Amount Invested

Dealer

Reallowance

Less than $50,000 4.75% 4.98% 4.25%
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.50% 4.17% 3.50%
$100,000 to $249,999 3.50% 3.63% 3.00%
$250,000 to $499,999 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000 to $999,999 2.00% 2.04% 1.50%
$1,000,000 and above None None None

(1) Offering price includes the front-end sales load. The sales charge you pay may differ slightly from the amount set forth above because of rounding that occurs in the calculations used to determine your sales charge.

 

The Adviser shall reimburse the Fund in connection with commissions retained by authorized broker-dealers on purchases of shares of $1 million or more calculated as follows: For sales of $1 million or more, payments may be made to those broker-dealers having at least $1 million of assets invested in the Fund, a fee of up to 1% of the offering price of such shares up to $2.5 million, 0.5% of the offering price from $2.5 million to $5 million, and 0.25% of the offering price over $5 million. The commission rate is determined based on the purchase amount combined with the current market value of existing investments in Fund shares.

 

As shown, investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of Fund shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase. However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Fund shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") on shares redeemed during the first 12 months after their purchase in the amount of the commissions paid on those shares redeemed.

 

You may be able to buy Class A Shares without a sales charge (i.e. "load-waived") when you are:

 

· reinvesting dividends or distributions;  
· participating in an investment advisory or agency commission program under which you pay a fee to an investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or brokerage services;  
· exchanging an investment in Class A Shares of another fund for an investment in the Fund;  
· a current or former director or trustee of the Trust;  
· an employee (including the employee's spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, and any independent of the employee, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code) of the Fund's adviser or its affiliates or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of such funds; or  
· purchasing shares through the Fund's adviser; or
· purchasing shares through a financial services firm (such as a broker-dealer, investment adviser or financial institution) that has a special arrangement with the Fund.  

 

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Right of Accumulation

 

For the purposes of determining the applicable reduced sales charge, the right of accumulation allows you to include prior purchases of Class A shares of any Fund as part of your current investment as well as reinvested dividends. To qualify for this option, you must be either:

 

· an individual;
· an individual and spouse purchasing shares for your own account or trust or custodial accounts for your minor children; or
· a fiduciary purchasing for any one trust, estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans created under Sections 401, 403 or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, including related plans of the same employer.

 

If you plan to rely on this right of accumulation, you must notify the Funds' distributor, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, at the time of your purchase. You will need to give the Distributor your account numbers. Existing holdings of family members or other related accounts of a shareholder may be combined for purposes of determining eligibility. If applicable, you will need to provide the account numbers of your spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.

Letter of Intent

 

The letter of intent allows you to count all investments within a 13-month period in Class A shares of any Fund as if you were making them all at once for the purposes of calculating the applicable reduced sales charges. The minimum initial investment under a letter of intent is 5% of the total letter of intent amount. The letter of intent does not preclude a Fund from discontinuing sales of its shares. You may include a purchase not originally made pursuant to a letter of intent under a letter of intent entered into within 60 days of the original purchase. To determine the applicable sales charge reduction, you may also include (1) the cost of shares of a Fund which were previously purchased at a price including a front end sales charge during the 90-day period prior to the distributor receiving the letter of intent, and (2) the historical cost of shares of other Funds you currently own acquired in exchange for shares of Funds purchased during that period at a price including a front-end sales charge. You may combine purchases and exchanges by family members (limited to spouse and children, under the age of 21, living in the same household). You should retain any records necessary to substantiate historical costs because the Fund, the transfer agent and any financial intermediaries may not maintain this information. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends are not aggregated to achieve the stated investment goal.

 

Institutional Class Shares: Institutional Class shares of the Fund are offered at their NAV without an initial sales charge. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. Institutional Class shares pay up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets as reimbursement or compensation for service and distribution-related activities with respect to the Fund and/or shareholder services. Over time, fees paid under this distribution and service plan will increase the cost of an Institutional Class shareholder’s investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges. The minimum initial investment in the Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000 for all types of accounts, and the minimum subsequent investment is $100.

 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Share Class: When deciding which class of shares of the Fund to purchase, you should consider your investment goals, present and future amounts you may

16
 

invest in the Fund, and the length of time you intend to hold your shares. To help you make a determination as to which class of shares to buy, please refer back to the examples of the Fund’s expenses over time in the Fees and Expenses of the Fund section in this Prospectus. You also may wish to consult with your financial adviser for advice with regard to which share class would be most appropriate for you.

 

Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form to the following address:

 

via Regular Mail

" Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund "

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

or Overnight Mail

"Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund"

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder's identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.

 

Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your servicing agent.

 

Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-844-594-1226 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.

 

Automatic Investment Plan: You may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1-844-594-1226 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan.

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Minimum and Additional Investment Amounts: The minimum initial investment in the Fund for Class A shares is $2,500 for all account types, and the minimum subsequent investment is $100, and the minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000 for all account types and the minimum subsequent investment is $100. There is no minimum investment requirement when you are buying shares by reinvesting dividends and distributions from the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to waive any investment minimum requirement.

 

The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to the applicable Fund. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier's checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.

 

Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder's account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.

 

When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share (plus applicable sales charges, if any) next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be processed on the next business day.

 

Good Order : When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order.

 

"Good order" means your purchase request includes:

 

· the name of the Fund
· the dollar amount of shares to be purchased
· a completed purchase application or investment stub
· check payable to the " Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund "

 

Retirement Plans: You may purchase shares of the Fund for your individual retirement plans. Please call the Fund at 1-844-594-1226 for the most current listing and appropriate disclosure documentation on how to open a retirement account.

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

Redeeming Shares: You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:

 

 

 

 

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via Regular Mail

" Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund "

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

P.O. Box 541150

Omaha, Nebraska 68154

or Overnight Mail

"Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund"

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

Redemptions by Telephone : The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts. If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times NAV less any applicable deferred sales charges or redemption fees, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on our application. To redeem by telephone, call 1-844-594-1226. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or electronically within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.

 

The Fund reserve the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.

 

Redemptions through Broker: If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.

 

Redemptions by Wire : You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.

 

Automatic Withdrawal Plan : If your individual account, IRA or other qualified plan account has a current account value of at least $50,000, you may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $500 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1-844-594-1226 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.

 

Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities ("redemption in kind") if the amount is greater than $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s assets. The securities will be chosen by the

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Fund and valued using the Fund’s net asset value pricing procedures. A shareholder will be exposed to market risk until these securities are converted to cash and may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.

 

When Redemptions are Sent : Once the Fund receives your redemption request in "good order" as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in "good order." If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank (usually within 10 days of the purchase date).

 

Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in "good order." To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:

 

· The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
· The request must identify your account number;
· The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and
· If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.

 

When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees: If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the applicable Fund with your signature guaranteed. A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:

 

· you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;
· you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the Fund;
· the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;
· any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or
· your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.

 

Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations). Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.

 

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Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund(s) should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.

 

Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $2,500, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $2,500 within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $2,500 due to a decline in NAV. The Fund will not charge any redemption fee on involuntary redemptions.

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund’s investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund’s Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund currently use several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:

Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of Fund shareholders.

Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases or redemptions into the Fund.

The Fund reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder's trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor's financial advisor) from opening new accounts with the Fund.

Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund. While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund are limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be

21
 

able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account). When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss. This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund.)

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains monthly. Both types of distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash. Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash. Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions. IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.

 

Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.

 

On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS. If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number. If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund is required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.

 

This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund's shares.

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DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, (the “Distributor’) located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.

 

Distribution Fees: The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted the Trust’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class A and Class I shares (the "Plans"), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act, which allows the Fund to pay the Fund's distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Class I shares.

 

The Fund’s distributor and other entities are paid under the Plans for services provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plans to compensate dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.

 

You should be aware that if you hold your shares for a substantial period of time, you may indirectly pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge allowed by FINRA due to the recurring nature of distribution (12b-1) fees.

 

Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Distributor, its affiliates, and the Fund’s adviser and their affiliates may each, its own expense and out of its own assets including legitimate profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees and any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The Distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives, including reallowance and/or payment of up to the entire sales charge, to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the Distributor's discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional commissions.

 

Householding: To reduce expenses, the Fund mail only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-844-594-1226 on days the Fund are open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund have only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.

24
 

 

PRIVACY NOTICE

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

Rev. August 2015

 

  WHAT DOES NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

 

Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.  Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some, but not all sharing.  Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depends on the product or service that you have with us. This information can include:

·          Social Security number and wire transfer instructions

·          account transactions and transaction history

·          investment experience and purchase history
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Northern Lights Fund Trust IV chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information: Does Northern Lights Fund Trust IV share information? Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes - such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus. YES NO
For our marketing purposes - to offer our products and services to you. NO We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies. NO We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes - information about your transactions and records. NO We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes - information about your credit worthiness. NO We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you NO We don’t share

 

QUESTIONS?   Call 1-402-493-4603

 

25
 

PRIVACY NOTICE

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

 

   

 

What we do :

 

How does Northern Lights Fund Trust IV protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

 

How does Northern Lights Fund Trust IV collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

·    open an account or deposit money

·    direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

·    seek advice about your investments

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

 

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only:

·    sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness.

·    affiliates from using your information to market to you.

·    sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you.

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·    Northern Lights Fund Trust IV has no affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

·    Northern Lights Fund Trust IV does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies

that together market financial products or services to you.

·    Northern Lights Fund Trust IV does not jointly market .

 

 

Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

 

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Adviser

Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.

15 Enterprise, Suite 450,

Aliso Viejo, California 92656

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE 68130

Custodian

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

350 California Street, Suite 2018

San Francisco, CA 94104

Legal
Counsel

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, OH 43215

Transfer
Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

Independent

Registered
Public
Accountant

BBD, LLP

1835 Market Street, 26th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund’s SAI dated [ ], 2015. The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-844-594-1226. The Fund does not have a website; however information relating to the Fund can be found on the website at www.anchorcapitalfunds.com. You may also write to:

 

Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

You may review and obtain copies of the Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

Investment Company Act File # 811-23066

 

27
 

 

Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

 

a Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[        ], 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined Prospectus of the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund (the "Fund") dated [ ], 2015. The Fund’s Prospectus is hereby incorporate by reference, which means it is legally part of this document. You can obtain copies of the Fund’s Prospectus, annual or semiannual reports without charge by contacting the Fund’s transfer agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-844-594-1226. You may also obtain a Prospectus by visiting the website at www.anchorcapitalfunds.com.

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE FUND  
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS  
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS  
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS  
MANAGEMENT  
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS  
INVESTMENT ADVISER  
THE DISTRIBUTOR  
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS  
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE  
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER  
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS  
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES  
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM  
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES  
TAX STATUS  
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  
LEGAL COUNSEL  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
APPENDIX A – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES  

 

 
 

THE FUND

The Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund is a non-diversified series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 2, 2015 (the "Trust"). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the "Board" or "Trustees").

 

The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may add classes to and reclassify the shares of the Fund, start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares; Class A and Institutional Class shares. As of the date of this SAI only Class A shares are available for sale. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets of the Funds, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (iii) each class of shares may have different shareholder features, such as minimum investment amounts; (iv) certain other class-specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees paid by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses paid as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (v) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements. The Board of Trustees may classify and reclassify the shares of the Funds into additional classes of shares at a future date.

 

Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.

 

Under the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless

1
 

matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS

The investment objective of the Fund and the descriptions of the Fund’s principal investment strategies are set forth under "Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks" in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.

 

The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest directly or through (i) open-end investment companies (mutual funds), (ii) closed-end funds, (iii) exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), (iv) limited partnerships, (v) limited liability companies and (vi) other types of pooled investment vehicles (collectively, "Underlying Funds") and strategies Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. (the “Adviser”) employs in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.

 

PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies

 

Investments in ETFs and mutual funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in such funds. Due to legal limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company's (including ETFs) outstanding shares; 2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing more than 10% of the Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In the alternative, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded funds, within the limitations described above. Each investment company is subject to specific risks, depending on the nature of the fund. ETFs and mutual funds may employ leverage, which magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based.

 

Open-End Investment Companies

 

The Fund and any "affiliated persons," as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying fund, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying Fund’s outstanding securities during any

2
 

period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying Fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Under certain circumstances an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.

 

Investment decisions by the investment advisers of the underlying fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and the Adviser. Therefore, the investment adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the investment adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.

 

Exchange Traded Funds

 

ETFs are generally passive funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and typically provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (“UITs”). Under certain circumstances, the adviser may invest in ETFs, known as "inverse funds," which are designed to produce results opposite to market trends. Inverse ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock prices are falling.

 

ETFs typically have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap "creation units" in block-multiples of, for example, 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.

 

Short Sales

 

The Fund may sell securities short as an outright investment strategy and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

 

When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.

 

If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by

3
 

imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

 

To the extent the Fund sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales "against the box") will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker. A short sale is "against the box" to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.

 

NON-PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.

 

Common Stock

 

Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company's stock price.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.

 

The fundamental risk of investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income securities and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market's perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company's worth.

 

Convertible Securities

 

Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer's underlying common stock at the option of the holder

4
 

during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of "usable" bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer's capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security's underlying common stock.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts

 

The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.

 

REITs generally can be classified as "Equity REITs", "Mortgage REITs" and "Hybrid REITs." An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.

 

Investments in the real estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.

 

Investments in REITs also involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.

 

Warrants

5
 

 

Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant's exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.

 

Depositary Receipts

 

Sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs.

 

Foreign Securities

 

General

 

Investing in securities of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries.  Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.

 

To the extent currency exchange transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund invests

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relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount of securities to be liquidated).

 

Emerging Markets Securities

 

Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.

 

Certificates of Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances

 

Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

 

Commercial Paper

 

Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in

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commercial paper is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer will default on its commercial paper obligation.

 

Information on Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes

 

Time deposits are issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the depositor on the date specified with respect to the deposit. Time deposits do not trade in the secondary market prior to maturity. However, some time deposits may be redeemable prior to maturity and may be subject to withdrawal penalties.

 

The commercial paper obligations are typically unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a "Master Note") permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund and the issuer. It permits daily changes in the amounts invested. The Fund, typically, has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct investment arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer (redeemed) on demand within seven days.

 

Insured Bank Obligations

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as "banks") up to $250,000. The Fund may elect to purchase bank obligations in small amounts so as to be fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.

 

Closed-End Investment Companies

 

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The Fund may invest its assets in "closed-end" investment companies (or "closed-end funds"), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as "NASDAQ") or, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.

 

The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. A Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. A Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end Fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.

 

The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the "market discount" of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.

 

The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.

 

Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end Fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end Fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.

 

United States Government Obligations

 

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These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.

United States Government Agencies

 

These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), Farmer's Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., Fannie Mae Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency's or instrumentality's own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).

 

Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by Fannie Mae are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by Fannie Mae but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

 

Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. Freddie Mac issues PCs, which represent interests in conventional mortgages from Freddie Mac's national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the "FHFA") announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been placed into

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conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

 

Securities Options

The Fund may purchase and write ( i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.

A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.

Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor's 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the NYSE Arca Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ PHLX.

The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series ( i.e. , same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase

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plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.

If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.

Certain Risks Regarding Options

There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the

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underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.

Cover for Options Positions

Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting ("covered") position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.

Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Options on Futures Contracts

 

The Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.

 

Dealer Options

 

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The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.

 

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, it may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

 

The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.

 

Spread Transactions

 

The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

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The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the "underlying security") from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be "fully collateralized," in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.

 

Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.

 

Trading in Futures Contracts

 

A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.

 

Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as "initial margin." The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.

 

If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.

 

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These subsequent payments, called "variation margin," to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to the market." The Fund expect to earn interest income on margin deposits.

 

Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.

 

For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.

 

Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, will file with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to both Funds’ operation. Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.

 

When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements

 

The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled "Custodian") will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.

 

The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to satisfy purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.

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The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.

 

The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.

 

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.

 

Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. the Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by NASDAQ.

Under guidelines adopted by the Trust's Board, the Fund’s Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement

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exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organizations ("NRSROs") or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.

 

Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.

 

Lending Portfolio Securities

 

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding shares" of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund may not:

 

1. Issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff. The SEC and its staff have identified various securities trading practices and derivative instruments used by mutual funds that give rise to potential senior security issues under Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act. However, the SEC and its staff through interpretive releases, including Investment Company Act Release No. 10666

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(April 18, 1979), and no-action letters has developed an evolving series of methods by which a fund may address senior security issues. In particular, the common theme in this line of guidance has been to use methods of “covering” fund obligations that might otherwise create a senior security-type obligation by holding sufficient liquid assets that permit a fund to meet potential trading and derivative-related obligations. Thus, a potential Section 18(f) senior security limitation is not applicable to activities that might be deemed to involve a form of the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by Section 18 of the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.;

 

2. Borrow money, except (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions;

 

3. Purchase securities on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. (Does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities);

 

4. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate.  This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts);

 

5. Invest more than 25% of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. (Does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.);

 

6. Purchase or sell commodities (unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments) or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, sell foreign currency contracts in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, invest in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, and invest in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities; or

 

7. Make loans to others, except that the Fund may, in accordance with its investment objective and policies, (i) lend portfolio securities, (ii) purchase and hold debt securities or other debt instruments, including but not limited to loan participations and sub-participations, assignments, and structured securities, (iii) make loans secured by mortgages on real property, (iv) enter into repurchase agreements, (v) enter into transactions where each loan is represented by a note executed by the borrower, and (vi) make time deposits with financial institutions and invest in instruments issued by financial institutions, and enter into any other lending arrangement as and to

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the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, order or interpretation thereunder. For purposes of this limitation, the term "loans" shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities. The SEC staff has interpreted lending by an investment company, under certain circumstances, to also give rise to issues relating to the issuance of senior securities. To the extent that the Fund enters into lending transactions under these limited circumstances, the Fund will continue to be subject to the limitations imposed under the 1940 Act regarding the issuance of senior securities, which are discussed in connection with “Investment Restriction 1” above.

 

The Fund observes the following policies, which are not deemed fundamental and which may be changed without shareholder vote. The Fund may not:

 

1. Invest in any issuer for purposes of exercising control or management;

 

2. Invest in securities of other investment companies except as permitted under the 1940 Act;

 

3. Invest, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets in securities with legal or contractual restrictions on resale, securities, which are not readily marketable and repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity. However, if more than 15% of Fund assets (defined as net assets plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes) are illiquid, the Fund’s investment adviser will reduce illiquid assets such that they do not represent more than 15% of Fund assets, subject to timing and other considerations which are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders; or

 

4. Mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.

 

If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.

 

Although fundamental investment restriction #7 reserves for the Fund the ability to make loans, there is no present intent to loan money and additional disclosure will be provided if such a strategy is implemented in the future.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders.

 

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It is the Trust's policy to: (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests of the Trust's shareholders and those of the Trust's affiliates.

 

The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period. In addition, The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Forms N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.

 

The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings information available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg more frequently on a confidential basis.

 

Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q. In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential and is prohibited from trading on material non-public information.  

 

The Adviser . Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, as demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.

 

Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

BBD, LLP. BBD, LLP is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual financial statements and providing assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.

 

Thompson Hine LLP. Thompson Hine LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.

 

Additions to List of Approved Recipients

 

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The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser, or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures

 

The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.

 

There is no assurance that the Trust's policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect The Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

 

MANAGEMENT

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust's By-laws (the "Governing Documents"), which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available upon request. The Board consists of seven (7) individuals, six (6) of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust or any investment adviser to any series of the Trust ("Independent Trustees"). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

The Trust is led by Joseph Breslin, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since July 2015. The Board of Trustees is comprised of four independent Trustees. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, its funds and each shareholder.

Board Risk Oversight

 

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The Board of Trustees has a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair, Ira Rothblut. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.

 

Trustee Qualifications

 

Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Breslin has over 20 years of business experience in the investment management and brokerage business and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based, in part, upon his years of service as an officer and/or Trustee to other registered investment companies. Thomas Sarkany is qualified to serve as a Trustee based on his experience in various business and consulting positions, and through his experience from service as a board member of the Trust and other investment companies. Since 2010, he has been the President of a financial services firm and from 1994 through 2010, held various roles at a publicly held company providing financial research, publications and money management services to retail and institutional investors, including Director of Marketing and Asset Management, Director of Index Licensing, and member of the Board of Directors. In addition to his service as a Trustee of the Trust, Mr. Sarkany serves as a trustee of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II and has previously served as a director of certain public companies. Charles R. Ranson has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic analysis and planning, risk assessment, and capital formation in the operation of complex organizations and entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to his service to the Trust, Mr. Ranson serves as an independent trustee to another mutual fund complex. Mr. Rothblut founded IJR Consulting Corp (IJRCC) in 2003. IJRCC provides preparation and presentation of monthly financial statements, revenue cycle redesign and management, accounting policy and procedure oversight, and supervision and training of onsite Fiscal Directors. He holds the CPA designation, and his in-depth knowledge of GAAP is a benefit to the Board. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively also has been enhanced by his educational background and professional training. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee's qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.

 

The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and each person’s principal occupation over the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.

 

Independent Trustees

Name, Address and Year of Birth Position/Term of Office* Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years

Joseph Breslin

Year of Birth:

Independent Trustee and

President and Consultant, J.E. Breslin

 

1 Director, Kinetics Mutual Funds, Inc. (since 2000);
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1953

Chairman of the Board since 2015

& Co. (management consulting firm to investment advisers), 2009 to present.

 

Trustee, Kinetics Portfolios Trust (since 2000); Trustee, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust; Trustee, BlueArc Multi-Strategy Fund (since 2014)

Thomas Sarkany

Year of Birth: 1946

Independent Trustee since 2015 Founder and President, TTS Consultants, LLC (consultant to financial service enterprises, including investment advisors and mutual funds), 2010 – present; Director of Fund Marketing, Director of Asset Management and Director of Index Licensing, Value Line, 1994 – 2010. 34

Arrow Investments Trust (since 2014), Arrow ETF Trust (since 2014), Trustee, Northern Lights Fund Trust II (since 2011); Director, Value Line Funds 2008- 2010); Director, Value Line, Inc.(2010-2010; Director, Aquila Distributors (since 1981)

 

Ira Rothblut

Year of Birth: 1969

Independent Trustee since 2015 Founder and President  IJR Consulting Corp.(consultant to Federally Qualified Health Centers), 2003 to present.   1 None.

Charles Ranson

Year of Birth: 1947

Independent Trustee since 2015 President, Charles R. Ranson Consulting, LLC (strategic analysis and planning, including risk assessment and capital formation for entrepreneurial ventures),  2003 – present. 1 Advisors Preferred Trust since November 2012.  

Interested Trustees and Officers

Name, Address and Year of Birth Position/Term of Office* Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex** Overseen by Trustee Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years
         

Wendy Wang

80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Born in 1970

President since 2015 Senior Vice President, Director of Tax and Compliance Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012), Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2004-2012). N/A N/A

Sam Singh

80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Born in 1976

Treasurer since 2015 Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Assistant Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (2011-2014); Assistant Vice President of Fund Administration, BNY Mellon, (2007-2011). N/A N/A
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James P. Ash
80 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, NY  11788
Born in 1976
Secretary since 2015. Senior Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012); Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011 - 2012); Director of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2009 - 2011); Assistant Vice President of Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2008 - 2011). N/A N/A

Michael Quain

Born in 1957

Chief Compliance Officer Quain Compliance Consulting, LLC (since 2014); Artio Global Management, LLC (formerly Julius Baer), First Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer (2004-2013) N/A N/A

* The term of office for each Trustee and officer listed above will continue indefinitely until the individual resigns or is removed.

** The term “Fund Complex” includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust (“NLFT”), Northern Lights Fund Trust II (“NLFT II”), Northern Lights Fund Trust III (“NLFT III”), Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (NLFT IV), and the Northern Lights Variable Trust (“NLVT”).

 

 

Board Committees

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board has an Audit Committee that consists of all the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee's responsibilities include: (i) recommending to the Board the selection, retention or termination of the Trust's independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust's financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust's independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor's independence; and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management's responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing nominee candidates for consideration as Independent Trustees as is from time to time considered necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and setting Independent Trustee compensation from time to time when considered necessary or appropriate.

 

Compensation

 

Effective July 29, 2015, each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or an investment adviser to any series of the Trust will receive a quarterly fee of $5,000 for his attendance at the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees, to be paid in advance of each calendar quarter, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred.

 

The “interested persons” who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.

 

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The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees are expected to receive from the Trust during the initial fiscal period ending August 31, 2016. Each Independent Trustee is expected to attend all quarterly meetings during the period. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plan.

 

Name and Position Estimated Aggregate Compensation From Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Estimated Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex* Paid to Trustees
Joseph Breslin $20,000 $0 $0 $20,000
Thomas Sarkany $20,000 $0 $0 $36,500
Ira Rothblut $20,000 $0 $0 $20,000
Charles Ranson $20,000 $0 $0 $20,000

 

* The term “Fund Complex” includes the Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, and the Northern Lights Variable Trust.

 

Management and Trustee Ownership

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned no shares of the Fund or any of the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledged the existence of control.

 

As of the date of this SAI there were no shareholders of record owning 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Investment Adviser and Advisory Agreement

 

Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., 15 Enterprise, Suite 450, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a California corporation formed in 1995. Its clients are pooled investment vehicles and mutual funds. As of the date of this SAI, Eric Leake and Garrett Waters, who each serve as portfolio managers to the Fund, control the Adviser because each owns more than 25% of the membership interests in the Adviser.

 

Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s investment-related business affairs. Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board of the Trust, and in conformity with the stated policies of the Fund,

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manages the portfolio investment operations of the Fund. The Adviser has overall supervisory responsibilities for the general management and investment of the Fund’s securities portfolio, as detailed below, which are subject to review and approval by the Board of Trustees. In general, the Adviser's duties include setting the Fund’s overall investment strategies and asset allocation.

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser. The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to the Fund and, as such shall, (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser or its designee, directly, will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers. The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities.

 

In addition, the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provides the management and supplemental administrative services necessary for the operation of the Fund. These services include providing assisting in the supervising of relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the Fund; assisting in the preparing of all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; assisting in maintaining the Fund’s records and the registration of the Fund’s shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; assisting in developing management and shareholder services for the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.

 

The Fund pays an annual management fee (computed daily and payable monthly) of 1.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit total annual operating expenses of the Fund through December 31, 2016 including the advisory fee, (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)) to 2.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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Expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled ("The Distributor") (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled "Custodian") and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled "Transfer Agent"), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (i) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (j) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees' meetings (including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are not directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders and (k) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for two (2) years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares (with respect to the Fund). The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

Codes of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted codes of ethics (each a “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of the Trust. Under the Codes, the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.

 

In addition, the Trust has adopted a code of ethics (the “Trust Code”), which applies only to the Trust's executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Fund; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Trust Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Trust Code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the Trust Code.

 

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Proxy Voting Policies

 

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures ("Policies") on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser or its designee, subject to the Board's continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser or its designee vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of The Fund and shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser or its designee to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser's Proxy Policies, or the proxy policies of the Adviser's designee, and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser or its designee on behalf of The Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.

 

Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser's interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client's directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If the third party's recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client's account. A copy of the Adviser's and proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

More information . Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 will be available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-844-594-1226; and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-844-594-1226 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.

THE DISTRIBUTOR

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the "Distributor") serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Trust (the "Underwriting Agreement"). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state's securities laws and is a member of the FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of the Fund’s shares, will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of the Fund’s shares.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

 

The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with broker-dealers that solicit orders for the

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sale of shares of the Funds and may allow concessions to dealers that sell shares of the Funds.

 

Rule 12b-1 Plans

 

The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted a Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plans") for each of Class A and Institutional Class shares pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distributor's account maintenance services under the Plans. The Board has approved a distribution and shareholder servicing fee at the rate of up to 0.25% for Class A shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the relevant class. For the current fiscal year, the Board has authorized a rate of 0.25% and 0.10% for Class A shares and Institutional Class shares, respectively. Such fees are to be paid by the Funds monthly, or at such other intervals as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon the Funds’ average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Funds may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Distributor. The Plans authorize payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators and others ("Recipients") to provide these services and paying compensation for these services. The Funds will bear their own costs of distribution with respect to its shares.

 

The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund’s investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Fund.

 

The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.

 

The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor's compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plans. During the term of the Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Rule 12b-1 Plans, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.

 

Any agreement related to a Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days written notice, without the payment of any penalty,

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by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Garrett Waters and Eric Leake serve as the portfolio managers of the Fund. And as of August 11, 2015, the portfolio managers are responsible for the portfolio management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:

Total Other Accounts

By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

(in millions)

Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee

Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

(in millions)

Garrett Waters        
Registered Investment Companies 1 $8,700,000 0 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 0 0 0 0
Other Accounts 42 $260,000,000 0 0

 

TotalOther Accounts

By Type

Total Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

(in millions)

Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Eric Leake        
Registered Investment Companies 1 $8,700,000 0 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 0 0 0 0
Other Accounts 42 $260,000,000 0 0

 

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

As a general matter, certain conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager's management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, it is possible that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another to the possible detriment of the Fund. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them. Other potential conflicts might include conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements, and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers to execute the Fund’s portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from the Fund’s portfolio trades (for example, research, or "soft dollars", if any). The Adviser has adopted policies and

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procedures and has structured the portfolio managers' compensation in a manner reasonably designed to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any such potential conflicts.

 

Compensation

Mr. Leake and Mr. Waters draw a base salary from Anchor, based on assets under management. Mr. Leake and Mr. Waters have ownership interests in Anchor and will participate in business profits accordingly. Currently no deferred compensation or retirement plans have been established, nor is there a bonus plan.

 

Ownership of Securities

 

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund as of the date of this SAI.

 

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund
Garrett Waters $0
Eric Leake $0

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund are made by the co-portfolio managers who are employees of the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by them on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.

 

In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:

Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage and research services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services

Gemini Fund Services, LLC, (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110, Hauppauge, New York 11788, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board. GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.

The Agreement became effective as of the date of the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, and will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Fund, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.

Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services, including: (1) monitoring the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitoring Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) preparing and coordinating the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements; (4) preparing selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) preparing and disseminating materials for and attending and participating in meetings of the Board; (6) determining income and capital gains available for distribution and calculating distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) reviewing the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants; (8) preparing and maintaining the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to the Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assisting in and monitoring the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinating the Trust's audits and examinations by assisting the Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determining, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitating such registration or qualification; (12) monitoring sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitoring the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) preparing, or cause to be prepared, expense

33
 

and financial reports; (15) preparing authorizations for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) providing information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assisting The Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS) and (18) performing other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.

 

For the administrative services rendered to the Fund by GFS, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pay GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintenance of certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciliation of account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluation of daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.

 

For the fund accounting services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the Agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

 

For such services rendered to the Fund under the Agreement, the Fund pays GFS an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays GFS for any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Custodian

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A., (the "Custodian" or “Union Bank”), Union Bank, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement (the "Custody Agreement") by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets.

 

Compliance Officer

 

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68130, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as

34
 

well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. NLCS’s compliance services consist primarily of reviewing and assessing the policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers pertaining to compliance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. For the compliance services rendered to the Fund, the Fund pays NLCS a one-time fee plus an annual asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets. The Fund also pays NLCS for any out-of-pocket expenses.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.

 

Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal, per-class, dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the "Program") as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 ("USA PATRIOT Act"). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust's Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. The Trust's secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.

 

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a providing a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to "freeze" the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

Calculation of Share Price

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As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "Net Asset Value," the NAV of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding (on a per-class basis) of the Fund.

 

For purposes of calculating the NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are available are stated at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price ("NOCP"). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation on the primary exchange, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. Exchange traded options, futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.

 

Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.

 

The Fund’s shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) (the "NYSE Close") on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and do not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.

 

When market quotations are insufficient or not readily available, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.

 

The Fund may hold securities, such as private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to

36
 

assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.

 

Fair Value Team and Valuation Process. This team is composed of one of more representatives from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser. The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to, the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund’s calculation of its net asset value. Specifically, interests in commodity pools or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private placements or non-traded securities are valued via inputs from the adviser valuation based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value team shall determine the fair value of such security using the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund’s holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities; (ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.

 

Standards For Fair Value Determinations. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to realize upon its current sale. The Trust has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market

37
 

participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available under the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments relating to ASC 820. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

 

The fair value team takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the fund with respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the Adviser or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined for the security will result from the use of data or formulae produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity of the market for the security.

 

Board of Trustees Determination. The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by fair value team and ratify valuations for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value team, including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.

 

The Trust expects that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

 

Purchase of Shares

 

Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at the public offering price, which is NAV plus any sales charge, or at net asset value per share on a per-class basis (if no sales charges apply) computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share plus sales charges, if any.

 

Redemption of Shares

 

38
 

The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder's shares of the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "Redemptions" section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:

 

(a) when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

(b) when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;

(c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly to determine the value of net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

(d) when the SEC by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.

 

In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination of the suspension.

 

Supporting documents in addition to those listed under "Redemptions" in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.

 

Waivers of Redemption Fees: The Fund has elected not to impose the redemption fee for:

 

· redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions;
· certain types of redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares owned through participant-directed retirement plans;
· redemptions or exchanges in discretionary asset allocation, fee based or wrap programs ("wrap programs") that are initiated by the sponsor/financial advisor as part of a periodic rebalancing;
· redemptions or exchanges in a fee based or wrap program that are made as a result of a full withdrawal from the wrap program or as part of a systematic withdrawal plan including the Fund’s systematic withdrawal plan; involuntary redemptions, such as those resulting from a shareholder's failure to maintain a minimum investment in the Fund, or to pay shareholder fees; or
· other types of redemptions as the Adviser or the Trust may determine in special situations and approved by the Fund’s or the Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer.

 

 

TAX STATUS

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The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.

 

The Fund intends to qualify as regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, The Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its net investment income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Net investment income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Code.  

 

Net investment income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses. Net capital gain for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for only eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income, any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, and any excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of net investment income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of The Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must also (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, net income from certain publicly traded partnerships and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of the Fund’s assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities of (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) any one issuer, two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

 

If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it may be able to pay a tax penalty on the portion of income that caused to inadvertently violate Subchapter M or it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. If treated as a corporation, the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of

40
 

the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.

 

The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.

 

The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Code.

 

Distributions of taxable net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

Distributions of net capital gain ("capital gain dividends") generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.

 

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.

 

A redemption of the Fund’s shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder's tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.  

 

Distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment date.

 

All distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each taxable shareholder on his or her federal income tax

41
 

return. Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.

 

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Code, distributions of taxable net investment income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.

 

Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements

 

Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.

 

Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements

 

To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

 

To the extent such investments are permissible, a certain percentage of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income

42
 

will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regular investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

 

Investment by the Fund in certain "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" ("QEF election"), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company's income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether they receives any distribution from the company.

 

The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings "to the market" as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

 

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.

 

Foreign Taxation

 

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to "pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize

43
 

deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass through" for that year.

 

Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder's U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated debt securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.

 

Original Issue Discount and Pay-In-Kind Securities

 

Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount ("OID") is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion of the OID includable in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the "accrued market discount" on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

 

44
 

The Fund that holds the foregoing kinds of securities may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount, which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.

 

Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.

 

A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.

 

Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board has selected BBD, LLP, located at 1835 Market Street, 26th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, as its independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal period. The firm provides services including (i) audit of annual financial statements, and (ii) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Thompson Hine LLP, 41 South High Street, Suite 1700, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as the Trust's legal counsel.

 

 

 

 

 

45
 

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ANCHOR TACTICAL CREDIT STRATEGIES FUND

Financial Statements

 

August 7, 2015

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

August 7, 2015

 

ASSETS

Cash $100,000

Deferred Offering Costs 21,570

 

Total Assets 121,570

 

LIABILITIES

Payable for Offering Costs 21,570

 

Total Liabilities 21,570

 

 

NET ASSETS $100,000

 

At August 7, 2015 the components of net assets were as follows:

Paid in Capital $100,000

 

Class A shares:

Shares of beneficial interest outstanding,

unlimited shares authorized without par value 10,000

 

Net asset value per share $10.00

46
 

 

Maximum offering price per share ($10.00/.9525) $10.50

 

 

Sees notes to financial statements.

ANCHOR TACTICAL CREDIT STRATEGIES FUND

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

August 7, 2015

 

EXPENSES

Organizational expenses $7,482

Less: Reimbursement from adviser (7,482)

 

NET EXPENSES $ -

 

 

 

 

 

47
 

 

 

 

 

Sees notes to financial statements.

 

ANCHOR TACTICAL CREDIT STRATEGIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 7, 2015

 

(1) ORGANIZATION

 

1. Organization

 

The Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund’s Investment Adviser is Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. (the “Adviser”). The investment objective is to provide total return from income and capital appreciation with a secondary objective of limiting risk during unfavorable market conditions.

 

The Fund was organized as a statutory trust on June 2, 2015 under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund had no operations from that date to August 7, 2015, other than those relating to organizational matters and the registration of its shares under applicable securities laws. The Adviser purchased the initial shares at $10.00 per share on August 7, 2015. The Fund had not yet commenced operations as of August 7, 2015, the date of these financial statements.

 

The Fund offers Class A and Institutional Class shares. Class A shares are offered at net asset value plus a maximum sales charge of 4.75%. Such sales charge was waived for the initial shares purchased by the Adviser. Investors that purchase $1,000,000 or more of the Funds’ Class A shares will not pay any initial sales charge on the purchase. However, purchases of $1,000,000 or more of Class A shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) on shares redeemed during the first 12 months after their purchase. Institutional Class shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge, but have a higher minimum initial investment than Class A. All classes are subject to a 1% redemption fee on redemptions made within 90 days of the original purchase. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund and classes are identical except for differences in their sales charge structures and ongoing service and distribution charges. All classes of shares have equal voting privileges except that each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to its service and/or distribution plans. The Fund’s income, expenses (other than class specific distribution fees) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated proportionately each day based upon the relative net assets of each class.

 

(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

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The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The following is a summary of significant accounting policies used in preparing the financial statements.

 

 

 

 

ANCHOR TACTICAL CREDIT STRATEGIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 7, 2015

 

Organizational and Offering Costs

All costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its organization and offering have been paid by the Adviser. Organizational costs were charged to expenses as incurred. Offering costs incurred by the Fund are treated as deferred charges until operations commence and thereafter will be amortized over a 12 month period using the straight line method. An amount equal to the deferred offering costs is reflected as Payable for offering costs in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and is owed to the Adviser. Such amount is subject to potential reimbursement by the Adviser as it is amortized as described in Note 3.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions related to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Federal Income Taxes

 

The Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, if so qualified, will not be liable for federal income taxes to the extent earnings are distributed to shareholders on a timely basis.

Indemnification

The Fund indemnifies its officers and trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from the performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on industry experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.

(3) INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT / TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

As compensation for its services, the Fund pays to the Adviser a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 1.60% of its average daily net assets.  

49
 

The Adviser, pursuant to an Expense Limitation Agreement (the “Agreement”) has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, at least until December 31, 2016 to ensure that Net Annual Operating Expenses (exclusive of any interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) will not exceed 2.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Agreement will allow the Adviser to recover amounts previously reimbursed for operating expenses to the Fund to the extent that the Fund’s expense ratio falls below the above indicated expense limitations.  The amounts that can be

ANCHOR TACTICAL CREDIT STRATEGIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

August 7, 2015

 

recovered will be limited to the difference between the actual expense ratio and the amount of the expense limitation. Under such agreement, the Adviser can only recover such amounts for a period of up to three years.

 

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted the Trust’s Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plans for each of Class A and Institutional Class shares (the “Plans”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Plans provide that a monthly service and/or distribution fee is calculated by each Fund at an annual rate of 0.25% and 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Institutional Class shares, respectively. The fee is paid to Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) to provide compensation for ongoing distribution-related activities or services and/or maintenance of the Fund’s shareholder accounts, not otherwise required to be provided by the Adviser.

 

The Distributor acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s Class A and Institutional Class shares.

 

In addition, certain affiliates of the Distributor provide services to the Fund as follows:

 

Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), an affiliate of the Distributor, provides administration, fund accounting, and transfer agent services to the Trust. Pursuant to separate servicing agreements with GFS, the Fund pays GFS customary fees for providing administration, fund accounting and transfer agency services to the Fund. Certain officers of the Fund are also officers of GFS, and are not paid any fees directly by the Fund for serving in such capacities.

 

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”) - NLCS, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Fund, as well as related compliance services, pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust. Under the terms of such agreement, NLCS receives customary fees from the Fund.

 

Blu Giant, LLC (“Blu Giant”) – Blu Giant, an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides EDGAR conversion and filing services as well as print management services for the Fund on an ad-hoc basis. For the provision of these services, Blu Giant receives customary fees from the Fund.

 

The Fund pays each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Trust or Adviser a quarterly fee of $5,000, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending meetings. The “interested persons” who serve as Trustees of the Trust receive no compensation for their services as Trustees. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust.

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(4) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Fund is required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.  For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Fund is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made.  Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.

 

 

 

51
 

Adviser Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

ANCHOR PROXY VOTING POLICY

 

A. Discretionary Accounts.

The Firm instructs each custodian for a Discretionary Account to deliver to the Firm all proxy solicitation materials that the custodian receives for that Discretionary Account. The Firm reviews the securities held in its Discretionary Accounts on a regular basis to confirm that the Finn receives copies of all proxy solicitation materials concerning such securities. The Firm marks each proxy solicitation with the date it is received by the Firm. The Firm will also monitor the positions it takes in ETF holdings to ensure that it never holds more than 3% of the outstanding voting shares of the ETF. Should The Firm hold positions that exceed 3% of the outstanding voting shares of an ETF, The Firm will rely upon Mirror Voting for Proxies, ensuring the Fund votes its shares in the same proportion that all shares of the ETFs are voted, or in accordance with instructions received from fund shareholders,

  For each Client Account that is a registered investment company the Firm votes all proxies after carefully considering proxy solicitation materials and other available facts, except when it abstains from voting as described below. The CCO makes all voting decisions on behalf of a Discretionary Account based solely on the CCO's determination of the best interests of that Discretionary Account. The Firm uses reasonable efforts to respond to each proxy solicitation by the deadline for such response.

For all other Client Accounts, the Firm decides whether to vote a proxy on behalf of its Discretionary Accounts after considering whether the proposal will have a material effect on the Firm's investment strategy for Discretionary Accounts. This analysis typically leads the Firm to determine not to vote proxies.

The CCO may designate an appropriate Employee to be responsible for insuring that all proxy statements are received and that the Firm responds to them in a timely manner.

1. Company Information . If the Firm is considering voting a proxy, it reviews all proxy solicitation materials it receives concerning securities held in a Discretionary Account. The Firm evaluates all such information and may seek additional information from the party soliciting the proxy and independent corroboration of such information when the Firm considers it appropriate and when it is reasonably available.

2. Proxy Voting Policies .

a. Guidelines . The Firm follows any proxy voting guidelines and procedures provided by Client Accounts for which the Firm votes proxies. If no guideline exists for a particular vote, the Firm votes FOR a proposal when it believes that the proposal serves the best interests of the Discretionary Account whose proxy is solicited because, on balance, the following factors predominate:

(i) If adopted, the proposal would have a positive economic effect on shareholder value;

(ii) If adopted, the proposal would pose no threat to existing rights of shareholders;

(iii) The dilution, if any, of existing shares that would result from adoption of the proposal is warranted by the benefits of the proposal; and

(iv) If adopted, the proposal would not limit or impair the accountability of management and the board of directors to shareholders.

b. The Firm votes AGAINST a proposal if it believes that, on balance, the following factors predominate:

(i) If adopted, the proposal would have an adverse economic effect on shareholder value;

(ii) If adopted, the proposal would limit the rights of shareholders in a manner or to an extent that is not warranted by the benefits of adoption of the proposal;

A- 1
 

(iii) If adopted, the proposal would cause significant dilution of shares that is not warranted by the benefits of the proposal;

(iv) If adopted, the proposal would limit or impair accountability of management or the board of directors to shareholders; or

(v) The proposal is a shareholder initiative that the Firm believes wastes time and resources of the company or reflects the grievance of one individual.

c. Abstentions . The Firm abstains from voting proxies when it believes that it is appropriate. Usually, this occurs when the Firm believes that a proposal holds negative but non-quantifiable implications for shareholder value but may express a legitimate concern or, for accounts other than registered investment companies, when the Firm believes that a proposal will not have a material effect on the Firm's investment strategy for Discretionary Accounts.

3. Conflicts of Interest . Due to the size and nature of the Firm's operations and the Firm's limited affiliations in the securities industry, the Firm does not expect that material conflicts of interest will arise between the Firm and a Discretionary Account over proxy voting. The Firm recognizes, however, that such conflicts may arise from time to time, such as, for example, when the Firm or one of its affiliates has a business arrangement that could be affected by the outcome of a proxy vote or has a personal or business relationship with a person seeking appointment or re-appointment as a director of a company. If a material conflict of interest arises, the Firm will vote all proxies in accordance with Part VII.A.2. The Firm will not place its own interests ahead of the interests of its Discretionary Accounts in voting proxies.

If the Firm determines that the proxy voting policies in Part VII.2 do not adequately address a material conflict of interest related to a proxy, it will provide the affected Client Account with copies of all proxy solicitation materials that the Firm receives with respect to that proxy, notify that Client Account of the actual or potential conflict of interest and of the Firm's intended response to the proxy request (which response will be in accordance with the policies set forth in Part VI.A.2(b)), and request that the Client Account consent to the Firm's intended response. If the Client Account consents to the Firm's intended response or fails to respond to the notice within a reasonable period of time specified in the notice, the Firm will vote the proxy as described in the notice. If the Client Account objects to the intended response, the Firm will vote the proxy as directed by the Client Account.

4. Shareholder Proposals bv the Firm . The Firm may submit a shareholder proposal on behalf of an Investment Fund only if permitted by the Investment Fund's governing documents or by agreement between the Firm and the Investment Fund and if the Firm believes that the proposal would provide a substantial overall benefit to the Investment Fund. The Firm will submit a shareholder proposal on behalf of any other Discretionary Account only at the request of the Discretionary Account or with that Discretionary Account's prior written consent. The Firm will vote any shares in a Discretionary Account on behalf of a proposal submitted by the Firm in accordance with Part VII.A.2, unless otherwise directed by the Discretionary Account.

5. Disclosures to Clients . The Firm includes in Part 2A of its Form ADV (1) a summary of these policies and procedures relating to proxy voting, (2) an offer to provide a copy of such policies and procedures to clients on request, and (3) information concerning how a client may obtain a report summarizing how the Firm voted proxies on behalf of such client. At the request of a Client Account or Investor (other than a Client Account that is a registered investment company under the ICA (a "Registered Fund")), the Firm provides that Client Account or Investor with a copy of this Part VII and a report summarizing all proxy solicitations the Firm received with respect to that Client Account during the period requested and action taken by the Firm on each such proxy. Regarding the proxy votes in respect of the portfolio securities in a Registered Fund, the Firm will provide that Registered Fund with the information required to be disclosed by that Registered Fund pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 of the ICA and SEC Form N-PX promulgated thereunder, including:

a. The name of the issuer of the portfolio security;

b. The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security;

c. The CUSP number for the portfolio security (unless not available through reasonable practical means, e.g., in the case of certain foreign issuers);

d. The shareholder meeting date;

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e. A brief identification of the matter voted on;

f. Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;

g. Whether the Firm cast its vote on the matter;

h. How the Firm cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and

i. Whether the Firm cast its vote for or against management.

B. Non-Discretionary Accounts.

The Firm promptly forwards any proxy solicitation materials concerning securities held in a Non-Discretionary Account that the Firm receives at least five business days before the applicable proxy voting deadline to the appropriate Client Account. The Firm votes any such proxy as directed by that Client Account. At a Client Account's request, the Firm may, but is not obligated to, advise that Client Account with respect to voting any proxy. The Firm does not provide advice concerning the voting of any proxy to any Client Account unless such advice is first approved by the CCO.

C. Records.

See Part VIII.B regarding records that the Firm must maintain relating to these proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 28. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Articles of Incorporation.

 

(i) Registrant's Trust Instrument is filed herewith.

 

(ii) Certificate of Trust was previously filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on June 5, 2015 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

(b) By-Laws. Registrant's By-Laws is filed herewith.

 

(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holder. None other than in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Registrant.

 

(d) Investment Advisory Contracts.

 

(i) Management Agreement for Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund is filed herewith.

 

(e) Underwriting Contracts. Underwriting Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. None.

 

(g) Custodial Agreement. Custody Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(h) Other Material Contracts. Fund Services Agreement is filed herewith.

 

(i) Legal Opinion. Legal Opinion and Consent of Thompson Hine LLP is filed herewith.

 

(j) Other Opinions. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is filed herewith.

 

(k) Omitted Financial Statements. None.

 

(l) Initial Capital Agreements. None.

 

(m) Rule 12b-1 Plans.
                      (i) Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares is filed herewith.
                     (ii) Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Institutional Class shares is filed herewith.

 

(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan is filed herewith.

 

(o) Reserved.

 

(p) Code of Ethics.

 

(i) Code of Ethics for the Trust is filed herewith.

 

(ii) Code of Ethics for Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. is filed herewith.

 

(iii) Code of Ethics for Northern Lights Distributors is filed herewith.

 

(q) Powers of Attorney. Power of Attorney for the Trust, and a certificate with respect thereto, and each trustee and executive officer, is filed herewith.

 

Item 29. Control Persons. None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification.

 

Reference is made to Article VIII of the Registrant's Trust Instrument which is included, Section 8 of the Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 28(e), Section 11 of the Management Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 28(d)(i), Section 7 of the Custody Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 28(g)(i), and Section 4 of the Fund Services Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 28(h). The application of these provisions is limited by the following undertaking set forth in the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission:

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Registrant may maintain a standard mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy, if maintained, would provide coverage to the Registrant, its Trustees and officers, and could cover its advisers, among others. Coverage under the policy would include losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

 

The Management Agreement between Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. and the Registrant provides that the Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. will not be liable for any of its actions (e.g., errors of judgment, mistakes of law, losses arising out of investments) on behalf of the Registrant, provided that nothing shall protect, or purport to protect, Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. against any liability to the Registrant or to the security holders of the Registrant to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. No provision of the Management Agreement is to be construed to protect any director or officer of the Registrant or Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. from liability in violation of Section 17(h), 17(i), or 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

Furthermore, under the Management Agreement, Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. will indemnify the Registrant and its directors, officers, agents, and employees (“Indemnitee Persons”) against any loss, claim, damages, tax, penalty, liability, disbursement, litigation expenses, attorneys’ fees, and expenses or court costs arising out of, or in any way relating to:

 

(1) the enforcement of the Management Agreement;

 

(2) all actions or omissions of the Indemnitee Persons, provided that they were not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties, or in reckless disregard of their obligations and duties under the Management Agreement; and

 

(3) Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Management Agreement due to its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence.

 

Such indemnification by Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. would not be available to the extent that any enforcement action is instituted against an Indemnitee Person and the action is not settled and does not result in any final judgment in favor of such person.

 

Item 31. Activities of Investment Advisor.

 

Besides serving as investment adviser to the Registrant and other client accounts, Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc. is not currently and has not during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature. Information regarding the business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature of Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.’s directors and officers is hereby incorporated by reference to the information contained in the SAI and Part 1 of Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.’s Form ADV, file number 801-19624, as filed with the SEC.

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

 

(a) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, the principal underwriter to the Trust also acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

 

AdvisorOne Funds, AmericaFirst Quantitative Funds, Arrow ETF Trust, BlueArc Multi-Strategy Fund, CLA Strategic Allocation Fund, Compass EMP Funds Trust, Copeland Trust, Equinox Funds Trust, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust, Hays Series Trust, Miller Investment Trust, Morgan Creek Series Trust, Mutual Fund Series Trust, Neiman Funds, Nile Capital Investment Trust, North Country Funds, Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Variable Trust, OCM Mutual Fund, The Multi-Strategy Growth & Income Fund, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, Vertical Capital Income Fund, Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, Tributary Funds, Inc., Two Roads Shared Trust, Princeton Private Equity Fund, and Neiman Funds.

 

(b) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal business address of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the members and officers of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC:

 

Name

Positions and Offices

with Underwriter

Positions and Offices

with the Trust

Brian Nielsen Manager, CEO, Secretary None
Bill Wostoupal President None
Daniel Applegarth Treasurer None
Mike Nielsen Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer None
Bill Strait General Counsel None

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

 

All accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by the Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 through 31a-3 thereunder are maintained at the office of the Registrant, Adviser, Sub-Adviser, Principal Underwriter, Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant, Administrator and Custodian at the addresses stated in the SAI.

 

Item 34. Management Services. Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings. Not Applicable.

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act, the Fund has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York, on the 14 th day of August, 2015.

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

 

By: /s/James Ash

James Ash, Secretary

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in the capacities indicated on August 14, 2015.

 

 

Name Title

Joseph Breslin*

Trustee
Thomas Sarkany* Trustee
Ira Rothblut* Trustee
Charles Ranson* Trustee
Wendy Wang* President and Principal Executive Officer
Sam Singh* Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

 

*By: /s/James Ash

James Ash

Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

1. Registrant's Trust Instrument EX-99.28(a)(i)
2. By-Laws EX-99.28(b)
3. Management Agreement for Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund EX-99.28(d)(i)
4. Underwriting Agreement EX-99.28(e)
5. Custody Agreement EX-99.28(g)
6. Fund Services Agreement EX-99.28(h)
7. Legal Opinion and Consent EX-99.28(i)
8. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm EX-99.28(j)
9. Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A Shares EX-99.28(m)(i)
10. Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Institutional Class Shares EX-99.28(m)(ii)
11. Rule 18f-3 Plan EX-99.28(n)
12. Code of Ethics for the Trust EX-99.28(p)(i)
13. Code of Ethics for Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc EX-99.28(p)(ii)
14. Code of Ethics for Northern Lights Distributors EX-99.28(p)(iii)
15. Power of Attorney for the Trust, and a certificate with respect thereto,
and each trustee and executive officer
EX-99.28(q)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

of

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

 

a Delaware Statutory Trust

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

ARTICLE I.  Name and Definitions 2
Section 1   Name . 2
Section 2.  Registered Agent and Registered Office; Principal Place of Business. 2
(a)    Registered Agent and Registered Office . 2
(b)    Principal Place of Business . 2
Section 3.  Definitions 2
(a)   “ 1940 Act 2
(b)   “ Affiliated Person 2
(c)   “ Assignment ”. 2
(d)   “ Board of Trustees 2
(e)   “ By-Laws 2
(f)   “ Certificate of Trust 2
(g)   “ Code 3
(h)   “ Commission 3
(i)   “ Delaware Act 3
(j)   “ Declaration of Trust 3
(k)   “ General Liabilities 3
(l)   “ Interested Person 3
(m)   “ Investment Adviser ” or “ Adviser 3
(n)   “ Majority Shareholder Vote 3
(o)   “ National Financial Emergency 3
(p)   “ Person 3
(q)   “ Principal Underwriter 3
(r)   “ Series 3
(s)   “ Shares 4
(t)   “ Shareholder 4
(u)   “ Trust 4
(v)   “ Trust Property 4
(w)   “ Trustee ” or “ Trustees ”. 4
ARTICLE II.  Purpose of Trust 4
ARTICLE III.  Shares 7
Section 1.  Division of Beneficial Interest . 7
Section 2.  Ownership of Shares 9
Section 3.  Investments in the Trust 9
Section 4.  Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability 9
i
 
Section 5.  Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares 10
Section 6.  Establishment and Designation of Series 11
(a)    Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series 11
(b)    Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series 11
(c)    Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases 12
(d)    Voting 13
(e)    Equality 13
(f)    Fractions 13
(g)    Exchange Privilege 13
(h)    Combination of Series 13
(i)    Elimination of Series 13
Section 7.  Indemnification of Shareholders 14
ARTICLE IV.  The Board of Trustees 14
Section 1.  Number, Election and Tenure 14
Section 2.  Effect of Death, Resignation, Removal, etc.  of a Trustee 15
Section 3.  Powers 15
Section 4.  Chairman of the Trustees 16
Section 5.  Payment of Expenses by the Trust 16
Section 6.  Payment of Expenses by Shareholders 17
Section 7.  Ownership of Trust Property 17
Section 8.  Service Contracts. 17
ARTICLE V.  Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings 19
Section 1.  Voting Powers 19
Section 2.  Meetings 19
Section 3.  Quorum and Required Vote 19
Section 4.  Shareholder Action by Written Consent without a Meeting 20
Section 5.  Record Dates 20
Section 6. Derivative Actions ……………………………………………………… 21  
Section 7.  Additional Provisions 21
ARTICLE VI.  Custodian 21
Section 1.  Appointment and Duties 21
Section 2.  Central Certificate System 22
ARTICLE VII.  Net Asset Value, Distributions and Redemptions 23
Section 1.  Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions 23
Section 2.  Redemptions at the Option of a Shareholder 23
Section 3.  Redemptions at the Option of the Trust 24
ii
 
ARTICLE VIII.  Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Officers and Trustees 25
Section 1.  Compensation 25
Section 2.  Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. 25
Section 3.  Officers and Trustees’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety 25
Section 4.  Insurance 26
ARTICLE IX.  Miscellaneous 26
Section 1.  Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees 26
Section 2.  Dissolution of Trust or Series 26
Section 3.  Merger and Consolidation; Conversion . 27
(a)    Merger and Consolidation . 27
(b)    Conversion 27
Section 4.  Reorganization 27
Section 5.  Amendments 28
Section 6.  Filing of Copies, References, Headings 28
Section 7.  Applicable Law 29
Section 8.  Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations. 29
Section 9.  Statutory Trust Only 29
Section 10.  Fiscal Year 33
iii
 

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

OF

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made this 2nd day of June, 2015, by the Trustees hereunder, and by the holders of shares of beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided. This Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall be effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Trust in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an investment company; and

 

WHEREAS this Trust is authorized to issue its shares of beneficial interest in separate Series, and to issue classes of Shares of any Series or divide Shares of any Series into two or more classes, all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Delaware business trust in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act of 2002 (12 Del. C. §3801, et seq. ), as from time to time amended and including any successor statute of similar import (the “DSTA”), and the provisions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust and the Series created hereunder as hereinafter set forth.

 

 
 

ARTICLE I

Name and Definitions .

 

Section 1. Name . The name of the Trust hereby created is “ Northern Lights Fund Trust IV ” 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.

 

Section 2. Registered Agent and Registered Office; Principal Place of Business.

 

(a) Registered Agent and Registered Office . The name of the registered agent of the Trust and the address of the registered office of the Trust are as set forth on the Certificate of Trust.

 

(b) Principal Place of Business . The principal place of business of the Trust is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68154 or such other location within or outside of the State of Delaware as the Board of Trustees may determine from time to time.

 

Section 3. Definitions . Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:

 

(a) “ 1940 Act ” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;

 

(b) “ Affiliated Person ” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act when used with reference to a specified Person;

(c) “ Assignment ” shall have the meaning given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder.

(d) “ Board of Trustees ” shall mean the governing body of the Trust, which is comprised of the Trustees of the Trust;

 

(e) “ By-Laws ” shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article X of the By-Laws, and incorporated herein by reference;

 

(f) “ Certificate of Trust ” shall mean the certificate of trust filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required under the DSTA to form the Trust;

 

2
 

(g) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder;

 

(h) “ Commission ” shall have the meaning given it in Section 2(a)(7) of the 1940 Act;

 

(i) The “ Delaware Act ” refers to Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code entitled “Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts,” as it may be amended from time to time;

 

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

 

(k) “ General Liabilities ” shall have the meaning given it in Article III, Section 6(b) of this Declaration Trust;

 

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

 

(m) “ Investment Adviser ” or “ Adviser ” shall mean a party furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;

 

(n) “ Majority Shareholder Vote ” shall have the same meaning as the term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” is given in the 1940 Act, as modified by or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the Commission or any rules or regulations adopted or interpretive releases of the Commission thereunder;

 

(o) “ National Financial Emergency ” shall mean the whole or any part of any period set forth in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, declare that the suspension relating to a national financial emergency shall terminate, as the case may be, on the first business day on which the New York Stock Exchange shall have reopened or the period specified in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act shall have expired (as to which, in the absence of an official ruling by the Commission, the determination of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive);

 

(p) “ Person ” shall include a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate, association, corporation, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity;

 

(q) “ Principal Underwriter ” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 2(a)(29) of the 1940 Act;

 

(r) “ Series ” means a series of Shares of the Trust established in

3
 

accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6;

 

(s) “ Shares ” shall mean the outstanding shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, and shall include fractional and whole shares;

 

(t) “ Shareholder ” shall mean a record owner of Shares;

 

(u) “ Trust ” shall refer to the Delaware statutory trust established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;

 

(v) “ Trust Property ” shall mean any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or one or more of any Series, including, without limitation, the rights referenced in Article VIII, Section 2 hereof;

 

(w) “ Trustee ” or “ Trustees ” shall refer to each signatory to this Declaration of Trust as a trustee, so long as such signatory continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may, from time to time, be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof. Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in their capacity as Trustees hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II

Purpose of Trust .

 

The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a registered management investment company registered under the 1940 Act through one or more Series investing primarily in securities and, in addition to any authority given by law, to exercise all of the powers and to do any and all of the things as fully and to the same extent as any private corporation organized for profit under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware, now or hereafter in force, including, without limitation, the following powers:

 

(a) To invest and reinvest cash, to hold cash uninvested, and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, mortgage, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities or property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, 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, without limitation, states, territories,

4
 

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 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, to change the investments of the assets of the Trust;

 

(b) To exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges with reference to or incident to ownership or interest, use and enjoyment of any of such securities and other instruments or property of every kind and description, including, but without limitation, the right, power and privilege to own, vote, hold, purchase, sell, negotiate, assign, exchange, lend, transfer, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, pledge or write options with respect to or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy any rights, title, interest, powers or privileges under or with reference to any of such securities and other instruments or property, 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, and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of any of such securities and other instruments or property;

 

(c) 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, subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act;

 

(d) 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;

 

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

 

(f) 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 proper safeguards according to the usual practice of investment companies or any rules or regulations applicable thereto;

 

(g) 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

5
 

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;

 

(h) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary 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, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

 

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

 

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

 

(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 or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, 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 Advisers, 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, to the fullest extent permitted by this Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the By-laws and by applicable law; and

 

(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.

 

(n) To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, sell, negotiate, exchange, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy, property of all kinds.

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(o) To buy, sell, mortgage, encumber, hold, own, exchange, rent or otherwise acquire and dispose of, and to develop, improve, manage, subdivide, and generally to deal and trade in real property, improved and unimproved, and wheresoever situated; and to build, erect, construct, alter and maintain buildings, structures, and other improvements on real property.

 

(p) To borrow or raise moneys for any of the purposes of the Trust, and to mortgage or pledge the whole or any part of the property and franchises of the Trust, real, personal, and mixed, tangible or intangible, and wheresoever situated.

 

(q) To enter into, make and perform contracts and undertakings of every kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as to amount.

 

(r) To issue, purchase, sell and transfer, reacquire, hold, trade and deal in Shares, bonds, debentures and other securities, instruments or other property of the Trust, from time to time, to such extent as the Board of Trustees shall, consistent with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, determine; and to repurchase, re-acquire and redeem, from time to time, its Shares or, if any, its bonds, debentures and other securities.

 

The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible dissolution 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. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees shall be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.

 

The foregoing clauses shall each be construed as purposes, objects and powers, and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumeration of specific purposes, objects and powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of the Trust, and that they are in furtherance of, and in addition to, and not in limitation of, the general powers conferred upon the Trust by the DSTA and the other laws of the State of Delaware or otherwise; nor shall the enumeration of one thing be deemed to exclude another, although it be of like nature, not expressed.

 

 

ARTICLE III

Shares

Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest . The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided into Shares, all without par value. The number of Shares authorized hereunder is unlimited. The Board of Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate and distinct Series and the division of any Series into separate classes of Shares. The different Series and classes shall be

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established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series and classes shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Trustees without the requirement of Shareholder approval. If no separate Series or classes 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, and all references to Series and classes shall be construed (as the context may require) to refer to the Trust. The fact that a Series shall have initially been established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Series are initially of a single class) shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate separate classes of said Series. The fact that a Series shall have more than one established and designated class, shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional classes of said Series, or to establish and designate separate classes of the previously established and designated classes.

 

The Board of Trustees shall have the power to issue Shares of the Trust, or any Series or class thereof, from time to time for such consideration (but not less than the net asset value thereof) and in such form as may be fixed from time to time pursuant to the direction of the Board of Trustees.

 

The Board of Trustees may hold as treasury shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel, at their discretion from time to time, any Shares of any Series reacquired by the Trust. Shares held in the treasury shall not, until reissued, confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares. The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any Series or class into one or more Series or classes that may be established and designated from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and any Series thereof may acquire, hold, sell and otherwise deal in, for purposes of investment or otherwise, the Shares of any other Series of the Trust or Shares of the Trust, and such Shares shall not be deemed treasury shares or cancelled.

 

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article V hereof, and the Shareholders of any Series shall be entitled to receive dividends and distributions, when, if and as declared with respect thereto in the manner provided in Article IV, Section 3 hereof. No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Series or class with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust or of such Series or class made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2 hereof. All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of a particular class of Series from the Trust Property held with respect to such Series according to the number of Shares of such class of such

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Series 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 new or 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 any particular Series into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series. Such division or combination may not materially change the proportionate beneficial interests of the Shares of that Series in the Trust Property held with respect to that Series or materially affect the rights of Shares of any other Series.

 

Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any such Person is interested, may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of the Trust to the same extent as if such Person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may purchase Shares from any such Person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of such Shares generally.

 

Section 2. Ownership of Shares . The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust kept by the Trust or by a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Series and class thereof that has been established and designated. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Board of Trustees may make such rules not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of each Series or 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 who are the Shareholders of each Series or class thereof and as to the number of Shares of each Series or class thereof held from time to time by each such 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 Board of Trustees may, from time to time, authorize. Each investment shall be credited to the individual Shareholder’s account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the Trust, in such Series or class as the purchaser may select, at the net asset value per Share next determined for such Series or class after receipt of the investment; provided , however , that the Principal Underwriter may, pursuant to its agreement with the Trust, impose a sales charge upon investments in the Trust.

 

Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability . Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving to Shareholders only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust and under applicable law. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof and to have become a party hereto. The death of a

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Shareholder during the existence of the Trust shall not operate to dissolve the Trust or any Series, nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees or any Series, but entitles such representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the 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. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided herein, 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 personally agree to pay. All Shares when issued on the terms determined by the Board of Trustees shall be fully paid and nonassessable. As provided in the DSTA, Shareholders of the Trust shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of a private corporation organized for profit under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend this Declaration of Trust or the Certificate of Trust as provided elsewhere herein, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this Declaration of Trust, or the Certificate of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the Board of Trustees may determine in its 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 otherwise required by the 1940 Act or other applicable 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 already issued; provided , however , that in the event that the Board of Trustees determines that the Trust shall no longer be operated as an investment company in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may adopt such amendments to this Declaration of Trust to delete those terms the Board of Trustees identifies as being required by the 1940 Act.

 

Subject to the foregoing Paragraph, the Board of Trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust to amend any of the provisions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of Section 6 of this Article III.

 

The Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its discretion, to make such elections as to the tax status of the Trust as may be permitted or required under the

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Code as presently in effect or as amended, without the vote of any Shareholder.

 

Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series . The establishment and designation of any Series or class of Shares shall be effective upon the resolution by a majority of the then Board of Trustees, adopting a resolution which sets forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights and preferences of such Series or class. Each such resolution shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.

 

Each Series shall be separate and distinct from any other Series and shall maintain separate and distinct records on the books of the Trust, and the assets and liabilities belonging to any such Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets and liabilities of the Trust or any other Series.

 

Shares of each Series or class established pursuant to this Section 6, unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing such Series, 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 particular 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, without limitation, 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, subject only to the rights of creditors with respect to that Series, 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, without limitation, 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 which are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Assets”), the Board of Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, deems 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 Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.

 

(b) Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series . The assets of the Trust held with respect to each particular Series shall be charged against the liabilities of the Trust held with respect to that Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any liabilities, expenses, costs,

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charges and reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Liabilities”) shall be allocated and charged by the Board of Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion deems 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 Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. All Persons who have extended credit which has been allocated to a particular Series, or who have a claim or contract that has been allocated to any particular Series, shall look, and shall be required by contract to look exclusively, to the assets of that particular Series for payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an express contractual agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors, claimants and contract providers, each creditor, claimant and contract provider will be deemed nevertheless to have impliedly agreed to such limitation unless an express provision to the contrary has been incorporated in the written contract or other document establishing the claimant relationship.

 

Subject to the right of the Board of Trustees in its discretion to allocate General Liabilities as provided herein, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series, whether such Series is now authorized and existing pursuant to this Declaration of Trust or is hereafter authorized and existing pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to that Series only, and not against the assets of any other Series or the Trust generally and 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 held with respect to such Series. Notice of this limitation on liabilities between and among Series shall be set forth in the Certificate of Trust of the Trust (whether originally or by amendment) as filed or to be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DSTA, and upon the giving of such notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the DSTA relating to limitations on liabilities between and among Series (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the Certificate of Trust) shall become applicable to the Trust and each Series.

 

(c) Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI, no dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon dissolution of the Trust or of any Series with respect to, nor 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, except as specifically provided in Section 7 of this Article III, shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the

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assets held with respect to any other Series or the Trust generally except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Board of Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, 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.

 

(d) Voting . All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote on the matter, separately by Series and, if applicable, by class, subject to: (1) where the 1940 Act requires all Shares of the Trust to be voted in the aggregate without differentiation between the separate Series or classes, then all of the Trust’s Shares shall vote in the aggregate; and (2) if any matter affects only the interests of some but not all Series or classes, then only the Shareholders of such affected Series or classes shall be entitled to vote on the matter.

 

(e) Equality . All Shares of each particular Series shall represent an equal proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the assets held with respect to that Series (subject to the liabilities held with respect to that 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 any particular Series shall be equal to each other Share of that Series (subject to the rights and preferences with respect to separate classes of such Series).

 

(f) Fractions . Any fractional Share of a Series shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of that Series, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and dissolution of the Trust or that Series.

 

(g) Exchange Privilege . The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board of Trustees, and in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(h) Combination of Series . The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval of the Shareholders of any Series unless otherwise required by applicable 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 any particular Series or class previously established and designated, the Board of Trustees may by resolution of a majority of the then Board of Trustees abolish that Series or class and rescind the establishment and designation thereof.

 

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Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders . If any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating solely to his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust (or by having been a Shareholder of a particular Series), and not because of such Person’s acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or, in the case of a natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust or out of the assets of the applicable Series (as the case may be) against all loss and expense arising from such claim or demand; provided , however , there shall be no liability or obligation of the Trust (or any particular Series) arising hereunder to reimburse any Shareholder for taxes paid by reason of such Shareholder’s ownership of any Shares.

 

ARTICLE IV


The Board of Trustees

Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure . The number of Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees may 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 in no event be less than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15). The initial Trustee shall be the person named herein. 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 or remove any Trustee with or without cause. The Shareholders may elect Trustees, including filling any vacancies in the Board of Trustees, at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Board of Trustees for that purpose. A meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees may be called by the Board of Trustees or, to the extent provided by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, by the Shareholders. Shareholders shall have the power to remove a Trustee only to the extent provided by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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 appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or, if sooner than any of such events, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her successor. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some later 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 any such event or any right to damages on account of such events or any actions taken in connection therewith following his or her resignation or removal.

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Section 2. Effect of Death, Resignation, Removal, etc. of a Trustee . The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, declaration as bankrupt or incapacity of one or more Trustees, or of all of them, shall not operate to dissolve the Trust or any Series 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 this Article IV, Section 1, the Trustee(s) in office, regardless of the number, shall have all the powers granted to the Board of Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Board of Trustees by this Declaration of Trust. In the event of the death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal, declaration as bankrupt or incapacity of all of the then Trustees, the Trust’s Investment Adviser(s) is (are) empowered to appoint new Trustees subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3. Powers . Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees shall manage the business of the Trust, and such Board of Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility, including, without limitation, the power to engage in securities or other transactions of all kinds on behalf of the Trust. The Board of Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that it may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Trust. The Trustees shall not be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs with regard to investment by trustees or fiduciaries, but shall have full authority and absolute power and control over the assets of the Trust and the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the assets of the Trust and the business in their own right, including such authority, power and control to do all acts and things as they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may: (1) 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; (2) fill vacancies in or remove from their number in accordance with this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, and may elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; (3) appoint from their own number and establish and terminate one or more committees consisting of two or more Trustees which may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Board of Trustees determine; (4) employ one or more custodians of the Trust Property and may authorize such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such Trust Property in a system or systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank; (5) retain a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, a shareholder servicing agent or administrative services agent, or all of them; (6) provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; (7) retain one or more Investment Adviser(s); (8) redeem, repurchase and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; (9) set record dates for the determination of

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Shareholders with respect to various matters, in the manner provided in Article V, Section 5 of this Declaration of Trust; (10) declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders from the Trust Property; (11) establish from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any Series or class 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 purposes; and (12) in general delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Board of Trustees and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing or shareholder servicing agent, Principal Underwriter or Investment Adviser. Any determination as to what is in the best interests of the Trust made by the Board of 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. Unless otherwise specified herein or required by law, any action by the Board of Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the Trustees then in office.

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Trustees, or a committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be, shall individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a majority vote of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees, or committee thereof, as the case may be.

 

The Trustees shall devote to the affairs of the Trust such time as may be necessary for the proper performance of their duties hereunder, but neither the Trustees nor the officers, directors, shareholders or partners of the Trustees, shall be expected to devote their full time to the performance of such duties. The Trustees, or any Affiliate shareholder, officer, director, partner or employee thereof, or any Person owning a legal or beneficial interest therein, may engage in or possess an interest in any other business or venture of any nature and description, independently or with or for the account of others.

 

Section 4. Chairman of the Trustees . The Trustees shall appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees, shall be responsible for the execution of policies established by the Trustees and the administration of the Trust, and may be (but is not required to be) the chief executive, financial and/or accounting officer of the Trust.

 

Section 5. Payment of Expenses by the Trust . The Board of Trustees is authorized to pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or

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any particular Series or class, or partly out of the principal and partly out of the income of the Trust or any particular Series or class, and to charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series or classes that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6, as it deems fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with the maintenance or operation of the Trust or a particular Series or class, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities for the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, sub-custodian (if any), transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.

 

Section 6. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders . The Board of Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as it may determine, to cause each Shareholder of the Trust, or each Shareholder of any particular Series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Board of Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.

 

Section 7. Ownership of Trust Property . Legal title to all of the Trust Property shall at all times be considered to be vested in the Trust, except that the Board of Trustees shall have the power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of any Person as nominee, on such terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, in accordance with applicable law.

 

Section 8. Service Contracts.

 

(a) Subject to such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws and/or the 1940 Act, the Board of 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 corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliate; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, including without limitation, authority for the Investment Adviser or administrator to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Board of Trustees what securities and other instruments or property shall be purchased or otherwise acquired, owned, held, invested or reinvested in, sold, exchanged, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, assigned, negotiated, or otherwise dealt with or disposed of, and what portion, if any, of the Trust Property shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust’s or

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a particular Series’ investments, or such other activities as may specifically be delegated to such party.

 

(b) The Board of Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliate, appointing it or them as the exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of the Trust or one or more of the Series or classes thereof or for other securities to be issued by the Trust, or appointing it or them to act as the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the Series or classes thereof.

 

(c) The Board of Trustees is 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 its Series, as the Board of Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust or one or more of its Series.

 

(d) The fact that:

 

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliate or agent of or for any corporation, trust, association, or other organization, or for any parent or Affiliate of any organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or Affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that

 

(ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which an Adviser’s, management or administration contract or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an Adviser’s, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter’s or distributor’s contract, or custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or other service contract with one or more other corporations, trusts, associations, or other organizations, or has other business or interests, shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee, employee 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 that the establishment of and performance under each such contract is permissible under the

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provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

(e) Every contract referred to in this Section 7 shall comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws, the 1940 Act or stipulated by resolution of the Board of Trustees; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine.

 

 

ARTICLE V

Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings .

 

Section 1. Voting Powers . Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d), the Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees, including the filling of any vacancies in the Board of Trustees, as provided in Article IV, Section 1; (ii) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act or any registration statement of the Trust filed with the Commission; and (iii) on such other matters as the Board of Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. The Shareholder of record (as of the record date established pursuant to Section 5 of this Article V) of each Share shall be entitled to one vote for each full Share, and a fractional vote for each fractional Share. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulative voting in the election of Trustees or on any other matter. Shareholders may vote Shares in person or by proxy.

 

Section 2. Meetings . Meetings of the Shareholders may be held within or outside the State of Delaware. Meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or a Series may be called by the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Board or the President of the Trust for any lawful purpose, including the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1. Special meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series shall be called by the Board of Trustees, Chairman or President upon the written request of Shareholders owning the requisite percentage amount of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote specified in the By-Laws. Whenever ten or more Shareholders meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, seek the opportunity of furnishing materials to the other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures on such a request for a meeting, the Trustees shall comply with the provisions of said Section 16(c) with respect to providing such Shareholders access to the list of the Shareholders of record of the Trust or the mailing of such materials to such Shareholders of record, subject to any rights provided to the Trust or any Trustees provided by said Section 16(c). Shareholders shall be entitled to at least fifteen (15) days’ notice of any meeting.

 

Section 3. Quorum and Required Vote . Except when a larger quorum is required by applicable law, by the By-Laws or by this Declaration of Trust, thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Shares present in person or

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represented by proxy and entitled to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. When a separate vote by one or more Series or classes is required, thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Shares of each such Series or class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at a Shareholders’ meeting of such Series or class. Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d), Article VIII, Section 4 and any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or applicable law which requires a different vote: (1) in all matters other than the election of Trustees, the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at a Shareholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Shareholders; (2) Trustees shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a Shareholders’ meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

Section 4. Shareholder Action by Written Consent without a Meeting . Any action which may be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the holders of Shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all Shares entitled to vote on that action were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust’s records. Any Shareholder giving a written consent or the Shareholder’s proxy holders or a transferee of the Shares or a personal representative of the Shareholder or its respective proxy-holder may revoke the consent by a writing received by the secretary of the Trust before written consents of the number of Shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the secretary.

If the consents of all Shareholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in writing and if the unanimous written consent of all such Shareholders shall not have been received, the secretary shall give prompt notice of the action taken without a meeting to such Shareholders. This notice shall be given in the manner specified in the By-Laws.

 

Section 5. Record Dates . For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote or entitled to give consent to action without a meeting, the Board of Trustees may fix in advance a record date which shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) days nor less than seven (7) days before the date of any such meeting.

 

If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:

 

(a) The record date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day which is five (5) business days next preceding to the day on which the meeting is held.

 

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(b) The record date for determining Shareholders entitled to give consent to action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior action by the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given, or (ii) when prior action of the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution taking such prior action or the seventy-fifth (75th) day before the date of such other action, whichever is later.

 

For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of any Series or class who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Board of Trustees may from time to time fix a date, which shall be before the date for the payment of such dividend or such other distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders of such Series or class having the right to receive such dividend or distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series or classes.

 

Section 6. Derivative Actions . In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Delaware Act, a Shareholder may bring derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the Shareholder or Shareholders first make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such action is excused. A demand on the Trustees shall only be excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the action at issue. A Trustee shall not be deemed to have a personal financial interest in an action or otherwise be disqualified from ruling on a Shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration from his service on the Board of Trustees of the Trust or on the boards of one or more investment companies with the same or an affiliated investment advisor or underwriter.

 

Section 7. Additional Provisions . The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes, meetings and related matters.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Custodian .

 

Section 1. Appointment and Duties . The Trustees shall at all times employ a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company, each having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) as custodian with authority as its agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may be contained in the Bylaws of the Trust:

 

(a) To hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the same upon

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written order or oral order confirmed in writing, or by such electro-mechanical or electronic devices as are agreed to by the Trust and the custodian, if such procedures have been authorized in writing by the Trust;

 

(b) To receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit the same in its own banking department or else where as the Trustees may direct;

 

(c) To disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;

 

and the Trust may also employ such custodian as its agent:

 

(d) To keep the books and accounts of the Trust or of any Series or class and furnish clerical and accounting services; and

 

(e) To compute, if authorized to do so by the Trustees, the Net Asset Value of any Series, or class thereof, in accordance with the provisions hereof; all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees and the custodian.

 

The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the custodian, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank, a company that is a member of a national securities exchange, or a trust company organized under the laws of the United States or one of the states thereof and having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act.

 

Section 2. Central Certificate System . Subject to such rules, regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or such other person as may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust or its custodians, subcustodians or other agents.

 

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ARTICLE VII

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 Board of Trustees shall have the power to fix an initial offering price for the Shares of any Series or class thereof which shall yield to such Series or class not less than the net asset value thereof, at which price the Shares of such Series or class shall be offered initially for sale, and to determine from time to time thereafter the offering price which shall yield to such Series or class not less than the net asset value thereof from sales of the Shares of such Series or class; provided , however , that no Shares of a Series or class thereof shall be issued or sold for consideration which shall yield to such Series or class less than the net asset value of the Shares of such Series or class next determined after the receipt of the order (or at such other times set by the Board of Trustees), except in the case of Shares of such Series or class issued in payment of a dividend properly declared and payable.

 

Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth in the By-laws or in a duly adopted vote of the Board of Trustees such bases and time for determining the per Share or net asset value of the Shares of any Series or net income attributable to the Shares of any Series, or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any Series, as they may deem necessary or desirable.

 

Section 2. Redemptions at the Option of a Shareholder . Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus of the Trust relating to the Shares, as such prospectus may be amended from time to time (“Prospectus”):

 

(a) The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Board of 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 applicable law. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the request 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 National Financial 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 Board of Trustees. If certificates have been issued to a Shareholder,

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any such request by such Shareholder must be accompanied by surrender of any outstanding certificate or certificates for such Shares in form for transfer, together with such proof of the authenticity of signatures as may reasonably be required on such Shares and accompanied by proper stock transfer stamps, if applicable.

 

(b) Payments for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made in cash, except payment for such Shares may, at the option of the Board of Trustees, or such officer or officers as it may duly authorize in its complete discretion, be made in kind or partially in cash and partially in kind. In case of any payment in kind, the Board of Trustees, or its delegate, shall have absolute discretion as to what security or securities of the Trust shall be distributed in kind and the amount of the same; and the securities shall be valued for purposes of distribution at the value at which they were appraised in computing the then current net asset value of the Shares, provided that any Shareholder who cannot legally acquire securities so distributed in kind by reason of the prohibitions of the 1940 Act or the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) shall receive cash. Shareholders shall bear the expenses of in-kind transactions, including, but not limited to, transfer agency fees, custodian fees and costs of disposition of such securities.

 

(c) Payment for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made by the Trust as provided above within seven days after the date on which the redemption request is received in good order; provided, however, that if payment shall be made other than exclusively in cash, any securities to be delivered as part of such payment shall be delivered as promptly as any necessary transfers of such securities on the books of the several corporations whose securities are to be delivered practicably can be made, which may not necessarily occur within such seven day period. Moreover, redemptions may be suspended in the event of a National Financial Emergency. 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.

 

(d) The right of Shareholders to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares may be set forth in a Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and amended from time to time pursuant to Rule 18f-3 of the 1940 Act. The right of any Shareholder of the Trust to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares redeemed and all other rights of such Shareholder with respect to the Shares so redeemed by the Trust, except the right of such Shareholder to receive payment for such Shares, shall cease at the time as of which the purchase price of such Shares shall have been fixed, as provided above.

 

Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust . The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, and subject to the 1940 Act, redeem Shares or authorize the closing of any Shareholder account, subject to such conditions as may be established by the Board of Trustees.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

Compensation and Limitation of Liability of
Officers and Trustees .

 

Section 1. Compensation . Except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 1, the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, fix a reasonable amount of compensation to be paid by the Trust to the Trustees and officers of the Trust. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

 

Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability.

 

(a) To the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Trustees and officers are permitted by the DSTA, the officers and Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of: any agent or employee of the Trust; any Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust; or with respect to each Trustee and officer, the act or omission of any other Trustee or officer, respectively. The Trust, out of the Trust Property, shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every officer and Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising out of or related to such officer’s or Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a Person serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust whether or not such Person is a Trustee or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted. Nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any officer or Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which such Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Person’s office.

 

(b) Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or document whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, the officers 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 such Person’s capacity as Trustee and/or as officer, and such Trustee or officer, as applicable, shall not be personally liable therefor, except as described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 2 of this Article VIII.

 

Section 3. Officers and Trustees’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety . The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. An officer or Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for such officer’s or Trustee’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of such officer or Trustee, and for nothing else, and shall

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not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The officers and Trustees may obtain the advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust and their duties as officers or Trustees. No such officer or Trustee shall be liable for any act or omission in accordance with such advice and no inference concerning liability shall arise from a failure to follow such advice. The officers and Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such, nor any surety if a bond is required.

 

Section 4. Insurance . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the officers and Trustees shall be entitled and have the authority to purchase with Trust Property, 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 such Person becomes involved by virtue of such Person’s capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

 

ARTICLE IX

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 actions made or to be made by the Trustees.

 

Section 2. Dissolution of Trust or Series . Unless dissolved as provided herein, the Trust shall have perpetual existence. The Trust may be dissolved at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust entitled to vote or by the Board of Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders. Any Series may be dissolved at any time by vote of a majority of the Shares of that Series or by the Board of Trustees by written notice to the Shareholders of that Series.

 

Upon dissolution of the Trust (or a particular Series, as the case may be), the Trustees shall (in accordance with § 3808 of the DSTA) pay or make reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of each Series (or the particular Series, as the case may be), including all contingent, conditional or unmatured claims and obligations known to the Trust, and all claims and obligations which are known to the Trust but for which the identity of the claimant is unknown. If there are sufficient assets held with respect to each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be), such claims and obligations shall be paid in full and any such provisions for payment shall be made in full. If there are insufficient assets held with respect to each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be), such claims and obligations shall be paid or provided for according to their priority and, among claims and obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets available therefor. Any remaining assets (including without limitation, cash, securities or any combination thereof) held with respect to each Series of the Trust (or

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the particular Series, as the case may be) shall be distributed to the Shareholders of such Series, ratably according to the number of Shares of such Series held by the several Shareholders on the record date for such dissolution distribution.

 

Section 3. Merger and Consolidation; Conversion .

 

(a) Merger and Consolidation . Pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, the Trust, or any one or more Series, may, by act of a majority of the Board of Trustees, merge or consolidate with or into one or more business trusts or other business entities formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or the United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction. Any such merger or consolidation shall not require the vote of the Shareholders affected thereby, unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act, or unless such merger or consolidation would result in an amendment of this Declaration of Trust, which would otherwise require the approval of such Shareholders. In accordance with Section 3815(f) of the DSTA, an agreement of merger or consolidation may affect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or affect the adoption of a new declaration of trust or by-laws of the Trust if the Trust is the surviving or resulting business trust. Upon completion of the merger or consolidation, the Trustees shall file a certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section 3810 of the DSTA.

 

(b) Conversion . A majority of the Board of Trustees may, without the vote or consent of the Shareholders, cause (i) the Trust to convert to a common-law trust, a general partnership, limited partnership or a limited liability company organized, formed or created under the laws of the State of Delaware as permitted pursuant to Section 3821 of the DSTA; (ii) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in another business trust (or series thereof) created pursuant to this Section 3 of this Article VIII, or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law; provided , however, that if required by the 1940 Act, no such statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share exchange shall be effective unless the terms of such transaction shall first have been approved at a meeting called for that purpose by the “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” as such phrase is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust or Series, as applicable; provided , further , that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a sale of assets, merger or consolidation including the power to create one or more separate business trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust or any Series into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or trusts (or series thereof).

 

Section 4. Reorganization . A majority of the Board of Trustees may cause the Trust to sell, convey and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the

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Trust, or all or substantially all of the assets associated with any one or more Series, to another trust, business trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation organized under the laws of any state, or to one or more separate series thereof, or to the Trust to be held as assets associated with one or more other Series of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares or other securities (including, without limitation, in the case of a transfer to another Series of the Trust, Shares of such other Series) with such transfer either (a) being made subject to, or with the assumption by the transferee of, the liabilities associated with each Series the assets of which are so transferred, or (b) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of, such liabilities; provided, however, that, if required by the 1940 Act, no assets associated with any particular Series shall be so sold, conveyed or transferred unless the terms of such transaction shall first have been approved at a meeting called for that purpose by the “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” as such phrase is defined in the 1940 Act, of that Series. Following such sale, conveyance and transfer, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares or other securities (giving due effect to the assets and liabilities associated with and any other differences among the various Series the assets associated with which have so been sold, conveyed and transferred) ratably among the Shareholders of the Series the assets associated with which have been so sold, conveyed and transferred (giving due effect to the differences among the various classes within each such Series); and if all of the assets of the Trust have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, the Trust shall be dissolved.

 

Section 5. Amendments . Subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of this Section 5 of this Article VIII, this Declaration of Trust may be restated and/or amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Board of Trustees and, if required, by approval of such amendment by Shareholders in accordance with Article V, Section 3 hereof. Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective immediately upon execution and approval or upon such future date and time as may be stated therein. The Certificate of Trust of the Trust may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, 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.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Board of Trustees expressly reserves the right to amend or repeal any provisions contained in this Declaration of Trust or the Certificate of Trust, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of Article III hereof, and all rights, contractual and otherwise, conferred upon Shareholders are granted subject to such reservation. The Board of Trustees further expressly reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision of the By-Laws pursuant to Article IX of the By-Laws.

 

Section 6. Filing of Copies, References, Headings . The original or a copy of

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this Declaration of Trust and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust where any Shareholder may inspect it. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and 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 instrument or of any such restatements and/or amendments. In this Declaration of Trust and in any such restatements and/or amendments, references to this instrument, and all expressions of similar effect to “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such restatements and/or amendments. 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 instrument. 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 instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.

 

Section 7. Applicable Law . This 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 applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Code. The Trust shall be a Delaware business trust pursuant to the DSTA, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a business trust.

 

Section 8. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations .

 

(a) The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the Code, the DSTA, or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed not to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust from the time when such provisions became inconsistent with such laws or regulations; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.

 

(b) If any provision of this 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 this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 9. Statutory Trust Only . It is the intention of the Trustees to create a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and thereby to create the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the DSTA between the

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Trustees and each Shareholder. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a business trust pursuant to the DSTA. 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.

 

S ection 10. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as set forth in the Bylaws, provided, however, that the Trustees may, without Shareholder approval, change the fiscal year of the Trust.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees named below do hereby make and enter into this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

/s/ James P. Ash

James P. Ash

Sole Trustee

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BY-LAWS

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

A Delaware Business Trust

(Effective June 2, 2015)

ARTICLE I.

OFFICES

Section 1.01.       PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE . The Board of Trustees shall fix and, from time to time, may change the location of the principal executive office of the Trust at any place within or outside the State of Delaware.

Section 1.02.       OTHER OFFICES . The Board of Trustees may at any time establish branch or subordinate offices at any place or places where the Trust intends to do business.

ARTICLE II.

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Section 2.01.       PLACE OF MEETINGS . Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board of Trustees. In the absence of any such designation, shareholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust.

Section 2.02.       CALL OF MEETING . A meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series may be called at any time for any purpose by the Board of Trustees, by the Chairman of the Board or by the President. Special meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series shall be called by the Board of Trustees, Chairman, or President upon the written request of Shareholders owning at least one-third of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote.

Section 2.03.       NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING . All notices of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 4 of this Article II not less than seven (7) nor more than seventy-five (75) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the place, date and hour of the meeting, and (ii) the general nature of the business to be transacted. The notice of any meeting at which Trustees are to be elected also shall include the name of any nominee or nominees whom at the time of the notice are intended to be presented for election.

If action is proposed to be taken at any meeting for approval of (i) a contract or transaction in which a Trustee has a direct or indirect financial interest, (ii) an amendment of the Declaration of Trust, (iii) a reorganization of the Trust, or (iv) a voluntary dissolution of the Trust, the notice shall also state the general nature of that proposal.

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Section 2.04. MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE . Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally or by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication, charges prepaid, addressed to the shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent or given by the shareholder to the Trust for the purpose of notice. If no such address appears on the Trust’s books or is given, notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the Trust’s principal executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.

If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the Trust is returned to the Trust by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the shareholder at that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder on written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of the Trust for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice.

An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any shareholders’ meeting shall be executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or any transfer agent of the Trust giving the notice and shall be filed and maintained in the minute book of the Trust.

Section 2.05.       ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE . Any shareholders’ meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy.

When any shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date of the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which case the Board of Trustees shall set a new record date. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of this Article II. At any adjourned meeting, the Trust may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 2.06.       VOTING . The shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, as in effect at such time. The shareholders’ vote may be by voice vote or by ballot, provided, however, that any election for trustees must be by ballot if demanded by any shareholder before the voting has begun on any matter other than elections of Trustees, any shareholder may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, but if the shareholder fails to specify the number of shares which the shareholder is voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder’s approving vote is with respect to the total shares that the shareholder is entitled to vote on such proposal.

 

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Section 2.07. WAIVER OF NOTICE BY CONSENT OF ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS . The transactions of the meeting of shareholders, however called and noticed and wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy and if either before or after the meeting, each person entitled to vote who was not present in person or by proxy signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify either the business to be transacted or the purpose of any shareholders’ meeting.

Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the meeting if that objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 2.08.       SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action which may be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on that action were present and voted. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust’s records. Any shareholder giving a written consent or the shareholder’s proxy holders or a transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxy-holders may revoke the consent by a writing received by the Secretary of the Trust before written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the Secretary.

If the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in writing and if the unanimous written consent of all such shareholders shall not have been received, the Secretary shall give prompt notice of the action approved by the shareholders without a meeting. This notice shall be given in the manner specified in Section 4 of this Article II. In the case of approval of (i) contracts or transactions in which a trustee has a direct or indirect financial interest, (ii) indemnification of agents of the Trust, and (iii) a reorganization of the Trust, the notice shall be given at least ten (10) days before the consummation of any action authorized by that approval.

Section 2.09.       RECORD DATE FOR SHAREHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING AND GIVING CONSENTS . For purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote or entitled to give consent to action without a meeting, the Board of Trustees may fix in advance a record date which shall not be more than one hundred and eighty (180) days nor less than seven (7) days before the date of any such meeting as provided in the Declaration of Trust.

If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:

                                        (a)             The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or if notice is waived, at the

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close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

                                       (b)             The record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent to action in writing without a meeting, (i)when no prior action by the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given, or (ii) when prior action of the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Trustees adopt the resolution relating to that action or the seventy-fifth day before the date of such other action, whichever is later.

Section 2.10.       PROXIES . Every person entitled to vote for trustees or on any other matter shall have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the Secretary of the Trust. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the shareholder’s name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the shareholder or the shareholder’s attorney-in-fact. A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it before the vote pursuant to that proxy by a writing delivered to the Trust stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by the person executing that proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Trust before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided however, that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Section 2.11.       INSPECTORS OF ELECTION . Before any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Trustees may appoint any persons other than nominees for office to act as inspectors of election at the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If inspectors are appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the holders of a majority of shares or their proxies present at the meeting shall determine whether one (1) or three (3) inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting may and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy, shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

These inspectors shall:

                                        (a)             Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies;

                                       (b)             Receive votes, ballots or consents;

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                                        (c)             Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

                                       (d)             Count and tabulate all votes or consents;

                                       (e)             Determine when the polls shall close;

                                       (f)             Determine the result; and

                                       (g)             Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

ARTICLE III.

TRUSTEES

Section 3.01.       POWERS . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and these By-Laws relating to action required to be approved by the shareholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed and all powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3.02.       NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEES . The exact number of Trustees shall be set as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

Section 3.03.       VACANCIES . Vacancies in the Board of Trustees may be filled by a majority of the remaining trustees, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Trustee, unless the Board of Trustees calls a meeting of shareholders for the purposes of electing trustees. In the event that at any time less than a majority of the Trustees holding office at that time were so elected by the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, the Board of Trustees shall forthwith cause to be held as promptly as possible, and in any event within sixty (60) days, a meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing trustees to fill any existing vacancies in the Board of Trustees, unless such period is extended by order of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notwithstanding the above, whenever and for so long as the Trust is a participant in or otherwise has in effect a Plan under which the Trust may be deemed to bear expenses of distributing its shares as that practice is described in Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, then the selection and nomination of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) shall be, and is, committed to the discretion of such disinterested trustees.

Section 3.04.       PLACE OF MEETINGS AND MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE . All meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware that has been designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust. Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as all trustees participating in the meeting can hear one

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another and all such trustees shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and provided that provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 do not otherwise require an in-person meeting.

Section 3.05.       REGULAR MEETINGS . Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held without call at such time as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Trustees. Such regular meetings may be held without notice.

Section 3.06.       SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Board of Trustees for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any two (2) Trustees.

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by telephone to each Trustee or sent by first-class mail or telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each trustee at that trustee’s address as it is shown on the records of the Trust. In case the notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least seven (7) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered personally, by telephone, to the telegraph company, or by express mail or similar service, it shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the trustee or to a person at the office of the trustee who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the trustee. The notice need not specify the purpose of the meeting or the place if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the Trust.

Section 3.07.       QUORUM . A majority of the authorized number of trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 10 of this Article III. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the trustees present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Trustees, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of trustees if any action taken is approved by a least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

Section 3.08.       WAIVER OF NOTICE . Notice of any meeting need not be given to any trustee who either before or after the meeting signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the records of the Trust or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any trustee who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its commencement the lack of notice to that trustee.

Section 3.09.       ADJOURNMENT . A majority of the Trustees present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.

Section 3.10.       NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT . Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given unless the meeting is adjourned for more than forty-eight (48) hours, in which case notice of the time and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting in the manner specified in Section 7 of this Article III to the trustees who were present at the time of the adjournment.

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Section 3.11. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees shall individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as a majority vote of the Board of Trustees. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3.12.       FEES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES . Trustees and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their services and such reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees. This Section 12 shall not be construed to preclude any trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation for those services.

Section 3.13.       DELEGATION OF POWER TO OTHER TRUSTEES . Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six (6) months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall fewer than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to the Trustees under this Declaration of Trust except as otherwise expressly provided herein or by resolution of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IV.

COMMITTEES

Section 4.01.       COMMITTEES OF TRUSTEES . The Board of Trustees may by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of trustees designate one or more committees, each consisting of two (2) or more trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may designate one or more trustees as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have the authority of the Board, except with respect to:

                                        (a)             the approval of any action which under applicable law also requires shareholders’ approval or approval of the outstanding shares, or requires approval by a majority of the entire Board or certain members of said Board;

                                       (b)             the filling of vacancies on the Board of Trustees or in any committee;

                                        (c)             the fixing of compensation of the trustees for serving on the Board of Trustees or on any committee;

                                       (d)             the amendment or repeal of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or of the By-Laws or the adoption of new By-Laws;

                                        (e)             the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Trustees which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;

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                                        (f)             a distribution to the shareholders of the Trust, except at a rate or in a periodic amount or within a designated range determined by the Board of Trustees; or

                                       (g)             the appointment of any other committees of the Board of Trustees or the members of these committees.

Section 4.02.       MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES . Meetings and action of committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article III of these By-Laws, with such changes in the context thereof as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Trustees and its members, except that the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Trustees or by resolution of the committee. Special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Trustees, and notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board of Trustees may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE V.

OFFICERS

Section 5.01.       OFFICERS . The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Secretary, a Chief Compliance Officer, a Treasurer, a Principal Executive Officer and a Principal Accounting Officer. The Trust may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article V. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

Section 5.02.       ELECTION OF OFFICERS . The officers of the Trust, except such officers as may appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article V, shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

Section 5.03.       SUBORDINATE OFFICERS . The Board of Trustees may appoint and may empower the president to appoint such other officers as the business of the Trust may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in these By-Laws or as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

Section 5.04.       REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS . Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Trustees at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Trustees or except in the case of an officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Trustees.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trust. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that

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notice; and unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Trust under any contract to which the officer is a party.

Section 5.05.       VACANCIES IN OFFICES . A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these By-Laws for regular appointment to that office.

Section 5.06.       CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall if present preside at meetings of the Board of Trustees and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Board of Trustees or prescribed by the By-Laws.

Section 5.07.       PRESIDENT . Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Trustees to the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Trust. He shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and in the absence of the chairman of the board or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Trustees. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or these By-Laws.

Section 5.08.       VICE PRESIDENTS . In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Trustees or if not ranked, a vice president designated by the Board of Trustees, shall perform all the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Trustees or by these By-Laws and the President or the Chairman of the Board.

Section 5.09.       SECRETARY . The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust or such other place as the Board of Trustees may direct a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of trustees, committees of trustees and shareholders with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at trustees’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at shareholders’ meetings, and the proceedings.

The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal executive office of the Trust or at the office of the Trust’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees, a share register or a duplicate share register showing the names of all shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

The Secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Trustees required by these By-Laws or by applicable law to be given and

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shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or by these By-Laws.

Section 5.10.       TREASURER . The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Trust and shall keep and maintain or cause to be kept and maintained adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Trust, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Trustee.

The Treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Trust with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Trustees. He shall disburse the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by the Board of Trustees, shall render to the President and Trustees, whenever they request it, an account of all of his transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the Trust and shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees or these By-Laws.

Section 5.11. PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Principal Executive Officer shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees, and consistent with, applicable laws and regulations.

Section 5.12. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER . The Principal Accounting Officer shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees, and consistent with, applicable laws and regulations.

Section 5.13. CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER. The Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust will be responsible for administering its compliance policies and procedures, shall have sufficient authority and independence within the organization to compel others to adhere to the compliance policies and procedures, shall report directly to the Board of Trustees, shall annually furnish a written report on the operation of the compliance policies and procedures to the Board of Trustees and shall perform such other duties as prescribed by the Board of Trustees.

 

ARTICLE VI.

INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS

Section 6.01.       AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES . For the purpose of this Article, “agent” means any person who is or was a trustee, officer, employee or other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor entity; “proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative; and “expenses” includes without limitation attorney’s fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.

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Section 6.02. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST . This Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if that person acted in good faith and in a manner that person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this Trust and in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contenders or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 6.03.       ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST . This Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this Trust and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.

Section 6.04.       EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the agent’s office with this Trust.

No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:

                                        (a)             In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that person shall have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that person’s duty to this Trust, unless and only to the extent that the court in which that action was brought shall determine upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable by reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court shall determine; or

                                       (b)             In respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that person shall have been adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken in the person’s official capacity; or

                                        (c)             Of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or pending action, with or without court approval, or of expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of without court approval, unless the required approval set forth in Section 6 of this Article is obtained.

Section 6.05.       SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT . To the extent that an agent of this Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, before the court or other

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body before whom the proceeding was brought, the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board of Trustees, including a majority who are disinterested, non-party Trustees, also determines that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by reason of the disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.

Section 6.06.       REQUIRED APPROVAL . Except as provided in Section 5 of this Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:

                                        (a)             A majority vote of a quorum consisting of trustees who are not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940); or

                                       (b)             A written opinion by an independent legal counsel.

Section 6.07.       ADVANCE OF EXPENSES . Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the agent to repay the amount of the advance unless it shall be determined ultimately that the agent is entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article, provided the agent provides a security for his undertaking, or a majority of a quorum of the disinterested, non-party trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, determine that based on a review of readily available facts, there is reason to believe that said agent ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

Section 6.08.       OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS . Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than trustees and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract or otherwise.

Section 6.09.       LIMITATIONS . No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6 in any circumstances where it appears:

                                        (a)             That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a resolution of the shareholders, or an agreement in effect at the time of accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or

                                       (b)             That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement.

Section 6.10.       INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the Board of Trustees of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as such, but only to the extent that

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this Trust would have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the provisions of this Article.

Section 6.11.       FIDUCIARIES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. This Article does not apply to any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person’ s capacity as such, even though that person may also be an agent of this Trust as defined in Section 1 of this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to indemnification to which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.

ARTICLE VII.

RECORDS AND REPORTS

Section 7.01.       MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER . This Trust shall keep at its principal executive office or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, if either be appointed and as determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees, a record of its shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all shareholders and the number and series of shares held by each shareholder.

Section 7.02.       MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS . The Trust shall keep at its principal executive office the original or a copy of these By-Laws as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours.

Section 7.03.       MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF OTHER RECORDS . The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees and any committee or committees of the Board of Trustees shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board of Trustees or in the absence of such designation, at the principal executive office of the Trust. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall be kept either in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form. The minutes and accounting books and records shall be open to inspection upon the written demand of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate at any reasonable time during usual business hours for a purpose reasonably related to the holder’s interests as a shareholder or as the holder of a voting trust certificate. The inspection may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and shall include the right to copy and make extracts.

Section 7.04.       INSPECTION BY TRUSTEES . Every trustee shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the Trust. This inspection by a trustee may be made in person or by an agent or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents.

Section 7.05.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . A copy of any financial statements and any income statement of the Trust for each quarterly period of each fiscal year and accompanying balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of each such period that has been prepared

13
 

by the Trust shall be kept on file in the principal executive office of the Trust for at least twelve (12) months and each such statement shall be exhibited at all reasonable times to any shareholder demanding an examination of any such statement or a copy shall be mailed to any such shareholder.

The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred to in this section shall be accompanied by the report, if any, of any independent accountants engaged by the Trust or the certificate of an authorized officer of the Trust that the financial statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the Trust.

ARTICLE VIII.

GENERAL MATTERS

Section 8.01.       CHECKS, DRAFTS, EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS . All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of or payable to the Trust shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as from time to time shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees.

Section 8.02.       CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED . The Board of Trustees, except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and this authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Trustees or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Trust by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

Section 8.03.       CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES . A certificate or certificates for shares of beneficial interest in any series of the Trust may be issued to a shareholder upon his request when such shares are fully paid. The Trust may impose a nominal change for issuing certificates to cover expenses related thereto. All certificates shall be signed in the name of the Trust by the chairman of the board or the president or vice president and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the secretary or any assistant secretary, certifying the number of shares and the series of shares owned by the shareholders. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a certificate shall have ceased to be that officer, transfer agent, or registrar before that certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if that person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may adopt and use a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares by electronic or other means; and in fact, as a matter of policy, does not presently issue certified shares.

Section 8.04.       LOST CERTIFICATES . Except as provided in this Section 4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace an old certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Trust and cancelled at the same time. The Board of Trustees may in case any share

14
 

certificate or certificate for any other security is lost, stolen, or destroyed, authorize the issuance of a replacement certificate on such terms and conditions as the Board of Trustees may require, including a provision for indemnification of the Trust secured by a bond or other adequate security sufficient to protect the Trust against any claim that may be made against it, including any expense or liability on account of the alleged loss, theft, or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the replacement certificate.

Section 8.05.       REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER ENTITIES HELD BY TRUST . The chairman of the Board, the president or any vice president or any other person authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees or by any of the foregoing designated officers, is authorized to vote or represent on behalf of the Trust any and all shares of any corporation, partnership, trusts, or other entities, foreign or domestic, standing in the name of the Trust. The authority granted may be exercised in person or by a proxy duly executed by such designated person.

Section 8.06.       FISCAL YEAR . The fiscal year of the Trust shall be fixed and refixed or changed from time to time by resolution of the Trustees. The fiscal year of the Trust shall be the taxable year of each Series of the Trust.

ARTICLE IX.

AMENDMENTS

Section 9.01.       AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS . These By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote or written consent of two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Declaration of Trust or these By-Laws.

Section 9.02.       AMENDMENT BY TRUSTEES . Subject to the right of shareholders as provided in Section 1 of this Article to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, and except as otherwise provided by law or by the Declaration of Trust, these By-Laws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Trustees.

15

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Between

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

and

ANCHOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.

 

 

This AGREEMENT is made as of July 29, 2015 between NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and ANCHOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC. a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”) located at 15 Enterprise, Suite 450, Aliso Viejo, California 92656.

 

RECITALS:

 

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

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, each having its own investment objective or objectives, policies and limitations;

 

WHEREAS, the Trust offers shares in the series named on Appendix A hereto (such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 1.3, being herein referred to as a “Fund,” and collectively as the “Funds”);

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is or soon will be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser to render investment advisory services to the Trust with respect to each Fund in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Services of the Adviser .

 

1.1 Investment Advisory Services . Subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the Adviser shall regularly provide the Fund with investment research, advice, management and supervision and shall furnish a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio of securities and other investments. The Adviser shall determine from time to time what securities and other investments and instruments will be purchased, retained, sold or exchanged by the Fund and what portion of the assets of the Fund’s portfolio will be held in the various securities and other investments in which the Fund invests, and shall implement those decisions (including the execution of investment documentation and agreements), all subject to the provisions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (collectively, the “Governing Documents”), the 1940 Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and interpretive guidance issued thereunder by the SEC staff and any other applicable federal and state law, as well as the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund, and any other specific policies adopted by the Board and disclosed to the Adviser. The Adviser is authorized as the agent of the Trust to give instructions to the custodian of the Fund as to deliveries of securities and other

 
 

investments and payments of cash for the account of the Fund. Subject to applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and direction from the Board, the investment program to be provided hereunder may entail the investment of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund in one or more investment companies.

 

The Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or others selected by it. In connection with the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, subject to applicable law, brokers or dealers may be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Adviser is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. The Board may adopt policies and procedures that modify and restrict the Adviser’s authority regarding the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions provided herein.

 

The Trust hereby authorizes any entity or person associated with the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, which is a member of a national securities exchange, to effect any transaction on the exchange for the account of the Trust which is permitted by Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, and the Trust hereby consents to the retention of compensation for such transactions in accordance with Rule 11a2-2(T)(a)(2)(iv) provided the transaction complies with the Trust’s Rule 17e-1 policies and procedures.

 

1.2 Administrative Services . The Trust has engaged the services of an administrator. The Adviser shall provide such additional administrative services as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees or officers of the Trust; provided, that the Adviser shall not have any obligation to provide under this Agreement any direct or indirect services to Trust shareholders, any services related to the distribution of Trust shares, or any other services which are the subject of a separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to the foregoing, in providing administrative services hereunder, the Adviser shall:

 

1.2.1 Office Space, Equipment and Facilities . Provide such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate to fulfill the Adviser’s obligations hereunder.

 

1.2.2 Personnel . Provide, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust, the services of individuals competent to perform the administrative functions, which are not performed by employees or other agents engaged by the Trust or by the Adviser acting in some other capacity pursuant to a separate agreement or arrangement with the Trust.

 

1.2.3 Agents . Assist the Trust in selecting and coordinating the activities of the other agents engaged by the Trust, including the Trust's shareholder servicing agent, custodian, administrator, independent auditors and legal counsel.

 
 

 

1.2.4 Trustees and Officers . Authorize and permit the Adviser's directors, officers and employees who may be elected or appointed as Trustees or officers of the Trust to serve in such capacities, without remuneration from or other cost to the Trust.

 

1.2.5 Books and Records . Assure that all financial, accounting and other records required to be maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are maintained and preserved by it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

1.2.6 Reports and Filings . Assist in the preparation of (but not pay for) all periodic reports by the Fund to its shareholders and all reports and filings required to maintain the registration and qualification of the Funds and Fund shares, or to meet other regulatory or tax requirements applicable to the Fund , under federal and state securities and tax laws.

 

1.3 Additional Series . In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series after the effectiveness of this Agreement (“Additional Series”), Appendix A to this Agreement may be amended to make such Additional Series subject to this Agreement upon the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the shareholder(s) of the Additional Series, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Trust or the Adviser may elect not to make any such series subject to this Agreement.

 

1.4 Change in Management or Control . The Adviser shall provide at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Trust of any change in the ownership or management of the Adviser, or any event or action that may constitute a change in “control,” as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Act . The Adviser shall provide prompt notice of any change in the portfolio manager(s) responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds.

 

2. Expenses of the Funds .

 

2.1 Expenses to be Paid by Adviser . The Adviser shall pay all salaries, expenses and fees of the officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors, members or employees of the Adviser.

 

In the event that the Adviser pays or assumes any expenses of the Trust not required to be paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, the Adviser shall not be obligated hereby to pay or assume the same or any similar expense in the future; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relieve the Adviser of any obligation to the Funds under any separate agreement or arrangement between the parties.

 

2.2 Expenses to be Paid by the Fund . Each Fund shall bear all expenses of its operation, except those specifically allocated to the Adviser under this Agreement or under any separate agreement between the Trust and the Adviser. Subject to any separate agreement or arrangement between the Trust and the Adviser, the expenses hereby allocated to the Fund , and not to the Adviser, include but are not limited to:

 

2.2.1 Custody . All charges of depositories, custodians, and other agents for the transfer, receipt, safekeeping, and servicing of the Fund' s cash, securities, and other property.

 

2.2.2 Shareholder Servicing . All expenses of maintaining and servicing shareholder accounts, including but not limited to the charges of any shareholder servicing agent,

 
 

dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent or other agent engaged by the Trust to service shareholder accounts.

 

2.2.3 Shareholder Reports . All expenses of preparing, setting in type, printing and distributing reports and other communications to shareholders.

 

2.2.4 Prospectuses . All expenses of preparing, converting to EDGAR format, filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other appropriate regulatory body, setting in type, printing and mailing annual or more frequent revisions of the Fund 's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and any supplements thereto and of supplying them to shareholders.

 

2.2.5 Pricing and Portfolio Valuation . All expenses of computing the Fund 's net asset value per share, including any equipment or services obtained for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing the Fund 's investment portfolio.

 

2.2.6 Communications . All charges for equipment or services used for communications between the Adviser or the Trust and any custodian, shareholder servicing agent, portfolio accounting services agent, or other agent engaged by the Trust.

 

2.2.7 Legal and Accounting Fees . All charges for services and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel and independent accountants.

 

2.2.8 Trustees' Fees and Expenses . All compensation of Trustees other than those affiliated with the Adviser, all expenses incurred in connection with such unaffiliated Trustees' services as Trustees, and all other expenses of meetings of the Trustees and committees of the Trustees.

 

2.2.9 Shareholder Meetings . All expenses incidental to holding meetings of shareholders, including the printing of notices and proxy materials, and proxy solicitations therefor.

 

2.2.10 Federal Registration Fees . All fees and expenses of registering and maintaining the registration of the Fund under the Act and the registration of the Fund 's shares under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), including all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, converting to EDGAR format, setting in type, printing, and filing of any Registration Statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information under the 1933 Act or the Act, and any amendments or supplements that may be made from time to time.

 

2.2.11 State Registration Fees . All fees and expenses of taking required action to permit the offer and sale of the Fund 's shares under securities laws of various states or jurisdictions, and of registration and qualification of the Fund under all other laws applicable to the Trust or its business activities (including registering the Trust as a broker-dealer, or any officer of the Trust or any person as agent or salesperson of the Trust in any state).

 

2.2.12 Confirmations . All expenses incurred in connection with the issue and transfer of Fund shares, including the expenses of confirming all share transactions.

 

 
 

2.2.13 Bonding and Insurance . All expenses of bond, liability, and other insurance coverage required by law or regulation or deemed advisable by the Trustees of the Trust, including, without limitation, such bond, liability and other insurance expenses that may from time to time be allocated to the Fund in a manner approved by its Trustees.

 

2.2.14 Brokerage Commissions . All brokers' commissions and other charges incident to the purchase, sale or lending of the Fund 's portfolio securities.

 

2.2.15 Taxes . All taxes or governmental fees payable by or with respect to the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies, domestic or foreign, including stamp or other transfer taxes.

 

2.2.16 Trade Association Fees . All fees, dues and other expenses incurred in connection with the Trust's membership in any trade association or other investment organization.

 

2.2.18 Compliance Fees . All charges for services and expenses of the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer.

 

2.2.19 Nonrecurring and Extraordinary Expenses . Such nonrecurring and extraordinary expenses as may arise including the costs of actions, suits, or proceedings to which the Trust is a party and the expenses the Trust may incur as a result of its legal obligation to provide indemnification to its officers, Trustees and agents.

 

3. Advisory Fee

 

As compensation for all services rendered, facilities provided and expenses paid or assumed by the Adviser under this Agreement, each Fund shall pay the Adviser on the last day of each month, or as promptly as possible thereafter, a fee calculated by applying a monthly rate, based on an annual percentage rate, to the Fund's average daily net assets for the month. The annual percentage rate applicable to each Fund is set forth in Appendix A to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. If this Agreement shall be effective for only a portion of a month with respect to a Fund, the aforesaid fee shall be prorated for the portion of such month during which this Agreement is in effect for the Fund.

 

4. Proxy Voting

 

The Adviser will vote, or make arrangements to have voted, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of a Fund may be invested from time to time. Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy. You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement, and any amendments thereto promptly.

 

5. Records

 

5.1 Tax Treatment . Both the Adviser and the Trust shall maintain, or arrange for others to maintain, the books and records of the Trust in such a manner that treats each Fund as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.

 

 
 

5.2 Ownership . All records required to be maintained and preserved by the Trust pursuant to the provisions or rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 31(a) of the Act and maintained and preserved by the Adviser on behalf of the Trust are the property of the Trust and shall be surrendered by the Adviser promptly on request by the Trust; provided, that the Adviser may at its own expense make and retain copies of any such records.

 

6. Reports to Adviser

 

The Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Adviser such copies of each Fund 's Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, financial statements, proxy statements, reports and other information relating to its business and affairs as the Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge its obligations under this Agreement.

 

7. Reports to the Trust

 

The Adviser shall prepare and furnish to the Trust such reports, statistical data and other information in such form and at such intervals as the Trust may reasonably request.

 

8. Code of Ethics

 

The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption. The Adviser will provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust at least annually or as more frequently requested by the Trust a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that the Adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent “access persons” (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating the code.

 

9. Retention of Sub-Adviser

 

Subject to the Trust's obtaining the initial and periodic approvals required under Section 15 of the Act, the Adviser may retain one or more sub-advisers, at the Adviser's own cost and expense, for the purpose of managing the investments of the assets of one or more Funds of the Trust. Retention of one or more sub-advisers shall in no way reduce the responsibilities or obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall, subject to Section 11 of this Agreement, be responsible to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of the Adviser's duties hereunder.

 

10. Services to Other Clients

 

Nothing herein contained shall limit the freedom of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser to render investment management and administrative services to other investment companies, to act as investment adviser or investment counselor to other persons, firms or corporations, or to engage in other business activities.

 

11. Limitation of Liability of Adviser and its Personnel

 

Neither the Adviser nor any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust at the direction or request of the Adviser in connection with the Adviser's

 
 

discharge of its obligations hereunder shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with any matter to which this Agreement relates, and the Adviser shall not be responsible for any action of the Trustees of the Trust in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendation of the Adviser or any sub-adviser retained by the Adviser pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement; PROVIDED, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser's duties, or by reason of the Adviser's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) to protect any director, manager, officer or employee of the Adviser who is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability of the Trust or its shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office with the Trust. The federal securities laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who act in good faith, and therefore nothing herein shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of such rights which the Trust or the Fund may have under federal securities laws.

 

12. Effect of Agreement

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require to the Trust to take any action contrary to its Declaration of Trust or its By-Laws or any applicable law, regulation or order to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trustees of the Trust of their responsibility for and control of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Trust.

 

13. Term of Agreement

 

With respect to each Fund, the term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which the Fund commences investment operations, and unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year, subject to the termination provisions and all other terms and conditions hereof; PROVIDED, such continuance with respect to a Fund is approved at least annually by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Trustees of the Trust; PROVIDED, that in either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such information as may reasonably be necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement or any extension, renewal or amendment thereof.

 

14. Amendment or Assignment of Agreement

 

Any amendment to this Agreement shall be in writing signed by the parties hereto; PROVIDED, that no such amendment shall be effective unless authorized (i) by resolution of the Trustees of the Trust, including the vote or written consent of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, and (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such amendment if required by applicable law. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment.

 

 

 

 
 

15. Termination of Agreement

 

Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to one or more Funds, without payment of any penalty:

 

(i) By vote of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including the vote or written consent of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either party hereto, or by “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), in each case, upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser;

 

(ii) By any party hereto upon written notice to the other party in the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party if the breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of the breach; or

 

(iii) By the Adviser upon 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.

 

16. Use of Name

 

The Trust is named the Northern Lights Fund Trust IV and each Fund may be identified, in part, by the name “Northern Lights.”

 

17. Declaration of Trust

 

The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust or a Fund, as the case may be, and its assets, and the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Trust. In addition, the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligations from the Trustees or any individual Trustee. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of any Fund under the Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any and all other Funds. The Adviser further understands and agrees that no Fund of the Trust shall be liable for any claims against any other Fund of the Trust and that the Adviser must look solely to the assets of the pertinent Fund of the Trust for the enforcement or satisfaction of any claims against the Trust with respect to that Fund.

 

18. Confidentiality

 

The Adviser agrees to treat all records and other information relating to the Trust and the securities holdings of the Funds as confidential and shall not disclose any such records or information to any other person unless (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the disclosure or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by law. In addition, the Adviser and the Adviser's officers, directors, members and employees are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of a Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund's portfolio holdings. The Adviser agrees that, consistent with the Adviser's Code of Ethics, neither the Adviser nor the Adviser's officers, directors, members or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on nonpublic information about a Fund's portfolio holdings.

 

 

 

 

 
 

19. Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

20. Interpretation and Definition of Terms

 

Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts, or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission validly issued pursuant to the Act. Specifically, the terms “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons,” “assignment” and “affiliated person,” as used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the Act. In addition, when the effect of a requirement of the Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or of general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.

 

21. Captions

 

The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

22. Execution in Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

 

By: _________________

 

Name: Wendy Wang

 

Title: President

 

 

 

ANCHOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.

 

 

By: ___________________

 

Name: Eric Leake

 

Title: [ ]

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

APPENDIX A

 

FUNDS OF THE TRUST

 

 

NAME OF FUND

ANNUAL ADVISORY FEE AS A % OF

AVERAGE NET ASSETS OF THE FUND

Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund 1.60%

 

 
 
 
 
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
 
 
Between
 
 
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV
 
and
 
 
NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
 
 
 
 
 

Page 1 of 21
 

INDEX

 

 

1.   Appointment of NLD and Delivery of Documents 3
2.   NATURE OF DUTIES 4
3.   OFFERING OF SHARES 4
4.   LICENSED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUNDS. 5
5.   REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES BY THE FUNDS 6
6.   DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF NLD 7
7.   DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST 9
8.   INDEMNIFICATION OF NLD BY THE TRUST 12
9.   INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUST BY NLD 14
10.   NOTIFICATION BY THE TRUST 15
11.   COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES 15
12.   SELECTED DEALER AND SELECTED AGENT AGREEMENTS 17
13.   CONFIDENTIALITY 17
14.   EFFECTIVENESS AND DURATION 18
15.   DISASTER RECOVERY 18
16.   DEFINITIONS 18
17.   MISCELLANEOUS 19
ATTACHED SCHEDULE(S)
SCHEDULE A  

 

 

Page 2 of 21
 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated the 29 th day of July, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a Delaware statutory trust, having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Trust”), and NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC , a Nebraska limited liability company having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (“NLD”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning prescribed to them in Section 16 of this Agreement.

 

WHEREAS , the Trust is offering shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) in separate investment portfolios as set forth on the attached Schedule(s) A , as may be amended from time to time (each a “Fund”; and collectively, the “Funds”); and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act; and

 

WHEREAS , NLD is registered under the Securities Exchange Act, as a broker-dealer and is engaged in the business of selling shares of registered investment companies either directly to purchasers or through other financial intermediaries; and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust desires that NLD offer, as principal underwriter, the Shares of the Funds to the public, and NLD is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement in order to promote the growth of the Funds and facilitate the distribution of the Shares;

 

NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the Trust and NLD hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Appointment of NLD and Delivery of Documents

 

(a)                The Trust hereby appoints NLD, and NLD hereby agrees, to act as principal underwriter and distributor of the Shares of the Funds for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Funds have delivered to NLD current copies of:

 

(i)                  the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws (the “Organizational Documents”);

 

(ii)                the Trust’s current Registration Statement;

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(iii)              the Trust’s notification of registration under the Investment Company Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC;

 

(iv)              the Trust’s current Prospectus;

 

(v)                any current plan of distribution or similar document adopted by the Funds under Rule 12b-1 (“Plan”) and each current shareholder service plan or similar document adopted by the Trust (“Service Plan”).

 

(b)                The Trust shall promptly furnish NLD with:

 

(i)                  all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing; and

 

(ii)                a copy of any resolutions of the Board appointing NLD as principal underwriter of the Funds and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

2. NATURE OF DUTIES

 

(a)                NLD shall act as distributor of the Funds except that the rights given under this Agreement to NLD shall not apply to: (i) Shares issued in connection with the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any other investment company or series or class thereof with a Fund or class thereof; (ii) the Trust’s acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of any other investment company or series or class thereof; (iii) the reinvestment in Shares by the Funds’ shareholders of dividends or other distributions; or (iv) any other offering by the Funds of securities to its shareholders (collectively "exempt transactions").

 

(b)                Notwithstanding the foregoing, NLD is and may in the future distribute shares of other investment companies including investment companies having investment objectives similar to those of the Funds. The Funds further understand that existing and future investors in the Funds may invest in shares of such other investment companies. The Funds agree that the services that NLD provides to such other investment companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its duties to the Funds under this Agreement.

3. OFFERING OF SHARES

 

(a)                NLD shall have the right to buy from the Funds the Shares needed to fill unconditional orders for Shares of the Funds placed with NLD by investors or selected dealers or selected agents (each as defined in Section 12 hereof) acting as agent for their

Page 4 of 21
 

customers’ or on their own behalf. Alternatively, NLD may act as the Funds’ agent, to offer, and to solicit offers to subscribe to, Shares of the Funds.

 

(b)                The price that NLD shall pay for Shares purchased from the Funds shall be the NAV used in determining the Public Offering Price on which the orders are based. Shares purchased by NLD are to be resold by NLD to investors at the respective Public Offering Price(s), or to selected dealers or selected agents acting in accordance with the terms of selected dealer or selected agent agreements (as described in Section 12 of this Agreement). The Funds will advise NLD of the NAV(s) each time that it is determined by the Funds, or its designated agent, and at such other times as NLD may reasonably request.

 

(c)                 NLD will promptly forward all orders and subscriptions to the Funds or its designated agent. All orders and all subscriptions shall be directed to the Funds for acceptance and shall not be binding until accepted by the Funds. Any order or subscription may be rejected by the Funds; provided, however, that the Funds will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse to accept or confirm orders or subscriptions for the purchase of Shares. The Funds or its designated agent will confirm orders and subscriptions upon their receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt by the Funds or its designated agent of payment therefore, will issue such Shares in uncertificated form pursuant to the instructions of NLD. NLD agrees to cause such payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Funds or its designated agent.

 

(d)                The Funds reserve the right to suspend the offering of Shares of the Funds at any time in the absolute discretion of the Board, and upon notice of such suspension NLD shall cease to offer Shares of the Funds specified in the notice.

 

(e)                 No Shares shall be offered by either NLD or the Funds under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Funds if and so long as the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the Securities Act, or if and so long as a current Prospectus, as required by Section 10(b) of the Securities Act is not on file with the SEC; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in any way limit the Funds’ obligation to repurchase Shares from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Fund's Organizational Documents or the Prospectus applicable to the Shares.

4. LICENSED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FUNDS.

 

At the request of the Trust, a Fund, a Fund’s sponsor, adviser or affiliate, NLD may license certain designated employees as a “registered representative” and maintain

Page 5 of 21
 

their licensed status in accordance with FINRA rules and regulations including, without limitation, the following:

 

(a) filing Form U-4’s and fingerprint submission and processing renewals and terminations;

 

(b) on-going compliance up-dates and training;

 

(c) preparation of materials and training for compliance with FINRA continuing education requirements; and

 

(d) supervision of registered representatives.

 

NLD reserves the right in its sole discretion to refuse to register or maintain the registration for any individual and otherwise impose any requirements, fees or limitations on licensed persons.

5. REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES BY THE FUNDS

 

(a)                Any of the outstanding Shares of the Funds may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Funds agree to redeem or repurchase the Shares so tendered in accordance with its obligations as set forth in the Organizational Documents and the Prospectus relating to the Shares.

 

(b)                The Funds or its designated agent shall pay:

 

(i)                  the total amount of the redemption price consisting of the NAV, less any applicable redemption fee, to the redeeming shareholder or its agent, and

 

(ii)                except as may be otherwise required by FINRA Rules, any applicable deferred sales charges to NLD in accordance with NLD’s instructions on or before the fifth business day (or such other earlier business day as is customary in the investment company industry) subsequent to the Fund or its agent having received the notice of redemption in proper form.

 

(c)                 Redemption of Shares or payment therefore may be suspended at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closings, when trading thereon is restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Funds of securities owned by the Funds is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Funds fairly to determine the value of the Funds’ net assets, or during any other period when the SEC so requires or permits.

 

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6. DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF NLD

 

(a)                NLD shall use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of Shares of the Funds upon the terms and conditions contained herein and in the then current Prospectus. NLD shall devote reasonable time and effort to facilitate the distribution of Fund shares but shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares. The services of NLD to the Funds hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and nothing herein contained shall prevent NLD from entering into like arrangements with other investment companies so long as the performance of its obligations hereunder is not impaired thereby.

 

(b)                NLD will execute and deliver agreements with broker/dealers, financial institutions and other industry professionals based on forms of agreement approved from time to time by the Board with respect to shares of the Funds, including, but not limited to, forms of sales support agreements and shareholder servicing agreements approved in connection with any distribution and/or servicing plan approved in accordance with Rule 12b-1.

 

(c)                 NLD shall be responsible for reviewing and providing advice and counsel on, and filing with FINRA, all sales literature (e.g., advertisements, brochures and shareholder communications, including the Fund’s website) with respect to the Funds. All costs associated with advertising filings shall be paid by the Funds. NLD will forward all FINRA comments on marketing materials to the Fund for incorporation into such materials and the sole responsibility for incorporation of such comments shall remain with the Fund; provided, however, that the Fund shall provide all factual content, opinion, and other content for such materials, and NLD shall not be responsible for the accuracy of the content of such materials, when used thereafter by the Fund or any person authorized by the Fund to use such material; nor shall NLD be responsible for the filing or content of any such materials used by third parties without the authorization of NLD; and provided further that NLD shall not be responsible for filing any materials that fall within the definition of advertising and sales literature if such materials are not provided to NLD in a form suitable for filing in a timely manner.

 

(d)                NLD will forward all sales related complaints concerning a Fund to the Fund.

 

(e)                 NLD will provide assistance in the preparation of quarterly board materials with regard to sales and other distribution related data reasonably requested by the Board.

 

(f)                  All activities by NLD and its agents and employees as distributor of Shares shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act,

Page 7 of 21
 

and FINRA Rules, all rules and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the Investment Company Act by the SEC or any securities association registered under the Securities Exchange Act.

 

(g)                In selling Shares of the Funds, NLD shall use reasonable efforts in all material respects duly to conform with the requirements of all federal and state laws relating to the sale of the Shares. Neither NLD, any selected dealer, any selected agent nor any other person is authorized by the Funds to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in a Funds’ Prospectus or any advertising materials or sales literature specifically approved in writing by the Funds or their agents.

 

(h)                NLD shall adopt and follow procedures for the confirmation of sales to investors and selected dealers or selected agents, the collection of amounts payable by investors and selected dealers or selected agents on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of FINRA.

 

(i)                  NLD represents and warrants to the Trust that:

 

(i)                  It is a limited liability company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Nebraska and it is duly qualified to carry on its business in the state of Nebraska;

 

(ii)                It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Organization to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

(iii)              All requisite actions have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

(iv)              It has, and will continue to have, access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(v)                This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of NLD, enforceable against NLD in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and

 

(vi)              It is registered under the Securities Exchange Act with the SEC as a broker-dealer, it is a member in good standing of FINRA, it will abide by FINRA Rules, and it will notify the Funds if its membership in FINRA is terminated or suspended.

 

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(vii)            Its selling agreements will require that selling agents comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, rules and government guidance, including the reporting, record keeping and compliance requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the PATRIOT Act, its implementing regulations, and related SEC rules and FINRA Rules.

 

(j)                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, including the Schedule(s), to the contrary, NLD makes no warranty or representation as to the number of selected dealers or selected agents with which it has entered into agreements in accordance with Section 12 hereof, as to the availability of any Shares to be sold through any selected dealer, selected agent or other intermediary or as to any other matter not specifically set forth herein.

7. DUTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST

 

(a)                The Trust shall furnish to NLD copies of all financial statements and other documents to be delivered to shareholders or investors at least two (2) Fund Business Days prior to such delivery and shall furnish NLD copies of all other financial statements, documents and other papers or information which NLD may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares. The Trust shall make available to NLD the number of copies of the Funds’ Prospectuses as NLD shall reasonably request.

 

(b)                The Trust shall take, from time to time, subject to the approval of the Board and any required approval of the shareholders of the Funds, all actions necessary to fix the number of authorized Shares (if such number is not unlimited) and to register the Shares under the Securities Act, to the end that there will be available for sale the number of Shares as reasonably may be expected to be sold pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(c)                 The Trust will execute any and all documents, furnish any and all information and otherwise take all actions that may be reasonably necessary to register or qualify Shares for sale in such states as NLD may designate to the Funds and the Funds may approve, and the Funds shall pay all fees and other expenses incurred in connection with such registration or qualification; provided that NLD shall not be required to register as a broker-dealer or file a consent to service of process in any state and the Funds shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, Fund or association in any state. Any registration or qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Funds at any time in its discretion. NLD shall furnish such information and other material relating to its affairs and activities as the Funds require in connection with such registration or qualification.

 

(d)                The Trust represents and warrants to NLD that:

 

Page 9 of 21
 

(i)                  It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware;

 

(ii)                It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

(iii)              All proceedings required by the Organizational Documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform its duties under this Agreement;

 

(iv)              It is an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act;

 

(v)                All Shares, when issued, shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

 

(vi)              This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

 

(vii)            The performance by the Trust of its obligations hereunder does not and will not contravene any provision of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

 

(viii)          The Registration Statement is currently effective and will remain effective with respect to all Shares of the Funds being offered for sale;

 

(ix)              The Registration Statement and Prospectus have been or will be, as the case may be, carefully prepared in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

 

(x)                The Registration Statement and Prospectus contain or will contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; all statements of fact contained or to be contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus are or will be true and correct at the time indicated or on the effective date as the case may be; and neither the Registration Statement nor any Prospectus, when they shall become effective or be authorized for use, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Shares;

 

Page 10 of 21
 

(xi)              It will from time to time file such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as, in the light of then-current and then-prospective developments, shall, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order to have the Registration Statement and Prospectus at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of Shares;

 

(xii)            It shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus without giving NLD reasonable advance notice thereof; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Funds’ right to file at any time such amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Funds may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional; and

 

(xiii)          All Shares of the Fund are properly registered in the states as required by applicable state laws; and

 

(xiv)          Any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus hereafter filed will, when it becomes effective, contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; all statements of fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus will, when it becomes effective, be true and correct at the time indicated or on the effective date as the case may be; and no such amendment, when it becomes effective, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of the Shares.

 

(xv)            In connection with any registered representatives maintained under this Agreement, the Trust agrees to cooperate with NLD and provide reports as necessary to maintain appropriate licensing and qualifications and report to NLD any complaints, arbitrations, litigation or any other material matter that may affect a registered representative’s registration status.

 

(xvi)          It has adopted necessary procedures to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the PATRIOT Act, its implementing regulations, and related SEC rules and FINRA Rules. Consistent with this requirement, the Trust shall ensure that the account opening forms utilized by the Funds contain the necessary customer information such as name, address, taxpayer identification and other information to verify the identity of such customers as well as provide proper notification to customers of such anti-money laundering program adopted by the Trust and/or its service providers.

 

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(xvii)        NLD may rely on and will be held harmless from relying on oral or written instructions it receives from an officer, agent, or legal counsel to the Trust.

8. INDEMNIFICATION OF NLD BY THE TRUST

 

(a)                The Trust authorizes NLD and any dealers with whom NLD has entered into dealer agreements to use the latest Prospectus in the form furnished by the Trust in connection with the sale of Shares. The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold NLD, its several officers and managers, and any person who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which NLD, its officers and managers, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon:

 

(i)                  any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus,

 

(ii)                the breach of any representations, warranties or obligations set forth herein,

 

(iii)              any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading,

 

(iv)              the Trust’s failure to maintain an effective Registration Statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand,

 

(v)                the Trust’s failure to provide NLD with advertising or sales materials to be filed with FINRA on a timely basis, the use of advertising or sales materials that have not been approved by NLD, or use of any marketing materials that are false or misleading, ,

 

(vi)              the Trust’s failure to properly register Fund Shares under applicable state laws, or

 

(vii)            all reasonable actions taken by NLD hereunder, including all actions resulting from NLD’s reliance on instructions received from an officer, agent or legal counsel of the Trust.

 

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(b)                The Trust’s agreement to indemnify NLD, its officers or managers, and any such controlling person will not be deemed to cover any such claim, demand, liability or expense to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon:

 

(i)                  any such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus in reliance upon information furnished by NLD, its officers, managers or any such controlling person to the Fund or its representatives for use in the preparation thereof, or

 

(ii)                willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of NLD’s duties, or by reason of NLD’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement ("Disqualifying Conduct").

 

(c)                 The Trust’s agreement to indemnify NLD, its officers and managers, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Trust’s being notified of any action brought against NLD, its officers or managers, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given to the Trust within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served; provided, however, that the failure to timely notify the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust of its indemnification obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Trust is materially prejudiced by such failure.

 

(d)                The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and approved by NLD, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by NLD, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, the Trust will reimburse NLD, its officers and managers, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

 

(e)                 The Trust’s indemnification agreement contained in this Section and the Funds’ representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of NLD, its officers and managers, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to NLD’s benefit, to the benefit of its several officers and managers, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify NLD of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its officers or Board members in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

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9. INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUST BY NLD

 

(a)                NLD agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several officers and Board members, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, may incur under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Trust , its officers or Board members, or such controlling person results from such claims or demands:

(i)                  arising out of or based upon any Disqualifying Conduct by NLD in connection with the offering and sale of any Shares, or

 

(ii)                arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by NLD to the Trust specifically for use in the Trust’s Registration Statement and used in the answers to any of the items of the Registration Statement or in the corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or shall arise out of or be based upon any omission to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by NLD to the Trust and required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such information not misleading.

 

(b)                NLD’s agreement to indemnify the Trust, its several officers and Board members, and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon NLD’s being notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers or Board members, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given to NLD within a reasonable period of time after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served, provided, however, that the failure to timely notify NLD of any such action shall not relieve NLD of its indemnification obligations hereunder except to the extent that NLD is materially prejudiced by such failure.

 

(c)                 NLD will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by NLD and approved by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. If NLD elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by the Trust, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in the case NLD does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, NLD will reimburse the Trust, its several officers and Board members, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Trust or them.

 

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NLD’s indemnification agreement contained in this Section and NLD’s representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by NLD or on behalf of NLD, its officers and managers, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Trust’s benefit, to the benefit of its several officers and Board members, and their respective estates, and to the benefit of any controlling persons and their successors. NLD agrees promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against NLD or any of its officers or managers in connection with the issue and sale of Shares.

10. NOTIFICATION BY THE TRUST

 

(a)                The Trust agrees to advise NLD as soon as reasonably practical:

 

(i)                  of any request by the SEC for amendments to any Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect;

 

(ii)                of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect or of the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;

 

(iii)              of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus then in effect or that requires the making of a change in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(iv)              of all actions of the SEC with respect to any amendment to any Registration Statement or any Prospectus which may from time to time be filed with the SEC;

 

(v)                if a current Prospectus is not on file with the SEC; and

 

(vi)              of all advertising, sales materials and other communications with the public required to be filed with FINRA. This obligation shall extend to all revisions of such communications.

 

For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the staff of the SEC shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the SEC.

11. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES

 

(a)                In consideration of NLD’s services hereunder, the Trust agrees to pay, or to cause the applicable Fund or the applicable Fund’s adviser to pay, to NLD the fees set

Page 15 of 21
 

forth in the attached Schedule(s) A . Fees will begin to accrue with respect to each Fund on the latter of the date of this Agreement or the date NLD begins providing services to or on behalf of such Fund. The monthly Service Fee set forth on the attached Schedule(s) A may be offset by any fees and charges collected and retained by NLD, for the applicable month, as set forth below:

 

(i)                  any applicable sales charge assessed upon investors in connection with the purchase of Shares;

 

(ii)                any applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") assessed upon investors in connection with the redemption of Shares;

 

(iii)              the distribution service fees with respect to any Shares of the Fund(s) for which a Plan is effective (the "Distribution Fee"); and

 

(iv)              the shareholder service fees with respect to any Shares of the Fund(s) for which a Service Plan is effective (the "Shareholder Service Fee").

 

(b)                The Distribution Fee and Shareholder Service Fee, if any, shall be accrued daily by the Trust or class thereof and shall be paid monthly as promptly as possible after the last day of each calendar month, at the rate or in the amounts set forth in the Plan(s). The Trust grants and transfers to NLD a general lien and security interest in any and all securities and other assets of the Trust now or hereafter maintained in an account at the Trust’s custodian on behalf of the Trust to secure any Distribution Fees, Shareholder Service Fees, or other fees owed NLD by the Trust under this Agreement. All fees set forth herein shall be due and payable upon receipt of invoice and shall be considered late if payment is not received by NLD within fifteen (15) days of the Fund’s receipt of the invoice. Payments not received within fifteen (15) days may be assessed interest at the maximum amount permitted by law.

 

(c)                 The Trust shall be responsible and assumes the obligation for payment of all the expenses of the Trust, including fees and disbursements of its counsel and auditors, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement and/or any Prospectus (including but not limited to the expense of setting in type any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and printing sufficient quantities for internal compliance, regulatory purposes and for distribution to current shareholders).

 

The Trust shall bear the cost and expenses (i) of the registration of the Shares for sale under the Securities Act; (ii) of the registration or qualification of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the various states; (iii) if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of qualifying the Funds, (but not NLD) as an issuer or as a broker or dealer, in such states as shall be selected by the Trust and NLD pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof; (iv) payable to each state for continuing registration or qualification therein

Page 16 of 21
 

until the Funds decide to discontinue registration or qualification pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof; and (v) payable for standard transmission costs, including costs imposed by the National Securities Clearing Corporation. NLD shall pay all expenses relating to NLD's broker-dealer qualification.

 

12. SELECTED DEALER AND SELECTED AGENT AGREEMENTS

 

NLD shall have the right to enter into selected dealer agreements with securities dealers of its choice ("selected dealers") and selected agent agreements with depository institutions and other financial intermediaries of its choice ("selected agents") for the sale of Shares and to fix therein the portion of the sales charge, if any, that may be allocated to the selected dealers or selected agents; provided, that the Trust shall approve the forms of agreements with selected dealers or selected agents and shall review and approve the compensation set forth therein. Selected dealers and selected agents shall resell Shares of the Funds at the public offering price(s) set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Shares. Within the United States, NLD shall offer and sell Shares of the Funds only to selected dealers who are members in good standing of FINRA.

13. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

NLD agrees to treat all records and other information related to the Trust and/or the Funds as proprietary information of the Trust and, on behalf of itself and its employees, to keep confidential all such information, except that NLD may:

 

(a)                Prepare or assist in the preparation of periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory bodies such as the SEC;

 

(b)                provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information regarding investment companies; and

 

(c)                 release such other information as approved in writing by the Trust or applicable Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

NLD may release any information regarding the Trust or any Fund without the consent of the Trust or the applicable Fund if NLD reasonably believes that it may be exposed to civil or criminal legal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to release any information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust. Each party agrees to comply with Regulation S-P under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

 

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14. EFFECTIVENESS AND DURATION

 

(a)                This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date and have an initial term of two (2) years (the “Initial Term”). This Agreement will continue after the Initial Term so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Trust’s Board or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Shares of the Trust, provided that in either event its continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board members who are not "interested persons" of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

(b)                This Agreement is terminable, without penalty, on sixty (60) days' notice, by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Trust, or by NLD.

 

(c)                 This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment."

 

(d)                NLD agrees to notify the Trust immediately upon the event of NLD’s expulsion or suspension by FINRA. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of NLD’s expulsion or suspension by FINRA.

15. DISASTER RECOVERY

 

NLD shall maintain disaster recovery procedures in effect making reasonable provisions for the storage and retrieval of information maintained in NLD’s possession.

16. DEFINITIONS

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:

 

(a)                The “Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

 

(b)                “Fund Business Day” means any day on which the NAV of Shares of each Fund is determined as stated in the then current Prospectus.

 

(c)                 “FINRA Rules” means the Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules of Fair Practice of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") and any interpretations thereof.

 

Page 18 of 21
 

(d)                “Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(e)                 “NAV” means the net asset value per Share of each Fund as determined by the Fund, or its designated agent, in accordance with and at the times indicated in the applicable Prospectus of the Fund on each Fund Business Day in accordance with the method set forth in the Prospectus and guidelines established by the Board.

 

(f)                  “PATRIOT Act” means The International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

(g)                “Public Offering Price” means the price per Share of the Fund at which NLD or selected dealers or selected agents may sell Shares to the public or to those persons eligible to invest in Shares as described in the Prospectus of the Funds, determined in accordance with such Prospectus under the Securities Act relating to such Shares.

 

(h)                “Prospectus” means the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented.

 

(i)                  “Registration Statement” means the Trust’s or any Fund’s (as applicable) Registration Statement on Form N-1A or Form N-2 (as applicable) and all amendments thereto filed with the SEC.

 

(j)                  “Rule 12b-1” means Rule 12b-1 as promulgated under the Investment Company Act.

 

(k)                “SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(l)                  “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(m)              “Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(n)                The terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "interested person" and "assignment" shall have the same meanings as such terms have in the Investment Company Act.

17. MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)    No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both parties.

 

Page 19 of 21
 

(b)    This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of Nebraska.

 

(c)     This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.

 

(d)    The parties may execute this Agreement or any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(e)     If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected by such determination, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.

 

(f)      In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other party resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.

 

(g)    NLD shall not be liable for any consequential, incidental, exemplary, punitive, special or indirect damages, whether or not the likelihood of such damages was known by NLD or its affiliates.

 

(h)    Any controversy or claim arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, its termination or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration by three arbitrators (or by fewer arbitrator(s), if the parties subsequently agree to fewer) in the state of Nebraska, in accordance with the rules then obtaining of FINRA, and the arbitrators’ decision shall be binding and final, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

(i)      Section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

 

(j)      All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the party to receive such notice, (c) if dispatched via a nationally recognized overnight courier service (delivery receipt requested) with charges paid by the dispatching party, on the later of (i) the first

Page 20 of 21
 

Business Day following the date of dispatch, or (ii) the scheduled date of delivery by such service, or (d) on the date sent by electronic mail if sent during normal business hours of the recipient during a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, if sent after normal business hours of the recipient, provided that in the case of electronic mail, each notice or other communication shall be confirmed within one Business Day by dispatch of a copy of such notice pursuant to one of the other methods described herein, at the following addresses, or such other address as a party may designate from time to time by notice in accordance with this Section.

 

If to the Trust:   If to NLD:
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV   Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
Attn: Legal Department   Attn: Legal Department
80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110   17605 Wright Street
Hauppauge, NY 11788   Omaha, NE 68130
Email: NLFT4LegalTeam@thegeminicompanies.com   Email: NLDLegal@nldistributors.com
     
With a Copy to:    
Emily M. Little, Esq.    
Thompson Hine, LLP    
41 South High Street, Suite 1700    
Columbus, OH 43215    
Email: Emily.Little@ThompsonHine.com    

 

(k)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(l)      Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that they have full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to the terms hereof.

Page 21 of 21
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons, as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV   NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
     
     
     
By /s/ Wendy Wang_____________   By /s/ Brian Nielsen
Wendy Wang   Brian Nielsen
President   Chief Executive Officer
Page 22 of 21
 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Schedule A-1

 

This Schedule A-1 is part of the Underwriting Agreement effective July 29, 2015 (the “Agreement”) by and between Northern Lights Fund Trust IV and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (“NLD”).

 

Fund(s)
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

 

Each of the above referenced funds a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”.

 

Service Fees:

Annual fee of $10,000 for the first Fund and $5,000 for each additional Fund

 

PLUS:

· 1 basis point or 0.01% per annum of each Fund's average daily net assets up to $250 million, and;
· ¾ basis point or 0.0075% per annum of each Fund's average daily net assets between $250 million and $500 million, and;
· ½ basis point or 0.0050% per annum of each Fund's average daily net assets between $500 million and $1 billion, and;
· ¼ basis point or 0.0025% per annum of each Fund's average daily net assets over $1 billion.

 

Each Fund shall also pay an additional fee to NLD calculated as 25% of any FINRA costs incurred (for example, if FINRA charged $100 to perform advertising review, NLD would charge the Fund an additional $25).

 

All service fees outlined above are payable monthly in arrears.

 

Registered Representative Licensing:

 

Annual fee of $5,500 per Registered Representative plus all out-of-pocket costs such as registration expenses and travel expenses to conduct required training.

 

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

The Fund(s) shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by NLD in connection with activities performed for the Fund(s) hereunder including, without limitation:

 

In the event the fees authorized by the Fund(s) for payment to NLD are insufficient to cover the fees due to NLD for its services provided hereunder, Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., the investment adviser to the Fund(s), agrees to pay NLD the remaining balance of any fees due and payable to NLD according to this fee Schedule within 15 days of request.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Schedule to the Agreement effective as of July 29, 2015.

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

(for the above referenced Fund(s))

 



 

By: /s/ Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang

President

NORTHERN LIGHTS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ Brian Nielsen

Brian Nielsen

Chief Executive Officer

Schedule A-1 | Page 2
 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Schedule A-1

 

The undersigned investment adviser (the “Adviser”) hereby acknowledges and agrees to the terms of the Agreement and further acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(1) NLD expends substantial time and money, on an ongoing basis, to recruit and train its employees; (2) NLD's business is highly competitive and is marketed throughout the United States, and (3) if the Adviser were to hire any NLD employees who are involved in the procurement of the Services under the Agreement then NLD may suffer lost sales and other opportunities and would incur substantial time and money in hiring and training replacement(s) for those employees. Accordingly, the Adviser agrees that it, including its respective affiliates and subsidiaries, shall not solicit, attempt to induce or otherwise hire an employee of NLD for so long as this Agreement is in effect and for a period of two (2) years after termination of this Agreement, unless expressly agreed upon in writing by both parties. In the event that this provision is breached by the Adviser, the Adviser agrees to pay damages to NLD in the amount of two times the current annual salary of such employee or former employee. For purposes of this provision, “hire” means to employ as an employee or to engage as an independent contractor, whether on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis.

 

Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.

15 Enterprise, Suite 450

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

 

 

By: /s/ Garrett Waters

Name: Garrett Waters

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Schedule A-1 | Page 3

(UNION BANK LOGO)

 

GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT
For Foreign and Domestic Securities

 

This Custodian Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 6 , 2015  by and between Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (” Principal”) and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (“Custodian”).

 

WHEREAS , the Custodian is a bank meeting the qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the Act to act as custodian of the portfolio securities and other assets of investment companies; and

 

WHEREAS , Principal wishes to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of its portfolio securities and other assets, and the Custodian has indicated its willingness to so act;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined as follows:

 

1.1.   Account” means, collectively, each account maintained by Custodian on behalf of Principal pursuant to Paragraph 4 of this Agreement.

 

1.2.   “Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereunder, including §270.17f-4, §270.17f-5 and §270.17f-7, all as may be amended from time to time.

 

1.3.   “Board ” means the Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors of Principal.

 

1.4.   “Depository ” means both any “securities depository” within the meaning of §270.17f-4 of the Act and any Eligible Securities Depository.

 

1.5.   “Eligible Foreign Custodian ” means an entity that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United States and that is a Qualified Foreign Bank, as defined in §270.17f-5(a)(5) of the Act.

 

1.6.   “Eligible Securities Depository ”, (“Depository”, or collectively “Depositories”) means a system for the central handling of securities as defined in §270.17f-7(b)(1) of the Act.

 

1.7.   “Emerging Market ” means each market so identified in Appendix A attached hereto.

 

1.8.   “Foreign Account ” means an Account in which Foreign Currencies or Securities are held by the Custodian for the benefit of clients whether in comingled accounts or accounts designated for each beneficial owner as is required under the regulatory jurisdiction where the Foreign Account is established.

 

1.9.   “Foreign Assets ” has the meaning provided in §270.17f-5(a)(2) of the Act.

 

1.10.   “Foreign Currency ” (“Currencies”) means any currency or any composite currency unit issued by a government or entity other than the United States Department of Treasury.

 

1.11.   “Foreign Market ” means each market so identified in Appendix A attached hereto.

 

1.12.   “Sub-Custodian” me ans an entity, including an Eligible Foreign Custodian and Domestic Sub-Custodian, which Custodian retains to hold Securities.

 

1.13.   “Global Sub-Agent Network” (“Sub-Agent Network” or “Sub-Agents”) means any Sub-Custodian located in the United States (the “Domestic Sub-Custodian”), and any sub-agents located in the countries and markets where Eligible Foreign

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 1 of 13

 

Sub-Custodians and Eligible Foreign Depositories are maintained by Custodian or any Sub-Custodian located in the United States which utilizes a Sub-Agent Network on behalf of Custodian.

 

1.14.   “Governing Documents ” means, with respect to each of the portfolios, (i) the declaration of trust or other constituting document of the Principal of which the portfolio is a series or portfolio, (ii) the currently effective prospectus under the Securities Act, (ii) the most recent statement of additional information, and (iii) a certified copy of the Board approving the engagement of the Custodian to act as custodian of the Securities.

 

1.15.   “Investment Manager ” or “ Manager ” means an investment advisor or manager identified by Principal in a written notice to Custodian as having the authority to direct Custodian regarding the management, acquisition, or disposition of Securities.

 

1.16.   “Monitoring System ” means the policies and procedures established by Custodian to fulfill its duties to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining Securities with a Sub-Custodian or Depository on a continuing basis, pursuant to this Agreement.

 

1.17.   “Securities ” means securities as defined in §2(a)(36) of the Act together with cash or any currency or other property of Principal and all income and proceeds of sale of such securities or other property of Principal that are held by Custodian in the Account.

 

1.18.  “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2. APPOINTMENT

 

2.1.  Principal hereby appoints the Custodian as the custodian of the Securities of each of its Portfolios.

 

2.2.  Principal has provided the Custodian with a copy of its Governing Documents, and will provide the Custodian with a copy of amendments, supplements and modifications thereof from time to time.

 

2.3.  The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as custodian of the Securities of Principal and agrees to perform the duties of such custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

3.1.   Power to Enter Agreement. Principal represents that, with respect to the Account, Principal is authorized to enter into this Agreement and to retain Custodian on the terms and conditions and for the purposes described herein.

 

3.2.   Foreign Custody Manager. The custodian agrees to serve as Principal’s “Foreign Custody Manager” as defined in Rule §270.17f-5(a)(3) of the Act, in respect of Principal’s Foreign Assets held from time to time by the Custodian with any Sub-Custodian that is an Eligible Foreign Custodian or with any Eligible Securities Depository.

 

3.3.   Custodian’s Sub-Agent Network. Principal hereby acknowledges receiving appropriate notice of Custodian’s selection of the use of those Eligible Foreign Custodians and Eligible Securities Depositories that are identified in Appendix A of this Agreement as amended from time to time.

 

4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

 

Custodian shall open and maintain a separate Account or Accounts in the name of Principal and shall hold in such Account or Accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all Securities received by it from or for the Account of the Principal. Custodian, in its sole discretion, may reasonably refuse to accept any property now or hereafter delivered to it for inclusion in the Account. Principal shall be notified promptly of such refusal and any such property shall be immediately returned to Principal. Custodian shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on behalf of the Principal except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by Custodian and the Principal in a written amendment hereto.

 

5. CUSTODY AND REGISTRATION

 

Custodian may (i) maintain possession of all or any portion of the Securities, including possession in a foreign branch or other office of Custodian; or (ii) retain, in accordance with this Paragraph 5 and Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, one or more Sub-Custodians to hold all or any portion of the Securities. Custodian and any Sub-Custodian may, in accordance

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 2 of 13

 

with this Paragraph 5 and Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, deposit definitive or book-entry Securities with one or more Depositories.

 

5.1.   Identification of Securities. Custodian shall ensure the Securities are at all times properly identified as being held for the appropriate Account. Custodian shall segregate physically the Securities from other securities owned by Custodian. Custodian shall not be required to segregate physically Securities held from other securities or property held by Custodian for third parties as custodian or other representative capacity, but Custodian shall maintain adequate records showing the true ownership of the Securities.

 

5.2.   Use of Depositories and Sub-Custodians. Custodian may, in its discretion, deposit any Securities which, under applicable law, are eligible to be so deposited in a Depository or Sub-Custodian account. Securities and Foreign Currencies held by a Sub-Custodian or Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such securities markets or securities depositories. If Custodian deposits Securities with a Sub-Custodian or Depository, Custodian shall maintain adequate records showing the identity and location of the Sub-Custodian or Depository, the Securities held by the Sub-Custodian or Depository and each account to which such Securities belong. With respect to Securities that are held for Custodian or any Sub-Custodian at a Depository, as defined in §270.17f-4 of the Act, Custodian shall satisfy or cause the Sub-Custodian to satisfy the requirements of §270.17f-4 of the Act.

 

5.3.   Use of Nominees. Custodian shall have the right to hold or cause to be held all Securities in the name of the Custodian, or for any Sub-Custodian or Depository, or in the name of a nominee of any of them as Custodian shall determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.

 

5.4.   Foreign Currency Deposits. The Custodian may in accordance with customary practices hold any currency in which any cash is denominated on deposit, and effect transactions relating thereto, through an account with an affiliate of Custodian, or Sub-Custodian or Depository in the country where such currency is the lawful currency or in other countries where such currency may be lawfully held on deposit.

 

5.5.   Transferability and Convertibility of Currency. Custodian shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, which may affect the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any currency in the countries where such Foreign Accounts are maintained and in no event shall Custodian be obligated to substitute another currency for a currency whose transferability, convertibility, or availability has been affected by such law, regulation or event. 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 such currency, such cost or charge shall be for the Account.

 

5.6.   Delivery of Securities. If Principal or Investment Manager directs Custodian to deliver assets, certificates or other physical evidence of ownership of Securities to any broker or other party, other than a Sub-Custodian or Depository employed by Custodian for purposes of maintaining the Account, Custodian’s sole responsibility shall be to exercise care and diligence in effecting the delivery as instructed by Principal or Manager. Upon completion of the delivery, Custodian shall be discharged completely of any further liability or responsibility with respect to the safekeeping and custody of Securities so delivered.

 

5.7.   Transferability of Securities. Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement or as the parties may otherwise agree, Custodian shall ensure that (i) the Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien, or claim of any kind in favor of Custodian or any Sub-Custodian or any person claiming through any of them except for Custodian’s expenses relating to the Securities’ safe custody or administration or other services made available under contractual agreements to Account by Custodian, and in the case of cash deposits at an Eligible Foreign Custodian, liens or rights in favor of the creditors of the Eligible Foreign Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws, and (ii) the beneficial ownership of the Securities will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration.

 

5.8.   Access to Account Records. Principal or its designee, shall have access, upon reasonable prior notice to Custodian, during regular business hours to the books and records relating to the Accounts, or shall be given confirmation of the contents of the books and records, maintained by Custodian or any Sub-Custodian holding securities hereunder to verify the accuracy of such books and records. Custodian shall notify Principal promptly of any applicable law or regulation in any country where Securities are held that would restrict such access or confirmation.

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 3 of 13

 

6. SELECTION AND MONITORING OF GLOBAL SUB-AGENT NETWORK

 

Upon written notice to Principal, as provided in Subparagraph 6.3 of this Agreement, Custodian may from time to time select one or more Domestic Sub-Custodians and Eligible Foreign Custodians and, subject to the provisions of Subparagraph 6.5, one or more Eligible Securities Depositories, to hold Securities hereunder.

 

6.1.   Governing Sub-Agent Agreement . Any relationship Custodian establishes with an Eligible Foreign Custodian with respect to Securities shall be governed by a written contract providing for the reasonable care of Securities based on the standards specified in section §270.17(f)-5(c)(1) of the Act, and including the provisions set forth in sections §270.17(f)-5(c)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of the Act, or provisions which Custodian determines provide the same or greater protection of Principal’s Securities.

 

6.2.   Sub-Agent Network Selection.

 

6.2.1.   Foreign Sub-Custodian. In selecting an Eligible Foreign Custodian on behalf of Custodian, the Domestic Sub-Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence and shall consider whether the Securities will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market, including (i) the Eligible Foreign Custodian’s practices, procedures, and internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical protections available for certificated securities (if applicable), the method of keeping custodial records, and the security and data protection practices; (ii) the Eligible Foreign Custodian’s financial strength, general reputation and standing in the country in which it is located, its ability to provide efficiently the custodial services required, and the relative cost of such services; and, (iii) whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has branch offices in the United States, or consents to service of process in the United States, in order to facilitate jurisdiction over and enforcement of judgments against it.

 

6.2.2.   Securities Depository. In selecting an Eligible Securities Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence in evaluating the custody risks associated with maintaining Securities with the Eligible Securities Depository under Custodian’s custody arrangements with any relevant Eligible Foreign Custodian and the Eligible Securities Depository.

 

6.3.   Notices to Principal. Custodian shall give written notice to Principal of the deposit of Securities with an Eligible Foreign Custodian or, directly or through an Eligible Foreign Sub-Custodian, with an Eligible Securities Depository. The notice shall identify the Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository and shall include reasonably available information relied on by Custodian in making the selection.

 

6.4.   Monitoring of Sub-Agent Network. Custodian shall monitor under its Monitoring System the appropriateness of the continued custody or maintenance of Principal’s Securities with each Domestic Sub-Custodian and their Global Network of Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository.

 

6.4.1.  Custodian shall evaluate and determine at least annually the continued eligibility of its Domestic Sub-Custodian and each Eligible Foreign Custodian and Eligible Securities Depository approved by Principal to act as such hereunder. In discharging this responsibility, Custodian shall (i) monitor on a continuing basis the services and reports provided by its Domestic Sub-Custodian for each of its Eligible Foreign Custodians or Eligible Securities Depositories; (ii) at least annually, obtain and review the periodic reports published by its Domestic Sub-Custodian confirming the Domestic Sub-Custodian’s review of the continued eligibility of each Foreign Sub-Custodian and Foreign Securities Depository; and (iii) review periodic reports related to the Domestic Sub-Custodian’s periodic physical inspections of the operations of each Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository as deemed appropriate.

 

6.4.2.  Custodian shall provide to the Board annually and at such other times as the Board may reasonably request based on the circumstances of the Principal’s foreign custody arrangements, written reports notifying the Board of the placement of Securities of Principal with a particular Domestic Sub-Custodian or a particular foreign Eligible Foreign Custodian within a Foreign Market or an Emerging Market and of any material change in the arrangements (including any material changes in any contracts governing such arrangements or any material changes in the established practices or procedures of Depositories) with respect to Securities of the Principal held by the Eligible Foreign Custodian.

 

6.4.3.  If Custodian determines that (i) any Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository no longer satisfies the applicable requirements described in Subparagraph 1.4 of this Agreement (in the case of an Eligible Foreign Custodian) or Subparagraph 1.5 of this Agreement (in the case of an Eligible Securities Depository); or, (ii) any Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository is otherwise no longer capable or qualified to perform the functions

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 4 of 13

 

contemplated herein; or, (iii) any change in a contract with a Eligible Foreign Custodian or any change in established Eligible Securities Depository or market practices or procedures shall cause a custody arrangement to no longer meet the requirements of the Act, Custodian shall promptly give written notice thereof to Principal. The notice shall either indicate Custodian’s intention to transfer Securities held by the removed Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository to another Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository previously identified to Principal, or include a notice pursuant to Subparagraph 6.4 of this Agreement of Custodian’s intention to deposit Securities with a new Eligible Foreign Custodian or Eligible Securities Depository, in either instance such transfer of Securities to be effected as soon as reasonably practical.

 

6.5.   Compulsory Depositories. Notwithstanding the foregoing sub-sections of this Paragraph 6 , Custodian shall have no responsibility for the selection or monitoring of any Eligible Securities Depository or Eligible Securities Depository’s agent (“Compulsory Depository”) (i) the use of which is mandated by law or regulation; (ii) because securities cannot be withdrawn from the depository; or (iii) because maintaining securities outside the securities depository is not consistent with prevailing market practices in the relevant market; provided however, that Custodian shall notify Principal if Principal has directed a trade in a market containing a Compulsory Depository, so Principal and Advisor shall have an opportunity to determine the appropriateness of investing in such market.

 

6.6.   Assessment of Custody Risk. Principal and Custodian agree that, for purposes of this Paragraph 6 , Custodian’s determination of appropriateness shall only include custody risk, and shall not include any evaluation of “country risk” or systemic risk associated with the investment or holding of assets in a particular country or market, including, but not limited to (i) the use of Compulsory Depositories; (ii) the country’s or market’s financial infrastructure; (iii) the country’s or market’s prevailing custody and settlement practices; (iv) risk of nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; (v) regulation of the banking or securities industries; (vi) currency controls, restrictions, devaluation or fluctuation; and (vii) country or market conditions which may affect the orderly execution of securities transactions or affect the value of the transactions. Principal and Custodian further agree that the evaluation of any such country and systemic risks shall be solely the responsibility of Principal and the Investment Manager.

 

7. TRANSACTIONS

 

7.1.   Instructions and Immediately Available Funds. Principal, or where applicable, the Investment Manager, is responsible for ensuring that Custodian receives timely instructions and sufficient immediately available funds for all transactions by such time and date as conditions in the relevant market dictates. As used herein, “sufficient immediately available funds” shall mean either (i) sufficient cash denominated in the currency of Principal’s home jurisdiction to purchase the necessary foreign currency, or (ii) sufficient applicable foreign currency, to settle the transaction. If Custodian does not receive such timely instructions and/or immediately available funds, Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, for failing to effect settlement. However, Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to effect settlement as soon as possible after receipt of appropriate instructions. Unless otherwise specified by Principal or Manager, foreign exchange transactions will be processed according to the instructions in Appendix B.

 

7.2.   Customary or Established Settlement Practices . Principal and Manager acknowledge settlement of and payment for Securities received for and delivered from the Account may be made in accordance with the customary or established securities trading and securities processing practices in the market in which the transaction occurs. Principal understands that when Custodian is instructed to deliver Foreign Securities or Foreign Currencies against payment, delivery of such Foreign Securities and Foreign Currencies and receipt of payment therefore may not be completed simultaneously. Principal assumes full responsibility for all credit risks involved in connection with Custodian’s delivery of Foreign Securities or Foreign Currencies pursuant to instructions of Principal or Manager.

 

7.3.   Additions to and Withdrawals from Account. Custodian shall make all additions and withdrawals of Securities to and from this Account only upon receipt of and pursuant to written instructions from Principal or Manager.

 

7.4.   Purchase or Sales. Principal or Manager from time to time may instruct Custodian regarding the purchase or sale of Securities in accordance with this paragraph 7.

 

7.5.   Purchases. Custodian shall settle purchases by charging the Account with the amount necessary to make the purchase and effecting payment to the seller or broker for the Securities. Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, if Custodian effects payment on behalf of the Account, and the settler or broker specified by Manager fails to deliver the Securities purchased. Custodian shall exercise such ordinary care and diligence as would

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be employed by a reasonably prudent custodian in examining and verifying the certificates or other indicia of ownership of the Securities purchased before accepting them, except with respect to assets described in Paragraph 7.7.

 

7.6.   Sales. Custodian shall settle sales by delivering certificates or other indicia of ownership of the Securities, and as instructed, shall receive cash for such sales. Custodian shall have no liability of any kind to any person, including Principal, if Custodian exercises due diligence and delivers such certificates or indicia of ownership and the purchaser or broker fails to effect payment.

 

7.7.   Depository Settlement. If a purchase or sale is settled through a Sub-Custodian or Depository, Custodian shall exercise such ordinary care and diligence as would be employed by a reasonably prudent custodian in verifying proper consummation of the transaction by the Sub-Custodian or Depository.

 

7.8.   Income and Principal. Custodian or its designated Sub-Agents are authorized, as Principal’s agent, to surrender against payment maturing obligations and obligations called for redemption, and to collect and receive payments of interest and principal, dividends, warrants, and other things of value in connection with Securities. Absent written instructions from Principal or Manager, funds will remain in the currency of collection upon receipt of payment.

 

7.9.   Foreign Currency Transactions. At the direction of Principal or Manager, as the case may be, Custodian shall convert currency in the Account to other currencies through customary channels including, without limitation, Custodian or any of its affiliates or Sub-Custodian Network, as shall be necessary to effect any transaction directed by Principal or Manager. If Principal or Manager gives Custodian standing instructions to execute foreign currency exchange transactions on Principal’s behalf, such transactions will be performed in accordance with the FX Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service Level Document as amended from time to time.

 

7.10.   Taxes. Custodian shall pay or cause to be paid from the Account all taxes and levies in the nature of taxes imposed on the Account or the Foreign Securities thereof by any country. Custodian will use reasonable efforts to give the Principal or Manager, as the case may be, advance notice of the imposition of such taxes. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Principal or the Custodian as custodian of the Principal by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof or any foreign jurisdiction. The sole responsibilities of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to effect the withholding of local taxes and related charges with regard to market entitlement/payment in accordance with local law and subject to local market practice or custom and to assist Principal with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which Principal has provided such information. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or otherwise agreed to in writing by the Custodian, the Custodian shall have no independent obligation to determine the tax obligations now or hereafter imposed on Principal by any taxing authority or to obtain or provide information relating thereto, and shall have no obligation or liability with respect to such tax obligations.

 

7.11.   Foreign Tax Reclamation. Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to obtain refunds of taxes withheld on Foreign Securities or the income thereof that are available under applicable tax laws, treaties and regulations subject to Principal’s provision of all documentation and certifications as required by U.S. and foreign tax authorities to establish the eligibility of Principal for tax reclamation under applicable law or treaty. Principal hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and its agents in respect to any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of Principal, its successor and assignees, notwithstanding the termination of this agreement. The Custodian is authorized to disclose any information required by any such tax or other governmental authority in relation to processing any claim for exemption from or reduction or refund of any taxes relating to the Principal’s transactions and holdings.

 

7.12.   Collection Obligations. Custodian shall diligently collect income and principal of Securities which the Custodian has received actual notice in accordance with normal industry practices. However, Custodian shall be under no obligation or duty to take any action to effect collection of any amount if the Securities upon which such amount is payable is in default, or if payment is refused after due demand. Custodian shall notify Principal and Manager promptly of such default or refusal to pay. Custodian shall have no duty to file or pursue any bankruptcy or class action claims with respect to Account, unless indemnified by Principal in manner and amount satisfactory to Custodian provided, however, unless Principal directs otherwise, Custodian will use its best efforts to file claims in class actions and pay any recovery to account, net of Custodian’s fees as disclosed in the fee schedule.

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7.13.   Capital Changes. Custodian may, without further instruction from Principal or Manager, exchange temporary certificates and may surrender and exchange Securities for other securities in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction in which the owner of the Securities is not given an option. Custodian has no responsibility to effect any such exchange unless it has received notice of the event permitting or requiring such exchange at the office of Custodian’s designated agents.

 

7.14.   Fractional Interest. Custodian shall receive and retain all stock distributed by a corporation as a dividend, stock split, or otherwise and, in connection therewith, any fractional shares, unless otherwise instructed or without authorization to sell.

 

7.15.   Delivery of Instructions and Funds. Instructions and Funds shall be directed to Custodian or Domestic Sub-Custodian, as applicable with respect to the foregoing.

 

8. CREDITS TO ACCOUNT

 

8.1.   Payment. Custodian may as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate agreement with the Principal, credit the account with the proceeds from the sale, redemption or other disposition of Securities or interest or dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment; therefore, all such credits shall be conditional until the Custodian’s actual receipt of final payment and may be reversed by Custodian to the extent that final payment is not received. Payment with respect to a transaction will not be final until Custodian receives immediately available funds under which 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. Principal acknowledges and agrees that any currency risk associated with such credits will be born by Principal.

 

8.2.   Emerging Market Settlement Dates. Notwithstanding the foregoing Paragraph 8.1, Principal understands and agrees that settlement of Securities transactions is available only on settlement date basis in certain Emerging Markets, which are identified in Appendix A, as amended from time to time.

 

8.2.1.   Cash Deposits. For Emerging Markets with restricted settlement conditions, cash of any currency deposited or delivered to the Account shall be available for use by Principal or Investment Manager only on the business day on which actual receipt of final payment and funds of good value are available to Sub-Custodian in the Account.

 

8.2.2.   Securities. For Emerging Markets with restricted settlement conditions, Securities deposited or delivered to the Account shall be available for use by Principal or Investment Manager only on the business day on which such Securities are held in the nominee name or are otherwise subject to the control of, and in a form for good delivery by, the Sub-Custodian.

 

9. OVERDRAFT AND INDEBTEDNESS

 

9.1.   Advance Funds. If Custodian advances funds to or for the benefit of Account in connection with the settlement of securities or currency transactions or other activity in the Account including overdrafts or other indebtedness incurred in connection with the settlement of securities transactions, maturity or income payments or funds transfers, Principal agrees to reimburse Custodian on demand the amount of the advance or overdraft and all related fees as established in Custodian’s published fee schedule. Principal will bear the risk from any currency valuation differences associated with Principal’s reimbursement obligations to Custodian. Custodian shall also have the right to utilize any cash in the Account in order to obtain reimbursement hereunder and to setoff Custodian’s obligations with respect to any deposits or credit balances in the Account against any obligation of Principal hereunder.

 

9.2.   Repayment. To the extent permissible by applicable law, in order to secure repayment of Account’s obligations to Custodian hereunder, Principal hereby pledges and grants to Custodian a continuing lien and security interest in, and right of set-off against, all of Account’s right, title and interest in and to (i) all Accounts in Principal’s name and the Securities, money and other property now or hereafter held in such Accounts (including proceeds thereof); and (ii) each Account in respect of which or for whose benefit the advance or overdraft relates and the Securities, money and other property now or hereafter held in such Accounts, including proceeds thereof. In this regard, Custodian shall be entitled to all the rights and remedies of a pledgee and secured creditor under applicable laws, rules or regulations as then in effect. Principal authorizes the Custodian, in the Custodian’s sole discretion, at any time to charge any overdraft or indebtedness, together with interest due thereon, against any balance of account standing to the credit of the Principal on the Custodian’s books. In addition, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Principal’s Securities to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

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10. CORPORATE ACTIONS, PROXIES AND LITERATURE

 

10.1.   Corporate Actions. Custodian shall notify Manager of the receipt of notices of redemptions, conversions, exchanges, calls, puts, subscription rights, and scrip certificates (“Corporate Action(s)”). Custodian need not monitor financial publications for notices of Corporate Actions and shall not be obligated to take any action unless actual notice has been received by Custodian at the offices of its Domestic Sub-Custodian. Custodian’s sole responsibility in this regard shall be to give such notices to Principal or Investment Manager, as the case may be, within a reasonable time after Custodian receives them. Custodian has no responsibility to respond or otherwise act with respect to any such notice unless and until Custodian has received timely and appropriate instructions from Principal or Manager. Principal or Manager is responsible to ensure all required documentation and funds are available to Custodian and its agents as required under the terms of the offer or by legal jurisdiction in order for Custodian and its agent to take action on behalf of Account.

 

10.2.   Proxies. Custodian shall forward all proxies and accompanying material actually received by Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian that are issued by any company whose securities are held in the Account to Manager or Principal, as directed. Principal and Manager acknowledge that proxy services are limited in foreign markets and Custodian’s sole responsibility with respect to such proxy materials will be to forward the proxy and accompanying material received by Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian to Principal or Manager. Custodian shall have no duty to translate or retain any material received unless required to do so by law.

 

10.3.   Corporate Literature. Custodian shall have no duty to forward or to retain any other corporate material received by Custodian for the Account unless required to do so by law. Custodian shall have no duty to translate or retain any material received from its Global Sub-Agent Network unless required to do so by law.

 

10.4.   Disclosure to Issuers of Securities. Unless Principal directs Custodian in writing to the contrary, Principal agrees that Custodian or its Domestic Sub-Custodian or its Sub-Agents may disclose the name and address of the party with the authority to vote the proxies of the Securities held in this Account as well as the number of shares held, to any issuer of said Securities or its agents upon the written request of such issuer or agent in conformity with the provisions of the applicable law. Principal acknowledges that Custodian or its Domestic Sub-Custodian or its Sub-Agents may be required under jurisdictional law to disclose to issuers beneficial owner information regardless of Principal’s instructions otherwise.

 

11. INSTRUCTIONS

 

11.1.   Written. All instructions from Principal or Manager with respect to the Accounts must be from an authorized person and, except those instructions described in Paragraph 7, shall be in writing, and shall continue in force until changed by subsequent instructions. For purposes of this Paragraph 11, an authorized person means any of the persons duly authorized by the Board to give instructions on behalf of the Principal as set forth in a certificate along with any limitations on such Persons’ scope of authority, such certificate to be executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Principal, as the same may be revised from time to time. Pending receipt of written authority, Custodian may in its absolute discretion at any time accept oral, faxed, wired and electronically transmitted instructions from Principal or Manager provided Custodian believes in good faith that the instructions are genuine. If oral instructions are received, Principal or Manager, as the case may be, shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing or by facsimile or other means permitted hereunder. Principal will hold Custodian harmless for the failure of Principal or Manager to send confirmation in writing, the failure of such confirmation to conform to the telephone instructions received or Custodian’s failure to produce such confirmation at any subsequent time. Only those individuals as may be designated by Principal from time to time are authorized to give instructions as described in this Agreement.

 

11.2.   Reliance on Instructions. Except as otherwise provided herein, all instructions shall be in writing, and shall continue in force until changed by subsequent instructions. Pending receipt of written authority, Custodian may in its absolute discretion at any time accept oral, wired or electronically transmitted instructions from Principal or Manager provided Custodian believes in good faith that the instructions are genuine. Further, Custodian may assume that any written or oral instructions received hereunder are consistent with the provisions of organizational documents of the Principal or of any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Principal’s board of directors of the Principal’s shareholders, unless and until Custodian receives written instructions to the contrary.

 

12. RIGHT TO RECEIVE ADVICE

 

12.1.   Advice of the Principal . If Custodian is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take under this Agreement, Custodian may request directions or advice, including oral instructions or written instructions, from the Principal.

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12.2.   Advice of Counsel. If Custodian shall be in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, Custodian may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Principal, the Investment Manager or Custodian, at the option of Custodian). Principal shall pay the reasonable cost of any counsel retained by Custodian with prior notice to Principal.

 

12.3.   Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions Custodian receives from the Principal, and the advice it receives from counsel, Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon and follow the advice of counsel.

 

12.4.   Protection of Custodian. Custodian shall be indemnified by Principal and without liability for any action Custodian takes or does not take in reliance upon directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions Custodian receives from or on behalf of the Principal, or from counsel and which Custodian believes, in good faith, to be consistent with those directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed so as to impose an obligation upon Custodian (i) to seek such directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions, or (ii) to act in accordance with such directions or advice or oral instructions or written instructions.

 

13. ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING

 

13.1.   Cost and Nominal Value. Principal agrees to furnish Custodian with the income tax cost basis and dates of acquisition of all Securities held in the Account to be carried on its records. If Principal does not furnish such information, Custodian shall carry the Securities at any such nominal value it determines, such value to be for bookkeeping purposes only. All statements and reporting of any matters requiring this information will use this nominal value. Custodian shall have no duty to verify the accuracy of the cost basis and dates of acquisition furnished by Principal. Securities purchased in the Account shall be carried at cost.

 

13.2.   Valuations. To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing or other information services, Custodian is authorized to utilize any vendor (including brokers and dealers of Securities and pricing services embedded in Custodian’s securities processing or accounting systems) reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information. Principal understands that certain pricing information with respect to complex financial instruments including, without limitation, 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 pricing vendors used by Custodian do not provide information for Securities, Principal or authorized party may advise Custodian regarding the fair market value of, or provide other information with respect to, such held Securities. If Principal or Manager does not provide such information, Custodian shall use the cost or nominal value for such Securities, solely for administrative convenience. Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense incurred as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other information utilized by Custodian hereunder and shall have no responsibility or duty to ascertain or authenticate the value of pricing applied to any such Security.

 

13.3.   Activity Reports. Custodian shall provide access to Principal and Manager and other persons authorized by Principal to access advices of securities transactions and other information regarding the Account by means of Custodian’s online system.

 

13.4.   Statements. Custodian shall provide Principal and Manager Account statements and other reports periodically via paper delivery or electronically by means of the Custodian’s online service or as otherwise as agreed to by Principal and Custodian showing all income and principal transactions and cash positions, and a list of Property. Principal may approve or disapprove any such statement within thirty (30) days of its receipt, and, if no written objections are received within the thirty (30) day period, such statement of Account shall be deemed approved.

 

Principal acknowledges and agrees that if Custodian’s online service is selected, paper statements will be provided only upon request and that the Custodian’s online statements, trade confirms and related online communications satisfy all of Custodian’s existing legal and contractual obligations to provide statements, reports and confirmations with respect to the account. Printed trade confirmations for trades effected by the Custodian will be available upon request and at no additional cost. Principal and Manager may request printed trade confirmations for other securities transactions from the broker through which they direct such trades.

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14. USE OF OTHER BANK SERVICES

 

14.1.   Mutual Fund Investments. Principal or Manager may direct Custodian to utilize for the Account any mutual fund available in the market as permitted by law. These investment directions may include, but are not limited to, money market mutual funds or long equity and fixed income mutual funds. Such funds may be sub-advised by an affiliate or subsidiary of Custodian and/or for which Custodian may also act as the mutual fund’s custodian and/or provide other services for the mutual fund. Principal or Manager shall designate the particular mutual fund that Principal or Manager deems appropriate for the Account. Principal hereby acknowledges that Custodian or its affiliate or subsidiary will receive fees for such services which are in addition to those fees charged by Custodian as agent for the Principal’s custody Account.

 

14.2.   Foreign Exchange. Custodian makes available to Principal or Manager foreign exchange services directly with Custodian or through Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian to convert currencies in conjunction with transactions in the Principal’s Account under direction provided in Appendix B, as amended from time to time. Principal acknowledges that Custodian is the counterparty with respect to foreign exchange transactions provided under the Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service (Defined Spread Service) with Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian and are subject to Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.

 

14.2.1.   Standing Instructions Defined Spread Service . Foreign currency exchanges offered under the Defined Spread Service are directed to Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian or, for markets with currency restrictions, to the local market Sub-Agent. Both services may be amended from time to time.

 

14.2.2.   Direct with Custodian’s Global Capital Markets . Principal or Manager may elect to have foreign currency exchanges provided under separate agreement with Custodian’s Global Capital Markets and performed in accordance with Custodian’s Foreign Exchange Agreement.

 

Principal acknowledges that (i) Principal or Manager is not obligated to effect foreign currency exchange with Custodian or Custodian’s Domestic Sub-Custodian, (ii) Custodian will make available the relevant data so that Principal or Manager, as the case may be, can independently monitor foreign exchange activities, and (iii) Custodian will receive benefits for such foreign currency transactions as defined in Section 14.2.2 which are in addition to the compensation which Custodian receives for administering the Account.

 

14.3.   Interest Bearing Deposits. Principal or Manager may direct that assets of the Account be invested in deposits with Custodian or Domestic Sub-Custodian as a sweep vehicle or other deposit held in Custodian’s nominee name for the benefit of its clients. Such deposits are covered by FDIC insurance up to the designated value in effect for each beneficial owner.

 

14.4.   Other Transaction Services. Principal or Manager may direct Custodian to utilize for the Account other services or facilities provided by Custodian, its subsidiaries or affiliates. Such services may include, but are not be limited to the placing of orders for the purchase or sale of units or shares of any registered investment company, including such registered investment company to which Custodian, MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, manage, provide investment advice, act as custodian or provide other services.

 

14.5.   Credit Facilities. Custodian may, in accordance with its commercial lending practices, enter into a credit facility with Principal for use with the operation of the Account. Such credit facility will be agreed to under separate agreement and subject to the terms and conditions, therein. Principal acknowledges that any such credit facility is subject to the lien provisions of Paragraph 9.2 of this Agreement.

 

15. CUSTODIAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES

 

15.1.   Standard of Care. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it under this Agreement, the Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care and shall not be liable for any damages arising out of the Custodian’s performance of or failure to perform its duties under this Agreement except to the extent that damages arise directly out of the Custodian’s willful misfeasance, gross negligence or otherwise from a material breach of the Custodian’s standard of care under this Agreement.

 

15.2.   Investment Authority . The parties intend that Custodian shall not be considered a fiduciary of the Account.

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15.3.   Insurance and Force Majeure. Without limiting the generality of Paragraph 14.1 or of any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall not be liable so long as and to the extent that it exercises reasonable care, for any defect in the title, validity or genuineness of any Security or in the evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, Custodian (i) shall not be required to maintain any special insurance for the benefit of Principal, and (ii) shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, damage, expense, failure to perform or delay caused by accidents, strikes, fire, flood, war, riot, electrical or mechanical or communication line or facility failures, acts of third parties (including without limitation any messenger, telephone or delivery service), acts of God, war, government action, civil commotion, fire, earthquake, or other casualty or disaster or any other cause or causes which are beyond Custodian’s reasonable control. However, Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to replace Securities lost or damaged due to such causes with securities of the same class and issue with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Custodian shall not be liable to Principal for any loss which shall occur as the result of the failure of a Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of assets.

 

15.4.   Legal Proceedings

 

15.4.1.  Custodian shall not be required to appear in or defend any legal proceedings with respect to the Account or the Securities unless Custodian has been indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against loss and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees).

 

15.4.2.  With respect to legal proceedings, Custodian may consult with counsel acceptable to it after written notification to Principal concerning its duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken in good faith on the advice of such counsel.

 

15.4.3.  To the extent permissible by law or regulation and upon Principal’s request, the Principal shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim for any loss, damage or claim suffered by Principal, in each case to the extent that the Custodian fails to pursue any such claim or Principal is not made whole in respect of such loss, damage or claim.

 

16. INDEMNITIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

16.1.  In addition to the indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement, Principal agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Custodian and its affiliates providing services under this Agreement, including their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities (“Claims”) arising directly or indirectly from any action or omission to act which Custodian takes in connection with the provision of services to Principal. Neither Custodian, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) caused by Custodian’s or its affiliates’ own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of Custodian’s or its affiliates’ activities under this Agreement. The provisions of this Paragraph 15 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

16.2.  In all cases, Custodian’s liability under this Agreement shall be limited to the resulting direct loss, if any, incurred by Principal. Under no circumstances shall Custodian be liable for any incidental, consequential, indirect, punitive, or special damage which Principal may incur or suffer in connection with this Agreement.

 

17. COMPENSATION AND OTHER CHARGES

 

17.1.   Compensation. Principal shall pay Custodian compensation for its services hereunder as specified in Appendix C and as amended from time to time. Fees shall accrue and be taken in arrears as specified on the active fee schedule and charged to the Account unless Principal has requested that it be billed directly. However, any fees not paid within sixty (60) days of billing will be charged to the Account.

 

17.2.   Expenses. Principal shall reimburse Custodian by debiting the Account for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and processing costs incurred by Custodian and Global Sub-Custodian Network in the administration of the Account including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees incurred by Custodian pursuant to Subparagraph 12.2 of this Agreement.

 

18. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

18.1.   Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time by a written instrument signed by the parties or by Custodian immediately if required by applicable law or upon thirty (30) days written notice to Principal.

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18.2.   Termination. Custodian may terminate this Agreement immediately if Custodian, in its sole discretion, determines that (i) Principal failed to strictly comply with any provision of this Agreement; or (ii) any representation, warranty or covenant of the other party in this Agreement is false or misleading. Any such termination shall not constitute a waiver of any other rights that the Custodian may have under this Agreement.

 

In addition, either party may terminate this Agreement and the Account upon ninety (90) days’ written notice. Upon such termination, Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities, less any amounts due and owing to Custodian under this Agreement, to a successor custodian designated by Principal or, if a successor custodian has not accepted an appointment by the effective date of termination of the Account, to Principal. Upon completion of such delivery Custodian shall be discharged of any further liability or responsibility with respect to the Securities so delivered. In the event that Securities or other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of Principal to provide proper instructions, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that no proper instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the Act of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all Securities held by the Custodian on behalf of Principal and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto held by it under this Agreement on behalf of Principal, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Securities held in an Account. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement. All expenses associated with the transfer of custody hereunder upon termination hereof shall be borne by the Principal (except as may be specifically agreed in writing by the parties in relation to special arrangements).

 

19. SUCCESSORS

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors in interest. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party, nor may the duties of either party hereunder be delegated, without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

20. GOVERNING LAW

 

The validity, construction, and administration of this Agreement shall be governed by the applicable laws of the United States from time to time in force and effect and, to the extent not preempted by such laws of the United States, by the laws of the State of California from time to time in force and effect. Any action or proceeding to enforce, interpret or adjudicate the rights and responsibilities of the parties hereunder shall be commenced in the State or Federal courts located in the State of California.

 

21. NOTICES

 

Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be signed and in writing and shall be deemed as having been duly given on the date of service, if served personally on the party to whom notice is to be given, or on the fifth (5) day after mailing, if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given and properly addressed as follows:

 

       
To Principal:   Northern Lights Fund Trust IV  
    17605 Wright Street  
    Omaha , NE 68154  
    Attn:   James Ash  
    Facsimile:  (631) 813-2884  
    Email:  James.Ash@theGeminiCompanies.com  
       
To Custodian:   MUFG Union Bank, N.A.  
    350 California Street, Suite 2018  
    San Francisco, CA 94104  
    Attn: Margaret Bond, Vice President  
    Facsimile: (877) 823-3601  
    Email: ITCS_Funds_1@unionbank.com or margaret.bond@unionbank.com

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 12 of 13

 

This agreement and any amendment, notice or other document required to be signed and in writing under this Agreement may be delivered by personal service or U.S first class mail postage prepaid or via fax, email with an imaged or scanned attachment (such as a .PDF), or similar electronic transmission with electronic signature through Custodian’s online secure messaging service pursuant to security protocols established and agreed by the parties, unless otherwise specified herein. Signatures delivered via fax, email, or similar electronic transmission shall be effective as original signatures in binding the parties and shall be effective upon receipt.

 

Periodic communications related to foreign currencies and global market updates will be available to authorized parties through Custodian’s secure messaging service.

 

22. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

All non-public information and advice furnished by either party to the other shall be treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties unless required by law, except Custodian may disclose (a) the identity of Principal as a client or client reference of Custodian; (b) any information to any government regulator of Custodian or its affiliated entities; and (c) any information to Custodian’s affiliated entities and product and service providers to the extent necessary to provide the financial products and services under this Agreement.

 

23. EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Agreement shall be effective as of the date appearing below, and shall supersede any prior or existing agreements between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof.

 

24. COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement and all exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any reasonable means. The parties hereto each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

25. MISCELLANEOUS

 

Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

BY PRINCIPAL: Hays Series Trust   ACCEPTED: MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
 
By: /s/ James Ash   By: /s/ Brian Davies
Name:  James Ash   Name:  Brian Davies
Title: Trustee   Title: Vice Proesident
Date: July 6, 2015   Date: 7/20/15
 
By:     By: /s/ Margaret Bond
Name:     Name: MARGARET BOND
Title:     Title: DIRECTOR
Date:     Date: 7/20/15

© MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (2015_0213) Page 13 of 13

 

 

FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

 

between

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

and

 

 

 


 

 
 

INDEX

 

1.   APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS 1
2.   DUTIES OF GFS 2
3.   FEES 3
4.   STANDARD OF CARE, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELIANCE 4
5.   LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY 6
6.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 6
7.   CONFIDENTIALITY 7
8.   PROPRIETARY INFORMATION 8
9.   ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES 9
10.   ASSIGNMENT AND SUBCONTRACTING 9
11.   TERM AND TERMINATION 9
12.   MISCELLANEOUS 10

 

ATTACHED APPENDICES

 

APPENDIX I

APPENDIX II

APPENDIX III

APPENDIX IV

 
 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated the 29 th day of July, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, NE 68130 (the "Trust") and GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company having its principal office and place of business at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (“GFS”).

 

WHEREAS , the Trust is an investment company to-be registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”); and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust is authorized to issue shares (“Shares”) in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust offers shares in the series as set forth on Appendix IV attached hereto (each such series, together with all other series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 10 , being herein referred to as a “Fund,” and collectively as the “Funds”); and

 

WHEREAS , the Trust desires that GFS perform the services selected on Appendix IV (collectively the “Services”) for the Funds and GFS is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, the Trust and GFS hereby agree as follows:

 

1. APPOINTMENT AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

 

(a) The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, hereby appoints GFS to provide the Services to the Trust and the Funds for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. GFS accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the Services in return for the compensation as provided in Section 3 and Appendix IV of this Agreement.

 

(b) In connection therewith, the Trust has delivered to GFS copies of:

 

(i) the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws (collectively, the "Organizational Documents");

 

(ii) the Trust's Registration Statement and all amendments thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Investment Company Act (the "Registration Statement");

 

(iii) the Trust’s notification of registration under the Investment Company Act on Form N-8A as filed with the SEC;

 

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(iv) the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional information for each Fund (collectively, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented, the "Prospectus");

 

(v) if applicable, each Fund’s current plan of distribution adopted by the Trust under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (the "Plan");

 

(vi) each Fund’s investment advisory agreement;

 

(vii) each Fund’s underwriting agreement;

 

(viii) contact information for each Fund’s service providers, including, but not limited to, the Fund’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent, independent auditors, legal counsel, underwriter and chief compliance officer; and

 

(ix) procedures adopted by the Trust in accordance with Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act with respect to affiliated transactions.

 

(c) The Trust shall promptly furnish GFS with all amendments of or supplements to the items listed in Section 1(b) above, and shall deliver to GFS a copy of the resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") appointing GFS and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

2. DUTIES OF GFS

 

GFS’s duties with respect to the Services are detailed in Appendices I, II and III to this Agreement.

 

(a) In order for GFS to perform the Services, the Trust (i) shall cause all third party service providers to the Trust or Funds to furnish any and all information to GFS and assist GFS as GFS may require and (ii) shall ensure that GFS has access to all records and documents maintained by the Trust and the Funds or any service provider to the Trust or the Funds.

 

(b) GFS shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.

 

(c) Whenever, in the course of performing its duties under this Agreement, GFS determines, on the basis of information supplied to GFS by the Trust, that a violation of applicable law has occurred, or that, to its knowledge, a possible violation of applicable law may have occurred, or with the passage of time could occur, GFS shall promptly notify the Trust’s chief compliance officer and its legal counsel of such violation.

 

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3. FEES

 

(a) Fees. As compensation for the Services provided by GFS to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees to pay GFS the fees set forth in Appendix IV attached hereto. Fees will begin to accrue for each Fund on the latter of the Effective Date or the date GFS begins providing services to such Fund. For the purpose of determining fees calculated as a function of such Fund’s assets, the value of the Fund’s assets and net assets shall be computed as required by its currently effective Prospectus, generally accepted accounting principles, and resolutions of the Board. GFS will render, after the close of each month in which the Services have been furnished, a statement reflecting all of the charges for such month together with any unpaid charges from prior months. Services provided for partial months shall be subject to pro ration.

 

(b) Expenses. In addition to the fees paid under Section 3(a) , the Trust agrees to reimburse GFS for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by GFS to perform the Services, as well as for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GFS at the request or with the consent of the Trust. For the avoidance of doubt, and without intending to limit the Trust’s reimbursement obligation, the Trust agrees to reimburse GFS for the following expenses to the extent incurred by GFS in the performance of the Services:

 

(i) Taxes (except to the extent relating the income of GFS);

(ii) interest;

(iii) brokerage fees and commissions, if any;

(iv) fees for trustees who are not officers, directors, partners, employees or holders of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of GFS or the Company’s investment adviser;

(v) SEC fees (including EDGAR filing fees);

(vi) state blue sky registration or qualification fees;

(vii) advisory fees;

(viii) charges of custodians;

(ix) transfer and dividend disbursing agents' fees;

(x) insurance premiums;

(xi) outside auditing and legal expenses;

(xii) costs of maintaining Trust existence;

(xiii) costs attributable to shareholder services, including, without limitation, telephone and personnel expenses;

(xiv) costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for regulatory purposes;

(xv) costs of shareholders' reports, Trust meetings and related expenses; and

(xvi) any extraordinary expenses.

 

(c) Fee Changes . On each anniversary date of this Agreement, the base and/or minimum fees enumerated in Appendix IV attached hereto, may be increased by the change in the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast region (the “CPI”) for the twelve-month period ending with the month preceding such annual anniversary date. Any CPI increases not charged in any given year may be included in prospective CPI fee increases in future years. GFS Agrees to provide the Board prior written notice of any CPI increase.

 

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(d) Due Date . All fees contemplated under Section 3(a) above and reimbursement for all expenses contemplated under Section 3(b) above are due and payable within ten (10) days of receipt of an invoice provided by GFS. Any fees or reimbursements due hereunder and not received by its due date may be assessed interest at the maximum amount permitted by law.

 

(e) Books and Records. The accounts, books, records and other documents (the “Records”) maintained by GFS in connection with the performance of the Services shall be the property of the Funds, and shall be surrendered to the Funds, at the expense of the Funds, promptly upon request by the Funds in the form in which such Records have been maintained or preserved, provided that all service fees and expenses charged by GFS in the performance of its duties hereunder have been fully paid to the satisfaction of GFS. GFS agrees to maintain a backup set of each Fund’s Records Funds (which backup set shall be updated on at least a weekly basis) at a location other than that where the original Records are stored. GFS shall assist the Funds’ independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Funds, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Funds’ Records. GFS shall preserve the Records, as they are required to be maintained and preserved by Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act.

 

(f)                  Post-Engagement Audit Support Fees. After a de-conversion, GFS may be called upon to provide support to a Fund’s service providers in connection with a Fund’s annual audit. Services provided by GFS to accommodate any request by the Fund for assistance with the Fund’s annual audit following termination of this Agreement shall be subject to GFS’s standard hourly rates existing at the time of the request. The Fund agrees to compensate GFS, at GFS’s standard hourly rates, for accommodating any such request.

 

4. STANDARD OF CARE, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELIANCE

 

(a) Indemnification of GFS . The Trust shall, on behalf of each applicable Fund, indemnify and hold GFS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable attorney or consultant fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, breach of any representation or warranty made by the Trust contained in this Agreement, or which arise out of the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement. The Trust shall also indemnify and hold GFS harmless from all reasonable actions taken by GFS hereunder in good faith without gross negligence, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of its duties.

 

(b) Indemnification of the Trust . GFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust and each applicable Fund harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable attorney or consultant fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to GFS’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, breach of any representation or warranty made by GFS contained in this Agreement or which arise out of GFS’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to GFS’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

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(c) Reliance . Except to the extent that GFS may be liable pursuant to Section 4(b) above, the Trust shall hold GFS harmless and GFS shall not be liable for any action taken or failure to act in reliance upon, and shall be entitled to rely upon:

 

(i)                   advice of the Trust, its officers, independent auditors or counsel to the Trust;

 

(ii) any oral instruction which it receives and which it reasonably believes in good faith was transmitted by the person or persons authorized by the Board to give such oral instruction pursuant to the parties standard operating practices;

 

(iii) any written instruction or resolution of the Board, and GFS may rely upon the genuineness of any such document, copy or facsimile thereof reasonably believed by GFS to have been validly executed;

 

(iv) any signature, instruction, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, statement, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or other document reasonably believed by GFS to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the Trust or other proper party or parties;

 

(v) any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided to GFS or its agents or subcontractors furnished (pursuant to procedures mutually agreed to by GFS and the Trust’s service providers) by machine readable input, data entry, email, facsimile or other similar means authorized by the Trust; and

 

(vi) any authorization, instruction, approval, item or set of data, or information of any kind transmitted to GFS in person or by telephone, email, facsimile or other electronic means, furnished and reasonably believed by GFS to be genuine and to have been given by the proper person or persons. GFS shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.

 

GFS shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack of authority of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which GFS reasonably believes to be genuine.

 

At any time, GFS may apply to any officer of the Trust for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Trust with respect to any matter arising in connection with the routine services to be performed by GFS under this Agreement, and GFS and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in reasonable reliance upon such instructions or upon the advice of such counsel.

 

(d) Errors of Others . GFS shall not be liable for the errors of other service providers to the Trust, except or unless any GFS action or inaction is a direct cause of the error.

 

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(e) Reliance on Electronic Instructions. If the Trust has the ability to originate electronic instructions to GFS in order to (i) effect the transfer or movement of cash or Shares or (ii) transmit shareholder information or other information, then in such event GFS shall be entitled to rely on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security procedures established and agreed upon by GFS and the Trust.

 

(f) Notification of Claims. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of the indemnitee to timely notify the indemnitor shall not relieve the indemnitor of its indemnification obligations hereunder except to the extent that the indemnitor is materially prejudiced by such failure.

 

(g) Defense of Claims . The party who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the other party. The party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the other party’s prior written consent.

 

(h) Limitation of GFS’s Liability . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, GFS’s maximum liability to the Trust or any Fund arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether arising in contract, tort (including, without limitation, negligence) or otherwise, shall not exceed the direct loss to the Trust or such Fund. IN NO EVENT SHALL GFS BE LIABLE FOR TRADING LOSSES, LOST REVENUES, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE OR GFS WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE PREMISED UPON THE LIMITATION STATED IN THIS SECTION.
5. LIMITATION OF SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

 

The Board and the shareholders of each Fund shall not be liable for any obligations of the Trust or of the Funds under this Agreement, and GFS agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Trust or the Fund(s) to which GFS’s rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims, and not to the Board or the shareholders of the Trust or the Fund(s). It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but bind only the Trust property of the Trust, as provided in the Trust’s Organizational Documents.

6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

(a) Representations of GFS. GFS represents and warrants to the Trust that:

 

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(i) it is a limited liability company duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Nebraska;

 

(ii) it is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;

 

(iii) it has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and

 

(iv) it is registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall continue to be so registered throughout the remainder of this Agreement.

 

(b) Representations of the Trust. The Trust represents and warrants to GFS that:

 

(i) it is a Trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization;

 

(ii) it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

(iii) all proceedings required by said Organizational Documents have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

(iv) it is an investment company registered or to-be registered under the Investment Company Act and will operate in conformance with the Investment Company Act and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder during the term of this Agreement;

 

(v) a registration statement under the Securities Act is or will be effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings as required, have been or will be made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund(s) being offered for sale; and

 

(vi) Each Fund’s Organizational Documents, Registration Statement and Prospectus are true and accurate and will remain true and accurate at all times during the term of this Agreement in conformance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

 

GFS and the Trust agree that all books, records, information, and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except that GFS may:

 

(a) prepare or assist in the preparation of periodic reports to shareholders and regulatory bodies such as the SEC;
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(b) provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information regarding investment companies; and

 

(c) release such information as permitted or required by law or approved in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where GFS may be exposed to civil or criminal liability or proceedings for failure to release the information, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities or when so requested by the Trust.

 

Except as provided above, in accordance with Title 17, Chapter II, part 248 of the Code of Federal Regulations (17 CFR 248.1 – 248.30) (“Reg S-P”), GFS will not directly, or indirectly through an affiliate, disclose any non-public personal information as defined in Reg S-P, received from a Fund to any person that is not affiliated with the Fund or with GFS and provided that any such information disclosed to an affiliate of GFS shall be under the same limitations on non-disclosure.

 

Both parties agree to communicate sensitive information via secured communication channels (i.e., encrypted format).

8. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

 

(a) Proprietary Information of GFS . The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals maintained by GFS on databases under the control and ownership of GFS or a third party constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “GFS Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to GFS or the third party. The Trust agrees to treat all GFS Proprietary Information as proprietary to GFS and further agrees that it shall not divulge any GFS Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided under this Agreement or as may be directed by GFS or as may be duly requested by regulatory authorities.

 

(b) Proprietary Information of the Trust . GFS acknowledges that the Shareholder list and all information related to shareholders furnished to GFS by the Trust or by a shareholder in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “Customer Data”) all information regarding the Trust portfolios, arrangements with brokerage firms, compensation paid to or by the Trust, trading strategies and all such related information (collectively, Trust Proprietary Information”) constitute proprietary information of substantial value to the Trust. GFS agrees to treat all Trust Proprietary Information and Customer Data as proprietary to the Trust and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Trust Proprietary Information or Customer Data to any person or organization except as may be provided under this Agreement or as may be directed by the Trust or as may be duly requested by regulatory authorities.

 

(c) Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their obligations pursuant to this Section 8. The obligations of this Section 8 shall survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.
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9. ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND CLASSES

 

In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares (i.e. Funds) or one or more classes of Shares after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such series of Shares or classes of Shares, as the case may be, shall become Funds and classes under this Agreement with necessary changes made to Appendix IV ; however, either GFS or the Trust may elect not to make any such series or class subject to this Agreement.

 

10. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBCONTRACTING

 

This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the prior written consent of GFS. GFS may subcontract any or all of its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement to one or more companies, trusts, firms, individuals or associations, which may or may not be affiliated persons of GFS and which agree to comply with the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that any such subcontracting shall not relieve GFS of its responsibilities hereunder. GFS may pay such persons for their services, but no such payment will increase fees due from the Trust hereunder.

11. TERM AND TERMINATION

 

 

(a) Term . This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two (2) years from the Effective Date and shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board.

 

(b) Termination . This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Trust and/or with respect to any Fund by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by GFS at the end of the initial term or any subsequent renewal term upon not less than ninety (90) days’ advanced written notice; or upon written notice from either party of a material breach, provided that a party shall have a thirty (30) day cure period in which to remedy any claimed material breach. If the party attempting to cure any claimed material breach is unable to do so within the allotted thirty (30) day cure period, the parties agree to submit to arbitration in accordance with Section 12(g) of this Agreement. Additionally, GFS may terminate this Agreement with respect to a Fund at any time following the Board’s determination to liquidate such Fund by delivering written notice to the Board setting forth the date on which such termination is to be effective. In the event of any termination of this Agreement, GFS agrees that it will cooperate to facilitate the smooth transition of services to a replacement service provider, if one has been selected by the Board.

 

(c) Reimbursement of Expenses Incurred by GFS in Effecting Any Termination . If this Agreement is terminated with respect to a Fund or Funds, GFS shall be entitled to collect from the Fund or Funds, in addition to the compensation described under Section 3 of this Agreement, the amount of all of GFS’s reasonable labor charges and cash disbursements for services in connection with GFS’s activities in effecting such termination.
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(d) Survival of Certain Obligations . The obligations of Sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

12. MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a) Amendments . This Agreement may not be amended, or any provision hereof waived, except in writing signed by the party against which the enforcement of such amendment or waiver is sought.

 

(b) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

(c) Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.

 

(d) C ounterparts . The parties may execute this Agreement on any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(e) Severability . If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected by such determination, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.

 

(f) Force Majeure. Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform if the failure results from a cause beyond its control, including, without limitation, fire, electrical, mechanical, or equipment breakdowns, delays by third party vendors and/or communications carriers, civil disturbances or disorders, terrorist acts, strikes, acts of governmental authority or new governmental restrictions, or acts of God.

 

(g) Arbitration . Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this contract, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in New York according to the Securities Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

This arbitration provision shall be enforced and interpreted exclusively in accordance with applicable federal law, including the Federal Arbitration Act. Any costs, fees, or taxes involved in enforcing the award shall be fully assessed against and paid by the party resisting enforcement of said award. The prevailing party shall also be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement.

(h) Headings . Section and paragraph headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

 

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(i) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, (b) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the party to receive such notice, (c) if dispatched via a nationally recognized overnight courier service (delivery receipt requested) with charges paid by the dispatching party, on the later of (i) the first Business Day following the date of dispatch, or (ii) the scheduled date of delivery by such service, or (d) on the date sent by electronic mail if sent during normal business hours of the recipient during a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, if sent after normal business hours of the recipient, provided that in the case of electronic mail, each notice or other communication shall be confirmed within one Business Day by dispatch of a copy of such notice pursuant to one of the other methods described herein, at the following addresses, or such other address as a party may designate from time to time by notice in accordance with this Section.

 

If to the Trust:

If to GFS:

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

Attn: Legal Department

80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110

Hauppauge, NY 11788

Email: NLFT4LegalTeam@thegeminicompanies.com

 

With a copy to:

Emily Little, Esq.

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, OH 43215

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

Attn: Legal Department

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

Email: GFSLegal@thegeminicompanies.com

 

 

(j) Safekeeping . GFS shall establish and maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Trust for the safekeeping and control of records maintained by GFS under this Agreement including the preparation and use of check forms, facsimile, email or other electronic signature imprinting devices.

 

(k) Distinction of Funds . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund and that no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(l) Representation of Signatories . Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that they have full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated and that their signature will bind the party indicated to the terms hereof.

 

Signature Page Follows

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized persons, as of the day and year first above written.

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

 

By: /s/ Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang

President

GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

By: /s/ Kevin Wolf

Kevin Wolf

President

 

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APPENDIX I

Fund Accounting Services

 

With respect to each Fund electing Fund Accounting Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with, the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:

 

1) Timely calculate the net asset value per share with the frequency prescribed in each Fund's then-current Prospectus, transmit the Fund's net asset value to NASDAQ, and communicate such net asset value to the Trust and its transfer agent;

 

2) Calculate each item of income, expense, deduction, credit, gain and loss, if any, as required by the Trust and in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), SEC Regulation S-X (or any successor regulation) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor laws)(the "Code");

 

3) Prepare and maintain on behalf of the Trust, books and records of each Fund, as required by Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act, and as such rule or any successor rule, may be amended from time to time, that are applicable to the fulfillment of GFS’s Fund Accounting Services, as well as any other documents necessary or advisable for compliance with applicable regulations as may be mutually agreed to between the Trust and GFS. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, GFS will prepare and maintain the following records upon receipt of information in proper form from the Fund or its authorized agents:

 

a. Cash receipts journal
b. Cash disbursements journal
c. Dividend record
d. Purchase and sales - portfolio securities journals
e. Subscription and redemption journals
f. Security ledgers
g. Broker ledger
h. General ledger
i. Daily expense accruals
j. Daily income accruals
k. Securities and monies borrowed or loaned and collateral therefore
l. Foreign currency journals
m. Trial balances

 

4) Make such adjustments over such periods as the Trust’s administrator deems necessary, and communicates to GFS in writing, to reflect over-accruals or under-accruals of estimated expenses or income;

 

5) Provide the Trust and, each investment adviser serving as an investment adviser for a Fund with daily portfolio valuation, net asset value calculation and other standard operational reports as requested from time to time;

 

Appendix I | Page 1
 
6) Provide all raw data available from its mutual fund accounting system for the Fund’s investment adviser or the administrator to assist in preparation of the following:

 

a. Semi-annual financial statements;
b. Semi-annual form N-SAR and annual tax returns;
c. Financial data necessary to update the Trust’s Registration Statement; and
d. Annual proxy statement.

 

7) Provide facilities to accommodate an annual audit by each Fund’s independent accountants and, upon approval of the Trust, any audits or examinations conducted by the SEC or any other governmental or quasi-governmental entities with jurisdiction;

 

8) Transmit to and receive from each Fund's transfer agent appropriate data on a daily basis and daily reconcile Shares outstanding and other data with the transfer agent;

 

9) Periodically reconcile all appropriate data with each Fund's custodian; and

 

10) Perform such other record keeping, reporting and other tasks as may be specified from time to time in the procedures adopted by the Board pursuant to mutually acceptable timelines and compensation agreements.

 

Fund Accounting Records.

 

Maintenance of and Access to Records . GFS shall maintain records relating to its services, such as journals, ledger accounts and other records, as are required to be maintained under the Investment Company Act and, specifically, Rule 31a-1 thereunder. The books and records pertaining to the Trust that are in possession of GFS shall be the property of the Trust. The Trust, or the Trust's authorized representatives, shall have access to such books and records at all times during GFS’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided promptly by GFS to the Trust or the Trust's authorized representatives. In the event the Trust designates a successor that assumes any of GFS’s obligations hereunder, GFS shall, at the expense and direction of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records and other data established or maintained by GFS under this Agreement.

 

Inspection of Records . In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the records of the Trust maintained by GFS, GFS will endeavor to notify the Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such inspection. GFS shall abide by the Trust's instructions for granting or denying the inspection; provided, however, that GFS may grant the inspection without instructions from the Trust if GFS is advised to disclose by its legal counsel.

 

All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV. GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Fund Accounting Services. Any modification of the Fund Accounting Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix I shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.

Appendix I | Page 2
 

APPENDIX II

Fund Administrative Services

 

With respect to each Fund electing Fund Administrative Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, Bylaws, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:

 

1) Monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others, including its custodian, transfer agent, fund accountant and dividend disbursing agent as well as legal, auditing, shareholder servicing and other services performed for the Trust;

 

2) Monitor Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, SEC statutes, rules, regulations and policies and pursuant to advice from the Fund’s independent public accountants and Trust counsel, monitor Fund holdings for compliance with IRS taxation limitations and restrictions and applicable Federal Accounting Standards Board rules, statements and interpretations; provide periodic compliance reports to each investment adviser or sub-adviser to the Trust, and assist the Trust, the Adviser and each sub-adviser to the Trust (collectively referred to as “Advisers”) in preparation of periodic compliance reports to the Trust, as applicable;

 

3) Prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual financial statements;

 

4) Prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses agreed upon by the Trust and GFS from time to time;

 

5) In consultation with legal counsel to the Trust, the investment adviser, officers of the Trust and other relevant parties, prepare and disseminate materials for meetings of the Board, including agendas and selected financial information as agreed upon by the Trust and GFS from time to time; attend and participate in Board meetings to the extent requested by the Board; and prepare or cause to be prepared minutes of the meetings of the Board;

 

6) Determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements, to be reviewed by the Trust's independent public accountants;

 

7) Review the Trust's federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust's independent public accountants;

 

8) Prepare and maintain the Trust's operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to each Fund in order to calculate its daily net asset value;

 

9) In consultation with legal counsel for the Trust, assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of the following:

 

a. amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement;
b. periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, including but not limited to annual reports and semi-annual reports;
Appendix II | Page 1
 
c. notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2 (as applicable);
d. proxy materials; and
e. reports to the SEC on Forms N-CEN, N-CSR, N-PORT, N-23c-3 and N-PX (as applicable).

 

10) Coordinate the Trust's audits and examinations by:

 

a. assisting each Fund’s independent public accountants, or, upon approval of the Trust, any regulatory body, in any requested review of a Fund’s accounts and records;
b. providing appropriate financial schedules (as requested by a Fund’s independent public accountants or SEC examiners); and
c. providing office facilities as may be required.

 

11) Determine, after consultation with legal counsel for the Trust and the Fund’s investment adviser, the jurisdictions in which Shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale; facilitate, register, or prepare applicable notice or other filings with respect to, the Shares with the various state and territories of the United States and other securities commissions, provided that all fees for the registration of Shares or for qualifying or continuing the qualification of the Trust shall be paid by the Trust;

 

12) Monitor sales of Shares and ensure that the Shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC;

 

13) Monitor the calculation of performance data for dissemination to information services covering the investment company industry, for sales literature of the Trust and other appropriate purposes;

 

14) Prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports, including Fund budgets, expense reports, pro-forma financial statements, expense and profit/loss projections and fee waiver/expense reimbursement projections on a periodic basis;

 

15) Prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust;

 

16) Provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies;

 

17) Upon request, assist each Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS);

 

18) Perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request pursuant to mutually acceptable timelines and compensation agreements.

 

All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV. GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Fund Administrative Services. Any modification of the Fund Administrative Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix II shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.

Appendix II | Page 2
 

APPENDIX III

 

Transfer Agency Services

 

With respect to each Fund electing Transfer Agency Services, GFS shall provide the following services subject to, and in compliance with the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trust’s Registration Statement, the Trust’s Organizational Documents, applicable laws and regulations, and resolutions and policies established by the Trust’s Board:

 

1) Provide the services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program) that are customary for investment companies including:

 

a. maintaining all shareholder accounts;
b. preparing shareholder meeting lists;
c. preparing and certifying direct shareholder lists in conjunction with proxy solicitations;
d. preparing periodic mailing of year-end tax and statement information;
e. mailing shareholder reports and prospectuses to current shareholders;
f. withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts;
g. preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required by federal authorities with respect to distributions for shareholders;
h. preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in shareholder accounts; and
i. providing account information in response to inquiries from shareholders.

 

2) Receiving for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and promptly delivering payment and appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian of the Fund authorized by the Board (the “Custodian”); or, in the case of a Fund operating in a master-feeder or fund of funds structure, to the transfer agent or interest-holder record keeper for the master portfolios in which the Fund invests;

 

3) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate shareholder account;

 

4) Receiving for acceptance, redemption requests and redemption directions and delivering the appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian or, in the case of Fund operating in a master-feeder or fund of funds structure, to the transfer agent or interest-holder record keeper for the master portfolios in which the Fund invests;

 

5) As and when the Fund receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, paying over or cause to be paid over the redemption proceeds as required by the Prospectus pursuant to which the redeemed Shares were offered and as instructed by the redeeming shareholders;

 

6) Effecting transfers of Shares upon receipt of appropriate instructions from shareholders;

 

Appendix III | Page 1
 
7) Monitoring and making appropriate filings with respect to the escheatment laws of the various states and territories of the United States;

 

8) Preparing and transmitting to shareholders (or crediting the appropriate shareholder accounts) payments for all distributions and dividends declared by the Trust with respect to Shares of each Fund;

 

9) Receiving from shareholders and/or debiting shareholder accounts for sales commissions, including contingent deferred, deferred and other sales charges, and service fees ( i.e., wire redemption charges) and prepare and transmit payments to underwriters, selected dealers and others for commissions and service fees received and provide necessary tracking reports to the Fund’s and/or the Fund’s principal underwriter;

 

10) Recording the issuance of Shares and maintaining pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of Shares that are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, issued and outstanding; and

 

11) Providing the Trust on a regular basis with each Fund’s total number of Shares that are authorized and issued and outstanding.

 

Issuance of Shares .

 

GFS, in its capacity as transfer agent, shall make original issues of Shares of each Fund in accordance with the Fund’s Prospectus, only upon receipt of:

 

a. instructions requesting the issuance,
b. a copy of a resolution of the Board authorizing the issuance,
c. necessary funds for the payment of any original issue tax applicable to such Shares, and
d. an opinion of the Trust’s legal counsel as to the legality and validity of the issuance, which opinion may provide that it is contingent upon the filing by the Trust of an appropriate notice with the SEC, as required by Section 24 of the Investment Company Act or the rules thereunder. If such opinion is contingent upon a filing under Section 24 of the Investment Company Act, the Trust shall indemnify GFS for any liability arising from the failure of the Trust to comply with such section or the rules thereunder.

 

The responsibility of GFS for each Fund’s state registration status is solely limited to the reporting of transactions to the Trust, and GFS shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund, its distributor or other agent.

 

Transfer of Shares .

 

Transfers of Shares of each Fund shall be registered on the Shareholder records maintained by GFS. In registering transfers of Shares, GFS may rely upon the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Nebraska or any other statutes that, in the opinion of GFS’s legal counsel, protect GFS and the Trust from liability arising from:

 

a. not requiring complete documentation;
Appendix III | Page 2
 
b. registering a transfer without an adverse claim inquiry;
c. delaying registration for purposes of such inquiry; or
d. refusing registration whenever an adverse claim requires such refusal.

 

As transfer agent, GFS will be responsible for delivery to the transferor and transferee of such documentation as is required by the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

Purchase Orders.

 

Shares shall be issued in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus after GFS or its agent receives either:

 

a. an instruction directing investment in a Fund, a check (other than a third-party check) or a wire or other electronic payment in the amount designated in the instruction and in the case of an initial purchase, a completed account application; or
b. the information required for purchases pursuant to a selected dealer agreement, processing organization agreement, or a similar contract with a financial intermediary.

 

Distribution Eligibility.

 

Shares issued in a Fund after receipt of a completed purchase order shall be eligible to receive distributions of the Fund at the time specified in the prospectus pursuant to which the Shares are offered.

 

Determination of Federal Funds .

 

Shareholder payments shall be considered “Federal Funds” no later than on the day indicated below unless other times are noted in the Prospectus:

 

a. for a wire received, at the time of the receipt of the wire;
b. for a check drawn on a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, on the second Fund Business Day following receipt of the check; and
c. for a check drawn on an institution that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, at such time as GFS is credited with Federal Funds with respect to that check.

 

Lost Shareholders .

 

GFS shall perform such services as are required in order to comply with Rules 17a-24 and 17Ad-17 (the “Lost Shareholder Rules”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, but not limited to, those set forth below. GFS may, in its sole discretion, use the services of a third party to perform some of or all such services.

 

a. documentation of search policies and procedures;
b. execution of required searches;
c. tracking results and maintaining data sufficient to comply with the Lost Shareholder Rules; and
d. preparation and submission of data required under the Lost Shareholder Rules.

 

Appendix III | Page 3
 

Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Delegation.

 

The Trust hereby delegates to GFS certain AML duties under this Agreement, as permitted by law and in accordance with the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Policies and Procedures as may be amended from time to time. Such duties delegated to GFS include procedures reasonably designed to prevent and detect money laundering activities and to ensure that each Fund can have a reasonable belief that it knows the identity of each person or entity opening an account with the Fund. GFS’s procedures will include, as appropriate, procedures to assist the Fund(s) to:

· detect and report suspicious activities;
· comply with “know your customer” requirements;
· monitor high-risk accounts; and
· maintain required records.

GFS shall provide for proper supervision and training of its personnel. With respect to assisting the Trust with its Customer Identification Program (“CIP”) designed to ensure the identity of any person opening a new account with a Fund (a “Customer”), GFS will assist the Fund(s) through the use of the following:

· risk-based procedures to verify the identity of each Customer to the extent reasonable and practicable, such that the Fund may have a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of each Customer;
· before opening an account, obtain a Customer’s name, date of birth (for an individual), address, and identification number [1] ;
· procedures to verify the identity of a Customer within a reasonable time after the account is opened;
· procedures for maintenance of records relating to Customer identification and supporting the verification; and
· procedures to determine whether the Customer’s name appears on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations issued by any federal government agency and designated as such by the Department of the Treasury in consultation with the federal functional regulators, within a reasonable period of time after the account is opened.

For purposes of verifying the identity of a Customer, GFS may rely on documents, so long as, based on that information, GFS can form a reasonable belief that it knows the identity of the Customer, including:

· an individual’s unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard, (such as a driver’s license or passport); or
· documents showing the existence of an entity, such as articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license, a partnership agreement, or trust instrument.

[1] An identification number may be, a taxpayer identification number, passport number and country of issuance, alien identification card number, or number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.

Appendix III | Page 4
 

To the extent that the Customer’s identity cannot be verified by relying on documents, other methods may be used by GFS, including, (i) contacting a Customer; (ii) independently verifying the Customer’s identity through the comparison of information provided by the Customer with information obtained from a consumer reporting agency, public database, or other source; (iii) checking references with other financial institutions; and (iv) obtaining a financial statement.

In the event that GFS is not able to verify the identity of a Customer sufficiently that it can form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of a Customer, then GFS may, as appropriate:

· not open an account for the Customer;
· apply limited terms under which a Customer may use an account until the Customer’s identity is verified;
· close an account, after attempts to verify a Customer’s identity have failed; or
· assist the Fund in filing a Suspicious Activity Report in accordance with applicable law and regulation, regarding the Customer.

Each Fund represents and agrees that it will provide Customers with adequate notice that the Fund is requesting information to verify their identities. The notice will be included in the application or the prospectus, or a document accompanying the application or prospectus provided it is reasonably designed to ensure that the customer views or otherwise receives the notice before opening the account.

In consideration of the performance of the duties by GFS pursuant to this Section, the Trust agrees to pay GFS for the reasonable administrative expenses that may be associated with such additional duties.

 

Anti-Identity Theft Delegation.

 

To the extent that a Fund has covered accounts that allow redemption proceeds to go to third parties, GFS will assume Anti-Identity Theft monitoring duties for the Fund under this Agreement, pursuant to legal requirements. Any out-of-pocket expenses occurred in this regard are due and payable by the Fund.

 

Processing through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”).

 

GFS will: (i) process accounts through Networking and the purchase, redemption, transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through Fund/SERV (Networking and Fund/SERV being programs operated by the NSCC on behalf of NSCC’s participants, including the Trust), in accordance with, instructions transmitted to and received by GFS by transmission from NSCC on behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been established by, or in accordance with the instructions of authorized persons, as hereinafter defined on the dealer file maintained by GFS; (ii) issue instructions to each Fund’s Custodian for the settlement of transactions between the Fund and NSCC (acting on behalf of its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iii) provide account and transaction information from the affected Trust’s records on an appropriate computer system in accordance with NSCC’s Networking and Fund/SERV rules for those broker-dealers; and (iv) maintain shareholder accounts through Networking.

 

 

 

 

Appendix III | Page 5
 

Transfer Agency Records.

 

GFS shall maintain the following shareholder account information:

 

· name, address and United States Tax Identification or Social Security number;
· number of Shares held and number of Shares for which certificates, if any, have been issued, including certificate numbers and denominations;
· historical information regarding the account of each shareholder, including dividends and distributions paid and the date and price for all transactions on a shareholder’s account;
· any stop or restraining order placed against a shareholder’s account;
· any correspondence relating to the current maintenance of a shareholder’s account;
· information with respect to withholdings; and
· any information required in order for GFS to perform any calculations required by this Agreement.

 

All out-of-pocket expenses will be billed as set forth on Appendix IV. GFS may from time to time adopt new procedures, or modify existing procedures, in order to carry out its Transfer Agency Services. Any modification of the Transfer Agency Services provided by GFS as set forth in this Appendix III shall be delivered to the Trust in writing.

Appendix III | Page 6
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

This Appendix IV-1 is part of the Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated July 29, 2015, between Northern Lights Fund Trust IV and Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Set forth below are the Services elected by the Fund(s) identified on this Appendix IV-1 along with the associated Fees. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

 

COVERED FUNDS

The Fund(s) to be covered under this Agreement include:

 

Fund(s)
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund

Funds with the same investment adviser are collectively referred to as a “Fund Family.”

 

SELECTED SERVICES and FEES

 

The Fund(s) shall pay to GFS the following fees: (unless otherwise specified, all basis point fees will be calculated based upon the average net assets of the Fund for the previous month).

 

Fund Accounting Fees

 

1. Base annual fee (per Fund):* $24,000.00

PLUS

2 basis points (0.02%) on average net assets between $25 million and $100 million; plus

1 basis point (0.01%) on average net assets greater than $100 million.

 

Funds with multiple share classes will be assessed an additional $6,000.00 annual fee for each share class above one. Bond funds will be assessed an additional $6,000.00 annual fee. Funds utilizing sub-advisers will be assessed an additional $2,000.00 annual fee per sub-adviser. Fund Accounting Fees for global funds, defined as funds processing more than 25% in non-domestic assets, will be charged at 150% of otherwise applicable rates (base fee as well as basis point fee).

 

*All fees set forth in this Section 1 under the heading “Fund Accounting Fees” shall be subject to a 20% discount for the first twelve (12) months following the date on which the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund commences operations.

 

2. Price Quotes. The charge for equity and bond price quotes per security, per day will be as follows:
$.15 Domestic and Canadian Equities
$.15 Options
$.50 Corp/Gov/Agency Bonds
$.50 International Equities and Bonds
$.80 Municipal Bonds
$1.00 CMO’s
Appendix IV | Page 1
 

 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

$62.50 per CDX or Equivalent (monthly fee)
$62.50 per Single Name Credit Default Swap (monthly fee)

 

3. Additional Charges.

 

a. Out-of-pocket expenses . The Fund(s) shall reimburse GFS for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GFS to provide the Services to the Fund(s).
b. Manual processing fee . The Fund(s) shall pay an additional charge of $500.00 per month for portfolios that transmit daily trades via facsimile as opposed to utilizing an electronic format.
c. SSAE 16 expense . Each Fund shall pay its allocated portion of the GFS annual SSAE 16 review.
d. Fund Accounting Data De-Conversion fee . Each Fund shall pay a Fund Accounting record data de-conversion fee in the amount of $5,000.00 upon a cancellation or termination of this Agreement for any reason other than liquidation of the Fund.

 

Fund Administration Fees

 

1. Base annual fee (per Fund):*

 

10 basis points (0.10%)** on the first $100 million of net assets; plus

8 basis points (0.08%)** on average net assets between $100 million and $250 million; plus

6 basis points (0.06%)** on average net assets between $250 million and $500 million; plus

4 basis points (0.04%)** on average net assets between $500 million and $1 billion; plus

3 basis points (0.03%)** on average net assets greater than $1 billion

 

The base annual fee is subject to a $20,000.00 minimum annual fee per Fund.

 

*All fees set forth in this Section 1 under the heading “Fund Administration Fees” shall be subject to a 20% discount for the first twelve (12) months the date on which the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund commences operations.

 

**For purposes of calculating the basis point component of the Fund Administration Fee, average net asset levels will be measured at the Fund Family level.

 

2. State Registration (Blue Sky) Fees:

 

Each Fund shall pay its allocated federal and state regulatory filing fees. In addition, each Fund shall pay GFS the f ollowing fees per state registration:

 

Initial registration $  295.00
Registration renewal $  150.00
Sales reports (if required) $    25.00

 

Appendix IV | Page 2
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

3. Additional Charges.

 

a. Out-of-pocket expenses . The Fund(s) shall reimburse GFS for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GFS to provide the Services to the Fund(s).
b. FIN 48 Compliance fee . Each Fund shall pay GFS $250.00 per calendar quarter for FIN 48 Compliance.
c. Fund Administration Data De-Conversion fee . Each Fund shall pay a Fund Administration record data de-conversion fee in the amount of $5,000.00 upon a cancellation or termination of this Agreement for any reason other than liquidation of the Fund.

 

 

Transfer Agency Fees

 

1. Base annual fee:* $16.00 annual fee per open account

($2.00 annual fee per closed account)

 

The base annual fee is subject to a $5,000.00 minimum annual fee per Fund share class.

 

*All fees set forth in this Section 1 under the heading “Transfer Agency Fees” shall be subject to a 20% discount for the first twelve (12) months following the date on which the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund commences operations.

 

2. General Activity Charges:

 

Customer Service Calls $2.50 per call
Manual Transactions $1.00 per transaction
New Account Opening (manual) $2.50 per account
New Account Opening (electronic) $0.40 per account
Incoming IRA Transfer from prior custodian $25.00 per transfer
IRA Transfer to successor custodian $25.00 per transfer
Refund of Excess Contribution $15.00 per refund
Distribution to IRA Participant $15.00 per distribution

 

* Check this box to elect 24 Hour Automated Voice Response

 

24 Hour Automated Voice Response Charges:    
     Initial set-up (one-time) charge $1,500.00 per Fund Family
     Monthly charge $50.00 per Fund  
       

 

3. Web Package Fees: the initial installation charges for the web packages described below shall be reduced by 20% if two packages are selected or 30% if all three are selected.

 

* Check this box for Shareholder Desktop Web Package (described below)

$7,500.00 initial installation charge

$2,500.00 annual maintenance (invoiced annually in advance)

 

Appendix IV | Page 3
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

* Check this box for Shareholder Desktop Online New Accounts (described below)

$2,500.00 initial installation charge

$2.50 per new account fee

 

* Check this box for Fund Data Web Package (described below)

$5,000.00 initial installation charge

$1,500.00 annual maintenance (invoiced annually in advance)

 

4. Additional Charges:
a. Transfer Agency De-Conversion fee . Each Fund shall pay a Transfer Agency record data de-conversion fee in the amount of $25,000.00 upon a cancellation or termination of this Agreement for any reason other than liquidation of the Fund.
b. Rule 22c-2 compliance support fee . The Funds shall pay a $100.00 monthly administration fee for Rule 22c-2 compliance support per Fund Family, plus an additional monthly fee of $25.00 per Fund.

Special Reports/Programming Fees

 

All special reports analyses and/or programming requested by a Fund or the Trust under this Agreement shall be subject to an additional programming charge, agreed upon in advance, based upon the following rates:

 

GFS Senior & MIS Staff $200.00 per hour
GFS Junior Staff $100.00 per hour

 

Out-of-pocket Expenses

 

The Trust shall reimburse GFS for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GFS when performing Services under this Agreement, including but not limited to the following:

 

o   Anti-ID Theft Monitoring o   Pro rata portion of annual SSAE 16 review
o   Bank Account and other Bank Fees o   Proxy Services
o   Customer Identification/AML Program Costs o   Record Storage
o   Fund Stationery and Supplies o   Regulatory fees and assessments
o   Locating Lost Shareholders/Escheatment Costs o   State and Federal filing fees and assessments
o   NSCC Charges o   Tax Reporting
o   Postage o   Telephone and Toll Free Lines
o   Pre and Post Sale Fulfillment o   Travel Requested by the Trust
o   Printing Fund Documents  

 

Signature Page Follows

Appendix IV | Page 4
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Appendix IV-1 to the Fund Services Agreement effective as of July 29, 2015.

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

 

By: /s/ Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang

President

GEMINI FUND SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

By: /s/ Kevin Wolf

Kevin Wolf

President

 

 

The undersigned investment adviser (the “Adviser”) hereby acknowledges and agrees to the terms of the Agreement and further acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(1) GFS expends substantial time and money, on an ongoing basis, to recruit and train its employees; (2) GFS's business is highly competitive and is marketed throughout the United States, and (3) if the Adviser were to hire any GFS employees who are involved in the procurement of the Services under the Agreement then GFS may suffer lost sales and other opportunities and would incur substantial time and money in hiring and training replacement(s) for those employees. Accordingly, the Adviser agrees that it, including its respective affiliates and subsidiaries, shall not solicit, attempt to induce or otherwise hire an employee of GFS for so long as this Agreement is in effect and for a period of two (2) years after termination of this Agreement, unless expressly agreed upon in writing by both parties. In the event that this provision is breached by the Adviser, the Adviser agrees to pay damages to GFS in the amount of two times the current annual salary of such employee or former employee. For purposes of this provision, “hire” means to employ as an employee or to engage as an independent contractor, whether on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis.

 

Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.

15 Enterprise, Suite 450

Aliso Viejo, California 92656

 

By: /s/ Garrett Waters

Name: Garrett Waters

Title: CEO

 

 

Appendix IV | Page 5
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

Shareholder Desktop Web Package

Proprietary Secure Web-Based Direct Interface With Transfer Agent Data

 

Supports Five Levels of Access

* Fund Administrator
* Broker/Dealer
* Broker/Dealer Branch
* Registered Representative
* Shareholder

 

Customizable Look And Feel (Logo And Color Scheme)

 

Account Inquiry

* Portfolio Summary
* Account Position
* Transaction History
* General Account Information

 

Online Transactions (Must have this reflected in the prospectus to offer this functionality)

* Exchanges
* Purchases
* Redemptions
* Prospectus and SAI Access

Account Maintenance

* Change of Shareholder Information

o    Address

o    Phone Number

o    Email Address

Online Statement Access

* Quarterly Statements and Confirms
* Electronic Delivery (Should have this reflected in the prospectus and application to offer this functionality)

o    Statements

o    Confirms

o    Regulatory Mailings

 

 

Shareholder Desktop Online New Accounts

 

* Allows clients the ability to set up a new account online if they provide valid ACH information and agree to all disclaimers and agreements on site.
* E-Signature capability
 

 

Appendix IV | Page 6
 

APPENDIX IV-1

LIST OF FUNDS

SERVICES & FEES

 

 

Fund Data Web Package

Performance Web Page

· Comprehensive performance report hosted by GFS

o         Fund performance updated nightly

o         Up to 20 indexes available

o         Data provided in simple format to be encapsulated into Fund’s own website to provide a custom look and feel

o         Growth of $10,000 graph available

 

Holdings web page

· Fund holding updated periodically to meet fund disclosure rules hosted by GFS

o         Fund holding updated periodically to meet fund disclosure rules

o         Top ten report available

o         Data provided in simple format to be encapsulated into Fund’s own website to provide a custom look and feel

 

Historical NAV web page

· Provides historical NAV information for a specified period of time and for a specified fund

o         Data provided in simple format to be encapsulated into Fund’s own website to provide a custom look and feel

 

Fulfillment web page

· Provides an online request form for shareholders who wish to request a hard copy of the fulfillment material mailed to them

o         Request is automatically routed online to the Shareholder Services Team at GFS for processing

o         Reporting of Fulfillment requests made online or via phone available via GFS Reporting Services Tool.

 

GFS reporting utilizes the next generation secure web-based report delivery vehicle which allows for direct request or subscription based delivery reports available in multiple formats (PDF, Excel, XML, CSV)

 

 

Appendix IV | Page 7

 

August 14, 2015

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE 68154

 

Dear Board Members:

This letter is in response to your request for our opinion in connection with the filing of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, File Nos. 333-204808 and 811-23066 (the "Registration Statement"), of the Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (the "Trust").

We have examined a copy of the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trust's By-laws, the Trust's record of the various actions by the Trustees thereof, and all such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers and representatives of the Trust and others, and such other documents, papers, statutes and authorities as we deem necessary to form the basis of the opinion hereinafter expressed. We have assumed the genuineness of the signatures and the conformity to original documents of the copies of such documents supplied to us as copies thereof.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, after Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 is effective for purposes of applicable federal and state securities laws, the shares of the Fund, if issued in accordance with the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby give you our permission to file this opinion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement. This opinion may not be filed with any subsequent amendment, or incorporated by reference into a subsequent amendment, without our prior written consent. This opinion is prepared for the Trust and its shareholders, and may not be relied upon by any other person or organization without our prior written approval.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/Thompson Hine LLP
Thompson Hine LLP                                                                                                         DSM/JMS

803657.1

 

 

BBD CPA LOGO.EPS

 

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  

We consent to the references to our firm in the Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund (the "Fund" ), a series of shares of beneficial interest in Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, and to the use of our opinion dated August 12, 2015 on the Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities as of August 7, 2015 and the related statement of operations for the period then ended. Such financial statements appear in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

 

BBD, LLP

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

August 12, 2015

 

N ORTHERN L IGHTS F UND T RUST IV

 

CLASS A

M ASTER D ISTRIBUTION AND S HAREHOLDER S ERVICING P LAN

 

P URSUANT TO R ULE 12B-1

U NDER THE I NVESTMENT C OMPANY A CT OF 1940

 

Adopted July 29, 2015

 

WHEREAS, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the "Shares"), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares (each such series a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of trustees of the Trust (the "Board"), including those Board members who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of any distribution plan adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or any agreements related thereto ("Independent Trustees"), have determined, through the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Sections 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that adoption of this Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan for Class A Shares of the Funds (this "Plan") will benefit each applicable Fund and its shareholders; and

 

WHEREAS, each Fund may engage a distributor (the "Distributor") to provide, or arrange for the provision of services pursuant to this Plan and the Funds are willing to authorize the payment of certain fees as set forth herein in consideration of the Distributor’s offering such services.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for each Fund listed in Exhibit A (as it may be amended from time to time) and the payment of certain fees as follows:

 

1. Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services .

 

a.                    Distribution Activities . Each Fund is authorized to engage in, directly or indirectly through the Distributor or otherwise, and to perform, or cause to be performed, activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following ("Distribution Activities"): (a) the making of payments, including payment of incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Class A Shares of the Fund, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Class A Shares of the Fund; (b) incurring expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Class A Shares of the Fund; (c) incurring costs of

 
 

preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (d) incurring costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (e) incurring costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (f) incurring costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (g) incurring costs of implementing and operating this Plan. The Trust also is authorized to engage in Distribution Activities related to the distribution of Class A Shares of the Funds, either directly or indirectly through persons with whom the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan, including, without limitation, the Distributor.

 

b.                   Shareholder Services . In order to facilitate and/or enhance the Fund’s and/or the Trust’s Distribution Activities related to the Fund’s Class A Shares, each Fund may pay fees (or otherwise incur expenses) (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2 hereof) for Shareholder Services. For purposes of this Plan “Shareholder Services” shall mean those services of securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others rendered in connection with the holding of Class A Shares of the Fund for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or in providing shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders or that are rendered to shareholders of the Fund’s Class A Shares and not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Trust or the Fund, processing shareholder transactions, and in providing such other shareholder services as the Trust or the Fund may reasonably request.

 

2.                   Fees .

 

a.                    Distribution and Shareholder Service Fees . Each Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services at an aggregate, annualized rate not to exceed the lesser of (i) the "Maximum Authorized Rate" and (ii) the "Currently Approved Rate" (each as set forth opposite such Fund’s name on Exhibit A attached hereto). The "Maximum Authorized Rate" shall mean the maximum rate authorized by the Board under this Plan and the "Currently Approved Rate" shall mean that portion of the Maximum Authorized Rate that is currently authorized for payment by the Fund, as may be amended from time to time by the Board. The applicable rate shall be applied to the average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares of the Fund. In no event shall the rate paid for Distribution Activities exceed 0.75% and the rate paid for Shareholder Services exceed 0.25% per annum.

 

b.                   Fees in Relation to Expenses . The amount of fees payable by each Fund pursuant to this Section 2 may be greater or lesser than the expenses actually incurred by such Fund or by the Distributor or other financial intermediary on

 
 

behalf of such Fund in connection with the performance of Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services. The amount of fees payable by each Fund to the Distributor pursuant to this Section 2 may be reduced by amounts (if any) paid directly by such Fund to the provider of any Distribution Activities or Shareholder Services.

 

3.                   Authority of the Distributor . Each Fund is hereby authorized and directed to retain the services of the Distributor to act as its principal underwriter, and, in such capacity, the Distributor is authorized to engage in Distribution Activities and/or Shareholder Services for and on behalf of the Funds and to enter into agreements with securities dealers, financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers, and others to engage in Distribution Activities and/or Shareholder Services for and on behalf of the Funds and to receive for itself or for the benefit of such third parties (and to the extent received for the benefit of such third parties to pay to such third parties) the fees authorized to be paid by the Funds pursuant to Section 2 hereof. The Distributor also is authorized to make payments to the investment adviser of any Fund for reimbursement of marketing related expenses and/or compensation for administrative assistance.

 

4.                   Term and Termination .

 

a.                    This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (which may be amended from time to time) upon the first issuance by such Fund of Class A Shares.

 

b.                   Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both: (i) the trustees of the Board and; (ii) the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

c.                    This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class A Shares of the Fund; and Exhibit A attached hereto shall be amended accordingly.

 

d.                   The Trust or any Fund subject to this Plan may terminate any agreement related to this Plan, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class A Shares of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other parties to such agreement. In addition, any agreement related to this Plan shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

5.                   Amendments . All material amendments to this Plan (including, without limitation, material amendments to Exhibit A attached hereto) must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 4(b) hereof. In addition, this Plan (including, without limitation, Exhibit A attached hereto) may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof unless such amendment is

 
 

approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class A Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.

 

6.                   Selection and Nomination of Independent Trustees . While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the Independent Trustees shall be made solely at the discretion of the Independent Trustees.

 

7.                   Quarterly Reports . The Board shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.

 

8.                   Recordkeeping . The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

 

9.                   Limitation of Liability . A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the trustees, the shareholders of the Funds individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.

 

10.               Incorporation by Reference . Exhibit A to this Plan (as the same may be amended from time to time) shall be deemed part of this Plan and is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

11.               Defined Terms . As used in this Plan, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "assignment," and "interested person" shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the 1940 Act.

 

 
 

Exhibit A

 

N ORTHERN L IGHTS F UND T RUST IV

 

C LASS A

M ASTER D ISTRIBUTION AND S HAREHOLDER S ERVICING P LAN

 

Date: July 29, 2015

 

Fund Name Maximum Authorized Rate Currently Approved Rate Distributor
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund 0.25% 0.25% Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

 

Acknowledged and Approved by:

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV:

 

 

By: /s/ Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang, President

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC:

 

 

By: /s/ Brian Nielsen

Brian Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer

 

N ORTHERN L IGHTS F UND T RUST IV

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

M ASTER D ISTRIBUTION AND S HAREHOLDER S ERVICING P LAN

 

P URSUANT TO R ULE 12B-1

U NDER THE I NVESTMENT C OMPANY A CT OF 1940

 

Adopted July 29, 2015

 

WHEREAS, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value (the "Shares"), which may be divided into one or more series of Shares (each such series a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of trustees of the Trust (the "Board"), including those Board members who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of any distribution plan adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or any agreements related thereto ("Independent Trustees"), have determined, through the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Sections 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that adoption of this Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan for Institutional Class Shares of the Funds (this "Plan") will benefit each applicable Fund and its shareholders; and

 

WHEREAS, each Fund may engage a distributor (the "Distributor") to provide, or arrange for the provision of services pursuant to this Plan and the Funds are willing to authorize the payment of certain fees as set forth herein in consideration of the Distributor’s offering such services.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan for each Fund listed in Exhibit A (as it may be amended from time to time) and the payment of certain fees as follows:

 

1. Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services .

 

a.                    Distribution Activities . Each Fund is authorized to engage in, directly or indirectly through the Distributor or otherwise, and to perform, or cause to be performed, activities related to the distribution of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following ("Distribution Activities"): (a) the making of payments, including payment of incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, or that may be advising shareholders of the Fund regarding the purchase, sale or retention of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund; (b) incurring expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Fund has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Institutional Class Shares of the

 
 

Fund; (c) incurring costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (d) incurring costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (e) incurring costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (f) incurring costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (g) incurring costs of implementing and operating this Plan. The Trust also is authorized to engage in Distribution Activities related to the distribution of Institutional Class Shares of the Funds, either directly or indirectly through persons with whom the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan, including, without limitation, the Distributor.

 

b.                   Shareholder Services . In order to facilitate and/or enhance the Fund’s and/or the Trust’s Distribution Activities related to the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares, each Fund may pay fees (or otherwise incur expenses) (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2 hereof) for Shareholder Services. For purposes of this Plan “Shareholder Services” shall mean those services of securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others rendered in connection with the holding of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shareholders in omnibus accounts or as shareholders of record or in providing shareholder support or administrative services to the Fund and its shareholders or that are rendered to shareholders of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares and not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, including, but not limited to, allocated overhead, office space and equipment, telephone facilities and expenses, answering routine inquiries regarding the Trust or the Fund, processing shareholder transactions, and in providing such other shareholder services as the Trust or the Fund may reasonably request.

 

2.                   Fees .

 

a.                    Distribution and Shareholder Service Fees . Each Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor, as compensation for Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services, at an aggregate, annualized rate not to exceed the lesser of (i) the "Maximum Authorized Rate" and (ii) the "Currently Approved Rate" (each as set forth opposite such Fund’s name on Exhibit A attached hereto). The "Maximum Authorized Rate" shall mean the maximum rate authorized by the Board under this Plan and the "Currently Approved Rate" shall mean that portion of the Maximum Authorized Rate that is currently authorized for payment by the Fund, as may be amended from time to time by the Board. The applicable rate shall be applied to the average daily net assets attributable to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund. In no event shall the rate paid for Distribution Activities exceed 0.75% and the rate paid for Shareholder Services exceed 0.25% per annum.

 

b.                   Fees in Relation to Expenses . The amount of fees payable by each Fund pursuant to this Section 2 may be greater or lesser than the expenses actually incurred by such Fund or by the Distributor or other financial intermediary on

 
 

behalf of such Fund in connection with the performance of Distribution Activities and Shareholder Services. The amount of fees payable by each Fund to the Distributor pursuant to this Section 2 may be reduced by amounts (if any) paid directly by such Fund to the provider of any Distribution Activities or Shareholder Services.

 

3.                   Authority of the Distributor . Each Fund is hereby authorized and directed to retain the services of the Distributor to act as its principal underwriter, and, in such capacity, the Distributor is authorized to engage in Distribution Activities and/or Shareholder Services for and on behalf of the Funds and to enter into agreements with securities dealers, financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers, and others to engage in Distribution Activities and/or Shareholder Services for and on behalf of the Funds and to receive for itself or for the benefit of such third parties (and to the extent received for the benefit of such third parties to pay to such third parties) the fees authorized to be paid by the Funds pursuant to Section 2 hereof. The Distributor also is authorized to make payments to the investment adviser of any Fund for reimbursement of marketing related expenses and/or compensation for administrative assistance.

 

4.                   Term and Termination .

 

a.                    This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (which may be amended from time to time) upon the first issuance by such Fund of Institutional Class Shares.

 

b.                   Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both: (i) the trustees of the Board and; (ii) the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

c.                    This Plan may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Institutional Class Shares of the Fund; and Exhibit A attached hereto shall be amended accordingly.

 

d.                   The Trust or any Fund subject to this Plan may terminate any agreement related to this Plan, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other parties to such agreement. In addition, any agreement related to this Plan shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

5.                   Amendments . All material amendments to this Plan (including, without limitation, material amendments to Exhibit A attached hereto) must be approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 4(b) hereof. In addition, this Plan (including, without limitation, Exhibit A attached hereto) may not be amended to increase materially the amount of expenditures provided for in Sections 2 and 3 hereof unless such amendment is

 
 

approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Institutional Class Shares of the Fund to which the increase applies.

 

6.                   Selection and Nomination of Independent Trustees . While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the Independent Trustees shall be made solely at the discretion of the Independent Trustees.

 

7.                   Quarterly Reports . The Board shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.

 

8.                   Recordkeeping . The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

 

9.                   Limitation of Liability . A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that this Plan is executed on behalf of the trustees of the Trust as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this Plan are not binding upon the trustees, the shareholders of the Funds individually or, with respect to each Fund, the assets or property of any other series of the Trust, but are binding only upon the assets and property of each Fund, respectively.

 

10.               Incorporation by Reference . Exhibit A to this Plan (as the same may be amended from time to time) shall be deemed part of this Plan and is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

11.               Defined Terms . As used in this Plan, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities," "assignment," and "interested person" shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the 1940 Act.

 

 
 

Exhibit A

 

N ORTHERN L IGHTS F UND T RUST IV

 

INSTITUTIONAL C LASS

M ASTER D ISTRIBUTION AND S HAREHOLDER S ERVICING P LAN

 

Date: July 29, 2015

 

Fund Name Maximum Authorized Rate Currently Approved Rate Distributor
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund .25% .25% Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

 

Acknowledged and Approved by:

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV:

 

 

By: /s/ Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang, President

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC:

 

 

By: /s/ Brian Nielsen

Brian Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer

   

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

RULE 18f-3 MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

 

This Multiple Class Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted in accordance with Rule 18f-3 (the “Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), by Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (the “Trust”) on behalf of each series of the Trust that has multiple classes of shares (each a “Fund”). A majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act), having determined that the Plan is in the best interests of the shareholders of each class of each Fund and the shareholders of the Trust as a whole, have approved the Plan.

 

The provisions of the Plan are:

 

1. General Description of Classes. Each class of shares of a Fund shall represent interests in the same portfolio of investments of such Fund, shall have no exchange privileges or conversion features within that Fund unless an exchange or conversion feature is described in the Fund’s Prospectus, and shall be identical in all respects, except that, as provided for in such Fund’s Prospectus, each class shall differ with respect to: (i) Rule 12b-1 Plans that may be adopted with respect to the class; (ii) distribution and related services and expenses; (iii) differences relating to sales loads, purchase minimums, eligible investors and exchange privileges; and (iv) the designation of each class of shares. The classes of shares designated by each Fund are set forth in Exhibit A .
2. Allocation of Income and Class Expenses.

 

a. Each class of shares shall have the same rights, preferences, voting powers, restrictions and limitations, except as follows:
(i) expenses related to the distribution of a class of shares or to the services provided to shareholders of a class of shares shall be borne solely by such class;
(ii) the following expenses attributable to the shares of a particular class will be borne solely by the class to which they are attributable:
(a) asset-based distribution, account maintenance and shareholder service fees;
(b) extraordinary non-recurring expenses including litigation and other legal expenses relating to a particular class; and
(c) such other expenses as the Trustees determine were incurred by a specific class and are appropriately paid by that class.
 
 
(iii) Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and expenses that are not allocated to a specific class pursuant to this Section 2, shall be allocated to each class of a Fund on the basis of the net asset value of that class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.
b. Investment advisory fees, custodial fees, and other expenses relating to the management of a Fund’s assets shall not be allocated on a class-specific basis.
3. Voting Rights. Each class of shares will have exclusive voting rights with respect to matters that exclusively affect such class and separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class.
4. Exchanges. Shares of a Fund may be exchanged without payment of any exchange fee for shares of another Fund of the same class at their respective net asset values, provided said Funds are advised by the same adviser.
5. Class Designation. Subject to the approval by the Trustees of the Trust, each Fund may alter the nomenclature for the designations of one or more of its classes of shares.
6. Additional Information. This Plan is qualified by and subject to the terms of each Fund’s then current Prospectus for the applicable class of shares of the Fund; provided, however, that none of the terms set forth in any such Prospectus shall be inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. Each Fund’s Prospectus contains additional information about each class of shares of such Fund and any multiple class structure of such Fund.
7. Effective Date. This Plan is effective on July 29, 2015, provided that this Plan shall not become effective with respect to a Fund or a class of shares of a Fund unless first approved by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act). This Plan may be terminated or amended at any time with respect to a Fund or a class of shares thereof by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act).
8. Miscellaneous. Any reference in this Plan to information in a Fund’s Prospectus shall mean information in such Fund’s Prospectus, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in such Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
2
 

APPENDIX A

 

Funds and Classes as of July 30, 2015

 

Fund / Fund Family Share Classes Share Class Features (1)
12b-1 Plan (2) Front-End Sales Charge (3) Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (3)
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund * A ü ü  
Institutional ü    

(1) The features and expenses of each share class are described in further detail in the respective Fund’s Prospectus.

(2) The distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of a share class are provided for in the Fund’s respective 12b-1 Plan.

(3) The sales charges associated with a share class are described further in the respective Fund’s Prospectus.

* Fund or share class has not commenced operations as of the date listed below.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this Multi-Class Plan as of the { ] th day of July, 2015.

 

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

By: /s/ James P. Ash

James P. Ash, Secretary

 

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Attachment 12.B – Trust Code of Ethics

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV

CODE OF ETHICS

 

I. Introduction

 

Northern Lights Fund Trust IV (the “Trust”) and each series thereof (the “Funds”) has adopted this Code of Ethics (the “Code”) in order to set forth guidelines and procedures that promote ethical practices and conduct by all of its Access Persons and to ensure that all Access Persons comply with the federal securities laws. Although this Code contains a number of specific standards and policies, there are four key principles embodied throughout the Code.

 

1. The interests of the Funds must always be paramount

 

Access Persons have a legal, fiduciary duty to place the interests of the Funds ahead of their own. In any decision relating to their personal investments, Access Persons must scrupulously avoid serving their own interests ahead of those of Trust.

 

2. Access Persons may not take advantage of their relationship with the Funds

 

Access Persons should avoid any situation (unusual investment opportunities, perquisites and accepting gifts of more than token value from persons seeking to do business with the Funds) that might compromise, or call into question, the exercise of their fully independent judgment in the interests of the Funds.

 

3. All Personal Securities Transactions should avoid any actual, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest

 

Although all Personal Securities Transactions by Access Persons must be conducted in a manner consistent with this Code, the Code itself is based on the premise that Access Persons owe a fiduciary duty to the Funds, and should avoid any activity that creates an actual, potential, or apparent conflict of interest. This includes executing transactions through or for the benefit of a third party when the transaction is not in keeping with the general principles of this Code.

 

Access Persons must adhere to these general principles as well as comply with the specific provisions of this Code. Technical compliance with the Code and its procedures will not automatically prevent scrutiny of trades that show a pattern of abuse of an individual’s fiduciary duty to the Funds.

 

4. Access Persons must comply with all applicable laws

 

In both work-related and personal activities, Access Persons must comply with all applicable laws, including the federal securities laws.

 

 
 

Any violations of this Code should be reported promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. Failure to do so will be deemed a violation of the Code.

 

II. DEFINITIONS

 

1. “Access Person” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and shall include:

 

a. all officers and trustees (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) of the Funds;
b. all officers and trustees (or persons occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) of an Adviser with respect to its corresponding series of the Trust
c. any employee of the Trust or the Advisers (or of any company controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Trust or the Advisers) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Funds, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to the purchase or sale; and
d. any other natural person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Trust or the Advisers who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Funds with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Funds.

 

2. “Beneficial Ownership” means in general and subject to the specific provisions of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, having or sharing, directly or indirectly, through any contract arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, a direct or indirect “pecuniary interest” in the security.

 

3. “Chief Compliance Officer” means the Code of Ethics Compliance Officer of each Trust with respect to Trustees and officers of the respective Trust, or the CCO of the Advisers with respect to Advisers personnel.

 

4. “Code” means this Code of Ethics.

 

5. “Covered Security” means any Security, except (i) direct obligations of the U.S. Government, (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements, and (iii) shares issued by open-end mutual Funds, except funds services by Gemini, NLCS, or NLD.

 

6. Decision Making Access Person” means any Access Person who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in or obtains information regarding recommendations on the purchase or sale of a security by the Funds, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales. Decision Makers typically are Adviser personnel.

 

7. “Funds” means series of the Trust.

 

 
 
8. “Immediate family” means an individual’s spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law and should include adoptive relationships. For purposes of determining whether an Access Person has an “indirect pecuniary interest” in securities, only ownership by “immediate family” members sharing the same household as the Access Person will be presumed to be an “indirect pecuniary interest” of the Access Person, absent special circumstances.

 

9. “Independent Trustees” means those Trustees of the Trust that would not be deemed an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19)(A) of the 1940 Act.

 

10. “Indirect Pecuniary Interest” includes, but is not limited to: (a) securities held by members of the person’s Immediate Family sharing the same household (which ownership interest may be rebutted); (b) a general partner’s proportionate interest in Fund securities held by a general or limited partnership; (c) a person’s right to dividends that is separated or separable from the underlying securities (otherwise, a right to dividends alone will not constitute a pecuniary interest in securities); (d) a person’s interest in securities held by a Trust; (e) a person’s right to acquire securities through the exercise or conversion of any derivative security, whether or not presently exercisable; and (f) a performance-related fee, other than an asset based fee, received by any broker, dealer, bank, insurance company, investment company, investment manager, Trustee, or person or entity performing a similar function, with certain exceptions.

 

11. “Pecuniary Interest” means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in securities.

 

12. “Personal Securities Transaction” means any transaction in a Covered Security in which an Access Person has a direct or indirect Pecuniary Interest.

 

13. “Purchase or Sale of a Security” includes the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Security. A Security shall be deemed “being considered for Purchase or Sale” for the Trust when a recommendation to purchase or sell has been made and communicated by a Decision Making Access Person, and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation. These recommendations are placed on the “Restricted List” until they are no longer being considered for Purchase or Sale, or until the Security has been purchased or sold.

 

14. “Restricted List” means the list of securities maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer in which trading by Access Persons is generally prohibited.

 

15. “Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-Trust certificate, pre-organization certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting-Trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral rights, or, in general, an interest or instrument commonly known as “security”, or any certificate or interest or participation in temporary or interim
 
 

certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase (including options) any of the foregoing.

 

16. “Advisers” means the Advisers to the Trust.

 

17. “Trust” mean Northern Lights Fund Trust IV.

 

III. PROHIBITED ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

 

1. No Access Person shall purchase or sell directly or indirectly, any Covered Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership and which he or she knows or should have known at the time of such purchase or sale;

 

a. is being considered for purchase or sale by a Fund, or
b. is being purchased or sold by a Fund.

 

2. Decision-Making Access Persons may not participate in any initial public offering of Covered Securities in any account over which they exercise Beneficial Ownership. All Access Persons must obtain prior written authorization from the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee prior to such participation;

 

3. No Access Person, with the exception of the Independent Trustees, may purchase a Covered Security in which by reason of such transaction they acquire Beneficial Ownership in a private placement of a Security, without prior written authorization of the acquisition by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee;

 

4. Access Persons may not accept any fee, commission, gift, entertainment, or services, other than de minimus gifts or entertainment, from any single person or entity that does business with, on behalf of, or in hoping to do business with the Trust. An Access Person of the Trust who is also an Access Person of the Trust's principal underwriter or any of its affiliates which provide services to the Trust, or an Access Person of a Fund's investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser will be subject to the applicable gift and gratuities policies of the Trust's principal underwriter or an Access Person of a Fund's investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser as applicable;

 

5. Decision-Making Access Persons may not serve on the board of directors of a publicly traded company without prior authorization from the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee based upon a determination that such service would be consistent with the interests of the Trust. If such service is authorized, procedures will then be put in place to isolate such Decision-Making Access Persons serving as directors of outside entities from those making investment decisions on behalf of the Trust.

 

6. Advanced notice should be given so that the Trust or Advisers may take such action concerning the conflict as deemed appropriate by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.
 
 

 

7. Decision-Making Access Persons may execute a Personal Securities Transaction involving a Covered Security without pre-authorization of the Chief Compliance Officer or such persons who may be designated by the Chief Compliance Officer from time to time, provided it is permitted by the Adviser’s Code of Ethics. The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee may restrict purchases of Covered Securities pursuant to the Adviser’s Code of Ethics.

 

8. It shall be a violation of this Code for any Access Person, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of any Covered Security held or to be acquired by a Fund:

 

a. to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Trust;
b. to make to the Trust any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state to the Trust a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
c. to engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Trust; or
d. to engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Trust.

 

IV. EXEMPTED TRANSACTIONS

 

The provisions described above under the heading Prohibited Actions and Activities and the preclearance procedures under the heading Preclearance of Personal Securities Transactions do not apply to:

 

1. Purchases or Sales of Securities effected in any account in which an Access Person has no Beneficial Ownership;

 

2. Purchases or Sales of Securities which are non-volitional on the part the Access Person (for example, the receipt of stock dividends);

 

3. Purchase of Securities made as part of automatic dividend reinvestment plans;

 

4. Purchases of Securities made as part of an employee benefit plan involving the periodic purchase of company stock or mutual Funds; and

 

5. Purchases of Securities effected upon the exercise of rights issued 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 sale of such rights so acquired.

 

V. PRECLEARANCE OF PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

All Decision-Making Access Persons wishing to engage in a Personal Securities Transaction involving, as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or a Limited Offering, must obtain prior authorization of any such Personal Securities Transaction from the Chief Compliance Officer or such person or persons that the Chief Compliance Officer may from time to time designate to make such authorizations. Personal Securities Transactions by the Chief

 
 

Compliance Officer involving an IPO or Limited Offering, shall require prior authorization from the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Trust (unless such person is also the Chief Compliance Officer) or their designee, who shall perform the review and approval functions relating to reports and trading by the Chief Compliance Officer. The Trust shall adopt the appropriate forms and procedures for implementing this Code of Ethics.

 

Any authorization so provided is effective until the close of business on the fifth trading day after the authorization is granted. In the event that an order for the Personal Securities Transaction involving an IPO or Limited Offering, is not placed within that time period, a new authorization must be obtained. If the order for the transaction is placed but not executed within that time period, no new authorization is required unless the person placing the order originally amends the order in any manner. Authorization for “good until canceled” orders is effective unless the order conflicts with a Trust order.

 

If a Decision-Making Access Person wishing to effect a Personal Securities Transaction learns, while the order is pending, that the same Security is being considered for Purchase or Sale by a Fund, he or she should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee.

 

VI. REPORTING AND MONITORING

 

The Chief Compliance Officer or such person or persons that the Chief Compliance Officer may from time to time designate shall monitor all personal trading activity, and other activities covered by this Code, of all Access Persons pursuant to the procedures established under this Code. An Access Person of the Trust who is also an Access Person of the Trust’s principal underwriter or their affiliates or an Access Person of a Fund’s Adviser or Sub-Adviser may submit reports required by this Section on forms prescribed by the Code of Ethics of such principal underwriter, Adviser, or Sub-Adviser provided that such forms comply with the requirements of Rule 17j-1(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.

 

1. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL BROKERAGE ACCOUNTS

 

Within ten days of the commencement of employment or at the commencement of a relationship with the Trust, all Access Persons, except Independent Trustees, are required to submit to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee a report stating the names and account numbers of all of their personal brokerage accounts, brokerage accounts of members of their Immediate Family, and any brokerage accounts which they control or in which they or an Immediate Family member has Beneficial Ownership. Such report must contain the date on which it is submitted and the information in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to that date. In addition, if a new brokerage account is opened during the course of the year, the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee must be notified immediately.

 

The information required by the above paragraph must be provided to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee on an annual basis, and the report of such should be submitted with the annual holdings reports described below.

 

 
 

Each of these accounts is required to furnish duplicate confirmations and statements to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. These statements and confirms for each series of the Trust may be sent to the Advisers.

 

2. INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT

 

Within ten days of becoming an Access Person (and with information that is current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date that the report was submitted), each Access Person, except Independent Trustees must submit a holdings report that must contain, at a minimum, the title and type of Security, and as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership. This report must state the date on which it is submitted.

 

3. ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORTS

 

All Access Persons, except Independent Trustees, must supply the information that is required in the initial holdings report on an annual basis, and such information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date that the report was submitted. Such reports must state the date on which they are submitted.

 

4. QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORTS

 

All Access Persons shall report to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee the following information with respect to transactions in a Covered Security in which such person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership in the Covered Security:

 

a. The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and the principal amount of each Covered Security;
b. The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
c. The price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected; and
d. The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected.
e. The date the Access Person Submits the Report.

 

Reports pursuant to this section of this Code shall be made no later than 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected, and shall include a certification that the reporting person has reported all Personal Securities Transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of this Code. Confirmations and Brokerage Statements sent directly to each Adviser’s address noted above is an acceptable form of a quarterly transaction report.

 

 
 

An Independent Trustee need only make a quarterly transaction report if he or she, at the time of the transaction, knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee, should have known that during the 15-day period immediately preceding or following the date of the transaction by the Independent Trustee, the Covered Security was purchased or sold by a Fund or was considered for purchase or sale by a Fund.

 

An Access Person of the Trust who is also an Access Person of the Trust's principal underwriter or any of its affiliates which provide services to the Trust or an Access Person of a Fund's investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser may submit reports required by this Section on forms prescribed by the Code of Ethics of such principal underwriter, investment Adviser, or Sub-Adviser, provided that such forms contain substantially the same information as called for in the forms required by this Section and comply with the requirements of Rule 17j-1(d)(1).

 

VII. ENFORCEMENTS AND PENALTIES

 

The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee shall review the transaction information supplied by Access Persons. If a transaction appears to be a violation of this Code, the transaction will be reported to the Trust Board of Trustees.

 

Upon being informed of a violation of this Code, the Trust Board of Trustees may impose sanctions as it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, a letter of censure or suspension, termination of the employment of the violator, or a request for disgorgement of any profits received from a securities transaction effected in violation of this Code. The Trust shall impose sanctions in accordance with the principle that no Access Person may profit at the expense of its clients. Any losses are the responsibility of the violator. Any profits realized on personal securities transactions in violation of the Code must be disgorged in a manner directed by the Board of Trustees.

 

At least annually, the Chief Compliance Officer shall issue a report on Personal Securities Transactions by Access Person. The report submitted to the board shall:

 

1.       Summarize existing procedures concerning Personal Securities investing and any changes in the procedures made during the prior year;

2.       Identify any violations of this Code and any significant remedial action taken during the prior year; and;

3.       Identify any recommended changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon the experience under the Code, evolving industry practices or developments in applicable laws and regulations.

 

VIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Trust must provide all Access Persons with a copy of this Code. Upon receipt of this Code, all Access Persons must do the following:

 

 
 

All new Access Persons must read the Code, complete all relevant forms supplied by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee (including a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code), and schedule a meeting with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee to discuss the provisions herein within two calendar weeks of employment.

 

Existing Access Persons who did not receive this Code upon hire, for whatever reason, must read the Code, complete all relevant forms supplied by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee (including a written acknowledgement of their receipt of the Code), and schedule a meeting with the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee to discuss the provisions herein at the earliest possible time, but no later than the end of the current quarter.

 

All Access Persons must certify on an annual basis that they have read and understood the Code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Policies and Procedures

(AS UPDATED: OCTOBER 2013)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANCHOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC. Statement of Policies and Procedures (AS UPDATED: OCTOBER 2013)

Page 2 of 52
 

 

 

 

Contents

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 6

 

A. General Procedures. ..................................................................................................................... 6

 

B. Chief Compliance Officer. ............................................................................................................. 6

 

C. Mandatory Reporting of Violations. ............................................................................................. 6

 

D. Annual Review: Updating Statement............................................................................................ 6

 

D. Form ADV Annual Offer ................................................................................................................ 7

 

E. Annual Compliance Review: ......................................................................................................... 7

 

F. Definitions. .................................................................................................................................... 7

 

Part I. Personal Securities Transactions ................................................................................................... 10

 

A. Personal Trading Accounts and Reports. .................................................................................... 10

 

B. Personal Trading Approvals. ....................................................................................................... 10

 

C. Review of Personal Trading Information. ................................................................................... 10

 

D. Client Priority. ............................................................................................................................. 10

 

E. Principal Transactions. ................................................................................................................ 11

 

Part II: Code of Employee Conduct .......................................................................................................... 12

 

A. Outside Activities. ....................................................................................................................... 12

 

B. Conflicts of Interest..................................................................................................................... 12

 

C. Communications. ........................................................................................................................ 12

 

D. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. ....................................................................................................... 12

 

E. Protection of Client Assets. ......................................................................................................... 13

 

F. Confidentiality, Proprietary Data and Privacy of Customer Personal Information. ................... 13

 

G. Annual Privacy Notice. ................................................................................................................ 15

 

H. Involvement in Litigation, Contacts with Regulatory Authorities or the Press........................... 15

 

I. Entertainment, Gifts and Favoritism........................................................................................... 15

 

J. Registration, Licensing and Testing Requirements. .................................................................... 16

 

K. Qualification of Solicitors. ........................................................................................................... 16

 

L. Email, Instant Messaging and Website Monitoring. ................................................................... 16

 

M. Social Networks, Blogs and Similar Services ............................................................................... 16

 

Part III: Insider Trading............................................................................................................................ 18

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A. Policy Statement on Insider Trading. .......................................................................................... 18

 

B. Procedures to Implement the Firm's Policies against Insider Trading........................................ 20

 

C. Employee or Family Member Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant................................... 22

 

D. Client or Investor Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant. .................................................... 22

 

E. Supervisory Procedures. ............................................................................................................. 23

 

Part IV: Government Contributions (“Pay-To-Play”) .................................................................................. 24

 

A. Policy Statement on Contributions. ............................................................................................ 24

 

B. Policy Regarding Contributions................................................................................................... 24

 

C. Restrictions on Using Third Parties to Solicit Government Entities. ........................................... 25

 

D. Restrictions on Coordinating or Soliciting Contributions............................................................ 25

 

Part V: Trading and Valuation Practices...................................................................................................... 26

 

A. Trading Policy. ............................................................................................................................. 26

 

B. ETF-Specific Trading Requirements. ........................................................................................... 26

 

C. Client Cross Trades...................................................................................................................... 27

 

D. Firm Procedures for Aggregating Client Securities Transactions................................................ 27

 

E. Short Selling. ............................................................................................................................... 28

 

F. Trade Errors. ............................................................................................................................... 29

 

G. Execution Services....................................................................................................................... 30

 

H. Valuation. .................................................................................................................................... 31

 

Part VI: Anti-Money Laundering ............................................................................................................... 32

 

A. The Firm. ..................................................................................................................................... 32

 

B. Investment Funds and Clients..................................................................................................... 33

 

C. Ongoing Training. ........................................................................................................................ 34

 

D. Audits. ......................................................................................................................................... 34

 

Part VII: Proxy Voting .............................................................................................................................. 35

 

A. Discretionary Accounts. .............................................................................................................. 35

 

B. Non-Discretionary Accounts. ...................................................................................................... 37

 

C. Records. ...................................................................................................................................... 37

 

Part VIII: Record Keeping Requirements.................................................................................................. 38

 

A. Financial Records. ....................................................................................................................... 38

 

B. General Records. ......................................................................................................................... 38

 

C. Trading Records. ......................................................................................................................... 40

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D. Client Communications. .............................................................................................................. 41

 

E. Regulatory Filings and Communications, and Litigation and Complaints................................... 42

 

F. Personal Securities Transactions. ............................................................................................... 43

 

G. Attorney-Client Communications. .............................................................................................. 43

 

H. Annual CCO Report. .................................................................................................................... 43

 

I. Storing Records. .......................................................................................................................... 43

 

Part IX: Backup Procedures and Business Continuity Plan ......................................................................... 45

 

A. Backup Procedures. .................................................................................................................... 45

 

B. Business Continuity Plan. ............................................................................................................ 45

 

B. Business Continuity Plan Testing. ............................................................................................... 46

 

PART X: OTHER COMPLIANCE MATTERS..................................................................................................... 47

 

A. Manipulative Practices................................................................................................................ 47

 

B. Marketing Material and Client Communications........................................................................ 47

 

C. Revision of Offering Materials. ................................................................................................... 48

 

D. ERISA and Other Plan Considerations. ........................................................................................ 48

 

E. FINRA New Issue Rules................................................................................................................ 51

 

F. Investment Company Act............................................................................................................ 51

 

G. State Investment Adviser and Investment Adviser Representative Registration and Filing

Requirements.................................................................................................................................. 52

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INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

This Statement of Policies and Procedures (this "Statement") addresses the responsibilities of the Employees of Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., concerning applicable regulatory, compliance and operational issues. The Statement does not attempt to describe every requirement relating to these activities, but summarizes some of those issues and establishes general policies and procedures that apply to all Employees.

 

The Firm and its Employees have a fiduciary duty to the Firm's clients and are required to maintain the highest ethical standards and to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. Employees must report any violations of this Statement promptly to the CCO.

 

If you violate any provision contained in this Statement, you may be subject to discipline or sanctions by the Firm at the Firm's sole discretion, including fines, dismissal, suspension without pay, loss of pay or bonus, loss of severance benefits, demotion or other sanctions, whether or not the violation also constitutes a violation of law. Furthermore, the Firm may initiate or cooperate in civil or criminal proceedings against any Employee relating to or arising from any such violation.

 

This Introduction and Parts I, II and Ill of this Statement ("Personal Securities Transactions," "Code of Employee Conduct" and "Insider Trading") constitute the Firm's code of ethics pursuant to Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act.

 

A. General Procedures. The Firm will provide each Employee with a copy of this Statement and any amendments. When each Employee receives this Statement, he or she must sign a Certificate of Receipt, in the form attached as Exhibit A. The Certificate acknowledges that the Employee has received and understands this Statement (as amended) and includes the Employee's agreement to comply with it. At the same time, each new Employee also must complete an Employee Questionnaire in the form attached as Exhibit E. Thereafter, each Employee immediately must notify the CCO if any of the information in his or her Employee Questionnaire becomes inaccurate in any respect.

 

No later than 10 days after becoming an Employee or receiving this Statement, and no later than 10 days after the end of each calendar year, each Employee must disclose on a Holdings Report in the form attached as Exhibit B, all of his or her, and his or her Family Members', Proprietary Accounts and list or provide brokerage statement with all securities in which the Employee or any of his or her Family Members has any Beneficial Ownership. Quarterly, each Employee must sign a Certificate of

Compliance, in the form attached as Exhibit C, certifying that he or she has complied in all respects with this Statement and updating any information that is not current or complete.

 

B. Chief Compliance Officer. Employees who have questions about this Statement should contact Dennis Barker (or his designated substitute or successor) (the "CCO). The CCO has full responsibility and authority to enforce and further develop this Statement.

 

C. Mandatory Reporting of Violations. Employees must report promptly any violation of this Statement to the CCO. Reports may be anonymous. Neither the Firm nor any Employee may retaliate against anyone who makes such a report. Any such retaliation is grounds for discipline or sanction, including immediate dismissal.

 

D. Annual Review: Updating Statement . The Firm's board of directors, its executive officers and the CCO review this Statement annually to determine its adequacy and the effectiveness of its

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implementation. The review considers any compliance matters that arose during the previous year, any changes in the Firm's or its affiliates' activities and any changes in the Advisers Act or applicable regulations. The Firm may conduct interim reviews to respond to significant compliance events, changes in business arrangements and regulatory developments, and may update and supplement this Statement in accord with such changes from time to time.

 

D. Form ADV Annual Offer . On an annual basis the Firm shall offer to all existing clients via regular mail and/or electronic e-mail a copy of the Firm’s most recently updated Form ADV Part 2. A record of the annual offer will be maintained kept on file.

 

E. Annual Compliance Review: On an annual basis the CCO tests the firm’s compliance program and writes up his findings in an annual CCO. CCO will also produce a Risk Assessment Matrix annually. The annual CCO report and Risk Assessment Matrixwill be kept on file for review. (See Part VIII of this manual for record keeping requirements relating to the Annual CCO Review).

 

 

 

F. Definitions. To make it easier to review and understand these policies and procedures, some terms are defined below:

 

"Advisers Act" means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

"Beneficial Ownership" of a security by a person means the person:

 

1. Directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares with any other person (a) any pecuniary, financial or other interest in such security, (b) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security, or (c) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; or

 

2. Provides any investment advice regarding such security; or

 

3. Has the right to acquire such security within sixty days, through (a) the exercise of any option, warrant or right, (b) the conversion of a security, (c) the exercise of the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, (d) the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, or (e) any other means; or

 

4. Directly or indirectly creates or uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement or any other contract, arrangement, or device with the purpose or effect of divesting such person of beneficial ownership of such security or preventing the vesting

of such beneficial ownership as part of a plan or scheme to evade reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. For example, a federal court has held that a party to a cash-settled total return swap (a "swap" being an agreement to "exchange cash flows on two financial instruments over a specific period of time") was deemed to be a "beneficial owner" of the underlying securities, even though the party had no pecuniary, financial or other interest

in or right to acquire, vote or dispose of the underlying securities. Because a party to a swap or other derivative may have Beneficial Ownership of the underlying securities, the facts and circumstances should be fully disclosed to the CCO to determine whether the Firm may have Beneficial Ownership of the underlying securities.

 

"Client Account" means any client or Investment Fund as to which or for whom the Firm provides investment advisory services.

 

"CCO" means Dennis Barker, or his designated substitute or successor.

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"Contribution" means a gift, subscription, loan, advance, deposit of money, or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing an election for a federal, state or local office, including any payments for debts incurred in such an election. It also includes transition or inaugural expenses incurred by a successful candidate for state or local office.

 

"Covered Associate" means the Firm's (a) general partner, managing member or executive officer, or other individual with a similar status or function; (b) any Employee who solicits a Government Entity for the Firm, (c) any person who supervises, directly or indirectly, any such Employee; or (d) any political action committee controlled by the Firm or by any of its Covered Associates.

 

"Covered Investment Pool" means (a) any investment company registered under the ICA that is an investment option of a plan or program of a Government Entity or (b) any investment company that would be an investment company under ICA section 3(a) but for the exclusion provided by ICA section 3(c)(l),

3(c)(7) or 3(c)(11).

 

"Discretionary Account" means any Client Account that has granted the Firm (a) discretionary proxy voting authority, or (b) discretionary investment authority without expressly retaining proxy voting authority. All Investment Funds are Discretionary Accounts.

 

"Employee" means each person who is an employee, officer or manager of the Firm, and any other person whom the CCO notifies will be subject to this Statement (including, for example, the Firm's independent service providers (such as information technology personnel or other frequent service providers with access to the Firm's trading and client information) or any (Covered Associate).

 

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

"Family Members" of an Employee, means his or her spouse, minor children and any relative or other person living with him or her (regardless of family relationship or marital status) and any other person to whom he or she contributes support.

 

"Firm" means Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., and each of its affiliates that is engaged in the business of providing investment advisory services or serving as the general partner or manager of an Investment Fund.

 

"FCM” means futures commission merchant.

 

"Government Entity" means any state or local government, any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or any public pension plan or other collective government fund, including any participant-directed plan such as a 403(b), 457 or 529 plan.

 

"ICA” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

"Insider" means (except for purposes of Part 111 (Insider Trading), any person who directly or indirectly has Beneficial Ownership of more than 10% of any class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act, or who is an officer or director of an issuer with a class so registered.

 

"Insider" for purposes of Part 111 is defined therein.

 

"IPO” means initial public offering.

 

"Non-Discretionary Account" means any Client Account that (a) has granted the Firm discretionary investment authority but has expressly retained proxy voting authority, or (b) has not granted the Firm either discretionary investment authority or discretionary proxy voting authority.

 

"Official" means an incumbent, candidate or successful candidate for elective office of a Government

Entity if the office is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of the

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Firm or has authority to appoint any person who is directly or indirectly responsible for, or can influence the outcome of, the hiring of the Firm.

 

"Proprietary Account" means (1) a securities investment or trading account held in the name of an Employee or any of his or her Family Members, or of which that Employee or any of his or her Family Members has Beneficial Ownership, or (2) a proprietary investment or trading account maintained for the Firm or its Employees (excluding an Investment Fund).

 

"Regulated Persons" means certain broker-dealers and registered investment advisers that are subject to prohibitions against participating in pay-to-play practices and are subject to the SEC's oversight and, in the case of broker-dealers, the oversight of a registered national securities association, such as FINRA.

 

"SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

"Security" means any investment instrument commonly viewed as a security, including any common stock, option, warrant, right to acquire securities or convertible instrument, as well as any exchange- traded fund, commodity futures contract, commodity option, swap or other derivative instrument, whether issued in a public or private offering.

 

"Statement" means this Statement of Policies and Procedures.

 

"U.S." means the United States of America.

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Part I. Personal Securities Transactions

 

 

 

 

A. Personal Trading Accounts and Reports.

No later than thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter, each Employee must certify to the Firm that he or she has complied with this Statement during that quarter and disclose to the Firm all personal securities transactions by the Employee and the Employee's Family Members during that quarter and complete information regarding each Proprietary Account where such securities are held. Alternatively, the Employee may certify that all such information is in the account statements provided to the Firm

during that quarter and that as of the date of the certificate, all such information is accurate and complete. If such information is incomplete or inaccurate as of the date of the certification, the Employee must update or correct the information. The form to use for this purpose is attached as Exhibit C.

 

B. Personal Trading Approvals.

The CCO must pre-approve in writing all personal securities transactions by Employees and Family Members (whether or not through Proprietary Accounts), other than long purchases and subsequent sales of any of the following securities:

 

a. Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;

b. Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short- term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

c. Shares issued by money market funds;

d. Shares issued by open-end funds other than reportable funds (as defined in Rule204A-

1(e)(9))(e.g. funds advised or sub-advised by the Firm); and

e. Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open- end funds, none of which are reportable funds (as defined in Rule 204A-1(e)(9)). This exception is aimed at variable insurance contracts that are funded by insurance company separate accounts organized as unit investment trusts. (Note: although not specifically excluded from the definition of reportable security, it is presumed the variable insurance products are included within this exception).

 

The form of Personal Trading Request is attached as Exhibit D. The pre-approval requirement also applies to securities acquired in POs and private placements. The CCO must obtain the prior written approval of Eric Leake (the "CCO's Substitute") before effecting any transactions in the CCO's own Proprietary Accounts.

 

C. Review of Personal Trading Information.

The CCO may at his discretion request any confirmations, statements or other information he believes necessary to verify compliance with this Statement. The Firm reserves the right to require an Employee to reverse, cancel or freeze, at the Employee's expense, any transaction or position in a security if the Firm believes such transaction or position might violate this Statement or appears improper. Except as

required to enforce this Statement or to participate in any investigation concerning violations of applicable law, the Firm will keep all such information confidential.

 

D. Client Priority.

As required by the second paragraph of section B above, Employees must give first priority to all purchases and sales of securities for Client Accounts before executing transactions for Proprietary Accounts, and must conduct their personal trading in a manner that does not conflict with the interests of

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any Client Account. Although it is not possible to list all potential conflicts of interest, each of the following acts always is prohibited:

 

1. Knowingly purchasing securities for Proprietary Accounts, directly or indirectly, without making a good faith determination whether those securities are appropriate for investment by a Client Account (as required by the second paragraph of section B above);

 

2. Knowingly purchasing or selling securities for Proprietary Accounts, directly or indirectly, in a way that adversely affects transactions in Client Accounts;

 

3. Using knowledge of securities transactions by a Client Account to profit personally, directly or indirectly, by the market effect of such transactions; and

 

4. Giving to any person information not generally available to the public about contemplated, proposed or current purchases or sales of securities by or for a Client Account, except to the extent necessary to effect such transactions or with the approval of the CCO.

 

E. Principal Transactions.

Neither the Firm nor an Employee may engage in principal transactions between a Proprietary Account and a Client Account without first obtaining the prior written approval of the CCO and the written consent of the Client Account.

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Part II: Code of Employee Conduct

 

A. Outside Activities.

All outside activities of an Employee that involve (1) any securities or investment activities outside the scope of the Employee's activities on behalf of the Firm (whether for the Employee or for any other person), or (2) a material time commitment, provide for compensation to the Employee or involve employment, teaching assignments, lectures, publication of articles, or radio or television appearances, must, in either case, be approved in advance by the CCO. Each Employee should notify the CCO immediately if the Employee is such an officer or director when he or she receives this Statement. The CCO may require full details about the outside activity, including the number of hours involved and the compensation that the Employee will receive. Before accepting an appointment as an officer or director in any business, charitable organization or non-profit organization, an Employee must obtain approval from the CCO.

 

B. Conflicts of Interest.

It is a violation of an Employee's duty of loyalty to the Firm for that Employee, without the CCO's prior consent, to:

 

1. Rebate, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity any compensation received from the

Firm,

 

2. Accept, directly or indirectly, from any person or entity, other than the Firm, compensation of any nature as a bonus, commission, fee, gratuity or other consideration in connection with any transaction on behalf of the Firm or a Client Account (for example, directing a particular transaction in exchange for any such compensation); but see Part 1I.H below regarding permissible gifts and entertainment where no such quid pro quo relationship exists); or

 

3. Beneficially own any security of, or have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest in, any other organization engaged in any securities, financial or related business, unless previously disclosed to the CCO pursuant to Part I (Personal Securities Transactions).

 

C. Communications.

Each Employee must ensure that communications (whether written or oral) regarding the Firm, the Investment Funds or any Client Account to Investors, clients, prospective Investors or clients and regulatory authorities are accurate. The CCO supervises the appropriate Employees and, if the CCO deems it appropriate, any third-party service provider (such as an administrator, accountant or law firm), in reviewing any account statement, offering materials, periodic letters to Investors or clients or potential Investors or clients, published prior performance and advertisements.

 

D. The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

The Firm's periodic email reports to clients, Investors and potential clients may be deemed "unsolicited commercial emails." An unsolicited commercial email is any email message, the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service. The following should

be included in any such email messages (unless the reports are distributed solely to the Firm's current clients and Investors in Investment Funds managed by the Firm and to others who have requested to receive such reports):

 

This email may be considered an advertisement or solicitation. If you do not want to receive further emails from Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., please reply to this email and ask to be removed from our mailing list.

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Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc., 15 Enterprise, Suite 450, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

(949)341.0000

 

E. Protection of Client Assets.

Receipt of Client or Investor Funds. No Employee shall use client assets for his or her own purpose or benefit or receive client assets for any reason. Any Employee who knows or has reason to believe that another Employee has engaged in such behavior must immediately report such information to the CCO. Any Employee who accidentally receives client (or Investor) assets (such as a check made out directly to the Firm or a U.S. Investment Fund) should immediately (and in any event within three business days) return such assets to the person from whom they came.

 

F. Confidentiality, Proprietary Data and Privacy of Customer Personal

Information.

1. Proprietary Data: Confidentiality . Any information regarding advice that the Firm furnishes to Client Accounts, the Firm's recommendations and analyses and other proprietary data or information about the Firm or Client Accounts (including client and Investor identity and personal information) is strictly confidential and a trade secret and may not be revealed to third parties, except as required for Firm business. Such information is the property of the Firm. Disclosing such information to any third party, without the permission of the CCO, will subject the Employee to discipline or sanctions by the Firm at the Firm's sole discretion, including fines, dismissal, suspension without pay, loss of pay or bonus, loss of severance benefits, demotion or other sanctions. This confidentiality obligation continues even after the termination of employment, and such information is considered trade secrets and may not be used by the Employee after termination of employment.

 

2. Privacy of Customer Personal Information -- Information Security Program . It is the Firm's policy to protect, through administrative, technical and physical safeguards, the security and confidentiality of financial records and other nonpublic personal information concerning Client Accounts, Investors and potential and former Client Accounts and Investors, including protecting against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security of such information and unauthorized access to or use of such information.

 

a. The CCO. The Firm has designated the CCO to coordinate its information security program. The CCO is responsible for (i) assessing existing risks to nonpublic personal information, (ii) developing ways to manage and control these risks, (iii) monitoring third-party service provider arrangements to ensure information security, and (iv) periodically reviewing, monitoring, testing and revising the program in light of relevant changes in technology and threats to Client Account and Investor information.

 

b. Identifying Internal and External Risks to Customer Information . The CCO reviews reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality and integrity of customer information, including risks relating to (i) Employee training, (ii) changes to the Firm's information systems, including network and software design, information processing, storage, transmission and disposal, and (iii) procedures to detect, prevent and respond to attacks, intrusions or other system failures. The CCO assesses the likelihood and potential damage of these risks and the sufficiency of any safeguards in place to control these risks. The CCO meets periodically with Employees to review and implement the program and is available to answer questions regarding the program.

 

c. Information Safeguards . Employees may not disclose the identity, affairs or investments, or other personal information, of any Client Account or Investor, potential Client Account or Investor or former Client Account or Investor to

Page 13 of 52
 

anyone outside of the Firm, except as may have been authorized by the holder of the Client Account or Investor or as may be required in servicing the Client Account or Investor (such as disclosure to a brokerage firm at which such Client Account is held) or for the business of the Firm (such as disclosure to the Firm's auditors and lawyers or as required by law). Employees should direct to the CCO any questions about whether information is confidential or any disclosure is permitted. This confidentiality obligation continues even after the termination of employment.

 

To protect the confidentiality of the Firm's confidential and proprietary information and the confidentiality of existing, former or potential Client Accounts and Investors, Employees should take the following additional security precautions:

 

1. Except as required for Firm business, Employees may not print, photocopy, email to a personal account or otherwise duplicate any information that contains confidential and proprietary information or take any such information from the Firm's offices without the prior consent of the CCO. Any physical information removed from the Firm's offices or any information printed and kept at home (such as research files) must be returned to the Firm. All copies and originals of such information must be disposed of in a way that keeps the information confidential, such as shredding. (No document may be destroyed if the Firm is required to keep it - as further described in Part VIII below.) Employees must keep all paper

copies of confidential and proprietary information that are not in use off desk tops, conference tables or any other place where such copies would be visible to persons who are not authorized to have access to such information.

 

2. All computer drives containing confidential and proprietary information must be accessible only by the use of strong passwords. Backup records and archived data are stored in a secure manner. Employees must take precautionary measures during each day to ensure that confidential and proprietary information on those computers is not visible to persons who are not authorized to have access to such information. For example, the Firm may use password-activated screen savers to lock computers containing confidential or proprietary information after a period of inactivity. At the end of each day and at other times that an Employee leaves his or her terminal for an extended period, such Employee must log off his or her computer.

 

3. If any laptop or other computer drive or storage medium containing confidential or proprietary information is taken outside the Firm's offices, such as to a service provider, an Employee's residence, a client meeting or business travel, such data must be encrypted and the responsible Employee must take extra precautions to protect against theft or loss, such as keeping the item with the Employee, in a safe, or in a locked area.

 

4. Employees must use extreme care in electronic correspondence to assure that confidential and proprietary information is not inadvertently distributed to unauthorized persons.

 

5. Physical access to any non-electronic confidential and proprietary information must be limited by either locking or monitoring access to the offices and storage areas where such

information is located.

 

6. All information protected by such safeguard is considered trade secrets and may not be used by the Employee at any time, including after termination of employment, except as required for Firm business.

 

7. From time to time the Firm may share office space with another financial services firm and has entered into an agreement with that other firm regarding confidentiality.

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d. Third Party Service Providers . At times, the Firm may enter into one or more agreements with third parties under which the Firm may provide confidential information to those third parties. If this occurs, the Firm will

 

(i) use reasonable efforts to, include in the relevant agreements provisions protecting confidential information to the extent required by law,

 

(ii) take reasonable steps to select and retain service providers that can maintain appropriate safeguards for confidential information and

 

(iii) require-those service providers to implement and maintain such safeguards. Employees should direct any questions about these agreements or the disclosure of information pursuant to them to the CCO.

 

G. Annual Privacy Notice.

On an annual basis the CCO will provide all existing clients a copy of the Firm’s Privacy Policy. A record

of the Annual Privacy Notice will be kept on file.

 

H. Involvement in Litigation, Contacts with Regulatory Authorities or the Press. An Employee should advise the CCO immediately if he or she is contacted by any regulatory authority (including the SEC, FINRA, any securities exchange or any state regulatory authority) or the press or becomes involved in or threatened with litigation or an administrative investigation or proceeding of any

kind, is served with a subpoena, becomes subject to any judgment, order or arrest. Employees should

refer all inquiries from all regulatory authorities or the press to the CCO.

 

I. Entertainment. Gifts and Favoritism.

1. Receipt by Employees . Employees must receive pre-approval from the CCO before accepting any gift in excess of $100 from a broker or other vendor or person involved in the securities industry. A "gift" for this purpose is anything of value that an Employee receives other than entertainment. "Entertainment" is an event that the Employee attends (such as a meal or a sporting event) at which a broker or other vendor socializes or otherwise interacts with the Employee.

 

The following items may be accepted from brokers or vendors without the CCO's permission as long as the Employee adheres to the following guidelines:

 

· Breakfast or lunch provided at the Firm is permissible as long as a representative of the vendor or broker providing the meal attends.

 

· Flowers or food and/or wine baskets for the Firm generally are permissible.

 

· Occasional gifts with a face value of $100 or less (for example, a bottle of wine) are permissible.

 

· Reasonable entertainment (for example, a meal, a round of golf or tickets to a sporting event) provided by vendors or brokers on occasion. However, travel expenses offered by the vendor or broker (such as airfare or hotel accommodation) generally are not permitted. If you are uncertain as to the reasonableness of the entertainment, you should discuss the matter in advance with the CCO.

 

Except in the limited circumstances described above, an Employee should not seek or accept any entertainment, gifts, favors, preferential treatment or valuable consideration of any kind offered from brokers or other companies or persons involved in the securities industry. The CCO may pre-approve limited exceptions to this policy.

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2. From Employees . An Employee may not offer or give any gift, favor, preferential treatment or other valuable consideration of any kind in connection with the Firm's business, except for occasional and reasonable gifts and entertainment (if the Employee is present). Employees must report any payment (including each gift and all entertainment) made in connection with the Firm's business to a labor organization (including any union-affiliated pension plan (a "Taft-Hartley Plan")) and its officers, agents, shop stewards, employees or other representatives (such as union-appointed trustees). The CCO must track all such payments by the Firm and its Employees to such persons (even if the Firm does not reimburse the Employee for such payments) and report to the Department of Labor aggregate payments to any such person over a calendar year that exceed $250.

 

 

 

J. Registration, Licensing and Testing Requirements.

Each Employee should check with the CCO to ensure that he or she has complied with any applicable registration, licensing and testing requirements required as a result of such Employee's duties and position. These requirements may arise under the Advisers Act, the Commodity Exchange Act, the ICA, the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, state broker-dealer and investment adviser statutes, rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the National Futures Association, the Department of Labor and other regulatory authorities.

 

K. Qualification of Solicitors.

The Firm complies with Advisers Act Rule 206(4)-3 regarding solicitation activities conducted by finders or solicitors on behalf of the Firm. In addition, the Firm may review applicable state laws regarding soliciting clients or Investors that are government or public entities, funds or plans. No such arrangement may be made without approval of the CCO.

 

L. Email, Instant Messaging and Website Monitoring.

Employees should use the email accounts provided by the Firm for all Firm business conducted via email. and only for Firm business. Employees should conduct personal email communications only through personal accounts. Employees may use Firm email accounts for occasional personal emails (but each Employee should be aware that all such emails are subject to review and disclosure).

 

Employees should use authorized instant messaging software provided by the Firm for all Firm business conducted via instant messaging. Employees may occasionally send personal instant messages on authorized instant messaging software (but each Employee should be aware that all such instant messages are subject to review and disclosure). Employees may not install separate instant messaging software on Firm computers without CCO approval.

 

Employees should be aware that all emails, texts and instant messages (whether or not Firm-related) that are sent through Firm accounts are the Firm's property and may be retained indefinitely. The Firm also may monitor and record Employees' internet activity. All such information that the Firm keeps is subject to periodic review by the Firm or its agents (such as attorneys and compliance consultants), and may be subject to review by the SEC and other regulatory agencies.

 

M. Social Networks. Blogs and Similar Services

Employees may not post any message or information about the Firm, its investments, its Employees or its

Employees' investments on any social network, internet message board, chat room, blog or similar service (with the sole exception that Employees may identify "Anchor Capital Management Group, Inc.," as such person's employer and describe the Firm as an "investment management" firm, without reference to the Firm's strategy or the fact that it manages investment funds). Employees also may not conduct any

Firm business on or through such media.

 

The exception to this general policy is the Firm's Chief Investment Officer's investment commentary on

Twitter or similar services. The CIO may conduct those activities so long as he does not mention any

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Investment Fund, the performance of the Firm's investment strategies or otherwise make any misleading statement regarding the Firm and its investment strategies or commit any other violation of securities laws. The CCO will monitor the CIO's activities for compliance with these policies.

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Part III: Insider Trading

 

 

 

A. Policy Statement on Insider Trading.

The Firm is in the business of obtaining and analyzing information about companies and their securities to give the Firm the basis for profitably trading and recommending investments in securities. Generally, such investigation and analysis help investors to make informed investment decisions, which is one of the

goals of the federal securities laws. It is illegal, however, to trade or recommend trades in a security while

using or even, in some cases, while merely possessing, material, nonpublic information about that security or its issuer. It is the Firm's policy to conduct its business in full compliance with the law, and to ensure that its Employees do so.

 

This Statement applies to the Firm and all of its Employees. Each Employee should review this Statement carefully. Any questions should be directed to the CCO.

 

Although the law concerning insider trading is evolving, it generally prohibits:

 

o Trading in securities by an insider while in possession of material, nonpublic information;

 

o Trading in securities by a non-insider while in possession of material, nonpublic information, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider's duty to keep it confidential, or was misappropriated; and

 

o Communicating material, nonpublic information to others, or recommending a securities transaction to others while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the security or the company in question (commonly called "tipping").

 

The Firm forbids any of its Employees from (i) trading either personally or on behalf of others, including Client Accounts, on material, nonpublic information; (ii) communicating material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law; or (iii) knowingly assisting someone engaged in these activities.

 

All information relating to the Firm's activities, including investment analyses, investment recommendations, and proposed and actual trades for the Firm or Client Accounts, is proprietary to the Firm and must be kept confidential, except as necessary for an Employee to perform his or her duties for the Firm. Such information should be treated as material, nonpublic information; that is, Employees must not trade on it for Proprietary Accounts and, without the prior approval of the CCO, must not disclose it to anyone inside or outside the Firm who does not need the information in the course of the Firm's business.

 

1. Background .

 

The SEC is responsible for enforcing the federal securities laws. State laws generally correspond to the federal laws and impose additional obligations and liabilities. The federal statutes that are most frequently the basis for SEC investigations and prosecutions are Exchange Act section 10(b) and SEC Rule lob-5 thereunder. These are the general antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Among other things, Rule lob-5 prohibits insider trading, which has been given high priority in SEC enforcement efforts.

 

2. Key Terms and Concepts .

 

"Insiders" of a company are generally its officers, directors, employees and controlling shareholders. In addition, persons outside a company who gain inside information in the course of dealings with that

Page 18 of 52
 

company may be considered "temporary insiders" of the company and thus be bound by the same legal restrictions as traditional insiders. For example, outside financial advisers, investment bankers, lawyers or accountants retained to represent or assist the company on an ongoing basis or in major corporate transactions are insiders for purposes of insider trading laws. Under this analysis, the Firm and its Employees can become temporary insiders of a company if the Firm advises or performs other services for the company. If you receive material, nonpublic information regarding a company that comes directly or indirectly from any insider (temporary or traditional), do not trade in that company's securities in your Proprietary Accounts or for any Client Accounts and do not discuss the information with any other person without first consulting the CCO.

 

"Tipping" is disclosing material, nonpublic information about a company or its securities to a third party, when such disclosure is not made strictly for corporate purposes. The disclosure may be by an insider of the company, by one who has misappropriated the information from the company in question or from another person or company, or by anyone who received information traceable to an insider or one who has misappropriated the information. Those who disclose the information are called "tippers"; those who receive the information are called "tippees." If you trade on the basis of tipped information, you may incur criminal and civil liability, even if you receive the information second- or third-hand, or more remotely, if the other requirements for finding liability are present. The same legal standards apply to remote tippees. In addition, if you tip information to others, you may be liable for any profits gained or losses avoided by a tippee, even if you did not trade. If someone tips information to you, do not disclose the information to anyone except as required by this Statement. You and the Firm may be liable if anyone trades on material, nonpublic information received from or through you.

 

Trading while in possession of certain nonpublic information is illegal if the information is "material." Material information is information about a company or its securities of such importance that it has substantial likelihood of altering the "total mix of information" regarding the company. It is information that, if generally known, would affect the market price of the security. Material information can relate to current events or possible future events. When information relates to a possible future event, materiality is determined by balancing the probability that the event will occur and the anticipated magnitude of the event in light of the totality of the company's activities. The more likely it is that an event will occur, the less significant the event needs to be for the information to be deemed material; the more significant the event, the less likely the probability of its occurrence needs to be for the information to be deemed material. Whether a particular item of information is material may depend on how specific it is, the extent to which it differs from public information, and its reliability in light of its source, its nature, and the circumstances under which it was received.

 

If a transaction in which you are involved becomes the subject of scrutiny by the SEC, the materiality of any inside information will be evaluated with 20-20 hindsight, and the mere fact that someone traded

while in possession of the information will contribute to the conclusion that it was material. When in doubt, assume information is material.

 

Information that Employees should consider material includes, among other things, information about earnings estimates; changes in previously released earnings estimates; manufacturing problems; changes in control or management; mergers; acquisitions; tender offers; joint ventures; changes in

assets; major litigation; liquidity problems; significant new products, discoveries, services or contracts; the cancellation or loss of significant orders, products, services or contracts; change in auditors or auditor notification that the issuer may no longer rely on an auditor's audit report; events regarding the issuer's securities; defaults on senior securities; calls of securities for redemption; repurchase plans; stock splits

or changes in dividends; changes to rights of security holders; public or private sales of additional securities; and bankruptcies or receiverships.

 

Material information also can relate to events or circumstances affecting the market for a company's securities. For example, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal was criminally liable for disclosing to others the dates that articles about various companies would be published in The Wall Street Journal and whether those reports would be favorable or not.

 

You should refer any questions about whether certain information is material to the CCO.

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"Nonpublic" information is information that has not been disseminated in a manner that makes it available to public investors generally. If information is being disseminated to traders generally by brokers, FCMs and institutional analysts, such information would be considered public unless there is a reasonable basis to believe that such information is confidential and came from an insider. Information that has been selectively disclosed to a few analysts or investors is not public. Public information is information that has been disclosed in a manner sufficient to ensure that it is available to the investing public, such as by disclosure in a report filed with the SEC or publication in the Dow Jones broad tape, Reuters Economic Services, the Associated Press or United Press International wire services, newspapers of general circulation in New York City, or, if the subject company's operations or stockholders are geographically localized, in local news media, or the electronic media. When information becomes public, persons who were aware of the information when it was nonpublic must wait to trade until the market absorbs the information. You should refer any questions about whether certain information has become public to the CCO.

 

"Misappropriation" is a basis for insider trading liability that is established when trading occurs based on material, nonpublic information that was misappropriated from another person. This theory can and has been used to reach a variety of individuals who are not traditional or temporary insiders. The Wall Street Journal reporter mentioned above was found by the U.S. Supreme Court to have defrauded the Wall Street Journal when he misappropriated information about upcoming articles from the Wall Street Journal and used the information for trading in the securities markets. Similarly, a partner in a law firm was held to use a "deceptive device" in violation of Exchange Act section 10(b) by misappropriating information from his law firm and the law firm's client, in breach of his fiduciary duty owed to this law firm and the client, by trading in securities of a company regarding which the client was preparing a tender offer.

 

3. Penalties for Insider Trading .

 

Penalties for trading on or tipping of material, nonpublic information are severe and may include:

 

a) civil injunction;

 

b) disgorgement of the profit gained or the loss avoided;

 

c) civil penalty of up to three times the profit gained or the loss

 

d) criminal fine of up to $5 million for an individual or $25 million for an entity (in addition to civil penalties based on the profit gained or the loss avoided); or

 

e) jail time of up to 20 years.

 

A company or any manager or supervisor who fails to take adequate steps to prevent illegal trading on, or tipping of, material, nonpublic information is subject to similar penalties. Persons guilty of insider trading violations, whether through actual trading, tipping, or failing to supervise, are also open to private suits for damages by contemporaneous traders in the market.

 

Any SEC investigation, even one that does not result in criminal or civil prosecution, can irreparably damage the Firm's reputation and an individual's career. It is essential to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

 

B. Procedures to Implement the Firm's Policies against Insider Trading.

The Firm has established the following procedures to help Employees avoid insider trading, and to help the Firm to prevent, detect and impose sanctions against insider trading. Every Employee must follow these procedures. If you have any questions about the procedures, you should consult the CCO.

 

1. Identify Material, Nonpublic Information .

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Before trading for yourself or others (including Proprietary Accounts OT Client Accounts) in the securities of a company about which you may have received potential inside information, consider the following questions:

 

a. Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Would this information affect the market price of the securities if it were generally known? Could this information cause investors to change their trading?

 

b. Is the information nonpublic? To whom has it been provided? Has it been filed with the SEC? Has it been effectively communicated to the marketplace by being published in Reuters Economic Services, The Wall Street Journal or other publications of general circulation or appearing on the wire services or electronic media?

 

2. Avoid Using or Disclosing Material. Nonpublic Information .

 

If you believe that you may possess material, nonpublic information, or if you believe the Firm's activities may have created material, nonpublic information, you should take the following steps:

 

a. Immediately cease all trading in securities of the company that is the subject of the material, nonpublic information, including trading on behalf of the Firm, Client Accounts and Proprietary Accounts. In addition, after you receive the information, there should be no trades in securities of the company in question in the

accounts of your Family Members or other relatives, business associates, or friends.

 

b. b. Immediately cease recommending any transaction in any of the securities of the company in question to anyone, including Client Accounts, other Employees, Family Members and other relatives, business associates and friends. This includes making any comment about the company that could in any way be interpreted as a recommendation. Do not solicit Client Accounts or potential Client Accounts to buy or sell the securities of the company in question.

 

c. Do not discuss the material, nonpublic information with anyone except as required by this Statement. Do not refer to the information in hallways, elevators, stairways, restaurants, taxis or any other place where you may be overheard.

 

d. Immediately inform the CCO of all details of the situation, so that appropriate security procedures can be implemented Firm-wide.

 

3. Restrict Access to Material. Nonpublic Information .

 

If appropriate, the Firm may adopt some or all of the following procedures while anyone in the Firm possesses material, nonpublic information. The Firm may use additional measures to address specific situations.

 

a) Procedures for handling documents containing material, nonpublic information, including prohibitions on removing them from the office, limiting copying and distribution within the office, keeping them off desk tops and conference tables when not in use, shredding them on disposal, and other measures to protect them from being read accidentally by anyone without a lawful need to know the information.

 

b) Restrictions on physical access to areas of the Firm where material, nonpublic information may be discussed or stored, including locking file cabinets and doors and a system of visitor passes or other restrictions for non-Employees.

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c) Computer access security measures, such as passwords on files or limited access to terminals through which material, nonpublic information can be obtained.

 

d) Trading restrictions, including temporary Firm-wide bans on trading in the securities to which the material, nonpublic information relates or management review of all Employee trades in certain securities.

 

4. Contacts with Third Parties .

 

Employees should direct requests for information from third parties such as the press and analysts to the

CCO.

 

C. Employee or Family Member Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant.

From time to time, an Employee may serve as a director of a company in which the Firm has a securities position, to monitor, preserve, protect or enhance the value of the position for the benefit of Client Accounts or for other similar purposes. In addition, from time to time, Family Members of Employees may serve as directors, officers or consultants for companies in which the Firm has a securities position. During these periods, the Firm may take additional precautions to prevent inadvertent violations of this Statement and to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

 

1. Notice .

 

An Employee must inform the Firm immediately if the Employee or any of his or her Family Members serves or is about to serve as a director, officer or consultant of a company that issues securities.

 

2. Restrictions on Trading Without Advance Approval or During Black-Out Periods .

 

When an Employee or a Family Member of an Employee serves as a director, officer or consultant of a company, the following procedures apply:

 

a) No Employee or Family Member of that Employee may trade in the securities of the subject company for Client Accounts or for his or her Proprietary Account without the prior consent of the CCO.

b) No Employee may trade in the securities of the subject company for Client Accounts or for his or her Proprietary Account during any "black-out" period or similar period of trading restrictions

established by the subject company and applicable to its directors, officers or consultants.

 

D. Client or Investor Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant.

From time to time, a client or Investor of the Firm may serve as a director, officer or a consultant for companies in which the Firm or an Employee has a securities position. During these periods, the Firm may take additional precautions to insure that inadvertent violations do not occur and to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

 

1. Notice

 

An Employee must inform the Firm immediately if (a) the Employee becomes aware that any client or Investor of the Firm serves or is about to serve as a director, officer or consultant to any company that issues securities that are publicly traded or (b) the Employee obtains any material, nonpublic information from such a client or Investor.

 

2. Restrictions on Trading Without Advance Approval or During Blackout Periods .

 

When a client or Investor of the Firm serves as a director, officer or consultant of a company, the Firm may require procedures such as those set forth above regarding advance approval in "blackout" periods for trading in securities of the company for which the client or Investor serves as a director, officer or consultant.

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E. Supervisory Procedures.

The Firm's supervisory procedures have two objectives: preventing and detecting insider trading.

 

1. Preventing Insider Trading .

 

To prevent insider trading, the Firm is taking steps, such as adopting and implementing this Statement, to familiarize Employees with the nature of insider trading and with the Firm's policies and procedures relating to insider trading. The Firm also reviews this Statement on a regular basis and updates it as necessary. The Firm has designated the CCO as the person responsible for answering questions about material, nonpublic information and insider trading and tipping. The Firm will help Employees to determine whether information is material and nonpublic.

 

If the Firm determines that an Employee has material, nonpublic information, the Firm will take the measures described above to prevent dissemination of such information and restrict trading in the securities to which the information relates and access to the information. Finally, the Firm will advise Employees when and if it is permissible to trade in such securities. Generally, a reasonable period must pass for the marketplace to have an opportunity to evaluate and respond to the information before trading will be permitted.

 

2. Detecting Insider Trading .

 

To detect insider trading, the Firm has adopted the policies and procedures relating to personal securities transactions by the Firm's Employees and Family Members set forth in Part I. Employees should direct any questions about these policies and procedures or how they apply in particular situations to the CCO.

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NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

 

Code of Ethics

 

 

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NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

Code of Ethics

4/01/2013 to Current

 

 

Table of Contents

 

1 - Statement of General Policy

2 - Definitions

3 - Standards of Business Conduct

4 - Prohibition Against Insider Trading

5 - Personal Securities Transactions

6 - Gifts and Entertainment

7 - Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information

8 - Service as a Director

9 - Compliance Procedures

10 - Certification

11 - Records

12 - Reporting Violations and Sanctions

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Statement of General Policy

 

This Code of Ethics (this “Code”) has been adopted by NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC and its affiliated companies (refer to the attached Schedule A, “Schedule of Affiliated Companies” for a list of affiliated companies to which this Code applies, collectively, “NorthStar”), including, specifically CLS Investments, LLC, a registered investment adviser and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and is designed to comply with Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

This Code establishes rules of conduct for all employees of NorthStar and is designed to, among other things, govern personal securities trading activities in the accounts of employees. The general ethical principles and personal securities reporting provisions of this Code apply to all employees of NorthStar, although many provisions of this Code are written to specifically address the duties and obligations of employees of CLS Investments, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC under the Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act. This Code is based upon the principle that NorthStar and its employees owe a fiduciary duty to their clients to conduct their affairs, including their personal securities transactions, in such a manner as to avoid (i) serving their own personal interests ahead of clients, (ii) taking inappropriate advantage of their position with their respective company and (iii) any actual or potential conflicts of interest or any abuse of their position of trust and responsibility.

 

This Code is designed to ensure that the high ethical standards long maintained by NorthStar continue to be applied. The purpose of this Code is to preclude activities which may lead to or give the appearance of conflicts of interest, insider trading and other forms of prohibited or unethical business conduct. The excellent name and reputation of NorthStar continues to be a direct reflection of the conduct of each employee.

 

With respect to any Fund serviced by NorthStar, this Code prohibits all NorthStar employees from engaging in the following activities in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a Security held or to be acquired by a Fund:

 

1. Employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;

 

2. Making any untrue statement of a material fact to the Fund or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

 

3. Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or

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4. Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.

 

Pursuant to Section 206 of the Advisers Act, both NorthStar and its employees are prohibited from engaging in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative conduct. Compliance with this section involves more than acting with honesty and good faith alone. It means that NorthStar has an affirmative duty of utmost good faith to act solely in the best interest of its clients.

 

NorthStar and its employees are subject to the following specific fiduciary obligations when dealing with clients:

 

 

 

 

 

In meeting any fiduciary responsibilities to its clients, NorthStar expects every employee to demonstrate the highest standards of ethical conduct for continued employment with NorthStar. Strict compliance with the provisions of the Code shall be considered a basic condition of employment. NorthStar's reputation for fair and honest dealing with its clients has taken considerable time to build. This standing could be seriously damaged

as the result of even a single Securities transaction being considered questionable in light of the fiduciary duty owed to our clients. Employees of NorthStar are urged to seek the advice of the Chief Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC who is responsible for administration of this Code, for any questions about this Code or the application of this Code to their individual circumstances. Employees should also understand that a material breach of the provisions of this Code may constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including termination of employment with NorthStar. In performing his duties hereunder, the Chief Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC may utilize resources and share information among compliance and legal personnel across the NorthStar group of affiliated companies.

 

The provisions of this Code are not all-inclusive. Rather, they are intended as a guide for employees of NorthStar in their conduct. In those situations where an employee may be uncertain as to the intent or purpose of the Code, he/she is advised to consult with the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer may grant exceptions to certain

4
 

provisions contained in the Code only in those situations when it is clear beyond dispute that the interests of our clients will not be adversely affected or compromised. All questions arising in connection with personal securities trading should be resolved in favor of the client even at the expense of the interests of employees.

 

The Chief Compliance Officer will periodically report to senior management of NorthStar, CLS Investments, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC to document compliance with this Code.

 

NorthStar has engaged Compliance11 which provides an automated system for administration of the Code. The Compliance11 system provides a means of making all reports and certifications required under the Code in an electronic format. The Compliance11 system will send automatic reminders via email to all persons covered by the Code in order to ensure deadlines are not missed. Should you have any questions about the Code or the Compliance11 system, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.

 

Definitions

 

For the purposes of this Code, the following definitions shall apply:

 

 

 

 

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benefit of a person, or such person’s “Family Member,” including any account in which the person or family member of that person holds a direct or indirect beneficial interest, retains discretionary investment authority or exercises a power of attorney.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6
 

system); (v) transactions in units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested exclusively in mutual funds, unless NorthStar or a Control affiliate acts as the investment adviser or principal underwriter for the Fund; (vi) transactions and holdings in the 401(k) plan offered through NorthStar; and (vii) transactions and holdings in a spouses retirement plan controlled by the spouses employer, provided the employee does not participate in the investment decisions or provide any advice with respect to the allocation of such Account.

 

 

 

Standards of Business Conduct

 

NorthStar places the highest priority on maintaining its reputation for integrity and professionalism. That reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in NorthStar and its employees by our clients is something we value and endeavor to protect. The following Standards of Business Conduct set forth policies and procedures to achieve these goals. This Code is intended to comply with the various provisions of the Advisers Act and also requires that all Supervised Persons comply with the various applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and

Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Section 204A of the Advisers Act requires the establishment and enforcement of policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information by investment advisers. Such policies and procedures are contained in this

7
 

Code. This Code also contains policies and procedures with respect to personal securities transactions of all Supervised Persons as defined herein. These procedures cover transactions in a Reportable Security in which a Supervised Person has Beneficial Ownership in or Accounts over which the Supervised Person exercises control as well as transactions by the Supervised Person’s Family Members.

 

Section 206 of the Advisers Act makes it unlawful to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any client or prospective client, or to engage in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative practices. This Code contains provisions that prohibit these and other enumerated activities and that are reasonably designed to detect and prevent violations of this Code and applicable securities laws and rules thereunder.

 

Prohibition Against Insider Trading

 

Introduction

 

Trading Securities while in possession of material, nonpublic information, or improperly communicating that information to others may expose Supervised Persons and NorthStar to stringent penalties. Criminal sanctions may include significant fines and/or imprisonment. The SEC can recover the profits gained or losses avoided through the illegal trading, impose a penalty of up to three times the illicit windfall, and/or issue an order permanently barring you from the securities industry. Finally, Supervised Persons and NorthStar may be sued by investors seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations.

 

The rules contained in this Code apply to Securities trading and information handling by Supervised Persons and their Family Members.

 

The law of insider trading is unsettled and continuously developing. An individual legitimately may be uncertain about the application of the rules contained in this Code in a particular circumstance. Often, a single question can avoid disciplinary action or complex legal problems. You must notify the Chief Compliance Officer immediately if you have any reason to believe that a violation of this Code has occurred or is about to occur.

 

General Policy

 

No Supervised Person may trade, either personally or on behalf of others (such as investment funds and private accounts managed by NorthStar) (“Client Accounts”), while in the possession of material, nonpublic information, nor may any personnel of NorthStar communicate material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law.

 

8
 

1. What is Material Information?

 

Information is material where there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this includes any information the disclosure of which will have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s Securities. No simple test exists to determine when information is material; assessments of materiality involve a highly fact-specific inquiry. For this reason, you should direct any questions about whether information is material to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

Material information often relates to a company’s results and operations, including, for example, dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems, and extraordinary management developments.

 

Material information also may relate to the market for a company’s Securities. Information about a significant order to purchase or sell Securities may, in some contexts, be material. Prepublication information regarding reports in the financial press also may be material. For example, the United States Supreme Court upheld the criminal convictions of insider trading defendants who capitalized on prepublication information about The Wall Street Journal’s “Heard on the Street” column.

 

You should also be aware of the SEC’s position that the term “material nonpublic information” relates not only to issuers but also to NorthStar's Securities recommendations and client Securities holdings and transactions.

 

2. What is Nonpublic Information?

 

Information is “public” when it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC or some other government agency, the Dow Jones “tape” or The Wall Street Journal or some other publication of general circulation and after sufficient time has passed so that the information has been disseminated widely.

 

3. Identifying Inside Information

 

Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including Client Accounts, you must determine whether you have access to material, nonpublic information. If you think that you might have access to material, nonpublic information, you should take the following steps:

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You should consult with the Chief Compliance Officer before taking any action. This degree of caution will protect you, our clients, and NorthStar.

 

4. Contacts with Public Companies

 

Contacts with public companies may represent an important part of our research efforts. NorthStar may make investment decisions on the basis of conclusions formed through such contacts and analysis of publicly available information. Difficult legal issues arise, however, when, in the course of these contacts, a Supervised Person of NorthStar or other person subject to this Code becomes aware of material, nonpublic information. This could happen, for example, if a company’s Chief Financial Officer prematurely discloses quarterly results to an analyst, or an investor relations representative makes selective disclosure of adverse news to a handful of investors. In such situations, NorthStar must make a judgment as to its further conduct. To protect yourself, your clients and NorthStar, you should contact the Chief Compliance Officer immediately if you believe that you may have received material, nonpublic information.

 

5. Tender Offers

 

Tender offers represent a particular concern in the law of insider trading for two reasons: First, tender offer activity often produces extraordinary gyrations in the price of the target company’s Securities. Trading during this time period is more likely to attract regulatory attention (and produces a disproportionate percentage of insider trading cases). Second, the SEC has adopted a rule which expressly forbids trading and “tipping” while in the possession of material, nonpublic information regarding a tender offer received from the tender offeror, the target company or anyone acting on behalf of either. Supervised Persons of NorthStar and others subject to this Code should exercise extreme caution any time they become aware of nonpublic information relating to a tender offer.

10
 

 

6. Restricted/Watch Lists

 

Although NorthStar does not typically receive confidential information from portfolio companies, it may, if it receives such information take appropriate procedures to establish restricted or watch lists in certain Securities.

 

Personal Securities Transactions

 

General Policy

 

The following principles governing personal investment activities by Supervised Persons have been adopted:

 

 

 

 

Pre-Clearance Required for Participation in IPO’s

 

No Supervised Person shall acquire any Beneficial Ownership in any Securities in an Initial Public Offering for his or her account, as defined herein without the prior written approval of the compliance department after being provided with full details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment opportunity did not arise by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved, will be subject to continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.

 

Pre-Clearance Required for Private or Limited Offerings

 

No Supervised Person shall acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Securities in a Limited Offering or private placement without the prior written approval of the compliance department who has been provided with full details of the proposed transaction (including written certification that the investment opportunity did not arise by virtue of the Supervised Person’s activities on behalf of a client) and, if approved, will be subject to continuous monitoring for possible future conflicts.

 

Blackout Periods

 

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No Investment Personnel shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial interest within seven (7) calendar days of the purchase or sale of the same Security by a NorthStar client under such Investment Personnel’s supervision or a NorthStar client for whom such Investment Personnel otherwise participates in decision making or obtains information in connection with the purchase or sale of Securities. (For example, if a NorthStar client trades in a Security on day one, day eight is the first day the Investment Personnel may trade in such Security for an account he or she has Beneficial Ownership.) In the event a Securities transaction is executed in a NorthStar client account within seven (7) calendar days after an Investment Personnel executed a transaction in the same Security, the Chief Compliance Officer, or his designee, will review such Investment Personnel’s and the client’s transactions to determine whether any fiduciary duties to the client have been violated.

 

Interested Transactions

 

No Supervised Person shall recommend any Securities transactions for a client without having disclosed his or her interest, if any, in such Securities or the issuer thereof, including without limitation:

 

 

 

 

 

Gifts and Entertainment

 

Giving, receiving or soliciting gifts in a business setting may create an appearance of impropriety or may raise a potential conflict of interest. NorthStar has adopted the policies set forth below to guide Supervised Persons in this area.

 

General Policy

 

NorthStar's policy with respect to gifts and entertainment is as follows:

 

· Supervised Persons should not accept or provide any gifts or favors that might influence the decisions the Supervised Persons or the recipients must make in
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business transactions involving NorthStar, or that others might reasonably believe would influence those decisions.

 

· Modest gifts and favors, which would not be regarded by others as improper, may be accepted or given on an occasional basis. Entertainment that satisfies these requirements and conforms to generally accepted business practices also is permissible.

 

· Where there is a law or rule that applies to the conduct of a particular business or the acceptance of gifts of even nominal value, the law or rule must be followed.

 

Reporting Requirements

 

 

 

 

Protecting the Confidentiality of Client Information

 

Confidential Client Information

 

In the course of providing its services NorthStar gains access to non-public information about its clients. Such information may include a person's status as a client, personal financial and account information, the allocation of assets in a client portfolio, the composition of investments in any client portfolio, information relating to services performed for or transactions entered into on behalf of clients, advice provided by NorthStar to clients, and data or analyses derived from such non-public personal information (collectively referred to as “Confidential Client Information”). All

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Confidential Client Information, whether relating to NorthStar's current or former clients, is subject to this Code's policies and procedures. Any doubts about the confidentiality of information must be resolved in favor of confidentiality.

 

Non-Disclosure Of Confidential Client Information

 

All information regarding NorthStar's clients is confidential. Information may only be disclosed when the disclosure is consistent with NorthStar's policies and the client's direction. NorthStar does not share Confidential Client Information with any third parties, except in the following circumstances:

 

 

 

 

Employee Responsibilities

 

All Supervised Persons are prohibited, either during or after the termination of their employment from disclosing Confidential Client Information to any person or entity outside NorthStar, including Family Members, except under the circumstances described above. A Supervised Person is permitted to disclose Confidential Client Information only to such other Supervised Persons who need to have access to such information to deliver services to the client.

 

Supervised Persons are also prohibited from making unauthorized copies of any documents or files containing Confidential Client Information and, upon termination of their employment with NorthStar, must return any and all such documents to NorthStar.

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Any Supervised Person who violates the non-disclosure policy described above will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible termination, whether or not he or she benefited from the disclosed information.

 

Security of Confidential Personal Information

 

NorthStar enforces the following policies and procedures to protect the security of Confidential Client Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Privacy Policy

 

NorthStar has adopted a privacy policy to comply with SEC Regulation S-P, which requires the adoption of policies and procedures to protect the “nonpublic personal information” of natural person clients. “Nonpublic personal information,” under Regulation S-P includes personally identifiable financial information and any list, description, or grouping that is derived from personally identifiable financial information. Personally identifiable financial information is defined to include information supplied by individual clients, information resulting from transactions and information obtained in providing products or services. The policies and procedures adopted by NorthStar serve to safeguard the information of natural person clients.

 

Enforcement and Review of Confidentiality and Privacy Policies

 

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The legal department of NorthStar is responsible for reviewing, maintaining and enforcing NorthStar's confidentiality and privacy policies and is also responsible for conducting appropriate employee training to ensure adherence to these policies. Any exceptions to this policy require the written approval of the legal department.

 

Service as a Director

 

No Supervised Person shall serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company without prior authorization by the Chief Compliance Officer or a designated supervisory person based upon a determination that such board service would be consistent with the interest of NorthStar's clients. Where board service is approved NorthStar shall implement a “Chinese Wall” or other appropriate procedure to isolate such person from making decisions relating to the company’s securities.

 

Compliance Procedures

 

Pre-clearance

 

All Supervised Persons may, directly or indirectly, acquire or dispose of Beneficial Ownership of a Reportable Security only if: (i) such purchase or sale has been approved by a supervisory person designated by the compliance department; (ii) the approved transaction is completed within 24 hours after approval is received unless otherwise approved by the Chief Compliance Officer; and (iii) the designated supervisory person has not rescinded such approval prior to execution of the transaction. Post-approval is not permitted.

 

Clearance must be obtained by entering the request in the Compliance11 system. The Compliance 11 system will generate an automatic approval for trades that do not pose any conflicts and certain other trades may be subject to manual review by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee. Clearance will be obtained by receiving approval in the Compliance11 system. The Chief Compliance Officer, or his designee, monitors all transactions by all Supervised Persons in order to ascertain any pattern of conduct which may evidence conflicts or potential conflicts with the principles and objectives of this Code, including a pattern of front-running.

 

Advance trade clearance in no way waives or absolves any Supervised Persons of the obligation to abide by the provisions, principles and objectives of this Code.

 

Holding Period Requirements

 

Supervised Persons cannot sell a Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its purchase or purchase a Reportable Security within less than 30 days of its sale.

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Approved Securities purchased in an Initial Public Offering also must be held for at least 30 days. Hardship exceptions to this 30-day holding period requirement may be granted at the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.

 

Reporting Requirements

 

Every Supervised Person shall provide initial and annual holdings reports and quarterly transaction reports to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee that must contain the information described below. It is the policy of NorthStar that each Supervised Person must utilize only approved brokerage firm(s) that provide automated information to the Compliance11 system. All brokerage firms or other custodians utilized by Supervised Persons are subject to approval by the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

1. Initial Holdings Report

 

Every Supervised Person shall, no later than ten (10) days after the person becomes a Supervised Person, file an initial holdings report containing the following information:

 

 

 

 

The information submitted must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the person became a Supervised Person.

 

2. Annual Holdings Report

 

Every Supervised Person shall, no later than February 14th each year, file an annual holdings report containing the same information required in the initial holdings report as described above. The information submitted must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the annual report is submitted.

 

3. Quarterly Transaction Reports

 

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Every Supervised Person must, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file a quarterly transaction report containing the following information:

 

With respect to any transaction during the quarter in a Reportable Security in which the Supervised Person had any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quarterly transaction report must also contain the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Supervised Person established any account during the period in which Securities are held and the date the Account was established.

 

4. Exempt Transactions

 

A Supervised Person need not submit:

 

 

 

 

5. Monitoring and Review of Personal Securities Transactions

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The Chief Compliance Officer or his designee will monitor and review all reports required under this Code for compliance with NorthStar's policies regarding personal Securities transactions and applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Chief Compliance Officer may also initiate inquiries of Supervised Persons regarding personal Securities trading. Supervised Persons are required to cooperate with such inquiries and any monitoring or review procedures employed by NorthStar. Any transactions for any accounts of the Chief Compliance Officer will be reviewed and approved by NorthStar’s General Counsel or his designee. The Chief Compliance Officer shall routinely, via the Compliance 11 system, identify all Supervised Persons who are required to file reports pursuant to this Code and will inform such Supervised Persons of their reporting obligations. The Chief Compliance Officer may exempt temporary or part time NorthStar employees from certain reporting requirements of this Code if they are determined not to be an Access Person. The Chief Compliance Officer may exempt temporary or part time NorthStar employees from certain reporting requirements of this Code if they are determined not to be an Access Person.

 

Certification

 

Initial Certification

 

All Supervised Persons will be provided with a copy of this Code and must initially certify in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer that they have: (i) received a copy of this Code; (ii) read and understand all provisions of this Code; (iii) agreed to abide by this Code; and (iv), reported all account holdings as required by this Code.

 

Amendments

 

All Supervised Persons shall receive any amendments to this Code and agree to abide by this Code as amended.

 

Annual Certification

 

All Supervised Persons must annually certify in writing to the Chief Compliance Officer that they have: (i) read and understood all provisions of this Code, as amended; (ii) complied with all requirements of this Code; and (iii) submitted all holdings and transaction reports as required by this Code.

 

Further Information

 

Supervised Persons should contact the Chief Compliance Officer regarding any inquiries pertaining to this Code or the policies established herein.

 

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Records

 

The Chief Compliance Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained in a readily accessible place the following records:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reporting Violations and Sanctions

 

All Supervised Persons shall promptly report to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee all apparent violations of this Code. Any retaliation for the reporting of a violation under this Code will constitute a violation of this Code.

 

The Chief Compliance Officer shall promptly report to senior management all apparent material violations of this Code. When the Chief Compliance Officer finds that a violation otherwise reportable to senior management could not be reasonably found to have resulted in a fraud, deceit, or a manipulative practice in violation of the securities laws or rules, he may, in his discretion, submit a written memorandum of such finding and the reasons therefore to a reporting file created for this purpose in lieu of reporting the matter to senior management.

 

20
 

Senior management shall consider reports made to it hereunder and shall determine whether or not this Code has been violated and what sanctions, if any, should be imposed. Possible sanctions may include reprimands, monetary fine or assessment, or suspension or termination of the employee’s employment.

 

21
 

Schedule A

Schedule of Affiliated Companies

 

 

NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC

 

(subsidiaries and affiliates)

CLS Investments, LLC

Constellation Trust Company

Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC

Gemcom, LLC

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC

Orion Advisor Services, LLC

 

 

22

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused its name to be subscribed hereto by the President this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 

 

 

By: /s/Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang, President

 

STATE OF NEW YORK                )

        )           ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK           )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Wendy Wang, President, who represented that she is duly authorized in the premises, and who is known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and she duly acknowledged to me that she executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                      [SEAL]                                                  Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                         My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 
 

CERTIFICATE

 

 

 

The undersigned, Secretary of NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, hereby certifies that the following resolution was duly adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees at a meeting held July 29, 2015, and is in full force and effect:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

 

 

Dated: July 29, 2015                                                          /s/James P. Ash

                                                                                       James P. Ash, Secretary

                                                                                       NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is the President of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as she might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang

President

 

 

STATE OF NEW YORK                )

      )          ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK            )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Wendy Wang, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that she executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                [SEAL]                                                        Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                         My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is the Treasurer of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Sam Singh

Sam Singh

Treasurer

 

STATE OF NEW YORK                      )

            )    ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK                  )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Sam Singh, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that he executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                  [SEAL]                                                      Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                        My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Joseph Breslin

Joseph Breslin

Trustee

 

 

STATE OF NEW YORK                )

      )       ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK            )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Joseph Breslin, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that he executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                [SEAL]                                                      Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                       My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 

 

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Thomas Sarkany

Thomas Sarkany

Trustee

 

 

STATE OF NEW YORK          )

)       ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK      )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Thomas Sarkany, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that he executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                [SEAL]                                                      Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                       My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 

 

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Ira Rothblut

Ira Rothblut

Trustee

 

 

STATE OF NEW YORK          )

)       ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK      )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Ira Rothblut, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that he executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                [SEAL]                                                      Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                       My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018

 

 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

WHEREAS, NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as the "Trust"), periodically files amendments to its Registration Statement with the SEC under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WENDY WANG, SAM SIGH, JAMES ASH AND RICHARD STEIN as attorneys for it and in its name, place and stead, and in its capacity as a Trust, to execute and file any Amendment or Amendments to the Trust's Registration Statement (file Nos. 333-204808, 811-23066) hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Charles Ranson

Charles Ranson

Trustee

 

 

STATE OF NEW YORK                )

      )       ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK            )

 

Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said county and state, personally appeared Charles Ranson, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and who acknowledged to me that he executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

 

WITNESS my hand and official seal this 29th day of July, 2015.

 

/s/Karen Katlan

                [SEAL]                                                      Notary Public

Karen Katlan

No. 01KA4994374                                       My commission expires: April 6, 2018

Qualified in Nassau County

Certificate Filed in New York County

Commission Expires April 6, 2018