AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class B Shares of
Xxxxxxxxxxx Equity Income Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 24th day of February, 1998, by and between
Xxxxxxxxxxx Equity Income 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"), contemplated by 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 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 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.
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(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 0.0625% (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 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 no more than six
years (the "Maximum Holding Period"). 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 0.0625% (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, 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 0.0625% (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. 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 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 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 for no more than six
years and for any minimum period that the Distributor may establish.
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 increase or decrease the Maximum Holding Period, any Minimum
Holding Period or any 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 revised current prospectus 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 to which the Distributor is, or may
become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(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
Amended and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of
the Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Distribution and
Service Plan for Class B 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 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 shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of
the Fund.
Xxxxxxxxxxx Equity Income Fund
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Vice President and Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President and Treasurer
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