XXXXXX STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
CLASS C DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND AGREEMENT
This Plan and Agreement (the "Plan") constitutes the
Distribution Plan for the Class C shares of Putnam Strategic
Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"),
adopted pursuant to the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") and the related
agreement between the Trust and Xxxxxx Mutual Funds Corp.
("PMF"). During the effective term of this Plan, the Trust may
incur expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of its
Class C shares upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth:
Section 1. The Trust shall pay to PMF a monthly fee at the
annual rate of 1.00% of the average net asset value of the Class
C shares of the Trust, as determined at the close of each
business day during the month, to compensate PMF for services
provided and expenses incurred by it in connection with the
offering of the Trust's Class C shares, which may include,
without limitation, the payment by PMF to investment dealers of
commissions on the sale of Class C shares, as set forth in the
then current Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information of
the Trust and the payment of a service fee of up to 0.25% of such
net asset value for the purposes of maintaining or improving
services provided to shareholders by PMF and investment dealers.
Such fees shall be payable for each month within 15 days after
the close of such month. A majority of the Qualified Trustees,
as defined below, may, from time to time, reduce the amount of
such payments, or may suspend the operation of the Plan for such
period or periods of time as they may determine.
Section 2. This Plan shall not take effect until:
(a) it has been approved by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding Class C shares of the Fund, but only if the
Plan is adopted after the commencement of any public
offering of the Fund's Class C shares or the sale of
the Fund's Class C shares to persons who are not
affiliated persons of the Fund, affiliated persons of
such persons, promoters of the Fund or affiliated
persons of such promoters;
(b) it has been approved, together with any related
agreements, by votes of the majority (or whatever
greater percentage may, from time to time, be required
by Section 12(b) of the Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder) of both (i) the Trustees of the
Trust, and (ii) the Qualified Trustees of the Trust,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on this Plan or such agreement; and
(c) the Trust has received the proceeds of the initial
public offering of its Class C shares.
Section 3. This Plan shall continue in effect for a period
of more than one year after it takes effect only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the
manner provided for approval of this Plan in Section 2(b).
Section 4. PMF shall provide to the Trustees of the Trust,
and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written
report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made.
Section 5. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote
of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of the
majority of the outstanding Class C shares of the Trust.
Section 6. All agreements with any person relating to
implementation of this Plan shall be in writing, and any
agreement related to this Plan shall provide:
(a) that such agreement may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by vote of a
majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding Class C shares of the
Trust, on not more than 60 days' written notice to
any other party to the agreement; and
(b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically
in the event of its assignment.
Section 7. This Plan may not be amended to increase
materially the amount of distribution expenses permitted pursuant
to Section 1 hereof without the approval of a majority of the
outstanding Class C shares of the Trust and all material
amendments to this Plan shall be approved in the manner provided
for approval of this Plan in Section 2(b).
Section 8. As used in this Plan, (a) the term "Qualified
Trustees" shall mean those Trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons of the Trust, and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any
agreements related to it, and (b) the term "majority of the
outstanding Class C shares of the Trust" means the affirmative
vote, at a duly called and held meeting of Class C shareholders
of the Trust, (i) of the holders of 67% or more of the Class C
shares of the Trust present (in person or by proxy) and entitled
to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding Class C shares of the Trust entitled to vote at such
meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) of the holders
of more than 50% of the outstanding Class C shares of the Trust
entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less, and (c) the
terms "assignment" and "interested person" shall have the
respective meanings specified in the Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be
granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 9. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the
Trust as Trustees and not individually, and that the obligations
of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of
the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are
binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust.
Executed as of January 8, 1999.
XXXXXX MUTUAL FUNDS CORP. XXXXXX STRATEGIC INCOME
FUND
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
By: -------------------------- By: ------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President Executive Vice President
