SEC Company Response from Northern Lights Fund Trust (CIK 0001314414) — Feb 5, 2020
Northern Lights Fund Trust (CIK 0001314414)
Date: Feb. 5, 2020 · CIK: 0001314414 · Accession: 0001580642-20-000544
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 333-122917, 333-131820, 333-174926, 333-178833, 333-204808, 811-21720, 811-21853, 811-22549, 811-22655, 811-23066
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CORRESP
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NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST I, II, III,IV and NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIABLE TRUST
James Colantino
Treasurer
Direct Telephone: (631) 470-2603
Fax: (631) 470-2701
E-mail: jcolantino@ultimusfundsolutions.com
January 24, 2020
VIA EDGAR (Correspondence Filing)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Attn : Christina DiAngelo Fettig
(202) 551-6983
RE: Northern Lights Fund Trust I, II, III, IV and Northern
Lights Variable Trust (the “Registrants”)
File Nos. 333-122917; 811-21720 (NLFT)
13D Activist Fund
9/30/2018
Altegris Futures Evolution Strategy Fund
6/30/2018
Altegris GSA Trend Strategy Fund
6/30/2018
Altegris Managed Futures Strategy Fund
6/30/2018
Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund
12/31/2018
Altegris/AACA Real Estate Income Fund
12/31/2018
Ascendant Deep Value Bond Fund
9/30/2018
Ascendant Tactical Yield Fund
9/30/2018
Astor Dynamic Allocation Fund
7/31/2018
Astor Macro Alternative Fund
7/31/2018
Astor Sector Allocation Fund
7/31/2018
Beech Hill Total Return Fund
12/31/2018
BTS Tactical Fixed Income Fund
12/31/2018
Changing Parameters Fund
7/31/2018
CMG Mauldin Solutions Core Fund
4/30/2018
CMG Tactical All Asset Strategy Fund
4/30/2018
CMG Tactical Bond Fund
4/30/2018
Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund
9/30/2018
Equinox MutualHedge Futures Strategy Fund
9/30/2018
Grant Park Absolute Return Fund
9/30/2018
Grant Park Multi Alternatives Strategy Fund
9/30/2018
KCM Macro Trends Fund
4/30/2018
Leader Floating Rate Fund
5/31/2018
Leader Short Duration Bond Fund
5/31/2018
Leader Total Return Fund
5/31/2018
Navigator Duration Neutral Bond Fund
9/30/2018
Navigator Equity Hedged Fund
9/30/2018
Navigator Sentry Managed Volatility Fund
9/30/2018
Navigator Tactical Fixed Income Fund
9/30/2018
Patriot Balanced Fund
9/30/2018
Patriot Fund
9/30/2018
Power Dividend Index Fund
6/30/2018
Power Dividend Mid-Cap Index Fund
6/30/2018
Power Floating Rate Index Fund
6/30/2018
Power Income Fund
6/30/2018
Power Momentum Index Fund
6/30/2018
Probabilities Fund
9/30/2018
Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund
9/30/2018
Sierra Tactical Core Income Fund
9/30/2018
The Biondo Focus Fund
12/31/2018
The FX Strategy Fund
12/31/2018
TransWestern Institutional Short Duration Government Bond Fund
12/31/2018
File Nos. 333-174926; 811-22549 (NLFT II)
Al Frank Fund
12/31/2018
Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund
10/31/2018
Balter Invenomic Fund
10/31/2018
Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund
10/31/2018
Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund
11/30/2018
North Star Bond Fund
11/30/2018
North Star Dividend Fund
11/30/2018
North Star Micro Cap Fund
11/30/2018
North Star Opportunity Fund
11/30/2018
Orchard Small Cap Value Fund
11/30/2018
File Nos. 333-178833; 811-22655 (NLFT III)
Absolute Capital Asset Allocator Fund
9/30/2018
Absolute Capital Defender Fund
9/30/2018
Boyd Watterson Limited Duration Enhanced Fixed Income Fund
6/30/2018
Good Harbor Tactical Core US Fund
9/30/2018
Good Harbor Tactical Select Fund
9/30/2018
HCM Dividend Sector Plus Fund
6/30/2018
HCM Income Plus Fund
6/30/2018
HCM Tactical Growth Fund
6/30/2018
Leland Currency Strategy Fund
9/30/2018
Leland Real Asset Opportunities Fund
9/30/2018
Leland Thomson Reuters Private Equity Index Fund
9/30/2018
Leland Thomson Reuters Venture Capital Index Fund
9/30/2018
Marathon Value Portfolio
9/30/2018
Persimmon Long Short Fund
9/30/2018
Pinnacle Sherman Multi-Strategy Core Fund
9/30/2018
Pinnacle Sherman Tactical Allocation Fund
3/31/2018
RESQ Dynamic Allocation Fund
9/30/2018
RESQ Strategic Income Fund
9/30/2018
The Covered Bridge Fund
9/30/2018
The Teberg Fund
3/31/2018
File Nos. 333-204808; 811-23066 (NLFT IV)
Anchor Tactical Credit Strategies Fund
8/31/2018
Anchor Tactical Equity Strategies Fund
8/31/2018
Anchor Tactical Municipal Strategies Fund
8/31/2018
Anchor Tactical Real Estate Fund
8/31/2018
Main Buy Write Fund
11/30/2018
Moerus Worldwide Value Fund
11/30/2018
File Nos. 333-131820; 811-21853 (NLVT)
BTS Tactical Fixed Income VIT Fund
12/31/2018
TOPS Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Balanced ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Conservative ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Growth ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Managed Risk Flex ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
TOPS Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio
12/31/2018
Dear Christina:
On behalf of the Registrant,
this letter responds to the comments you provided to James Colantino with respect to the above-referenced Trusts. Your comments
are set forth below, and each is followed by the Registrant’s response.
NLFT- Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund; NLFT II- North
Star Micro Cap Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund
Comment 1:
The Funds changed their primary benchmark index from the one used for the immediately preceding fiscal year. Please explain why the appropriate disclosures in accordance with Instruction 7 to Item 27 (b)(7)(ii) of Form N-1A were not included.
Response:
With the exception of the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund, which was an oversight, both the new and old benchmarks were included in the performance tables of the financial statements issued immediately following such change. As in the case with the Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund prospectus dated January 28, 2019, the reason for the change in benchmark is typically included in the prospectus issued following such change. In addition to the prospectus, going forward we will also include the reason for the change in the financial statements.
NLFT- Astor Macro Alternative Fund, Navigator Tactical Fixed
Income Fund, Grant Park Absolute Return Fund, Biondo Focus Fund, Leader Short Duration Bond Fund, Leader Total Return Fund; NLFT
II- Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund; NLFT III- Persimmon Long Short Fund; NLVT- TOPS Managed Risk Balanced
ETF Portfolio, TOPS Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio, TOPS Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio, TOPS Managed Risk FLEX
ETF Portfolio
Comment 2:
The Management Discussion of Fund Performance (MDFP) should include a discussion of derivative exposure and its impact on performance of the Fund during the period, if material.
Response:
Management will work with the respective Distributors to review letters for compliance with disclosure requirements. Additionally, there will be an undertaking to reeducate investment advisers on all requirements of the MDFP.
NLFT- Sierra Tactical All Asset Fund, Altegris GSA Trends
Strategy Fund
Comment 3:
Please explain how the Fund’s benchmark is considered an appropriate broad based securities market index for the Fund?
Response:
In the case of Sierra, the Fund is using a
Morningstar category consisting of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives. The Adviser is currently reviewing alternatives
for its primary index while having a Morningstar category as a secondary index.
The primary benchmark for Altegris GSA Trends
Strategy Fund, as disclosed in the October 29, 2018 prospectus and the June 30, 2019 annual report, is the BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month
Treasury Bill Index. The June 30, 2018 annual report disclosed this index in the MDFP but not in the performance table and Growth
of $10,000 Chart. The SG Trend Index serves as a secondary index.
NLFT III- Good Harbor Tactical Select Fund, Absolute Capital
Asset Allocator Fund, Absolute Capital Defender Fund
Comment 4:
The MDFP should include factors that materially affected performance during the most recent fiscal year, including the relevant market factors and the investment strategies and techniques used by the Fund’s investment adviser. Please explain how the Fund will address the Form requirements.
Response:
Management will work with the respective Distributors to review letters for compliance with disclosure requirements. Additionally, there will be an undertaking to reeducate investment advisers on all requirements of the MDFP via a webinar training session.
NLFT- Patriot Fund, Patriot Balanced Fund; NLFT III-
Persimmon Long Short Fund; General Comment
Comment 5:
Please ensure that all funds
present the line graph based on the class’ minimum initial investment if greater than $10,000.
Response:
The Registrant will review all Funds to confirm that future line graphs are properly presented to conform to the requirements of Form N-1A and use the minimum initial investment of the share class if greater than $10,000.
NLFT- Leader Total Return Fund
Comment 6:
Please explain the following statement in the MDFP shareholder letter
of the Fund: “We remain tactical in our exposure to treasuries and duration; the Funds currently have little to no exposure
to government securities right now.” We note that the Fund has 17.9% invested in the Federated Treasury Obligations Fund.
Response:
The above comment regarding exposure to government securities was specific to those subject to duration. The Adviser does not consider the underlying investments of US Treasury Bonds and Repurchase Agreements held by the Federated Treasury Obligations Fund to be duration exposed government securities due to their short-term nature The Adviser will be more specific in future disclosures to avoid any misinterpretation.
NLFT- Ascendant Tactical Yield Fund, Ascendant Deep Value
Bond Fund
Comment 7:
The shareholder letter for each of the Funds include forward looking statements. Please explain why the cautionary disclosures related to forward looking statements were not included in accordance with Section 27A of the 33 Act.
Response:
Going forward disclosures relating to forward looking statements
will be included to the extent applicable.
NLFT- Altegris/AACA Opportunistic Real Estate Fund; NLFT
II- Al Frank Fund; NLFT IV- Anchor Tactical Municipal Strategies Fund and Anchor Tactical Real Estate Fund
Comment 8:
We note tax return of capital distributions in the Notes to Financial Statements, however, the tax return of capital was not disclosed separately in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets or the Financial Highlights table. Please explain.
Response:
In each case the auditors did not deem the tax return of capital a material amount, either based on percentage of the total distribution or relative to the fund net assets, to warrant a change to the financial statements.
NLFT- Probabilities Fund, Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund
Comment 9:
Please confirm that the Fund has complied with the shareholder notice
requirements pursuant to Rule 19a-1 regarding its return of capital.
Response:
Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund issues 19a-1 notices to its shareholders on a quarterly basis. Probabilities Fund distributes on an annual basis with the intent of distributing from its earnings and profits. The return of capital designation resulted from tax adjustments for distributions of underlying investments determined after the end of the fiscal year in connection with the preparation of the tax provision.
NLFT- Sierra Tactical Core Income Fund, Equinox MutualHedge
Futures Strategy Fund
Comment 10:
It appears as if the recapture of previously waived expenses caused the expense limit to exceed the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver/recapture during a previous year. Please explain.
Response:
In the case of Equinox MutualHedge, the amount of expense reimbursement
recapture reported in fiscal year 2018 was calculated properly, however misreported in the footnotes as being applied to amounts
expiring in 2018 instead of 2019 and 2020. Such amounts related to expense reimbursements incurred during fiscal year end 2016
subsequent to the increase in the expense caps in August 2016. The tables in the footnotes reporting any remaining amounts subject
to recapture along with amounts expired by fiscal year will be reported correctly going forward.
Sierra Tactical Core Income Fund increased expense caps for Class
A, C and I by 0.05% during fiscal year 2017. Only Class R, which did not have a change to its expense cap, recaptured prior period
expense reimbursements during the fiscal year end 2017. Classes A, C, I and Y had a small amount of fees waived for the same period
that were not material enough to impact the expense ratios.
In neither of the above instances did the Adviser recapture amounts
that they were not entitled to based on the expense limit in effect at the time of the original waiver/reimbursement during the
prior period.
NLFT- Patriot Balanced Fund
Comment 11:
Was a sales load paid by the Fund for its investment in Class A shares of the affiliated Patriot Fund?
Response:
There was no sales charge paid by the Fund.
NLFT- Astor Macro Alternatives Fund, Navigator Funds, Grant
Park Funds, Altegris Funds; NLVT- TOPS ETF Portfolios; NLFT III- Persimmon Long Short Fund, Good Harbor Tactical
Core US Fund
Comment 12:
In accordance with S-X 12-13A, please include the value for open futures contracts written.
Response:
In addition to the notional amount and unrealized appreciation/depreciation currently disclosed in the Portfolio of Investments, we will include value going forward.
General Comment
Comment 13:
On the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, please describe the treatment of variation margin on swaps for purposes of the financial statements.
Response:
Any variation margin has customarily been included in the “Segregated Cash at Broker” line item as there is usually some nominal amount of excess collateral on deposit with the broker in order to avoid cost and effort associated with processing daily money movements.
NLFT- Leader Short Duration Bond Fund; NLFT II- Balter
L/S Small Cap Equity Fund;
Comment 14:
Certain securities in the Portfolio of Investments are identified with the following corresponding note: “Fair valued security, the value of this security has been determined in good faith under the policies of the Board of Trustees”. In certain funds with this disclosure, no Level 3 securities are included in the fair value hierarchy charts in the Notes to Financial Statements. Please explain.
Response:
In both cases the securities that were identified as being fair valued were classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy chart as the valuations were determined by the Fair Value Committee and based on some form of observable inputs. We will consider modifying the Portfolio of Investments footnote language in future reporting to identify those securities as Level 2 investments.
NLFT- Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund
Comment 15:
Please explain why the Deer Park Total Return Credit Fund has Level 3 securities in the fair value hierarchy chart but had no securi