February 16, 2022
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
MANULIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED
(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 (the Legislation) that the time limit for the renewal of the long form prospectus of the Funds dated March 30, 2021 (the Prospectus) be extended to the time limit that would apply if the lapse date of the Prospectus was August 20, 2022 (the Exemption Sought).
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a passport application):
(i) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application; and
(ii) the Filer has provided notice that subsection 4.7(1) of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System (MI 11-102) is intended to be relied upon in each of the other provinces and territories of Canada (together with Ontario, the Jurisdictions).
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions and MI 11-102 have the same meaning if used in this decision, unless otherwise defined.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:
The Filer is a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Canada. The Filer’s head office is located in Toronto, Ontario.
The Filer is registered as a portfolio manager in each province and territory of Canada, an investment fund manager in each of Ontario, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador, a commodity trading manager in Ontario and a derivatives portfolio manager in Québec.
The Filer is the investment fund manager of the Funds.
Each of the Funds is an exchange-traded mutual fund (ETF) established under the laws of Ontario, and is a reporting issuer as defined in the securities legislation of each of the Jurisdictions.
Neither the Filer nor any of the Funds are in default of securities legislation in any of the Jurisdictions.
The Funds currently distribute securities in the Jurisdictions under the Prospectus. Securities of each of the Funds trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Pursuant to subsection 62(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario) (the Act), the lapse date of the Prospectus is March 30, 2022 (the Lapse Date). Accordingly, under subsection 62(2) of the Act, the distribution of securities of each of the Funds would have to cease on the Lapse Date unless: (i) the Funds file a pro forma prospectus at least 30 days prior to the Lapse Date; (ii) the final prospectus is filed no later than 10 days after the Lapse Date; and (iii) a receipt for the final prospectus is obtained within 20 days of the Lapse Date.
The Filer is the investment fund manager of Manulife Multifactor Canadian SMID Cap Index ETF, Manulife Multifactor U.S. Small Cap Index ETF and Manulife Multifactor Emerging Markets Index ETF (the August 20 Funds), which currently distribute their securities to the public under a prospectus that has a lapse date of August 20, 2022 (the August 20 Prospectus).
The Filer wishes to combine the Prospectus with the August 20 Prospectus in order to reduce renewal, printing and related costs of the Funds and the August 20 Funds.
Offering the Funds and the August 20 Funds under one prospectus would facilitate the distribution of the Funds in the Jurisdictions under the same prospectus and enable the Filer to streamline disclosure across the Filer’s fund platform. As the Funds and the August 20 Funds are all managed by the Filer, offering them under one prospectus (as opposed to two) will allow investors to more easily compare their features.
It would be unreasonable to incur the costs and expenses associated with preparing two separate renewal prospectuses given the proximity of the lapse dates.
There have been no material changes in the affairs of each Fund since the date of the Prospectus. Accordingly, the Prospectus and current ETF Facts of each Fund represents current information regarding such Fund.
Given the disclosure obligations of the Funds, should a material change in the affairs of any of the Funds occur, the Prospectus and current ETF facts document(s) of the applicable Fund(s) will be amended as required under the Legislation.
New investors in the Funds will receive the most recently filed ETF facts document(s) of the applicable Fund(s). The Prospectus will still be available upon request.
The Exemption Sought will not affect the accuracy of the information contained in the Prospectus and will therefore 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 Exemption Sought is granted.
“Darren McKall”
Darren McKall
Manager, Investment Funds and Structured Products
Ontario Securities Commission
Application #2022/0067
Schedule “A”
The Manulife Funds
Manulife Multifactor Canadian Large Cap Index ETF
Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF
Manulife Multifactor U.S. Large Cap Index ETF
Manulife Multifactor U.S. Mid Cap Index ETF