Exhibit 24(b)(15(c)(1)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
AND
XXXXXXXXXXX QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
FOR CLASS C SHARES OF
GROWTH & INCOME VALUE FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND
AGREEMENT (the "Plan") dated the 22nd day of November, 1995, by and
between XXXXXXXXXXX QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS (the "Trust") for the
account of its GROWTH & INCOME VALUE FUND (the "Fund") and
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution
plan for Class C shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by
Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule") under the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for its services incurred 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
Distributor is authorized under the Plan to pay "Recipients," as
hereinafter defined, for rendering (1) distribution assistance in
connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2) administrative
support services with respect to Accounts. Such Recipients are
intended to have certain rights as third-party beneficiaries under
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)
Article III, Section 26, of the Rules of Fair Practice of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or its successor
(the "NASD Rules of Fair Practice") 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 Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a majority of the
Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board") who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any
agreements relating to this Plan (the "Independent Trustees") 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.
(b) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all
Shares owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or
(ii) such customers, clients and/or accounts as to which such
Recipient is a fiduciary or custodian or co-fiduciary or co-
custodian (collectively, the "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) The Fund will make payments to the Distributor, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, in the
aggregate amount (i) of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the
average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of the Shares computed as of the close of each business day
(the "Service Fee"), plus (ii) 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual basis)
of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net
asset value of the Shares computed as of the close of each business
day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such Service Fee payments
received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor and
Recipients for providing administrative support services with
respect to Accounts. Such Asset-Based Sales Charge payments
received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor and
Recipients for providing distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares.
The administrative support services in connection with the
Accounts to be rendered by Recipients may include, but shall not be
limited to, the following: answering routine inquiries concerning
the Fund, assisting in establishing and maintaining 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.
The distribution assistance in connection with the sale of
Shares to be rendered by the Distributor and by Recipients may
include, but shall not be limited to, the following: distributing
sales literature and prospectuses other than those furnished to
current holders of the Fund's Shares ("Shareholders"), and
providing such other information and services in connection with
the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
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 to
entitle it to payments under the Plan. In the event that either
the Distributor or the Board should have reason to 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 the
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, either
may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status as
such under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a third-
party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
(b) The Distributor shall make service fee payments to any
Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each
calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an
annual basis) of the average during the calendar quarter 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, to be set from time to time by a majority of the
Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make
service fee payments ("Advance Service Fee Payments") to any
Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each
calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed (i) 0.25% of the average
during the calendar quarter 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 quarter and owned beneficially or of record by the
Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) 0.0625% (0.25% on an
annual basis) of the average during the calendar quarter 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, subject to reduction or
chargeback so that the Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed
the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or may be, imposed
by Article III, Section 26, of the NASD Rules of Fair Practice. In
the event Shares are redeemed less than one year after the date
such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated and will repay to
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 Advance Service Fee Payments described in part (i) of the
preceding sentence may, at the Distributor's sole option, be made
more often than quarterly, and sooner than the end of the calendar
quarter. In addition, the Distributor shall make asset-based sales
charge payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45)
days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed
0.1875% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average during the
calendar quarter 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. However,
no such service fee or asset-based sales charge payments
(collectively, the "Recipient Payments") shall be made to any
Recipient for any such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do
not equal or exceed, at the end of such quarter, the minimum amount
("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any, to be set from time to time
by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time decrease and thereafter adjust 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 direct the Distributor to increase or
decrease the Minimum Holding Period or the Minimum Qualified
Holdings. The Distributor shall notify all Recipients of the
Minimum Qualified Holdings or Minimum Holding Period, if any, and
the rates of Recipient 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 revised current
prospectus shall constitute sufficient notice. 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.
(c) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on
Shares are subject to reduction or elimination of such amounts
under the limits to which the Distributor is, or may become,
subject under Article III, Section 26, of the NASD Rules of Fair
Practice. The distribution assistance and administrative support
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 in advance of, and\or 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 interest and other borrowing costs of the
Distributor's unreimbursed expenses incurred in rendering
distribution assistance and administrative support services to the
Fund; (iv) paying other direct distribution costs, including
without limitation the costs of sales literature, advertising and
prospectuses (other than those furnished to current Shareholders)
and state "blue sky" registration expenses; and (v) providing any
service rendered by the Distributor that a Recipient may render
pursuant to part (a) of this Section 3. Such services include
distribution assistance and administrative support services
rendered in connection with Shares acquired (i) by purchase, (ii)
in exchange for shares of another investment company for which the
Distributor serves as distributor or sub-distributor, or (iii)
pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is a party.
In the event that the Board should have reason to believe 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.
(d) Under the Plan, payments may be made to Recipients: (i)
by Xxxxxxxxxxx Management Corporation ("OMC") 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 OMC), from its own resources, from Asset-Based Sales
Charge payments or from its borrowings.
(e) 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. In no event shall the amounts to be paid to
the Distributor exceed the rate of fees to be paid by the Fund to
the Distributor set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 3.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is
in effect, the selection and nomination of those persons to be
Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" of the Fund
or the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be committed to the
discretion of such Disinterested Trustees. Nothing herein shall
prevent the Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the views or the
involvement of others in such selection or nomination if 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 Trust shall provide at least quarterly a written reports to the
Trust's Board for its review, detailing services rendered in
connection with the distribution of the Shares, the amount of all
payments made 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 securities of the Class, on not more than sixty
days written notice to any other party to the agreement; (ii) such
agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iii) it 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 (iv) it 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 its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting
called on June 22, 1995 for the purpose of voting on this Plan, and
shall take effect after approval by Class C shareholders of the
Fund, at which time it shall replace the Fund's Plan and Agreement
of Distribution for the Shares made as of September 1, 1993, and
as amended February 1, 1995. Unless terminated as hereinafter
provided, it shall continue in effect from year to year from the
date first set forth above or as the Board may otherwise determine
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 without approval of the Class C
Shareholders, in the manner described above, 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
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 voting securities of the Class. In the event of
such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor is 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 Trust and 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
Trust and the Fund.
XXXXXXXXXXX QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
On Behalf of GROWTH & INCOME VALUE FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Executive Vice President
ofmi\257.c
