Mackenzie Financial Corporation et al.
Headnote
NP 11-203 -- Coordinated Review -- Lapse date of mutual fund prospectus extended for merger of the funds -- Extension of lapse date will not affect the currency or accuracy of the information contained in the prospectus -- Securities Act (Ontario).
Applicable Legislative Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as am., s. 147.
April 6, 2009
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 PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
APPLICATIONS IN MULITPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
MACKENZIE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
("Mackenzie" or the "Filer")
AND
KEYSTONE SCEPTRE CANADIAN LARGE CAP FUND
KEYSTONE SCEPTRE CANADIAN SMALL CAP FUND
(the "Funds")
DECISION
Background
The securities regulatory authority or regulator in each of the Jurisdictions ("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 limit pertaining to the distribution of securities of the Funds under their simplified prospectuses dated April 8, 2008 (the "Prospectus") be extended to permit the continued distribution of securities of the Funds until June 5, 2009 (the "Exemption Sought").
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a coordinated review application):
(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application, and
(b) the decision is the decision of the principal regulator and evidences the decision of each other Decision Maker.
Interpretation
Terms defined in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions 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:
1. Mackenzie is a corporation amalgamated under the laws of Ontario. Mackenzie is the manager, trustee and the portfolio advisor to the Funds. Each of the Funds is an open-ended mutual fund trust established under the laws of Ontario pursuant to a declaration of trust.
2. The Funds are reporting issuers under the Legislation and are not in default of any of the requirements of the Legislation.
3. The Funds are currently qualified for distribution in all Jurisdictions under the Prospectus, as amended.
4. Pursuant to the Legislation, the lapse date (the "Lapse Date") for the distribution of securities of the Funds is April 8, 2009.
5. Pursuant to the Legislation, provided a pro forma simplified prospectus is filed 30 days prior to April 8, 2009, a final version is filed by April 18, 2009, and a receipt for the simplified prospectus is issued by the securities regulatory authorities by April 28, 2009, the securities of the Funds may continue to be distributed after the Lapse Date.
6. Subject to obtaining all applicable approvals of the securities regulatory authorities, together with the requisite investor approvals by way of a special meeting of investors to be held before June 5, 2009 (the "Special Meeting"), Mackenzie intends to merge the Funds into other mutual funds managed by Mackenzie by June 5, 2009. Prior to the Special Meeting, all investors will be provided with the necessary disclosure documents, including but not limited to, an information circular.
7. As the Funds are proposed to be terminated by way of mergers, a renewal prospectus of the Funds will not be filed. Therefore, securities of the Funds will not be qualified for distribution in the period that follows the Lapse Date and that leads up to the effective date of the mergers unless an extension is granted to permit the continued distribution of securities of the Funds during that period. An extension of the Lapse Date is therefore requested until June 5, 2009.
8. The purchases the Filer expects to see of the Funds' securities after the Lapse Date are principally those made pursuant to pre-authorized purchases ("PAP") from existing investors. These scheduled PAPs will continue until the effective date of the mergers.
9. If the Exemption Sought is not granted, a pro forma prospectus and a final prospectus for the Funds would have to have been filed by March 9, 2009 and April 8, 2009 respectively in accordance with the existing time limits for the renewal of the Prospectus, notwithstanding that the Funds will be terminated on or about the effective date of the mergers. The financial costs and time involved in preparing, filing and printing a revised prospectus for the Funds would be unduly costly.
10. Mackenzie is in the process of amending the Prospectus to reflect the proposed mergers such that, since April 8, 2008, no material changes will have occurred that have not been disclosed by way of an amendment to the Prospectus. Accordingly, as amended, the Prospectus will present up-to-date information regarding the Funds. The extension requested will not affect the currency or accuracy of the information contained in the Prospectus, as amended, and as may be further amended in accordance with NI 81-106, and, accordingly, 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 Maker to make the decision.
The decision of the Decision Maker under the Legislation is that the Exemption Sought is granted.