Headnote National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief in Multiple Jurisdictions – Relief granted to mutual funds for extension of lapse date of prospectus to March 30, 2013 – additional time needed for the renewal of a prospectus due to ongoing review – extension of lapse date will not impact currency of disclosure relating to the mutual funds.
Applicable Legislative Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990,c. S5 as amended, ss62(5)
February 19, 2013
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
R.N. CROFT FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
(the Filer)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE FUNDS LISTED IN SCHEDULE A
(the Funds)
DECISION
Background
The principal regulator in the Jurisdiction has received an application from the Filer on behalf of the Funds for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdiction of the principal regulator (Legislation) for an exemption that the time limits pertaining to filing the renewal prospectus of the Funds be extended as if the lapse date of the simplified prospectus and annual information form of the Funds dated February 19, 2013, is March 30, 2013 (the Requested Relief).
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a passport application):
(a) the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) 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 is intended to be relied upon in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (together with Ontario, the Jurisdictions).
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 – Definitions and National Instrument 81-101 –Mutual Funds Prospectus Disclosure (NI 81-101) have the same meaning if used in this decision, unless otherwise defined in this decision.
Representations
The decision is based on the following facts as represented by the Filer:
The Filer is the manager of the Funds listed in Schedule A hereto.
The Filer is a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario and is registered in each of the Jurisdictions as a portfolio manager and investment fund manager.
Units of the Funds are currently qualified for distribution in each of the Jurisdictions under the current simplified prospectus of the Funds dated December 15, 2011, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated August 23, 2012 (the Current Prospectus) and the Funds are reporting issuer in each of the Jurisdictions.
Neither the Funds, nor the Filer, are in default of securities legislation in any jurisdiction.
On August 15, 2012, the Filer announced that it had entered into an agreement with Pro-Financial Asset Management Inc. (PFAM) to assign management of the Funds to PFAM (Change of Manager), subject to the receipt of the approval of the Funds' Independent Review Committee, shareholder approval, regulatory approval and the satisfaction of certain closing conditions (and together with Other Matters Requiring Shareholder Approval as defined below, the Transaction). A press release and amendments to the simplified prospectus, annual information form and fund facts for the Funds were filed in connection with the announcement of the Change of Manager.
Subject to approval of the shareholders of the Funds or series of a Fund, as necessary, and effective upon the Change of Manager, the following changes are also expected to occur (i) the fundamental investment objective of each Fund, other than for Class F-1 Alternative Strategies, will change; and (ii) the management fees applicable to the series A shares of Class E-1 Emerging Markets and Class F-1 Alternative Strategies will increase (the Other Matters Requiring Shareholder Approval). The proposed changes to the Funds are described in more detail in the Management Information Circular, which was mailed to shareholders of the Funds and copies thereof were filed on SEDAR in accordance with applicable securities legislation.
In connection with the Transaction,
(a) The Filer referred the Transaction to the Independent review Committee of the Funds which reviewed the proposed changes in connection with the Transaction and determined that such changes would achieve a fair and reasonable result for the Funds;
(b) shareholder approval for the Change of Manager, and the Other Matters Requiring Shareholder Approval was obtained at special meetings of shareholders of each of the Funds held on September 26, 2012;
(c) on September 24, 2012, the Filer, on behalf of the Funds, applied for regulatory approval for the Change of Manager as contemplated under section 5.5(1)(a) of NI 81-102 such that PFAM could become the new manager of the Funds.
On December 14, 2012, OSC Staff granted a lapse date extension to the Funds to February 19, 2013. This means that absent the Requested Relief, the Funds must file their pro forma prospectus and annual information form by January 19, 2013, which being a Saturday, such filing must be done by January 21, 2013.
The Filer expected that regulatory approval for Change of Manager would be granted by the OSC by January 21, 2013, which is 30 days prior to the Current Lapse Date. Upon receipt of such approval, the Filer and PFAM expected to close the Transaction and PFAM expected to file a preliminary and pro forma simplified prospectus and annual information form for the Funds in its capacity as the new manager of the Funds on January 21, 2013.
The Current Lapse Date for the Current Prospectus is February 19, 2013. Accordingly, under the Legislation, distribution of the securities of the Funds would cease on March 1, 2013 unless (i) the Funds filed a pro forma prospectus for the Funds at least 30 days prior to the Current Lapse Date; (ii) the final simplified prospectus is filed no later than 10 days after the Current Lapse Date i.e. by March 1, 2013; and (iii) a receipt for the final simplified prospectus is obtained within 20 days of the Current Lapse Date.
The Filer understands that PFAM is working diligently with the OSC to address all of the outstanding inquiries that the OSC may have in connection with the Change of Manager.
Since a pro forma prospectus for the Funds was not filed by January 21, 2013, absent the Requested Relief, continued distribution of the securities of the Funds would cease on March 1, 2013.
The requested extension date of March 30, 2013 takes into account that approval for the Change of Manager will not be granted until PFAM has satisfactorily addressed all of the outstanding inquiries that the OSC may have in connection with the Change of Manager. The Filer submits that the requested extension under the circumstances is not prejudicial to the public interest.
There have been no material changes in the affairs of the Funds since the date of the Current Prospectus. Accordingly, the Current Prospectus represents current information regarding each Fund.
Should any material changes be proposed in the interim, the prospectus of the Funds, as appropriate, will be amended accordingly.
The Requested Relief will not materially affect the currency or accuracy of the information contained in the Current Prospectus and therefore will not be prejudicial to the public interest.
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 Requested Relief is granted.
“Raymond Chan”
__________________________ Raymond Chan
Manager, Investment Funds Branch
Ontario Securities Commission
SCHEDULE A
Class A-1 Income
Class B-1 Canadian Equity
Class C-1 U.S. Equity
Class D-1 International Equity
Class E-1 Emerging Markets Equity
Class F-1 Alternative Strategies
shares of
PIE Portfolio Index Evolution Corporation
(collectively, the “Funds”)
Headnote
National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief in Multiple Jurisdictions – Relief granted to mutual funds for extension of lapse date of prospectus to March 30, 2013 – additional time needed for the renewal of a prospectus due to ongoing review – extension of lapse date will not impact currency of disclosure relating to the mutual funds.
Applicable Legislative Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990,c. S5 as amended, ss62(5).