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EXHIBIT 2
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LEADER SHORT TERM BOND FUND
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of ____________________, 2000 between LEADER MUTUAL
FUNDS (formerly "MAGNA FUNDS"), a Massachusetts business trust (herein called
the "Trust"), and Union Planters Bank, National Association, a national bank
(herein called the "Investment Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end, diversified,
management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Investment Adviser to furnish
investment advisory services to the LEADER Short Term Bond Fund (the "Fund"), an
investment portfolio of the Trust, and the Investment Adviser represents that it
is willing and possesses legal authority to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Investment Adviser to act
as investment adviser to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Agreement. The Investment Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to
furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
2. Management. Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of
Trustees, the Investment Adviser will provide a continuous investment program
for the Trust, including investment research and management with respect to all
securities and investments and cash equivalents of the Fund. The Investment
Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other investments
will be purchased, retained or sold by the Trust with respect to the Fund. The
Investment Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance
with the Trust's investment objective, policies and restrictions as stated in
the Prospectus and resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Investment
Adviser further agrees that it:
(a) will use the same skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to any fiduciary accounts for
which it has investment responsibilities;
(b) will conform with all applicable Rules and Regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and in addition will conduct its
activities under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable
regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to the investment
advisory activities of the Investment Adviser;
(c) will place orders pursuant to its investment
determinations for the Trust either directly with the issuer or with
any broker or dealer. In placing orders with brokers and dealers, the
Investment Adviser will attempt to obtain prompt execution of orders in
an effective manner at the most favorable price. Consistent with this
obligation, when the execution and price offered by two or more brokers
or dealers are comparable, the Investment Adviser may, in its
discretion, purchase and sell portfolio securities to and from brokers
and dealers who provide the Investment Adviser with research advice and
other services. Unless and until appropriate procedures are adopted by
the Trustees of the Trust under Rule 17e-1 of the 1940 Act and unless
the provisions of such Rule are complied with, portfolio securities
will not be purchased from or sold to BISYS Fund Services, the
Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Trust, BISYS Fund
Services, or the Investment Adviser;
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(d) will maintain all books and records with respect to the
Trust's securities transactions and will furnish the Trust's Board of
Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board may request;
and
(e) will treat confidentially and as proprietary information
of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust
and prior, present or potential interestholders, 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 where the Investment
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.
3. Services Not Exclusive. The investment management services furnished
by the Investment Adviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the
Investment Adviser shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long
as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
4. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 3la-3
under the 1940 Act, the Investment 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 Investment Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by
Rule 3la-3 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule
3la-1 under the 1940 Act.
5. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment 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 Trust.
6. Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed
pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Investment Adviser and the
Investment Adviser will accept as full compensation therefor a fee computed
daily and paid monthly at the applicable annual rate of 0.55% of average daily
net assets.
7. Limitation of Liability. The Investment Adviser shall not be liable
for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund
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 Investment Adviser in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by the Investment Adviser of its obligations
and duties under this Agreement.
8. Duration and Termination. This Agreement will become effective as to
the Trust as of the date first written above, provided that it shall have been
approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,
in accordance with the requirements under the 1940 Act, and, unless sooner
terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect through December 31,
2002.
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Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for successive periods of twelve months each ending on December 31st of each
year, 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 parties to this Agreement or 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 vote of a majority of the Trust's Board of Trustees or
by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated at any time on
sixty days' written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by
vote of the Fund's Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund) or by the Investment Adviser. This Agreement will
immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. If the Investment Adviser
requires the Trust or the Fund to change its name so as to eliminate all
references to the word "Leader," then this Agreement shall automatically
terminate at the time of such change unless the continuance of this Agreement
after such change shall have been specifically approved by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and by vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust or the
Investment Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval. (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.)
9. 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.
10. Miscellaneous. 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 the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing the Trust
is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed with respect to the Fund
on behalf of the Trust by officers of the Trust as officers and not individually
and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding
upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding
only upon the assets and property belonging to the Fund.
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.
LEADER MUTUAL FUNDS
Seal By:
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Title:
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UNION PLANTERS BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Seal By:
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Title:
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