XXXXXX MUTUAL FUNDS
MULTI-DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PLAN
WHEREAS, each investment company adopting this Multi-Distribution
System Plan (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds") is an open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Investments, Inc. serves as investment adviser
and Xxxxxx Distributors, Inc. serves as principal underwriter for each Fund;
WHEREAS, each Fund has a non-Rule 12b-1 administrative services
agreement providing for a service fee at an annual rate of up to .25% of average
daily net assets;
WHEREAS, each Fund has established a Multi-Distribution System enabling
each Fund, as more fully reflected in its prospectus, to offer investors the
option of purchasing shares (a) with a front-end sales load (which may vary
among Funds) and a service fee ("Class A shares"); (b) without a front-end sales
load, but subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC") (which may vary
among Funds), a Rule 12b-1 plan providing for a distribution fee, and a service
fee ("Class B shares"); (c) without a front-end sales load, but subject to a
CDSC (applicable to shares purchased on or after April 1, 1996 and which may
vary among Funds), a Rule 12b-1 Plan providing for a distribution fee, and a
service fee ("Class C shares"); and (d) for certain Funds, without a front-end
load, a CDSC, a distribution fee or a service fee ("Class I shares"); and
WHEREAS, Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act permits open-end management
investment companies to issue multiple classes of voting stock representing
interests in the same portfolio notwithstanding Sections 18(f)(1) and 18(i)
under the 1940 Act if, among other things, such investment companies adopt a
written plan setting forth the separate arrangement and expense allocation of
each class and any related conversion features or exchange privileges;
NOW, THEREFORE, each Fund, wishing to be governed by Rule 18f-3 under
the 1940 Act, hereby adopts this Multi-Distribution System Plan as follows:
1. Each class of shares will represent interests in the same portfolio
of investments of the Fund (or series), and be identical in all respects to each
other class, except as set forth below. The only differences among the various
classes of shares of the Fund (or series) will relate solely to: (a) different
distribution fee payments associated with any Rule 12b-1 Plan for a particular
class of shares and any other costs relating to implementing or amending such
Rule 12b-1 Plan (including obtaining shareholder approval of such Rule 12b-1
Plan or any amendment thereto), which will be borne solely by shareholders of
such classes; (b) different service fees; (c) different shareholder servicing
fees; (d) different class expenses, which will be limited to the following
expenses determined by the Fund board to be attributable to a specific class of
shares: (i) printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing
materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements to
current shareholders of a specific
class; (ii) Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees incurred by a
specific class; (iii) litigation or other legal expenses relating to a specific
class; (iv) board member fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues
relating to a specific class; and (v) accounting expenses relating to a specific
class; (e) the voting rights related to any Rule 12b-1 Plan affecting a specific
class of shares; (f) conversion features; (g) exchange privileges; and (h) class
names or designations. Any additional incremental expenses not specifically
identified above that are subsequently identified and determined to be properly
applied to one class of shares of the Fund (or a series) shall be so applied
upon approval by a majority of the members of the Fund's board, including a
majority of the board members who are not interested persons of the Fund.
2. Under the Multi-Distribution System, certain expenses may be
attributable to the Fund, but not to a particular series or class thereof. All
such expenses will be borne by each class on the basis of the relative aggregate
net assets of the classes, except that, if the Fund has series, expenses will
first be allocated among series, based upon their relative aggregate net assets.
Expenses that are attributable to a particular series, but not to a particular
class thereof, will be borne by each class of that series on the basis of the
relative aggregate net assets of the classes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
underwriter, the investment manager or other provider of services to the Fund
may waive or reimburse the expenses of a specific class or classes to the extent
permitted under Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act.
A class of shares may be permitted to bear expenses that are directly
attributable to that class including: (a) any distribution fees associated with
any Rule 12b-1 Plan for a particular class and any other costs relating to
implementing or amending such Rule 12b-1 Plan (including obtaining shareholder
approval of such Rule 12b-1 Plan or any amendment thereto); (b) any service fees
attributable to such class; (c) any shareholder servicing fees attributable to
such class; and (d) any class expenses determined by the Fund board to be
attributable to such class.
3. After a shareholder's Class B shares have been outstanding for six
years, they will automatically convert to Class A shares of the Fund (or series)
at the relative net asset values of the two classes and will thereafter not be
subject to a Rule 12b-1 Plan; provided, however, that any Class B Shares issued
in exchange for shares originally classified as Initial Shares of Xxxxxx
Portfolios, formerly known as Xxxxxx Investment Portfolios (KP), whether in
connection with a reorganization with a series of KP or otherwise, shall convert
to Class A shares seven years after issuance of such Initial Shares if such
Initial Shares were issued prior to February 1, 1991. Class B shares issued upon
reinvestment of income and capital gain dividends and other distributions will
be converted to Class A shares on a pro rata basis with the Class B shares.
4. Any conversion of shares of one class to shares of another class is
subject to the continuing availability of a ruling of the Internal Revenue
Service or an opinion of counsel to the effect that the conversion of shares
does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law. Any such
conversion may be suspended if such a ruling or opinion is no longer available.
5. To the extent exchanges are permitted, shares of any class of the
Fund will be exchangeable with shares of the same class of another Fund, or with
money market fund shares as described in the applicable prospectus. Exchanges
will comply with all applicable provisions
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of Rule 11a-3 under the 1940 Act. For purposes of calculating the time period
remaining on the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares, Class B shares
received on exchange retain their original purchase date.
6. Dividends paid by the Fund (or series) as to each class of its
shares, to the extent any dividends are paid, will be calculated in the same
manner, at the same time, on the same day, and will be in the same amount;
except that any distribution fees, service fees, shareholder servicing fees and
class expenses allocated to a class will be borne exclusively by that class.
7. Any distribution arrangement of the Fund, including distribution
fees, front-end sales loads and CDSCs, will comply with Article III, Section 26,
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
8. All material amendments to this Plan must be approved by a majority
of the members of the Fund's board, including a majority of the board members
who are not interested persons of the Fund.
Any open-end investment company may establish a Multi-Distribution
System and adopt this Multi-Distribution System Plan by approval of a majority
of the members of any such company's governing board, including a majority of
the board members who are not interested persons of such company.
For use on or after: April 1, 1996
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