In response to tax changes announced in the March 2013 federal budget that eliminated the ability of derivatives-based funds to convert interest income into tax-advantaged capital gains, RBC Global Asset Management Inc. plans to eliminate eight of its corporate-class funds.
Subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, the terminations are to take effect on Sept. 12. The meeting for shareholders to vote on the proposals is to be held on June 20. RBC GAM's proposals have been approved by the funds' independent review committee.
The termination of each Fund would be considered a taxable disposition, leaving investors with capital gains or losses to report on their 2014 income-tax returns.
Among the affected funds are RBC Bond Capital Class, Phillips, Hager & North Total Return Bond Capital Class and RBC High Yield Bond Capital Class. Also targeted for closure are five funds in the RBC Select portfolio series. (See table.)
In a release today, RBC GAM said the funds were designed to include exposure to forward agreements as part of their investment strategies. Due to the change in tax treatment, the company added, it is in the best interests of investors to close the funds.
Investors in the corporate-class funds who retain their shares will be switched by RBC GAM to another RBC fund. Alternatively, investors can switch to a corporate-class fund that isn't being terminated, or redeem their shares. The deadline for redemptions is the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the effective date of the proposed terminations.
Those who choose not to switch or redeem on their own will receive units in the same series of a corresponding mutual fund trust that does not use forward agreements but otherwise has an investment objective consistent with that of the fund being eliminated.
The affected corporate-class funds and their corresponding mutual fund trusts are:
Terminating corporate classes | Mutual-fund trusts | ||
RBC Bond Capital Class | RBC Bond | ||
PH&N Total Return Bond Capital Class | PH&N Total Return Bond | ||
RBC High Yield Bond Capital Class | RBC High Yield Bond | ||
RBC Select Very Conservative Class | RBC Select Very Conservative Portfolio | ||
RBC Select Conservative Class | RBC Select Conservative Portfolio | ||
RBC Select Balanced Class | RBC Select Balanced Portfolio | ||
RBC Select Growth Class | RBC Select Growth Portfolio | ||
RBC Select Aggressive Growth Class | RBC Select Aggressive Growth Portfolio | ||
Source: RBC Global Asset Management Inc. | |||