November 16, 2023
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
ONTARIO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
APPLICATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
BRANDES INVESTMENT PARTNERS & CO.
(the Filer)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
NUVEEN GLOBAL GREEN BOND FUND
(the Fund)
DECISION
Background
The principal regulator in Ontario has received an application from the Filer, on behalf of the Fund, for a decision under the securities legislation of Ontario (the Legislation) that the time limits for the renewal of the simplified prospectus of the Fund dated February 28, 2023 (the Current Prospectus), be extended to the time limits that would apply as if the lapse date of the Current Prospectus was May 24, 2024 (the Exemption Sought).
Under National Policy 11-203 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 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, MI 11-102, National Instrument 81-101 Mutual Funds Prospectus Disclosure, and National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds (NI 81-102) 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 and the Funds
The Filer is a corporation incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia with its registered head office located in Toronto, Ontario. The Filer operates under the retail trade name Bridgehouse Asset Managers.
The Filer is registered as an investment fund manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, as a portfolio manager and as an exempt market dealer in each of the Jurisdictions, and as a commodity trading manager in the province of Ontario.
The Filer is the trustee and manager of the Fund. The Filer is also the trustee and the manager of multiple other mutual funds listed in Schedule A (the Other Funds) that currently distribute their securities to the public in each of the Jurisdictions under a simplified prospectus with a lapse date of May 24, 2024.
Neither the Filer nor the Fund is in default of securities legislation in any of the Jurisdictions.
The Fund is (a) an open-ended mutual fund trust established under the laws of Ontario, (b) a reporting issuer as defined in the securities legislation of each of the Jurisdictions, and (c) subject to NI 81-102.
Securities of the Fund are currently qualified for distribution in each of the Jurisdictions under the Current Prospectus.
Reasons for the Exemption Sought
Pursuant to subsection 62(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario) (the Act), the lapse date for the Current Prospectus is February 28, 2024 (the Current Lapse Date). Accordingly, under subsection 62(2) of the Act, the distribution of securities of the Fund would have to cease on the Current Lapse Date unless: (i) the Fund files a pro forma simplified prospectus at least 30 days prior to its Current Lapse Date; (ii) the final simplified prospectus is filed no later than 10 days after its Current Lapse Date; and (iii) a receipt for the final simplified prospectus is obtained within 20 days after its Current Lapse Date.
The Filer wishes to combine the Current Prospectus with the simplified prospectus of the Other Funds in order to reduce renewal, printing and related costs and intends to file the pro forma simplified prospectus and final simplified prospectus of both the Fund and the Other Funds as though the lapse date of both such funds is May 24, 2024. Offering the Fund under the same renewal simplified prospectus as the Other Funds would facilitate the distribution of the Fund in the Jurisdictions under the same prospectus document and enable the Filer to streamline disclosure across the Filer’s fund platform. The Fund shares many common operational and administrative features with the Other Funds and combining them in the same simplified prospectus will allow investors to compare their features more easily.
The Filer may make changes to the features of the Other Funds as part of the process of renewing the Other Funds’ simplified prospectus. The ability to renew the Current Prospectus with the simplified prospectus of the Other Funds will ensure that the Filer can make the operational and administrative features of the Fund and the Other Funds consistent with each other, if necessary.
If the Exemption Sought is not granted, it will be necessary to renew the Current Prospectus twice within a short period of time in order to consolidate the Current Prospectus with the simplified prospectus of the Other Funds, and it would be unreasonable for the Filer to incur the costs and expenses associated therewith, given investors would not be prejudiced by the Exemption Sought.
There have been no material changes in the affairs of the Fund since the date of the Current Prospectus. Accordingly, the Current Prospectus and current fund facts document(s) of the Fund continue to provide accurate information regarding the Fund.
Given the disclosure obligations of the Filer and the Fund, should any material change in the business, operations or affairs of the Fund occur, the Current Prospectus and current fund facts document(s) of the Fund will be amended as required under the Legislation.
New investors of the Fund will receive delivery of the most recently filed fund facts document(s) of the Fund. The Current Prospectus of the Fund will remain available to investors upon request.
The Exemption Sought will not affect the accuracy of the information contained in the Current Prospectus or the respective fund facts document(s) of the Fund, 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 Exemption Sought is granted.
“Darren McKall”
Darren McKall
Manager, Investment Funds and Structured Products
Ontario Securities Commission
Application# 2023/0510
SEDAR+ Project# 6037039
SCHEDULE A
THE OTHER FUNDS
Brandes Canadian Equity Fund
Brandes Canadian Money Market Fund
Brandes Corporate Focus Bond Fund
Brandes Emerging Markets Value Fund
Brandes Global Equity Fund
Brandes Global Opportunities Fund
Brandes Global Small Cap Equity Fund
Brandes International Equity Fund
Brandes U.S. Equity Fund
Bridgehouse Canadian Bond Fund
GQG Partners Global Quality Equity Fund
GQG Partners International Quality Equity Fund
GQG Partners U.S. Quality Equity Fund
Lazard Defensive Global Dividend Fund
Lazard Global Balanced Income Fund
Lazard Global Compounders Fund
Lazard International Compounders Fund
Sionna Canadian Equity Fund
Sionna Strategic Income Fund
Sionna Opportunities Fund
T. Rowe Price Global Allocation Fund (formerly, Morningstar Balanced Portfolio)