1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class N Shares of
Xxxxxxxxxxx U.S. Government Trust
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 26th day of October, 2005, by and between
Xxxxxxxxxxx U.S. Government Trust (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service plan
for Class N shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule 12b-1 as
it may be amended from time to time (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 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) Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or any applicable amendment or
successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC").
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.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Fund's Board
of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's 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) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution services to the
Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and administrative
support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold in purchase
transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another investment company
for which the Distributor serves as distributor or sub-distributor, or (3)
issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is a party. If
the Board believes 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. For such
services, the Fund will make the following payments to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Service Fees. Within forty-five (45)
days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund may make payments in the
aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the period of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares computed as of the
close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such Service Fee payments
received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor for providing
administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The administrative
support services in connection with Accounts may include, but shall not be
limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient may render
as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.02083% (0.25% 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"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
The distribution assistance 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" (as defined below) in advance of,
and/or in amounts 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 the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's
unreimbursed expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and
administrative support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct
distribution costs, including without limitation the costs of sales
literature, advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses
furnished to current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state
"blue sky" registration expenses.
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the Plan to
pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering distribution
assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2) service fees for
rendering administrative support services with respect to Accounts. However,
no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any period in which its
Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the end of such period, the
minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees. All fee payments made
by the Distributor hereunder are subject to reduction or chargeback so that
the aggregate service fee payments and Advance Service Fee Payments do not
exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by
the NASD Conduct Rules. 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 or retain such payments if the
Distributor qualifies as a Recipient.
In consideration of the services provided by Recipients, the
Distributor may make the following payments to Recipients:
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of administrative support
services provided by a Recipient, the Distributor may make service fee
payments to that Recipient quarterly or other interval as deemed appropriate
by the Distributor, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar
quarter or other period, at a rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual
basis) of the average during the period 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, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient, within forty-five (45) days
of the end of each calendar quarter or other interval as deemed appropriate
by the Distributor: (A) "Advance Service Fee Payments" at a rate not to
exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar quarter or other period 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 period and owned beneficially or of record by the
Recipient or by its Customers, plus (B) service fee payments at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the period 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.
In the event Shares are redeemed less than one year after the date such
Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to and will repay 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 administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts 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.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fee (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. Irrespective of whichever alternative method of making service fee
payments to Recipients is selected by the Distributor, the Distributor may,
at its sole option, make distribution assistance fee payments to each
Recipient quarterly, or other interval as deemed appropriate by the
Distributor, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar
quarter or other period, at a rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual
basis) of the average during the period 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 its Customers
for a period of more than one (1) year. Alternatively, at its sole option,
the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee payments to a Recipient
quarterly, at the rate described above, on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
without regard to the 1-year holding period described above. Distribution
assistance fee payments shall be made only to Recipients that are registered
with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time (i) increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or (ii) direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum
Holding Period, any maximum period set by a majority of the Independent
Trustees during which fees will be paid on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by a Recipient or by its Customers
(the "Maximum Holding Period"), or Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established 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 supplement or amendment to or revision of the prospectus of
the Fund shall constitute sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") 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 OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below. 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 that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
If either the Distributor or the Board 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 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 Trustees still is not satisfied after the receipt of such
report, either may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status
as a Recipient under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate. Additionally, in their
discretion a majority of the Fund's Independent Trustees at any time 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. 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. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any Service Fees or
Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the Distributor has not
received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees from the
Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect, the
selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nomination as long as
the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall
provide written reports to the Fund's Board for its review, detailing the
amount of all payments made under this Plan 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.
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 Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund's outstanding voting Class N shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any other
party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically terminate in
the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv) such
agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and its
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement 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 Trustees 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 of its
Independent Trustees and of the Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's
prior Distribution and Service Plan for Class N shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees 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 under this Plan, without approval of the Class N
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose and all material amendments
must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund's outstanding Class N voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees 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.
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Xxxxxxxxxxx U.S. Government Trust
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxx, President
