Canadian securities regulators encourage investors to look out for ETF Facts

VANCOUVER, Nov. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today launched an awareness campaign encouraging investors to read the Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) Facts they receive from their dealers when they invest in an ETF, an investment fund that trades like a stock but may hold a diversified portfolio of investments.

Effective December 10, 2018, dealers will be required to deliver the ETF Facts to investors who purchase ETF securities. The ETF Facts will provide investors with key information about an ETF in an accessible, easy-to-understand format, including potential benefits, risks and costs of investing in an ETF.

"Reviewing the ETF Facts helps investors have informed conversations with their registered investment advisors about their ETF investments, for example how an ETF would fit within their portfolio or how certain features of an ETF, such as its fees and expenses, compare to other ETFs," said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

The campaign includes a new webpage and interactive ETF Facts sample highlighting information investors can expect from the ETF Facts, such as fund performance, management expense ratio (MER), fund holdings and more. There are also brief ETF Facts explainer videos on YouTube.

Investors can also consult the ETF Facts on the website of the company offering the fund, or simply ask their investment advisor for a copy.

The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

For Investor inquiries, please refer to your respective securities regulator. You can contact them here.

For media inquiries, please refer to the list of provincial and territorial representatives below or contact us at [email protected].

SOURCE Canadian Securities Administrators

Kristen Rose, Ontario Securities Commission, 416-593-2336; Brian Kladko, British Columbia Securities Commission, 604-899-6713; Jason (Jay) Booth, Manitoba Securities Commission, 204-945-1660; David Harrison, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, 902-424-8586; Craig Whalen, Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-729-5661; Jeff Mason, Nunavut Securities Office, 867-975-6591; Shannon McMillan, Financial and Consumer Affairs, Authority of Saskatchewan, 306-798-4160; Hilary McMeekin, Alberta Securities Commission, 403-592-8186; Sylvain Théberge, Autorité des marchés financiers, 514-940-2176; Sara Wilson, Financial and Consumer Services, Commission, New Brunswick, 506-643-7045; Steve Dowling, Government of Prince Edward Island, Superintendent of Securities, 902-368-4550; Rhonda Horte, Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities, 867-667-5466; Tom Hall, Office of the Superintendent of Securities Northwest Territories, 867-767-9305