NORTH AMERICAN FUNDS
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of March 10, 2000, between American General Asset
Management Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Adviser"), and INVESCO Funds
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Subadviser"). In consideration of the
mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF SUBADVISER
The Subadviser undertakes to act as investment subadviser to, and, subject
to the supervision of the Trustees of North American Funds (the "Trust") and the
terms of this Agreement, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets
of the Portfolios specified in Appendix A to this Agreement as it shall be
amended by the Adviser and the Subadviser from time to time (the "Portfolios").
The Subadviser will be an independent contractor and will have no authority to
act for or represent the Trust or Adviser in any way except as expressly
authorized in this Agreement or another writing by the Trust and Adviser.
2. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY THE SUBADVISER TO THE TRUST
a. Subject always to the direction and control of the Trustees of the Trust,
the Subadviser will manage the investments and determine the composition of
the assets of the Portfolios in accordance with the Portfolios'
registration statement, as amended. In fulfilling its obligations to manage
the investments and reinvestments of the assets of the Portfolios, the
Subadviser will:
i. obtain and evaluate pertinent economic, statistical, financial and
other information affecting the economy generally and individual
companies or industries the securities of which are included in the
Portfolios or are under consideration for inclusion in the Portfolios;
ii. formulate and implement a continuous investment program for each
Portfolio consistent with the investment objectives and related
investment policies for each such Portfolio as described in the
Trust's registration statement, as amended;
iii. take whatever steps are necessary to implement these investment
programs by the purchase and sale of securities including the placing
of orders for such purchases and sales;
iv. regularly report to the Trustees of the Trust with respect to the
implementation of these investment programs; and
v. provide assistance to the Trust's Custodian regarding the fair value
of securities held by the Portfolios for which market quotations are
not readily available for purposes of enabling the Trust's Custodian
to calculate net asset value.
b. The Subadviser, at its expense, will furnish (i) all necessary investment
and management facilities, including salaries of personnel required for it
to execute its duties faithfully, and (ii) administrative facilities,
including bookkeeping, clerical personnel and equipment necessary for the
efficient conduct of the investment affairs of the Portfolios (excluding
determination of net asset value and shareholder accounting services).
c. The Subadviser will select brokers and dealers to effect all transactions
subject to the following conditions: The Subadviser will place all orders
with brokers, dealers, or issuers, and will negotiate brokerage commissions
if applicable. The Subadviser is directed at all times to seek to execute
brokerage transactions for the Portfolios in accordance with such policies
or practices as may be established by the Trustees and described in the
Trust's registration statement as amended. The Subadviser may pay a
broker-dealer which provides research and brokerage services a higher
spread or commission for a particular transaction than otherwise might have
been charged by another broker-dealer, if the Subadviser determines that
the higher spread or commission is reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research services that such
broker-dealer provides, viewed in terms of either the particular
transaction or the Subadviser's overall responsibilities with respect to
accounts managed by the Subadviser. The Subadviser may use for the benefit
of the Subadviser's other clients, or make available to companies
affiliated with the Subadviser or to its directors for the benefit of its
clients, any such brokerage and research services that the Subadviser
obtains from brokers or dealers.
d. On occasions when the Subadviser deems the purchase or sale of a security
to be in the best interest of the Portfolio as well as other clients of the
Subadviser, the Subadviser to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may, but shall be under no obligation to, aggregate the
securities to be purchased or sold to attempt to obtain a more favorable
price or lower brokerage commissions and efficient execution. In such
event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the
expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Subadviser in the
manner the Subadviser considers to be the most equitable and consistent
with its fiduciary obligations to the Portfolio and to its other clients.
e. The Subadviser will maintain all accounts, books and records with respect
to the Portfolios as are required by paragraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10)
and (11) of Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Investment Company Act") and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
"Investment Advisers Act") and the rules thereunder.
f. The Subadviser, including its Access Persons (as defined in subsection (e)
of Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act), agrees to observe and
comply with Rule 17j-1 and its Code of Ethics (which shall comply in all
material respects with Rule 17j-1, as the same may be amended from time to
time). On a quarterly basis, the Subadviser will either (i) certify to the
Adviser that the Subadviser and its Access Persons have complied with the
Subadviser's Code of Ethics with respect to the Portfolio or (ii) identify
any material violations which have occurred with respect to the Portfolio.
In addition, the Subadviser will report at least annually to the Adviser
concerning any other violations of the Subadviser's Code of Ethics which
required significant remedial action and which were not previously
reported.
3. COMPENSATION OF SUBADVISER
The Adviser will pay the Subadviser with respect to each Portfolio the
compensation specified in Appendix A to this Agreement.
4. LIABILITY OF SUBADVISER
Neither the Subadviser nor any of its employees shall be liable to the
Adviser or Trust for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust resulting from
any error of judgment made in the good faith exercise of the Subadviser's
investment discretion in connection with selecting Portfolio investments except
for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of,
or from reckless disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its
partners or employees; and neither the Subadviser nor any of its employees shall
be liable to the Adviser or Trust for any loss suffered by the Adviser or Trust
resulting from any other matters to which this Agreement relates (i.e., those
other matters specified in Sections 2 and 8 of this Agreement), except for
losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of, or from disregard of, the duties of the Subadviser or any of its
partners or employees.
5. SUPPLEMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS
The Subadviser may enter into arrangements with other persons affiliated
with the Subadviser to better enable it to fulfill its obligations under this
Agreement for the provision of certain personnel and facilities to the
Subadviser.
2
6. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
It is understood that trustees, officers, agents and shareholders of the
Trust are or may be interested in the Subadviser as trustees, officers, partners
or otherwise; that directors, officers, agents and partners of the Subadviser
are or may be interested in the Trust as trustees, officers, shareholders or
otherwise; that the Subadviser may be interested in the Trust; and that the
existence of any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of
any transactions hereunder except as otherwise provided in the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust and the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Subadviser, respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.
7. REGULATION
The Subadviser shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies
having jurisdiction over the services provided pursuant to this Agreement any
information, reports or other material which any such body by reason of this
Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
8. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement will continue in effect for a
period more than two years from the date of its execution only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually either by the Trustees of
the Trust or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each of the
Portfolios, provided that in either event such continuance shall also be
approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any party to
this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval. The required shareholder approval of the Agreement or of any
continuance of the Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Portfolio if
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the series (as defined in
Rule 18f-2(h) under the Investment Company Act) of shares of that Portfolio
votes to approve the Agreement or its continuance, notwithstanding that the
Agreement or its continuance may not have been approved by a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the
Agreement or (b) all the portfolios of the Trust.
If the shareholders of any Portfolio fail to approve the New Sub-Advisory
Agreement the Subadviser will continue to act as investment subadviser with
respect to such Portfolio pending the required approval of the Agreement or its
continuance or of any contract with the Subadviser or a different adviser or
subadviser or other definitive action; provided, that the compensation received
by the Subadviser in respect of such Portfolio during such period is in
compliance with Rule 15a-4 under the Investment Company Act.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Trust, by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or with respect to any Portfolio by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio,
on sixty days' written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, or by the
Adviser or Subadviser on sixty days' written notice to the Trust and the other
party. This agreement will automatically terminate, without the payment of any
penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) or in the event the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust
terminates for any reason.
9. PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY SUBADVISER
The Subadviser will promptly notify the Adviser in writing of the
occurrence of any of the following events:
a. the Subadviser fails to be registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Subadviser is required to be registered as an investment adviser in order
to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
3
b. the Subadviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any
court, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Trust; and
c. any change in actual control or management of the Subadviser or the
portfolio manager of any Portfolio.
10. PROVISION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY THE ADVISER
The Adviser shall furnish the Subadviser with copies of the Trust's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and any reports made by the
Trust to its shareholders, as soon as practicable after such documents become
available. The Adviser shall furnish the Subadviser with any further documents,
materials or information that the Subadviser may reasonably request to enable it
to perform its duties pursuant to this Agreement.
11. SERVICES TO OTHER CLIENTS
The Adviser understand, and has advised the Trust's Board of Trustees, that
the Subadviser now acts, or may in the future act, as an investment adviser to
fiduciary and other managed accounts and as investment adviser or subadviser to
other investment companies. Further, the Adviser understands, and has advised
the Trust's Board of Trustees that the Subadviser and its affiliates may give
advice and take action for its accounts, including investment companies, which
differs from advice given on the timing or nature of action taken for the
Portfolio. The Subadviser is not obligated to initiate transaction for the
Portfolio in any security which the Subadviser, its principals, affiliates or
employees may purchase or sell for their own accounts or other clients.
12. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of each of the Portfolios affected by the amendment and by the vote
of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust 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. The required shareholder approval shall be effective
with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of that Portfolio vote to approve the amendment, notwithstanding that the
amendment may not have been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of (a) any other Portfolio affected by the amendment or (b) all the
portfolios of the Trust.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement of the
parties.
14. HEADINGS
The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof.
15. NOTICES
All notices required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered or mailed to the last known business address of the Trust or
applicable party in person or by registered mail or a private mail or delivery
service providing the sender with notice of receipt. Notice shall be deemed
given on the date delivered or mailed in accordance with this paragraph.
4
16. SEVERABILITY
Should any portion of this Agreement for any reason be held to be void in
law or in equity, the Agreement shall be construed, insofar as is possible, as
if such portion had never been contained herein.
17. GOVERNING LAW
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the
applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of the provisions in this
Agreement, conflict with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act,
the latter shall control.
18. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February
18, 1994, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto (the
"Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, provides that the name "North American Funds" refers to the
Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals
or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the
Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their
private property, for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim, in connection
with the affairs of the Trust or any portfolio thereof, but only the assets
belonging to the Trust, or to the particular portfolio with which the obligee or
claimant dealt, shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
under seal by their duly authorized officers as of the date first mentioned
above.
American General Asset Management Corp.
by: ______________________________
` INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.
by: ______________________________
5
APPENDIX A
The Subadviser shall serve as investment subadviser for the following
portfolios of the Trust. The Adviser will pay the Subadviser, as full
compensation for all services provided under this Agreement, the fee computed
separately for each such Portfolio at an annual rate as follows (the "Subadviser
Percentage Fee"):
Mid Cap Growth Fund: .550% of the first $50,000,000, .500% between
$50,000,000 and $100,000,000, .450% between $100,000,000 and $250,000,000,
.400% between $250,000,000 and $500,000,000 and .350% on the excess over
$500,000,000 of the average net assets of the Fund.
Balanced Fund : .400% of the first $50,000,000, .400% between $50,000,000
and $100,000,000, .350% between $100,000,000 and $250,000,000 and .300% on
the excess over $250,000,000 of the average net assets of the Fund.
The Subadviser Percentage Fee for each Portfolio shall be accrued for each
calendar day and the sum of the daily fee accruals shall be paid monthly to the
Subadviser. The daily fee accruals will be computed by multiplying the fraction
of one over the number of calendar days in the year by the applicable annual
rate described in the preceding paragraph, and multiplying this product by the
net assets of the Portfolio as determined in accordance with the Trust's
prospectus and statement of additional information as of the close of business
on the previous business day on which the Trust was open for business.
If this Agreement becomes effective or terminates before the end of any month,
the fee (if any) for the period from the effective date to the end of such month
or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the case may
be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the
full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
6
