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Exhibit 5(a)
ARMADA FUNDS
ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of November 19, 1997 between ARMADA FUNDS, a
Massachusetts business trust, located in Oaks, Pennsylvania (the "Trust") and
NATIONAL CITY BANK, located in Cleveland, Ohio (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end, management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Adviser as investment adviser
to the Money Market, Treasury, Government, Tax Exempt, Pennsylvania Tax Exempt,
National Tax Exempt, Fixed Income, GNMA, Intermediate Government, Equity Growth,
Equity Income, Mid Cap Regional, Ohio Tax Exempt and Pennsylvania Municipal
Funds (individually, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed among the parties hereto as follows:
1. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Adviser acknowledges that it has received
copies of each of the following:
(a) The Trust's Declaration of Trust, as filed with the
State Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
on January 29, 1986 and all amendments thereto (such
Declaration of Trust, as presently in effect and as
it shall from time to time be amended, is herein
called the "Declaration of Trust");
(b) The Trust's Code of Regulations, and amendments
thereto (such Code of Regulations, as presently in
effect and as it shall from time to time be amended,
is herein called the "Code of Regulations");
(c) Resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees
authorizing the appointment of the Adviser and
approving this Agreement;
(d) The Trust's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A
under the 1940 Act as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") on September 26, 1985 and
all amendments thereto;
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(e) The Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act")
(File No. 33-488) and under the 1940 Act as filed
with the SEC on September 26, 1985 and all amendments
thereto; and
(f) The Trust's most recent prospectuses and statements
of additional information with respect to the Funds
(such prospectuses and statements of additional
information, as presently in effect and all
amendments and supplements thereto are herein called
individually, a "Prospectus", and collectively, the
"Prospectuses").
The Trust will furnish the Adviser from time to time with
execution copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing.
2. SERVICES. The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as investment
adviser to the Funds for the period and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. Intending to be legally bound, the Adviser accepts such
appointment and agrees to furnish the services required herein to the
Funds for the compensation hereinafter provided.
Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees,
the Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for each Fund,
including investment research and management with respect to all
securities and investments and cash equivalents in each Fund. The
Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other
investments will be purchased, retained or sold by each Fund. The
Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance
with each Fund's investment objective, policies, and restrictions as
stated in the Prospectus and resolutions of the Trust's Board of
Trustees applicable to such Fund.
3. SUBCONTRACTORS. It is understood that the Adviser may from time to
time employ or associate with itself such person or persons as the
Adviser may believe to be particularly fitted to assist in the
performance of this Agreement; provided, however, that the compensation
of such person or persons shall be paid by the Adviser and that the
Adviser shall be as fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and
omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts and omissions.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that
investment advisory service to any Fund may be provided by a
subcontractor agreeable to the Adviser and approved in accordance with
the provisions of the 1940 Act. Any such sub-advisers are hereinafter
referred to as the "Sub-Advisers." In the event that any Sub-Adviser
appointed hereunder is terminated, the Adviser
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may provide investment advisory services pursuant to this Agreement to
the Funds involved without further shareholder approval.
Notwithstanding the employment of any Sub-Adviser, the Adviser shall in
all events: (a) establish and monitor general investment criteria and
policies for each Fund; (b) review investments in each Fund on a
periodic basis for compliance with its investment objective, policies
and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus; (c) review periodically
any Sub-Adviser's policies with respect to the placement of orders for
the purchase and sale of portfolio securities; (d) review, monitor,
analyze and report to the Board of Trustees on the performance of any
Sub-Adviser; (e) furnish to the Board of Trustees or any Sub-Adviser,
reports, statistics and economic information as may be reasonably
requested; and (f) recommend, either in its sole discretion or in
conjunction with any Sub-Adviser, potential changes in investment
policy.
4. COVENANTS BY ADVISER. The Adviser agrees with respect to the
services provided to each Fund that it:
(a) will comply with all applicable Rules and Regulations
of the SEC and will in addition conduct its
activities under this Agreement in accordance with
other applicable law;
(b) will use the same skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to similar
fiduciary accounts for which it has investment
responsibilities;
(c) will not make loans to any person to purchase or
carry shares in the Funds, or make interest-bearing
loans to the Trust or the Funds;
(d) will maintain a policy and practice of conducting its
investment management activities independently of the
Commercial Departments of all banking affiliates. In
making investment recommendations for the Funds,
personnel will not inquire or take into consideration
whether the issuers (or related supporting
institutions) of securities proposed for purchase or
sale for the Funds' accounts are customers of the
Commercial Department. In dealing with commercial
customers, the Commercial Department will not inquire
or take into consideration whether securities of
those customers are held by the Funds;
(e) will place orders pursuant to its investment
determinations for the Funds either directly with the
issuer or with any broker or dealer. In selecting
brokers or dealers for executing portfolio
transactions, the Adviser will use its
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best efforts to seek on behalf of the Trust and each
Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing
the best overall terms available for any transaction
the Adviser shall consider all factors it deems
relevant, including the breadth of the market in the
security, the price of the security, the financial
condition and execution capability of the broker or
dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if
any, both for the specific transaction and on a
continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall
terms available, and in selecting the broker or
dealer to execute a particular transaction, the
Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research
services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
provided to any Fund and/or other accounts over which
the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser exercises
investment discretion. The Adviser is authorized,
subject to the prior approval of the Board, to
negotiate and pay to a broker or dealer who provides
such brokerage and research services a commission for
executing a portfolio transaction for any Fund which
is in excess of the amount of commission another
broker or dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction if, but only if, the Adviser
determines in good faith that such commission was
reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage
and research services provided by such broker or
dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction
or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the
Adviser with respect to the accounts as to which it
exercises investment discretion. In no instance will
fund securities be purchased from or sold to the
Adviser, any Sub-Adviser, SEI Investments
Distribution Co. ("SEI") (or any other principal
underwriter to the Trust) or an affiliated person of
either the Trust, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or SEI
(or such other principal underwriter) unless
permitted by an order of the SEC or applicable rules.
In executing portfolio transactions for any Fund, the
Adviser may, but shall not be obligated to, to the
extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations,
aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased with
those of other Funds and its other clients where such
aggregation is not inconsistent with the policies set
forth in the Trust's registration statement. In such
event, the Adviser will allocate the securities so
purchased or sold, and the expenses incurred in the
transaction, in the manner it considers to be the
most equitable and consistent
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with its fiduciary obligations to the Funds and such
other clients;
(f) will maintain all books and records with respect to
the securities transactions for the Funds and furnish
the Trust's Board of Trustees such periodic and
special reports as the Board may request; and
(g) will treat confidentially and as proprietary
information of the Trust all records and other
information relative to the Funds and prior, present
or potential shareholders, and will not use such
records and information for any purpose other than
performance of its responsibilities and duties
hereunder (except after prior notification to and
approval in writing by the Trust, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld and will be deemed granted where the Adviser
may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to
divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Trust).
5. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The services furnished by the Adviser
hereunder are deemed not to be exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free
to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under
this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
6. BOOKS AND RECORDS. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further
agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the
Trust's request. The Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
7. EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser will pay
all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under
this Agreement other than the cost of securities (including brokerage
commissions, if any) purchased for the Funds.
8. COMPENSATION. For the services provided and the expenses assumed
pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Adviser from the
assets belonging to the Funds and the Adviser will accept as full
compensation therefor fees, computed daily and paid monthly, at the
following annual rates: .35% of the average daily net assets of the
Money Market Fund; .35% of the average daily net assets of the
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Government Fund; .30% of the average daily net assets of the Treasury
Fund; .35% of the average daily net assets of the Tax Exempt Fund; .40%
of the average daily net assets of the Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Fund;
.55% of the average daily net assets of the Ohio Tax Exempt Fund; .55%
of the average daily net assets of the Pennsylvania Municipal Fund;
.55% of the average daily net assets of the Fixed Income Fund; .55% of
the average daily net assets of the GNMA Fund; .55% of the average
daily net assets of the Intermediate Government Fund; .75% of the
average daily net assets of the Mid Cap Regional Fund; .75% of the
average daily net assets of the Equity Growth Fund; and .75% of the
average daily net assets of the Equity Income Fund.
The fee attributable to each Fund shall be the several (and
not joint or joint and several) obligation of each Fund.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Adviser shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Trust in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a
loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser
in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of
its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement will become effective with
respect to each Fund upon approval of this Agreement by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of each such Fund, and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect
until September 30, 1998. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement
shall continue in effect with respect to a particular Fund for
successive twelve month periods ending on September 30, PROVIDED such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote
of a majority of those members of the Trust's Board of Trustees who are
not interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b)
by the Trust's Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by the Trust's Board
of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the particular Fund), or by the Adviser on 60 days'
written notice. This Agreement will immediately terminate in the event
of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of
the outstanding voting securities," "interested persons" and
"assignment" shall have the same meaning of such terms in the 1940
Act.)
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11. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of
the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. No amendment of
this Agreement shall be effective with respect to a Fund until approved
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that
Fund.
12. MISCELLANEOUS. The Adviser expressly agrees that notwithstanding
the termination of or failure to continue this Agreement with respect
to a particular Fund, the Adviser shall continue to be legally bound to
provide the services required herein for the other Funds for the period
and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The captions in this
Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way
define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall
be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or
otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and shall
be governed by Delaware law.
13. NAMES. The names "ARMADA FUNDS" and "Trustees of ARMADA FUNDS"
refer respectively to the Trust created and the Trustees, as trustees
but not individually or personally, acting from time to time under a
Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1986 which is hereby referred to
and a copy of which is on file at the office of the State Secretary of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the principal office of the
Trust. The obligations of "ARMADA FUNDS" entered into in the name or on
behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents are
made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon
any of the Trustees, shareholders, or representatives of the Trust
personally, but bind only the Trust property, and all persons dealing
with any class of shares of the Trust must look solely to the Trust
property belonging to such class for the enforcement of any claims
against the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
instrument to be executed by their officers designated below as of the
day and year first above written.
SIGNATURES OMITTED
