Distribution and/or Service Fees Subject to and in accordance with the terms of each Prospectus and the Distribution Plan and/or Service Plan, if any, adopted by resolution of the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), we may pay financial institutions with which we have entered into an agreement in substantially the form annexed hereto as Appendix A or such other form as may be approved from time to time by the Funds’ Board (the “Fee Agreement”) such fees as may be determined in accordance with such Fee Agreement, for distribution, shareholder or administrative services, as described therein.
Distribution Services The Distributor shall sell and repurchase Shares as set forth below, subject to the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the laws governing the sale of securities in the various states ("Blue Sky Laws"):
Service Fee In consideration of the administrative support services provided by a Recipient, the Distributor shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly or at such other interval as deemed appropriate by the Distributor, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter or other period, at a rate not to exceed 0.25% on an annual basis of the average during the period 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, within forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter or at such other interval as deemed appropriate by the Distributor: (i) “Advance Service Fee Payments” at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar quarter or other period 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 period 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 period 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. 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.
Service Fees In consideration of the performance of the Services by Custodian, each Fund shall pay Custodian in accordance with the fee arrangements set forth on Schedule I to this Loan Servicing Agreement (the “Service Fees”). Except for such sums as are payable upon the execution hereof, if any, Custodian shall send an invoice for the Service Fees to the applicable Fund within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter during the term hereof and such invoice shall be payable upon receipt.
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 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:
Compensation for Services Provided As compensation for providing portfolio supervisory services in its capacity as Portfolio Supervisor, evaluation services in its capacity as Evaluator, and for providing bookkeeping and other administrative services to the Trust of a character described in Section 26(a)(2)(C) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and to the extent that such services are in addition to, and do not duplicate, the services to be provided hereunder by the Trustee, First Trust Advisors L.P. shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements therefor submitted to the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual fee in the per Unit amount set forth in Part II of the Trust Agreement for the Trust, calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the calendar year, except during the initial offering period as determined in Section 4.01 of this Indenture, in which case the fee is calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding during the period for which the compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year in which First Trust Advisors L.P. provides services described herein during less than the whole of such year). Such fee may exceed the actual cost of providing such services for the Trust, but at no time will the total amount received for such services rendered to unit investment trusts of which the Depositor is the sponsor in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to First Trust Advisors L.P. of supplying such services in such year. Such compensation may, from time to time, be adjusted provided that the total adjustment upward does not, at the time of such adjustment, exceed the percentage of the total increase after the date hereof in consumer prices for services as measured by the United States Department of Labor Consumer Price Index entitled "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" or similar index, if such index should no longer be published. The consent or concurrence of any Unit holder hereunder shall not be required for any such adjustment or increase. Such compensation shall be paid by the Trustee, upon receipt of an invoice therefor from First Trust Advisors L.P., which shall constitute the representation by First Trust Advisors L.P. that the bookkeeping and administrative services for which compensation is claimed are properly compensable hereunder and that the aggregate cost incurred by First Trust Advisors L.P. of providing portfolio supervisory, evaluation and bookkeeping and administrative services hereunder was not less than the compensation claimed, upon which representation the Trustee may conclusively rely. Such compensation shall be charged against the Income and/or Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 3.05. If the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts shall be insufficient to provide for amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.03, the Trustee shall have the power to sell (i) Securities from the current list of Securities designated to be sold pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, or (ii) if no such Securities have been so designated, such Securities as the Trustee may see fit to sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.03. Any moneys payable to First Trust Advisors L.P. pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be secured by a lien on the Trust prior to the interest of Unit holders, but no such lien shall be prior to any lien in favor of the Trustee under the provisions of Section 6.04 herein.
Administrative Support Service 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.
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"). 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 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" (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.
Distribution Fee In addition to the Service Fee, the Trust, on behalf of the Series, will pay to the Distributor a fee (the "Distribution Fee") at an annual rate of 0.75% (unless reduced as contemplated by and permitted pursuant to the next sentence hereof) of the Series' average daily net assets attributable to the Class B shares in consideration of the services rendered in connection with the sale of such shares by the Distributor. The Trust will not terminate the Distribution Fee in respect of Series assets attributable to Class B shares, or pay such fee at an annual rate of less than 0.75% of the Series' average daily net assets attributable to the Class B shares, unless it has ceased, and not resumed, paying the Service Fee (or any other fee that constitutes a "service fee" as defined in the NASD Rule) to CDC IXIS Distributors (or to any affiliate of CDC IXIS Distributors, or to any other person in circumstances where substantially all of the services and functions relating to the distribution of Class B shares of the Series have been delegated to, or are being performed by, CDC IXIS Distributors or an affiliate of CDC IXIS Distributors). Subject to such restriction and subject to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, the Distribution Fee shall be as approved from time to time by (a) the Trustees of the Trust and (b) the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Distribution Fee shall be accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the Trustees shall determine. The obligation of the Series to pay the Distribution Fee shall terminate upon the termination of this Plan or the relevant distribution agreement between the Distributor and the Trust relating to the Series, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, but until any such termination shall not be subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever (it being understood that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed a waiver by the Trust or the Series of its right separately to pursue any claims it may have against the Distributor and enforce such claims against any assets of the Distributor (other than its right to be paid the Distribution Fee and to be paid contingent deferred sales charges)). The right of CDC IXIS Distributors to receive the Distribution Fee (but not the relevant distribution agreement or CDC IXIS Distributor's obligations thereunder) may be transferred by CDC IXIS Distributors in order to raise funds which may be useful or necessary to perform its duties as principal underwriter, and any such transfer shall be effective upon written notice from CDC IXIS Distributors to the Trust. In connection with the foregoing, the Series is authorized to pay all or part of the Distribution Fee directly to such transferee as directed by CDC IXIS Distributors. The Distributor may pay all or any portion of the Distribution Fee to securities dealers or other organizations (including, but not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor) as commissions, asset-based sales charges or other compensation with respect to the sale of Class B shares of the Series, and may retain all or any portion of the Distribution Fee as compensation for the Distributor's services as principal underwriter of the Class B shares of the Series. All payments under this Section 2 are intended to qualify as "asset-based sales charges" as defined in the NASD Rule.
Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge) Within ten (10) days of the end of each month or at such other period as deemed appropriate by the Distributor, 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 redeemed 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.
