Exhibit 24(b)(15)(iii)
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
WITH
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class C Shares of
Xxxxxxxxxxx Global Fund
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT (the "Plan") dated the 20th day
of February, 1997, by and between Xxxxxxxxxxx Global Fund (the "Fund") 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"), 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 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) Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or its successor (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 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 Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board") who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) 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.
-1-
(b) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares owned
beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such brokerage or
other customers, or investment advisory or other clients of such Recipient
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, (i) within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, in the aggregate amount 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) within ten (10) days of the end of
each month, in the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (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 (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 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" (as defined below) 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 the 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 holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state
"blue sky" registration expenses; and (v) any service rendered by the
Distributor that a Recipient may render as described below in Section 3(a). 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 (ii) 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.
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
-2-
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.
The distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares to be
rendered by the Recipients may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than those
furnished to current 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 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)(i) Service Fee. 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 the following
service fee payments (i) to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days
of the end of each calendar quarter ("Advance Service Fee Payments"), (i) at a
rate not to exceed 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) service fee payments 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 one (1) year, subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the service fee payments and Advance Service Fee
Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or may be,
imposed by Rule 2830 of the NASD Conduct Rules. The Advance Service Fee Payments
described in part (i) of the prior sentence may, at the Distributor's sole
option, be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than the end of the
calendar quarter. 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
-3-
Advance Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such shares were
held to one (1) year.
(ii) Asset-Based Sales Charge Payments. Irrespective of whichever
alternative method of service fee payments is selected by the Distributor, 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 not more than one (1) year. However, no such 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.
(c) 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 rate 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, Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding
Period, if any, 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 revised current prospectus shall constitute sufficient notice.
The Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient.
(d) 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 Rule 2830 of the NASD Conduct
Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may 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 its borrowings.
(f) 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 Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund ("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.
-4-
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 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 1940
Act) 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 Plan has
been approved by a vote of the Board and its Independent Trustees cast in
person at a meeting called on October 10, 1995, for the purpose of voting
on this Plan, and shall take effect as of the date first set forth above,
at which time it shall replace the Fund's Distribution and Service Plan for
the Shares dated July 17, 1995. Unless terminated as hereinafter provided,
it shall continue in effect until December 31, 1997 and from year to year
thereafter 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 B 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 1940 Act) 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 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.
-5-
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 Global Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Assistant Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Executive Vice President
