DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class B Shares of
Xxxxxxxxxxx Dividend Growth Fund
This Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the "Plan") is dated as of
the 17th day of February, 2005, by and between Xxxxxxxxxxx Dividend Growth
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 B 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 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule,
(iii) Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or any amendment or successor to such rule (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 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, 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) 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 assistance 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 Services 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 that
calendar quarter 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).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of up to 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 until such
Shares are repurchased or converted to another class of shares of the Fund,
provided, however, that a majority of the Independent Trustees may, but are
not obligated to, set a time period (the "Fund Maximum Holding Period") from
time to time for such payments. 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 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
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, 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.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 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, 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 quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" 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 0.25% 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. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may 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 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 repurchase 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 Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after 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 until such Shares are repurchased or converted to another class of
shares of the Fund, provided, however, that a majority of the Independent
Trustees may, but are not obligated to, set a time period (the "Recipient
Maximum Holding Period") for making such payments. 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 increase or decrease 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 set, eliminate or modify the Fund Maximum Holding
Period, any Minimum Holding Period, the Recipient Maximum Holding Period
and/or any Minimum Qualified Holdings and/or to split requirements so that
different time periods apply to shares that are afforded different
shareholder privileges and features. 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 revised
current prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or supplement to
either 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
and charges 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.
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
after the receipt of such report, 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.
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, where upon 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 Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund ("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 nominations 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 Fund shall
provide written reports to the Fund's Board for its review, detailing the
amount of all 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 Class B voting 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 Plan has
been approved by a vote of the Board and its Independent Trustees cast in
person at a meeting called on February 17, 2005 for the purpose of voting on
this Plan. 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 B
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 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 B 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 Dividend Growth Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
President
