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Generating
National Instrument 81-107 Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds
Part 5 Conflict of interest matters
Section 5.3

Matters subject to independent review committee recommendation

(1) Before a manager may proceed with a proposed action under section 5.1 other than those set out in subsection 5.2(1),

(a) the independent review committee must provide a recommendation to the manager as to whether, in the committee’s opinion after reasonable inquiry, the proposed action achieves a fair and reasonable result for the investment fund; and

(b) the manager must consider the recommendation of the independent review committee.

(2) If the manager decides to proceed with an action in a conflict of interest matter that, in the opinion of the independent review committee after reasonable inquiry, does not achieve a fair and reasonable result for the investment fund under paragraph (1)(a), the manager must notify in writing the independent review committee before proceeding with the proposed action.

(3) Upon receiving the notification described in subsection (2), the independent review committee may require the manager to notify securityholders of the investment fund of the manager’s decision.

(4) A notification to securityholders under subsection (3) must

(a) sufficiently describe the proposed action of the manager, the recommendation of the independent review committee and the manager’s reasons for proceeding;

(b) state the date of the proposed implementation of the action; and

(c) be sent by the manager to each securityholder of the investment fund at least thirty days before the effective date of the proposed action.

(5) The investment fund must, as soon as practicable, file the notification referred to in subsection (4) with the securities regulatory authority or regulator upon the notice being sent to securityholders.

Commentary

1. This section captures all conflict of interest matters a manager encounters other than those listed in subsection 5.2(1). This includes conflict of interest matters prohibited or restricted by securities legislation not specified in subsection 5.2(1), and a manager’s business and commercial decisions made on behalf of the investment fund that may be motivated, or be perceived to be motivated, by the manager’s own interests rather than the best interests of the investment fund. Examples include:

    • increasing charges to the investment fund for costs incurred by the manager in operating the fund;
    • correcting material errors made by the manager in administering the investment fund;
    • negotiating soft dollar arrangements with dealers with whom the manager places portfolio transactions for the investment fund; and
    • choosing to bring services in-house over using third-party service providers.

The CSA expect that, in seeking guidance in identifying conflict of interest matters caught by this Instrument, among the factors the manager will look to for guidance to identify conflict of interest matters will be industry best practices. However, the CSA also acknowledge that each manager will need to consider the nature of its investment fund operations in determining a conflict of interest matter.

2. The CSA expect the IRC’s recommendation to state a positive or negative response as to whether they view the proposed action as achieving a fair and reasonable result for the investment fund.

3. For a proposed action in a conflict of interest matter under this section that is prohibited or restricted by securities legislation (but not specified in subsection 5.2(1)), a manager will still need to seek exemptive relief from the securities regulatory authorities.

4. Subsection (2) recognizes that, in exceptional circumstances, the manager may decide to proceed with a proposed course of action despite a negative recommendation from the IRC. In such instances, subsection (2) requires the manager to notify the IRC before proceeding with the action. If the IRC determines that the proposed action is sufficiently important to warrant notice to securityholders in the investment fund, the IRC has the authority to require the manager to give such notification before proceeding with the action.

The CSA anticipate that the situation of a manager proceeding with a conflict of interest matter, despite a negative recommendation by the IRC, will occur infrequently.

5. The notification referred to in subsection (5) should be filed on the SEDAR group profile number of the investment fund as a continuous disclosure document.