Exhibit 15.1
Amended and Restated Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1
for Class A Shares
PHOENIX WORLDWIDE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(the "Fund")
CLASS A SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION PLAN
PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
1. Introduction
The Fund and Phoenix Equity Planning Corporation (the "Distributor"), a
broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, have entered
into a Distribution Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor will act as
principal underwriter of each class of shares of the Fund for sale to the
permissible purchasers. The Trustees of the Fund have determined to adopt this
Distribution Plan (the "Plan"), in accordance with the requirements of Section
12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act") with respect
to Class A shares of the Fund and have determined that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its Class A shareholders.
2. Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Fund shall reimburse the Distributor, at the end of each month, up
to a maximum on an annual basis of .05% the average daily value of the net
assets of the Fund's Class A shares, subject to any applicable restrictions
imposed by rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., for
distribution expenditures incurred by Distributor subsequent to the
effectiveness of this Plan, in connection with the sale and promotion of the
Class A shares of the Fund and the furnishing of services to Class A
shareholders of the Fund. Such expenditures shall consist of: (i) commissions to
sales personnel for selling Class A shares of the Fund (including underwriting
commissions and finance charges related to the payment of commissions); (ii)
compensation, sales incentives and payments to sales, marketing and service
personnel; (iii) payments to broker-dealers and other financial institutions
which have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor for services
rendered in connection with the sale and distribution of Class A shares of the
Fund; (iv) payment of expenses incurred in sales and promotional activities,
including advertising expenditures related to the Class A shares of the Fund;
(v) the costs of preparing and distributing promotional materials; (vi) the cost
of printing the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for
distribution to potential investors; and (vii) such other similar services that
the Trustees of the Fund determine are reasonably calculated to result in the
sale of Class A shares of the Fund. The Fund shall also pay the Distributor, at
the end of each month, an amount on an annual basis equal to 0.25% of the
average daily value of the net assets of the Fund's Class A shares, as
compensation for providing personal service to
shareholders, including assistance in connection with inquiries relating to
shareholder accounts, and for maintaining shareholder accounts (the "Service
Fee").
Any reduction to amounts payable under this Plan shall first be to the
extent of the Service Fee, and then from the balance of the 12b-1 Fee.
Amounts paid or payable by the Fund under this Plan or any agreement
with any person or entity relating to the implementation of this Plan ("related
agreement") shall only be used to pay for, or reimburse payment for, the
distribution expenditures described in the preceding paragraph and shall, given
all surrounding circumstances, represent charges within the range of what would
have been negotiated at arm's length as payment for the specific sales or
promotional services and activities to be financed hereunder and any related
agreement, as determined by the Trustees of the Fund, in the exercise of
reasonable business judgment, in light of fiduciary duties under state law and
Sections 36(a) and (b) of the Act and based upon appropriate business estimates
and projections. No amounts paid or payable by the Fund under this Plan or any
related agreement may be used to pay for, or reimburse payment for, sales or
promotional services or activities unless such payment or reimbursement takes
place prior to the earliest of (a) the last day of the one-year period
commencing on the last day of the calendar quarter during which the specific
service or activity was performed, or (b) the last day of the one-year period
commencing on the last day of the calendar quarter during which payment for the
service or activity was made by a third party on behalf of the Fund.
3. Reports
At least quarterly in each year this Plan remains in effect, the Fund's
Principal Accounting Officer or Treasurer, or such other person authorized to
direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund, shall prepare and
furnish to the Trustees of the Fund for their review, and the Trustees shall
review, a written report complying with the requirements of Rule 12b-l under the
Act regarding the amounts expended under this Plan and the purposes for which
such expenditures were made.
4. Required Approval
This Plan shall not take effect until it, together with any related
agreement, has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Fund's
Trustees as well as a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund
who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund and who have
no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any
related agreement (the "Disinterested Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or any related agreement and this
Plan shall not take effect with respect to the Fund until it has been approved
by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding voting Class A shares (as
such phrase is defined in the Act).
5. Term
This Plan shall remain in effect for one year from the date of its
adoption and may be continued thereafter if specifically approved at least
annually by a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund as well as
a majority of the Disinterested Trustees. This Plan may be amended at any time,
provided that (a) the Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount
of the distribution expenses provided in Paragraph 2 hereof (including the
Service Fee) without the approval of at least a majority of the outstanding
voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class A shares of the Fund and
(b) all material amendments to this Plan must be approved by a majority vote of
the Trustees of the Fund and of the Disinterested Trustees cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of such vote.
6. Selection of Disinterested Trustees
While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees
who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund shall be
committed to the discretion of the Disinterested Trustees then in office.
7. Related Agreements
Any related agreement shall be in writing and shall provide that (a)
such agreement shall be subject to termination, without penalty, by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the
Class A shares of the Fund on not more than 60 days' written notice to the other
party to the agreement and (b) such agreement shall terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment.
8. Termination
This Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the
Disinterested Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class A shares of the Fund. In the
event this Plan is terminated or otherwise discontinued, no further payments
hereunder will be made hereunder.
9. Records
The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements
and all reports made pursuant to Paragraph 3 hereof, and any other information,
estimates, projections and other materials that serve as a basis therefor,
considered by the Trustees of the Fund, for a period of not less than six years
from the date of this Plan, the agreement or report, as the case may be, the
first two years in an easily accessible place.
10. Non-Recourse
The Fund's Declaration of Trust dated November 4, 1991, a copy of
which, together with the amendments thereto ("Declaration"), is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, refers to the
Trustees under the Declaration of Trust collectively as Trustees, but not as
individuals or personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or
agent of the Fund may be held to any personal liability, nor may any resort be
had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise in connection with the affairs of the Fund but the Fund property only
shall be liable.
[Adopted at a duly held meeting of the Board of Trustees on August 27, 1997.]
