The Proposed Registration Rule is one phase of the CSA Registration Reform Project which is intended to harmonize and streamline registration requirements across Canada. It represents a major restructuring of the Canadian dealer, adviser and investment fund manager registration rules, and has implications for Canadian and non-Canadian dealers, advisers and investment fund managers doing business on a registered or exempt basis in any province or territory of Canada.

Proposed changes to the registration and exemption regime

The primary effects of the Proposed Registration Rule on non-Canadian investment funds are:

1. repeal of the dealer registration exemptions contained in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), including the exemption for trades with an "accredited investor";
2. continuation of the requirement for portfolio managers to register in Canada;
3. introduction of a requirement for "investment fund managers" to register in Canada;
4. introduction of a national exemption from the adviser registration requirement for "international portfolio managers" provided that securities of the investment fund are distributed through a registrant; and
5. introduction of a national exemption from the investment fund manager registration requirement for "international investment fund managers" provided that securities of the investment fund are distributed through a registrant.

Current dealer and adviser registration and exemption regime

Except in Ontario (and the Yukon Territory and Newfoundland and Labrador), provincial and territorial securities laws generally permit a non-Canadian investment fund to sell its own securities to "accredited investors" on a dealer registration and prospectus exempt basis subject to certain disclosure requirements and post-distribution filings. Such exempt distributions are common private placement transactions in Canada. In Ontario, the dealer registration exemption, but not the prospectus exemption, has been removed for "market intermediaries".

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) considers an adviser to be acting as an adviser in Ontario if it, directly or through a third party, acts as an adviser for an investment fund that distributes its securities in Ontario, notwithstanding that the advice to the fund may be given to, and received by, the fund outside of Ontario.

As a result, portfolio advisers to investment funds that distribute securities in Ontario must either be registered as advisers in Ontario or rely on an adviser registration exemption. In Ontario, a common practice is for non-resident investment funds to rely upon an adviser registration exemption if the securities of the investment fund are (i) primarily offered outside of Canada, (ii) only distributed in Ontario through a registrant, and (iii) distributed in Ontario in reliance upon an exemption from the prospectus requirements (e.g., "accredited investors").

The practical effect of the Ontario rules is that the sale of investment fund securities in Ontario is typically intermediated by an Ontario-registered dealer, subject to compliance with certain disclosure and post-distribution filing requirements.

Requirement to register as a portfolio manager and investment fund manager

The Proposed Registration Rule makes a distinction between those that are in the business of advising others as to the investing in of securities (i.e., a portfolio manager) and those that are in the business of managing and administering an investment fund (i.e., an investment fund manager). Persons or companies that are in the business of managing an investment fund will be required to register as an investment fund manager.

The Proposed Registration Rule requires that portfolio managers to investment funds and investment fund managers be registered in Canada or comply with the limited international portfolio manager and international investment fund manager exemptions. The Proposed Registration Rule effectively imposes a registration requirement on portfolio managers and investment fund managers where investment fund securities are distributed in any Canadian jurisdiction. The Proposed Registration Rule is silent on what specifically triggers the registration requirement for non-Canadian investment fund service providers.

The British Columbia Securities Commission is considering not adopting the registration requirements for persons who are in the business of dealing in the exempt market. It is unclear whether this will affect the registration requirements for portfolio managers and investment fund managers.

In cases where a company is both a portfolio manager and an investment fund manager, registration will be required in both categories under the Proposed Registration Rule. The registration requirements include application of various "Fit and Proper" requirements such as the requirement to have an Ultimate Designated Person, a Chief Compliance Officer and registered personnel that meet certain proficiency standards, capital and insurance requirements, financial statement filing obligations, and other requirements.

Proposed international portfolio manager and international investment fund manager exemptions

The Proposed Registration Rule contains exemptions from the registration requirements for "international portfolio managers" and "international investment fund managers".

International portfolio managers and international investment fund managers to an investment fund will be exempt from the registration requirements if:

1. the securities of the fund are primarily offered outside of Canada;
2. the securities of the fund are only distributed in Canada through a registrant; and
3. the securities of the fund are distributed in Canada in reliance upon an exemption from the prospectus requirement.

In order to rely on the exemption, an international portfolio manager must also satisfy certain client notification and disclosure requirements.

An "international portfolio manager" is a portfolio manager that has no establishment in Canada or officers, employees or agents resident in Canada, and engages in the business of a portfolio manager in the jurisdiction in which its head office or principal place of business is located.

An "international investment fund manager" is an investment fund manager that has no establishment in Canada or officers, employees or agents resident in Canada, and engages in the business of an investment fund manager in the jurisdiction in which its head office or principal place of business is located.

Significantly, under these definitions, "international portfolio managers" and "international investment fund managers" need not be registered in their home jurisdictions. Such entities must simply engage in the business of a portfolio manager or investment fund manager, as the case may be.

Notably, investment funds cannot be distributed through a non-resident dealer relying on the proposed "international dealer exemption" contained in the Proposed Registration Rule. Consequently, investment funds must generally be distributed through an "exempt market dealer", a proposed new category of dealer registration, or a fully registered Canadian investment dealer.

Transition

The Proposed Registration Rule does not set out any grandfathering or other transitional relief for non-Canadian investment funds that have issued securities to Canadian investors prior to the coming into force of the Proposed Registration Rule. For funds with limited redemption features, this may be an issue. It is also unclear how these requirements will apply to the service providers to non-Canadian investment funds that placed securities in Canada before the Proposed Registration Rule becomes effective.