EXHIBIT 99(a)(M)(iii)
Rule ▇▇▇-▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ - ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Trust
Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Convertible Fund - Class C Shares
RULE 12b-1 DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND AGREEMENT dated as of June 30, 2003
by and between LORD ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT TRUST, a Delaware business trust (the
"Trust"), on behalf of the LORD ▇▇▇▇▇▇ CONVERTIBLE FUND, (the "Fund"), and LORD
▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTOR LLC, a New York limited liability company (the
"Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
the Distributor is the exclusive selling agent of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest, including the Fund's Class C shares of beneficial interest
(the "Shares") pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the
Distributor.
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to adopt a Distribution Plan and Agreement
for the Fund's Shares (the "Plan") with the Distributor, as permitted by Rule
12b-1 under the Act, pursuant to which the Fund may make certain payments to the
Distributor for payment to institutions and persons permitted by applicable law
and/or rules to receive such payments ("Authorized Institutions") in connection
with sales of Shares and for use by the Distributor as provided in paragraph 3
of this Plan.
WHEREAS, the Trust's Board of Trustees has determined that there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and the holders of the
Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and of other
good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is
agreed as follows:
1. The Trust hereby authorizes the Distributor to enter into agreements
with Authorized Institutions (the "Agreements") which may provide for the
payment to such Authorized Institutions of distribution and service fees which
the Distributor receives from (or is reimbursed for by) the Fund in order to
provide incentives to such Authorized Institutions (i) to sell Shares and (ii)
to provide continuing information and investment services to their accounts
holding Shares and otherwise to encourage their accounts to remain invested in
the Shares. The Distributor may, from time to time, waive or defer payment of
some fees payable at the time of the sale of Shares provided for under paragraph
2 hereof.
2. Subject to possible reduction as provided below in this paragraph 2,
the Fund shall pay to the Distributor fees at each month-end after the sale of
Shares (a) for services, at an annual rate not to exceed .25 of 1% of the
average annual net asset value of Shares outstanding and (b) for distribution,
at an annual rate not to exceed .75 of 1% of the average annual net asset value
of Shares outstanding. For purposes of the payment of the fees above, (A) Shares
issued pursuant to an exchange for Class C shares of another series of the Trust
or another Lord ▇▇▇▇▇▇-sponsored fund (or for shares of a fund acquired by the
Trust) will be credited with the time held from the initial purchase of such
other shares when determining how long Shares mentioned above have been
outstanding and (B) payments will be based on Shares outstanding during any such
month. Shares
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outstanding above include Shares issued for reinvested dividends and
distributions. The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall from time to time
determine the amounts, within the foregoing maximum amounts, that the Fund may
pay the Distributor hereunder. Such determinations by the Board of Trustees
shall be made by votes of the kind referred to in paragraph 10 of this Plan. The
service fees mentioned in this paragraph are for the purposes mentioned in
clause (ii) of paragraph 1 of this Plan and the distribution fees mentioned in
this paragraph are for the purposes mentioned in clause (i) of paragraph 1. The
Distributor will monitor the payments hereunder and shall reduce such payments
or take such other steps as may be necessary to assure that (x) the payments
pursuant to this Plan shall be consistent with Rule 2830 subparagraphs (d)(2)
and (5) of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD") with respect to investment companies with asset-based sales
charges and service fees as the same may be in effect from time to time and (y)
the Fund shall not pay with respect to any Authorized Institution service fees
equal to more than .25 of 1% of the average annual net asset value of Shares
sold by (or attributable to shares sold by) such Authorized Institution and held
in an account covered by an Agreement.
3. The Distributor may use amounts received as distribution fees
hereunder from the Fund to finance any activity which is primarily intended to
result in the sale of Shares including, but not limited to, commissions or other
payments relating to selling or servicing efforts. The Trust's Board of Trustees
(in the manner contemplated in paragraph 10 of this Plan) shall approve the
timing, categories and calculation of any payments under this paragraph 3.
4. The net asset value of the Shares shall be determined as provided in
the Declaration and Agreement of Trust of the Trust. If the Distributor waives
all or a portion of fees which are to be paid by the Fund hereunder, the
Distributor shall not be deemed to have waived its rights under this Agreement
to have the Fund pay such fees in the future.
5. The Secretary of the Trust, or in his absence the Chief Financial
Officer, is hereby authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or
payable by the Fund hereunder and shall provide to the Trust's Board of
Trustees, and the Board of Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written
report of the amounts so expended pursuant to this Plan and the purposes for
which such expenditures were made.
6. Neither this Plan nor any other transaction between the parties hereto
pursuant to this Plan shall be invalidated or in any way affected by the fact
that any or all of the Trustees, officers, shareholders, or other
representatives of the Trust are or may be "interested persons" of the
Distributor, or any successor or assignee thereof, or that any or all of the
directors, officers, partners, members or other representatives of the
Distributor are or may be "interested persons" of the Trust, except as otherwise
may be provided in the Act.
7. The Distributor shall give the Trust the benefit of the Distributor's
best judgment and good faith efforts in rendering services under this Plan.
Other than to abide by the provisions hereof and render the services called for
hereunder in good faith, the Distributor assumes no responsibility under this
Plan and, having so acted, the Distributor shall not be held liable or held
accountable for any mistake of law or fact, or for any loss or damage arising or
resulting therefrom suffered by the Trust or any of its shareholders, creditors,
directors or officers; provided however,
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that nothing herein shall be deemed to protect the Distributor against any
liability to the Trust or the Trust's shareholders by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties
hereunder, or by reason of the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder.
8. This Plan shall become effective on the date hereof, and shall
continue in effect for a period of more than one year from such date only so
long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including the vote of a majority of the
Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement
related to this Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such renewal.
9. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be
spent by the Fund hereunder without the vote of a majority of its outstanding
Shares and each material amendment must be approved by a vote of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, including the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement related to
this Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
amendment.
10. Amendments to this Plan other than material amendments of the kind
referred to in the foregoing paragraph 9 of this Plan may be adopted by a vote
of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including the vote of a majority of the
Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement
related to this Plan. The Board of Trustees of the Trust may, by such a vote,
interpret this Plan and make all determinations necessary or advisable for its
administration.
11. This Plan may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty by (a) the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust and have no Trustees or indirect financial
interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement related to this Plan,
or (b) by a shareholder vote in compliance with Rule 12b-1 and Rule 18f-3 under
the Act as in effect at such time. This Plan shall automatically terminate in
the event of its assignment.
12. So long as this Plan shall remain in effect, the selection and
nomination of those Trustees of the Trust who are not "interested persons" of
the Trust are committed to the discretion of such disinterested Trustees. The
terms "interested persons," "assignment" and "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities" shall have the same meaning as those terms are
defined in the Act.
13. The obligations of the Trust and the Fund, including those imposed
hereby, are not personally binding upon, nor shall resort be had to the private
property of, any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or agents of
the Trust or Fund individually, but are binding only upon the assets and
property of the Trust or Fund. Any and all personal liability, either at common
law or in equity, or by statute or constitution, of every such Trustee,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent for any breach of the Trust or Fund of
any agreement, representation or warranty hereunder
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is hereby expressly waived as a condition of and in consideration for the
execution of this Agreement by the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has this instrument to be
executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative as
of the date first above written.
LORD ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT TRUST
By:
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Vice President
ATTEST:
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Assistant Secretary
LORD ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTOR LLC
By: LORD, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. LLC
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Managing Member
By:
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A Member