The Ontario Securities Commission will convene a hearing on Thursday, March 3 to consider a settlement reached between OSC and mutual fund manager Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.

In December 2004, the OSC confirmed that it had issued a letter Franklin Templeton to say that it was contemplating enforcement proceedings related to possible market timing.

Also in December, the OSC approved settlements with four other fund companies regarding market timing activities.

The four companies — CI Mutual Funds Inc., AGF Funds Inc., I.G. Investment Management, Ltd. and AIC Ltd. — agreed to pay $156.5 million to be distributed to investors affected by the market timing activities.

The agreements said that the conduct of the four fund managers — in failing to protect fully the best interests of the relevant funds — was contrary to the public interest.

As well, the fund managers had entered into agreements with institutional investors who profited by the frequent trading market timing activities.