2022-09-08
Canadian securities regulators amended Regulation 45-106 to introduce the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, allowing reporting issuers with listed equity securities to distribute securities without a prospectus under specific conditions. The new Part 5A establishes detailed eligibility criteria, including aggregate market value thresholds, restrictions on use of proceeds, and mandatory disclosure via Form 45-106F19. The amendments also redefine 'market price' and 'published market' to support the calculation of market capitalization for these distributions.
REGULATION TO AMEND REGULATION 45-106 RESPECTING PROSPECTUS EXEMPTIONS Securities Act (chapter V-1.1, s. 331.1, par. (1), (3), (8), (11), (32.1) and (34))
2 For the purpose of the definition of “market price”, if there is more than one published market for a security and (a) only one of the published markets is in Canada, the market price is determined solely by reference to that market, (b) more than one of the published markets are in Canada, the market price is determined solely by reference to the published market in Canada on which the greatest volume of trading in the particular class of securities occurred during the 20 trading days immediately before the day as of which the market price is being determined, and (c) none of the published markets are in Canada, the market price is determined solely by reference to the published market on which the greatest volume of trading in the particular class of securities occurred during the 20 trading days immediately before the day as of which the market price is being determined.”. 3. Section 2.1 of the Regulation is amended: (1) by deleting, in paragraph (1), the definitions of the expressions “market price” and “published market”; (2) by repealing paragraph (2); (3) by replacing, in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (3), the words “or, in Québec,” with the words “, except in Québec, or”. 4. Section 2.42 of the Regulation is amended by replacing, in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (2), the words “or, in Québec,” with the words “, except in Québec, or”. 5. The Regulation is amended by inserting, after section 5.3, the following part: “PART 5A LISTED ISSUER FINANCING EXEMPTION 5A.1. Interpretation (1) In this Part, “listed equity security” means a security of a class of equity securities of an issuer listed for trading on an exchange recognized by a securities regulatory authority in a jurisdiction of Canada; “restructuring transaction” has the same meaning as in Regulation 51-102 respecting Continuous Disclosure Obligations (chapter V-1.1, r. 24); “secondary market liability provisions” means the provisions of securities legislation set out in Appendix D opposite the name of the local jurisdiction. (2) For the purpose of this Part, the aggregate market value of an issuer’s listed equity securities is calculated by multiplying the total number of listed equity securities outstanding, by the market price. (3) For the purpose of this Part, “cash equivalents” has the same meaning as in the Handbook. 5A.2. Listed issuer financing exemption Refer to Appendix E of Regulation 45-102 respecting Resale of Securities (chapter V-1.1, r. 20). First trades are subject to a seasoning period on resale. This text box does not form part of this Regulation and has no official status.
3 The prospectus requirement does not apply to a distribution by an issuer of a security of the issuer’s own issue if all of the following apply: (a) the issuer is a reporting issuer and has been a reporting issuer in at least one jurisdiction of Canada for the 12 months immediately before the date that the issuer files the news release referred to in paragraph (k); (b) the issuer has listed equity securities; (c) the issuer is not, or during the 12 months immediately before the date the issuer files the news release referred to in paragraph (k) the issuer or any person with whom the issuer completed a restructuring transaction was not, either of the following: (i) an issuer whose operations have ceased; (ii) an issuer whose principal asset is cash, cash equivalents, or its exchange listing, including, for greater certainty, a capital pool company, a special purpose acquisition company, a growth acquisition corporation or any similar person; (d) the issuer is not an investment fund; (e) the issuer has filed all periodic and timely disclosure documents that it is required to have filed under each of the following: (i) applicable securities legislation; (ii) an order issued by the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority; (iii) an undertaking to the regulator, except in Québec, or securities regulatory authority; (f) the issuer does not allocate the available funds as disclosed in item 9 of the completed form referred to in paragraph (k) to the following: (i) an acquisition that is a significant acquisition under Part 8 of Regulation 51-102 respecting Continuous Disclosure Obligations (chapter V-1.1, r. 24); (ii) a restructuring transaction; (iii) any other transaction for which the issuer seeks approval of any security holder; (g) on the date of the issuance of the news release referred to in paragraph (k), the total dollar amount of the distribution, combined with the dollar amount of all other distributions made by the issuer under this section during the 12 months immediately before the date of the news release, will not, assuming completion of the distribution, exceed the greater of the following: (i) $5 000 000; (ii) 10% of the aggregate market value of the issuer’s listed securities, on the date the issuer issues the news release announcing the offering, to a maximum of $10 000 000; (h) the distribution, combined with all other distributions made by the issuer under this section during the 12 months immediately before the date of the issuance of the news release referred to in paragraph (k), will not result in an increase of more than 50% in the issuer’s outstanding listed equity securities, as of the date that is 12 months before the date of the news release;
4 (i) at the time of the distribution, the issuer reasonably expects that the issuer will have available funds to meet its business objectives and liquidity requirements for a period of 12 months following the distribution; (j) the security being distributed is either of the following: (i) a listed equity security; (ii) a unit consisting of a listed equity security and a warrant convertible into a listed equity security; (k) before soliciting an offer to purchase, the issuer (i) issues and files a news release that (A) announces the offering, and (B) includes the following statement: “There is an offering document related to this offering that can be accessed under the issuer’s profile at www.sedar.com and at [include website address and provide link, if the issuer has a website]. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.”; (ii) files a completed Form 45-106F19; (iii) if the issuer has a website, posts the completed form referred to in subparagraph (ii) on its website; (l) the completed form referred to in paragraph (k) is filed before soliciting an offer to purchase and no later than 3 business days after the date of the form; (m) the completed form referred to in paragraph (k), together with any document filed under securities legislation in a jurisdiction of Canada on or after the earlier of the date that is 12 months before the date of the document and the date that the issuer’s most recent audited annual financial statements were filed, contains disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities being distributed under this section and does not contain a misrepresentation; (n) in Québec, the completed form referred to in paragraph (k) is prepared in French or French and English. 5A.3. Material changes during distribution If an issuer issues a news release announcing its intention to make a distribution under section 5A.2 and a material change occurs in respect of the issuer before the completion of the distribution, the issuer must cease the distribution until the issuer (a) complies with Regulation 51-102 respecting Continuous Disclosure Obligations (chapter V-1.1, r. 24) in connection with the material change, (b) files an amendment to the completed form filed under paragraph 5A.2(k), and (c) issues and files a news release that states that an amendment to the completed form referred to in paragraph 5A.2(k) addressing the material change has been filed. 5A.4. Additional requirements (1) An issuer must (a) take reasonable steps to ensure that a prospective purchaser is aware of the means of accessing the completed form referred to in paragraph 5A.2(k), and
5 (b) include the statement referred to in clause 5A.2(k)(i)(B) in any initial written communication with a prospective purchaser. (2) An issuer must close the distribution referred to in section 5A.2 no later than the 45th day after the date the issuer issues and files the news release referred to in paragraph 5A.2(k). 5A.5. Special application – Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Québec (1) In Alberta, a document that purports or appears to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and is filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 is a prescribed offering document for purposes of section 204 of the Securities Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. S-4). (2) In British Columbia, a document that purports or appears to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and is filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 is a prescribed disclosure document for purposes of section 132.1 of the Securities Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 418). (3) In New Brunswick, a document that purports or appears to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and is filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 is an offering memorandum for purposes of section 150 of the Securities Act (S.N.B. 2004, c. S-5.5). (4) In Québec, a document that purports or appears to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and is filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 is a document authorized by the Autorité des marchés financiers for use in lieu of a prospectus. 5A.6. Core document (1) A document that purports or appears to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and is filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 is a “core document” pursuant to the secondary market liability provisions. (2) For greater certainty, in British Columbia, documents that purport or appear to be completed in accordance with Form 45-106F19 and are filed with respect to a distribution referred to in section 5A.2 are a prescribed class of documents for the purpose of the definition of “core document” under section 140.1 of the Securities Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 418).”. 6. Section 6.1 of the Regulation is amended by adding, after subparagraph (j) of paragraph (1), the following: “(k) section 5A.2.”. 7. Form 45-106F15 of the Regulation is amended, in part 3: (1) by replacing, in item 18, the table with the following: “ Assuming minimum offering or stand-by commitment only Assuming 15% of offering Assuming 50% of offering Assuming 75% of offering Assuming 100% of offering A Amount to be raised by this offering $ $ $ $ $ B Selling commissions and fees $ $ $ $ $ C Estimated offering costs (e.g., legal, accounting, audit) $ $ $ $ $ D Available funds: D = A - (B+C) $ $ $ $ $ E Working capital as at most recent month end (deficiency) $ $ $ $ $ F Additional sources of funding $ $ $ $ $ G Total: G = D+E+F $ $ $ $ $
6 ”; (2) by replacing, wherever they appear in the French text of items 19 and 20, the words “d’espèces ou de quasi-espèces” with the words “de trésorerie ou d’équivalents de trésorerie”. 8. The Regulation is amended by adding, after Form 45-106F18 , the following: “FORM 45-106F19 LISTED ISSUER FINANCING DOCUMENT INSTRUCTIONS
7 “What are we offering?”. Provide the following details about the offering: (a) the type and number of securities the issuer is offering, and a description of all significant attributes of the securities; (b) the offering price; (c) the minimum and maximum amount of securities that the issuer may offer; (d) whether the offering may close in one or more closings and the date by which the offering is expected to close (if known); (e) the exchange and quotation system, if any, on which the securities are listed, traded or quoted; (f) the closing price of the issuer’s securities on the most recent trading day before the date of the offering document. 3. Required statement On the cover page, state the following in bold with the bracketed information completed: “No securities regulatory authority or regulator has assessed the merits of these securities or reviewed this document. Any representation to the contrary is an offence. This offering may not be suitable for you and you should only invest in it if you are willing to risk the loss of your entire investment. In making this investment decision, you should seek the advice of a registered dealer. [Name of issuer] is conducting a listed issuer financing under section 5A.2 of Regulation 45-106 respecting Prospectus Exemptions. In connection with this offering, the issuer represents the following is true: ● The issuer has active operations and its principal asset is not cash, cash equivalents or its exchange listing. ● The issuer has filed all periodic and timely disclosure documents that it is required to have filed. ● The total dollar amount of this offering, in combination with the dollar amount of all other offerings made under the listed issuer financing exemption in the 12 months immediately before the date of this offering document, will not exceed [Insert the greater of $5 000 000 and the amount that is equal to 10% of the issuer’s market capitalization, to a maximum of $10 000 000]. ● The issuer will not close this offering unless the issuer reasonably believes it has raised sufficient funds to meet its business objectives and liquidity requirements for a period of 12 months following the distribution. ● The issuer will not allocate the available funds from this offering to an acquisition that is a significant acquisition or restructuring transaction under securities law or to any other transaction for which the issuer seeks security holder approval.”. PART 2 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS 4. Summary description of business State the following in bold: “What is our business?”.
8 Provide a brief summary of the business the issuer carries on or intends to carry on. 5. Recent developments State the following in bold: “Recent developments”. Provide a brief summary of key recent developments involving or affecting the issuer. 6. Material facts If there is a material fact about the securities being distributed that has not been disclosed elsewhere in this offering document or in any other document filed since the date that is the earlier of the date that is 12 months before the date of this offering document and the date that the issuer’s most recent audited annual financial statements were filed, disclose that material fact. 7. Business objectives and milestones State the following in bold: “What are the business objectives that we expect to accomplish using the available funds?”. State the business objectives that the issuer expects to accomplish using the available funds disclosed under item 8. Describe each significant event that must occur for the business objectives described to be accomplished and state the specific period in which each event is expected to occur and the cost related to each event. PART 3 USE OF AVAILABLE FUNDS 8. Available funds State the following in bold: “What will our available funds be upon the closing of the offering?”. Using the following table, disclose what the issuer’s available funds will be after the offering. If the issuer plans to combine additional sources of funding with the offering proceeds to achieve its principal purpose for raising capital, provide details about each additional source of funding. If there has been a significant decline in working capital since the most recently audited annual financial statements, explain the decline. Assuming minimum offering only Assuming 100% of offering A Amount to be raised by this offering $ $ B Selling commissions and fees $ $ C Estimated offering costs (e.g., legal, accounting, audit) $ $ D Net proceeds of offering: D = A – (B+C) $ $ E Working capital as at most recent month end (deficiency) $ $ F Additional sources of funding $ $ G Total available funds: G = D+E+F $ $ 9. Use of available funds State the following in bold: “How will we use the available funds?”.
9 Using the following table, provide a detailed breakdown of how the issuer will use the available funds. Describe in reasonable detail each of the principal purposes, with approximate amounts. Description of intended use of available funds listed in order of priority Assuming minimum offering only Assuming 100% of offering $ $ $ $ Total: Equal to G in the available funds in item 8 $ $ Instructions:
10 PART 4 FEES AND COMMISSIONS 11. Involvement of dealers or finders and their fees State the following in bold: “Who are the dealers or finders that we have engaged in connection with this offering, if any, and what are their fees?”. If any dealer, finder or other person has or will receive any compensation (e.g., commission, corporate finance fee or finder’s fee) in connection with the offering, provide the following information to the extent applicable: (a) the name of the dealer, finder, or other person; (b) a description of each type of compensation and the estimated amount to be paid for each type; (c) if a commission is being paid, the percentage that the commission will represent of the gross proceeds of the offering (assuming both the minimum and maximum offering); (d) details of any broker’s warrants or agent’s option (including number of securities under the warrants or option, exercise price and expiry date); (e) if any portion of the compensation will be paid in securities, details of the securities (including number, type and, if options or warrants, the exercise price and expiry date). 12. Dealer conflicts If the issuer has engaged a dealer in connection with the offering, state the following in bold with the bracketed information completed: “Does [identify dealer(s)] have a conflict of interest?”. If disclosure is required under Regulation 33-105 respecting Underwriting Conflicts (chapter V-1.1, r. 11), include that disclosure. PART 5 PURCHASERS’ RIGHTS 13. Purchasers’ rights State the following in bold with the bracketed information completed: “Rights of Action in the Event of a Misrepresentation If there is a misrepresentation in this offering document, you have a right (a) to rescind your purchase of these securities with [insert name of issuer or other term used to refer to the issuer], or (b) to damages against [insert name of issuer or other term used to refer to the issuer] and may, in certain jurisdictions, have a statutory right to damages from other persons. These rights are available to you whether or not you relied on the misrepresentation. However, there are various circumstances that limit your rights. In particular, your rights might be limited if you knew of the misrepresentation when you purchased the securities. If you intend to rely on the rights described in paragraph (a) or (b) above, you must do so within strict time limitations.
11 You should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of your province or territory for the particulars of these rights or consult with a legal adviser.”. PART 6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 14. Additional information State the following in bold: “Where can you find more information about us?”. State that a security holder can access the issuer’s continuous disclosure at www.sedar.com. If applicable, provide the issuer’s website address. PART 7 DATE AND CERTIFICATE 15. Certificate Include the following statement in bold with the bracketed information completed: “This offering document, together with any document filed under Canadian securities legislation on or after [insert the date which is the earlier of the date that is 12 months before the date of this offering document and the date that the issuer’s most recent audited annual financial statements were filed], contains disclosure of all material facts about the securities being distributed and does not contain a misrepresentation.”. 16. Date and signature Provide the signature, date of the signature, name and position of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the issuer.”. 10. (1) This Regulation comes into force on 21 November 2022. (2) In Saskatchewan, despite paragraph (1), if this Regulation is filed with the Registrar of Regulations after 21 November 2022, this Regulation comes into force on the day on which it is filed with the Registrar of Regulations.