Overview
In this chapter, we examined the key features of several additional managed products. Below is an in-depth overview of each type of product:
Segregated Funds
Segregated funds are similar to mutual funds in that they are a type of pooled investment. However, they distinguish themselves as they are also a type of insurance contract, offering features such as:
- Maturity Protection
- Death Benefits
- Creditor Protection
Investors in segregated funds receive notional units rather than shares, which measure their participation and benefits. These funds are regulated by provincial insurance regulators and are generally safeguarded from creditors in the event of bankruptcy. Taxation for segregated funds is akin to trusts.
Glossary
- Notional Units: Units used in segregated funds to represent an investor’s level of participation and benefits.
- Creditor Protection: A feature that protects an investor’s money in segregated funds from creditors in case of personal bankruptcy.
These managed investment funds are sponsored by labor organizations to provide capital for small to medium-sized and emerging companies. They offer:
- Federal tax credits for investors
- Provincial tax credits in some provinces
FAQ
Q: Who can benefit from investing in LSVCCs?
A: LSVCCs are suitable for investors with a high-risk tolerance looking for tax credits and investment in emerging companies.
Closed-End Funds
Closed-end funds initially raise capital by selling a fixed number of shares listed for trading on a stock exchange. They offer investment returns opportunities like short selling, which are unavailable to open-end investment fund investors. Key features include:
- Direct capital gains, dividends, and interest distributions, rather than reinvestment into additional units.
Diagrams and Charts
graph TD
A[Closed-End Funds] -->|Fixed Shares| B(Sold on Stock Exchange)
B --> C(Investment Ops)
C --> D(Direct Distributions)
Income Trusts
Income trusts resemble closed-end funds in some respects. Investors buy ownership interests in the trust, which holds operating company assets. These securities trade on exchanges, and there are two primary types:
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- Business Trusts
The tax treatment of income trusts aligns closely with that of taxable Canadian corporations.
Private Equity
Private equity involves financing firms unable to access capital markets. A listed private equity company uses its capital to invest in various companies. Notable advantages of private equity include:
- Access to legitimate inside information
- Influence over management
However, a significant disadvantage is the lack of liquidity.
Review Questions
Now that you have completed this chapter, you should be ready to answer the Chapter 22 Review Questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about this chapter, you may find answers in the online Chapter 22 FAQs.
Conclusion
To sum up, this chapter provided a comprehensive view of various managed products, each with its own features, advantages, and disadvantages, catering to different investment goals and risk tolerances.
Key Takeaways
- Segregated Funds: Insurance-backed, protected from creditors, taxed like trusts.
- LSVCCs: High-risk but beneficial tax credits for community-focused investments.
- Closed-End Funds: Fixed shares traded on exchanges with direct capital distributions.
- Income Trusts: Resemble closed-end funds in holding assets and are exchange-traded.
- Private Equity: Specialized investments with significant access and control but low liquidity.
📚✨ Quiz Time! ✨📚
## What primary feature distinguishes segregated funds from mutual funds?
- [ ] They are both regulated by the same authority
- [x] Segregated funds are a type of insurance contract
- [ ] Mutual funds are protected from creditors in bankruptcy
- [ ] Segregated funds issue shares to investors
> **Explanation:** Unlike mutual funds, segregated funds are insurance contracts and come with features like maturity protection, death benefits, and creditor protection.
## What kind of tax treatment do segregated funds receive?
- [ ] Taxed as stocks
- [x] Taxed as trusts
- [ ] Taxed as bonds
- [ ] Taxed as mutual funds
> **Explanation:** Segregated funds are taxed as if they were trusts.
## Which type of investment fund is specifically set up to support small to medium-sized and emerging companies and offers federal tax credits to investors?
- [ ] Closed-end funds
- [ ] Income trusts
- [ ] Private equity funds
- [x] LSVCCs
> **Explanation:** LSVCCs (Labour-sponsored venture capital corporations) provide capital to small to medium-sized and emerging companies and offer federal and provincial tax credits.
## What is one significant risk associated with investing in LSVCCs?
- [ ] Guaranteed returns
- [ ] Low risk tolerance
- [x] High risk tolerance
- [ ] High liquidity
> **Explanation:** LSVCCs are considered a high-risk, speculative investment suitable only for investors with a high risk tolerance.
## How can closed-end funds offer investment opportunities that are not usually available to open-end fund investors?
- [ ] By offering principal protection
- [ ] By reinvesting all interests and dividends
- [x] Through opportunities like short selling
- [ ] By only allowing redemptions at NAV
> **Explanation:** Closed-end funds can offer opportunities like short selling which are generally not available to open-end fund investors.
## What is the disadvantage of private equity investments compared to public equity investments?
- [ ] High transparency
- [ ] Access to extensive public information
- [ ] Influence over management
- [x] Lack of liquidity
> **Explanation:** One key disadvantage of private equity investment is the lack of liquidity.
## What are the two broad categories of income trusts?
- [ ] Bond trusts and stock trusts
- [ ] Mutual trusts and hedge trusts
- [x] REITs and business trusts
- [ ] Equity trusts and bond trusts
> **Explanation:** The two broad categories of income trusts are REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and business trusts.
## How are dividends and interest distributions typically handled in closed-end funds?
- [ ] Reinvested automatically in additional units
- [ ] Accumulated but not distributed
- [ ] Used for buybacks of the fund's own shares
- [x] Paid directly to investors
> **Explanation:** In closed-end funds, capital gains, dividends, and interest distributions are paid directly to investors, rather than being reinvested in additional units.
## How are the shares of a listed private equity company traded?
- [ ] Over-the-counter
- [x] Publicly traded on a stock exchange
- [ ] Privately sold
- [ ] Not traded at all
> **Explanation:** The shares of a listed private equity company are publicly traded on a stock exchange.
## What is a key advantage of private equity investments?
- [ ] High liquidity
- [ ] Guaranteed returns
- [x] Access to legitimate inside information
- [ ] Minimal management influence
> **Explanation:** One key advantage of private equity investment is the access to legitimate inside information and the influence over management.