EX-99.(N) 16 d196868dex99n.htm RULE 18F - 3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN, AMENDED AND RESTATED (6-15-2021) Rule 18f - 3 Multi-Class Plan, amended and restated (6-15-2021)

AMENDED AND RESTATED

RULE 18f-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN

COLUMBIA FUNDS SERIES TRUST

 

I.

Introduction.

Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), this Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan (“Plan”) sets forth the methods for allocating fees and expenses among the classes of shares (“Shares”) in the investment portfolios (the “Funds”) of the Columbia Funds Series Trust (the “Trust”) listed in Schedule A. Among other things, this Plan identifies expenses that may be allocated to a particular class of Shares to the extent that they are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. In addition, this Plan sets forth the maximum initial sales charges (or “loads”), contingent deferred sales charges, maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum shareholder administration fees, conversion features, exchange privileges, other shareholder policies and services and transfer agency fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust.

The Trust is an open-end series investment company registered under the 1940 Act, the Shares of which are registered on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933. The Trust offers multiple classes of Shares in its Funds pursuant to the provisions of Rule 18f-3 and this Plan.

Each Fund and the classes of Shares representing interests in the Fund it issues are set forth in Schedule A hereto. Schedule A shall be updated by officers of the Trust from time to time as necessary to reflect the current classes and Funds offered by the Trust.

 

II.

Allocation of Expenses.

1. Except as otherwise set forth herein or as may from time to time be specifically approved by the board of trustees of the Trust (the Trustees), all expenses of each Fund shall be allocated proportionately among the classes of such Fund pro rata based on the relative net assets of each class. Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust shall allocate to each class of Shares in a Fund any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the distribution and/or the provision of shareholder services to holders of such class of Shares under any distribution plan, shareholder servicing plan and/or plan administration agreement (a “Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan”).

2. In addition, pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust may allocate to a particular class of Shares the following fees and expenses, if any, but only to the extent they relate to (as defined below) the particular class of Shares:

 

  (i)

transfer agency fees and expenses identified by the Registrant’s transfer agent or officers as being fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares (see paragraph 7 below);


  (ii)

printing and postage expenses of preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses, reports and proxies to current shareholders of such class of Shares or to regulatory agencies that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (iii)

blue sky registration or qualification fees that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (iv)

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (v)

expenses of administrative personnel and services (including, but not limited to, those of a portfolio accountant, custodian or dividend paying agent charged with calculating net asset values and determining or paying distributions) as required to support the shareholders of such class of Shares;

 

  (vi)

litigation or other legal expenses that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (vii)

fees of the Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues that relate to such class of Shares;

 

  (viii)

independent accountants’ fees that relate to such class of Shares; and

 

  (ix)

any other fees and expenses that relate to such class of Shares.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may not allocate advisory or custodial fees or other expenses related to the management of a Fund’s assets to a particular class, except that the Trust may cause a class to pay a different advisory fee to the extent that any difference in amount paid is the result of the application of the same performance fee provisions, if any, in the advisory contract of the Fund to the different investment performance of each class.

3. For all purposes under this Plan, fees and expenses “that relate to” a class of Shares are those fees and expenses that are actually incurred in a different amount by the class or that relate to a different kind or degree of services provided to the class. The officers of the Trust shall have the authority to determine, to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation and/or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidance, whether any or all of the fees and expenses described in paragraph 2 above should be allocated to a particular class of Shares. The Treasurer, any Deputy or Assistant Treasurer or another appropriate officer of the Trust shall periodically or as frequently as requested by the independent Trustees report to the Board of Trustees regarding any such allocations.

4. For all purposes under this Plan, “Daily Dividend Fund” means any Fund that has a policy of declaring distributions of net investment income daily, including any money market fund that determines net asset value using the amortized cost method permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

5. Income and any expenses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund, excluding the value of subscriptions receivable (the “Settled Shares Method”).


Realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the Fund (the “Relative Net Assets Method”).

6. Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of Funds that are not Daily Dividend Funds that are not allocated to a particular class of any such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each class of the Fund on the basis of the Relative Net Assets Method.

7. Transfer agency costs vary among classes, and are calculated separately for each of (a) Institutional 3 Class Shares (formerly Class Y Shares), (b) Institutional 2 Class Shares (formerly Class R5 Shares), and (c) all other classes of Shares. Shares of each Class pay an annual fee set forth in the transfer agency agreement in effect from time to time and an allocable share of reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, with the allocation among the classes based on the number of open accounts. Shares of each Class (other than Institutional 3 Class Shares) pay sub-transfer agency fees as set forth in the transfer agency agreement in effect from time to time.

8. In certain cases, a Fund service provider may waive or reimburse all or a portion of the expenses of a specific class of Shares of the Fund. The applicable service provider shall report to the Board of Trustees regarding any such waivers or reimbursements, including why they are consistent with the fair and equitable treatment of shareholders of all classes.

 

III.

Class Arrangements.

The following summarizes the maximum initial sales charges, contingent deferred sales charges, maximum distribution fees, maximum shareholder servicing fees, maximum plan administration and/or shareholder administration fees, if any, conversion features, exchange privileges and other shareholder service fees, if any, applicable or allocated to each class of Shares of the Trust. Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in the relevant Fund’s (or Funds’) current prospectus(es) and statement of additional information.

 

  1.

Class A Shares – Columbia Small Cap Index Fund, Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund, Columbia Large Cap Index Fund and Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund (the “Index Funds”) Only*

 

  A.

Maximum Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class A Shares of each Index Fund may pay a combined distribution and shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.


  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class A Shares of an Index Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Index Fund. Class A Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class A Shares of other Funds or funds in the same fund family (“Affiliated Funds”), subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class A Shares of an Index Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Index Fund.

 

  *

On December 15, 2018, Class T Shares (formerly designated as Class W Shares) are exchanged for Class A Shares in a tax free transaction.

 

  2.

Class A Shares –Funds Other than the Index Funds*

 

  A.

Maximum Initial Sales Charge:

 

  (i)

Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio, Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio Columbia Convertible Securities Fund, Columbia Large Cap Growth Opportunity Fund, Columbia Select Mid Cap Value Fund, Columbia Overseas Value Fund, Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund and Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II: maximum of 5.75%.

 

  (ii)

Columbia California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia North Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia South Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Virginia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund: maximum of 3.00%.

 

  (iii)

Columbia Short Term Bond Fund and Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund: maximum of 1.00%.

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge:

 

  (i)

1.00% for equity and fixed income Funds (other than fixed income Funds listed below).

 

  (ii)

0.75% for Columbia California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia North Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia South Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Columbia Virginia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund. (For Class A shares of these Funds purchased prior to February 19, 2015, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%.)


  C.

Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class A Shares of each Fund may pay a combined distribution and shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class A Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class A Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class A Shares of other Funds or funds in the same fund family (“Affiliated Funds”), subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class A Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  *

On December 15, 2018, Class T Shares (formerly designated as Class W Shares) are exchanged for Class A Shares in a tax free transaction.

 

  3.

Advisor Class (Class Adv) Shares (formerly known as Class R4 Shares)*

 

  A.

Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class Adv Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class Adv Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class Adv Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class Adv Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  *

On March 9, 2018, Class K Shares were exchanged for Class Adv Shares (formerly known as Class R4 Shares) in a tax free transaction.


  4.

Class C Shares

 

  A.

Maximum Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage of the lower of the original purchase price or redemption proceeds): 1.00% if redeemed within one year of purchase and eliminated thereafter.

 

  C.

Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class C Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of such Shares and shareholder servicing fees of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class C Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class C Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class C Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class C Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  5.

Institutional Class (Class Inst) Shares (formerly known as Class Z Shares).

 

  A.

Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class Inst Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class Inst Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class Inst Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class Inst Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.


  6.

Institutional 2 Class (Class Inst2) Shares (formerly known as Class R5 Shares)

 

  A.

Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class Inst2 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class Inst2 Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class Inst2 Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class Inst2 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  7.

Institutional 3 Class (Class Inst3) Shares (formerly known as Class Y Shares)*

 

  A.

Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class Inst3 Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class Inst3 Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class Inst3 Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class Inst3 Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  *

On March 27, 2017, Class I Shares were exchanged for Class Inst3 Shares (formerly known as Class Y Shares) in a tax free transaction.


  8.

Class R Shares

 

  A.

Initial Sales Charge: None

 

  B.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None

 

  C.

Maximum Distribution Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1, Class R Shares of each Fund may pay distribution fees of up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of such Shares.

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class R Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class R Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class R Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.

 

  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class R Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

  9.

Class V Shares*

 

  A.

Maximum Initial Sales Charge:

 

  (a)

For equity Funds: 5.75%

 

  (b)

For fixed-income Funds: 4.75%

 

  B.

Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: 1.00%

 

  C.

Maximum Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Plan, Class V Shares of each Fund may pay servicing fees of up to 0.50% for equity Funds and 0.40% for fixed income Funds of the average daily net assets of such Shares.

 

  D.

Conversion Features/Exchange Privileges: Class V Shares of a Fund shall have such conversion features and exchange privileges, if any, as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund. Class V Shares of a Fund may generally be exchanged for Class V Shares of Affiliated Funds, subject to exceptions described in the then-current prospectuses of the Fund and Affiliated Fund.


  E.

Other Shareholder Services: Class V Shares of a Fund shall have such arrangements for shareholder services as are determined by or ratified by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and described in the then-current prospectus for such Shares of such Fund.

 

*

Prior to February 24, 2017, Class V Shares were designated Class T Shares.

 

IV.

Board Review.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall review this Plan, including the application of the Relative Net Assets Method and the Settled Shares Method to the Funds, as frequently as it deems necessary. Prior to any material amendment(s) to this Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, shall find that the Plan, as proposed to be amended (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating class and/or Fund expenses), is in the best interests of each class of Shares of the Fund individually and the Fund as a whole. In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.

 

Adopted:    December 9, 1999
Amended and Restated:    September 7, 2010
Update of Funds and Classes:    November 16, 2011
Amended and Restated:    November 1, 2012
Update of Fund and Classes:    February 28, 2013
Update of Funds:    April 30, 2013
Update of Funds and TA   
fee structure    November 1, 2014
Amended to reflect 1st    February 19, 2015
breakpoint (3.00%) load   
change for intermediate   
municipal bond Funds   
Update of Funds    May 1, 2015
Update of Funds    March 1, 2016
Section II amended to reflect    January 1, 2017
changes to transfer agency fees   
Amended to reflect the re-designation    February 15, 2017
of Class T and Class W Shares,   
the designation of new Class T Shares   
and other share class changes   
Amended to reflect changes to Class I   
Shares, to Class B shares and to update   
Classes    June 21, 2017
Amended to remove references to Class B   
following the conversion of all   


remaining Class B shares to Class A shares   
on July 17, 2017    July 18, 2017
Amended and Restated to reflect share   
class renames: Classes R4, R5, Y, Z    November 1, 2017
Amended and restated to reflect Class K changes    March 9, 2018
Amended and restated to reflect Class T changes    September 14, 2018
Amended and restated to update Fund names    June 19, 2019
Updated Fund List    June 17, 2020
Updated Fund List    July 10, 2020
Updated Fund List    June 15, 2021


Schedule A

As of June 15, 2021

Funds and Authorized Classes of Shares – Columbia Funds Series Trust

The Funds are authorized to issue those classes of Shares representing interests in the Funds as indicated in the following table:

 

     Class A*    Class
Adv**
     Class
C
Shares
     Class
Inst
     Class
Inst2
     Class
Inst3***
     Class R
Shares
     Class V
Shares****
 

Columbia California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        

Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Aggressive Portfolio

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R        V  

Columbia Capital Allocation Moderate Conservative Portfolio

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R     

Columbia Convertible Securities Fund

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R     

Columbia Large Cap Enhanced Core Fund

   A      Class Adv           Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R     

Columbia Large Cap Growth Opportunity Fund

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R     

Columbia Large Cap Index Fund

   A            Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        

Columbia Mid Cap Index Fund

   A            Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        

Columbia North Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst           Class Inst3        

Columbia Overseas Value Fund

   A      Class Adv        C        Class Inst        Class Inst2        Class Inst3        R     


Columbia Select Large Cap Equity Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3    R   

Columbia Select Mid Cap Value Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3    R   

Columbia Short Term Bond Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3    R   

Columbia Short Term Municipal Bond Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3      

Columbia Small Cap Index Fund

   A          Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3      

Columbia Small Cap Value Fund II

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst    Class Inst2    Class Inst3    R   

Columbia South Carolina Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst       Class Inst3      

Columbia Virginia Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   A    Class Adv    C    Class Inst       Class Inst3      

 

*

On December 15, 2018, Class T Shares (formerly designated as Class W Shares) are exchanged for Class A Shares in a tax free transaction.

 

**

On March 9, 2018, Class K Shares were exchanged for Class Adv Shares (formerly known as Class R4 Shares) in a tax free transaction.

 

***

On March 27, 2017, Class I Shares were exchanged for Class Inst3 Shares (formerly known as Class Y Shares) in a tax free transaction.

 

****

Prior to February 24, 2017, Class V Shares were designated Class T Shares.