United Financial Corporation et al. - MRRS Decision

Decision

Headnote

Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Application -- Extension of distribution beyond lapse date for certain funds until the effective date of the mergers of the funds.

Applicable Statutory Provisions

Securities Act R.S.O 1990, c. S.5, as am., s. 147.

September 9, 2005

IN THE MATTER OF

THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN,

MANITOBA, ONTARIO, QUÉBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA,

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR,

YUKON AND NUNAVUT

(the Jurisdictions)

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEW SYSTEM

FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

UNITED FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(the Filer)

AND

ARTISAN RSP GROWTH PORTFOLIO

ARTISAN RSP HIGH GROWTH PORTFOLIO

ARTISAN RSP MAXIMUM GROWTH PORTFOLIO

(collectively, the RSP Funds)

 

MRRS DECISION DOCUMENT

Background

The local securities regulatory authority or regulator (the Decision Maker) in each of the Jurisdictions has received an application from the Filer for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdictions (the Legislation) for an exemption that the time limits pertaining to the distribution of units of the RSP Funds under the simplified prospectus and annual information form dated July 26, 2004 of the RSP Funds, as amended from time to time, (collectively, the RSP Funds Prospectus), be extended to permit the continued distribution of units of the RSP Funds until September 23, 2005 (the Requested Relief).

Under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications

(a) The Manitoba Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application, and

(b) this MRRS decision document evidences the decision of each Decision Maker.

Interpretation

Defined terms contained in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions have the same meaning in this decision unless they are defined in this decision.

Representations

This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:

1. Each RSP Fund currently distributes its units in each province and territory of Canada pursuant to the RSP Funds Prospectus. The RSP Funds Prospectus was previously filed with the CSA as SEDAR project no 650920.

2. Each RSP Fund is a reporting issuer as defined in the securities legislation of each province and territory of Canada and is not in default of any of the requirements of such legislation.

3. By virtue of a previous decision of the Decision Makers, the earliest lapse date of the RSP Funds Prospectus under the Legislation is September 9, 2005.

4. On June 29, 2005, the foreign property rules contained in the Income Tax Act (Canada) were repealed with the result that the RSP Funds have become redundant and the Filer has decided to merge and terminate each RSP Fund on or before September 23, 2005.

5. A further extension of the lapse date of the RSP Funds Prospectus has been requested in order that the merger and termination of each RSP Fund can coincide with other mergers of mutual funds managed by the Filer which are scheduled to occur on September 23, 2005, and thereby minimize the disruption to back office operations of the Filer and the dealers with clients invested in units of the RSP Funds.

6. There have been no material changes in the affairs of any RSP Fund since the filing of the RSP Funds Prospectus other than those for which amendments have been filed. Accordingly, the RSP Funds Prospectus represents current information regarding each RSP Fund.

7. The requested lapse date extension will not affect the accuracy of the information in the RSP Funds Prospectus and therefore will not be prejudicial to the public interest.

Decision

Each of the Decision Makers is satisfied that the test contained in the Legislation that provides the Decision Maker with the jurisdiction to make the Decision has been met.

The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that the Requested Relief is granted.

"R.B. Bouchard"
Director, Corporate Finance
The Manitoba Securities Commission