Northwest Mutual Funds Inc. et al. - MRRS Decision

MRRS Decision

Headnote

Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications - Exemption from self dealing requirements in Ontario Securities Act- relief granted regarding acquisition of asset back commercial paper from a related mutual fund - asset backed commercial paper market experiencing liquidity problems - purchase of fund's asset backed commercial paper to be made with cash - transactions subject to recommendation of mutual fund's independent review committee - relief in the best interest of the funds.

Rule Cited

National Instrument 81-102 - Mutual Funds, ss. 4.2(1), 19.1.

Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, s. 118(2)(b).

September 25, 2007

IN THE MATTER OF

THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF

BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN,

MANITOBA, ONTARIO, QUEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK,

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA,

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, NORTHWEST

TERRITORIES, YUKON AND NUNAVUT

(the "Jurisdictions")

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEW SYSTEM

FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS

("MRRS")

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

NORTHWEST MUTUAL FUNDS INC.

(the "Filer")

AND

IN THE MATTER OF

NORTHWEST MONEY MARKET FUND AND

NORTHWEST CANADIAN BOND FUND

(each a "Fund" and together the "Funds")

 

MRRS DECISION DOCUMENT

Background

The local securities regulatory authority or regulator ("Decision Maker") in each of the Jurisdictions has received an application (the "Application") from the Filer on behalf of the Funds under section 19.1 of National Instrument 81-102 -- Mutual Funds ("NI 81-102") for relief in each Jurisdiction (the "Requested Relief") from the prohibition in section 4.2 of NI 81-102 in order to permit the sale of all of the asset-backed commercial paper ("ABCP") issued by an issuer listed in Schedule "A" and owned by the Funds on the date of the Application to 9186-3027 Québec Inc., an affiliate of the Filer (the "Acquirer").

Under the MRRS :

(i) the principal regulator for the Application is the Ontario Securities Commission; and

(ii) this MRRS decision document represents the decision of each of the Decision Makers.

Interpretation

Defined terms contained in National Instrument 14-101 -- Definitions and in NI 81-102 have the same meaning in this MRRS decision document unless they are otherwise defined in this decision.

Representations

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

1. Northwest Mutual Funds Inc. is the manager of the Funds. Northwest Mutual Funds Inc. is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec.

2. Northwest Asset Management Inc. ("NAMI") is the portfolio manager of the Funds.

3. The Acquirer is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec.

4. The Funds are reporting issuers in the Jurisdictions.

5. The Funds own ABCP issued by the issuers listed in Schedule "A". The value of the ABCP owned by Northwest Money Market Fund is approximately $8.7 million, representing approximately 39.4% of the net asset value of such Fund. The value of the ABCP owned by Northwest Canadian Bond Fund is approximately $233,000, representing less than 1% of the net asset value of such Fund.

6. ABCP is short-term commercial paper with terms to maturity of 365 days or less.

7. The ABCP owned by the Funds have remaining terms to maturity ranging from October 9, 2007 to November 15, 2007.

8. The ABCP owned by the Funds had, when acquired, and continued to have, as of the date of the Application, an approved credit rating.

9. The Filer has determined that the appropriate method to value the ABCP owned by the Funds is cost plus accrued interest which is the valuation methodology used in respect of other commercial paper investments held by the Funds.

10. NAMI has determined that the appropriate method to value the ABCP owned by the Funds is cost plus accrued interest.

11. The Filer has determined that current liquidity problems affecting the ABCP market may have an impact on the confidence of investors in the Funds and may result in unusual levels of redemption requests.

12. The Filer wants to ensure that the Funds are able to meet any redemption requests received by the Funds.

13. The Filer and NAMI have agreed that if NAMI determines that a sale of the ABCP held by the Funds to the Acquirers (the "Sale") is in the best interests of the Funds, the Acquirers will complete the Sale at a price per security equal to cost plus accrued interest. The Sale may occur during the period between the date the Requested Relief is granted and September 30, 2007. The purchase price to be paid for the ABCP shall be paid exclusively in cash and no in specie transactions will occur.

14. The Funds will invest the proceeds of any sale of ABCP to the Acquirer in certificates of deposit issued by the Caisse centrale Desjardins du Québec (the "Certificates of Deposit"). The Certificates of Deposit shall have terms to maturity of 365 days or less and shall be redeemable on demand without penalty.

15. Following the investment in the Certificates of Deposit, NAMI will reconsider investment alternatives in light of the evolution of the Canadian money market with the objective of returning the Northwest Money Market Fund to a more diversified portfolio of investments within a reasonable time frame.

16. The Filer has appointed the initial members of the Funds' independent review committee ("IRC") but as of the date of this application National Instrument 81-107 Independent Review Committee for Investment Funds does not apply to the Funds as the IRC is not yet fully operational.

17. The members of the IRC, meeting as an ad hoc committee, have approved the making of this application on behalf of the Funds as well as the Sale as being in the best interests of the Funds and as achieving a fair and reasonable result for the Funds.

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 in respect of the Funds on the condition that :

a) NAMI determines that the Sale and the purchase of the Certificates of Deposit are in the best interests of the Funds;

b) the Sale occurs during the period between the date hereof and September 30, 2007; and

c) the price per security is equal to cost plus accrued interest.

"Leslie Byberg"
Interim Director,
Investment Funds Branch

 

SCHEDULE "A"

ASSET BACKED COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUERS

Apollo Trust Series A

Apsley Trust FRN

Apsley Trust

Aurora Trust

Gemini Trust

Newshore Canadian Trust CL B

Newshore Canadian Trust FRN

Rocket Trust

Silverstone Trust

Structured Investment Trust III S-A