2024-01-11
Canadian securities regulators amended Regulation 44-101 to implement an access model allowing preliminary short form prospectuses to be made available via SEDAR+ rather than physically distributed. The amendments update requirements for standard term sheets, marketing materials, and road show presentations to include specific legends and statements regarding SEDAR+ accessibility and the unfiled status of preliminary documents. Additionally, the changes modify statutory rights of withdrawal and rescission provisions to align the exercise period with the date the prospectus is filed and accessible on SEDAR+.
REGULATION TO AMEND REGULATION 44-101 RESPECTING SHORT FORM PROSPECTUS DISTRIBUTIONS Securities Act (chapter V-1.1, s. 331.1, par. (1), (2), (4.1), (8) and (11))
2 territories of Canada]. The preliminary short form prospectus will be accessible through SEDAR+. A copy of the preliminary short form prospectus may be obtained from [insert contact information for the investment dealer or underwriters]. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final short form prospectus has been issued. This document does not provide full disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered. Investors should read the preliminary short form prospectus, final short form prospectus and any amendment, for disclosure of those facts, especially risk factors relating to the securities offered, before making an investment decision.”.”. 4. Section 7.7 of the Regulation is amended by replacing subparagraph (c), in paragraph (3), by the following: “(c) make an oral statement at the commencement of the road show that the preliminary short form prospectus and any amendment will be accessible through SEDAR+, or, upon issuance of a receipt for the preliminary short form prospectus, provide the investor with a copy of the preliminary short form prospectus and any amendment.”. 5. Form 44-101F1 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by inserting the following after item 1.9: “1.9.1. Statutory Rights of Withdrawal and Rescission Include a cross-reference to the section in the short form prospectus and any amendment where information about the right to withdraw or rescind from an agreement to purchase securities is provided.”; (2) by inserting the following after item 20.1: “20.1.1. Access Procedures – General If a news release will be issued and filed announcing that the short form prospectus or any amendment is accessible through SEDAR+ in accordance with subsection 2A.5(2) or 2A.6(1) of Regulation 41-101 respecting General Prospectus Requirements, subsection 6A.5(2) or 6A.6(1) of Regulation 44-102 respecting Shelf Distributions (chapter V-1.1, r. 17), or subsection 2A.5(2) or 2A.6(1) of Regulation 44-103 respecting Post-Receipt Pricing (chapter V-1.1, r. 18), replace the second sentence in the statement required under section 20.1 with a sentence in substantially the following form: “This right may be exercised within two business days after the later of (a) the date that the issuer (i) filed the prospectus or any amendment on SEDAR+ and a receipt is issued and posted for the document, and (ii) issued and filed a news release on SEDAR+ announcing that the document is accessible through SEDAR+, and (b) the date that the purchaser or subscriber has entered into an agreement to purchase the securities or a contract to purchase or a subscription for the securities.”.”; (3) by inserting the following after item 20.2: “20.2.1. Access Procedures – Non-fixed Price Offerings In the case of a non-fixed price offering, if a news release will be issued and filed announcing that the short form prospectus or any amendment is accessible through SEDAR+ in accordance with subsection 2A.5(2) or 2A.6(1) of Regulation 41-101 respecting General Prospectus Requirements, subsection 6A.5(2) or 6A.6(1) of Regulation 44-102 respecting Shelf Distributions, or subsection 2A.5(2) or 2A.6(1) of Regulation 44-103 respecting Post-Receipt Pricing, replace, if applicable in the jurisdiction in which the
3 short form prospectus is filed, the second sentence in the statement required under section 20.1 with a sentence in substantially the following form: “Irrespective of the determination at a later date of the purchase price of the securities distributed, this right may only be exercised within two business days after the later of (a) the date that the issuer (i) filed the prospectus or any amendment on SEDAR+ and a receipt is issued and posted for the document, and (ii) issued and filed a news release on SEDAR+ announcing that the document is accessible through SEDAR+, and (b) the date that the purchaser or subscriber has entered into an agreement to purchase the securities or a contract to purchase or a subscription for the securities.”.”. Effective date 6. (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.