Brompton Split Banc Corp. - MRRS Decision
Headnote
Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications --subdivided offering exempted from certain requirements of National Instrument 81-102 Mutual Funds since issuer is fundamentally different from a conventional mutual fund.
Rules Cited:
National Instrument 81-102 Mutual Funds, ss. 19.1, 2.1(1), 2.6(a), 3.3, 10.3, 10.4(1), 12.1(1), 14.1.
October 28, 2005
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN,
MANITOBA, ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK,
NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND,
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES,
YUKON AND NUNAVUT (The Jurisdictions)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEW SYSTEM
FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
BROMPTON SPLIT BANC CORP. (the Filer)
MRRS DECISION DOCUMENT
Background
The local securities regulatory authority or regulator (the Decision Maker) in each of the Jurisdictions has received an application (the Application) from the Filer dated October 3, 2005 for a decision under section 19.1 of National Instrument 81-102 -- Mutual Funds (the Legislation) for exemptive relief from sections 2.1(1), 2.6(a), 3.3, 10.3, 10.4(1), 12.1(1) and 14.1 of the Legislation.
Under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications:
(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application, and
(b) this MRRS decision document evidences the decision of each Decision Maker.
Interpretation
Defined terms contained in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions have the same meaning in this decision unless they are defined in this decision.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:
The Filer
1. The Filer is a mutual fund corporation established under the laws of Ontario.
2. Brompton SBC Management Limited (the "Manager") is the promoter and manager of the Filer and will perform administrative services on behalf of the Filer.
The Offering
3. The Filer will be issuing preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares") and class A shares (the "Class A Shares") (together referred to as the "Shares").
4. The offering of Shares by the Filer is a one-time offering and the Filer will not continuously distribute Shares.
5. The Filer's investment objectives are: (i) to provide holders of Preferred Shares with fixed cumulative preferential quarterly cash distributions in the amount of $0.13125 per Preferred Share representing a yield on the issue price of the Preferred Shares of 5.25% per annum; (ii) to provide holders of Class A Shares with regular monthly cash distributions targeted to be $0.10 per Class A Share representing a yield on the issue price of the Class A Shares of 8.00% per annum; (iii) to return the original issue price to holders of Preferred Shares at the time of redemption of such shares on November 30, 2012; and (iv) to provide holders of Class A Shares with the opportunity for growth in net asset value per Class A Share.
6. The net proceeds from the offering will be invested in an equally weighted portfolio consisting of common shares of the six largest Canadian banks (the "Portfolio").
7. The Filer will, from time to time, selectively write covered call options in respect of all or part of the securities in its Portfolio.
8. It is proposed that the initial costs of formation and organization of the Filer, including the preparation and filing of the Preliminary Prospectus and final Prospectus, be borne by the Filer rather than the promoter or manager of the Filer.
9. A preliminary prospectus of the Filer dated September 22, 2005 (the "Preliminary Prospectus") has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the Provinces and Territories of Canada.
10. The Filer intends to establish a credit facility which may be used by the Filer for working capital purposes. The Filer expects that the maximum amount it borrows thereunder will be limited to 5% of NAV. The Filer may pledge Portfolio shares as collateral for amounts borrowed thereunder.
The Shares
11. The Shares are expected to be listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX").
12. The Shares will be retractable at the option of the holder on a monthly and annual basis at a price computed by reference to the value of a proportionate interest in the net assets of the Filer. As a result, the Filer will be a "mutual fund" under applicable securities legislation.
13. The description of the retraction process in the Preliminary Prospectus contemplates that the retraction price for the Shares will be determined as of the valuation date, being the second last business day of the month (the "Retraction Date"). As requests for retractions may be made at any time during the month and are subject to a cut-off date (ten business days prior to the Retraction Date), and as the net asset value is calculated weekly, retractions may not be implemented at a price equal to the net asset value next determined after receipt of the retraction request.
14. The retraction procedures described in the Preliminary Prospectus provide that shareholders will receive payment within ten business days of the month following the Retraction Date.
15. The Preferred Shares have been provisionally rated Pfd-2 by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited in accordance with the rating criteria applicable to conventional preferred shares issued by a non-mutual fund issuer.
16. The Filer will make quarterly distributions to holders of the Preferred Shares and monthly distributions to holders of the Class A Shares. The record date for shareholders entitled to receive such distributions will be determined in accordance with the requirements of the TSX.
Decision
Each of the Decision Makers is satisfied that the test contained in the Legislation that provides the Decision Maker with the jurisdiction to make the decision has been met.
The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that relief is granted from the following requirements of the Legislation:
(a) subsection 2.1(1) -- to enable the Filer to invest all of its net assets in the Portfolio;
(b) clause 2.6(a) -- to enable the Filer to obtain a credit facility for working capital purposes and provide a security interest over its assets, as stated in paragraph 10 above, so long as the outstanding amount of any such borrowings of the Filer does not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Filer taken at market value at the time of the borrowing;
(c) section 3.3 -- to permit the Filer to bear the expenses of the offerings as described in paragraph 8 above;
(d) section 10.3 -- to permit the Filer to calculate the retraction price for the Class A Shares and Preferred Shares in the manner described in the Preliminary Prospectus and on the applicable Retraction Date as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus;
(e) subsection 10.4(1) -- to permit the Filer to pay the retraction price for the Class A Shares and the Preferred Shares on the Retraction Payment Date, as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus;
(f) subsection 12.1(1) -- to relieve the Filer from the requirement to file the prescribed compliance reports; and
(g) section 14.1 -- to relieve the Filer from the requirement relating to the record date for the payment of dividends or other distributions, provided that it complies with the applicable requirements of the TSX.