ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of _______ ___, 2005, between CLAYMORE EQUITY TRUST,
a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), and Claymore Advisors, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the "Administrator").
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to operate as an open-end management
investment company, and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), and consists of the separate series listed on
Exhibit A attached hereto, as may be amended from time to time; and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain the Administrator to provide
certain administrative services to the Trust, under the terms and conditions
stated below, and the Administrator is willing to provide such services for the
compensation set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Administrator to
administer the Trust, and the Administrator accepts such appointment and agrees
that it will furnish the services set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto and
made a part hereof, subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board of Trustees
(the "Board").
2. Compliance with the Trust's Governing Documents and Applicable Law.
In all matters relating to the performance of this Agreement, the Administrator
will act in conformity with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and
registration statement of the Trust and with the directions of the Board and
Trust officers and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940
Act and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In
compliance with Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Administrator hereby agrees
that any records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust,
and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust or its agents any of such
records upon the Trust's request. The Administrator further agrees to arrange
for the preservation of the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1
under the 1940 Act for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
3. Services Not Exclusive. The Administrator's services hereunder
are not deemed to be exclusive, and the Administrator is free to render
administrative or other services to other funds or clients so long as the
Administrator's services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
4. Compensation. For the services provided and expenses assumed by the
Administrator under this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Administrator a fee,
accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annualized rate of [0.0275% of the first
$200,000,000; 0.0175% of the next $300,000,000; 0.0125% of the next $500,000,000
and 0.0100% for amounts over $1,000,000,000 of the average daily net assets of
the Trust].
5. Limitation of Liability of the Administrator. The Administrator will
not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss
suffered by the Trust or its shareholders in connection with the performance of
its duties under this Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its
duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement.
6. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective as
of the date hereof and shall continue in effect until the second anniversary of
the date hereof unless sooner terminated. Thereafter this Agreement shall
continue for successive periods of 12 months, provided that such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by both (a) the vote of a majority of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust, and (b) the vote of a majority of the Board
of Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested
persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust or the Administrator.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by either party
hereto (without penalty) at any time upon not less than 60 days' prior written
notice to the other party hereto.
7. Amendment of this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended
by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware for contracts to be
performed entirely therein without reference to choice of law principles thereof
and in accordance with the applicable provision of the 1940 Act.
9. Miscellaneous. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto, and supercedes all prior agreements
and understandings in relation to the subject matter hereof. 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.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by
the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and
all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be executed by their officers designated below, effective as of the day and year
first above written.
CLAYMORE EQUITY TRUST
By:
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Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
CLAYMORE ADVISORS, LLC
By:
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Managing Director, Fund Administration
EXHIBIT A
CLAYMORE/FIDUCIARY STRATEGIC EQUITY FUND
CLAYMORE/FIDUCIARY LARGE CAP CORE FUND
CLAYMORE PERONI EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
EXHIBIT B
FINANCIAL REPORTING
o Prepare and file Forms N-SAR, N-Q and N-CSR, including the underlying
portfolio of investments, annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders, coordinate typesetting, printing and distribution of
such reports.
o Coordinate filing of Form N-PX (voting record information to be
supplied by the Portfolio Manager).
o Oversee the determination and publication of the net asset value of
each series of the Trust in accordance with the Trust's policy as
adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees.
o Oversee the Trust's portfolio and perform necessary calculations as
required under Section 18 (relating to senior securities) of the 1940
Act
o Determine expense accruals and coordinate with Fund Accounting and
Custody for the timely payment of bills and invoices.
o Prepare statistical reports for outside services (i.e. ICI, Lipper
Analytical, Morningstar etc.).
o Prepare and present reports to Board of Trustees.
o Prepare reports relating to the business and affairs of the Trust as
may be mutually agreed upon and not otherwise appropriately prepared
by the Trust's Custodian, counsel or auditors.
o Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees
concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Board
of Trustees may reasonably request or deems appropriate.
o Consult with the Trust's officers, independent accountants, legal
counsel, Custodian, Accounting agent and Transfer Agent in
establishing the accounting policies of the Trust and monitor
financial and shareholder accounting services.
o Coordinate the annual audit with the external auditors.
o Determine the dividend rates for each series of the Trust and compute
appropriate yields/total returns.
o Review and distribute SEC yield computations, if applicable.
o Perform on-going analysis of dividend for each series of the Trust;
and coordinate preparation of Section 19 notices, as appropriate.
o Oversee and review calculations of fees paid to the Trust's service
providers.
TAX, LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE
o Prepare reports of compliance with registration statement, the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Internal Revenue Code and State
Regulators, if applicable.
o Prepare workflow papers, complete the initial draft and facilitate
filing of all required income and excise tax returns and Form 1099s.
o Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees
concerning the performance and fees of the Trust's Custodian and
Transfer Agent as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request or
deems appropriate.
o Oversee the maintenance by the Trust's Transfer Agent of certain books
and records of the Trust as required under Rule 31a-1(b)(4) of the
1940 Act and maintain such other books and records required by law or
for the proper operation of the Trust.
o Monitor all compliance with Section 4982 distribution requirements
(Excise Tax).
o Perform and prepare wash sales review.
o Perform and prepare reports documenting book to tax differences as
needed.
o Monitor and report on Subchapter M qualifications.
o Assist with the preparation of the annual prospectus update on Form
N-1A.
o Coordinate the distribution of prospectuses, supplements, proxy
materials and reports to Shareholders; and coordinate the solicitation
and tabulation of proxies in connection with a shareholder meeting, if
one is held.
o Provide such assistance to the Custodian and the Trust's counsel and
auditors as generally may be required to properly carry on the
business and operations of the Trust.
o Respond to or refer to the Trust's officers or Transfer Agent,
shareholder (including any potential shareholder) inquiries relating
to the Trust.
o Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any banks
from which the Trust borrows funds.
o Supervise any other aspects of the Trust's administration as may be
agreed to by the Trust and the Adviser.
