Canadian securities regulators streamline disclosure requirements for private foreign securities offerings to certain Canadian investors

CSA

Toronto - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) today announced the final implementation of amendments to National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105). Also published in final form today are related CSA Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Right of Action Disclosure Exemptions, Ontario amendments to OSC Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and an Ontario-specific amendment to Form 45-106F1 Report of Exempt Distribution.

Together, these amendments provide limited exemptions from certain disclosure requirements for offerings of foreign securities made in Canada on a private placement basis to permitted clients. Permitted clients are institutional and other sophisticated investors.

The purpose of the amendments is to eliminate the need to prepare a "wrapper" when foreign issuers offer securities in Canada to permitted clients under a prospectus exemption. A wrapper contains prescribed Canadian disclosure and other optional disclosure that is attached to the face of the foreign offering document.

"These amendments will reduce the regulatory burden associated with offerings of foreign securities in Canada on a private placement basis and are intended to provide sophisticated investors access to a broader range of investment opportunities," said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

All three sets of amendments were initiated to codify exemptive relief previously granted to certain dealers that participate in private placement offerings of foreign securities in Canada. Provided all necessary ministerial approvals are obtained, the amendments will come into effect on September 8, 2015.

The amendments can be found on CSA members' websites.

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

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For more information:

CSA member name

Point of contact

Phone number

Autorité des marchés financiers

Sylvain Théberge

514-940-2176

Alberta Securities Commission

Mark Dickey

403-297-4481

British Columbia Securities Commission

Richard Gilhooley

604-899-6713

Financial and Consumer Affairs, Authority of Saskatchewan

Shannon McMillan

306-798-4160

Financial and Consumer Services Commission, New Brunswick

Andrew Nicholson

506-658-3021

Financial Services Regulation Div., Newfoundland and Labrador

Don Boyles

709-729-4501

Manitoba Securities Commission

Kevan Hannah

204-945-1513

Northwest Territories Securities Office

Gary MacDougall

867-920-3318

Nova Scotia Securities Commission

Tanya Wiltshire

902-424-8586

Nunavut Securities Office

Shamus Armstrong

867-975-6587

Office of the Superintendent of Securities, P.E.I.

Janice Callbeck

902-368-6288

Office of the Yukon Superintendent of Securities

Rhonda Horte

867-667-5466

Ontario Securities Commission

Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington

416-593-2361