Exhibit 24(b)(15)(iii)
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
WITH
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
FOR CLASS C SHARES OF
XXXXXXXXXXX LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT (the "Plan") dated the
29th day of June, 1995, by and between XXXXXXXXXXX LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT
FUND (the "Fund") and XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS 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 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
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.
(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 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 paragraph 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 1940 Act) 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 sell 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 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 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 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.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the
Fund shall provide at least quarterly 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 April 18, 1995 for the purpose of
voting on this Plan, and takes effect as of the date first set forth
above. 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 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 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 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 LIMITED-TERM GOVERNMENT FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Assistant Secretary
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Vice President & Secretary
