DELAWARE GROUP DECATUR FUND, INC.
DECATUR TOTAL RETURN FUND
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Distribution Agreement (the "Agreement") made as of this 3rd
day of April, 1995 by and between DELAWARE GROUP DECATUR FUND, INC., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund"), for the DECATUR TOTAL RETURN FUND series (the
"Series"), and DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, L.P. (the "Distributor"), a Delaware
limited partnership.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Fund is an investment company regulated by
Federal and State regulatory bodies, and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is engaged in the business of
promoting the distribution of the securities of investment companies and, in
connection therewith and acting solely as agent for such investment companies
and not as principal, advertising, promoting, offering and selling their
securities to the public, and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor (or its predecessor)
were the parties to a contract under which the Distributor acted as the national
distributor of the Series' shares, which contract was amended and restated as of
the 6th day of September, 1994 and subsequently readopted as of January 3, 1995
(the "Prior Distribution Agreement"), and
WHEREAS, Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings"), the
indirect parent company of the Distributor, completed on the date of this
Agreement a merger transaction with a newly-formed subsidiary of Lincoln
National Corporation, pursuant to which Holdings became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Lincoln National Corporation, and
WHEREAS, the merger transaction resulted in a change of
control of the Distributor and an automatic termination of the Prior
Distribution Agreement, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Fund has determined to
enter into a new agreement with the Distributor on behalf of the Series as of
the date hereof, pursuant to which the Distributor shall continue to be the
national distributor of the Series' Decatur Total Return Fund class (now doing
business as Decatur Total Return Fund A Class and hereinafter referred to as the
"Class A Shares"), the Series' Decatur Total Return Fund B Class (the "Class B
Shares") and the Series' Decatur Total Return Fund (Institutional) class (now
doing business as Decatur Total Return Fund Institutional Class and hereinafter
referred to as the "Institutional Class Shares"), which classes may do business
under these or such other names as the Board of Directors may designate from
time to time, on the terms and conditions set forth below,
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound hereby, agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby engages the Distributor to promote the distribution of
the Series' shares and, in connection therewith and as agent for the
Fund and not as principal, to advertise, promote, offer and sell the
Series' shares to the public.
2. (a) The Distributor agrees to serve as distributor of the Series'
shares and, as agent for the Fund and not as principal, to
advertise, promote and use its best efforts to sell the
Series' shares wherever their sale is legal, either through
dealers or otherwise, in such places and in such manner, not
inconsistent with the law and the provisions of this Agreement
and the Fund's Registration Statement under the Securities Act
of 1933, including the Prospectuses contained therein, and the
Statement of Additional Information contained therein as may
be mutually determined by the Fund and the Distributor from
time to time.
(b) For the Institutional Class Shares, the Distributor will bear
all costs of financing any activity which is primarily
intended to result in the sale of that class of shares,
including, but not necessarily limited to, advertising,
compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the
printing and mailing of sales literature and distribution of
that class of shares.
(c) For its services as agent for the Class A Shares and Class B
Shares, the Distributor shall be entitled to compensation on
each sale or redemption, as appropriate, of shares of such
classes equal to any front-end or deferred sales charge
described in the Prospectus from time to time and may allow
concessions to dealers in such amounts and on such terms as
are therein set forth.
(d) For the Class A Shares and Class B Shares, the Fund shall, in
addition, compensate the Distributor for its services as
provided in the Distribution Plan as adopted on behalf of the
Class A Shares and Class B Shares, respectively, pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Plans"), copies of which as presently in force are attached
hereto as, respectively, Exhibit "A" and "B".
3. (a) The Fund agrees to make available for sale by the Fund through
the Distributor all or such part of the authorized but
unissued shares of the Series as the Distributor shall require
from time to time, and except as provided in Paragraph 3(b)
hereof, the Fund will not sell Series' shares other than
through the efforts of the Distributor.
(b) The Fund reserves the right from time to time (1) to sell
and issue shares other than for cash; (2) to issue shares in
exchange for substantially all of the assets of any
corporation or trust, or in exchange of shares of any
corporation or trust; (3) to pay stock dividends to its
shareholders, or to pay dividends in cash or stock at the
option of its stockholders, or to sell stock to existing
stockholders to the extent of dividends payable from time to
time in cash, or to split up or combine its outstanding shares
of common stock; (4) to offer shares for cash to its
stockholders as a whole, by the use of transferable rights or
otherwise, and to sell and issue shares pursuant to such
offers; and (5) to act as its own distributor in any
jurisdiction in which the Distributor is not registered as a
broker-dealer.
4. The Fund warrants the following:
(a) The Fund is, or will be, a properly registered investment
company, and any and all Series' shares which it will sell
through the Distributor are, or will be, properly registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
(b) The provisions of this Agreement do not violate the terms of
any instrument by which the Fund is bound, nor do they violate
any law or regulation of any body having jurisdiction over the
Fund or its property.
5. (a) The Fund will supply to the Distributor a conformed copy of
the Registration Statement, all amendments thereto, all
exhibits, and each Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information.
(b) The Fund will register or qualify the Series' shares for sale
in such states as is deemed desirable.
(c) The Fund, without expense to the Distributor,
(1) will give and continue to give such financial
statements and other information as may be required
by the SEC or the proper public bodies of the states
in which the Series' shares may be qualified;
(2) from time to time, will furnish to the Distributor as
soon as reasonably practicable true copies of its
periodic reports to stockholders;
(3) will promptly advise the Distributor in person or by
telephone or telegraph, and promptly confirm such
advice in writing, (a) when any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement becomes
effective, (b) of any request by the SEC for
amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectuses or for additional
information, and (c) of the issuance by the SEC of
any Stop Order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose;
(4) if at any time the SEC shall issue any Stop Order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, will make every reasonable effort to
obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest
possible moment;
(5) will from time to time, use its best effort to keep a
sufficient supply of Series' shares authorized, any
increases being subject to the approval of
shareholders as may be required;
(6) before filing any further amendment to the
Registration Statement or to any Prospectus, will
furnish to the Distributor copies of the proposed
amendment and will not, at any time, whether before
or after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, file any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to any Prospectus of which
the Distributor shall not previously have been
advised or to which the Distributor shall reasonably
object (based upon the accuracy or completeness
thereof) in writing;
(7) will continue to make available to its stockholders
(and forward copies to the Distributor) of such
periodic, interim and any other reports as are now,
or as hereafter may be, required by the provisions of
the Investment Company Act of 1940; and
(8) will, for the purpose of computing the offering price
of Series' shares, advise the Distributor within one
hour after the close of the New York Stock Exchange
(or as soon as practicable thereafter) on each
business day upon which the New York Stock Exchange
may be open of the net asset value per share of the
Series' shares of common stock outstanding,
determined in accordance with any applicable
provisions of law and the provisions of the Articles
of Incorporation, as amended, of the Fund as of the
close of business on such business day. In the event
that prices are to be calculated more than once
daily, the Fund will promptly advise the Distributor
of the time of each calculation and the price
computed at each such time.
6. The Distributor agrees to submit to the Fund, prior to its use, the
form of all sales literature proposed to be generally disseminated by
or for the Distributor, all advertisements proposed to be used by the
Distributor, all sales literature or advertisements prepared by or for
the Distributor for such dissemination or for use by others in
connection with the sale of the Series' shares, and the form of
dealers' sales contract the Distributor intends to use in connection
with sales of the Series' shares. The Distributor also agrees that the
Distributor will submit such sales literature and advertisements to the
NASD, SEC or other regulatory agency as from time to time may be
appropriate, considering practices then current in the industry. The
Distributor agrees not to use such form of dealers' sales contract or
to use or to permit others to use such sales literature or
advertisements without the written consent of the Fund if any
regulatory agency expresses objection thereto or if the Fund delivers
to the Distributor a written objection thereto.
7. The purchase price of each share sold hereunder shall be the offering
price per share mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, and as
described in the Fund's Prospectuses, as amended from time to time,
determined in accordance with any applicable provision of law, the
provisions of its Articles of Incorporation and the Rules of Fair
Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
8. The responsibility of the Distributor hereunder shall be limited to the
promotion of sales of Series' shares. The Distributor shall undertake
to promote such sales solely as agent of the Fund, and shall not
purchase or sell such shares as principal. Orders for Series' shares
and payment for such orders shall be directed to the Fund's agent,
Delaware Service Company, Inc. for acceptance on behalf of the Fund.
The Distributor is not empowered to approve orders for sales of Series'
shares or accept payment for such orders. Sales of Series' shares shall
be deemed to be made when and where accepted by Delaware Service
Company, Inc. on behalf of the Fund.
9. With respect to the apportionment of costs between the Fund and the
Distributor of activities with which both are concerned, the following
will apply:
(a) The Fund and the Distributor will cooperate in preparing the
Registration Statements, the Prospectuses, the Statement of
Additional Information, and all amendments, supplements and
replacements thereto. The Fund will pay all costs incurred in
the preparation of the Fund's Registration Statement,
including typesetting, the costs incurred in printing and
mailing Prospectuses and Annual, Semi-Annual and other
financial reports to its own shareholders and fees and
expenses of counsel and accountants.
(b) The Distributor will pay the costs incurred in printing and
mailing copies of Prospectuses to prospective investors.
(c) The Distributor will pay advertising and promotional expenses,
including the costs of literature sent to prospective
investors.
(d) The Fund will pay the costs and fees incurred in registering
or qualifying the Series' shares with the various states and
with the SEC.
(e) The Distributor will pay the costs of any additional copies of
Fund financial and other reports and other Fund literature
supplied to the Distributor by the Fund for sales promotion
purposes.
10. The Distributor may engage in other business, provided such other
business does not interfere with the performance by the Distributor of
its obligations under this Agreement.
11. The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless from the assets
of the Series the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the
Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of
1933, from and against any and all losses, damages, or liabilities to
which, jointly or severally, the Distributor or such controlling person
may become subject, insofar as the losses, damages or liabilities arise
out of the performance of its duties hereunder except that the Fund
shall not be liable for indemnification of the Distributor or any
controlling person thereof for any liability to the Fund or its
security holders to which they would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of their duties under this Agreement.
12. Copies of financial reports, Registration Statements and Prospectuses,
as well as demands, notices, requests, consents, waivers, and other
communications in writing which it may be necessary or desirable for
either party to deliver or furnish to the other will be duly delivered
or furnished, if delivered to such party at its address shown below
during regular business hours, or if sent to that party by registered
mail or by prepaid telegram filed with an office or with an agent of
Western Union or another nationally recognized telegraph service, in
all cases within the time or times herein prescribed, addressed to the
recipient at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, or
at such other address as the Fund or the Distributor may designate in
writing and furnish to the other.
13. This Agreement shall not be assigned, as that term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, by the Distributor and shall terminate
automatically in the event of its attempted assignment by the
Distributor. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Fund without
the written consent of the Distributor signed by its duly authorized
officers and delivered to the Fund. Except as specifically provided in
the indemnification provision contained in Paragraph 11 herein, this
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their legal successors and
no express or implied provision of this Agreement is intended or shall
be construed to give any person other than the parties hereto and their
legal successors any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or
in respect of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained.
14. (a) This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of two years
from the date hereof and from year to year thereafter, but only
so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually by the Board of Directors or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Series and only if the
terms and the renewal thereof have been approved by the vote of
a majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties
hereto or interested persons of any such party, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) The Distributor may terminate this Agreement on written notice
to the Fund at any time in case the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be suspended, or in case Stop Order
proceedings are initiated by the SEC in respect of the
Registration Statement and such proceedings are not withdrawn or
terminated within thirty days. The Distributor may also
terminate this Agreement at any time by giving the Fund written
notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement at the
expiration of three months from the date of delivery of such
written notice of intention to the Fund.
(c) The Fund may terminate this Agreement at any time on at least
thirty days prior written notice to the Distributor (1) if
proceedings are commenced by the Distributor or any of its
partners for the Distributor's liquidation or dissolution or the
winding up of the Distributor's affairs; (2) if a receiver or
trustee of the Distributor or any of its property is appointed
and such appointment is not vacated within thirty days
thereafter; (3) if, due to any action by or before any court or
any federal or state commission, regulatory body, or
administrative agency or other governmental body, the
Distributor shall be prevented from selling securities in the
United States or because of any action or conduct on the
Distributor's part, sales of the shares are not qualified for
sale. The Fund may also terminate this Agreement at any time
upon prior written notice to the Distributor of its intention to
so terminate at the expiration of three months from the date of
the delivery of such written notice to the Distributor.
15. The validity, interpretation and construction of this Agreement, and of
each part hereof, will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
16. In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void
or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of
the Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, L.P.
By: DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
General Partner
Attest:
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: President
DELAWARE GROUP DECATUR FUND, INC.
for the DECATUR TOTAL RETURN FUND
Attest:
/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Maestro By:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------ -----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Maestro Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Chairman
Exhibit A
l2b-1 PLAN
The following Distribution Plan (the "Plan") has been adopted pursuant to
Rule l2b-l under the Investment Company Act of l940 (the "Act") by Delaware
Group Decatur Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), for the Decatur Total Return Fund series
(the "Series") on behalf of the Decatur Total Return Fund class (now doing
business as the Decatur Total Return Fund A Class and hereinafter referred to as
the "Class"), which Fund, Series and Class may do business under these or such
other names as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time. The Plan
has been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority
of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any
agreements related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such Plan. Such approval by the Directors included a determination
that in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their
fiduciary duties, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit
the Class and its shareholders. If the Plan has not yet been approved by a
majority of the outstanding voting securities as required in the Act, the Plan
will be presented to the public shareholders at the next regular annual or
special meeting.
The Fund is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Maryland, is authorized to issue different series and classes of securities and
is an open-end management investment company registered under the Act. Delaware
Management Company, Inc. ("DMC") serves as the Series' investment adviser and
manager pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement. Delaware Service
Company, Inc. serves as the Series' shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing
and transfer agent. Delaware Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor") is the
principal underwriter and national distributor for the Series' shares including
shares of the Class pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between the
Distributor and the Fund for the Series ("Distribution Agreement").
The Distributor may enter into agreements with other registered
broker-dealers substantially in the form of the Dealer Agreement approved by the
Fund in the implementation of this Plan and of the Distribution Agreement
between it and the Series. The Series may, in addition, enter into arrangements
with persons other than broker-dealers which are not "affiliated persons" or
"interested persons" of the Fund, DMC or the Distributor to provide to the
Series services in the Series' marketing of the Series' shares, such
arrangements to be reflected by Service Agreements.
The Plan provides that:
l. The Fund shall pay to the Distributor a monthly fee not to
exceed 0.3% (3/l0 of l%) per annum of the Series' average daily net assets
represented by shares of the Class (the "Maximum Amount") as may be determined
by the Fund's Board of Directors from time to time. Such monthly fee shall be
reduced by the aggregate sums paid by the Fund on behalf of the Series to
persons other than broker-dealers (the "Service Providers") pursuant to Service
Agreements referred to above.
2. (a) The Distributor shall use the monies paid to it
pursuant to paragraph l above to furnish, or cause or encourage others to
furnish, services and incentives in connection with the promotion, offering and
sale of Class shares and, where suitable and appropriate, the retention of Class
shares by shareholders.
(b) The Service Providers shall use the monies paid
respectively to them to reimburse themselves for the actual costs they have
incurred in confirming that their customers have received the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, if applicable, and as a fee for (l)
assisting such customers in maintaining proper records with the Fund, (2)
answering questions relating to their respective accounts, and (3) aiding in
maintain-ing the investment of their respective customers in the Class.
3. The Distributor shall report to the Fund at least monthly
on the amount and the use of the monies paid to it under the Plan. The Service
Providers shall inform the Fund monthly and in writing of the amounts each
claims under the Service Agreement and the Plan; both the Distributor and the
Service Providers shall furnish the Board of Directors of the Fund with such
other information as the Board may reasonably request in connection with the
payments made under the Plan and the use thereof by the Distributor and the
Service Providers, respectively, in order to enable the Board to make an
informed determination of the amount of the Fund's payments and whether the Plan
should be continued.
4. The officers of the Fund shall furnish to the Board of
Directors of the Fund, for their review, on a quarterly basis, a written report
of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made.
5. This Plan shall take effect at such time as the Distributor
shall notify the Fund in writing of the commencement of the Plan, which time
shall not be before the first annual or special meeting of the public
shareholders at which the Plan is or was approved by the vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities as required in the Act (the "Commencement
Date"); thereafter, the Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than
one year from the Commencement Date only so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors of
the Fund, and of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and
have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in
any agreements related to the Plan ("non-interested Directors"), cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.
6. (a) The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a
majority of the non-interested Directors or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Class.
(b) The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount to be spent for distribution pursuant to paragraph l thereof without
approval by the shareholders of the Class.
7. The Distribution Agreement between the Fund on behalf of
the Series and the Distributor, and the Service Agreements between the Fund on
behalf of the Series and the Service Providers, shall specifically have a copy
of this Plan attached to, and its terms and provisions incorporated respectively
by reference in, such agreements.
8. All material amendments to this Plan shall be approved by
the non-interested Directors in the manner described in paragraph 5 above.
9. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and
nomination of the Fund's non-interested Directors shall be committed to the
discretion of such non-interested Directors.
10. The definitions contained in Sections 2(a)(3), 2(a)(4),
2(a)(l9), and 2(a)(42) of the Act shall govern the meaning of "affiliated
person," "assignment," "interested person(s)" and "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities," respectively, for the purposes of this Plan.
This Plan shall take effect on the Commencement Date, as
previously defined.
Exhibit B
12b-1 Plan
The following Distribution Plan (the "Plan") has been adopted pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") by Delaware
Group Decatur Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), for the Decatur Total Return Fund series
(the "Series") on behalf of the Decatur Total Return Fund B Class (the "Class"),
which Fund, Series and Class may do business under these or such other names as
the Board of Directors of the Fund may designate from time to time. The Plan has
been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of
the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct
or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements
related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such Plan. Such approval by the Directors included a determination that in the
exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties,
there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Class and its
shareholders. The Plan has been approved by a vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of the Class, as defined in the Act.
The Fund is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Maryland, is authorized to issue different series and classes of securities and
is an open-end management investment company registered under the Act. Delaware
Management Company, Inc. serves as the Series' investment adviser and manager
pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement. Delaware Service Company, Inc.
serves as the Series' shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing and transfer
agent. Delaware Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor") is the principal
underwriter and national distributor for the Series' shares, including shares of
the Class, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between the Distributor and
the Fund for the Series ("Distribution Agreement").
The Plan provides that:
1. (a) The Fund shall pay to the Distributor a monthly fee not
to exceed 0.75% (3/4 of 1%) per annum of the Series' average daily net assets
represented by shares of the Class as may be determined by the Fund's Board of
Directors from time to time.
(b) In addition to the amounts described in (a) above, the
Fund shall pay (i) to the Distributor for payment to dealers or others, or (ii)
directly to others, an amount not to exceed 0.25% (1/4 of 1%) per annum of the
Series' average daily net assets represented by shares of the Class, as a
service fee pursuant to dealer or servicing agreements, the forms of which have
been approved from time to time by the Fund's Board of Directors.
2. (a) The Distributor shall use the monies paid to it
pursuant to paragraph 1(a) above to assist in the distribution and promotion of
shares of the Class. Payments made to the Distributor under the Plan may be used
for, among other things, preparation and distribution of advertisements, sales
literature and prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, as well as
compensation related to sales and marketing personnel, and holding special
promotions. In addition, such fees may be used to pay for advancing the
commission costs to dealers with respect to the sale of Class shares.
(b) The monies to be paid pursuant to paragraph 1(b) above
shall be used to pay dealers or others for, among other things, furnishing
personal services and maintaining shareholder accounts, which services include
confirming that customers have received the Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, if applicable; assisting such customers in maintaining
proper records with the Fund; answering questions relating to their respective
accounts; and aiding in maintaining the investment of their respective customers
in the Class.
3. The Distributor shall report to the Fund at least monthly
on the amount and the use of the monies paid to it under paragraph 1(a) above.
In addition, the Distributor and others shall inform the Fund monthly and in
writing of the amounts paid under paragraph 1(b) above; both the Distributor and
any others receiving fees under the Plan shall furnish the Board of Directors of
the Fund with such other information as the Board may reasonably request in
connection with the payments made under the Plan and the use thereof by the
Distributor and others in order to enable the Board to make an informed
determination of the amount of the Fund's payments and whether the Plan should
be continued.
4. The officers of the Fund shall furnish to the Board of
Directors of the Fund, for their review, on a quarterly basis, a written report
of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made.
5. This Plan shall take effect at such time as the Distributor
shall notify the Fund of the commencement of the Plan (the "Commencement Date");
thereafter, the Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year
from the Commencement Date only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund, and
of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and have no direct
or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements
related to the Plan ("non-interested Directors"), cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.
6. (a) The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a
majority of the non-interested Directors or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Class.
(b) The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount to be spent for distribution pursuant to paragraph 1 thereof without
approval by the shareholders of the Class.
7. The Distribution Agreement between the Fund on behalf of
the Series and the Distributor, and any dealers or servicing agreements between
the Distributor and brokers or others or between the Fund on behalf of the
Series and others receiving a servicing fee, shall specifically have a copy of
this Plan attached to, and its terms and provisions incorporated respectively by
reference in, such agreements.
8. All material amendments to this Plan shall be approved by
the non-interested Directors in the manner described in paragraph 5 above.
9. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and
nomination of the Fund's non-interested Directors shall be committed to the
discretion of such non-interested Directors.
10. The definitions contained in Sections 2(a)(3), 2(a)(4),
2(a)(19), and 2(a)(42) of the Act shall govern the meaning of "affiliated
person," "assignment," "interested person(s)" and "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities," respectively, for the purposes of this Plan.
This Plan shall take effect on the Commencement Date, as previously
defined.
