Notice of General Order – Ontario Instrument 81-505 Extension of Certain Filing, Delivery and Prospectus Renewal Requirements of Investment Funds with Deadlines during the period from June 2 to September 30, 2020
Notice of General Order – Ontario Instrument 81-505 Extension of Certain Filing, Delivery and Prospectus Renewal Requirements of Investment Funds with Deadlines during the period from June 2 to September 30, 2020
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic ("COVID-19"), the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Commission") is providing temporary relief from certain requirements under Ontario securities law that apply to investment funds, as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario).
Description of Order
The order provides that:
(a) certain filing and delivery obligations of investment funds under securities legislation, where the obligations are required to be met during the period from June 2, 2020 to September 30, 2020, are extended for a period of 60 days; and
(b) certain investment funds distributing securities under a prospectus with a lapse date during the period from June 2, 2020 to September 30, 2020 will have the lapse date extended for a period of 60 days.
The relief provided above is subject to the following terms and conditions:
• any investment fund relying on the order must, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the Director of the Investment Funds and Structured Products Branch by email at [email protected] stating that the investment fund is relying on the order and each applicable requirement for which it is relying on the order;
• an investment fund relying on the order must, as soon as reasonably practicable, post a statement on its public website, or the public website of its investment fund manager, stating that the investment fund is relying on the order and each applicable requirement for which it is relying on the order; and
• reference made in a notice pursuant to section 9 of the order, or a public website statement pursuant to section 10 of the order, to an equivalent exemption granted by a securities regulatory authority or regulator in another jurisdiction of Canada that is the investment fund's principal regulator, will be deemed to constitute a reference to the relevant exemption in this order.
The order does not provide a further extension of any deadline previously extended under Ontario Instrument 81-503 Extension of Certain Filing, Delivery and Prospectus Renewal Requirements of Investment Funds dated March 23, 2020.
Reasons for the Order
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting disruptions to travel, access to office facilities and availability of personnel and resources may present challenges to an investment fund's ability to meet certain filing and delivery requirements under Ontario securities law. Under the circumstances, the Commission has determined that it would not be prejudicial to the public interest to grant this temporary relief to assist affected investment funds in meeting their obligations under Ontario securities law.
Day on which the Order Ceases to Have Effect
This order will come into effect on May 20, 2020 and expires on November 30, 2020.