2021-05-20
The Canadian Securities Administrators have amended Policy Statement 51-102 to update references to other regulations, introduce innovative disclosure approaches, and clarify filing deadlines and delivery requirements for annual and interim disclosure statements. The revisions establish new guidance on readability measures, restatement procedures, and specific disclosure obligations for investment entities and those changing their business models. Additionally, the amendments replace Appendix A with detailed examples of filing requirements for changes in financial year ends and update terminology to align with recent regulatory changes.
AMENDMENTS TO POLICY STATEMENT TO REGULATION 51-102 RESPECTING CONTINUOUS DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
2 “3.5. Delivery of Annual and Interim Disclosure Statements and Certain Other Disclosure Documents (1) Subsection 3A.6(1) of the Regulation requires a reporting issuer to send a request form to the registered holders and beneficial owners of its securities, other than debt instruments. The registered holders and beneficial owners may use the request form to request a copy of the reporting issuer’s annual disclosure statement or annual financial statements and related MD&A, interim disclosure statement or interim financial report and related MD&A and annual financial statements or interim financial reports filed under section 4.7 and subsection 4.10(2) of the Regulation. In addition, the request form also may (but is not required to) be used to request a copy of the information circular and the annual disclosure statement or annual financial statements where a reporting issuer uses notice-and-access to deliver proxy-related materials. A reporting issuer is only required to deliver its annual disclosure statement, interim disclosure statements, annual financial statements and related MD&A or interim financial reports and related MD&A to the person that requests them. As a result, if a beneficial owner requests any of these documents through its intermediary, the reporting issuer is only required to deliver the requested documents to the intermediary. Failing to return the request form or otherwise specifically requesting a copy of these documents from the reporting issuer will override the beneficial owner’s standing instructions under Regulation 54-101 respecting Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (chapter V-1.1, r. 29) in respect of the financial statements. The Regulation does not prescribe when the request form must be sent, or how it must be returned to the reporting issuer. (2) Subsection 3A.6(6) of the Regulation provides that subsection 3A.6(1) and subsections 3A.6(3) and (4) with respect to an annual disclosure statement and annual financial statements, do not apply to a reporting issuer that sends its annual disclosure statement and annual financial statements to its securityholders, other than holders of debt instruments, within 140 days of the reporting issuer’s financial year-end and in accordance with Regulation 54-101 respecting Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer. Notice-and-access can be used to send the annual disclosure statement or annual financial statements and related MD&A under subsection 3A.6(6). Notice-and-access is consistent with the principles for electronic delivery set out in Policy Statement 11-201 respecting Electronic Delivery of Documents(Decision 2011-PDG-0183, 2011-11-17).”. 9. Section 4.1 of the Policy Statement is amended by replacing, in paragraph (1), the first two sentences with the following: “Subsection 3A.5(1) of the Regulation requires that each annual disclosure statement be approved by the board of directors before filing. Subsections 3A.5(2) and 3A.5(3) of the Regulation require that each interim disclosure statement be approved by the board of directors or by the company’s audit committee before filing.”. 10. Section 5.1 of the Policy Statement is repealed. 11. Section 5.2 of the Policy Statement is amended by replacing “Section 5.3 of the Regulation requires” with “Section 8 of Form 51-102F1 and subsection 3(1) of Form 51-102F2 require”. 12. Section 5.3 of the Policy Statement is amended by replacing “Section 5.4 of the Regulation requires” with “Section 9 of Form 51-102F1 and subsection 3(1) of Form 51-102F2 require”, and the word “MD&A” with the words “annual disclosure statement or interim disclosure statement”. 13. Section 5.4 of the Policy Statement is repealed. 14. Section 5.6 of the Policy Statement is amended:
3 (1) by replacing, in paragraph (1), “section 2.2.1 of Form 51-102F1” with “section 4 of Form 51-102F2” and by adding, after the third sentence, the following: “In addition, to comply with the requirement to discuss the issuer’s financial condition, financial performance and cash flows and any factors that have caused period to period variations in those measures, a venture issuer that is an investment entity or a non-investment entity recording investments at fair value should update the quarterly highlights for all disclosure required by section 10 of Form 51-102F1.”. (2) by replacing, in the first sentence of paragraph (2), the words “full interim MD&A” with “a full interim MD&A in accordance with section 3 of Form 51-102F2” and by replacing the fourth sentence with the following: “Venture issuers will likely take the needs of their investors into consideration when determining whether to provide quarterly highlights or a full interim MD&A.”; (3) by replacing, in paragraph (3), the first sentence with the following: “For greater certainty, a reference to an interim MD&A is a reference to the quarterly highlights a venture issuer has the option of providing in accordance with section 4 of Form 51-102F2.”. 15. The Policy Statement is amended by inserting, after section 5.6, the following: “5.7. Overall Performance Subsection 3(4) of Form 51-102F1 requires a reporting issuer that is changing its business model to disclose certain information regarding its plans, milestones and expenditures. Examples of situations that would warrant a discussion under subsection 3(4) include when a reporting issuer: (a) has entered into material agreements relating to the change in its business model; (b) has incurred material expenses relating to the change in its business model; and (c) anticipates that the change in its future revenues will be material as a result of the change in its business model. “5.8. Additional Disclosure for Investment Entities and Non-Investment Entities Recording Investments at Fair Value (1) Standalone financial statements as contemplated by Policy Statement to Regulation 41-201 respecting Income Trusts and Other Indirect Offerings (Decision 2004-PDG-0190, 2004- 12-01) may be necessary for an investor to make an informed investment decision where the operation of the reporting issuer as an investment entity or non-investment entity recording investments at fair value are dependent on a single investment. (2) Investment entities or non-investment entities recording investments at fair value with material mining or oil and gas investments need to consider the applicability of technical disclosure requirements in Regulation 43-101 respecting Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (chapter V-1.1, r. 15) and Regulation 51-101 respecting Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (chapter V-1.1, r. 23) in their filings. For example, the disclosure of technical information relating to a material investee may trigger the requirement to file a technical report under Regulation 43-101 respecting Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. In addition, if the investment entity or non-investment entity recording investments at fair value files an annual disclosure statement, disclosure requirements of sections 18 or 19 of Form 51-102F1 may apply.”. 16. Section 6.2 of the Policy Statement is amended:
4 (1) by replacing, in the French text, wherever they appear, the words “titres adossés à des créances” with the words “titres adossés à des actifs”; (2) by replacing, in the first paragraph of paragraph (1), “section 5.3 of Form 51-102F2” with “section 17 of Form 51-102F1”; (3) by replacing, in paragraph (2), “Paragraph 5.3(2)(a) of Form 51-102F2” with “Paragraph 17(b)(i) of Form 51-102F1”. 17. Section 10.3 of the Policy Statement is amended by inserting, in the second bullet of paragraph (8) and after the words “annual MD&A”, the words “which, for that purpose, may be included in an annual disclosure statement or an annual report,”. 18. Section 11.2 of the Policy Statement is replaced with the following: “11.2. Refiling Documents or Restating Financial Information (1) If a reporting issuer decides to refile a document in whole or in part, or restate financial information for comparative periods in financial statements for reasons other than retroactive application of a change in an accounting standard or policy or a new accounting standard, and the refiled or restated information is likely to differ materially from the information originally filed, the reporting issuer should disclose in the news release required by subsection 11.5(1) of the Regulation when it makes that decision (a) the facts underlying the changes, (b) the general impact of the changes on previously filed information, and (c) the steps the reporting issuer would take before filing an amended document, or filing restated financial information, if the reporting issuer is not filing amended information immediately. (2) If a reporting issuer refiles a document or restates financial information under paragraphs 11.5(1)(b) or (c) of the Regulation by filing an amendment to a previously filed annual disclosure statement or interim disclosure statement, it is not required to restate the previously filed document in whole but should include all disclosure required in order to understand the nature and context of the amendment. For example, a reporting issuer amending its proposed transaction disclosure under subsections 7(1) and (2) of Form 51-102F1 should include the complete text of this section, as amended, rather than just the amended or additional text. (3) A reporting issuer should also consider refiling the document in whole if: (a) there are a large number of sections that are being amended; (b) the amendments are extensive; (c) the document has been amended more than once; or (d) the document includes hyperlinks that do not link to the amendment.”. 19. Section 13.1 of the Policy Statement is replaced with the following: “13.1. Prior Exemptions, Waivers and Approvals Section 13.2 of the Regulation essentially allows a reporting issuer, in certain circumstances, to continue to rely upon an exemption, waiver or approval relating to continuous disclosure obligations obtained prior to the Regulation coming into force or prior to the amendments on (indicate here the date of coming into force of the amending regulation) coming into force, as applicable, if the exemption, waiver or approval relates to a substantially similar provision in the Regulation and the reporting issuer provides written notice to the regulator, except in Québec, or the securities regulatory authority of its reliance on such exemption, waiver or approval. Upon receipt of such notice, the regulator, except in Québec, or the securities regulatory
5 authority, as the case may be, will review it to determine if the provision of the Regulation referred to in the notice is substantially similar to the provision from which the exemption, waiver or approval was granted. The written notice should be sent by email to each jurisdiction where the prior exemption, waiver or approval is relied upon, using the relevant address or addresses listed in section 5.5 of Policy Statement 11-203 respecting Process for Exemptive Relief Applications in Multiple Jurisdictions (Decision 2008-PDG-0061, 2008-02-22).”. 20. Appendix A of the Policy Statement is replaced with the following: “APPENDIX A EXAMPLES OF FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGES IN THE YEAR END The following examples assume the old financial year ended on December 31, 20X0 Number of Months Financial Year End Changed By Up to 3 months Up to 3 months 4 to 6 months 7 or 8 months 9 to 11 months Transition Year 2 months ended 2/28/X1 14 months ended 2/28/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X1 7 months ended 7/31/X1 10 months ended 10/31/X1 Comparative Annual Financial Statements to Transition Year 12 months ended 12/31/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 New Financial Year 2/28/X2 2/28/X3 6/30/X2 7/31/X2 10/31/X2 Comparative Annual Financial Statements to New Financial Year 2 months ended 2/28/X1 and 12 months ended 12/31/X0* 14 months ended 2/28/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X1 and 12 months ended 12/31/X0* 7 months ended 7/31/X1 and 12 months ended 12/31/X0* 10 months ended 10/31/X1 Interim Periods for Transition Year Not applicable 3 months ended 3/31/X1 6 months ended 6/30/X1 9 months ended 9/30/X1 12 months ended 12/31/X1 Or 2 months ended 2/28/X1 5 months ended 5/31/X1 8 months ended 8/31/X1 11 months ended 11/30/X1 3 months ended 3/31/X1 3 months ended 3/31/X1 Or 4 months ended 4/30/X1 3 months ended 3/31/X1 6 months ended 6/30/X1 Or 4 months ended 4/30/X1 7 months ended 7/31/X1 Comparative Interim Periods to Interim Periods in Transition Year Not applicable 3 months ended 3/31/X0 6 months ended 6/30/X0 3 months ended 3/31/X0 3 months ended 3/31/X0 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X0 6 months ended 6/30/X0 Or
6 9 months ended 9/30/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X0 6 months ended 6/30/X0 9 months ended 9/30/X0 12 months ended 12/31/X0 3 months ended 3/31/X0 3 months ended 3/31/X0 6 months ended 6/30/X0 Interim Periods for New Financial Year 3 months ended 5/31/X1 6 months ended 8/31/X1 9 months ended 11/30/X1 3 months ended 5/31/X2 6 months ended 8/31/X2 9 months ended 11/30/X2 Or 3 months ended 5/31/X2 6 months ended 8/31/X2 9 months ended 11/30/X2 3 months ended 9/30/X1 6 months ended 12/31/X1 9 months ended 3/31/X2 3 months ended 10/31/X1 6 months ended 1/31/X2 9 months ended 4/30/X2 Or 3 months ended 10/31/X1 6 months ended 1/31/X2 9 months ended 4/30/X2 3 months ended 1/31/X2 6 months ended 4/30/X2 9 months ended 7/31/X2 Or 3 months ended 1/31/X2 6 months ended 4/30/X2 9 months ended 7/31/X2 Comparative Interim Periods to Interim Periods in New Financial Year 3 months ended 6/30/X0 6 months ended 9/30/X0 9 months ended 12/31/X0 3 months ended 6/30/X1 6 months ended 9/30/X1 9 months ended 12/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 5/31/X1 6 months ended 8/31/X1 9 months ended 11/30/X1 3 months ended 9/30/X0 6 months ended 12/31/X0 9 months ended 3/31/X1 3 months ended 9/30/X0 6 months ended 12/31/X0 9 months ended 3/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 9/30/X0 6 months ended 12/31/X0 10 months ended 4/30/X1 3 months ended 12/31/X0 6 months ended 3/31/X1 9 months ended 6/30/X1 Or 3 months ended 12/31/X0 7 months ended 4/30/X1 10 months ended 7/31/X1
7 The following examples assumes a new financial year ending on December 31, 20X1 or December 31, 20X2 Number of Months Financial Year End Changed By Up to 3 months Up to 3 months 4 to 6 months 7 or 8 months 9 to 11 months Transition Year 2 months ended 12/31/X1 14 months ended 12/31/X2 5 months ended 12/31/X1 8 months ended 12/31/X1 10 months ended 12/31/X1 Comparative Annual Financial Statements to Transition Year 12 months ended 10/31/X1 12 months ended 10/31/X1 12 months ended 7/31/X1 12 months ended 4/30/X1 12 months ended 2/28/X1 New Financial Year 12/31/X2 12/31/X3 12/31/X2 Comparative Annual Financial Statements to New Financial Year 2 months ended 12/31/X1 and 12 months ended 10/31/X1* 14 months ended 12/31/X2 5 months ended 12/31/X1 and 12 months ended 7/31/X1* 8 months ended 12/31/X1 and 12 months ended 4/30/X1* 10 months ended 12/31/X1 Interim Periods for Transition Year Not applicable 3 months ended 1/31/X2 6 months ended 4/30/X2 9 months ended 7/31/X2 12 months ended 10/31/X2 Or 2 months ended 12/31/X1 5 months ended 3/31/X2 8 months ended 6/30/X2 11 months ended 9/30/X2 3 months ended 10/31/X1 Or 2 months ended 9/30/X1 3 months ended 7/31/X1 6 months ended 10/31/X1 Or 2 months ended 6/30/X1 5 months ended 9/30/X1 3 months ended 5/31/X1 6 months ended 8/31/X1 Or 4 months ended 6/30/X1 7 months ended 9/30/X1 Comparative Interim Periods to Interim Periods in Transition Year Not applicable 3 months ended 1/31/X1 6 months ended 4/30/X1 9 months ended 7/31/X1 12 months ended 10/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 10/31/X0 Or 3 months ended 10/31/X0 3 months ended 7/31/X0 6 months ended 10/31/X0 Or 3 months ended 7/31/X0 6 months ended 10/31/X0 3 months ended 5/31/X0 6 months ended 8/31/X0 Or 3 months ended 5/31/X0 6 months ended 8/31/X0
8 3 months ended 1/31/X1 6 months ended 4/30/X1 9 months ended 7/31/X1 12 months ended 10/31/X1 Interim Periods for New Financial Year 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 3 months ended 3/31/X3 6 months ended 6/30/X3 9 months ended 9/30/X3 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X3 6 months ended 6/30/X3 9 months ended 9/30/X3 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 Comparative Interim Periods to Interim Periods in New Financial Year 3 months ended 4/30/X1 6 months ended 7/31/X1 9 months ended 10/31/X1 3 months ended 4/30/X2 6 months ended 7/31/X2 9 months ended 10/31/X2 Or 3 months ended 3/31/X2 6 months ended 6/30/X2 9 months ended 9/30/X2 3 months ended 4/30/X1 6 months ended 7/31/X1 9 months ended 10/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 4/30/X1 6 months ended 7/31/X1 8 months ended 9/30/X1 3 months ended 4/30/X1 6 months ended 7/31/X1 9 months ended 10/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 4/30/X1 5 months ended 6/30/X1 8 months ended 9/30/X1 3 months ended 2/28/X1 6 months ended 5/31/X1 9 months ended 8/31/X1 Or 3 months ended 2/28/X1 7 months ended 6/30/X1 10 months ended 9/30/X1