EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 7 ex99h_iv.htm

ZACKS TRUST


OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AGREEMENT

 

ZACKS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.



THIS OPERATING EXPENSES LIMITATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is dated as of the 24th day of April, 2023, by and between ZACKS TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of the Funds listed on Appendix A (the “Funds”), each a series of the Trust, and Zacks Investment Management, Inc. (the “Adviser”).

 

RECITALS:


WHEREAS, the Adviser renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser dated as of June 22, 2021, as amended (the “Advisory Agreement”); and


WHEREAS, each Fund is responsible for, and has assumed the obligation for, payment of certain expenses pursuant to the Advisory Agreement that have not been assumed by the Adviser; and


WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to limit each Fund’s Operating Expenses (as that term is defined in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement) pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and the Trust (on behalf of the Funds) desires to allow the Adviser to implement those limits; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, mutually agree as follows:


1. Limit on Operating Expenses. The Adviser hereby agrees to limit each Fund’s current Operating Expenses to an annual rate, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets, to the amounts listed in Appendix A (the “Annual Limit”). In the event that the current Operating Expenses of a Fund, as accrued each month, exceed its Annual Limit, the Adviser will pay to the Fund, on a monthly basis, the excess expense within the first ten days of the month following the month in which such Operating Expenses were incurred (each payment, a “Fund Reimbursement Payment”).

 

2. Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Operating Expenses” with respect to each Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund and including the Adviser’s investment advisory or management fee detailed in the Advisory Agreement, any Rule 12b-l fees and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement, but does not include: (i) any front-end or contingent deferred loads; (ii) brokerage fees and commissions, (iii) acquired fund fees and expenses; (iv) fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); (v) borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); (vi) taxes; and (vii) extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include

1 
 

indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)).

 

3. Reimbursement of Fees and Expenses. The Adviser retains its right to receive in future years on a rolling three-year basis, reimbursement of any Fund Reimbursement Payments paid by the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, if such reimbursement can be achieved within the Operating Expense Limitations listed in Appendix A.

 

4. Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date and year upon which each Fund commences investment operations in the Trust and shall remain in effect until at least April 1, 2026, unless sooner terminated as provided in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Adviser.


5. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Board, on behalf of the Fund, upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Board. This Agreement will automatically terminate, with respect to each Fund listed in Appendix A if the Advisory Agreement for such Fund is terminated, with such termination effective upon the effective date of the Advisory Agreement’s termination for the Fund.


6. Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party.


7. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.


8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(Signature Page follows)

 

 

2 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and attested by their duly authorized officers, all on the day and year first above written.

 

 

ZACKS TRUST ZACKS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
on behalf of Zacks Earnings Consistent Portfolio ETF  
   

 

By: /s/ Mitch Zacks By: /s/ Mitch Zacks
Name: Mitch Zacks Name: Mitch Zacks
Title: Trustee Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 



3 
 

 

Appendix A

 

As of September 18, 2023

 

Fund Expense Limit As a Percentage of
Average Daily Net Assets
Zacks All-Cap Core Fund – Institutional Class 1.00%
Zacks Small-Cap Core Fund – Investor Class 1.39%
Zacks Small-Cap Core Fund – Institutional Class 1.14%
Zacks Dividend Fund – Investor Class 1.30%
Zacks Dividend Fund – Institutional Class 1.05%
Zacks Small/Mid Cap ETF 0.55%
Zacks India ETF 0.75%