AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
AND
XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC.
FOR CLASS B SHARES OF
XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT (the
"Plan") dated the ____ day of ________, 1995, by and between XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST
FOR VALUE FUND, INC. (the "Corporation") for the account of its
XXXXXXXXXXX/QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC. (the "Fund") and XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS
DISTRIBUTOR, INC. (the "Distributor").
1. THE PLAN. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class B shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule 12b-1
(the "Rule") under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant
to which the Fund will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection
with the distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay "Recipients," as hereinafter defined, for rendering (1) distribution
assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2) administrative
support services with respect to Accounts. Such Recipients are intended to have
certain rights as third-party beneficiaries under this Plan. The terms and
provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent
with the provisions and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the
Rule, (iii) Article III, Section 26, of the Rules of Fair Practice of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or its successor (the "NASD
Rules of Fair Practice") and (iv) any conditions pertaining either to
distribution-related expenses or to a plan of distribution, to which the Fund is
subject under any order on which the Fund relies, issued at any time by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative or
both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with such
information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such questions
as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been selected by the
Distributor to receive payments under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
a majority of the Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board") who are not
"interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreements
relating to this Plan (the "Independent
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Directors") may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or entity as
a Recipient, whereupon such person's or entity's rights as a third-party
beneficiary hereof shall terminate.
(b) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares owned
beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such customers,
clients and/or accounts as to which such Recipient is a fiduciary or custodian
or co-fiduciary or co-custodian (collectively, the "Customers"), but in no event
shall any such Shares be deemed owned by more than one Recipient for purposes of
this Plan. In the event that more than one person or entity would otherwise
qualify as Recipients as to the same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer
of record on the Fund's books as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed
the Recipient as to such Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. PAYMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
SERVICES.
(a) The Fund will make payments to the Distributor, (i) within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, in the aggregate amount of
0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of
the aggregate net asset value of the Shares computed as of the close of each
business day (the "Service Fee"), plus (ii) within ten (10) days of the end of
each month, in the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the
average during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as
of the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge") outstanding
for six years or less (the "Maximum Holding Period"). Such Service Fee payments
received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor and Recipients for
providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. Such Asset-
Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor and Recipients for providing distribution assistance in connection
with the sales of Shares.
The administrative support services in connection with the Accounts to be
rendered by Recipients may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the establishment
and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and processing Share
redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans and dividend payment
options available, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the maintenance of
Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably request.
The distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares to be
rendered by the Distributor and Recipients may include, but shall not be limited
to, the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current holders of the Fund's Shares ("Shareholders"), and
providing such other information and services in connection with the
distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably request.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it has
Qualified Holdings of Shares to entitle it to payments under the Plan. In the
event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to believe
that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with the sale of
Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the Distributor, at
the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
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provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Directors still is not satisfied,
either may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status as such
under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a third-party
beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
(b) The Distributor shall make service fee payments to any Recipient
quarterly, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the
calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of the
close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially
or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, to be set from time to
time by a majority of the Independent Directors.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make service fee
payments ("Advance Service Fee Payments") to any Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed (i) 0.25% of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net
asset value of Shares, computed as of the close of business on the day such
Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings sold by the Recipient during
that quarter and owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its
Customers, plus (ii) 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of
more than one (1) year, subject to reduction or chargeback so that the Advance
Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that
are, or may be, imposed by Article III, Section 26, of the NASD Rules of Fair
Practice. In the event Shares are redeemed less than one year after the date
such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated and will repay to the
Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance Service Fee Payments,
based on the ratio of the time such shares were held to one (1) year.
The Advance Service Fee Payments described in part (i) of this paragraph
(b) may, at the Distributor's sole option, be made more often than quarterly,
and sooner than the end of the calendar quarter. However, no such payments
shall be made to any Recipient for any such quarter in which its Qualified
Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the end of such quarter, the minimum amount
("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any, to be set from time to time by a
majority of the Independent Directors.
A majority of the Independent Directors may at any time or from time to
time decrease and thereafter adjust the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rate set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease the Maximum Holding
Period, the Minimum Holding Period or the Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of the Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period, if any, and the rate of
payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide each Recipient
with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change in these
provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such provisions in a
revised current prospectus shall constitute sufficient notice. The Distributor
may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a Recipient.
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(c) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are subject
to reduction or elimination of such amounts under the limits to which the
Distributor is, or may become, subject under Article III, Section 26, of the
NASD Rules of Fair Practice. The distribution assistance and administrative
support services to be rendered by the Distributor in connection with the Shares
may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (i) paying sales
commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other person or entity that sells
Shares, and\or paying such persons Advance Service Fee Payments in advance of,
and\or greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement;
(ii) paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
interest and other borrowing costs on the Distributor's unreimbursed expenses
incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative support
services to the Fund; (iv) paying other direct distribution costs, including
without limitation the costs of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses
(other than those furnished to current Shareholders) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses; and (v) providing any service rendered by the Distributor
that a Recipient may render pursuant to part (a) of this Section 3. Such
services include distribution assistance and administrative support services
rendered in connection with Shares acquired (i) by purchase, (ii) in exchange
for shares of another investment company for which the Distributor serves as
distributor or sub-distributor, or (iii) pursuant to a plan of reorganization to
which the Fund is a party. In the event that the Board should have reason to
believe that the Distributor may not be rendering appropriate distribution
assistance or administrative support services in connection with the sale of
Shares, then the Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall provide the
Board with a written report or other information to verify that the Distributor
is providing appropriate services in this regard.
(d) Under the Plan, payments may be made to Recipients: (i) by Xxxxxxxxxxx
Management Corporation ("OMC") from its own resources (which may include profits
derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by the
Distributor (a subsidiary of OMC), from its own resources, from Asset-Based
Sales Charge payments or from its borrowings.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, this Plan does not
obligate or in any way make the Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to
any person or entity other than directly to the Distributor. In no event shall
the amounts to be paid to the Distributor exceed the rate of fees to be paid by
the Fund to the Distributor set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 3.
4. SELECTION AND NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS. While this Plan is in effect, the
selection and nomination of those persons to be Directors of the Corporation who
are not "interested persons" of the Fund or the Corporation ("Disinterested
Directors") shall be committed to the discretion of such Disinterested
Directors. Nothing herein shall prevent the Disinterested Directors from
soliciting the views or the involvement of others in such selection or
nomination if the final decision on any such selection and nomination is
approved by a majority of the incumbent Disinterested Directors.
5. REPORTS. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Corporation
shall provide written reports to the Corporation's Board for its review,
detailing services rendered in connection with the distribution of the Shares,
the amount of all payments made and the purpose for which the payments were
made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state whether all
provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
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6. RELATED AGREEMENTS. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in writing
and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the Independent
Directors or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the 0000
Xxx) of the Fund's outstanding voting securities of the Class, on not more than
sixty days written notice to any other party to the agreement; (ii) such
agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act); (iii) it shall go into effect when approved by a vote
of the Board and its Independent Directors cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such agreement; and (iv) it shall, unless
terminated as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long
as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the
Board and its Independent Directors cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. EFFECTIVENESS, CONTINUATION, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT. This Amended and
Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Directors cast in person at a meeting called on June 22, 1995, for the purpose
of voting on this Plan, and shall take effect after approval by Class B
shareholders of the Fund, at which time it shall replace the Fund's Amended and
Restated Distribution Plan adopted as of December 23, 1994 and Amended and
Restated Distribution Agreement for the Shares dated December 23, 1994. Unless
terminated as hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect from year to
year thereafter or as the Board may otherwise determine only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Directors cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such continuance. This Plan may not be amended to increase
materially the amount of payments to be made without approval of the Class B
Shareholders, in the manner described above, and all material amendments must be
approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent Directors. This Plan may
be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Independent Directors or
by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the
Fund's outstanding voting securities of the Class. In the event of such
termination, the Board and its Independent Directors shall determine whether the
Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund of all or a portion of
the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in respect of Shares sold
prior to the effective date of such termination.
XXXXXXXXXXX QUEST FOR VALUE FUND, INC
By:____________________________________
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By:___________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Executive Vice President
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