ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
P.O. Box 730
Burlington, Vermont 05402-0730
INVESTMENT COMPANY BLANKET BOND
ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
P.O. Box 730
Burlington, Vermont 05402-0730
DECLARATIONS
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ITEM 1. Name of Insured (the "Insured") Bond Number
FIDUCIARY/CLAYMORE MLP OPPORTUNITY FUND 05716707B
Principal Address: c/o Claymore Securities, Inc.
2455 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, IL 60532
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ITEM 2. Bond Period: from 12:01 a.m. on December 22, 2007, to 12:01 a.m. on
March 31, 2008, or the earlier effective date of the termination of this
Bond, standard time at the Principal Address as to each of said dates.
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ITEM 3. Limit of Liability-
Subject to Sections 9,10, and 12 hereof:
LIMIT OF DEDECTIBLE
LIABILITY AMOUNT
Insuring Agreement A- FIDELITY $900,000 N/A
Insuring Agreement B- AUDIT EXPENSE $50,000 $10,000
Insuring Agreement C- ON PREMISES $900,000 $25,000
Insuring Agreement D- IN TRANSIT $900,000 $25,000
Insuring Agreement E- FORGERY OR ALTERATION $900,000 $25,000
Insuring Agreement F- SECURITIES $900,000 $25,000
Insuring Agreement G- COUTNERFEIT CURRENCY $900,000 $25,000
Insuring Agreement H- UNCOLLECTIBLE ITEMS OF DEPOSIT $25,000 $5,000
Insuring Agreement I- PHONE/ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS Not Covered Not Covered
If "Not Covered" is inserted opposite any Insuring Agreement above,
such Insuring Agreement and any reference thereto shall be deemed to be
deleted from this Bond.
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ITEM 4. Offices or Premises Covered--All the Insured's offices or other
premises in existence at the time this Bond becomes effective are
covered under this Bond, except the offices or other premises excluded
by Rider. Offices or other premises acquired or established after the
effective date of this Bond are covered subject to the terms of General
Agreement A.
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ITEM 5. The liability of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (the "Underwriter") is
subject to the terms of the following Riders attached hereto:
Riders: 1
and of all Riders applicable to this Bond issued during the
Bond Period.
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By: /S/ Matthew Link
---------------------------------
Authorized Representative
Bond (12/03)
INVESTMENT COMPANY BLANKET BOND
ICI Mutual Insurance Company (the "Underwriter"), in consideration of an agreed
premium, and in reliance upon the Application and all other information
furnished to the Underwriter by the Insured, and subject to and in accordance
with the Declarations, General Agreements, Provisions, Conditions and
Limitations and other terms of this bond (including all riders hereto) ("Bond"),
to the extent of the Limit of Liability and subject to the Deductible Amount,
agrees to indemnify the Insured for the loss, as described in the Insuring
Agreements, sustained by the Insured at any time but discovered during the Bond
Period.
INSURING AGREEMENTS
A. FIDELITY
Loss (including loss of Property) caused by any Dishonest or Fraudulent Act
or Theft committed by an Employee anywhere, alone or in collusion with
other persons (whether or not Employees), during the time such Employee has
the status of an Employee as defined herein, and even if such loss is not
discovered until after he or she ceases to be an Employee, EXCLUDING loss
covered under Insuring Agreement B.
B. AUDIT EXPENSE
Expense incurred by the Insured for that part of audits or examinations
required by any governmental regulatory authority or Self Regulatory
Organization to be conducted by such authority or Organization or by an
independent accountant or other person, by reason of the discovery of loss
sustained by the Insured and covered by this Bond.
C. ON PREMISES
Loss of Property (including damage thereto or destruction thereof) located
or reasonably believed by the Insured to be located within the Insured's
offices or premises, caused by Theft or by any Dishonest or Fraudulent Act
or through Mysterious Disappearance, EXCLUDING loss covered under Insuring
Agreement A.
D. IN TRANSIT
Loss of Property (including damage thereto or destruction thereof) while
the Property is in transit in the custody of any person authorized by an
Insured to act as a messenger, except while in the mail or with a carrier
for hire (other than a Security Company), EXCLUDING loss covered under
Insuring Agreement A. Property is "in transit" beginning immediately upon
receipt of such Property by the transporting person and ending immediately
upon delivery at the specified destination.
E. FORGERY OR ALTERATION
Loss caused by the Forgery or Alteration of or on (1) any bills of
exchange, checks, drafts, or other written orders or directions to pay
certain sums in money, acceptances, certificates of deposit, due bills,
money orders, or letters of credit; or (2) other written instructions,
requests or applications to the Insured, authorizing or acknowledging the
transfer, payment, redemption, delivery or receipt of Property, or giving
notice of any bank account, which instructions or requests or applications
purport to
have been signed or endorsed by (a) any customer of the Insured, or (b) any
shareholder of or subscriber to shares issued by any Investment Company, or
(c) any financial or banking institution or stockbroker; or (3) withdrawal
orders or receipts for the withdrawal of Property, or receipts or
certificates of deposit for Property and bearing the name of the Insured as
issuer or of another Investment Company for which the Insured acts as
agent.
This Insuring Agreement E does not cover loss caused by Forgery or
Alteration of Securities or loss covered under Insuring Agreement A.
F. SECURITIES
Loss resulting from the Insured, in good faith, in the ordinary course of
business, and in any capacity whatsoever, whether for its own account or
for the account of others, having acquired, accepted or received, or sold
or delivered, or given any value, extended any credit or assumed any
liability on the faith of any Securities, where such loss results from the
fact that such Securities (1) were Counterfeit, or (2) were lost or stolen,
or (3) contain a Forgery or Alteration, and notwithstanding whether or not
the act of the Insured causing such loss violated the constitution,
by-laws, rules or regulations of any Self Regulatory Organization, whether
or not the Insured was a member thereof, EXCLUDING loss covered under
Insuring Agreement A.
G. COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY
Loss caused by the Insured in good faith having received or accepted (1)
any money orders which prove to be Counterfeit or to contain an Alteration
or (2) paper currencies or coin of the United States of America or Canada
which prove to be Counterfeit.
This Insuring Agreement G does not cover loss covered under Insuring
Agreement A.
H. UNCOLLECTIBLE ITEMS OF DEPOSIT
Loss resulting from the payment of dividends, issuance of Fund shares or
redemptions or exchanges permitted from an account with the Fund as a
consequence of
(1) uncollectible Items of Deposit of a Fund's customer, shareholder or
subscriber credited by the Insured or its agent to such person's Fund
account, or
(2) any Item of Deposit processed through an automated clearing house which
is reversed by a Fund's customer, shareholder or subscriber and is
deemed uncollectible by the Insured;
PROVIDED, that (a) Items of Deposit shall not be deemed uncollectible until
the Insured's collection procedures have failed, (b) exchanges of shares
between Funds with exchange privileges shall be covered hereunder only if
all such Funds are insured by the Underwriter for uncollectible Items of
Deposit, and (c) the Insured Fund shall have implemented and maintained a
policy to hold Items of Deposit for the minimum number of days stated in
its Application (as amended from time to time) before paying any dividend
or permitting any withdrawal with respect to such Items of Deposit (other
than exchanges between Funds). Regardless of the number of transactions
between Funds in an exchange program, the minimum number of days an Item of
Deposit must be held shall begin from the date the Item of Deposit was
first credited to any Insured Fund.
This Insuring Agreement H does not cover loss covered under Insuring
Agreement A.
I. PHONE/ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS
Loss caused by a Phone/Electronic Transaction, where the request for such
Phone/Electronic Transaction:
(1) is transmitted to the Insured or its agents by voice over the
telephone or by Electronic Transmission; and
(2) is made by an individual purporting to be a Fund shareholder or
subscriber or an authorized agent of a Fund shareholder or subscriber;
and
(3) is unauthorized or fraudulent and is made with the manifest intent to
deceive;
PROVIDED, that the entity receiving such request generally maintains and
follows during the Bond Period all Phone/Electronic Transaction Security
Procedures with respect to all Phone/Electronic Transactions; and
EXCLUDING loss resulting from:
(1) the failure to pay for shares attempted to be purchased; or
(2) any redemption of Investment Company shares which had been improperly
credited to a shareholder's account where such shareholder (a) did not
cause, directly or indirectly, such shares to be credited to such
account, and (b) directly or indirectly received any proceeds or other
benefit from such redemption; or
(3) any redemption of shares issued by an Investment Company where the
proceeds of such redemption were requested to be paid or made payable
to other than (a) the Shareholder of Record, or (b) any other person
or bank account designated to receive redemption proceeds (i) in the
initial account application, or (ii) in writing (not to include
Electronic Transmission) accompanied by a signature guarantee; or
(4) any redemption of shares issued by an Investment Company where the
proceeds of such redemption were requested to be sent to other than
any address for such account which was designated (a) in the initial
account application, or (b) in writing (not to include Electronic
Transmission), where such writing is received at least one (1) day
prior to such redemption request, or (c) by voice over the telephone
or by Electronic Transmission at least fifteen (15) days prior to such
redemption; or
(5) the intentional failure to adhere to one or more Phone/Electronic
Transaction Security Procedures; or
(6) a Phone/Electronic Transaction request transmitted by electronic mail
or transmitted by any method not subject to the Phone/Electronic
Transaction Security Procedures; or
(7) the failure or circumvention of any physical or electronic protection
device, including any firewall, that imposes restrictions on the flow
of electronic traffic in or out of any Computer System.
This Insuring Agreement I does not cover loss covered under Insuring
Agreement A, "Fidelity" or Insuring Agreement J, "Computer Security".
GENERAL AGREEMENTS
A. ADDITIONAL OFFICES OR EMPLOYEES--CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER--NOTICE
1. Except as provided in paragraph 2 below, this Bond shall apply to any
additional office(s) established by the Insured during the Bond Period
and to all Employees during the Bond Period, without the need to give
notice thereof or pay additional premiums to the Underwriter for the
Bond Period.
2. If during the Bond Period an Insured Investment Company shall merge or
consolidate with an institution in which such Insured is the surviving
entity, or purchase substantially all the assets or capital stock of
another institution, or acquire or create a separate investment
portfolio, and shall within sixty (60) days notify the Underwriter
thereof, then this Bond shall automatically apply to the Property and
Employees resulting from such merger, consolidation, acquisition or
creation from the date thereof; provided, that the Underwriter may make
such coverage contingent upon the payment of an additional premium.
B. WARRANTY
No statement made by or on behalf of the Insured, whether contained in the
Application or otherwise, shall be deemed to be an absolute warranty, but
only a warranty that such statement is true to the best of the knowledge of
the person responsible for such statement.
C. COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEYS' FEES
The Underwriter will indemnify the Insured against court costs and
reasonable attorneys' fees incurred and paid by the Insured in defense of
any legal proceeding brought against the Insured claiming that the Insured
is liable for any loss, claim or damage which, if established against the
Insured, would constitute a loss sustained by the Insured covered under the
terms of this Bond; provided, however, that with respect to Insuring
Agreement A this indemnity shall apply only in the event that
1. an Employee admits to having committed or is adjudicated to have
committed a Dishonest or Fraudulent Act or Theft which caused the loss;
or
2. in the absence of such an admission or adjudication, an arbitrator or
arbitrators acceptable to the Insured and the Underwriter concludes,
after a review of an agreed statement of facts, that an Employee has
committed a Dishonest or Fraudulent Act or Theft which caused the loss.
The Insured shall promptly give notice to the Underwriter of any such legal
proceeding and upon request shall furnish the Underwriter with copies of
all pleadings and other papers therein. At the Underwriter's election the
Insured shall permit the Underwriter to conduct the defense of such legal
proceeding in the Insured's name, through attorneys of the Underwriter's
selection. In such event, the Insured shall give all reasonable information
and assistance which the Underwriter shall deem necessary to the proper
defense of such legal proceeding.
If the amount of the Insured's liability or alleged liability in any such
legal proceeding is greater than the amount which the Insured would be
entitled to recover under this Bond (other than pursuant to this General
Agreement C), or if a Deductible Amount is applicable, or both, the
indemnity liability of the Underwriter under this General Agreement C is
limited to the proportion of court costs and attorneys' fees incurred and
paid by the Insured or by the Underwriter that the amount which the Insured
would be
entitled to recover under this Bond (other than pursuant to this General
Agreement C) bears to the sum of such amount plus the amount which the
Insured is not entitled to recover. Such indemnity shall be in addition to
the Limit of Liability for the applicable Insuring Agreement.
THIS BOND, INCLUDING THE FOREGOING INSURING AGREEMENTS
AND GENERAL AGREEMENTS, IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING
PROVISIONS, CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
The following terms used in this Bond shall have the meanings stated in this
Section:
A. "ALTERATION" means the marking, changing or altering in a material way
of the terms, meaning or legal effect of a document with the intent to
deceive.
B. "APPLICATION" means the Insured's application (and any attachments and
materials submitted in connection therewith) furnished to the
Underwriter for this Bond.
C. "COMPUTER SYSTEM" means (1) computers with related peripheral
components, including storage components, (2) systems and applications
software, (3) terminal devices, (4) related communications networks or
customer communication systems, and (5) related electronic funds
transfer systems; by which data or monies are electronically
collected, transmitted, processed, stored or retrieved.
D. "COUNTERFEIT" means, with respect to any item, one which is false but
is intended to deceive and to be taken for the original authentic
item.
E. "DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT" means, with respect to any Insuring Agreement, the
amount set forth under the heading "Deductible Amount" in Item 3 of
the Declarations or in any Rider for such Insuring Agreement,
applicable to each Single Loss covered by such Insuring Agreement.
F. "DEPOSITORY" means any "securities depository" (other than any foreign
securities depository) in which an Investment Company may deposit its
Securities in accordance with Rule 17f-4 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940.
G. "DISHONEST OR FRAUDULENT ACT" means any dishonest or fraudulent act,
including "larceny and embezzlement" as defined in Section 37 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, committed with the conscious manifest
intent (1) to cause the Insured to sustain a loss and (2) to obtain
financial benefit for the perpetrator or any other person (other than
salaries, commissions, fees, bonuses, awards, profit sharing, pensions
or other employee benefits). A Dishonest or Fraudulent Act does not
mean or include a reckless act, a negligent act, or a grossly
negligent act.
H. "ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION" means any transmission effected by
electronic means, including but not limited to a transmission effected
by telephone tones, Telefacsimile, wireless device, or over the
Internet.
I. "EMPLOYEE" means:
(1) each officer, director, trustee, partner or employee of the
Insured, and
(2) each officer, director, trustee, partner or employee of any
predecessor of the Insured whose principal assets are acquired by
the Insured by consolidation or merger with, or purchase of
assets or capital stock of, such predecessor, and
(3) each attorney performing legal services for the Insured and each
employee of such attorney or of the law firm of such attorney
while performing services for the Insured, and
(4) each student who is an authorized intern of the Insured, while in
any of the Insured's offices, and
(5) each officer, director, trustee, partner or employee of
(a) an investment adviser,
(b) an underwriter (distributor),
(c) a transfer agent or shareholder accounting recordkeeper, or
(d) an administrator authorized by written agreement to keep
financial and/or other required records,
for an Investment Company named as an Insured, but only while (i)
such officer, partner or employee is performing acts coming
within the scope of the usual duties of an officer or employee of
an Insured, or (ii) such officer, director, trustee, partner or
employee is acting as a member of any committee duly elected or
appointed to examine or audit or have custody of or access to the
Property of the Insured, or (iii) such director or trustee (or
anyone acting in a similar capacity) is acting outside the scope
of the usual duties of a director or trustee; provided, that the
term "Employee" shall not include any officer, director, trustee,
partner or employee of a transfer agent, shareholder accounting
recordkeeper or administrator (x) which is not an "affiliated
person" (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940) of an Investment Company named as Insured or of the
adviser or underwriter of such Investment Company, or (y) which
is a "Bank" (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940), and
(6) each individual assigned, by contract or by any agency furnishing
temporary personnel, in either case on a contingent or part-time
basis, to perform the usual duties of an employee in any office
of the Insured, and
(7) each individual assigned to perform the usual duties of an
employee or officer of any entity authorized by written agreement
with the Insured to perform services as electronic data processor
of checks or other accounting records of the Insured, but
excluding a processor which acts as transfer agent or in any
other agency capacity for the Insured in issuing checks, drafts
or securities, unless included under subsection (5) hereof, and
(8) each officer, partner or employee of
(a) any Depository or Exchange,
(b) any nominee in whose name is registered any Security
included in the systems for the central handling of
securities established and maintained by any Depository, and
(c) any recognized service company which provides clerks or
other personnel to any Depository or Exchange on a contract
basis,
while such officer, partner or employee is performing services for
any Depository in the operation of systems for the central
handling of securities, and
(9) in the case of an Insured which is an "employee benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 ("ERISA")) for officers, directors or employees of
another Insured ("In-House Plan"), any "fiduciary" or other "plan
official" (within the meaning of Section 412 of ERISA) of such
In-House Plan, provided that such fiduciary or other plan
official is a director, partner, officer, trustee or employee of
an Insured (other than an In-House Plan).
Each employer of temporary personnel and each entity referred to in
subsections (6) and (7) and their respective partners, officers and
employees shall collectively be deemed to be one person for all the
purposes of this Bond.
Brokers, agents, independent contractors, or representatives of the same
general character shall not be considered Employees, except as provided in
subsections (3), (6), and (7).
J. "EXCHANGE" means any national securities exchange registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
K. "FORGERY" means the physical signing on a document of the name of
another person (whether real or fictitious) with the intent to
deceive. A Forgery may be by means of mechanically reproduced
facsimile signatures as well as handwritten signatures. Forgery does
not include the signing of an individual's own name, regardless of
such individual's authority, capacity or purpose.
L. "ITEMS OF DEPOSIT" means one or more checks or drafts.
M. "INVESTMENT COMPANY" or "Fund" means an investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
N. "LIMIT OF LIABILITY" means, with respect to any Insuring Agreement,
the limit of liability of the Underwriter for any Single Loss covered
by such Insuring Agreement as set forth under the heading "Limit of
Liability" in Item 3 of the Declarations or in any Rider for such
Insuring Agreement.
O. "MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE" means any disappearance of Property which,
after a reasonable investigation has been conducted, cannot be
explained.
P. "NON-FUND" means any corporation, business trust, partnership, trust
or other entity which is not an Investment Company.
Q. "PHONE/ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION SECURITY PROCEDURES" means security
procedures for Phone/Electronic Transactions as provided in writing to
the Underwriter.
R. "PHONE/ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION" means any (1) redemption of shares
issued by an Investment Company, (2) election concerning dividend
options available to Fund shareholders, (3) exchange of shares in a
registered account of one Fund into shares in an identically
registered account of another Fund in the same complex pursuant to
exchange privileges of the two Funds, or (4) purchase of shares issued
by an Investment Company, which redemption, election, exchange or
purchase is requested by voice over the telephone or through an
Electronic Transmission.
S. "PROPERTY" means the following tangible items: money, postage and
revenue stamps, precious metals, Securities, bills of exchange,
acceptances, checks, drafts, or other written orders or directions to
pay sums certain in money, certificates of deposit, due bills, money
orders, letters of credit, financial futures contracts, conditional
sales contracts, abstracts of title, insurance policies, deeds,
mortgages, and assignments of any of the foregoing, and other valuable
papers, including books of account and other records used by the
Insured in the conduct of its business, and all other instruments
similar to or in the nature of the foregoing (but excluding all data
processing records), in which the Insured has an interest or in which
the Insured acquired or should have acquired an
interest by reason of a predecessor's declared financial condition at
the time of the Insured's consolidation or merger with, or purchase of
the principal assets of, such predecessor or which are held by the
Insured for any purpose or in any capacity.
T. "SECURITIES" means original negotiable or non-negotiable agreements or
instruments which represent an equitable or legal interest, ownership
or debt (including stock certificates, bonds, promissory notes, and
assignments thereof), which are in the ordinary course of business and
transferable by physical delivery with appropriate endorsement or
assignment. "Securities" does not include bills of exchange,
acceptances, certificates of deposit, checks, drafts, or other written
orders or directions to pay sums certain in money, due bills, money
orders, or letters of credit.
U. "SECURITY COMPANY" means an entity which provides or purports to
provide the transport of Property by secure means, including, without
limitation, by use of armored vehicles or guards.
V. "SELF REGULATORY ORGANIZATION" means any association of investment
advisers or securities dealers registered under the federal securities
laws, or any Exchange.
W. "SHAREHOLDER OF RECORD" means the record owner of shares issued by an
Investment Company or, in the case of joint ownership of such shares,
all record owners, as designated (1) in the initial account
application, or (2) in writing accompanied by a signature guarantee,
or (3) pursuant to procedures as set forth in the Application.
X. "SINGLE LOSS" means:
(1) all loss resulting from any one actual or attempted Theft
committed by one person, or
(2) all loss caused by any one act (other than a Theft or a Dishonest
or Fraudulent Act) committed by one person, or
(3) all loss caused by Dishonest or Fraudulent Acts committed by one
person, or
(4) all expenses incurred with respect to any one audit or
examination, or
(5) all loss caused by any one occurrence or event other than those
specified in subsections (1) through (4) above.
All acts or omissions of one or more persons which directly or
indirectly aid or, by failure to report or otherwise, permit the
continuation of an act referred to in subsections (1) through (3)
above of any other person shall be deemed to be the acts of such other
person for purposes of this subsection.
All acts or occurrences or events which have as a common nexus any
fact, circumstance, situation, transaction or series of facts,
circumstances, situations, or transactions shall be deemed to be one
act, one occurrence, or one event.
Y. "TELEFACSIMILE" means a system of transmitting and reproducing fixed
graphic material (as, for example, printing) by means of signals
transmitted over telephone lines or over the Internet.
Z. "THEFT" means robbery, burglary or hold-up, occurring with or without
violence or the threat of violence.
SECTION 2. EXCLUSIONS
THIS BOND DOES NOT COVER:
A. Loss resulting from (1) riot or civil commotion outside the United
States of America and Canada, or (2) war, revolution, insurrection,
action by armed forces, or usurped power, wherever occurring; except
if such loss occurs in transit, is otherwise covered under Insuring
Agreement D, and when such transit was initiated, the Insured or any
person initiating such transit on the Insured's behalf had no
knowledge of such riot, civil commotion, war, revolution,
insurrection, action by armed forces, or usurped power.
B. Loss in time of peace or war resulting from nuclear fission or fusion
or radioactivity, or biological or chemical agents or hazards, or
fire, smoke, or explosion, or the effects of any of the foregoing.
C. Loss resulting from any Dishonest or Fraudulent Act committed by any
person while acting in the capacity of a member of the Board of
Directors or any equivalent body of the Insured or of any other
entity.
D. Loss resulting from any nonpayment or other default of any loan or
similar transaction made by the Insured or any of its partners,
directors, officers or employees, whether or not authorized and
whether procured in good faith or through a Dishonest or Fraudulent
Act, unless such loss is otherwise covered under Insuring Agreement A,
E or F.
E. Loss resulting from any violation by the Insured or by any Employee of
any law, or any rule or regulation pursuant thereto or adopted by a
Self Regulatory Organization, regulating the issuance, purchase or
sale of securities, securities transactions upon security exchanges or
over the counter markets, Investment Companies, or investment
advisers, unless such loss, in the absence of such law, rule or
regulation, would be covered under Insuring Agreement A, E or F.
F. Loss of Property while in the custody of any Security Company, unless
such loss is covered under this Bond and is in excess of the amount
recovered or received by the Insured under (1) the Insured's contract
with such Security Company, and (2) insurance or indemnity of any kind
carried by such Security Company for the benefit of, or otherwise
available to, users of its service, in which case this Bond shall
cover only such excess, subject to the applicable Limit of Liability
and Deductible Amount.
G. Potential income, including but not limited to interest and dividends,
not realized by the Insured because of a loss covered under this Bond,
except when covered under Insuring Agreement H.
H. Loss in the form of (1) damages of any type for which the Insured is
legally liable, except direct compensatory damages, or (2) taxes,
fines, or penalties, including without limitation two-thirds of treble
damage awards pursuant to judgments under any statute or regulation.
I. Loss resulting from the surrender of Property away from an office of
the Insured as a result of a threat
(1) to do bodily harm to any person, except loss of Property in
transit in the custody of any person acting as messenger as a
result of a threat to do bodily harm to such person, if the
Insured had no knowledge of such threat at the time such transit
was initiated, or
(2) to do damage to the premises or Property of the Insured, unless
such loss is otherwise covered under Insuring Agreement A.
J. All costs, fees and other expenses incurred by the Insured in
establishing the existence of or amount of loss covered under this
Bond, except to the extent certain audit expenses are covered under
Insuring Agreement B.
K. Loss resulting from payments made to or withdrawals from any account,
involving funds erroneously credited to such account, unless such loss
is otherwise covered under Insuring Agreement A.
L. Loss resulting from uncollectible Items of Deposit which are drawn
upon a financial institution outside the United States of America, its
territories and possessions, or Canada.
M. Loss resulting from the Dishonest or Fraudulent Acts, Theft, or other
acts or omissions of an Employee primarily engaged in the sale of
shares issued by an Investment Company to persons other than (1) a
person registered as a broker under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or (2) an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) of
Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, which is not an
individual.
N. Loss resulting from the use of credit, debit, charge, access,
convenience, identification, cash management or other cards, whether
such cards were issued or purport to have been issued by the Insured
or by anyone else, unless such loss is otherwise covered under
Insuring Agreement A.
O. Loss resulting from any purchase, redemption or exchange of securities
issued by an Investment Company or other Insured, or any other
instruction, request, acknowledgement, notice or transaction involving
securities issued by an Investment Company or other Insured or the
dividends in respect thereof, when any of the foregoing is requested,
authorized or directed or purported to be requested, authorized or
directed by voice over the telephone or by Electronic Transmission,
unless such loss is otherwise covered under Insuring Agreement A or
Insuring Agreement I.
P. Loss resulting from any Dishonest or Fraudulent Act or Theft committed
by an Employee as defined in Section 1.I(2), unless such loss (1)
could not have been reasonably discovered by the due diligence of the
Insured at or prior to the time of acquisition by the Insured of the
assets acquired from a predecessor, and (2) arose out of a lawsuit or
valid claim brought against the Insured by a person unaffiliated with
the Insured or with any person affiliated with the Insured.
Q. Loss resulting from the unauthorized entry of data into, or the
deletion or destruction of data in, or the change of data elements or
programs within, any Computer System, unless such loss is otherwise
covered under Insuring Agreement A.
SECTION 3. ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
Upon payment to the Insured hereunder for any loss, the Underwriter shall
be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the Insured's rights
and claims in connection with such loss; provided, however, that the
Underwriter shall not be subrogated to any such rights or claims one named
Insured under this Bond may have against another named Insured under this
Bond. At the request of the Underwriter, the Insured shall execute all
assignments or other documents and take such action as the Underwriter may
deem necessary or desirable to secure and perfect such rights and claims,
including the execution of documents necessary to enable the Underwriter to
bring suit in the name of the Insured.
Assignment of any rights or claims under this Bond shall not bind the
Underwriter without the Underwriter's written consent.
SECTION 4. LOSS--NOTICE--PROOF--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
This Bond is for the use and benefit only of the Insured and the
Underwriter shall not be liable hereunder for loss sustained by anyone
other than the Insured, except that if the Insured includes such other loss
in the Insured's proof of loss, the Underwriter shall consider its
liability therefor. As soon as practicable and not more than sixty (60)
days after discovery of any loss covered hereunder, the Insured shall give
the Underwriter written notice thereof and, as soon as practicable and
within one year after such discovery, shall also furnish to the Underwriter
affirmative proof of loss with full particulars. The Underwriter may extend
the sixty day notice period or the one year proof of loss period if the
Insured requests an extension and shows good cause therefor.
See also General Agreement C (Court Costs and Attorneys' Fees).
The Underwriter shall not be liable hereunder for loss of Securities unless
each of the Securities is identified in such proof of loss by a certificate
or bond number or by such identification means as the Underwriter may
require. The Underwriter shall have a reasonable period after receipt of a
proper affirmative proof of loss within which to investigate the claim, but
where the loss is of Securities and is clear and undisputed, settlement
shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours even if the loss involves
Securities of which duplicates may be obtained.
The Insured shall not bring legal proceedings against the Underwriter to
recover any loss hereunder prior to sixty (60) days after filing such proof
of loss or subsequent to twenty-four (24) months after the discovery of
such loss or, in the case of a legal proceeding to recover hereunder on
account of any judgment against the Insured in or settlement of any suit
mentioned in General Agreement C or to recover court costs or attorneys'
fees paid in any such suit, twenty-four (24) months after the date of the
final judgment in or settlement of such suit. If any limitation in this
Bond is prohibited by any applicable law, such limitation shall be deemed
to be amended to be equal to the minimum period of limitation permitted by
such law.
Notice hereunder shall be given to Manager, Professional Liability Claims,
ICI Mutual Insurance Company, P.O. Box 730, Burlington, Vermont 05402-0730.
SECTION 5. DISCOVERY
For all purposes under this Bond, a loss is discovered, and discovery of a
loss occurs, when the Insured
(1) becomes aware of facts, or
(2) receives notice of an actual or potential claim by a third party which
alleges that the Insured is liable under circumstances,
which would cause a reasonable person to assume that loss covered by this
Bond has been or is likely to be incurred even though the exact amount or
details of loss may not be known.
SECTION 6. VALUATION OF PROPERTY
For the purpose of determining the amount of any loss hereunder, the value
of any Property shall be the market value of such Property at the close of
business on the first business day before the discovery of such loss;
except that
(1) the value of any Property replaced by the Insured prior to the payment
of a claim therefor shall be the actual market value of such Property
at the time of replacement, but not in excess of the market value of
such Property on the first business day before the discovery of the
loss of such Property;
(2) the value of Securities which must be produced to exercise
subscription, conversion, redemption or deposit privileges shall be
the market value of such privileges immediately preceding the
expiration thereof if the loss of such Securities is not discovered
until after such expiration, but if there is no quoted or other
ascertainable market price for such Property or privileges referred to
in clauses (1) and (2), their value shall be fixed by agreement
between the parties or by arbitration before an arbitrator or
arbitrators acceptable to the parties; and
(3) the value of books of accounts or other records used by the Insured in
the conduct of its business shall be limited to the actual cost of
blank books, blank pages or other materials if the books or records
are reproduced plus the cost of labor for the transcription or copying
of data furnished by the Insured for reproduction.
SECTION 7. LOST SECURITIES
The maximum liability of the Underwriter hereunder for lost Securities
shall be the payment for, or replacement of, such Securities having an
aggregate value not to exceed the applicable Limit of Liability. If the
Underwriter shall make payment to the Insured for any loss of securities,
the Insured shall assign to the Underwriter all of the Insured's right,
title and interest in and to such Securities. In lieu of such payment, the
Underwriter may, at its option, replace such lost Securities, and in such
case the Insured shall cooperate to effect such replacement. To effect the
replacement of lost Securities, the Underwriter may issue or arrange for
the issuance of a lost instrument bond. If the value of such Securities
does not exceed the applicable Deductible Amount (at the time of the
discovery of the loss), the Insured will pay the usual premium charged for
the lost instrument bond and will indemnify the issuer of such bond against
all loss and expense that it may sustain because of the issuance of such
bond.
If the value of such Securities exceeds the applicable Deductible Amount
(at the time of discovery of the loss), the Insured will pay a proportion
of the usual premium charged for the lost instrument bond, equal to the
percentage that the applicable Deductible Amount bears to the value of such
Securities upon discovery of the loss, and will indemnify the issuer of
such bond against all loss and expense that
is not recovered from the Underwriter under the terms and conditions of
this Bond, subject to the applicable Limit of Liability.
SECTION 8. SALVAGE
If any recovery is made, whether by the Insured or the Underwriter, on
account of any loss within the applicable Limit of Liability hereunder, the
Underwriter shall be entitled to the full amount of such recovery to
reimburse the Underwriter for all amounts paid hereunder with respect to
such loss. If any recovery is made, whether by the Insured or the
Underwriter, on account of any loss in excess of the applicable Limit of
Liability hereunder plus the Deductible Amount applicable to such loss from
any source other than suretyship, insurance, reinsurance, security or
indemnity taken by or for the benefit of the Underwriter, the amount of
such recovery, net of the actual costs and expenses of recovery, shall be
applied to reimburse the Insured in full for the portion of such loss in
excess of such Limit of Liability, and the remainder, if any, shall be paid
first to reimburse the Underwriter for all amounts paid hereunder with
respect to such loss and then to the Insured to the extent of the portion
of such loss within the Deductible Amount. The Insured shall execute all
documents which the Underwriter deems necessary or desirable to secure to
the Underwriter the rights provided for herein.
SECTION 9. NON-REDUCTION AND NON-ACCUMULATION OF LIABILITY AND TOTAL LIABILITY
Prior to its termination, this Bond shall continue in force up to the Limit
of Liability for each Insuring Agreement for each Single Loss,
notwithstanding any previous loss (other than such Single Loss) for which
the Underwriter may have paid or be liable to pay hereunder; PROVIDED,
however, that regardless of the number of years this Bond shall continue in
force and the number of premiums which shall be payable or paid, the
liability of the Underwriter under this Bond with respect to any Single
Loss shall be limited to the applicable Limit of Liability irrespective of
the total amount of such Single Loss and shall not be cumulative in amounts
from year to year or from period to period.
SECTION 10. MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF UNDERWRITER; OTHER BONDS OR POLICIES
The maximum liability of the Underwriter for any Single Loss covered by any
Insuring Agreement under this Bond shall be the Limit of Liability
applicable to such Insuring Agreement, subject to the applicable Deductible
Amount and the other provisions of this Bond. Recovery for any Single Loss
may not be made under more than one Insuring Agreement. If any Single Loss
covered under this Bond is recoverable or recovered in whole or in part
because of an unexpired discovery period under any other bonds or policies
issued by the Underwriter to the Insured or to any predecessor in interest
of the Insured, the maximum liability of the Underwriter shall be the
greater of either (1) the applicable Limit of Liability under this Bond, or
(2) the maximum liability of the Underwriter under such other bonds or
policies.
SECTION 11. OTHER INSURANCE
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any loss covered by
this Bond shall also be covered by other insurance or suretyship for the
benefit of the Insured, the Underwriter shall be liable hereunder only for
the portion of such loss in excess of the amount recoverable under such
other insurance or suretyship, but not exceeding the applicable Limit of
Liability of this Bond.
SECTION 12. DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT
The Underwriter shall not be liable under any Insuring Agreement unless the
amount of the loss covered thereunder, after deducting the net amount of
all reimbursement and/or recovery received by the Insured with respect to
such loss (other than from any other bond, suretyship or insurance policy
or as an advance by the Underwriter hereunder) shall exceed the applicable
Deductible Amount; in such case the Underwriter shall be liable only for
such excess, subject to the applicable Limit of Liability and the other
terms of this Bond.
No Deductible Amount shall apply to any loss covered under Insuring
Agreement A sustained by any Investment Company named as an Insured.
SECTION 13. TERMINATION
The Underwriter may terminate this Bond as to any Insured or all Insureds
only by written notice to such Insured or Insureds and, if this Bond is
terminated as to any Investment Company, to each such Investment Company
terminated thereby and to the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C., in all cases not less than sixty (60) days prior to the
effective date of termination specified in such notice.
The Insured may terminate this Bond only by written notice to the
Underwriter not less than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of
the termination specified in such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
when the Insured terminates this Bond as to any Investment Company, the
effective date of termination shall be not less than sixty (60) days from
the date the Underwriter provides written notice of the termination to each
such Investment Company terminated thereby and to the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
This Bond will terminate as to any Insured that is a Non-Fund immediately
and without notice upon (1) the takeover of such Insured's business by any
State or Federal official or agency, or by any receiver or liquidator, or
(2) the filing of a petition under any State or Federal statute relative to
bankruptcy or reorganization of the Insured, or assignment for the benefit
of creditors of the Insured.
Premiums are earned until the effective date of termination. The
Underwriter shall refund the unearned premium computed at short rates in
accordance with the Underwriter's standard short rate cancellation tables
if this Bond is terminated by the Insured or pro rata if this Bond is
terminated by the Underwriter.
Upon the detection by any Insured that an Employee has committed any
Dishonest or Fraudulent Act(s) or Theft, the Insured shall immediately
remove such Employee from a position that may enable such Employee to cause
the Insured to suffer a loss by any subsequent Dishonest or Fraudulent
Act(s) or Theft. The Insured, within two (2) business days of such
detection, shall notify the Underwriter with full and complete particulars
of the detected Dishonest or Fraudulent Act(s) or Theft.
For purposes of this section, detection occurs when any partner, officer,
or supervisory employee of any Insured, who is not in collusion with such
Employee, becomes aware that the Employee has committed any Dishonest or
Fraudulent Act(s) or Theft.
This Bond shall terminate as to any Employee by written notice from the
Underwriter to each Insured and, if such Employee is an Employee of an
Insured Investment Company, to the Securities and Exchange Commission, in
all cases not less than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of
termination specified in such notice.
SECTION 14. RIGHTS AFTER TERMINATION
At any time prior to the effective date of termination of this Bond as to
any Insured, such Insured may, by written notice to the Underwriter, elect
to purchase the right under this Bond to an additional period of twelve
(12) months within which to discover loss sustained by such Insured prior
to the effective date of such termination and shall pay an additional
premium therefor as the Underwriter may require.
Such additional discovery period shall terminate immediately and without
notice upon the takeover of such Insured's business by any State or Federal
official or agency, or by any receiver or liquidator. Promptly after such
termination the Underwriter shall refund to the Insured any unearned
premium.
The right to purchase such additional discovery period may not be exercised
by any State or Federal official or agency, or by any receiver or
liquidator, acting or appointed to take over the Insured's business.
SECTION 15. CENTRAL HANDLING OF SECURITIES
The Underwriter shall not be liable for loss in connection with the central
handling of securities within the systems established and maintained by any
Depository ("Systems"), unless the amount of such loss exceeds the amount
recoverable or recovered under any bond or policy or participants' fund
insuring the Depository against such loss (the "Depository's Recovery"); in
such case the Underwriter shall be liable hereunder only for the Insured's
share of such excess loss, subject to the applicable Limit of Liability,
the Deductible Amount and the other terms of this Bond.
For determining the Insured's share of such excess loss, (1) the Insured
shall be deemed to have an interest in any certificate representing any
security included within the Systems equivalent to the interest the Insured
then has in all certificates representing the same security included within
the Systems; (2) the Depository shall have reasonably and fairly
apportioned the Depository's Recovery among all those having an interest as
recorded by appropriate entries in the books and records of the Depository
in Property involved in such loss, so that each such interest shall share
in the Depository's Recovery in the ratio that the value of each such
interest bears to the total value of all such interests; and (3) the
Insured's share of such excess loss shall be the amount of the Insured's
interest in such Property in excess of the amount(s) so apportioned to the
Insured by the Depository.
This Bond does not afford coverage in favor of any Depository or Exchange
or any nominee in whose name is registered any security included within the
Systems.
SECTION 16. ADDITIONAL COMPANIES INCLUDED AS INSURED
If more than one entity is named as the Insured:
A. the total liability of the Underwriter hereunder for each Single Loss
shall not exceed the Limit of Liability which would be applicable if
there were only one named Insured, regardless of the number of Insured
entities which sustain loss as a result of such Single Loss,
B. the Insured first named in Item 1 of the Declarations shall be deemed
authorized to make, adjust, and settle, and receive and enforce
payment of, all claims hereunder as the agent of each other Insured
for such purposes and for the giving or receiving of any notice
required or permitted to be given hereunder; provided, that the
Underwriter shall promptly furnish each named Insured
Investment Company with (1) a copy of this Bond and any amendments
thereto, (2) a copy of each formal filing of a claim hereunder by any
other Insured, and (3) notification of the terms of the settlement of
each such claim prior to the execution of such settlement,
C. the Underwriter shall not be responsible or have any liability for the
proper application by the Insured first named in Item 1 of the
Declarations of any payment made hereunder to the first named Insured,
D. for the purposes of Sections 4 and 13, knowledge possessed or
discovery made by any partner, officer or supervisory Employee of any
Insured shall constitute knowledge or discovery by every named
Insured,
E. if the first named Insured ceases for any reason to be covered under
this Bond, then the Insured next named shall thereafter be considered
as the first named Insured for the purposes of this Bond, and
F. each named Insured shall constitute "the Insured" for all purposes of
this Bond.
SECTION 17. NOTICE AND CHANGE OF CONTROL
Within thirty (30) days after learning that there has been a change in
control of an Insured by transfer of its outstanding voting securities the
Insured shall give written notice to the Underwriter of:
A. the names of the transferors and transferees (or the names of the
beneficial owners if the voting securities are registered in another
name), and
B. the total number of voting securities owned by the transferors and the
transferees (or the beneficial owners), both immediately before and
after the transfer, and
C. the total number of outstanding voting securities.
As used in this Section, "control" means the power to exercise a
controlling influence over the management or policies of the Insured.
SECTION 18. CHANGE OR MODIFICATION
This Bond may only be modified by written Rider forming a part hereof over
the signature of the Underwriter's authorized representative. Any Rider
which modifies the coverage provided by Insuring Agreement A, Fidelity, in
a manner which adversely affects the rights of an Insured Investment
Company shall not become effective until at least sixty (60) days after the
Underwriter has given written notice thereof to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C., and to each Insured Investment Company
affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Underwriter has caused this Bond to be executed on the
Declarations Page.
ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
INVESTMENT COMPANY BLANKET BOND
RIDER NO. 1
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INSURED BOND NUMBER
FIDUCIARY/CLAYMORE MLP OPPORTUNITY FUND 05716707B
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EFFECTIVE DATE BOND PERIOD AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
DECEMBER 22, 2007 DECEMBER 22, 2007 TO MARCH 31, 2008 /S/ MATTHEW LINK
================================================================================
Most property and casualty insurers, including ICI Mutual Insurance Company
("ICI Mutual"), are subject to the requirements of the Terrorism Risk Insurance
Act of 2002 (the "Act"). The Act establishes a Federal insurance backstop under
which ICI Mutual and these other insurers will be partially reimbursed for
future "INSURED LOSSES" resulting from certified "ACTS OF TERRORISM." (Each of
these BOLDED TERMS is defined by the Act.) The Act also places certain
disclosure and other obligations on ICI Mutual and these other insurers.
Pursuant to the Act, any future losses to ICI Mutual caused by certified "ACTS
OF TERRORISM" will be partially reimbursed by the United States government under
a formula established by the Act. Under this formula, the United States
government will reimburse ICI Mutual for 90% of ICI Mutual's "INSURED LOSSES" in
excess of a statutorily established deductible until total insured losses of all
participating insurers reach $100 billion. If total "insured losses" of all
property and casualty insurers reach $100 billion during any applicable period,
the Act provides that the insurers will not be liable under their policies for
their portions of such losses that exceed such amount. Amounts otherwise payable
under this bond may be reduced as a result.
This bond has no express exclusion for "ACTS OF TERRORISM." However, coverage
under this bond remains subject to all applicable terms, conditions and
limitations of the bond (including exclusions) that are permissible under the
Act. The portion of the premium that is attributable to any coverage potentially
available under the bond for "ACTS OF TERRORISM" is one percent (1%).
RN53.0-00 (3/03)
SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE
-----------------------
The undersigned certifies that he is the duly elected Secretary of the
Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund (the "Trust") and that the resolutions
set forth below approving the fidelity bond for the Trust were adopted by the
Board of Trustees of the Trust on October 15, 2007, and such resolutions have
not been amended, modified or rescinded and remain in full force and effect as
of the date hereof.
RESOLVED, that the Fidelity Bond with ICI Mutual Insurance Company with
the aggregate limit of liability of $900,000, and a premium of $1,002
for the period from December 22, 2007 to March 31, 2008 be, and it
hereby is, adopted and approved in the form presented to the Trustees
at this Meeting; and further
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Rule 17g-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the
Secretary of the Trust is hereby designated as the officer of the Trust
who is authorized and directed to make the filings with the SEC and
give the notices required by Rule 17g-1(g); and further
RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Trust be, and they hereby
are, authorized and directed at all times to take all actions necessary
to assure compliance with these resolutions and said Rule 17g-1.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate this
8th day of April, 2008.
/s/ Mark E. Mathiasen
----------------------
Mark E. Mathiasen
Secretary