On May 20, 2020, the CSA published a press release announcing the issuance of an
additional local harmonized blanket relief order intended for
investment funds (the “New Investment Fund Order”). The
CSA, except for the AMF and the MSC (collectively the
“Participating Jurisdictions”), also published a press release on May 29 announcing the
issuance of an additional local harmonized blanket relief order
intended for registrants and unregistered capital markets
participants (the “New Registrant Order”). Québec
and Manitoba preferred to only issue temporary blanket relief from
certain financial statement and information delivery requirements
for registrants whose principal regulator (“PR”) is one
of the Participating Jurisdictions.
Both orders were issued in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
and follow the issuance of other local harmonized blanket relief
orders
published on March 23, 2020 (the “Initial Blanket Relief
Orders”). Under no circumstances do these new orders provide a
further extension of any deadline previously extended under the
Initial Blanket Relief Orders and both will expire on November 30,
2020.
New Investment Fund Order
The New Investment Fund Order grants an additional 60 days from
the deadline otherwise applicable under the securities legislation
for the below filing and/or delivery requirements (the
“Investment Fund Filing and/or Delivery Requirements”) by
any investment fund from June 2, 2020 to September 30, 2020 (the
“Covered Period”).
In order to benefit from the New Investment Fund Order, an
investment fund shall as soon as reasonably practicable and in
advance of its filing or delivery deadline:
- notify the appropriate securities commission stating that the
investment fund is relying on the New Investment Fund Order and
each applicable requirement for which it is relying on this order;
and - post a statement on its public website, or the public website
of its investment fund manager, stating that the investment fund is
relying on the New Investment Fund Order and each applicable
requirement for which it is relying on the New Investment Fund
Order.
Investment Fund Filing an/or Delivery Requirements
Québec, Ontario, British Columbia and |
|
Investment Fund |
When investment fund distributes securities under a prospectus s. 2.5 NI 81-101 & 17.2 of NI 41-101 |
When investment fund is not an ETF in continuous distribution
s. 12.1 NI 81-102 |
|
s. 2.2 NI 81-106 & 5.1(2) NI 81-106 |
|
s. 2.4 NI 81-106 & 5.1(2) NI 81-106 |
|
When investment fund is not a scholarship plan
s. 4.2 NI 81-106 & 5.1(2) NI 81-106 |
|
When investment fund is a scholarship plan
s. 4.3 NI 81-106 |
|
s. 5.2(5) NI 81-106 &5.3(3) NI 81-106 |
|
s. 5.4 NI 81-106 |
|
s. 9.3 NI 81-106 |
|
IRC |
s. 4.4 NI 81-107 |
Custodian |
s. 14.6(3) NI 41-101 & 6.7(3) NI 81-102 |
Labour Sponsored/ Venture Capital Fund |
s. 8.2(c) NI 81-106 |
Québec, Ontario and Alberta only |
|
Investment Fund |
When mutual fund is not a reporting issuer
s. 2.11 NI 81-106 |
Québec only |
|
Development Capital Investment Fund |
s. 6 Regulation DCIF |
s. 8 Regulation DCIF |
|
s. 18 Regulation DCIF |
|
s. 21 Regulation DCIF |
|
s. 30 & 31 Regulation DCIF |
|
s. 51 Regulation DCIF |
|
s. 59 & 61 Regulation DCIF |
|
Alberta Only |
|
Investment Fund |
When investment fund is relying on the offering memorandum
s. 2.9(17.4) NI 45-106 |
New Registrant Order
The New Registrant Order grants an additional 60 days for
periodic filings normally required to be made during the Covered
Period by registrants and, in Ontario, unregistered capital markets
participants that rely upon certain registration exemptions (the
“Registrant Filing and/or Delivery Requirements”).
According to the AMF, the decision to refuse to grant a 60-day
extension for registrants for which the AMF acts as PR will allow
the AMF to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and lockdowns
on the liquidity and solvency of registered firms and take measures
for investor protection. The AMF remains open to grant
discretionary relief orders in favour of Québec registered
firms that may have specific difficulties in complying with certain
filing or delivery requirements during the Covered Period.
Registrant Filing An/Or Delivery Requirements
Québec (only when PR is one of the |
|
Dealer |
s. 12.12(1)&(2) NI 31-103 |
When investment dealer is a member of IIROC and is registered as
s. 12.14(4)(b)&(c) NI 31-103 |
|
Adviser |
s. 12.13(a)&(b) NI 31-103 |
IFM |
s. 12.14(1)&(2) NI 31-103 |
MFD |
When MFD is a member of MFDA and is registered as an exempt
s. 12.12(2.1)(b)&(c) NI 31-103 |
When MFD is a member of MFDA and is registered as an investment
s. 12.14(5)(b)&(c) |
|
Québec only (only when PR is one of the |
|
Dealer, Adviser and IFM |
When registered under the Securities Act (QC)
s. 271.5(3.1) of Securities Regulation (QC) |
Dealer or Adviser (Derivatives) |
When registered under the Derivatives Act (QC)
s. 12.12(1)&(2) &12.13 31-1103 |
When registered under the Derivatives Act (QC)
s. 5(4) of the Tariffs for costs and fees payable in respect |
|
Ontario only |
|
Adviser (Commodity, futures) |
s. 15(1) of the CFA General Regulation |
Registered Firm or Unregistered Capital Markets |
When specified Ontario revenues for a previous financial year
s. 3.2(2) of Rule 13-502 |
Registered Firm |
When specified Ontario revenues for a previous financial year
s. 2.3(2) of Rule 13-503 |
Alberta Only |
|
Restricted Dealers |
s. 1(b)(ii) and 1(b)(iv) of the exemption order applicable |
These new orders are available on each CSA member’s website.
Links to the orders in Québec, Ontario, B.C. and Alberta can
be found here:
New Investment Fund Order
AMF (PDF – French only): Décision générale relative
à la prolongation de certains délais de
dépôt, de transmission et de renouvellement de
prospectus applicables aux fonds d’investissement pour la
période du 2 juin 2020 au 30 septembre 2020
OSC: Ontario Securities Commission, Ontario Instrument
81-505 (PDF)
BCSC: British Columbia Securities Commission, BC
Instrument 81- 521 (PDF)
ASC: Alberta Securities Commission, Blanket Order
81-507 (PDF)
New Registrant Order
QC (PDF – French only): Décision générale relative
à une dispense de certaines des obligations
réglementaires des personnes inscrites en valeurs
mobilières et en dérivés
OSC: Ontario Securities Commission, Ontario Instrument
31-513 (PDF)
BCSC: British Columbia Securities Commission, BC
Instrument 32-527 (PDF)
ASC: Alberta Securities Commission, Blanket Order
31-535 (PDF)
Originally published June 8, 2020
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.