Desjardins Investment Management Inc. - MRRS Decision
Headnote
Mutual Reliance Review System for ExemptiveRelief Applications - Extension of lapse date for mutual fundprospectus to allow for completion of fund mergers.
Statutes Cited
Securities Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990 c. S.5,as amended, ss. 62(1), 62(2) and 62(5).
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATIONOF
QUEBEC, ONTARIO, BRITISH COLUMBIA,ALBERTA,
SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA, NEWBRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA,
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NEWFOUNDLANDAND LABRADOR
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEWSYSTEM
FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
DESJARDINS MONEY MARKET FUND
DESJARDINS MORTGAGE FUND
DESJARDINS BOND FUND
DESJARDINS BALANCED FUND
DESJARDINS QUEBEC FUND (A-Classand T-Class Units)
DESJARDINS WORLDWIDE BALANCEDFUND
DESJARDINS DIVERSIFIED SECUREFUND
DESJARDINS DIVERSIFIED MODERATEFUND
DESJARDINS DIVERSIFIED AUDACIOUSFUND
DESJARDINS DIVERSIFIED AMBITIOUSFUND
DESJARDINS SELECT BALANCEDFUND
DESJARDINS ETHICAL INCOMEFUND
DESJARDINS ETHICAL BALANCEDFUND
DESJARDINS DIVIDEND FUND (A-Classand T-Class Units)
DESJARDINS CANADIAN EQUITYVALUE FUND
DESJARDINS EQUITY FUND
DESJARDINS ENVIRONMENT FUND
DESJARDINS GROWTH FUND
DESJARDINS HIGH POTENTIALSECTORS FUND
DESJARDINS SELECT CANADIANFUND
DESJARDINS AMERICAN MARKETFUND
DESJARDINS INTERNATIONAL FUND
DESJARDINS INTERNATIONAL RSPFUND
DESJARDINS EUROPE FUND
DESJARDINS ASIA/PACIFIC FUND
DESJARDINS GLOBAL SCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGY FUND
DESJARDINS SELECT AMERICANFUND
DESJARDINS SELECT GLOBAL FUND
DESJARDINS ETHICAL NORTH AMERICANFUND
MRRS DECISION DOCUMENT
WHEREAS the Canadian securities regulatoryauthority or regulator (the "Decision Maker") in eachof the Provinces of Québec, Ontario, British Columbia,Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, , New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland (the "Jurisdictions")has received an application (the "Application") fromDesjardins Investment Management Inc. (the "Manager"),the manager of Desjardins Money Market Fund, the DesjardinsMortgage Fund, the Desjardins Bond Fund, the Desjardins BalancedFund, the Desjardins Quebec Fund (A-Class and T-Class Units),the Desjardins Diversified Secure Fund, the Desjardins DiversifiedModerate Fund, the Desjardins Diversified Audacious Fund, theDesjardins Diversified Ambitious Fund, the Desjardins SelectBalanced Fund, the Desjardins Ethical Income Fund, the DesjardinsEthical Balanced Fund, the Desjardins Worldwide Balanced Fund,the Desjardins Dividend Fund (A-Class and T-Class Units), theDesjardins Equity Fund, the Desjardins Environment Fund, theDesjardins Growth Fund, the Desjardins Canadian Equity ValueFund, the Desjardins High Potential Sectors Fund, the DesjardinsSelect Canadian Fund, the Desjardins American Market Fund, theDesjardins International Fund, the Desjardins InternationalRSP Fund, the Desjardins Europe Fund, the Desjardins Asia/PacificFund, the Desjardins Global Science and Technology Fund, theDesjardins Select American Fund, the Desjardins Select GlobalFund, and the Desjardins Ethical North American Fund (together,the "Funds") for a decision pursuant to the securitieslegislation of the Jurisdictions (the "Legislation")that the lapse date for the renewal of the simplified prospectusand annual information form of the securities of the Funds (the"Prospectus") be extended to those time limits thatwould be applicable if the lapse date of the Prospectus wasJanuary 16, 2004;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to the Mutual RelianceReview System for Exemptive Relief Applications (the "System"),the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québecis the principal regulator for this application;
AND WHEREAS it has been represented bythe Manager to the Decision Makers that:
(a) The Manager is the manager of the Funds.
(b) The Funds are open-ended mutual fund trustsestablished by the Manager under the laws of Quebec.
(c) The Funds are reporting issuers underthe Legislation and are not in default of any requirementsof the Legislation or the regulations made thereunder.
(d) Pursuant to the Legislation or the regulationsmade thereunder, the earliest lapse date (the "LapseDate") for distribution of securities of the Funds isDecember 16, 2003.
(e) Since August 20, 2003, the date of AmendmentNo. 1 to the Prospectus, no material change has occurred andno amendments have been made to the Prospectus. Accordingly,the Prospectus, together with Amendment No. 1 thereto representsup to date information regarding each of the Funds offeredtherein. The extension requested will not affect the currencyor accuracy of the information contained in the Prospectusof the Funds and accordingly will not be prejudicial to thepublic interest.
(f) In order comply to Legislation and topermit the Manager sufficient time to finalize the renewalprospectus and obtain the requisite approvals of the Managerand the trustee of the Funds, the Trustee has requested anextension of the Lapse Date to January 16, 2004.
AND WHEREAS pursuant to the System thisMRRS Decision Document evidences the decision of each DecisionMaker (collectively, the "Decision");
AND WHEREAS each of the Decision Makersare satisfied that the test contained in the Legislation thatprovides the Decision Maker with the jurisdiction to make theDecision has been met;
THE DECISION of the Decision Makers pursuantto the Legislation is that the time limits provided by Legislationas they apply to a distribution of securities under a prospectusare hereby extended to the time limits that would be applicableif the Lapse Date for the distribution of securities under theProspectus of the Funds was January 16, 2004 and that the offeringof securities of the Funds may continue provided that:
(a) a final simplified prospectus and annualinformation form are filed no later than 10 days after January16, 2004 and receipts for the simplified prospectus and annualinformation form are obtained no later than 20 days afterJanuary 16, 2004;
October 14, 2003.
"Josée Deslauriers"