On October 3, 2022, the US Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it charged Kim Kardashian for failing to disclose her interest in the promotion of a crypto asset on social media, resulting in a settlement of USD 1.26 million. In its brief decision, the SEC explained that Ms. Kardashian failed to
Securities Law
Beneficial ownership requirements for federally incorporated entities soon to come into effect
Starting June 13, 2019, private companies that are incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “CBCA”) will have to establish a securities register detailing all “individuals with significant control” over the corporation (the “ISC Register”) in accordance with Bill C 86, the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2. The…
Emerging Fintech innovation trends propelled by a global initiative
The Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a network of 29 state financial sector regulators and supervisors committed to supporting financial innovation in the interests of consumers, including Quebec’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and the Ontario Securities Commission, has announced the launch of a pilot phase of cross-border testing and knowledge…
OSFI issues final guideline on asset securitization
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has issued a final version of Guideline B-5: Asset Securitization (the Guideline), which sets out OSFI’s general expectations for asset securitization transactions undertaken by federally regulated insurance companies. The existing guideline on asset securitization was first published in November 2004, and does not…
Covered bonds in Canada – an increased regulatory stance
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), the federal financial institutions prudential regulator, recently addressed the issue of a cap on issuance of covered bonds which presently stands at 4% of a bank’s total assets.
OSFI is now taking a hard look at this limit and is doing so in the…
FCAC and IIROC to join forces
On September 12, 2017, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), two otherwise independent regulators, announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to coordinate regulatory oversight and strengthen consumer/investor protection. We have made inquiries and have learned that the MOU is not publicly available; …
Conditional Exemption from Registration for U.S. Broker-Dealers
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) recently published proposed OSC Rule 32-505 – Conditional Exemption from Registration for United States Broker-Dealers and Advisers Servicing U.S. Clients from Ontario (the Rule).
The Rule provides exemptions from the relevant dealer and adviser registration requirements in Ontario for U.S. broker-dealers and U.S. advisers that are trading…
Canadian Regulators Impose Sanctions On Unregistered Individuals And Foreign Entities Operating In Canada
Three recent settlement agreements highlight the need for non-Canadian individuals and entities to obtain Canadian legal advice prior to undertaking trading, advising or referral activities with Canadian residents.
Downing Settlement
- In a February 2015 settlement agreement with the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), Sharon Downing (Downing), a resident of the United
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New Takeover Bid Rules
On March 31st, the Canadian Securities Administrators released proposed amendments to the Multilateral Instrument and National Instrument that govern takeover and issuer bids. If adopted, the proposals will make significant changes to certain aspects of the current rules. In particular, the proposals will add a minimum tender requirement and extend the period for which bids…
OSFI Reissues Derivatives Guideline
On January 30th, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) issued the final version of its revised Guideline B-7 – Derivatives Sound Practices. A draft revised Guideline had previously been released for comment on October 1, 2014. No material changes have been made in the final Guideline. In o…