Multilateral CSA Notice and Request for Comment
Proposed Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and
Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions
November 28, 2013
Introduction
All of the members of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA), other than the
securities regulatory authorities in Ontario and British Columbia (the participating jurisdictions
or we), are publishing for a 90-day comment period proposed Multilateral Instrument 45-107
Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions (proposed
MI 45-107).
Proposed MI 45-107 is not being proposed in Ontario and British Columbia as in those
jurisdictions existing
1
or proposed
2
local instruments address or are expected to address the
issues discussed below, as necessary.
Substance and purpose of proposed MI 45-107
Proposed MI 45-107 proposes exemptions from certain requirements of the securities legislation
of the participating jurisdictions that apply in the context of prospectus exempt financings,
conducted by issuers and by investment dealers or international dealers acting as underwriters,
offered to institutional and other sophisticated investors in Canada.
The purpose of proposed MI 45-107 is two-fold. First, in the context of the international
financings referred to above, it provides an exemption from the statutory prohibition against
making a representation about the intention to list securities on an exchange or market. Second,
it provides an exemption from the requirement that applies in some of the participating
jurisdictions, that an offering document used in connection with a prospectus exempt distribution
include a prescribed statement with respect to certain statutory rights of action.
Proposed MI 45-107 will codify certain discretionary exemptive relief that the CSA has been
granting in the context of U.S. and international offerings of securities to Canadian institutional
and other sophisticated investors and consequently alleviate the need for these discretionary
exemption applications.
1
See http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/policy.aspx?id=1266&cat=
2
See the Notice and Request for Comment regarding Ontario Securities Commission rule 45-501 Ontario
Prospectus and Registration Exemptions at: http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/SecuritiesLaw_rule_20130425_45-
501_rfc-pro-amend.htm
#4632885 v15
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Background
(a) Listing representation prohibition
We are proposing an exemption from the requirement in the securities legislation of each of the
participating jurisdictions that prohibits a person or company, with the intention of effecting a
trade in a security, from making a representation that the security will be listed on an exchange
or quoted on a quotation and trade reporting system, or that application has been or will be made
to list the security, unless consent or authorization, as applicable, is first obtained (the listing
representation prohibition).
Certain exceptions to this prohibition currently exist in most jurisdictions. These include:
•
where an application has already been made to list or quote the securities and other
securities of the same issuer are already listed on an exchange or quoted on a quotation
and trade reporting system, or
•
where the exchange or quotation and trade reporting system has granted approval to the
listing or quoting of the securities, conditional or otherwise, or has consented to, or
indicated that it does not object to, the representation.
We understand that foreign securities laws do not generally prohibit the making of listing
representations, provided that the representations are factually correct. We also understand that
many foreign exchanges and markets do not provide consent, conditional approval or non-
objection regarding a proposed listing. Consequently, foreign issuers cannot typically rely on the
existing statutory exceptions permitting a listing representation and must make an application to
each of the securities regulators in Canada for relief from this prohibition.
Given the typically short timeframe for U.S. and international offerings, it may be difficult to
obtain express consent in each applicable jurisdiction of Canada before a foreign offering
document can be used in those jurisdictions. Making such applications also adds to the time and
cost associated with extending a foreign offering into Canada.
(b) Offering document disclosure
Securities legislation in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan requires that, where an
“offering memorandum” (as defined in the securities legislation of those jurisdictions) is
provided to a prospective purchaser in connection with a distribution to which statutory rights of
action apply, these statutory rights must be described in the offering memorandum (the statutory
rights of action disclosure requirement). Where an offering memorandum contains a
misrepresentation, a purchaser who purchased a security offered by the offering memorandum
during the period of distribution has a right of action for damages or rescission against the issuer
or selling securityholder.
In the context of offerings conducted by issuers and by investment dealers or international
dealers acting as underwriters, an offering document is prepared in accordance with foreign
securities laws, and then the statutory rights of action disclosure requirement is typically
addressed either by amending the offering document for sales to investors in that jurisdiction of
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Canada or, more commonly, a supplemental document known as a “wrapper” is prepared and
attached as the cover page to the foreign offering document. The wrapper together with the
foreign offering document then forms the offering document for purposes of offering securities
in Canada.
Market participants have suggested that, in the context of offerings conducted by U.S. issuers
and dealers or other global offerings of foreign securities, the time and expense associated with
retaining counsel and preparing a “wrapper” to meet these local requirements in Canada or,
alternatively, making applications for relief from these requirements discourages some foreign
issuers and underwriters from extending foreign offerings into Canada. Because these offerings
are being made only to institutional and other sophisticated investors, Canadian securities
regulators have been prepared to provide discretionary exemptive relief to permit the disclosure
to be made in an alternative form. Proposed MI 45-107 would remove the need to make such
applications.
Summary of proposed MI 45-107
(a) Relief from listing representation prohibition
Proposed MI 45-107 would provide an exemption from the listing representation prohibition
provided that the offering is an offering of “designated foreign securities” made only to
“permitted clients”.
Designated foreign securities are defined in proposed MI 45-107 as securities offered primarily
in a foreign jurisdiction that are either:
•
issued by an issuer that
o
is incorporated, formed or created under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction
o
is not a reporting issuer in a jurisdiction of Canada,
o
has its head office outside of Canada, and
o
has a majority of its executive officers and directors resident outside of Canada;
•
securities that are issued or guaranteed by the government of a foreign jurisdiction.
The term “permitted client” has the same meaning as in National Instrument 31-103 Registration
Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
(b) Relief from statutory rights of action disclosure requirement
Proposed MI 45-107 would provide an exemption from the statutory rights of action disclosure
requirement in the following circumstances:
•
The offering is an offering of “designated foreign securities”
•
It is made only to “permitted clients”, and
•
Certain alternative disclosure of these rights of action is provided.
The exemption from the statutory rights of action disclosure requirement is conditional on the
disclosure being provided in alternative ways. The disclosure can be provided in a one-time
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notice that has been delivered to the permitted client by an investment dealer or international
dealer acting as underwriter that is signed by the permitted client. This notice will explain that,
with respect to the current and future distributions of designated foreign securities by the foreign
issuer, the purchaser will have certain statutory rights in the event of a misrepresentation. In the
case of a one-time notice, a description of such rights will not be provided at the time of each
offering of designated foreign securities by the foreign issuer to the purchaser.
Proposed MI 45-107 does not affect the statutory rights of action available to purchasers of
securities in the applicable jurisdictions.
(c) Considerations for investment funds
Investment funds offering securities in reliance on proposed MI 45-107 would continue to be
subject to other securities regulatory requirements, if applicable, such as investment fund
manager registration.
Investment funds investing in offerings made in reliance on proposed MI 45-107 would continue
to be subject to investment restrictions such as fund on fund restrictions that may limit the ability
to purchase securities of a foreign issuer that is an investment fund.
Related amendments
The CSA is also proposing amendments to National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts
(NI 33-105) to provide relief, in the context of these same U.S. and international offerings to
institutional and other sophisticated investors, from the requirement in NI 33-105 to provide
disclosure relating to connected and related issuers in a prospectus-exempt disclosure document.
The proposed exemption from NI 33-105 will only apply where offerings by foreign issuers
provide comparable alternative disclosure to purchasers.
Alternatives considered
We could continue granting time-limited exemptive relief, but are of the view that this would
result in repeated expense and time commitment for applicants. We have also considered
granting blanket order relief in each of the jurisdictions, but are of the view that a multilateral
instrument would be easier and more efficient for market participants.
How to provide your comments
Please provide your comments in writing by February 26, 2014. Regardless of whether you are
sending your comments by email, you should also send or attach your submissions in an
electronic file in Microsoft Word, Windows format.
Please address your submission to the CSA as follows:
Alberta Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
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The Manitoba Securities Commission
Autorité des marchés financiers
Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick
Superintendent of Securities, Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
Superintendent of Securities, Newfoundland and Labrador
Superintendent of Securities, Yukon Territory
Superintendent of Securities, Northwest Territories
Superintendent of Securities, Nunavut
Deliver your comments only to the two addresses that follow. Your comments will be distributed
to the other CSA member jurisdictions.
Ashlyn D’Aoust
Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance
Alberta Securities Commission
Suite 600, 250 – 5
th
Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0R4
Fax: 403-297-2082
E-mail: ashlyn.daoust@asc.ca
Me Anne-Marie Beaudoin
Corporate Secretary
Autorité des marchés financiers
800, square Victoria, 22e étage
C.P. 246, tour de la Bourse
Montréal (Québec) H4Z 1G3
Fax: 514-864-6381
E-mail: consultation-en-cours@lautorite.qc.ca
Please note that comments received during the comment period will be made publicly available.
We will post all comments to the Alberta Securities Commission and Autorité des marchés
financiers websites at www.albertasecurities.com and www.lautorite.qc.ca, respectively.
Content of Appendix
Appendix A sets out proposed MI 45-107
Questions
Please refer your questions to any of:
Ashlyn D’Aoust
Sonne Udemgba
Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance
Deputy Director, Legal, Securities Division
Alberta Securities Commission
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of
403.355.4347
Saskatchewan
ashlyn.daoust@asc.ca
306.787.5879
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Chris Besko
Deputy Director
The Manitoba Securities Commission
204.945.2561
chris.besko@gov.mb.ca
Wendy Morgan
Legal Counsel
Financial and Consumer Services Commission
(New Brunswick)
506.643.7202
wendy.morgan@fcnb.ca
Shirley Lee
Director, Policy & Market Regulation
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902.424.5441
leesp@gov.ns.ca
Donald MacDougall
Deputy Superintendent, Legal & Enforcement
Northwest Territories Securities Office
867.920.8984
donald_macdougall@gov.nt.ca
sonne.udemgba@gov.sk.ca
Kristina Beauclair
Securities Analyst
Autorité des marchés financiers
514.395.0337 ext. 4397
kristina.beauclair@lautorite.qc.ca
Katharine Tummon
Superintendent of Securities
Prince Edward Island
902.368.4542
kptummon@gov.pe.ca
Rhonda Horte
Deputy Superintendent
Office of the Yukon Superintendent of
Securities
867.667.5466
rhonda.horte@gov.yk.ca
Appendix A
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PROPOSED MULTILATERAL INSTRUMENT 45-107 LISTING REPRESENTATION
AND STATUTORY RIGHTS OF ACTION DISCLOSURE EXEMPTIONS
Definitions
1.
In this Instrument
“designated foreign security” means a security offered primarily in a foreign jurisdiction in either
of the following circumstances:
(a)
the security is issued by an issuer that
(i)
is incorporated, formed or created under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction,
(ii)
is not a reporting issuer in a jurisdiction of Canada,
(iii)
has its head office outside of Canada, and
(iv)
has a majority of its executive officers and directors resident outside of
Canada;
(b)
the security is issued or guaranteed by the government of a foreign jurisdiction;
“executive officer” means, for an issuer, an individual who is
(a)
a chair, vice-chair or president,
(b)
a chief executive officer or chief financial officer,
(c)
a vice-president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function
including sales, finance or production, or
(d)
performing a policy-making function in respect of the issuer;
“exempt offering document” means:
(a)
in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, an offering memorandum as
defined under the securities legislation of that jurisdiction;
(b)
in all other jurisdictions, a document including any amendments to the document,
if the document
(i)
describes the business and affairs of an issuer, and
(ii)
has been prepared primarily for delivery to and review by a prospective
purchaser to assist the prospective purchaser in making an investment
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decision in respect of securities being distributed pursuant to an exemption
from the prospectus requirement;
“listing representation” means a representation that a security will be listed on an exchange or
quoted on a quotation and trade reporting system, or that application has been or will be made to
list the security on an exchange or quote the security on a quotation and trade reporting system
located in a foreign jurisdiction;
“listing representation prohibition” means the prohibition in the securities legislation set out in
Appendix A;
“permitted client” has the same meaning as in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103
Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations;
“specified firm registrant” has the same meaning as in section 1.1 of National Instrument 33-105
Underwriting Conflicts;
“statutory rights of action disclosure requirement” means the provision in the securities
legislation set out in Appendix B.
Exemption from Listing Representation Prohibition
2.
The listing representation prohibition does not apply to a listing representation made in
an exempt offering document in connection with a distribution of a designated foreign security if
(a)
the distribution is made to a permitted client by a specified firm registrant acting
as an underwriter,
(b)
the listing representation does not contain a misrepresentation, and
(c)
the listing representation is made in compliance with the by-laws and rules of the
exchange or quotation and trade reporting system referred to in the listing
representation.
Alternative Disclosure of Statutory Rights
3.
In New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, the statutory rights of action
disclosure requirement is satisfied in respect of a prospective purchaser that is a permitted client
in connection with a distribution of a designated foreign security if the specified firm registrant
either
(a)
provides the required statutory rights of action disclosure at the same time that it
provides an exempt offering document to the permitted client, or
(b)
has previously provided written notice to the permitted client describing the
applicable rights of action and advising that the specified firm registrant may,
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from time to time, distribute securities to the permitted client and that the
statutory rights of action apply in respect of each such distribution.
Limitation of Application
4.
Sections 2 and 3 do not apply to a distribution of a designated foreign security if a
prospectus has been filed with a Canadian securities regulatory authority for the distribution.
Effective Date
5.
This Instrument comes into force on •.
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Appendix A
to Proposed Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation
and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions
Listing Representation Prohibition
Alberta:
Subsection 92(3) of the Securities Act (Alberta)
Manitoba:
Subsection 69(3) of the Securities Act (Manitoba)
New Brunswick:
Subsection
Brunswick)
Newfoundland and Labrador:
Subsection
(Newfoundland and Labrador)
Northwest Territories:
Subsection
Territories)
Nova Scotia:
Subsection 44(3) of the Securities Act (Nova Scotia)
Nunavut:
Subsection 147(1) of the Securities Act (Nunavut)
Prince Edward Island:
Subsection 147(1) of the Securities Act (Prince
Edward Island)
Quebec:
Subsection 199(4) of the Securities Act (Quebec)
Saskatchewan:
Subsection
(Saskatchewan)
Yukon:
Subsection 147(1) of the Securities Act (Yukon)
58(3)
of
the
Securities
Act
(New
39(3)
of
the
Securities
Act
147(1)
Securities
Act
(Northwest
44(3)
of
the
Securities
Act
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Appendix B
to Proposed Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation
and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions
Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Requirement
New Brunswick:
Section 2.2 of Local Rule 45-802 Implementing
National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus and
Registration Exemptions
Nova Scotia:
Subsection 65(3) of the Securities Act (Nova Scotia)
Saskatchewan:
Subsection 80.2(1) of the Securities Act
(Saskatchewan)
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.