NCM Asset Management Ltd. et al.
Headnote
National Policy 11-203 Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions -- approval of mutual fund merger pursuant to paragraph 5.5(1)(b) of National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds -- approval required because merger does not meet the criteria for pre-approved reorganizations and transfers -- a reasonable person may not consider the Funds to have substantially similar fundamental investment objectives -- merger will not be a "qualifying exchange" or a tax-deferred transaction under the Income Tax Act -- merger to otherwise comply with pre-approval criteria, including securityholder vote and IRC approval -- securityholders to be provided with timely and adequate disclosure regarding the merger.
Applicable Legislative Provisions
National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds, ss. 5.5(1)(b), 5.6(1), 5.7(1)(b).
Citation: Re NCM Asset Management Ltd., 2020 ABASC 41
April 3, 2020
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
ALBERTA AND ONTARIO
(the Jurisdictions)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NCM ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
ALBERTA AND ONTARIO
(the Jurisdictions)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NCM ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NCM ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
THE PROCESS FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NCM ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NCM ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
(the Filer)
AND
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
NCM ENERGY PLUS CLASS
(the Terminating Fund)
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
AND
NCM SMALL COMPANIES CLASS
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
(the Continuing Fund)
DECISION
Background
The securities regulatory authority or regulator in each of the Jurisdictions (each a Decision Maker) has received an application from the Filer on behalf of the Terminating Fund and the Continuing Fund (each a Fund and together, the Funds) for a decision under the securities legislation (the Legislation) of the Jurisdictions for approval (the Approval Sought), pursuant to paragraph 5.5(1)(b) of National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds (NI 81-102), of the proposed merger of NCM Energy Plus Class into NCM Small Companies Class (the Merger).
Under the Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (for a dual application),
(a) the Alberta Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application,
(b) 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 every jurisdiction of Canada other than Alberta and Ontario, and
(c) 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 and 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:
The Filer
1. The Filer is a corporation continued under the federal laws of Canada with its head office in Calgary, Alberta.
2. The Filer is registered as an investment fund manager in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Québec, and a portfolio manager in Alberta and Ontario.
3. The Filer is the investment fund manager of each of the Funds.
4. The Filer is not in default of securities legislation in any jurisdiction of Canada.
The Funds
5. Each Fund is a separate class of special shares of Norrep Opportunities Corp. (NOC), a mutual fund corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta.
6. Shares of the Funds are currently distributed under a simplified prospectus, annual information form and fund facts, each dated May 22, 2019, as amended.
7. Each of the Funds is a reporting issuer under the securities legislation of each province of Canada, and is subject to the requirements of NI 81-102.
8. The Funds are not in default of securities legislation in any jurisdiction of Canada.
9. Each Fund follows the standard investment restrictions and practices in NI 81-102, except pursuant to the terms of any exemptive relief that has been previously obtained.
10. The net asset value for each series of shares of the Funds is generally calculated on a daily basis on each day that the Toronto Stock Exchange is open for trading (each, a Business Day) and shares of the Funds are generally redeemable on any Business Day.
11. The Continuing Fund has identical valuation procedures to those of the Terminating Fund.
12. The Terminating Fund and the Continuing Fund are, and are expected to continue to be at all material times, mutual fund corporations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act) and, accordingly, shares of the Funds are "qualified investments" under the Tax Act for registered retirement savings plans, registered retirement income funds, deferred profit sharing plans, registered education savings plans, registered disability savings plans and tax free savings accounts.
Details of the Mergers
13. The Filer intends to merge NCM Energy Plus Class into NCM Small Companies Class.
14. Approval for the Merger is required because the Merger does not satisfy all of the criteria for pre-approved reorganizations and transfers set out in section 5.6 of NI 81-102 in both of the following ways:
(a) the fundamental investment objectives of the Continuing Fund and the Terminating Fund may not be considered by a reasonable person to be "substantially similar";
(b) the Merger will not be a "qualifying exchange" or a tax deferred transaction under the Tax Act.
15. Shareholders in the Terminating Fund will receive shares of the same series of the Continuing Fund as they currently own in the Terminating Fund.
16. Investors of each of the Funds will be asked to approve the Merger at meetings to be held concurrently on or about May 4, 2020.
17. As required by National Instrument 81-107 Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds, an Independent Review Committee (IRC) has been appointed for the Funds. The Manager presented the potential conflict of interest matters related to the proposed Merger to the IRC. The IRC considered the proposed Merger and provided a positive recommendation to the Manager on the basis that the proposed Merger, if implemented, would achieve a fair and reasonable result for each of the Funds.
18. The Filer does not consider the Merger to be a material change to the Continuing Fund. However, the Filer will seek approval for the Merger from the shareholders of the Continuing Fund as required pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the ABCA). The sole common shareholder of NOC will also approve the Merger as required under the ABCA.
19. The board of directors of the Filer and NOC approved the proposed Merger on February 11, 2020 and a press release and material change report, which gave notice of the proposed Merger, was issued and filed on SEDAR on February 11, 2020. Related amendments to the simplified prospectus, annual information form and fund facts of the Funds were filed on SEDAR on February 18, 2020.
20. A notice of meeting, management information circular (the Circular), proxy and fund facts of the Continuing Fund in connection with the special meetings of shareholders will be mailed to shareholders of the Funds on or about April 9, 2020 and will be filed via SEDAR.
21. The Circular will include all of the following information:
(a) a description of the proposed Merger including the steps that will be taken to effect the Merger;
(b) a comparison of the Terminating Fund and the Continuing Fund including the differences between the investment objectives of the Terminating Fund and the Continuing Fund;
(c) the tax implications of the Merger;
(d) a summary of the IRC's determination;
(e) a statement that shareholders who redeem their shares will be subject to the same redemption charges to which their shares of the Terminating Fund were subject prior to the Merger except that any deferred sales charges applicable to shares of the Terminating Fund will be waived;
(f) disclosure that shareholders of the Funds may obtain in respect of the Continuing Fund, at no cost, the most recent annual and interim financial statements, the current simplified prospectus, annual information form, the fund facts and the most recent management report on fund performance that are currently available and that have been made public by contacting the Filer or by accessing the website of the Filer or by accessing SEDAR.
Accordingly, shareholders of the Funds will have an opportunity to consider such information prior to voting on the Merger.
22. The Filer will pay all costs and expenses associated with the Merger. These costs consist mainly of legal, proxy solicitation, printing, mailing and regulatory fees and brokerage charges associated with the merger-related trades.
23. No sales charges will be payable in connection with the acquisition by the Continuing Fund of the investment portfolio of the Terminating Fund.
24. Subject to receipt of the requisite shareholder approvals and the Approval Sought, it is anticipated that the Merger will be implemented as soon as practicable after the special meetings and in any event prior to May 15, 2020 (the Merger Date).
25. If the requisite shareholder approval is not received for the Merger it will not proceed.
26. Shareholders of the Terminating Fund will continue to have the right to switch to another mutual fund managed by the Filer or to redeem shares of the Terminating Fund for cash at any time up to the close of business on the business day immediately prior to the Merger Date.
27. Prior to the Merger Date, the portfolio assets of the Terminating Fund to be acquired by the Continuing Fund will be acceptable to the portfolio adviser of the Continuing Fund and will be consistent with the investment objective and strategies of the Continuing Fund.
28. Following the Mergers, the Continuing Fund will continue as a publicly offered open-end mutual fund and the Terminating Fund will be wound-up and terminated as soon as reasonably possible.
Merger Steps
29. The proposed Merger will be structured as follows:
(a) Prior to the Merger Date, if required, the Terminating Fund will sell any securities in its portfolio that do not meet the investment objectives and investment strategies of the Continuing Fund. As a result, the Terminating Fund may hold cash for a period of time prior to the Merger being effected, which it is permitted to do in accordance with its investment objectives.
(b) Prior to the Merger Date, NOC may pay a capital gains dividend on shares of the Terminating Fund where determined to be fair and equitable.
(c) The articles of incorporation of NOC will be amended to exchange all of the outstanding special shares of the Terminating Fund for special shares of the same series of the Continuing Fund. Pursuant to that exchange, each investor of the Terminating Fund will receive special shares of the same series of the Continuing Fund with a value equal to the value of their special shares in the Terminating Fund as determined on the Merger Date. After this step is complete, shareholders of the Terminating Fund will become shareholders of the Continuing Fund.
(d) On the Merger Date, the net assets attributable to the Terminating Fund (being its investment portfolio and other assets, including cash and liabilities) will be included in the portfolio of assets attributable to the Continuing Fund.
(e) As soon as reasonably possible following the Merger, the articles of incorporation of NOC will be amended to terminate NCM Energy Plus Class.
30. The Filer believes the Merger will be beneficial to the shareholders of the Funds for the following reasons:
(a) Shareholders of the Continuing Fund are expected to benefit from increased economies of scale and lower operating expenses as part of larger combined Continuing Fund.
(b) The Continuing Fund is expected to attract more assets as marketing efforts will be concentrated on fewer funds, rather than multiple funds with similar investment mandates. The ability to attract assets in the Continuing Fund will benefit investors by helping to ensure that the Continuing Fund remains a viable, long-term, attractive investment vehicle for existing and potential investors.
(c) The Continuing Fund will have a greater level of assets and will enable the Filer to focus its sales efforts on the growth of the Continuing Fund which in turn is expected to allow for increased portfolio diversification opportunities, lower volatility and greater liquidity of investments.
(d) The administrative and regulatory costs of operating the Terminating Fund as a stand-alone mutual fund are expected to increase if the Terminating Fund continues its current growth trajectory.
(e) The Continuing Fund, as a result of its increased size, will benefit from a more significant profile in the marketplace.
(f) The Merger will reduce the duplication of administrative and regulatory costs involved in operating the Terminating Funds and the Continuing Funds as separate investment funds.
(g) Reducing the number of NCM funds will provide investors with a more streamlined range of products that will make it easier for investors to select a suitable mutual fund based on their risk tolerance and investment objectives as the Merger will eliminate funds with similar and over-lapping investment objectives and strategies.
(h) Management fees and performance fees of the Continuing Fund will remain the same.
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 Approval Sought is granted, provided that the Filer obtains the prior approval of the shareholders of the Terminating Fund and the Continuing Fund at special meetings held for that purpose.