CLASS C DISTRIBUTION PLAN
I. Investment Company: FRANKLIN GOLD & PRECIOUS METALS FUND
II. Fund and Class:FRANKLIN GOLD & PRECIOUS METALS
FUND - CLASS C
III. Maximum Per Annum Rule 12b-1 Fees for Class C Shares
(as a percentage of average daily net assets of the class)
A. Distribution Fee: 0.75%
B. Service Fee: 0.25%
PREAMBLE TO CLASS C DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The following Distribution Plan (the "Plan") has been adopted pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") by the
Investment Company named above ("Investment Company") for the class C shares
(the "Class") of the Fund named above ("Fund"), which Plan shall take effect
as of the date class C shares are first offered (the "Effective Date of the
Plan"). The Plan has been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors
or Trustees of the Investment Company (the "Board"), including a majority of
the Board members who are not interested persons of the Investment Company
and who have no direct, or indirect financial interest in the operation of
the Plan (the "non-interested Board members"), cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.
In reviewing the Plan, the Board considered the schedule and nature of
payments and terms of the Management Agreement between the Investment Company
and Franklin Advisers, Inc. ("Advisers") and the terms of the Underwriting
Agreement between the Investment Company and Franklin/Templeton Distributors,
Inc. ("Distributors"). The Board concluded that the compensation of
Advisers, under the Management Agreement, and of Distributors, under the
Underwriting Agreement, was fair and not excessive. The approval of the Plan
included a determination that in the exercise of their reasonable business
judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties, there is a reasonable
likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
1. (a) The Fund shall pay to Distributors a quarterly fee not to exceed
the above-stated maximum distribution fee per annum of the Class' average
daily net assets represented by shares of the Class, as may be determined by
the Board from time to time.
(b) In addition to the amounts described in (a) above, the Fund
shall pay (i) to Distributors for payment to dealers or others, or (ii)
directly to others, an amount not to exceed the above-stated maximum service
fee per annum of the Class' average daily net assets represented by shares of
the Class, as may be determined by the Fund's Board from time to time, as a
service fee pursuant to servicing agreements which have been approved from
time to time by the Board, including the non-interested Board members.
2. (a) Distributors shall use the monies paid to it pursuant to
Paragraph 1(a) above to assist in the distribution and promotion of shares of
the Class. Payments made to Distributors under the Plan may be used for,
among other things, the printing of prospectuses and reports used for sales
purposes, expenses of preparing and distributing sales literature and related
expenses, advertisements, and other distribution-related expenses, including
a pro-rated portion of Distributors' overhead expenses attributable to the
distribution of Class shares, as well as for additional distribution fees
paid to securities dealers or their firms or others who have executed
agreements with the Investment Company, Distributors or its affiliates, which
form of agreement has been approved from time to time by the Trustees,
including the non-interested trustees. In addition, such fees may be used to
pay for advancing the commission costs to dealers or others with respect to
the sale of Class shares.
(b) The monies to be paid pursuant to paragraph 1(b) above shall be
used to pay dealers or others for, among other things, furnishing personal
services and maintaining shareholder accounts, which services include, among
other things, assisting in establishing and maintaining customer accounts and
records; assisting with purchase and redemption requests; arranging for bank
wires; monitoring dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of customers;
forwarding certain shareholder communications from the Fund to customers;
receiving and answering correspondence; and aiding in maintaining the
investment of their respective customers in the Class. Any amounts paid
under this paragraph 2(b) shall be paid pursuant to a servicing or other
agreement, which form of agreement has been approved from time to time by the
Board.
3. In addition to the payments which the Fund is authorized to make
pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, to the extent that the Fund, Advisers,
Distributors or other parties on behalf of the Fund, Advisers or Distributors
make payments that are deemed to be payments by the Fund for the financing of
any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Class shares issued
by the Fund within the context of Rule 12b-1 under the Act, then such
payments shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to the Plan.
In no event shall the aggregate asset-based sales charges which include
payments specified in paragraphs 1 and 2, plus any other payments deemed to
be made pursuant to the Plan under this paragraph, exceed the amount
permitted to be paid pursuant to the Rule 2830(d) of the Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
4. Distributors shall furnish to the Board, for its review, on a
quarterly basis, a written report of the monies reimbursed to it and to
others under the Plan, and shall furnish the Board with such other
information as the Board may reasonably request in connection with the
payments made under the Plan in order to enable the Board to make an informed
determination of whether the Plan should be continued.
5. The Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year
only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually
by the Board, including the non-interested Board members, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.
6. The Plan, and any agreements entered into pursuant to this Plan, may
be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the
non-interested Board members, on not more than sixty (60) days' written
notice, or by Distributors on not more than sixty (60) days' written notice,
and shall terminate automatically in the event of any act that constitutes an
assignment of the Management Agreement between the Fund and Advisers.
7. The Plan, and any agreements entered into pursuant to this Plan, may
not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution
pursuant to Paragraph 1 hereof without approval by a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities.
8. All material amendments to the Plan, or any agreements entered into
pursuant to this Plan, shall be approved by the non-interested Board members
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on any such
amendment.
9. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of
the Fund's non-interested Board members shall be committed to the discretion
of such non-interested Board members.
This Plan and the terms and provisions thereof are hereby accepted and
agreed to by the Investment Company and Distributors as evidenced by their
execution hereof.
Date: APRIL 10, 2000
FRANKLIN GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS FUND
By: /s/ DAVID P. GOSS
David P. Goss
Title: Vice President &
Assistant Secretary
FRANKLIN/TEMPLETON DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/ H.E. BURNS
Harmon E. Burns
Title: Executive Vice President
