FAIR Canada has submitted comments regarding Canadian Securities Exchange Notice 2018-010 and Request for Comment – Public Interest Rule Amendment to Policy 6 Distributions. We support the amendments proposed by the CSE that will introduce a requirement for resale restrictions on securities issued pursuant to the Employee, executive officer, director and consultant exemption in section 2.24 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions. We also support the proposed amendments’ requirement of prior written approval from the CSE to issue shares under section 2.24 without a hold period. The availability of this prior approval feature should facilitate capital raising under this exemption in appropriate circumstances.
January 3, 2019
Mark Faulkner
Vice President, Listings and Regulation
CNSX Markets Inc.
220 Bay Street, 9th Floor
Toronto, ON, M5J 2W4
Email: Mark.Faulkner@thecse.com
Market Regulation Branch
Ontario Securities Commission
20 Queen Street West, 22nd Floor
Toronto, ON, M5H 3S8
Email: marketregulation@osc.gov.on.ca
RE: CSE Notice 2018-010 and Request for Comment – Public Interest Rule Amendment to Policy 6 Distributions
FAIR Canada is pleased to offer comments on proposed amendments to Policy 6 Distributions (the “Proposed Amendments”) that, according to the consultation document, would require a 4 month hold period on all shares issued pursuant to the employee, executive officer, director, and consultant exemption set forth in section 2.24 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”).
FAIR Canada is a national, charitable organization dedicated to putting investors first. As a voice for Canadian investors, FAIR Canada is committed to advocating for stronger investor protections in securities regulation. Visit faircanada.ca for more information.
FAIR Canada supports the Proposed Amendments to the Canadian Securities Exchange’s Policy 6 Distributions. The allegations in the recent enforcement proceeding launched and temporary order issued by staff of the British Columbia Securities Commission in the BridgeMark Group matter (2018 BCSCCOM 369) demonstrate the type of conduct abusive to the capital markets which can result from reliance on section 2.24 of NI 45-106, in the absence of measures such as the Proposed Amendments to CSE Policy 6 Distributions.
We also support the Proposed Amendments’ requirement of prior written approval from the CSE to issue shares under section 2.24 of NI 45-106 without a hold period. The availability of this prior approval feature should facilitate capital raising pursuant to section 2.24 of NI 45-106 in appropriate circumstances.
We thank you for the opportunity to provide our comments and views in this response. We welcome its public posting and would be pleased to discuss this letter with you at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Frank Allen
Executive Director
Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights