1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class C Shares of
Xxxxxxxxxxx Limited Term Municipal Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 28th day of October, 2005, by and between Xxxxxxxxxxx
Limited Term Municipal Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Xxxxxxxxxxx Municipal Fund
(the "Trust") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service plan
for Class C shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), designed to comply with the
provisions of 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 this Plan
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 Fund's Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, (xx) xxx 0000 Xxx, (xxx) the Rule,
(iv) 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 (v) 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 with
respect to the payment of the Asset-Based Sales Charge (defined below), 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. In the event that more than one person or entity would otherwise qualify
as Recipients as to the same Shares with respect to the payment of the
Asset-Based Sales Charge (defined below), 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. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the same
Shares with respect to the payment of the Service Fee (as defined below), the
Recipient 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 will make payments in the
aggregate amount of up to 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). The
Fund may make payments of an "Asset-Based Sales Charge" of up to 0.0625% per
month (0.75% 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. 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 shall make the following payments to Recipients:
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of administrative support services
provided by a Recipient, the Distributor shall make service fee payments to that
Recipient quarterly or at such 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 0.25% 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 quarterly or at such 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 0.25% 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, in addition the
Distributor shall make distribution assistance fee payments to each Recipient
quarterly, quarterly or at such 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 0.1875% (0.75% 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 maximum 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 Statement of Additional
Information or amendment to or revision of the prospectus or Statement of
Additional Information 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 that apply to such fees under the
NASD Conduct Rules relating to sales of shares of open-end funds.
(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 Trust who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust ("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 Trust shall
provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing the
aggregate amount of 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 C 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 its Independent
Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restates Distribution and
Service Plan and Agreement for Class C 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 C 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 C 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 Trustee and
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Xxxxxxxxxxx Limited Term Municipal Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Vice President and Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, President
