DISTRIBUTION PLAN OF CLASS C SHARES
EVERGREEN EQUITY TRUST
SECTION 1. The Evergreen Equity Trust (the "Trust") individually and/or
on behalf of its series (the "Fund") referred to in Exhibit A to this Rule 12b-1
Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") may act as the distributor of securities which
are issued in respect of the Fund's Class C shares ("Shares"), pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") according to the
terms of this Plan.
SECTION 2. The Trust on behalf of each Fund may expend daily amounts at
an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net asset value of the Shares. Such
amounts may be expended to finance activity which is principally intended to
result in the sale of Shares including, without limitation, expenditures
consisting of payments to a principal underwriter of the Fund ("Principal
Underwriter") or others in order (i) to make payments to the Principal
Underwriter or others of sales commissions, other fees or other compensation for
services provided or to be provided, to enable payments to be made by the
Principal Underwriter or others for any activity primarily intended to result in
the sale of Shares, to pay interest expenses associated with payments in
connection with the sale of Shares and to pay any expenses of financing
permitted by this clause (i); (ii) to enable the Principal Underwriter or others
to receive, pay or to have paid to others who have sold Shares, or who provide
services to holders of Shares, a service fee, maintenance or other fee in
respect of such services, at such intervals as the Principal Underwriter or such
others may determine, in respect of Shares previously sold and remaining
outstanding during the period in respect of which such fee is or has been paid;
and/or (iii) to compensate the Principal Underwriter or others for efforts
(including without limitation any financing of payments under (i) and (ii) for
the sale of shares) in respect of sales of Shares since inception of the Plan or
any predecessor plan. Appropriate adjustments shall be made to the payments made
pursuant to this Section 2 to the extent necessary to ensure that no payment is
made by the Trust on behalf of any Fund with respect to the Class in excess of
the applicable limit imposed on asset based, front end and deferred sales
charges under subsection (d) of Rule 2830 of the Business Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc. (The "NASDR"). In
addition, to the extent any amounts paid hereunder fall within the definition of
an "asset based sales charge" under said NASDR Rule, such payments shall be
limited to 0.75 of 1% of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares on an
annual basis and, to the extent that any such payments are made in respect of
"shareholder services" as that term is defined in the NASDR Rule, such payments
shall be limited to .25 of 1% of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares on
an annual basis and shall only be made in respect of shareholder services
rendered during the period in which such amounts are accrued.
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SECTION 3. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved
together with any related agreements by votes of a majority of both (a) the
Board of Trustees of the Trust and (b) those Trustees of the Trust who are not
"interested persons" of the Trust (as said term is defined in the 1940 Act) and
who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan
or any agreements of the Fund or any other person related to this Plan (the
"Rule 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on this Plan or such agreements.
SECTION 4. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof, this
Plan shall continue in effect for a period of one year from the date it takes
effect and thereafter shall continue in effect so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually in the manner provided for approval of
this Plan in Section 3 hereof.
SECTION 5. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies
paid or payable by the Trust on behalf of each Fund pursuant to this Plan or any
related agreement shall provide to the Trust's Board of Trustees and the Board
shall review at least quarterly a written report of the amounts so expended and
the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
SECTION 6. This Plan may be terminated with respect to any Fund at any
time by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority
of such Fund's outstanding Shares.
SECTION 7. Any agreement of the Fund related to this Plan shall be in
writing, and shall provide as follows:
(a) that such agreement may be terminated at any time, without
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Rule
12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of a majority of such Fund's
outstanding Shares on not more than sixty days written notice
to any other party to the agreement; and
(b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment.
SECTION 8. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of distribution expenses provided for in Section 2 hereof unless such
amendment is approved by a vote of at least a majority (as defined in the 1940
Act) of each Fund's outstanding Shares, and no material amendment to this Plan
shall be made unless approved in the manner provided for in Section 3 hereof.
Effective Date: October 1, 1997
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As of October 30, 2000
EXHIBIT A
EVERGREEN EQUITY TRUST
Domestic Growth Funds
Evergreen Aggressive Growth Fund Evergreen Capital Growth Fund
Evergreen Fund Evergreen Growth Fund Evergreen Masters Fund
Evergreen Omega Fund Evergreen Small Company Growth Fund
Evergreen Stock Selector Fund Evergreen Large Company Growth
Fund
(formerly Evergreen Strategic Growth Fund)
Evergreen Premier 20 Fund
Evergreen Tax Strategic Equity Fund
Balanced Funds
Evergreen Balanced Fund
Evergreen Foundation Fund
Evergreen Tax Strategic Foundation Fund
Growth and Income Funds
Evergreen Blue Chip Fund
Evergreen Equity Income Fund (formerly Evergreen Income and Growth Fund)
Evergreen Growth and Income Fund
Evergreen Small Cap Value Fund
Evergreen Value Fund
Sector Funds
Evergreen Healthcare Fund
Evergreen Technology Fund
Evergreen Utility Fund
