I.G. Investment Management, Ltd. and the Funds Listed in Schedule A
Headnote
National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions -- relief granted under subsection 62(5) of the Securities Act to permit extension of lapse date of funds' prospectus to facilitate its combination with the prospectus of other funds under common management.
Applicable Legislative Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5 as am., s. 62(5).
March 6, 2023
IN THE MATTER OF THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF MANITOBA AND ONTARIO (the Jurisdictions) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS AND IN THE MATTER OF I.G. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LTD. (the Filer or IGIM) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE FUNDS LISTED IN SCHEDULE A (the Funds)
DECISION
Background
The securities regulatory authority or regulator in each of the Jurisdictions (the Decision Maker) has received an application from the Filer on behalf of the Funds for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdictions (the Legislation) that the time limits for the renewal of the simplified prospectus and fund facts for the Funds dated April 1, 2022 (the Prospectus) be extended to those time limits that would apply if the lapse date of the Prospectus was June 28, 2023 (the Exemption Sought).
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a dual application):
(i) the Manitoba 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 British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Nunavut (together with the Jurisdictions, theCanadian Jurisdictions); and
(iii) the decision is the decision of the principal regulator and evidences the decision of the securities regulatory authority or regulator in Ontario.
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions, MI 11-102, NI 81-101, 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:
Background Facts
The Filer
1. The Filer is a corporation continued under the laws of Ontario with its head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
2. The Filer is registered as a Portfolio Manager and an Investment Fund Manager in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec and as an Investment Fund Manager in Newfoundland and Labrador.
3. The Filer is the trustee and manager of each of the Funds.
4. The Filer is not in default of securities legislation in any of the Canadian Jurisdictions.
5. Each Fund is an open-ended mutual fund trust established under the laws of Manitoba and is a reporting issuer as defined in the securities legislation of each of the Canadian Jurisdictions.
6. None of the Funds is in default of securities legislation in any of the Canadian Jurisdictions.
7. Securities of each of the Funds are currently distributed in the Canadian Jurisdictions pursuant to their respective simplified prospectus, fund facts and annual information form.
Reasons for the Lapse Date Extension
8. Pursuant to subsection 2.5(2) of NI 81-101 and subsection 62(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario) (the Act), the lapse date of the Prospectus is April 1, 2023. Accordingly, pursuant to subsections 2.5(3) and 2.5(4) of NI 81-101 and subsection 62(2) of the Act, the distribution of securities of each Fund would have to cease on its current lapse date unless: (i) the Funds file a pro forma simplified prospectus within 30 days before the current lapse date; (ii) the final simplified prospectus is filed within 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.
9. The Filer is the investment fund manager of 69 other funds listed in Schedule B (the June Funds) that currently distribute their securities under a simplified prospectus, fund facts, and annual information form with a lapse date of June 28, 2023 (the June Prospectus).
10. The Filer wishes to combine the Prospectus with the June Prospectus in order to reduce renewal, printing, and related costs.
11. Offering the Funds and the June Funds under one prospectus would facilitate the distribution of the Funds in the Canadian Jurisdictions under the same prospectus and enable the Filer to streamline disclosure across the Filer's fund platform. The Funds share many common operational and administrative features with the June Funds and combining them under one prospectus (as opposed to two) will allow investors to compare their features more easily.
12. It would be impractical to alter and modify all the dedicated systems, procedures, and resources required to prepare the June Prospectus and unreasonable to incur the costs and expenses associated therewith, so that the June Prospectus can be filed earlier with the Prospectus.
13. If the Exemption Sought is not granted, it will be necessary to renew the Prospectus twice within a short period of time in order to consolidate the Prospectus with the June Prospectus.
14. The Filer may make minor changes to the features of the Funds as part of the Prospectus. The ability to file the Prospectus with the June Prospectus will ensure that the Filer can make the operational and administrative features of the respective funds consistent with each other.
15. There have been no material changes in the affairs of the Funds since the date of the Prospectus. Accordingly, the Prospectus of the Funds represent current information regarding the Funds.
16. Given the disclosure obligations of the Funds, should a material change in the affairs of any of the Funds occur, the Prospectus will be amended as required under the Legislation.
17. New investors of the Funds will receive delivery of the most recently filed fund facts document(s) of the applicable Fund(s). The Prospectus will still be available upon request.
18. The Exemption Sought will not affect the accuracy of the information contained in the Prospectus and therefore will not be prejudicial to the public interest.
Decision
Each of the Decision Makers is satisfied that the decision meets the test set out in the Legislation for the Decision Makers to make the decision.
The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that the Exemption Sought is granted.
SCHEDULE A
THE FUNDS