CSA Staff Notice 45-324 – Update on the Start-up Crowdfunding Registration and Prospectus Exemptions

CSA Staff Notice 45-324
Update on the Start-up Crowdfunding
Registration and Prospectus Exemptions
February 21, 2019
Introduction
On May 14, 2015, the securities regulatory authorities of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, (the participating jurisdictions) adopted substantially harmonized registration and prospectus exemptions (together, the start-up crowdfunding exemptions) that allow start-ups and early stage businesses to raise capital in these jurisdictions. The participating jurisdictions implemented the start-up crowdfunding exemptions by way of local blanket orders, as amended from time to time1 (the start-up crowdfunding exemptions orders). The start￾up crowdfunding exemptions orders expire on May 13, 2020. Staff (we) of the Canadian Securities Administrators are developing a national instrument with the same key features as the start-up crowdfunding exemption orders, with targeted amendments to improve harmonization and the effectiveness of crowdfunding as a capital raising tool for start-ups and early stage businesses. Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, we will publish for comment a proposed national instrument that will replace the start-up crowdfunding exemption orders. We anticipate that the proposed national instrument will not be implemented by May 13, 2020. Extension of the start-up exemption orders In order to accommodate the timing of the proposed national instrument, staff of the participating jurisdictions expect that the start-up crowdfunding exemptions orders will be amended to remain available for issuers and funding portals until the proposed national instrument is adopted.

1 For example, please refer to Multilateral CSA Notice 45-317 Amendments to Start-up Crowdfunding Registration and Prospectus Exemptions and Multilateral CSA Notice 45-319 Amendments to Start-up Crowdfunding Registration and Prospectus Exemptions.

-2-
Questions
Please refer your questions to any of the following:
Marc-Olivier St-Jacques
Senior Policy Advisor
Autorité des marchés financiers
514 395-0337, extension 4424
Toll-free: 1 877 525-0337 marco.st-jacques@lautorite.qc.ca Gabriel Perras Analyst Autorité des marchés financiers 514 395-0337, extension 4388 Toll-free: 1 877 525-0337 gabriel.perras@lautorite.qc.ca Elliott Mak Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance British Columbia Securities Commission 604 899-6501 emak@bcsc.bc.ca James Leong Senior Legal Counsel, Capital Markets Regulation British Columbia Securities Commission 604 899-6681 jleong@bcsc.bc.ca Denise Weeres Director, New Economy Alberta Securities Commission 403 297-2930 denise.weeres@asc.ca Gillian Findlay Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Alberta Securities Commission 403 297-3302 gillian.findlay@asc.ca Heather Currie Legal Counsel Alberta Securities Commission 403 592-3054 heather.currie@asc.ca Tony Herdzik Deputy Director, Corporate Finance Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan 306 787-5899 tony.herdzik@gov.sk.ca Mikale White Legal Counsel Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan 306 798-3381 mikale.white@gov.sk.ca Chris Besko Director, General Counsel The Manitoba Securities Commission 204 945-2561 Chris.Besko@gov.mb.ca Erin O’Donovan Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Finance Ontario Securities Commission 416 204-8973 eodonovan@osc.gov.on.ca Louise Harris Accountant, Compliance and Registrant Regulation Ontario Securities Commission 416 593-2359 lharris@osc.gov.on.ca

-3-
Jason Alcorn
Senior Legal Counsel
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission of New Brunswick
506 643-7857 jason.alcorn@fcnb.ca
Alicia Love
Senior Legal Counsel
Financial and Consumer Services
Commission of New Brunswick
506 658-2648 alicia.love@fcnb.ca
Abel Lazarus
Director, Corporate Finance
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902 424-6859 abel.lazarus@novascotia.ca
Peter Lamey
Legal Analyst, Corporate Finance
Nova Scotia Securities Commission
902 424-7630 peter.lamey@novascotia.ca