Archived Notices, Instruments, Rules and Policies

Decision Information

Decision Content

CANADIAN SECURITIES ADMINISTRATORS STAFF NOTICE 81-321 EARLY USE OF THE FUND FACTS TO SATISFY PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS Purpose The Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA or we) anticipate that we may begin receiving applications for exemptive relief to allow the early use of the Fund Facts to satisfy the current prospectus delivery requirements. This Notice provides guidance on key terms and conditions that the CSA will look for when considering these types of applications. Background On June 16, 2010, we published CSA Staff Notice 81-319 Status Report on the Implementation of Point of Sale Disclosure for Mutual Funds (the Staff Notice). The Staff Notice outlined the CSAs decision to implement the point of sale disclosure framework in three stages. The CSA has begun its work on stage 2 of the implementation. The Staff Notice specified that while work on stage 2 is underway, the CSA would consider applications for exemptive relief to permit the early use of the Fund Facts to satisfy the current prospectus delivery requirements. It also stated that the CSA would publish a staff notice in early 2011 that sets out the key terms and conditions the CSA anticipates requiring as part of any exemption. Stage 1 was completed on January 1, 2011 when amendments to National Instrument 81-101 Mutual Fund Prospectus Disclosure (the Instrument) came into force. The Instrument, which was published on October 6, 2010, contains the requirements to produce and file the Fund Facts document and for it to be made available on the mutual funds or mutual fund managers website. The Fund Facts document must also be delivered or sent to investors free of charge upon request. The Fund Facts document is a new summary disclosure document and is central to the point of sale disclosure framework. It highlights key information for investors, including fund performance, risk and the costs of buying and owning a fund, in a short, easy-to-read document that is no more than two pages, double-sided, in length. Stage 2 involves publishing for comment proposed amendments to allow delivery of the Fund Facts to satisfy the current prospectus delivery requirements under securities legislation to deliver a prospectus within two days of buying a mutual fund. The CSA expects to publish the proposed amendments in mid- 2011. In stage 3, after completing our review and consideration of the issues related to point of sale delivery, we will publish for further comment any proposed requirements that would implement point of sale delivery for mutual funds. We will also be considering point of sale delivery for other types of publicly offered investment funds.
Terms and conditions for exemptive relief Set out below are the key terms and conditions that the CSA anticipates requiring as part of an exemption to allow the early use of the Fund Facts to satisfy the current prospectus delivery requirements. The CSA may also consider other terms and conditions as part of its review of an application. Filing requirements The mutual fund must file a Fund Facts in compliance with Form 81-101F3 Contents of Fund Facts Document. An amendment to the simplified prospectus (SP) must be filed to specify, under Item 3 of Part A of Form 81-101F1 Contents of Simplified Prospectus, that the Fund Facts is incorporated by reference into the SP. A mutual fund must continue to file the SP and annual information form (AIF), as required by securities legislation. Availability of documents The Fund Facts must continue to be made available to investors on the mutual funds or mutual fund managers website and delivered or sent to investors free of charge upon request. A mutual funds SP and AIF must continue to be delivered or sent to investors free of charge upon request. Delivery requirements A Fund Facts must be delivered in accordance with the current prospectus delivery requirements under securities legislation. The current withdrawal and rescission rights under securities legislation that apply to delivery of, and failure to deliver, the prospectus will apply to delivery of, and failure to deliver, the Fund Facts. These rights must be disclosed in or with the Fund Facts. A Fund Facts may only be bound with other Fund Facts that are being delivered at the same time within the current prospectus delivery requirements for mutual funds purchased by the investor. Expiry of exemptive relief Any exemptive relief granted will expire upon the coming into force of any legislation or rules relating to delivery of the Fund Facts to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements under securities legislation. This is commonly referred to as a sunset clause”. For more information Applicants and their counsel are encouraged to contact CSA staff at an early stage in the planning of an application for exemptive relief to discuss the terms and conditions set out in the Notice.
Questions If you have any questions, please contact: Christopher Birchall Senior Securities Analyst Corporate Finance British Columbia Securities Commission Phone: 604-899-6722 E-mail: cbirchall@bcsc.bc.ca Bob Bouchard Director and Chief Administration Officer Manitoba Securities Commission Phone: 204-945-2555 E-mail: Bob.Bouchard@gov.mb.ca Josée Deslauriers Director, Investment Funds and Continuous Disclosure Autorité des marchés financiers Phone: 514-395-0337 ext. 4371 E-mail: josee.deslauriers@lautorite.qc.ca Daniela Follegot Legal Counsel, Investment Funds Branch Ontario Securities Commission Phone: 416-593-8129 E-mail: dfollegot@osc.gov.on.ca Rhonda Goldberg Director, Investment Funds Branch Ontario Securities Commission Phone: 416-593-3682 E-mail: rgoldberg@osc.gov.on.ca George Hungerford Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Services, Corporate Finance British Columbia Securities Commission Phone: 604-899-6690 Email: ghungerford@bcsc.bc.ca Ian Kerr Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Alberta Securities Commission Phone: 403-297-4225 E-mail: Ian.Kerr@asc.ca
Stephen Paglia Legal Counsel, Investment Funds Branch Ontario Securities Commission Phone: 416-593-2393 E-mail: spaglia@osc.gov.on.ca February 24, 2011
 You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.