Invesco Trimark Ltd. (Re), 2010 CanLII 76360

Headnote

National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions – Relief granted to mutual funds subject to NI 81-102 and pooled funds not subject to NI 81-102 to permit applicant funds to purchase long-term debt securities of a related entity under primary offerings of the related entity and on the secondary market – relief granted to pooled funds not subject to NI 81-102 to purchase securities of a related entity on the secondary market - future oriented relief – relief subject to conditions including IRC approval, pricing requirements, and limits on the amount of the primary offering applicant funds can purchase.

Applicable Legislative Provisions

Securities Act (Ontario), sections 111(2)(a), 111(2)(c)(ii), and 111(3) National Instrument 81-107 Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds – s. 6.2

December 21, 2010

In the Matter of

the Securities Legislation of Ontario

(the Jurisdiction)

and

In the Matter of

the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions

and

In the Matter of

Invesco Trimark Ltd. (the Filer)

Decision

Background

The principal regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application from the Filer on behalf of existing mutual funds and future mutual funds of which the Filer is the manager and to which National Instrument 81-102 – Mutual Funds (NI 81-102) applies (each, an NI 81-102 Fund and collectively, the NI 81-102 Funds) and on behalf of existing mutual funds and future mutual funds of which the Filer is the manager and to which NI 81-102 does not apply (each, a Pooled Fund and collectively, the Pooled Funds) for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdiction of the principal regulator (the Legislation) exempting the NI 81-102 Funds and Pooled Funds (collectively, the Funds) from the prohibition in:

(a) the Legislation that prohibits a mutual fund from making or holding an investment in any person or company who is a substantial security holder of the mutual fund, its management company or distribution company (each, a Related Shareholder); and

(b) the Legislation that prohibits a mutual fund from making or holding an investment in an issuer in which a Related Shareholder has a significant interest (each, a Related Party),

(items (a) and (b) are, collectively, the Exemption Sought).

Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a passport application):

(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application; and

(b) the Filer has provided notice that section 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 – Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador (the Passport Jurisdictions).

Interpretation

Terms defined in MI 11-102 and National Instrument 14-101 – Definitions, NI 81-102, National Instrument 81-107 – Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds (NI 81-107) and National Instrument 31-103 – Registration Requirements and Exemptions have the same meaning if used in this decision, unless otherwise defined.

In this Application, the term “Related Person” means a Related Shareholder or a Related Party depending on the provision that is being considered.

Representations

The decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:

1. The head office of the Filer is located in Toronto, Ontario.

2. The Filer is registered as (a) an adviser in the category of portfolio manager in all provinces of Canada; (b) an adviser in the category of commodity trading manager in the Jurisdiction; and (c) a dealer in the category of exempt market dealer in the Jurisdiction and Newfoundland and Labrador.

3. The Filer is, or will be, the manager of the Funds and the Filer or its affiliates are, or will be, the portfolio adviser or sub-advisor to the Funds.

4. The Filer and the Funds are not in default of securities legislation in any jurisdiction.

5. The securities of each of the NI 81-102 Funds are, or will be, qualified for distribution pursuant to simplified prospectuses and annual information forms that have been, or will be, prepared and filed in accordance with the securities legislation of each of the Jurisdiction and the Passport Jurisdictions.

6. Each of the NI 81-102 Funds is, or will be, a reporting issuer in one or more of the Jurisdiction and the Passport Jurisdictions.

7. The securities of the Pooled Funds are, or will be, qualified for distribution on a private placement basis pursuant to the Legislation and none of the Pooled Funds are, or will be, reporting issuers.

8. The investment strategies of each of the Funds that relies on the Exemption Sought permit, or will permit, it to invest in the securities purchased.

9. The Filer has established, or will establish, an independent review committee (IRC) in respect of each NI 81-102 Fund (in accordance with the requirements of NI 81-107) and in the respect of each Pooled Fund (in accordance with section 3.7 of NI 81-107). The IRC shall comply with the standard of care set out in section 3.9 of NI 81-107.

10. The purchase of securities of Related Persons by a Fund will be referred to the IRC of such Fund (in the case of an NI 81-102 Fund under subsection 5.1(1)(b) of NI 81-107).

11. Section 6.2 of NI 81-107 provides NI 81-102 Funds with an exemption from the prohibitions comprising the Exemption Sought in respect of purchasing exchange-traded securities, such as common shares, in the secondary market. It does not permit an NI 81-102 Fund, or the Filer on behalf of a NI 81-102 Fund, to purchase non-exchange-traded securities issued by Related Persons. Some securities, such as debt securities, of Related Persons of the Filer are not listed and traded (“NET debt securities”).

12. NI 81-107 does not apply to the Pooled Funds as they are not reporting issuers. Accordingly, in the absence of the Exemption Sought, the Pooled Funds may not purchase or hold exchange-traded securities or NET debt securities of a Related Person.

13. The Filer is seeking the Exemption Sought to permit (a) the Funds to purchase and hold NET debt securities and (b) the Pooled Funds to purchase and hold exchange-traded securities of Related Persons.

14. The Filer has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Funds to receive the Exemption Sought.

15. Related Persons of the Filer are significant issuers of securities and they are issuers of highly rated commercial paper and other debt instruments. The Filer considers that the Funds should have access to such securities for the following reasons:

(a) there is currently and has been for several years a very limited supply of highly rated corporate debt;

(b) diversification is reduced to the extent that a Fund is limited with respect to investment opportunities; and

(c) to the extent that a Fund is trying to track or outperform a benchmark it is important for the Fund to be able to purchase any securities included in the benchmark. Debt securities of Related Persons of the Filer are included in most of the Canadian debt indices.

16. Where the NET debt security is purchased by a Fund in a primary distribution or treasury offering (Primary Offering) pursuant to the Exemption Sought:

(a) the debt security, other than an asset backed commercial paper security, will have a term to maturity of 365 days or more and will be issued by a Related Person that has been given and continues to have, at the time of purchase, an “approved credit rating” by an approved credit rating organization; and

(b) the terms of the Primary Offering, such as the size and the pricing, will be a matter of public record as evidenced in a prospectus, offering memorandum, press release or other public document.

17. Where the NET debt security is purchased by a Fund in the secondary market pursuant to the Exemption Sought and not in a Primary Offering, the debt security has been given and continues to have, at the time of purchase, an “approved credit rating” by an approved credit rating organization.

18. If a Fund’s purchase of NET debt securities involves an interfund trade with another Fund, the provisions of the relief received by the Filer on behalf of the Funds dated April 15, 2010 will apply to such transaction.

Decision

The principal regulator is satisfied that the decision meets the test set out in the Legislation for the principal regulator to make the decision.

The decision of the principal regulator under the Legislation is that the Exemption Sought is granted to permit the Filer to purchase and hold NET debt securities on behalf of the Funds on condition that:

(a) the purchase or holding is consistent with, or is necessary to meet, the investment objective of the Fund;

(b) at the time of the purchase the IRC of the Fund has approved the transaction in accordance with Section 5.2(2) of NI 81-107;

(c) the manager of the Fund complies with section 5.1 of NI 81-107 and the manager and the IRC of the Fund comply with section 5.4 of NI 81-107 for any standing instructions the IRC provides in connection with the transactions;

(d) in the case of NET debt securities to be purchased in a Primary Offering:

(i) the size of the Primary Offering is at least $100 million;

(ii) at least 2 purchasers who are independent, arm’s length purchasers, which may include “independent underwriters” within the meaning of National Instrument 33-105 - Underwriting Conflicts, collectively purchase at least 20% of the Primary Offering;

(iii) no Fund shall participate in the Primary Offering if following its purchase the Fund would have more than 5% of its net assets invested in NET debt securities of a particular Related Person;

(iv) no Fund shall participate in the Primary Offering if following its purchase the Fund together with related Funds will hold more than 20% of the securities issued in the Primary Offering; and

(v) the price paid for the securities by a Fund in the Primary Offering shall be no higher than the lowest price paid by any of the arm’s length purchasers who participate in the Primary Offering;

(e) in the case of NET debt securities to be purchased in the secondary market:

(i) the price payable for the security is not more than the ask price of the security;

(ii) the ask price of the security is determined as follows:

(A) If the purchase occurs on a marketplace, the price payable is determined in accordance with the requirements of that marketplace; or

(B) If the purchase does not occur on a marketplace,

(I) The Fund may pay the price for the security at which an independent, arm’s length seller is willing to sell the security, or

(II) If the Fund does not purchase the security from an independent, arm’s length seller, the fund must pay the price quoted publicly by an independent marketplace or obtain, immediately before the purchase, at least one quote from an independent, arm’s length purchaser or seller and not pay more than that quote;

(f) no later than the time a NI 81-102 Fund files its annual financial statements, or on or before the 90^th day after the end of each financial year of a Pooled Fund, the Filer files with the securities regulatory authority or regulator the particulars of any investments made in reliance on this relief;

(g) the IRC of the Fund complies with section 4.5 of NI 81-107 in connection with any instance that it becomes aware that the Filer did not comply with any of the conditions of this Decision; and

(h) the Decision with respect to NET debt securities purchased pursuant to a Primary Offering or in the secondary market will expire on the coming into force of any securities legislation relating to fund purchases of NET debt securities purchased pursuant to a Primary Offering or in the secondary market.

The decision of the principal regulator under the Legislation is that the Exemption Sought is granted to permit the Filer to purchase and hold exchange-traded securities on behalf of the Pooled Funds on condition that:

(a) the purchase or holding is consistent with, or is necessary to meet, the investment objective of the Pooled Fund;

(b) at the time of the purchase the IRC of the Pooled Fund has approved the transaction in accordance with Section 5.2(2) of NI 81-107;

(c) the manager of the Pooled Fund complies with section 5.1 of NI 81-107 and the manager and the IRC of the Pooled Fund comply with section 5.4 of NI 81-107 for any standing instructions the IRC provides in connection with the transactions;

(d) the purchase is made on an exchange on which the securities are listed and traded;

(e) on or before the 90^th day after the end of each financial year of a Pooled Fund, the Filer files with the securities regulatory authority or regulator the particulars of any investments made in reliance on this relief;

(f) the IRC of the Pooled Fund complies with section 4.5 of NI 81-107 in connection with any instance that it becomes aware that the Filer did not comply with any of the conditions of this Decision; and

(g) the Decision with respect to purchases of exchange-traded securities by the Pooled Funds will expire on the coming into force of any securities legislation relating to purchases of exchange-traded securities of a Related Person by mutual funds not governed by NI 81-102.

“Mary Condon”___________ “James Turner”___________

Mary Condon James Turner

Commissioner Vice-Chair

Ontario Securities Commission Ontario Securities Commission