2024-01-11
Canadian securities regulators have amended Regulation 44-103 to implement an access model for prospectuses of non-investment fund reporting issuers. The amendments establish procedures allowing issuers to satisfy delivery requirements by providing electronic access to supplemented PREP prospectuses via SEDAR+ rather than physical distribution. The changes also define specific withdrawal and revocation rights for purchasers in various provinces and mandate updated legends on standard term sheets and marketing materials to direct investors to the electronic documents.
REGULATION TO AMEND REGULATION 44-103 RESPECTING POST-RECEIPT PRICING Securities Act (chapter V-1.1, s. 331.1, par. (2), (4.1), (6.1.1), (8) and (11))
2 (b) the date that the purchaser has entered into the agreement to purchase the security. (3) In Alberta, if access to the supplemented PREP prospectus or any amendment is provided in accordance with subsection 2A.5(2), pursuant to section 130 of the Securities Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. S-4), the agreement to purchase securities is not binding on the purchaser if the dealer from whom the purchaser purchases the security receives written notice sent by the purchaser, evidencing the intention of the purchaser not to be bound by the agreement to purchase, not later than two business days after the later of (a) the date that access to the document is provided in accordance with section 2A.5(2), and (b) the date that the purchaser or subscriber has entered into the agreement to purchase or the subscription or contract to purchase the security. (4) In Saskatchewan, if the supplemented PREP prospectus or any amendment is delivered or sent in accordance with subsection 2A.5(2), a purchaser that is not a registrant may cancel a purchase if the purchaser has not sold or otherwise transferred beneficial ownership of the security and the person from whom the purchaser purchased the security receives notice in writing to cancel the agreement of purchase and sale for the security at any time up to two business days after the later of (a) the date that the document is received in accordance with subsection 2A.2(4), and (b) the date that the purchaser has entered into the agreement to purchase the security. 2A.5. Procedures (1) This section does not apply in British Columbia, Québec and New Brunswick. (2) Access to the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment has been provided on the date on which all of the following have been satisfied: (a) the base PREP prospectus and any amendment is filed on SEDAR+ and a receipt is issued and posted on SEDAR+ for the document; (b) the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is filed on SEDAR+; and (c) after the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is filed, or within two business days before the date the document is filed, a news release is issued and filed on SEDAR+ that states (i) in the title of the news release, that the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is accessible through SEDAR+, or will be accessible through SEDAR+ within two business days, as applicable, (ii) that access to the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment, (iii) that the document is accessible, or will be accessible within two business days, as applicable, at www.sedarplus.com, (iv) the securities that are offered under the supplemented PREP prospectus, and
3 (v) the following: “An electronic or paper copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment may be obtained, without charge, from [insert contact information for the issuer or dealer, as applicable] by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable.”. (3) Access to the preliminary base PREP prospectus and any amendment has been provided if the document has been filed on SEDAR+, and a receipt has been issued and posted on SEDAR+ for the document. (4) If a purchaser requests an electronic or paper copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus or any amendment, from the issuer or dealer, a copy of the document in the format requested by the purchaser must be sent by the issuer or dealer within two business days from the date the request is received and without charge to the purchaser at the email address or address specified in the request. (5) If a prospective purchaser requests an electronic or paper copy of the preliminary base PREP prospectus or any amendment, from the issuer or dealer, in accordance with securities legislation, a copy of the document in the format requested by the purchaser must be sent by the issuer or dealer without charge to the prospective purchaser at the email address or address specified in the request. 2A.6. Exemption from Requirement to Send Prospectus – British Columbia, Québec and New Brunswick (1) In British Columbia, Québec and New Brunswick, a dealer is exempt from the requirement under securities legislation to send a final prospectus and any amendment if (a) the base PREP prospectus and any amendment has been filed on SEDAR+ and a receipt has been issued and posted on SEDAR+ for the document, (b) a supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment has been filed on SEDAR+, and (c) after the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment was filed, or within two business days before the date the document was filed, a news release has been issued and filed on SEDAR+ that states (i) in the title of the news release, that the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is accessible through SEDAR+, or will be accessible through SEDAR+ within two business days, as applicable, (ii) that access to the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment is provided in accordance with securities legislation relating to procedures for providing access to a supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment, (iii) that the document is accessible, or will be accessible within two business days, as applicable, at www.sedarplus.com, (iv) the securities that are offered under the supplemented PREP prospectus, and (v) the following: “An electronic or paper copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment may be obtained, without charge, from [insert contact information for the issuer or dealer, as applicable] by providing the contact with an email address or address, as applicable.”.
4 (2) In British Columbia and New Brunswick, a dealer or issuer that solicits an expression of interest from a prospective purchaser is exempt from the requirement in section 78(2)(c) of the Securities Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 418) or subsection 82(2) of the Securities Act (S.N.B., 2004, c. S-5.5) to send a copy of the preliminary base PREP prospectus to the prospective purchaser if the document has been filed on SEDAR+ and a receipt has been issued and posted on SEDAR+ for the document. (3) In British Columbia and New Brunswick, if a purchaser, or in Québec, if a purchaser or subscriber, requests an electronic or paper copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus or any amendment from the issuer or dealer, a copy of the document in the format requested by the purchaser or subscriber must be sent by the issuer or dealer within two business days from the date the request is received, without charge, to the purchaser or subscriber at the email address or address specified in the request. (4) In British Columbia and New Brunswick, if a dealer relies on subsection (1), an agreement of purchase and sale is not binding on a purchaser if the dealer from whom the purchaser purchases the security receives written notice sent by the purchaser, evidencing the intention of the purchaser not to be bound by the agreement, not later than two business days after the later of (a) the date that the conditions referred to in subsection (1) are satisfied, and (b) the date that the purchaser entered into the agreement. (5) In Québec, if a dealer relies on subsection (1), a contract to purchase or a subscription is not binding on a purchaser or subscriber if the dealer from whom the purchaser or subscriber purchases or subscribes for the security receives written notice sent by the purchaser or subscriber, evidencing the intention of the purchaser or subscriber to rescind the contract or subscription, not later than two business days after the later of (a) the date that the conditions referred to in subsection (1) are satisfied, and (b) the date that the purchaser or subscriber entered into the contract or the date of the subscription. (6) In British Columbia and New Brunswick, subsection (4) does not apply if the purchaser (a) is a registrant, or (b) disposes of the beneficial ownership of the security referred to in subsection (4), otherwise than to realize on collateral given for debt, before the end of the time referred to in subsection (4). (7) In Québec, subsection (5) does not apply if the purchaser or subscriber (a) is a dealer, or (b) disposes of the securities before the end of the time referred to in subsection (5). (8) In British Columbia and New Brunswick, receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (4) by a dealer that acted as agent of the seller or vendor with respect to the sale of the security referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to be receipt by the seller or vendor on the date on which the dealer received the notice. (9) In Québec, the dealer is presumed to have received the notice of rescission referred to in subsection (5) in the ordinary course of mail.”.
5 2. Section 4A.2 of the Regulation is amended by replacing paragraph (2) by the following: “(2) A standard term sheet provided under subsection (1) must be dated and include the following legend, or words to the same effect, on the first page: “A [final base PREP prospectus/supplemented PREP prospectus] containing important information relating to the securities described in this document has been filed with the securities regulatory authorit[y/ies] in [each of/certain of the provinces/provinces and territories of Canada]. The [final base PREP prospectus/supplemented PREP prospectus] and any amendment are accessible through SEDAR+. Copies of the documents may be obtained from [insert contact information for the investment dealer or underwriters]. This document does not provide full disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered. Investors should read the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment for disclosure of those facts, especially risk factors relating to the securities offered, before making an investment decision.”.”. 3. Section 4A.3 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing subparagraph (g), in paragraph (1), by the following: “(g) the investment dealer (i) includes, in the marketing materials, a statement that the final base PREP prospectus and any amendment, or if it has been filed, the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment, are accessible through SEDAR+, or (ii) provides, with the marketing materials, a copy of the final base PREP prospectus and any amendment, or if it has been filed, the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment.”; (2) by replacing paragraph (6) by the following: “(6) Marketing materials provided under subsection (1) must be dated and include the following legend, or words to the same effect, on the first page: “A [final base PREP prospectus/supplemented PREP prospectus] containing important information relating to the securities described in this document has been filed with the securities regulatory authorit[y/ies] in [each of/certain of the provinces/provinces and territories of Canada]. The [final base PREP prospectus/supplemented PREP prospectus] and any amendment are accessible through SEDAR+. Copies of the documents may be obtained from [insert contact information for the investment dealer or underwriters]. This document does not provide full disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered. Investors should read the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment for disclosure of those facts, especially risk factors relating to the securities offered, before making an investment decision.”.”. 4. Section 4A.4 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by replacing subparagraph (c), in paragraph (3), by the following: “(c) make an oral statement at the commencement of the road show that the final base PREP prospectus and any amendment, or if they have been filed, the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment, are accessible through SEDAR+, or
6 provide the investor with a copy of the final base PREP prospectus and any amendment, or if they have been filed, the supplemented PREP prospectus and any amendment.”; (2) by adding “The [final base PREP prospectus/ supplemented PREP prospectus] and any amendment are accessible through SEDAR+.”, in the statement under paragraph (4) and after the second sentence. Effective date 5. (1) This Regulation comes into force on 16 April 2024. (2) In Saskatchewan, despite paragraph (1), if this Regulation is filed with the Registrar of Regulations after 16 April 2024, this Regulation come into force on the day on which it is filed with the Registrar of Regulations.