July 6, 2005
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
ALBERTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, MANITOBA,
NEW BRUNSWICK, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABADOR,
ONTARIO, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
AND SASKATCHEWAN (the Jurisdictions)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEW SYSTEM
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE HEALTH CARE AND
BIOTECHNOLOGY VENTURE FUND
(the Filer)
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) that the Filer be deemed to have ceased to be a reporting issuer or the equivalent under the Legislation (the Requested Relief).
Under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications:
(a) the Ontario 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 in this MRRS Decision Document have the meanings given to them in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions, unless otherwise defined.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:
1. The Filer was established under the laws of the Province of Ontario pursuant to a Declaration of Trust on January 17, 1992, as a closed-end investment trust with a term ending February 28, 2004.
2. Upon application by the Filer, and in anticipation of its imminent wind-up, the Filer’s trust units were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange on August 4, 2004.
3. The Filer is a reporting issuer or the equivalent in the Jurisdictions and is not in default of any of its reporting issuer or equivalent obligations under the Legislation.
4. The Filer holds no assets other than cash reserved for the costs of winding up.
5. In April 2004, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency issued a final tax clearance certificate to the Filer, which indicated that the Filer had discharged all of its tax liabilities.
6. In April 2005, the Trustees of the Filer resolved that an application be made to all Jurisdictions to cease being a reporting issuer and that the Filer be deemed to have terminated upon the later of it ceasing to be a reporting issuer and the date of the final distribution (the Trustees’ Resolution).
7. As of April 11, 2005, the Filer had approximately 2,000 outstanding unitholders. After the Requested Relief is granted, in accordance with the Trustees’ Resolution, the Filer will be deemed to have terminated, and there will be no outstanding units or unitholders.
8. A final cash distribution to unitholders of the Filer was made on May 3, 2005.
8. No securities of the Filer are currently traded on a marketplace as defined in National Instrument 21-101 Marketplace Operation.
9. The Filer does not intend to seek public financing by way of an offering of its securities.
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 under the Legislation.
The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that the Requested Relief is granted.
"Wendell S. Wigle", Q.C. |
"Suresh Thakrar" FICB |
Headnote
Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications. Issuer deemed to have ceased to be a reporting issuer. Issuer's trust units were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange in August 2004, and issuer holds no assets other than cash reserved for the costs of winding up. CCRA has issued final tax clearance certificate to the issuer. Final cash distribution was made to unitholders of the issuer on May 3, 2005. No securities of the issuer are traded on a marketplace, and the issuer does not intend to seek public financing by way of an offering of its securities.
Applicable Ontario Statutory Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.S.5, as am., s. 83.