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Exhibit 15(a)
CLASS B DISTRIBUTION PLAN
OF
XXXXXXX XXXXX REAL ESTATE FUND, INC.
PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
DISTRIBUTION PLAN made as of the ___ day of _________, 1997, by and
between Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Real Estate Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Fund"), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Funds Distributor, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("MLFD").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to engage in business as an open-end
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"); and
WHEREAS, MLFD is a securities firm engaged in the business of selling
shares of investment companies either directly to purchasers or through other
securities dealers; and
WHEREAS, the Fund proposes to enter into a Class B Shares Distribution
Agreement with MLFD, pursuant to which MLFD will act as the exclusive
distributor and representative of the Fund in the offer and sale of Class B
shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the "Class B shares"), of the
Fund to the public; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to adopt this Class B Shares Distribution
Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, pursuant to which
the Fund will pay an account maintenance fee and a distribution fee to MLFD with
respect to the Fund's Class B Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Directors of the Fund have determined that there is a
reasonable likelihood that adoption of this Class B Shares Distribution Plan
will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund hereby adopts, and MLFD hereby agrees to the
terms of, this Class B Shares Distribution Plan (the "Plan") in accordance with
Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act on the following terms and
conditions:
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1. The Fund shall pay MLFD an account maintenance fee under the Plan at
the end of each month at the annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of
the Fund relating to Class B shares to compensate MLFD and securities firms with
which MLFD enters into related agreements pursuant to Paragraph 3 hereof
("Sub-Agreements") for providing account maintenance activities with respect to
Class B shareholders of the Fund. Expenditures under the Plan may consist of
payments to financial consultants for maintaining accounts in connection with
Class B shares of the Fund and payment of expenses incurred in connection with
such account maintenance activities including the costs of making services
available to shareholders including assistance in connection with inquiries
related to shareholder accounts.
2. The Fund shall pay MLFD a distribution fee under the Plan at the end
of each month at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the
Fund relating to Class B shares to compensate MLFD and securities firms with
which MLFD enters into related Sub-Agreements for providing sales and
promotional activities and services. Such activities and services will relate to
the sale, promotion and marketing of the Class B shares of the Fund. Such
expenditures may consist of sales commissions to financial consultants for
selling Class B shares of the Fund, compensation, sales incentives and payments
to sales and marketing personnel, and the payment of expenses incurred in its
sales and promotional activities, including advertising expenditures related to
the Fund and the costs of preparing and distributing promotional materials. The
distribution fee may also be used to pay the financing costs of carrying the
unreimbursed expenditures described in this Paragraph 2. Payment of the
distribution fee described in this Paragraph 2 shall be subject to any
limitations set forth in any applicable regulation of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.
3. The Fund hereby authorizes MLFD to enter into Sub-Agreements with
certain securities firms ("Securities Firms"), including Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, to provide compensation to such Securities Firms
for activities and services of the type referred to in Paragraphs 1 and 2
hereof. MLFD may reallocate all or a portion of its account maintenance fee or
distribution fee to such Securities Firms as compensation for the
above-mentioned activities and services. Such Sub-Agreement shall provide that
the Securities Firms shall provide MLFD with such information as is reasonably
necessary to permit MLFD to comply with the reporting requirements set forth in
Paragraph 4 hereof.
4. MLFD shall provide the Fund for review by the Board of Directors,
and the Directors shall review, at least quarterly, a written report complying
with the requirements of Rule 12b-1
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regarding the disbursement of the account maintenance fee and the distribution
fee during such period.
5. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by a vote
of at least a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the
outstanding Class B voting securities of the Fund.
6. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together
with any related agreements, by votes of a majority of both (a) the Directors of
the Fund and (b) those Directors of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company 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 Directors"), cast in person at a meeting or
meetings called for the purpose of voting on this Plan and such related
agreements.
7. This Plan shall continue in effect for so long as such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually in the manner provided for approval
of this Plan in Paragraph 6.
8. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Rule 12b-1 Directors, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Class B voting
securities of the Fund.
9. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the rate of
payments provided for herein unless such amendment is approved by at least a
majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the outstanding Class B
voting securities of the Fund, and by the Directors of the Fund in the manner
provided for in Paragraph 6 hereof, and no material amendment to the Plan shall
be made unless approved in the manner provided for approval and annual renewal
in Paragraph 6 hereof.
10. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of
Directors who are not interested persons, as defined in the Investment Company
Act, of the Fund shall be committed to the discretion of the Directors who are
not interested persons.
11. The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related
agreements and all reports made pursuant to Paragraph 4 hereof, for a period of
not less than six years from the date of this Plan, or the agreements or such
report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Plan as of
the date first above written.
XXXXXXX XXXXX REAL ESTATE FUND, INC.
By__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
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CLASS B SHARES DISTRIBUTION PLAN SUB-AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the ___ day of _________, 1997 by and between
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Funds Distributor, Inc. (the "MLFD"), and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, a Delaware corporation ("Securities Firm").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, MLFD has entered into an agreement with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Real
Estate Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), pursuant to which it
acts as the exclusive distributor for the sale of Class B shares of common
stock, par value $0.10 per share (the "Class B shares"), of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, MLFD and the Fund have entered into a Class B Shares
Distribution Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") pursuant to which MLFD receives an account
maintenance fee from the Fund at the annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net
assets of the Fund relating to Class B shares for account maintenance activities
related to the Class B shares of the Fund and a distribution fee from the Fund
at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund relating to
Class B shares for providing sales and promotional activities and services
related to the distribution of Class B shares; and
WHEREAS, MLFD desires the Securities Firm to perform certain account
maintenance activities and sales and promotional activities and services for the
Fund's Class B shareholders and the Securities Firm is willing to perform such
services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. The Securities Firm shall provide account maintenance activities
with respect to the Class B shares of the Fund of the types referred to in
Paragraph 1 of the Plan.
2. The Securities Firm shall provide sales and promotional activities
and services with respect to the sale of the Class B shares of the Fund, and
incur distribution expenditures of the types referred to in paragraph 2 of the
Plan.
3. As compensation for its activities and services performed under this
Agreement, MLFD shall pay the Securities Firm an account maintenance fee and a
distribution fee at the end
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of each calendar month in an amount agreed upon by the parties hereto.
4. The Securities Firm shall provide MLFD, at least quarterly, such
information as reasonably requested by MLFD to enable MLFD to comply with the
reporting requirements of Rule 12b-1 regarding the disbursement of the account
maintenance fee and the distribution fee during such period referred to in
Paragraph 4 of the Plan.
5. This Agreement shall not take effect until it has been approved by
votes of a majority of both (a) the Directors of the Fund and (b) those
Directors of the Fund 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 Directors"), cast
in person at a meeting or meetings called for the purpose of voting on this
Agreement.
6. This Agreement shall continue in effect for as long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner provided
for approval of the Plan in Paragraph 6.
7. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment or in the event of the termination of the Plan or any amendment to
the Plan that requires such termination.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
XXXXXXX XXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX LYNCH, XXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
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