PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO RULE 12B-1
OF
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ JAPAN FUND
WHEREAS, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund (the "Fund") intends to engage in business
as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to adopt a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Act, and the Trustees have determined that there is a reasonable
likelihood that adoption of the Plan of Distribution will benefit the Fund and
its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") have
entered into a separate Distribution Agreement dated as of this date, pursuant
to which the Fund has employed the Distributor in such capacity during the
continuous offering of shares of the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund hereby adopts, and the Distributor ▇▇▇▇▇▇ agrees to
the terms of, this Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") in accordance with Rule
12b-1 under the Act on the following terms and conditions:
1. The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, as the distributor of securities
of which the Fund is the issuer, compensation for distribution of its shares at
the rate of the lesser of (i) 1.0% per annum of the average daily aggregate
sales of the shares of the Fund since its inception (not including reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions from the Fund) less the average
daily aggregate net asset value of the shares of the Fund redeemed since the
Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed
or upon which such charge has been waived, or (ii) 1.00% per annum of the Fund's
average daily net assets. Such compensation shall be calculated and accrued
daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the Trustees shall
determine. The Distributor may direct that all or any part of the amounts
receivable by it under this Plan be paid directly to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
("DWR"), its affiliates or other broker-dealers who provide distribution and/or
shareholder services. All payments made hereunder pursuant to the Plan shall be
in accordance with the terms and limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
2. The amount set forth in paragraph 1 of this Plan shall be paid for
services of the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other broker-dealers it may
select in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including
personal services to shareholders with respect to their holdings of Fund shares,
and may be spent by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and such broker-dealers
on any activities or expenses related to the distribution of the Fund's shares
or services to shareholders, including, but not limited to: compensation to, and
expenses of, account executives or other employees of the Distributor, DWR, its
affiliates or other broker-dealers; overhead and other branch office
distribution-related expenses and telephone expenses of persons who engage in or
support distribution of shares or who provide personal services to shareholders;
printing of prospectuses and reports for other than existing shareholders;
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials and opportunity costs in incurring the foregoing expenses (which may
be calculated as a carrying charge on the excess of the distribution expenses
incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers over
distribution revenues received by them). The overhead and other branch office
distribution-related expenses referred to in this paragraph 2 may include: (a)
the expenses of operating the branch offices of the Distributor or other
broker-dealers, including DWR, in connection with the sale of Fund shares,
including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations and
sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs of
stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars; (c) travel
expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of Fund shares;
and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund sales. Payments may
also be made with respect to distribution expenses incurred in connection with
the distribution of shares, including personal services to shareholders with
respect to holdings of such shares, of an investment company whose assets are
acquired by the Fund in a tax-free reorganization.
3. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined
in the Act).
4. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together
with any related agreements, by votes of a majority of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund and of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as
defined in the Act) and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it (the "Rule 12b-1
Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting (or meetings) called for the purpose of
voting on this Plan and such related agreements.
5. This Plan shall continue in effect until April 30, 1997, and from year
to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in paragraph 4 hereof.
6. The Distributor shall provide to the Trustees of the Fund 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. In this regard,
the Trustees shall request the Distributor to specify such items of expenses as
the Trustees deem appropriate. The Trustees shall consider such items as they
deem relevant in making the determinations required by paragraph 5 hereof.
7. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. In the event of any such termination or in the event of
nonrenewal, the Fund shall have no obligation to pay expenses which have been
incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers in
excess of payments made by the Fund pursuant to this Plan. However, this shall
not preclude consideration by the Trustees of the manner in which such excess
expenses shall be treated.
8. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount the Fund
may spend for distribution provided in paragraph 1 hereof unless such amendment
is approved by a vote of at least a majority (as defined in the Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and no material amendment to the Plan
shall be made unless approved in the manner provided for approval in paragraph 4
hereof.
9. 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 Trustees who are not interested persons.
10. The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements
and all reports made pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for a period of not less
than six years from the date of this Plan, any such agreement or any such
report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
11. The Declaration of Trust establishing ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund, dated
January 22, 1996, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto (the
"Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, provides that the name ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund refers to the
Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees but not as individuals
or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be
had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund, but
the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Distributor have executed this Plan of
Distribution as of the day and year set forth below in New York, New York.
Date: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ JAPAN FUND
By
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Attest:
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By
...................................
Attest:
..................................
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