Research underway by Canadian securities regulators into mutual fund fees

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced today that two research contracts have been awarded that will further the review of Canada's mutual fund fee structure.  This research marks an important step in advancing a policy decision on mutual fund fees and follows a request for proposals by the CSA for independent third-party research to evaluate whether regulatory action is needed regarding these fees.

The CSA has selected Douglas J. Cumming, Professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship and the Ontario Research Chair at the Schulich School of Business, York University to collect and review data on whether sales and trailing commissions influence fund sales.  As part of his research, Professor Cumming will be requesting data from a representative sample of investment fund managers in the coming months. Receiving this data is important to ensuring that any policy initiatives in this area are well-founded and supported by quantitative information.

In addition to this research, the Brondesbury Group will conduct a literature review to assess whether the use of fee-based vs. commission-based compensation changes the nature of advice and investment outcomes over the long term.

The research reports by Professor Cumming and the Brondesbury Group are expected to be completed and made publicly available in the first quarter of 2015.

In December 2012, the CSA published a Discussion Paper that identified potential investor protection issues arising from Canada's current mutual fund fee structure.  Members of the CSA then conducted extensive stakeholder consultations, including a public roundtable in June 2013 and discussion forums in the summer and fall of 2013.

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

SOURCE: Ontario Securities Commission

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington, Ontario Securities Commission, 416-593-2361; Mark Dickey, Alberta Securities Commission, 403-297-4481; Richard Gilhooley, British Columbia Securities Commission, 604-899-6713; Sylvain Théberge, Autorité des marchés financiers, 514-940-2176; Kevan Hannah, Manitoba Securities Commission, 204-945-1513; Andrew Nicholson, Financial and Consumer Services Commission, New Brunswick, 506-658-3021; Tanya Wiltshire, Nova Scotia Securities Commission, 902-424-8586; Janice Callbeck, Office of the Superintendent of Securities P.E.I., 902-368-6288; Don Boyles, Office of the Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador, 709-729-4501; Rhonda Horte, Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities, 867-667-5466; Louis Arki, Nunavut Securities Office, 867-975-6587; Gary MacDougall, Northwest Territories Securities Office, 867-920-3318; Denny Huyghebaert, Financial and Consumer Affairs, Authority of Saskatchewan, 306-787-5548