On May 12th 2020 the Ontario Government not only extended the province’s declaration of emergencies, but also passed Bill 190, the COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020 (Bill 190). Bill 190 makes slight, but significant, changes to many statutes to provide flexibility and relief to businesses and corporations at
On May 1, 2020, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) issued a news release, announcing local blanket orders (Blanket Orders) for market participants in connection with meetings delayed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This relief is in addition to the relief announced March 23, 2020, by the CSA with
With the 2020 proxy season well underway, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many issuers to consider changing their annual shareholders’ meeting format from a customary in-person meeting to a virtual setting. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, specifically between March 1, 2020 and April 14, 2020, we monitored issuers listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”) with regards to their 2020 annual shareholders’ meetings. Our key takeaways are summarized below.
Continue Reading 2020 Virtual AGM Proxy Season : Key Takeaways to Date
Timely Disclosure recently reported on the CSA’s previously announced and published local blanket orders (Blanket Orders) that provide a 45-day extension for periodic filings normally required to be made by market participants between March 23, 2020 and June 1, 2020. On April 3, 2020, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) released CSA Staff Notice 51-360 (Staff Notice) which includes useful guidance for market participants wishing to avail themselves of the relief provided by the Blanket Orders.
The following is a summary of certain of the guidance in the Staff Notice. It is important for issuers to review the local Blanket Orders in their jurisdiction. Issuers who intend to rely on the exemptions in the Blanket Orders should consider their applicable corporate statute, stock exchange requirements and other obligations to provide disclosure materials, including financial statements under any existing contractual obligations, as well as the events of default, covenants and other terms of any contracts including debt instruments. Issuers should also review their ongoing corporate finance activities when considering reliance on the Blanket Orders.
On March 30, 2020, in connection with its state of emergency declared on March 17, 2020 (Declared Emergency), the Ontario government issued an order (Order) under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (Ontario) to temporarily suspend and replace, among other things, certain provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (
On March 26, 2020, Corporations Canada issued a notice (Notice) entitled “Annual meetings of federal corporations during the COVID-19 outbreak”. The Notice acknowledges that hosting in-person annual meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak would contradict public health advice to practice physical distancing and self-isolation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and outlines options for federal corporations to consider in order to remain compliant with the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA).
Continue Reading 2020 Annual Meetings – Notice from Corporations Canada
On March 23, 2020, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) issued Staff Notice 2020-0002 granting temporary blanket relief from certain provisions of the TSX Company Manual (Manual) and the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) issued a “Notice to Issuers” with similar temporary blanket relief, both in response to the
As concerns increase over COVID-19 and measures have been established by governmental authorities to limit public gatherings and restrict travel, corporations are considering alternatives to in-person annual shareholders’ meetings. Holding your corporation’s shareholders’ meeting virtually, whether wholly or in part, either by audio or video, if authorized under your corporation’s laws of incorporation and general
In January 2018, we posted this article on Timely Disclosure, “Bringing Your Annual Meeting into the Digital Age”. Virtual annual meetings have become highly relevant in light of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. Shareholders may well be reluctant to attend annual meetings; numerous public companies are examining measures they can take so that
Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
You and me bound to spend some time wondering what to choose.
Deal – The Grateful Dead
IIROC recently published guidance regarding managing conflicts of interest arising from soliciting dealer arrangements. The guidance elaborates on existing conflict of interest rules in the context of takeover bids, plans of arrangement, proxy contests and other securities transactions involving various types of solicitation fees.
Continue Reading IIROC Provides Guidance on Soliciting Dealer Arrangements
