DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
WITH
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
FOR CLASS B SHARES OF
ROCHESTER FUND MUNICIPALS
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT (the "Plan") dated the ___ day
of
____, 1996, by and between ROCHESTER FUND MUNICIPALS (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 B 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) 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 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, (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")
outstanding for six years or less (the "Maximum Holding Period"). 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
sales 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 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 Distributor and 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.
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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) 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 this
paragraph (b) may, at the Distributor's sole option, be made more often
than quarterly, and sooner than the end of the calendar
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quarter. 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.
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
Maximum Holding Period, 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 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 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 by the
Fund (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
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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 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 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.
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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 _____ __, 1996 for the purpose of voting on this Plan, and
shall take effect on the date that the Fund's Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until ______ __, 1996 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 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 shall be entitled to payment from the Fund 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 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.
ROCHESTER FUND MUNICIPALS
By:__________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Vice President
XXXXXXXXXXX FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By:__________________________________
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Vice President
& Secretary
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