The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) published a staff notice on February 9, 2017 highlighting the initiatives regulators have taken to enhance segregation and portability arrangements for the exchange-traded derivatives markets in Canada following the CSA’s advanced notice of its adoption of National Instrument 94-102 Derivatives: Customer Clearing and Protection of Customer Collateral
“Sorry, nothing personal” – the personal grievance exemption in Koh v Ellipsiz Communications Ltd.
Where does one draw the line between personal and business? It’s a timeless question, and was also the subject at issue in Koh v Ellipsiz Communications Ltd., 2016 ONSC 7345 (Koh), decided by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on November 28, 2016.
The facts of the case are these: Ellipsiz Communications
Canadian Issuers Continue To Have Success Against Activist Investors
As noted in the Globe and Mail’s recent article, “In Canada’s boardrooms, activist investors are striking out” (subscription to the Globe and Mail required), Canadian listed public companies have continued to have success against activist investors. In fact, since January 1, 2015, Canadian listed issuers have a perfect record against “professional” activists in formal proxy contests, having won all six such contests to make changes to the board which were initiated by hedge funds or institutional investors. This success may be driven, at least in part, by issuers’ increased emphasis on advance preparation, including shareholder engagement. If issuers are more attuned to the views of their shareholders, it stands to reason that they will be in a better position to assess the likelihood of successfully defending against an activist in a formal proxy contest and pre-emptively settle those situations that they do not believe they can win. This explanation, while compelling, may be incomplete. With that in mind, I offer the following five observations based on a review of the public record of unsuccessful contests recently initiated by “professional” activists.
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Hostile Bid Launched Targeting Nordex Explosives Ltd.
Nordex Explosives Ltd. (Nordex), a Canadian explosives manufacturer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, and Société Anonyme d’Explosifs et de Produits Chimiques (EPC) entered into a private placement and subsequent going private transaction on June 15, 2016. EPC was to purchase Nordex shares for $0.12 per share.
However, subsequent to Nordex’s announcement of the EPC